I am currently not available for any freelance jobs!
Here are some of the questions I'm most often asked. If you have a question
please contact me.
What is web site?
Why Social Media Consulting is Hard Work?
Freelance or agency?
Why talk to me?
What countries do you work in?
What experience do you have?
Have you won any awards?
What's your availability?
How would we work together?
What information will you need?
How long will it take?
What will it cost?
What if the brief changes?
Do you offer any other services?
What is web site?
You can call it a window for others to look down at you or what represent you. You can call it a frame or channel or information or communication, you can simply name it the way you like. Decent web site should be straightforward without being simple, clever without being smug, lively without being breathless. Use it intelligently and web site will add another dimension to your marketing and communication campaigns. Neglect it and you risk the charge of style over substance. And when you only have a moment to get your message across, every word and every link must count.
Why Social Media Consulting is Hard Work?
There are some incredibly hardworking, almost super people who have made a good name for themselves and provide excellent value as social media consultants. Who have set things up so they make good money without being on a hamster wheel 24/7. But for every one of them – there are dozens of people who will try, fail and get ground into dust by the intense pressures and unique challenges that new media presents. I think there are a lot of ways to make a living with your passion for social media – but the consulting model is one of the most demanding, least stable and least lucrative ways. It can be a lot less glamorous than it may seem from the outside. So just make sure you really, really love the extra hustle that that social media adds to the networking and self-promotion demands that all types consultants face.
Freelance or agency?
The high overheads often associated with agencies are beyond many budgets and can force compromise. The flexibility and versatility of a freelance web developer/designer provides creative experience and impetus without the cost of maintaining someone else's plush office and limitless expense account. So I promise, no gimmicks or hot-tub in the corner of my office and I definitely don't drive around in my clients' marketing budgets. Here are a few other reasons…
- time-efficient
- objective
- personal service
- consistency
- reliable contact
- cost-effective
- diverse experience
Why talk to me?
Creativity is a crowded place. So why me?
I could wax lyrical about my passion for creative and development excellence, my unrivalled personal service, my uncompromising attention to detail and so on. I could, but I won't - you've probably heard it all a thousand times before.
Over the years I've been able to motivate clients to think beyond traditional boundaries and to step out of their comfort zones. Good work often owes much to good clients and I take great pride in what I do on their behalf. Most of all, I enjoy what I do and hope that it shows.
What countries do you work in?
Although I'm Arabic/English-speaking, my work takes me all over the world, albeit mainly by email. I have clients throughout Dubai as well as Europe, the US, Middle east, MENA countries and Asia.
What experience do you have?
For the past 10 years I've been in the internet field with experience in creating UI and company profiles including website design and development to clients of all shapes and sizes, collaborated with companies, organizations, agencies and persons from different industries. And if I'm new to your area, that shouldn't pose a problem as the rules of communication, can be adapted to any business.
Graphic, User Interface (UI) and web design have been my first step into the world of web, I have been working on web design, profiles and interactivity for several years now.
My area of experience covers also most of development languages specially HTML, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, FBML, PHP, ASP.NET, C#, VB.NET, Ajax, XML, SQL.
I'm also a certified from EConsultancy as Social Media Specialist and a certified web developer from Microsoft(MCP). I regularly contribute to a number of social media and web events in the MENA region and international seminars.
Have you won any awards?
I'm too busy doing and enjoying what I'm supposed to. If it works for the client, then it works for me but yet some of my website had international and Arabic regional awards in the field of interactive flash web sites and dynamic websites.
Check my portfolio to see my awarded web sites.
What's your availability?
At any one time I usually have at least one or two projects in progress but many of these are fairly fluid, so I'm able to take on new work. If I'm particularly busy or I feel that someone else might be better suited, then I can recommend a number of other talented and experienced designers or developers.
How would we work together?
It's all very painless, I promise. While I often work independently, I can adapt to your needs and preferences and work in whatever way suits you, whether collaborating with an internal or external team, working at my office or yours, talking on the telephone, corresponding by email or meeting face-to-face.
Once the proposal and costs have been agreed, I'll gather all relevant information. Without thought and ideas, the words are useless, so if you haven't had time to prepare a brief, don't panic - the best ideas often come out of conversation and I'm happy to help you shape your thoughts with some searching questions.
Then starting with a blank sheet, I'll listen, think, scribble, create and deliver - it's simple. It's what comes naturally and it's what I do best. I'll ask for your initial comments about the content, style, colors, site map, and tone, which will then be followed by a draft/review cycle to develop the web site or the project until you're satisfied with the final result.
What information will you need?
I never presume that what went before was best. Likewise, I don't reinvent the wheel for the sake of it. I invest a high percentage of my time at the briefing and research stage, where answers to questions such as who, what, why, when and how can make all the difference. The more information you're able to provide at the outset - technical requirements, content, pictures, logos, pdfs, brochureware, advertisements, mailers, articles, press releases, case studies, statistical information, testimonials - the better the end result will be.
How long will it take?
It depends on what you want, how quickly you need it and how busy I am. Sometimes I can turn a job around in a matter of hours while longer, more in-depth projects may involve a meeting, research or an interview and will take longer.
In general, the more time I have to research, design, develop and test the website, the better. However, I appreciate that time is sometimes a luxury. In a deadline, where I have to decline or delay other projects or work unsocial hours, an additional 20 per cent charge may be applicable.
How much will it cost?
Predictable and open costing is important in business. My charging and quotation will be always different from a project to another depends on your requirement and the amount of the work behind your requirement.
I can charge by the hour or day but mainly I charge on the complete project as a package, although all projects are unique and in most cases clients prefer me to provide an all-inclusive, fixed cost at the outset. This will be based on my experience of what's involved, the technical and creative requirements .
All prices include E-consultation; Research; Interface Design; Solution Development and Quality Assurance.
Hosting, domain name registration and web site maintenance will be on annual basis.
The cost of communications is not included, There are no VAT charges or hidden extras and my Terms are 21 days.
What if the brief changes or I have to cancel the project?
As long as the scope of the original brief doesn't alter substantially, then the agreed cost includes any reasonable revisions. But if there are significant changes, we can reassess the impact on time and cost. If for any reason you have to cancel a commissioned project, then a kill fee of up to 50 per cent may be incurred.
Do you offer any other creative services?
I don't but I'm part of an extensive network of freelance creative professionals including Web Developers, Interactive Designer, Graphic designers, Web designers, Illustrators, Photographers, PR's and Marketers all of who I would be happy to recommend to you.