As a freelance web designer, when you agree to work on a project you will generally have to fulfill all of the roles of a larger team.

Freelancers must not only complete assignments but manage their own workload at the same time and follow up with invoicing and accounting procedures.

One of the benefits of managing your own project is that you can arrange a schedule that suits your particular working style.

Some prefer to write out detailed to-do lists and schedule every minute of the day, while others may prefer to tackle issues as they come.

The latter approach may work for smaller assignments, but when you take on a larger, multifaceted project you will need to start thinking like a project manager.

Learning the basic foundation of project management is vital for freelance web designers who want to grow their business.

Basic project management structure helps keep you on task and within your budget. You'll want to choose a methodology and keep the following basic principles in mind as you get started.

The Waterfall Method

The traditional project management method is known as the “waterfall” method. This is often the preferred methodology for freelancers because it defines your scope right from the outset of the project and steps are completed in a logical order.

Before you progress to the next step, you must complete the one preceding it. Clients often prefer the waterfall method for web design projects, because it allows you to show them the scope, timeline, and costs before you even begin.

However, the waterfall method often doesn’t account for possible setbacks that could throw off your timeline.

The Agile Method

The “agile” method uses a different approach. Instead of creating sequential phases of tasks to be completed, you create “iterations,” which function as mini-projects from start to finish.

In web design, this could take the form of starting work on the about page and completing it from start to finish before moving on to another area of the website, for example.

There’s more room to play around with the process and change the scope of the project as you go, which can be useful in a creative project.

This quickly produces a working version of the final product, but it can be more difficult to implement as a freelancer.

Staying Organised

The organization is the key to any successfully managed project. Before you begin, you will need to do a bit of background research on your client, their expectations, and the project itself.

You can use this to create a timeline and budget, which is useful no matter what type of methodology you end up using.

Online project management services and apps can be quite useful, to stay on top of all of the variables involved in your project.

Be sure to document your project every step of the way, so that you can revise your procedures in the future if necessary.

A written record of your actions will help you stay on task throughout the duration of the project.

Improving Management Skills

Even seasoned project managers can look at each project as a learning opportunity, but this is particularly apt for beginners.

If you’re just starting out, it can help to sign up for a course to learn the basics of project management. Take a look at the project management courses online to get an idea of the topics covered and how it could help you with your next project.

In addition to professional courses, document your process and take note of mistakes you’re making. At the end of the project, analyze what went wrong and what went right along the way. This can help you prevent making the same mistakes in the future.

Gaining project management experience can be extremely beneficial to your career as a freelance web designer, helping you multitask and juggle large scale projects more proficiently. It’s worth brushing up on these basic skills to start learning how to manage your time and talent.