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Subject:Question about precontract stage From:"Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- att -dot- net> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 15 Jan 2002 16:18:15 -0500
Background:
- I am in the process of talking with a small company about a project it may
want me to do (a small Web site).
- Last week the company sent me several documents, including its business
plan, that relate to the project. I scanned these documents before my
telephone conversation with the company president last week.
- I agreed to create three mock-up pages as samples of what I could produce.
I sent them to the president the next day. In response, the president wrote,
"Wow. That was fast. How much do you want to help develop this Web site." I
was confused by the question, so I responded, "Well, if you decide on
someone else, I wouldn't be heartbroken."
- I have signed and mailed the company a signed nondisclosure agreement. It
has very likely not yet arrived at the company.
- Just now, the company sent me a briefing paper without comment.
Question:
Is it considered part of marketing oneself to begin work (reading business
plans, briefing papers, and other documents pertaining to the job) before
one has a signed contract?
I have already performed free work by providing mockups of Web pages, and I
would prefer to not do any more free work.
I am grateful for any thoughts, advice, admonitions, or cautions.
I would prefer to have a regular job, but now that it is four months since I
was laid off, I think I should begin seriously pursuing freelance work.
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