Harare WordCamp presentation on how to get started as a wordpress freelancer by Charles Muzonzini from web and mobile app development company webgems. http://www.webgems.co.zw

1. WP Freelance Web
Design 101

2. Hello!
I am Charles Muzonzini
I am here because I love making websites with Wordpress!
I am a Mobile App Developer @ Computer Society of Zim
You can find me at @webgemsZW
www.webgems.co.zw
Go Cowboys!

3. Skills
◇ Philosophy
◇ Community
◇ Tech Stack & Workflow
◇ Portfolio

4. Legal
◇ Contracts
◇ Incorporation
◇ Branding

5. Pricing
◇ How to price your services
◇ Other factors to consider

6. SkillsA

7. Skills
● Philosophy
○ Desire for continuous learning
○ Thick Skin
○ Genuine love for tech
1

8. Skills
● Community
○ Join WP Harare - duh!
○ WP forums, facebook,
whatsapp
○ Give and you shall recieve
2

9. Skills
● Tech Stack, what is the best x to
use for y?
○ CMS -> Wordpress
○ Text Editor -> Sublime Text
○ LAMP / WAMP / MAMP
○ Linux or Mac > windows
○ Graphics -> Adobe, GIMP
3

10. Skills
● Portfolio
○ Absolutely important - only way to
somewhat overcome the trust issue
○ Do volunteer work - eg church,
charity orgs
○ School projects
○ Imaginary projects - eg ZiFacebook
○ Redesign existing sites
4

11. LegalB

12. Legal
● Contract
○ Absolutely MANDATORY - will
save you time & money in the
long run
○ Freelance business is still
business
○ Doesn’t have to be complicated
- just clear on expectations from
both sides
○ Anecdote, tam & tsine
1

13. Legal
● Incorporation
○ Not mandatory, but will help you
get business you otherwise
won’t. But then again this is Zim.
○ I recommend you incorporate
○ PBC vs PLC
2

14. Legal
● Private Business Corporation (PBC)
Advantages
○ Easier & cheaper to establish &
operate
○ Allow registration as sole trader
○ Perpetual life
○ Limited Liability*
○ No need for audits
○ PBC can become a shareholder in
PLCs
○ Can be converted to PLC later
2a

15. Legal
● Private Business Corporation (PBC)
Disadvantages
○ Shareholders limited to 20 natural
persons
○ Not as popular as Private Limited
Companies & less regulated therefore
less trust
○ Members/Directors are the same as
shareholders
2b

16. Legal
● Private Limited Company Advantages
○ More regulation -> increased trust,
big fish will almost exclusively deal
with PLC
○ Directors and Shareholders can be
different
○ Limited Liability*
○ Perpetual succession
○ Has a certificate, memorandum, CR6
& CR14
2c

17. Legal
● Private Limited Company Disadvantages
○ More regulation - big headache,
increases costs
○ Expensive and laborious to set up
○ Little benefit especially in the early
stages
2c

18. Branding
● Clients will judge you according to how
you present yourself
● In legal section - business structure is a
form of branding
● Suit & tie > jeans & tee
○ This is Zim, Silicon Valley culture
hasn’t caught on yet
3

19. PricingC

20. Pricing
● Important to get this right
● Penetration Pricing vs Premium Pricing
● No one correct answer, depends on the
context
● Factors to consider:
○ Your skill level
○ Value to the client
○ Price sensitivity of client
○ Market rates
● Don’t sell yourself short!
1

21. Easter EggD

22. Easter Egg
● Tough environment in Zim…
● Take advantage of globalization
● Look for clients online
● Freelancing platforms:
○ Upwork
○ Fiverr
○ People per hour
○ Guru
● Not a panacea, tough to get established,
but nice supplement to your income.
:-)

23. “
Treat your password like your
toothbrush. Don't let anybody else use
it, and get a new one every six months.
Read more at:
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/t
opics/topic_computers.html

24. Churchify Mobile App
A social app for religious
organizations

25. Churchify Mobile App
Easy tithing & donations with mobile
money

26. Churchify Mobile App
Church events synchronized with
smartphone calendar

27. Churchify Mobile App
Video & Audio sermons and so much
more…!

28. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
◇ LinkedIn: Charles Muzonzini
◇ charles@webgems.co.zw
◇ charlesmuzonzini@gmail.com
◇ www.webgems.co.zw
◇ Facebook www.facebook.com/webgems
◇ Twitter: @webgemsZW