I am starting my design business back up after the first of the year. I have been doing website & graphic design work for about 10 years now. Back in 2000 i started my design business, but had to give it up due to my family. I am needing to build my portfolio back up; I can do website, logo, banner designs,ebook covers,etc. If you are willing to help me out I would appreciate it. I am not looking for money, but just a way to build my work up. If you anyone is willing to help me out I would appreciate it, I can provide samples of my work, if needed.
Try entering contests in the contests section of this forum, there is plenty of work for you to do there.
You could design for an imaginary company... although it will not get you referrals, it will show off your skills. Try coming up with a company, build a website, several logos, branding, stationary, etc.
When you post ads like you are you make a lot of people think that they can get websites for free from people trying to build portfolios. All the time I hear people say "I need a website I am just going to get a student to build one for free" and it is because people post ads like you just did. So after you build your portfolio and you are trying to make some money and people only want free sites you will know why people don't value websites and think they can get them for free.
That wasn't how I was trying to come across and I am sorry if it seemed that way. The only thing I am trying to do is build my portfolio up at this moment. Again I am sorry if you took that way.
I didn't take that I was just saying a lot of more inexperienced people do and it can bring down prices and peoples value of web design. A lot of people think they can get free websites buy just having a student build them or having a person that is building a portfolio do it so then they don't ever want to spand money on one. I think the myth comes from ads offering free websites their might only be one person who puts a ad up but hunderds of people can read the ad and then get the impression when they need a site they can get one free. Their is a lot of other ways you could build sites with out giving them away you could build some and sell them on a auction like DP or Flippa or you could build a really nice one about your home town and offer your clients ads on it, or something you are interested in like a hobby and people that study that hobby would get to know your company.