Hollywood Professional Association Expands Virtual Content Offerings

The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) has unveiled a robust suite of virtual programs to provide the production and post-production industry with critical technical knowledge and offer opportunities to build community both during and beyond the COVID crisis. The slate of content is free with registration for the foreseeable future. The content, created and moderated by industry leading volunteers along with HPA staff and leadership, begins with a focus on the key skills and technology necessary for remote workflow and will continue to center on topics of critical interest to the industry. A few of the new offerings are under the auspices of the NET (Networking, Education and Technology) committee, which will continue to augment future in-person NET events. HPA NET Presents: Critical Conversations Webinars: A series of moderated webinars and video interviews featuring industry experts in conversation. Critical Conversations launched with “What We Learned from Creating in the Cloud: A Case Study,” focusing on the technology featured in the virtual production of “The Lost Lederhosen” at the 2020 HPA Tech Retreat; followed by “Collaborating in the Cloud Part 2,” presented in collaboration with American Society of Cinematographers and featuring the director, DP, VFX supervisor, and camera operator from “The Lost Lederhosen;” and “Government Support for the Industry During the COVID 19 Crisis,” featuring experts from Ernst & Young. Webinars, post event, are available at https://hpaonline.com/event/ . Video Interview Series: Launching in early May 2020 is a video interview series produced by industry vet Mark Chiolis (HPA Board, Mobile TV Group) who will dig into incisive conversations with thought leaders. HPA NET Presents Critical Conversations with Mark Chiolis will debut with Dolby Chief Scientist Poppy Crum. AVID President Jeff Rosica and Mark Radonis, SVP of Bunim-Murray Productions follow in upcoming episodes to address today’s most relevant topics. HPA NET Presents: Through the Frame with Jesse Korosi (podcast) Korosi brings deep experience and perspective as a workflow expert to a lively podcast that explores what’s happening behind the scenes of a number of compelling projects with knowledgeable experts. Through the Frame launches with Ben Gervais, freelance technical supervisor known for bringing new technologies to current motion picture processes. His credits include “Gemini Man” and “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.” Upcoming guests on Through the Frame include Chad Peter, Tai Logsdon, and Rachel McIntire. HPA Women in Post Webinar: Aiming for Equilibrium While Working at Home During COVID Leadership coach Diana Tauder leads an interactive, collaborative webinar to help attendees reconnect with our community and build their toolkits for working at home during this turbulent time. HPA Tech Retreat 2020: Incredible Content In the next month, important content from the 25th HPA Tech Retreat, including sessions and interviews, will be available at no cost at hpaonline.com SOC-AFI cinematography sessions In collaboration with the Society of Camera Operators (SOC), HPA will share the expertise and insights from sessions with American Film Institute (AFI) graduate cinematography students. Seth Hallen, President of HPA, commented, “HPA is the hub that provides our community with incredible information, […]

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Lockdown Leads to Massive Leap in Freelance Numbers

As the world’s economy and business ecosystem remain in a state of flux following the outbreak of Covid-19 , the UK’s leading freelancing platform, PeoplePerHour, has reported an unprecedented rise in both freelancer signups and demand for talent in certain areas. During the first 26 days of March 2019, the platform gained 25,673 new signups. During the same period in 2020, signup numbers surged to a massive 96,123, signalling an almost four-fold increase year on year. Although an increase in freelancer numbers may not come as a huge surprise at a time when businesses are scaling back, the new figures released by PeoplePerHour provide an interesting overview of how each region is being impacted by the pandemic in business terms. While London has experienced a 485% increase in the number of people turning to freelancing, the number of freelancers in Leeds is only up 5%. In fact, the increase in London freelance signups is more than 7.5 times higher than any other city in the UK. Sheffield came next, with a 64% increase in freelance signups. While signup numbers in Edinburgh are up 63%. Strangely, as England’s ‘second’ and ‘third’ cities, Birmingham (16.22%) and Manchester (22.90%) are both towards the bottom of the list in regards to changing freelance numbers. The full breakdown of PeoplePerHour’s signup increase by city can be seen below. London – 485.37% Sheffield – 64.29% Edinburgh – 63.04% Cardiff – 53.33% Liverpool – 50.00% Nottingham – 39.34% Bristol – 32.53% Leicester – 30.95% Glasgow – 26.09% Manchester – 22.90% Birmingham – 16.22% Leeds – 5.32% While freelancer signups are up, a number of key business skills have also experienced an upturn in demand. Most notably, requests for enterprise resource planning experts leapt by 500.00% between February and March 2020. Demand for media planning is also up by 400%, and brand development by 200%. Other areas experiencing amplified demand include: SEO writing (158.33%), marketing management (140.00%), customer support (111.54%), logistics & shipping (100.00%), medical translation (100.00%), CRM (88.89%), and pay per click advertising (50.00%). Xenios Thrasyvoulou, founder and CEO of PeoplePerHour, comments: ‘Six months ago, it would have been impossible to imagine a scenario that could lead to such a monumental shift in the global business infrastructure. But while the impact of Covid-19 has been devastating, it has also highlighted the incredible adaptability of the small business scene. ‘In financial terms, SMEs and entrepreneurs have been among the worst affected by the global pandemic, with millions of employees being laid off and governmental support and benefits being slow to materialise. Although various support packages are now in place, the delay has led to a huge number of people to take matters into their own hands with many individuals signing up to find freelance work using their skills base to carve out a freelance career. While SMEs have been turning to the growing freelance network to attain the talent they require to keep their businesses going at a time of social distancing. ‘I have little doubt that […]

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How to Get Work Done When Your Family is Quarantined With You

Completing a Job While Family on Quarantined With You

We understand that everyone has been affected differently by the recent pandemic. If you do freelance graphic design work or work as a freelancing content writer, you may have been barely affected at all. You may be used to working in sweats from home, and the only change that has occurred over the last few weeks is that you have ordered your groceries online instead of going into the store.

Others of you may be feeling as if your life has turned topsy-turvy. Whether you are a member of the freelance marketplace or a member of the workforce now required to work from home, you may find yourself surrounded by your babies, toddlers, school-aged children, teenagers, college-aged children and (gasp) your spouse.

How in the heck is anyone supposed to get any work done with all of these distractions? Here are some tips on how to be productive when your family is quarantined with you.

Get up early.

Sorry. We would love to give you a magic formula that would promise an increase in productivity without any pain. That’s just not feasible. Instead, get up as early as you can to take advantage of a quiet house before your kids and spouse awake. Of course, your labradoodle will get up with you, thinking that he is in for some extra playtime, but at least everyone else will be quiet while you are productive.

Dust off your noise-canceling headphones.

You were excited to get noise-canceling headphones because you thought they would work great the next time you were on a late-night flight. Little did you know, that those headphones would be just the trick to block out the constant whining of your teenaged daughter.

Do you not have noise-canceling headphones? Just use your earbuds and classical music to try to block out the extra sound.

Tag-Team Parenting

Some of you having whining four-year-olds instead of 14-year-olds. If that is the case, you can’t ignore the screams coming from upstairs because they could actually be screams of pain instead of screams of irritation.

If you and your spouse are both trying to work from home, you may need to work out a system of tag-team parenting. You can keep the kids quiet throughout the morning, and he can do the same for you in the late afternoon and evening.

Use Screens to Keep Your Kids Quiet

We know that your parents and pediatrician have warned you about the detrimental effects of your kids having too much screen time. But during a global pandemic, let’s all give ourselves permission to bend the rules. You have to be on a conference call, and you can’t be interrupted. This means that it is video game time for your grade-school kids. You know that your kid playing video games is the only way you can get guaranteed silence for any length of time. You can go back to normal parenting when the world returns to normal.

Hang a Stop Sign on Your Door

Perhaps the problem isn’t kids. Maybe your spouse has a chatty personality and is excited to spend extra time with you. If this describes your situation, you may consider printing out an image of a stop sign to tape to your office door. Lovingly remind your spouse that when the sign is up, you cannot be interrupted.

Run Your Household as Efficiently as Possible

Think of the next month or two as boot camp. You know it’s going to suck, but you don’t have a choice in the matter. While you may be tempted to grab the remote and a bottle of wine each night, instead try to run your household as efficiently as possible. Plan meals, keep the house tidy and do a bit of laundry every day. You will feel better, and after a few months, you may not even return to your slovenly ways.

Pay Attention to Your Mental Health

We are all feeling stress right now. We are frightened about our health, the health of our loved ones, and the economy.

To relieve some of the stress you may be feeling, remove yourself from social media for a time. We know that this takes social distancing to a whole new level, but it may help keep you calm and focused until this all goes away.

Limit your exposure to the news. You don’t need to watch your county’s medical expert’s daily report. You don’t need to know how many more cases of the virus were found in your community, and you don’t need to be updated every day about the number of deaths.

Instead, stay home, wash your hands, try to work as much as possible, and stay healthy.

This article was originally posted at Freelancing Buzz.

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How freelancing can make you stay productive during lockdown

Freelancing has become one of the biggest industries for earning and generating money. You only need to have few analytical skills, good know-how of English, and a laptop with Wifi connection and that’s it. Pakistanis are well-aware of the online industry today. According to the eRozgar website, Pakistan is considered to be amongst the top five countries, ranked fourth in the Online Labor Index published in 2017 by Oxford Internet Institute, where people earn approximately $0.5 billion from freelancing. Similarly, the average salary of a freelancer is Rs. 28,909 per month in Pakistan. This means that Pakistan has the potential to compete with the world’s biggest markets such as the US which according to the Global Gig-Economy Index, generated 78% of freelancer earnings through gig economy in 2019, followed by U.K (59%), and Brazil (47%). While Pakistan stood fourth with 47% of the increase in its freelancer revenues in the previous year and stood among the top 10 countries of Asia that enjoyed generating money through the online industry. However, from the very beginning of the year 2020, the world has experienced major economic crises due to COVID-19. Even, the biggest economies of the world such as the US, the U.K, Italy, Spain, and France have encountered havoc due to this pandemic. Despite taking all the possible measures from increasing medical staff to complete lockdown in the country, they have been unable to overcome this catastrophe. Then how could a developing country like Pakistan be expected to control the coronavirus cases which has its 40% population living below the poverty line. Certainly, the current lockdown situation in our country is creating panic and distress in nearly the people of all ages. The mainstream and social media are thoroughly engulfed with the news of increasing coronavirus cases and the number of casualties daily. This created anxiety, suffering, and perturbation among the youth. Schools, colleges, and universities are closed which has limited the students to stick to their homes. Many institutes came up with the idea of arranging online classes using online media forums which have badly failed in our country. Teachers and students are not satisfied with the unplanned mechanism that is adopted for online classes. As a result, most of the institutes canceled the online classes and thus looking forward to June for resuming the semesters. In current circumstances, the youth of Pakistan seems to be directionless, completely bored with having no physical and mental activity. I have heard many students complaining about their monotonous and dull sort of routine. They seem to be perturbed for not having interesting and thought-provoking activities nowadays. Those who are interested in working as freelancers find no direction of where to start. Especially, the ones having social and technical writing skills find no reliable site where they could articulate their talent. Because, where there are many benefits of online earning, certain cases of frauds have also been reported by the writers who work with full honesty and dedication but fall victim to fraudsters. […]

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Out Of Work Because Of Coronavirus: Full-Time Freelance Writer

“It just seems like the whole system was set-up to fail us.” Name: Dan Epstein Age: 53 Location: Greensboro Job Status: Full-time freelance writer, unsure of where his next paycheck will come from. His writing is primarily on music, pop culture, and baseball. In good years Dan has made $70,000, more recently it has been about half that. Healthcare: Coverage through his wife’s job at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Most worried about: His parents, in New York State: “I’m checking in with them every day. And my worst nightmare is they get ill and I can’t go see them or be with them.” His dad and stepmother are both in New York City, “Both are pretty high-risk, dealing with chronic and critical ailments.” His mom lives in Upstate New York. Cash flow: “As far as we’re concerned, just not having any income coming in. I’m just trying to take it day-by-day because that’s really all I have control over. But when I start thinking about what this could mean, in the bigger picture a month, two months, six months down the road – it’s a pretty scary rabbit hole to go down … Right now we can afford a roof over our head, and we can afford to keep the fridge filled. Six months from now, if things continue, I don’t know that that’s going to be the case.” Experience seeking unemployment benefits: “So far that hasn’t gone well.” Dan’s unemployment application was rejected. North Carolina does now provide unemployment to self-employed, independent contractors, or gig workers, among other classifications of work. “Self-employed individuals are not considered full members of the economy, which I think is ridiculous,” Dan explains. He may be eligible for up to $600/week of federal unemployment benefits, from the $2 trillion Cares Act. However, “I have no idea. I don’t know if I need to re-apply, or if my initial application will be reconsidered. “There are emails I’ve sent that are getting no response. I’m not sure where I’m supposed to be applying. I would definitely classify it as frustrating. It’s maddening. I understand that this is an unprecedented situation, but any system is going to feel the strain. But it seems like even so, the bureaucracy was caught with its pants down.”

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COVID-19: Freelancing in the UAE – here is how you can make money

Picture used for illustrative purposes only. Dubai: If you were considering a stint as freelancer, a question that you may have is: Will I make as much as I did working for a company? As precautionary measures for COVID-19 affect businesses in the UAE, many workers have had to take temporary salary cuts or go on unpaid leaves. But is it really possible to earn well as a freelancer? To get a realistic answer it is important to understand how the freelance sector works in the UAE. This is our guide to better understanding how you can bid for projects as a freelancer and make it work for you. Picture used for illustrative purposes only. If this is your first try at going freelance, the prospects can be quite daunting. However, before you take the plunge, you need to plan out a few things: 1. Which authority will you register with to get a freelance permit? 2. How will you charge (per project, per hour or per task) and how much? 3. What are your expenses? Make a yearly budget. 1. Which authority will you register with to get a freelance permit? According the UAE’s Labour Law you can work as a freelancer as long as you have a freelance work permit. Part-time work is also a possibility, particularly in the current situation where businesses have been affected by the precautionary measures taken to curb COVID-19. To know more about how the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has issued a decree regulating the work professionals can do for another company, read this . There are certain professions and sectors that lend themselves easily to freelance work. Many free zones offer freelance permits to people in the media or education sector, for example. Consulting, too, can be done on a freelance basis. So, it is important to check the list of professions provided by the authority which is issuing you the freelance permit. What is the cost of getting a freelance visa? Picture used for illustrative purposes only. The cost can vary significantly based on the authority you apply to. Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone, for example, offers a two-year freelancer work permit with a UAE visa starting from Dh17,105. Other free zones may charge on a yearly basis as well. It is important to shop around before you settle on a particular free zone authority to work from. Regardless of which authority you apply to, it is crucial that you get a freelance work permit, and abide by UAE’s Labour Laws. You can apply with a number of free zones in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. However, depending on the free zone authority you approach, you may face limitations on the type of professions that can be registered, as mentioned above. The freelance permit under gofreelance.ae, for example, is for professionals within the education and media sector. The package, which comes for Dh7,500 a year is inclusive of the freelance permit and access to a […]

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18 Freelance Sites to Find Your Next Gig

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Consider this: Freelancers are expected to become the U.S. workforce majority in the near future. That means we can expect to see more and more freelancing job boards appear. That’s not to say we need them. Take a look at the Google search results for “freelance jobs.” You’ll find hundreds of websites that can connect you with prospective clients. The problem, however, is that not all job boards are created equal. Some are a bit suspicious, causing both freelancers and businesses to question their legitimacy. Others are meant only for seasoned veterans. There are also boards capable of finding work quickly for freelancers, but they won’t get paid very much. Consider it the “price of entry” to the freelance realm. These obstacles make finding freelance work more complicated than it has to be. That’s why I’ve put together a list of 18 freelance sites to help entrepreneurs find their next gig. Each of these sites is reputable and can be used by freelancers of all experience levels, empowering people to make the most of their skills in a shaky economy. 1. Toptal If you’re a freelancer designer, developer, financial expert, product manager or project manager, you can find hourly, part-time or full-time work at Toptal. The catch is that Toptal has a rigorous screening process, meaning typically only the top 3 percent of freelance talent that applies is accepted. This is better suited for talented freelancers who have some previous experience under their belt. However, if you’re accepted, you can be certain that you’ll receive competitive compensation. 2. Fiverr There are a couple of things that make Fiverr stand out from other leading freelance marketplaces. Users get to list the specific jobs where they excel. When I started podcasting, I hired someone on Fiverr to design my cover and another person to create the intro. When I had trouble getting the podcast listed on iTunes, I enlisted another expert to help solve the mystery. Secondly, because most gigs start at $5, this is a great place to launch your freelancing career. After you land some clients and build up your portfolio, you can start charging more for your services. 3. PeoplePerHour For more than a decade, PeoplePerHour has been helping freelancers land web-based projects. This site has areas like marketing, SEO and software engineering. What makes it so appealing is that it streamlines the process of signing up. Client communication, project management and payments are all handled in one dashboard. You can send 15 proposals to clients before having to sign up for the paid plan. However, you can still browse listings and get notified of new openings, even if you don’t sign up for the paid plan. 4. Upwork Upwork has been around in some form for years. Elance and oDesk were formed in 1999 and 2003, respectively, and merged to found Upwork. Today, Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world, hosting millions of freelancers in […]

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The Big Freelance Skills Needed As Companies Rebuild After COVID 19

Getty Over twenty two million Americans lost their jobs in a little less than a month due to COVID 19. It took the Great Depression more than four years to achieve an equivalent level of unemployment. Millions of freelancers around the world have also lost critical project and consulting work; many clients have closed up shop. Gigsters have struggled to make a living as companies focus on conserving cash, reducing non-essential expense, and planning for an uncertain post COVID 19 world. So, it made sense to ask freelance platform CEOs and thought leaders this question in our series, the freelance revolution during COVID 19 : What freelance skills / professional specialties are likely to be most in demand on your platform as the global economy begins to emerge out of COVID 19? What guidance are you sharing with your platform members and clients? Chandrika Pasricha, CEO of Flexing It (India) reports, “We see demand for seasoned strategy consultants to help companies revise plans and market scenarios; digital skills are critical in reaching customers and for business continuity; finance expertise to help plan cash flows and cut burn; HR talent to manage employee morale, and guide how to manage pay cuts/employee separation. It’s an important time for freelancers to assess their strengths, sharpen their skill profiles and think about new products and services they can offer.” Florent Ogoutchoro, CEO of Thetechguys.io (Africa) notes, “”Since we are specialized in IT and software development, I’ll first bet on those. But I think more generally that there will have more demand for people with digital skills, finance expertise, and business development.” PROMOTED Seb Robert, CEO of Gophr (UK) mentions, “The demand for home delivery during lockdown has created extraordinary opportunities for couriers and delivery services, especially those that support last mile delivery. Whilst it is not a specialised skill, I think the shift in customer expectations around home delivery created in lockdown will continue post lockdown and remain in high demand.” Layla Lynn, Co-founder of AceUp (US) adds, “As the economy emerges out of COVID-19, the coaches most in demand are skilled at helping managers to facilitate change, and support them in developing the leadership skills that are so clearly important during this crisis.” Chris Keene, CEO of Gigster (US) notes, “Freelancers need the ability to work effectively as part of a distributed workforce. No matter how long social distancing is with us, the pandemic has underscored the need for workers to thrive outside of traditional office settings. We’re advising our clients to become adept at managing distributed workforces.” Edgar Mwampinge, Founder of Worknasi (Africa) tells us, “ COVID-19 has forced African businesses to embrace technology. Everyone is learning technology tools, and wants an online presence. Many businesses will reduce workers and automate processes. We advise freelancers to sharpen their skills to prepare for a future which will be different.” Jennifer Napier, Marketing VP at BTG (US) points out, “Creativity, resilience, and high EQ are demanded for the urgent special projects we are […]

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How to find online writing work during COVID-19 pandemic

Freelance Writing Job During COVID-19 pandemic

Have you lost your job due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic? If so, you are in good company. Many highly-skilled, hard-working Americans have found themselves signing up for unemployment for the first time in their lives as a result of the economic downturn caused by the corona virus.

While we are sorry that you find yourself in this situation, we would like to remind you that this, too, shall pass. The world has faced drought, disease, war, and natural disasters before now, and our ancestors re-evaluated, re-tooled, and recovered. We’re not saying that it is going to be easy, but we need to face this moment with a calm focus instead of hysterics. You’ve got this, America.

As for our part, we would like to help those newly unemployed to become a part of the gig economy. We, at Freelancing Buzz, have been a part of the gig economy for quite a while now. In fact, each of us views ourselves as a freelance teacher. We want to share what we have learned navigating the top freelancing sites, so we can help you earn some extra money to tide you over until normal life resumes.

Today, we would like to give you a list of what we think will be the best freelance writing jobs. You may already have the necessary writing skills to take on some of these projects, or you may need to do a bit of retraining. But if you have solid communication skills and the ability to learn quickly, you will find that there is work out there for you.

Resume Writer

Assist others who have recently lost their jobs in writing their resumes.

Even though many of the unemployed workers are highly skilled in their particular fields, they may need help describing those abilities on a resume or curriculum vitae.

Although you may utilize some of the best freelancing sites to find clients, you may have just as much success looking for clients on your local community’s social network pages. Everyone knows someone who has lost his or her job.

This is the perfect job for writers with additional human resource experiences. Those in HR know how to read a job listing and understand what keywords should be used on the resume to get noticed. You may also be able to help individuals if you have expertise in a particular industry, either from your experience of based on the experience of a family member.

Of course, some technology skills are a must too. Make sure you understand how resume-scanning software reads text so you can properly format your client’s resumes.

Resume writing is a great freelance work from home job that allows you to make money while helping those in your actual and online community find employment.

Freelance Profile Writer

There are plenty of other people out there who are turning to the freelancing marketplace to find employment right now. They, like you, are turning to Upwork, Fiverr, and other freelancing websites, and they realize that one of the first steps they have to complete is to create a profile.

This profile is a written description of your educational background, job history, and skills. Unlike a resume, those writing a freelance profile must be able to describe in several paragraphs why they would be the perfect candidate for the job.

As a writer, you can face this task head-on after looking at a few examples and listening to instructional videos. Others may not be so lucky, as many find they don’t have the communication skills to describe their technical or creative skills.

This is where you can help. Become a profile writer and help others enter the gig economy.

E-Commerce Product Description Writer

In an attempt to stay in business, many retailers are leaning more on their e-commerce websites. This means many business leaders are analyzing their product descriptions, making sure they include the appropriate keywords and phrases that will enable their product to be found through a Google search.

If you have experience writing product descriptions, especially if you are particularly knowledgable about a particular industry, you may be able to help small business owners while at the same time earning money for yourself.

Entering the freelancing world may not be easy. In fact, it may take time to get your profile completed. It may also take time before you land your first job, and you may find yourself working for less than you imagined until you get more freelancing experience. Regardless, don’t get discouraged. You’ve got this!

This article was originally posted at Freelancing Buzz.

 

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Work-From-Home Jobs That Don’t Require Experience

Would you like to work-from-home, but you don’t have a college degree , or you lack prior job experience? No problem. If you’re willing to put your best foot forward, and you have the right soft skills, (think fast and accurate typing and excellent communication skills) — you can find remote work in a variety of fields. Appen – Raters, Microtasks, Translation, and Transcription Appen hires freelancers to work on a wide variety of projects like search and social media evaluation, translation, transcription, surveys, and data collection. Interested job candidates need to be at least 18 years old, with excellent communication, analytical, and web research skills. To work for Appen, you’ll need to pass their evaluation tests, which I’ve heard are very challenging. Cambly – English Tutors Cambly is a platform where non-native English speakers can practice their conversational English skills with native English speakers. To become a tutor with Cambly, all you’ll need is a reliable internet connection, a computer with a webcam, and good communication skills. At this time, Cambly only hires native English speakers, and the pay is $.017 per minute or $10.20 per hour. Payments are distributed every Monday via PayPal. Clickworker – Microtask Providers Clickworker is a microtask platform where you can work on small tasks like writing, translation, research, taking surveys, and data processing. Anyone, regardless of skills or experience, can register on the site. Clickworker’s initiation and training ensure that you have the proper competencies to work on the task at hand. Payments are made via PayPal once your account has reached a $10 threshold. Fancy Hands – Virtual Assistants For most virtual assistant jobs, you’ll need at least one year of experience. However, Fancy Hands hires beginners to complete tasks like internet research, data entry, and making phone calls. For these positions, you’ll need to have excellent communication skills, a reliable internet connection, and an audio headset with a microphone. In this freelance role, you’ll be paid $3.00 – $7.00 per task, and payments made via Dwolla every other Tuesday. Read: 5 Virtual Admin Jobs that Don’t Require Experience Figure Eight – Contributors Figure Eight hires individuals to complete project-based tasks like social media categorization, content moderation, transcription, and more. While you don’t need any experience to register with Figure Eight, you will need to satisfactorily complete low-paying tasks so that you can earn badges, which lead to higher-paying gigs. With this platform, you’ll be paid per task, and payments are distributed via PayPal. LawnStarter – Customer Support Reps and Writers LawnStarter hires full-time customer service representatives from FL, GA, NC, PA, OH, VA, TN, and TX. For this role, you’ll need to be detail-oriented and have excellent communication skills. LawnStarter prefers candidates with customer service experience, but it’s not required. The starting pay rate is $11 per hour. They also hires full-time, entry-level writers (no state-based location requirement for this job). For these positions, you’ll need to have solid writing skills, be a team player, a willingness to learn, and […]

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How To Become a Freelance Software Developer

Come on, be honest – how many times have you found yourself in a company of your friends or acquaintances and witnessed someone bragging about being a freelancer ? Usually, the sentence “Oh, I work from home (or from wherever I want, basically) gets everyone’s attention. Everyone wants to know how that person managed to become ‘their own boss’ and embark on a new business phase. And it often happens that each and every other person in the room starts thinking: “God, why can’t I do this?” Beep, mistake – oh, you can! Anyone who wants to improve their business plan and try to make a living in this way nowadays certainly has the opportunity to do so. And the best thing about this? source:interestingengineering.com It applies to so many different professions – writers , translators, graphic designers, artists, and many others – and among other, software developers, to whom we’ll pay a little bit more attention today. So, here’s the thing – you’ve just decided that software development is what you want to do and you’re sure you want it to be your vocation. You may already have some knowledge in this area. And you most likely imagine sitting on the patio, under lovely sun rays, with your laptop and a huge cup of coffee and doing your dream job. It’s true, this is one of the professions that are increasingly priced, and its bright future also reflects in research results that predict experts of this type will be increasingly sought after in the coming decades. Being a freelance software developer gives you a lot of freedom – you can manage your time and your deadlines according to your possibilities or mood, you can be in your comfy PJs all the time and also do it from anywhere in this world. You’re not tied to an office, you don’t think about being late for a bus… Ah, so many advantages. But this doesn’t come overnight. To get to this point, there’s a bunch of effort and learning on the way. Do you want to know how? Here are the basic steps. Invest in your knowledge source:interestingengineering.com You simply can’t survive in this sphere unless you have sufficient knowledge. A lack of studying, in this case, may be more than visible once you start ‘freelancing’ on platforms or with particular clients. And this… this automatically places you in a position inferior to that of those who have invested enormous effort into their knowledge. Therefore – start from step one and learn all that’s possible to learn. Whether it will be faculty related to this area, a couple of additional courses, online workshops and lessons, tutorials or any other way of learning… It’s entirely up to you. Do your best to accompany the material, research further and to get more familiar with all that with every day that passes by. If done regularly, not only will the results be present: they will be brilliant and amazing. Put your knowledge into […]

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Why The Freelancer Economy Is Preparing For Long-Term COVID-19 Impacts

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit freelance and full-time workers hard. Concerns about financial stability, job security and when or if workers will receive their next paychecks remain high for all personnel, including those in nonessential or newer roles and gig workers with less-regular incomes. The gig economy is huge, encompassing rideshare drivers, freelance photographers, self-employed business owners and many other participants — and the virus’s short-term effects have proven equally diverse. Those who have found work have reported that clients are asking to slash rates, for example, and some contractors are chasing down late payments. COVID-19’s long-term freelancing impacts could be much different than those arising in the short-term, however. The outbreak is revealing how integral gig workers already are, Marlon Litz-Rosenzweig, co-founder and CEO of online freelance hiring platform WorkGenius , noted in a recent interview with PYMNTS. Essential workers in the U.S. include freelance delivery drivers, order fulfillment workers and grocery clerks, who are all helping get necessary items to consumers and ensuring families can weather stay-at-home directives and quarantines. More traditional companies that have had to switch to remote operations may also be turning to freelancers as they find themselves working with tighter budgets and potentially with fewer team members following bottom line-saving measures like layoffs. These factors could lead to a future in which the remote, freelance model is more attractive to firms, Litz-Rosenzweig explained. “With COVID-19, [our company has seen] more demand than ever,” he said. “Companies are shifting to remote workforce models, and they are realizing that, ‘Oh, for a lot of the work we thought we needed people on premises. We don’t really need people on premises.’” He believes that shift will last well past the stay-at-home period that COVID-19 has brought about, and that freelancers could find more opportunities as companies search for talent without taking location into account. Regularly hiring freelancers will require shifts in how these entities find, work with and pay contractors, however, and may lead to a rise in online freelance platforms. Debating Freelancing’s Future The COVID-19 pandemic’s influence will likely not result in companies replacing full-time workers with gig economy participants, but it may create an atmosphere in which firms’ freelancer awareness increases and gig opportunities rise. Figuring out how that would look means examining the virus’s short-term impacts, as not all workers are seeing professional disruptions. One effect has been the same for both freelancers and full-time employees, however: Social distancing and stay-at-home protocols have decreased the number of workers on-site. “When people are saying, ‘Oh, the freelance world is getting harmed [by COVID-19],’ they are probably referring to on-premises gig work, which is like Uber and Lyft … or maybe hospitality gig work,” Litz-Rosenzweig said. “On-premises work is currently on hold, where everything needs to shift remotely, [but] you still need to get the work done.” The virus’s outbreak has not changed companies’ necessary tasks, but it may have reduced the time frames and resources firms have to complete them. Some companies may be […]

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Streamline your invoicing with this all-in-one freelancing tool

Freelancers are in increasingly high demand throughout countless industries right now—due in part to the recent coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent need for workers who can quickly adapt to the changing needs of consumers and businesses alike. But transitioning into a freelance position can be both unnerving and daunting, especially if you have to keep track of all of your expenses, billable hours, and invoices. Fiskl is here to help, by offering an all-in-one solution for freelancers and small businesses that want to streamline their workflow and simplify their accounting practices, and an all-access subscription is currently available for over 90% off its usual price at just $39.99. Ideal for freelancers but equally well-suited for small business teams, this multifaceted accounting platform offers a wide range of powerful tools that will help you automate accounting tasks, track expenses, organize inventories, and more. With Fiskl by your side, you’ll be able to take payments for your products and services online and via a smartphone with no physical contact, and clients will be able to pay for your services through a variety of convenient payment options that will help you boost sales and cut processing costs. This tool will even allow you to capture and process detailed receipts in seconds, and since your subscription allows access for three users at once your entire remote team will be able to use it in order to stay organized while you grow your business. Fiskl also supports ACH and direct deposit transfers in the US, meaning you’ll be able to eliminate payment fees every time you need to send or receive funds. Save money and time by streamlining your accounting and payment workflow with an all-access, three-person pass to Fiskl for just $39.99 —over 90% off its usual price for a limited time. Prices are subject to change.

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15 Invoicing Terms Every Freelancer Must Know

If you don’t get paid on time for the work that you do, you’re putting your freelance business is in jeopardy. That’s why you should be familiar with the following invoicing terms every freelancer must know. You’re going to need them to ensure that you get paid on-time – which will keep your cash flowing in. 1. Net 7, 10, 30, 60, 90. These terms are commonly used in the business world to indicate that net payment is due in either 7, 10, 30, 60, or 90 days after the invoice date. For example, if the invoice was dated April first and you used one of the most used payment terms, Net 30, then the payment would be expected before April 30. Even this is a popular term, it can still be confusing. Some believe that the specific days begin from the date the invoice is received, while others think it is from the date the invoice is issued. To avoid this problem, use a term that is more clear – such as, “Days” instead of “Net.” If you want to keep your cash flow positive, use shorter terms like, “Please make payment within 10 days.” 2. 2/10 Net 30. This term is related to Net 30. The client is still expected to make the payment within 30 days. However, it they submit payment within a shorter time frame, usually 10 days, they’ll receive a two percent discount off the invoice total. That small discount should be enough to motivate the client in making a faster payment. But, you are sacrificing two percent of the invoice amount. 3. EOM. This is short for “End of Month.” If you want to ensure that all of your invoices are paid in the same month as you completed the work, then it’s a good term to use on your invoices. On the downside, if you send out an invoice at the end of the month, you’re not giving the client much time to make the payment — which means that it probably won’t be paid on-time. Sending invoices at the beginning of the month give them more time to pay the invoice. you’ll be giving them more time. It’s probably best to only use this term if you’ve always sent out invoices on the same day of the month. 4. 15 MF. This simply means the 15th of the month following the invoice date. In other words, you’ll be paid on the 15th of every month. This term is an easy to create and stick to a budget and forecast your finances since it’s like clockwork. Just make sure that this is discussed with the client while negotiating so that you’re both on the same page. 5. Upon receipt. Invoices that are due upon receipt should be self-explanatory. You’re expecting to be paid as soon as possible after you’ve bill your client. This usually works best for smaller projects or if you have clients that usually pay within 24 hours. If you […]

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A Freelancer’s Guide to Managing Job Uncertainty During the Coronavirus Crisis

As the country grinds to a halt over COVID-19, and the federal government discusses sweeping legislation to help businesses and employees, freelancers may be left wondering: What’s in it for me? Freelance workers—which can include everyone from journalists and photographers to teachers and truckers—contribute $1 trillion to the economy, according to an October 2019 study by Upwork and the Freelancers Union. Yet their careers are often treated by policymakers as cute little hobbies meant to fill time until a “real” job comes along. “Freelancers are facing one of the most difficult times in modern history,” says Rafael Espinal, president of the Freelancers Union. “I don’t believe government has caught up to how we can be helpful to that population.” In some ways, the financial precarity many Americans are now facing is “business as usual” for everyone who depends on contract work to make ends meet. Clients come and go, flush months compensate for lean ones. Hopefully, through it all, a savings account builds. Still, if you’re one of the 57 million Americans who make up our freelance workforce, the next few months aren’t going to be easy. Here are some tips for freelancing in a time of crisis. Evaluate your finances If you’re lucky, you already have enough money saved up in your emergency fund to get you through the next few months. A good rule of thumb is to have 3-6 months’ worth of income in the bank. If you live in an expensive area, or have kids or other family members to support, it’s “often beyond,” says Douglas Boneparth, president of Bone Fide Wealth , which specializes in financial planning for freelancers. No matter how much (or little) savings you have, you should take a serious look at your expenses and start cutting back immediately. “Do everything you can to increase cash savings and liquidity to prepare yourself,” Boneparth says. It may be tempting to tap into retirement accounts early , including 401(k)s. But Boneparth cautions that, “People take the biggest step backward when they start to erode long-term savings for the sake of survival.” Some freelancers may have no choice, but it helps to be aware of tax penalties when withdrawing from these accounts, and at least for your own peace of mind, have a plan for continuing to save once things get back on track. If you’re part of a union or professional organization, don’t be shy about checking in with them to see what kinds of assistance are available to you. “We’re at the beginning of planning a relief fund to provide immediate cash to freelancers in dire situations,” Espinal says. Adjust your skillset Freelancers have always been scrappy, but Covid-19 is making them hustle even harder. “I’m seeing freelancers being very creative,” Espinal says. “Fitness instructors are using YouTube videos or Instagram, makeup stylists are giving tutorials on the internet … ” Think about your current client base, the needs you’ve filled for them in the past, and how you can be of […]

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Learn how to build a freelance empire with these online courses

TL;DR: Learn how to profit off your freelance career with the Become A Solopreneur Expert Bundle for $39, a 97% savings as of April 6. Pivoting from traditional employment to freelancing is not as easy as people make it out to be. You’ll definitely need a bit of guidance to navigate the change and become an in-demand hire in the current landscape – and this crash course bundle on becoming a solopreneur can help. Comprised of 10 courses spanning more than 66 hours, this expert bundle will help you create your own new career path. It’s packed with technical skills and advice on how to build a freelance empire from scratch and covers everything from Fiverr and Amazon FBA to SEO techniques and modern copywriting — all things you can use to make ends meet in 2020. Plus, it’ll only set you back $39. Here’s a sneak peek of the course catalog: Microsoft Excel: Data Visualization with Excel Charts and Graphs – Get a deep, comprehensive understanding of Excel’s data visualization tools and techniques, including when, why, and how to use each chart type, through interactive hands-on demos and exercises. Master of SEO – Learn expert SEO techniques to earn millions of impressions on Google and YouTube each month and convert those leads into customers. Freelance Bootcamp: The Comprehensive Guide – Discover how you can get your own freelance business running, create a portfolio, craft proposals, and design a system to manage projects, client communication, and generate leads. Start Freelancing and Become a Top Rated Fiverr Seller – Learn how to leverage Fiverr for success, including optimizing your profile for more traffic and sales and researching the best gigs. The Modern Digital Marketing Master Course – Get a crash course in digital marketing, learn how to sell your products and services on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy, and understand all the earning opportunities available. Build a Profitable Amazon FBA Store Without Private Labeling – Learn how to make selling on Amazon FBA a successful business venture by identifying and sourcing the best products to sell, sustainably scaling, and more. The Complete Digital Marketing Course – Get a complete education in building a powerful digital marketing campaign using Facebook Ads, Google AdWords, SEO, WordPress, social media, and more through lectures, quizzes, and hands-on practice. MailChimp 101: Learn Email Marketing – Learn how to optimize email content, build up your lists, and launch campaigns designed to succeed with MailChimp, the world’s largest marketing automation platform. Modern Copywriting: Writing Copy That Sells in 2019 – Learn how to write captivating copy that turns prospects into buyers with more than 60 expert-led lessons. How To Start Your Own Freelance Copywriting Business – Learn to write effectively and persuasively and understand how to find and charge clients for your writing. This bundle of courses is usually over $1,800, but it’s on sale for just $39 , which is a crazy steal. The Become A Solopreneur Expert Bundle — $39 See Details

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Online writing jobs in Kenya: 10 best freelance sites for writers

With the high rates of unemployment in the country, online writing jobs in Kenya provide freelancers with the opportunities to be self-employed. It is a field filled by people of all ages, hobbies, and even professions. Thanks to the high internet penetration in the country, you can write online from almost everywhere in the country as long as the connectivity in the area is good. This has also opened up the market for internet providers such as Safaricom, Telkom, Faiba, and many others to woo their clients with unbeatable offers in a very competitive market. In recent times employment opportunities have been hard to come by, but when they do, Kenyans take them with both arms. This has been the case with online writing. A few years ago, it was a field whose potential had not been utilized, but now almost everyone knows a thing or two about the trade. Since all you need is a computer and the internet, there is no reason why one shouldn’t try online writing to make extra cash. There are many high-paying writing jobs online with diverse categories, such as article writing and blogging. 10 online writing sites for writers Here are the 10 best freelance websites for writers: 1. Falcon Writers Falcon Writers is one of the best online writing sites in Kenya with a constant and reliable supply of jobs. There are many writing categories, and the content creator is at liberty to choose what he or she wants. The site is managed by experts with extensive experience in the industry. They pride themselves in providing the best rates and timely payments weekly. Also, the site has a bonus scheme for writers who have an excellent rating. Joining Falcon Writers ensures that you do not only make money online but also get a chance to train with the best. 2. Nerdy Turtlez Nerdy Turtlez has more than 400 employees. It hires both experienced and inexperienced writers. The site describes itself as a one-stop solution company for online education. Categories found here include SEO writing, marketing reports, technical writing, blogging, and whitepaper writing, just like other online writing job sites. Although based in Kolkata, they also have a presence in Kenya and recognize the reputation the country has garnered in this field. 3. Upwork Upwork is an online platform that offers diverse opportunities in writing, design & creative, sales & marketing, web, mobile & software development, and customer service, among others. Companies or individuals post jobs at Upwork for free, and then writers make their bids. Pay can be hourly or a fixed price, but invoices have to go through Upwork. Since this is a global company, there is a wide range of tasks, and there is a mobile app to make things even easier. Upwork is among the sites with online writing jobs in Kenya that pay through Mpesa. 4. Guru Guru is a writers’ paradise with opportunities in writing and translation, design & art, administrative & secretarial services, business & […]

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7 Effective Invoicing Strategies for Freelancers

Ask any freelancer why they’ve chosen this path. You’re bound to get responses like: you get to do what you love, and you can set your own schedule. Or a freelancer may tell you that they can work wherever they want. Sometimes it feels like there are many negatives to freelancing, such as finding work, keeping work, getting paid on-time, and paying taxes. In other words, there are a lot of responsibilities that need to be taken into account if you want to thrive as a freelancer. The good news is that getting paid on-time is one less thing you have to worry about. Implementing these seven effective invoicing strategies for freelancers. 1. Set clear payment terms. Your new clients should read your freelancer payment terms before the start of any work or agreements that are signed. Your terms will define your payment processes and what you expect from your clients. Terms can include everything from payment timeframes, payment methods, and late payment fines. These terms can be published on your website and in documents, such as project proposals and deposit invoices that you send to your clients. To get paid faster, keep your terms short and straightforward. For example, clearly state that you expect payments to be made 30 days after the invoice date has been sent. 2. Run a background check. Before beginning work for new clients, perform an essential client screening. This process may sound a bit overboard, but it will protect you from potentially working with a deadbeat client. Running a background check may take up some of your time, but it will prevent a lot of headaches when it’s time to bill your client. Do a little investigative work by checking out the clients’ website and social channels to verify if they’re legit. Ask your fellow freelancers if they’ve had any experiences with the client. Use your communication skills and interpersonal skills, along with your gut, when discussing the project. I always chat with a new client on the phone before agreeing to a project. It gives me a better idea of who they are and if we’re a good fit. It also allows me to ask more detailed questions on the scope of the project and their payment habits. 3. Automate and delegate. Invoicing and accounting software is a godsend for freelancers. It keeps all of your invoices, taxes, and other relevant documents organized. Some tools even come with features like time tracking so that you can accurately invoice billable hours. Most importantly, invoicing software also comes with powerful automation features that will save you a ton of time and money. The software lets you create recurring invoices , send upcoming payment reminders, and automatically follow-up on late payments. Don’t rely solely on automation. It’s still your responsibility to manage your bills. You will need to call a client when the invoice is late personally. If you don’t have the time or desire to keep track of these details, you can also consider […]

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Trends in Freelancing in the Era of Digital Transformation

eWEEK DATA POINTS: In order for enterprises to stay at pace with the competition, they need to have a pulse on what the IT workforce looks like today and what their teams will need in 5-10 years to prepare and retain talent. Digital transformation has been a buzzword and a reality among the enterprise community for several years, with many companies investing in cutting-edge technology to become more agile and efficient. With its potential benefits, digital transformation is not tomorrow’s strategy but is a real and critical need now. However, this transition requires specialized IT skills that are challenging to find in light of today’s tight labor market. In order for enterprises to stay abreast of their competitors, they need to have a pulse on what the IT workforce looks like today and what their teams will need in five to 10 years to prepare and retain talent. As an on-demand, online talent platform, Upwork has a birds’ eye-view on how the workforce is evolving. Tech is the largest category on the platform (everything from mobile development to information security and network admin), and executives are seeing a lot of demand driven by digital transformation initiatives In this eWEEK Data Points article, Upwork VP of Engineering and Product Mike Paylor offers five freelancing workforce trends to watch and what they reveal about the larger tech industry. Data 1: Distributed Teams At this critical moment in the talent war, “location” should not be an obstacle for hiring. According to Upwork’s Future Workforce Report , younger-generation managers are 28% more likely than their Baby Boomer counterparts to include remote workers on their teams. Additionally, with the current attempts to contain the spread of COVID-19, we are seeing early signs that this could accelerate businesses adjusting to allow for distributed work. Teams that put the right infrastructure and processes in place to be remote, will not only have a competitive advantage for talent, but will be set-up for success when it comes to longer term talent strategy. By not confining your business to a specific location, it opens the door to a larger and diverse talent pool, as well as unlocks more economic opportunities. Data Point 2: Upskilling with Independent Professionals With an evolving skills gap, enterprise companies are needing to look for unique ways to attract and retain the right talent. One way is to implement internal programs that provide current employees with education and new training to reskill. Another option is to hire external independent professionals who are equipped with the specific skills employers are looking for. Independent workers recognize that they are business owners and as such, they are more inclined to refine and grow their skills to stay competitive. According to Upwork’s “ Freelancing in America ” survey, “independent professionals are twice as likely as employees to have done skills training in the previous 6 months.” Data Point 3: An Increase in Cloud Experts In order to understand what enterprises are prioritizing in terms of technology, just take […]

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SPONSORED: A Guide to Accounting Basics for Freelancers

Freelancers have more to consider when it comes to accounting than the average employee. Here’s how to keep your business and personal expenses separate as a freelancer. For many people with full-time jobs, filing taxes requires little more than submitting W-2s, since full-time employers deduct taxes from paychecks. Freelancers, on the other hand, have no money withheld from their payments, and this lack of withholding is a huge reason why, when you’re a freelancer, accounting involves so many moving pieces that can be tough to understand and track. For starters, as a freelancer, you’ll need to properly organize personal and business expenses so you don’t confuse one with the other. Additionally, you’ll pay quarterly taxes to make up for the lack of money withheld from your payments. And if you’re new to freelancing, or you experience a large shift in your annual freelance income, you’ll also pay one large lump sum of taxes on or around Tax Day. If this all seems overwhelming, rest assured that many technologies exist to make accounting easie r for you. If you master the basics of freelancer accounting before using these technologies, you should have minimal issues when it comes time to file your taxes. Freelancer accounting basics As a freelancer, chances are that none of your clients are withholding tax money from your paychecks. Therefore, you’ll need to track all money your clients pay you so that, come tax time, you don’t accidentally underpay your self-employment tax. This tax includes federal income tax and your contributions to Social Security and Medicare, all of which full-time employers automatically withhold from their employees. Although your clients won’t withhold money from their payments to you, they’re still legally required to report the amount they pay you to the IRS. To make sure they can properly do so, you’ll need to file your Form W-9 with each of your clients. This form shares your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number with your clients so they can successfully inform the IRS of their payments to you. Unlike a Form W-4 that you’d file with a full-time employer, a Form W-9 signifies that you’re a freelancer working as a separate business, not a full-time employee. Any clients who pay you $600 or more during a calendar year will use your Form W-9 and income information to issue you a Form 1099-MISC or 1099-K. (You’ll only receive the latter if you take payments by credit card.) Your clients will also file these forms with the IRS to show how much they’ve paid you, so it’s crucial that you include all 1099 forms with your tax return. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll still need to report all of your non-1099 income on your tax return. Your income comprises all the money that you earn, not just money that your clients report to the IRS. For example, if one of your clients pays you less than $600 during a calendar year, you still need to include this amount in your yearly […]

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8 Things That Will Make Your Freelance Life Easier

If you’re a freelancer then you know just how hard it can sometimes get. The life of a freelancer is filled with highs and lows and we are very much prone to mood swings and negativity. As a freelancer, you are all on your own. It is your duty to find new work, deal with the clients, regulate your schedule, and take care of all the technical stuff. Despite all that, we also know just how liberating and exciting freelancing can be. It is both the blessing and the curse, and that usually depends on our approach. I’ve personally experienced both sides of it and I’ve learned how to make things easier for me. Here are eight things that will make your freelance life way easier. 1. High-Quality Equipment There is nothing worse than being stuck with a malfunctioning piece of equipment right in the middle of a project. There’s really nothing you can do at that point but postpone the work until you get it fixed. I’m talking about your computer, laptop, mac, phone, or whatever it is that you’re using to get the job done. And even if your equipment works, it can still be slow or glitchy causing you to lose both time and patience when you should be focusing on the task. That’s why it’s essential to invest in high-quality equipment, whether that be your laptop, phone, or your car. It may cost more in the short term but it will surely benefit you in the long run. Carrying high-quality equipment enables you to work more efficiently by minimizing downtime and you don’t have to worry about replacing it for years to come. With the best equipment on your hands, you can focus on delivering your best work. 2. Productivity Tools There is no doubt about it that freelancing gives you freedom and flexibility to choose your client and working hours, but it is also a truth that it takes a lot of self-motivation and dedication to be successful as a freelancer. You must stay productive every day because if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Fortunately, there are some tools that help you stay focused and organized on the job and they’re all field-tested. Tools like Toggl help you track time, you can use Evernote to take notes, Todoist for management, Trello for project management, Omnifocus for keeping track of personal and professional projects, and there’s a lot more. There are many other options out there, so I suggest you figure out what exactly is draining your time and then start with that. A simple Google search will do the trick. Speaking of tools, some of my favorites are used for invoicing and contracts in general. Some other things you can do to stay productive apart from using tools include: Set a Schedule As a freelancer, you must set a daily schedule to keep yourself organized. Each morning, you can spend about half an hour to plan your day. You can set a […]

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Scott O. Hirsch Offers Advice on Working with Freelancers

In times of disruption, Scott O. Hirsch believes freelancers are a smart answer to fill temporary gaps in employment needs. DELRAY BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2020 / With the current Coronavirus pandemic, many Americans find themselves stuck at home due to social distancing. While some people are working from home for their regular employers, those who have lost jobs are turning to the gig economy. This could be a big opportunity for businesses to start working with freelancers, and Scott O. Hirsch took to his medium to share some advice for large and small businesses that are now turning to this readily available workforce. Scott is a serial entrepreneur who clearly has what it takes to run a successful business. He’s also an internationally-recognized expert in digital data marketing and has used freelancers in the past to start several companies that have gone on to be acquired by industry leaders. He shares that businesses struggling in the current economy should think about the money they save by working with freelancers. “The math is pretty simple,” says Hirsch . “You don’t pay freelancers benefits, nor do you pay their taxes.” Additionally, freelancers are usually responsible for paying for their own office supplies, including things like computers, internet, and software. It’s clear to see why Scott Hirsch believes that hiring freelancers can be a positive decision for business owners. If you’re nervous about hiring new workers remotely, Hirsch notes that working with freelancers gives you the opportunity to “try before you buy”. In this day and age, companies need workers who are flexible. They need people who are go-getters and able to manage their own time wisely. It’s hard to assess these skills in a job interview. Unlike those who have always worked in traditional office settings, freelancers have been completing projects without heavy-handed oversight for years. They usually have the skills, but you can check out those skills without a big commitment. Hirsch says, “Working with freelancers gives you a chance to see what kind of people you want on your team and what kind of people you don’t.” If you really like the freelancer you’ve hired, you may have the opportunity to hire them full-time. If you don’t think they’re a good fit, you can simply move on to the next person once their project is complete. Scott O. Hirsch also believes that freelancers may also represent a natural source of brand advocates. Once a freelancer has a positive experience with your company, they’ll become loyal supporters. “This means they’ll be proud to include the work they did for you in their portfolios, and they’ll probably be glad to share your social media content via their own channels.” There’s never been a better time to work with freelancers, and by following the advice of Scott O. Hirsch , you’ll see positive impacts on your business. To learn more great business tips you can follow Scott on Twitter or his website http://scotthirsch.com/ . CONTACT: SOURCE: Web Presence, […]

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The Gig Economy: your startup’s survival guide during coronavirus

If there’s one thing that the current coronavirus pandemic is showing, it’s that remote work can be done on a massive scale. Remote working might be new for a lot of people but it’s the norm for about 11 million people in the EU currently working in the gig economy – the fastest growing segment in the EU labour market . It’s no longer seen as an alternative work option to supplement full-time jobs, but rather appreciated as a viable choice to earn a living, as well as provide a strategic source of global talent for startups and companies alike. According to the European Commission’s report on trends shaping the future of work in Europe, jobs are increasingly broken down into projects , meaning that more and more startups will be contracting freelancers for project-based support. During development phases and countless product iterations, freelancers can test out new ideas or change existing ones at minimal risk. For communication or marketing projects, companies can bring on copywriters, bloggers, digital marketers and graphic designers. Startups can take advantage of the gig economy. And they should, especially during the early stages. Freelancers level the playing field for startups, allowing them access to world-class talents and specialists at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time employees. In the study released by Malt on European freelancers , over 52% have Masters or PhD degrees and on average have over 4 years’ experience before freelancing. Given the current climate, your team may not have full-time hiring on their mind. However, working with a freelancer could give your team the opportunity to continue to grow with external expertise, as well as support the freelancers out there whose projects may have temporarily dried up. However you look at it, the gig economy is here to stay, so here is our take on how you, the founders, can best use it to boost your growth right now. See working with freelancers as a stepping stone Due to the current pandemic, full-time hiring might not be on the cards right now. That said, finding a short-term freelancer in a certain market to help boost one aspect of your business, can bring a fresh-eye, some much needed creativity, and act as an extra pair of hands during a difficult period, for as many hours as you need. On the other side of the coin, supporting freelancers whose projects may have temporarily dried up will allow them to stay afloat and could potentially act as a new stamp of approval on their CV. And who knows, if the collaboration is successful, it could help you think about an old problem in a new way, or lead to something bigger, like the expansion of your business or product in an unexpected but welcome direction. 2. Breakdown the project into manageable tasks Break down the big picture into easily digestible chunks. This way it is much easier to match the task to the freelancer you will need. It is also easier to […]

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