Top 7 Advantages of Hiring Remote Freelancers

Top 7 Advantages of Hiring Remote Freelancers Since the invention of the fax machine, workers have been able to work remotely. In the 80s, there was a small contingent who crusaded the effort but, ultimately, adoption was quite limited. With the invention of the internet, instant communication across long distances became possible. Still, businesses were leery of adopting a technology they didn’t understand, and that was yet untested and unproven. After a few decades ironed out some kinks of working online, remote work is now seeing a surge in popularity. Remote work is exploding in demand as it has gone from a niche rarity to a workplace necessity, and it will be a trend in the next years. People need to be able to work at home as this can save money, time, and boost productivity. It’s healthier, too; it’s preferable to having a sick employee show up for work. While your company may be inexperienced with hiring remote freelancers, venturing out into the world of flexible freelancing has some key advantages. Remote workers are incredibly efficient. Many companies have been sluggish to adopt remote work into their standard hiring patterns in the hopes of routing technological distractions, or a somewhat fantastic idea of what people do at home. However, people who work from home are much more likely to produce more efficient hours compared to traditional employees. This is because there are ultimately fewer distractions at home compared to a traditional working environment rife with draconian management and haphazard bureaucracy. With fewer potentialities to consider overall, remote workers can focus on their work instead of their environment. It’s cost-effective. An incredible benefit of remote work is that it allows businesses to increase productivity while reducing costs. Part of this reduction comes from the offices themselves and all of the spending required to keep printers filled with ink and paper. Instead, companies can rely on remote talent to have supplies and technology that allows them to be productive at home . The liability that is typically faced by companies is also massively reduced in remote work arrangements as many remote developers choose to work at home. These limited working environments allow companies to focus on their products instead of their payroll. Employees who telecommute hold higher opinions of their employers. Boosting morale at work can be an impossible task at times. Another primary reason to consider adopting remote work in some fashion: employees typically report higher job satisfaction. That’s right: merely being free of the distractions and doldrums of office life can motivate your workers to perform better, communicate more often, and hold higher opinions of managers and corporate officers within the company. Employees who telecommute are less stressed. Remote work is an incredibly beneficial form of symbiosis that helps eliminate costs for businesses while improving the overall well being of the remote worker. Allowing employees to work from home means that they are always there for their families while still producing exceptional work for the business. This relationship […]

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Making the leap from freelancer to small business entrepreneur

Increasingly, the USA is a nation of freelancers. In fact, according to some figures the number of people making their living through freelance work rose. However, the time may come when the nomadic life of a freelance worker begins to tire, and you find yourself thinking about taking a step that will allow you remain your own boss, while also exploring ambitious new avenues – starting your own business. From developing a professional business plan to exploring flexible office space solutions, we explore how freelancers can make that leap from solo player to small business entrepreneur. Develop Your Business Plan According to https://de.bitcoins-profit.com , freelancing and launching a business each require a distinct mindset when it comes to setting goals and laying out targets. While the freelancer will focus on these things on a job by job basis, the small business entrepreneur must think of the long-term strategy of their newly developed company. It is therefore an important and helpful step to create a thorough, detailed business plan that coherently sets out what the business does, where you hope to bring it to, and how you hope to get there. As well as helping you to clarify your own vision for the business, this plan will prove essential when pitching the business to other people, whether you’re looking for suppliers to get your operations of the ground, or funding opportunities to give your idea the financial kick start it needs. Choose Your Location Wisely One of the most significant emerging business trends of recent years has been the move away from traditional office space in favour of more flexible and cost-effective workplace solutions. These days, you’re as likely to find global names like Microsoft working out of a London coworking space as gig-economy big hitters like Deliveroo. The right option for your business will depend upon your unique circumstances – your size and structure, for example. But it’s important to think strategically not only about the location of your business base, but the type of workspace that you operate out of, as well. Network/Build Client Base Having a reliable base of willing customers form the very beginning of your business journey is an essential step. As a freelancer, you will most likely have carried out jobs for various other businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs. Retaining links with all of these, and maintaining a good, professional relationship will prove to be a huge advantage when you do decide to make the leap into the world of small business. They will know you and your work already, and will therefore be more likely to hire your small business’ services than rely on a business they have never dealt with before. These contacts can also prove to be useful by putting you in contact with other potential customers, as well as suppliers and service providers that you need to establish your own business . Avoid the Common Pitfalls From leaping headfirst into a market that simply has no gaps or openings, to launching […]

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Your Guide To Winning New Clients As A Freelance Video Editor

It’s never too late to become a freelance video editor. If you are passionate about it, anytime is the right time to take it up as a profession. With the advancement of technology, the demand for video content to promote brands or products is rising day by day. With the latest communication system, you can easily collaborate remotely for any assistance or tool. Many are quitting their 9 to 5 job to build up their career in video editing. Despite having immense love for video editing and increasing demand in the market, I can’t recommend leaving your office job unless you already have a few freelance clients. This article is a step by step guide to get more clients and to thrive in this domain. Where Will You Find Work? If you don’t have enough clients to become confident about converting your hobbies into your career and putting the first step towards the beautiful, stress-free life of freelancing, you will find some impactful ways to attract new clients. These tips will help you to switch from an office-based job holder to a successful freelancer. Enhance Your Connections With People It is truly rewarding. Your personal, as well as professional connections, will act as a blessing to find new customers. The more you will come in contact with others, the more your creativity will get exposed to a broader spectrum. And you will probably find clients within your close community or through them. So, communicate with people during any social function, festival, or event. This would be extremely beneficial for you. Apart from this, you can also use social media to get clients. Write about your work, post a few glimpses of your work. Clients may contact you to see your works. Also, find the online community related to the particular field you are looking to work for. You will get to know peers hanging out there. Post a comment against related blog posts to get exposure. This may also lead to new clients. One fine morning, you may receive the client’s email expressing interest in hiring you for an upcoming project. Keep your doors open in every possible way so that the relevant people can reach you. Your behavior is also crucial, along with your work quality, to find clients within the personal or local community. Be nice to everyone you meet for the sake of your growth as a freelancer. Build a Strong Rapport with Existing Clients It is easier to grow your work with someone you have worked for than to seek new people. You can have the courage to leave the office job when you know that clients are loving your creative videos and are willing to engage you in their upcoming projects. After leaving the job, you can devote more time to them. If you have excellent terms with your clients, you can signal them that you are looking for more work and trying to take up freelancing as full-time work. They may help you […]

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New To Freelancing? 16 Tips For Landing Your First Client

As companies begin to hire more contract workers over full-time employees, the “gig economy” is becoming a viable option for full-time employment. However, with more freelancers, it’s harder to stand out when there’s more competition for work. It can be especially difficult trying to land your first freelance gig. To help those who are new to the world of freelancing, we asked members of Forbes Coaches Council to share some advice for landing your first client. Their best responses are below. Members discuss strategies freelancers can adopt to land their first clients. 1. Know Yourself First Are you trying to accommodate everyone? Well, you will find yourself with no clients. Let your personality shine. Be honest about your times, family situation and deadlines. Some people look for a 9-to-5 person while others just need someone to meet deadlines and get other tasks done. Find who you are before to find who to work with. – Susan Ibitz , Human Behavior Lab 2. Build Referral Partnerships Build referral partnerships and alliances with businesses, entrepreneurs and freelancers in other industries who already work with the kind of clients you are looking to land. Most freelancers focus on networking only with prospective clients. If you ally with partners who can introduce you and exchange client referrals mutually, then you will set yourself up to be a competitive freelancer. – Christie Samson Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify? 3. Start With What You Know Try one of the freelance platforms like Fiverr that offer introductory prices. Use the testimonials and feedback as a way into other more lucrative gigs. I got my first freelance job at an ad agency and I used that to open doors at cable TV networks. Think about other companies and industries that could use your talent and expertise. Start looking for the next gig while you’re working at the current one. – Susan Sadler , Sadler Communications LLC 4. Treat Them Like A Client Before They Sign Finding good people to work with can be tough. Those looking for freelance help want to minimize their chance of risk. Even if you don’t have much contracting experience yet, don’t display hesitation. Treat everyone that comes through your door as a guest, not a prospect. Show them you mean business by properly welcoming them, listening to them, being helpful and showing honest enthusiasm for the job. – Thom Pulliam , Unicorn Talent Club 5. Schedule Frequent Conversations Schedule your calendar with conversations to increase opportunities and uncover hidden resources. It’s not about what you can do for the client; it’s about listening, uncovering their pain points and offering solutions. Even if an initial conversation doesn’t lead to an immediate client, when you add value, people will remember. Nine times out of 10, they will seek you out down the road. – Erin Miller , Erin Miller Inc 6. Create An Ideal Customer Profile Approach your target audience with selection. You […]

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4 Secrets To Successful Freelancing In 2020: ‘That’s What The Highest-Paid Freelancers Do’

UPWK – 4 Secrets To Successful Freelancing In 2020: ‘That’s What The Highest-Paid Freelancers Do’ Freelancing isn’t quite what it used to be. The old framework typically included one-off projects in photography, writing, transcription or a similar field amounting to part-time employment. “Today, freelancing is way bigger,” Nick Tubis, founder of Freelanceclients.com, told Benzinga. “Freelancing is kind of like the new consultant. You can start a freelance business, and it really could be anything.” The gigs are often full-time and include sales, customer service, human resources, public relations, marketing and accounting — “things that add value to a business.” The new freelancing model leverages technology to find clients quickly worldwide, Tubis said, adding that most freelancers contract with businesses rather than individuals. “It’s really helping businesses solve a problem.” Where Freelancing Is Going : Recent global events have been a boon for the freelance industry, he said. “Because of what’s going on with COVID-19, businesses are hiring more freelancers than ever before,” Tubis said. Options Trade Ideas from Benzinga In this market, there’s never been a better time to profit with options. Get Benzinga Options: Starter Edition to follow Nic Chahine’s high-conviction options trades. Click here to subscribe. The industry has opened up employment opportunities for older generations. Tubis’ website, which offers free training programs to budding freelancers, serves mostly baby boomers, he said. “The reason why is not just because of COVID-19. It’s that people don’t retire at age 50 anymore like they used to. People want to continue to work even if it’s a part-time thing,” he said, noting that many companies choose younger candidates over baby boomers due to wage cost or tech proficiency. Tubis recently interviewed some of the highest-paid freelancers listed on Upwork Inc UPWK to figure out their secrets to success. Secret No. 1: Identify what’s in demand. While the freelancer terminal on Upwork shows only the “help wanted” posts of prospective clients, the client terminal shows the going rate for projects within different skillsets. Tubis recommends that freelancers set up a client account to determine how much money peers make for different projects and then tailor their offerings to provide the highest-paid services. Secret No. 2: Focus early on getting reviews. “Focus on small jobs in the beginning that you can do really quickly: short-term, fast jobs that you can do quickly to get five-star reviews really quickly, and then clients will start reaching out to you and you don’t have to reach out to them,” Tubis said. Secret No. 3: Raise the rates. “To make as much as possible and have more freedom, you have to max out your rates as much as you can,” he said. He recommends testing demand at different prices by increasing the rate 20% each month until demand peaks. Secret No. 4: Transition to a virtual agency model. Tubis recommends that, once demand far exceeds supply, freelancers train and hire other freelancers to share the work and support more clients. “That is what the highest paid […]

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Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits for Freelancers

Unemployment Benefits for Freelancers During Pandemic

As a freelance teacher, we at Freelancing Buzz are here to support you during the highs and lows of working in the gig economy. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, you may be facing a low time right now. Thankfully, for the first time in history, there may be financial help available for freelancers. Whether you are a freelancing content writer, freelance web developer, or you do freelance graphic design work, you could qualify for unemployment benefits should you lose your clients as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Trump signed the CARES Act as a result of the massive unemployment that has occurred as a result of coronavirus. For the first time, individuals who are self-employed or who are working as independent contractors are eligible to receive state unemployment benefits. Of course, you must be “able to work but unable to do your job as a result of the pandemic” to be eligible to receive the benefits.

To figure out how much you could receive in unemployment, contact your state’s unemployment department. Once you have determined the amount of unemployment benefits that you are eligible to get from your state, add $600 per week that comes from the CARES Act.

For example, according to the Los Angeles Times, California workers can earn about 46% of working wages, with a maximum benefit of $450 per week. On top of that amount, Californians could add $600 per week that comes from the federal government’s CARES Act. This means that freelancers in California may be able to draw $4,200 per month in unemployment.

The amount, of course, varies from state to state, so you need to check with your local unemployment office to see what percentage of your average salary you could be eligible to receive.

As you look at the amount that you could receive in unemployment as a freelancer, you may realize that you would make more collecting unemployment than you regularly do working as a freelancer each week. This may be true for other Americans as well. 

What is important to know is that the extra $600 per week that you will receive through the CARES Act will end at the end of July. If your employment is uncertain, you may want to save back some of these “extra” funds that you are receiving each month to help pay your bills after July.

Currently, freelancers are eligible to collect unemployment benefits for 39 weeks or until the end of the year, whichever comes first. It is unsure whether or not unemployment will be available for freelancers after the first of the year.

To receive these benefits, contact your state’s unemployment office. Those working at unemployment offices across the country describe a tremendous backlog. That and slow computer systems are delaying the process. In fact, according to this article on VOX, most freelancers who have applied for unemployment still have not received any aid as of the last few days of April.

We know that a lot of the news we have shared with you seems rather dire. After all, no one wants to hear how difficult it is to receive the benefits, and that those benefits may expire well before coronavirus goes away.

Instead, we prefer to look at the silver lining.

1. Freelancers are used to a flexible income.

The good news is that most freelancers are used to earning a flexible income. Like commissioned salespeople, freelancers may be used to the feast or famine mentality. They know to save money on particularly good months, so they can get by during months when the jobs don’t seem as plentiful.

2. Freelancers are used to hustling.

Most freelancers had to work hard to build their client base. They built their business from scratch, adding one client at a time. Some freelancers did this while also working their regular 9 to 5 job. They no the importance of trial and error, and they know that freelance positions do not last forever.

Others who work outside of the gig economy may freak out if they lose their jobs. A freelancer will shrug and immediately begin to write more proposals.

3. Talented freelancers can work in multiple industries.

We know that if you are a niche writer in the travel industry, you probably aren’t getting many jobs right now. The good news is those good writers can write about anything. Even though the travel industry is suffering, some industries are doing incredibly well. 

Let us know your experience with being an unemployed freelancer. Were you able to apply for unemployment benefits through your state easily? Have you received the money yet?

This article was originally posted at Freelancing buzz.

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6 secrets to successfully competing for freelance projects

Registering on Workana is just the first step to successful freelancing – it can be challenging to get hired for new projects. Here is a guide from someone who has been there, and with a few adjustments became one of the top talents on the platform. 1. Understand your role as a freelancer The first order of business is to understand one’s role as a professional on the Workana platform. It can be tempting to try to cover multiple fields, but it is best to choose a single field and focus on it. If a portfolio consists of examples of graphic design with development, community management and virtual assistance, eliminate the fields one does not specialise in and focus on improving one’s main skill set. A solid profile that demonstrates specialisation in design or development will show the client expertise in a certain area. It is better to be a master of one field than try to be a jack of all trades with lower-quality results. 2. Personalise your messages to clients The second secret to increasing the percentage of projects won is to carefully tailor the message that is sent to the client when applying for a project. Dozens of new projects are posted every day and, yes, writing a personalised message to each client can get tedious, but think about it. There are hundreds of professionals looking to get hired for this project, so take the time to read over the client’s needs and respond to them accordingly. Tip: Start the message with the client or company’s name. This adds personalisation and establishes trust. 3. Be patient Be brief and do not force a proposal the first time. Start a conversation with the client and then establish a plan and determine the cost. Remember to always keep communication on the platform to prevent one’s account or the client’s account from being negatively affected. 4. Know how to pick your projects Speaking of personalised messages, one of the most crucial points to help increase the percentage of projects won is knowing how to pick which projects to apply for. There may be 10 projects available in one’s field but not all of them will be a good fit. It is important to clearly define the ideal client and the industries that are the best fit. In order to obtain this information, analyse the 10 most recent clients and identify which elements help define them as the “ideal client”. This can be communication, budget, the market, the way they provide instructions, country and so on. With that list, go back to the available projects and after reading each project’s requirements, look for those elements. Once the ideal client has been identified, the freelancer can provide a much more effective solution and increase the likelihood of being hired. 5. Show empathy Remember that selling the service is not the goal, providing solutions is. Take the time to completely understand the client’s problem and send a proposal that demonstrates one is […]

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6 signs that the future of work is here today

As software continues to eat the world , companies must find ways to build more innovative teams. For these companies, The Future of Work is here today. How companies reshape the way they engage digital talent will have a huge impact on their ability to innovate. Here are six ways digital leaders are creating The Future of Work now. 1. Remote workers and work from home teams are the new normal The best talent is not always located where you are. Even within a company, silos can prevent the right people from working on the most critical innovation projects. Making it possible for team members to work remotely is the only way to liberate talent across the company. This is also the only way to source critical skill gaps that are not available inside the company, like AI/ML engineers. Supporting distributed teams calls for adopting a common set of processes and collaboration tools, including Slack, Github and Jira. 2. Hybrid teams beat monoculture teams Innovation requires a diverse mix of talent. The most innovative teams blend in-house employees who have industry context with expert global talent who have advanced technical skills. This is the opposite of the traditional systems integration model that outsources innovation. Hybrid teams also have the value of helping companies build in-house skills by working side by side with expert freelance talent. 3. Elastic Staffing beats fixed staffing Many companies adopt agile team processes but staff teams inefficiently — they follow a fixed staffing model that allocates each role as a full-time position for the duration of a project. This is only half agile. Because it makes experimentation too expensive to try, and reduces employee mobility and satisfaction. Compare this to Elastic Staffing, which allocates resources based on the workload for each project phase. For example, developers can join a project after the detailed design is complete, and technical architects may only be needed part time. Elastic Staffing can reduce the total hours to deliver innovative products by over 50%. 4. Employees want to be treated more like freelancers Top employees want the freedom and flexibility to choose how they work and what they work on. This doesn’t have to require radical organizational changes. For example, applying the Google 20% rule, where workers can choose their own projects 20% of the time, can boost morale and build skills. This lets more senior employees peer review deliverables from other projects to reduce risk. It also helps more junior employees grow by being exposed to new business and technology challenges. 5. Freelancers want to be treated more like employees Top freelancers want stability and work benefits without sacrificing their flexibility. Companies that learn how to work effectively with freelancers will have their pick of the best global talent. This includes setting up projects for success with distributed teams, incorporating advanced technologies, and providing predictability for freelancers that helps them plan effectively. In California, laws like AB5 are beginning to mandate providing more benefits for freelance workers, and putting […]

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Be Your Own Boss – 5 Rewarding Work-From-Home Career Paths

Image: Pexels.com ExecutiveChronicles.com | Be Your Own Boss – 5 Rewarding Work-From-Home Career Paths | The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we can do almost anything we set our minds to, including working from home on a grand scale. In fact, TIME magazine has dubbed this crazy time as “the world’s largest work-from-home experiment.” As the business world takes social isolation to a whole new level, it might be time to consider a new career in something that follows a more digital path. If you’re looking for a rewarding career you can do in your pajamas, consider the suggestions below. Medical Transcriptionist While most medical transcriptionists work for hospitals and doctor’s offices, their job is such that it can be done from just about anywhere, including from home, once they’ve completed the online tutoring program required. All that’s needed to do this remote job is a desk, a computer, a headset, and a relatively quiet work environment, with the average medical transcriptionist earning about $16-17 an hour. A lot of transcriptionists are self-employed, which means retirement benefits and health insurance aren’t part of the deal, but if hired by a medical facility, they often reap these benefits just like traditional in-office employees. Virtual Assistant As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in most areas of the world, many businesses have gone online, making the work of virtual assistants more important than ever before. While the tasks performed by a virtual assistant varies from company to company, duties often include composing and answering emails, preparing company documents, scheduling appointments, writing content, and more. Virtual assistant wages vary greatly as it depends on who you work for and what your tasks are. However, on average, a virtual assistant can make anywhere from $26,000 to $46,000 a year. Website Development One of the fastest-growing career paths these days is website development. While there are tools online that anyone with a computer can use to create a website, true, professional website creation is something only a trained developer can accomplish. Most website developers work from home – or anywhere with a fast enough internet connection. All they need is expert knowledge and a laptop to create online portals for companies and individuals anywhere in the world. The average salary for a web developer is about $62,000 a year, but some top-level website builders earn as much as $120,000 annually. Freelance Content Creator Written content is king when it comes to marketing and catering to consumers online. Many large companies have in-house writers, but smaller businesses have discovered the massive savings that can be made by hiring freelance content writers from sites like Upwork and Mediabistro. The median earnings for a freelance writer vary greatly depending on the nature of the pieces you write and your experience level, but some writers earn between $60,000 and $120,000 a year. Blogging Blogging is an online job that takes a little time to get going, but once it does, it can be a great source of income […]

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FUTURE PROOF: Time for reinvention

IN the past two months, I’ve been writing about how businesses can change to cope with the Covid-19 crisis. But what about freelancers? They have been hard hit by the pandemic too. So, yes, they too have to evolve and upgrade themselves to become more marketable in this very challenging business climate. I have many friends who are freelancers — writers, photographers, designers and so on. Most of them have seen work dry up. The three core principles that I think companies should follow would apply to them as well, which is to be more serious about having an online presence, expand one’s offerings and collaborating with others. Let’s look at how a freelancer can do each of these things. ONLINE PRESENCE A lot of freelancers get their work through word of mouth. A surprising few have their portfolio online. Even fewer would have official websites and Facebook pages. In good times, word of mouth was enough to keep them busy, so they didn’t need these things. But times have changed. Drastically. With most companies seeing a decline in business, the need for services of freelancers have declined too. As such, it’s really important to enhance your branding and marketing to reach a broader range of people. There’s no better and more effective way to do this than through the Internet. For starters, you should have an official website that can act as a central hub, where people can go to and find out more about you, see your portfolio, find links to your social media pages and get your contact details. You can easily build a professional website using DIY platforms like Wix.com, which offers hundreds of templates for you to choose from. Once you find something you like, you can customise and modify the template designs and make it your own. No special programming skills are required, just creativity. Your website can be rather static. You don’t have to continually update your website but you should regularly update your social media pages. You should have an official Facebook page that’s different from your personal Facebook profile. For the official page, keep it open so everybody can see it. You can (and perhaps should) keep your personal profile page private. Another social media platform worth investing time on is LinkedIn. You should regularly post samples of your work there too. Unlike Facebook, which has a low organic reach (you have to use Facebook Ads if you really want to reach a lot of people), LinkedIn allows you to reach a lot of people through organic reach. Don’t just post samples of your work without context though. Type a few words to give context. In doing so, you’ll be engaging in content marketing, which is really the best way to capture someone’s attention these days. EXPAND YOUR OFFERINGS If you’re having difficulty getting enough work, it makes sense to offer more services than just what you normally do. That may mean having to learn new skills that are related […]

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Kickstart Your Freelance Career With This Course Bundle for only $29.99

Today’s highlighted deal comes via our Online Courses section of the Neowin Deals store , where you can save 98% off* the Kickstart Your Freelance Career Course Bundle . Passion and business in one! Turn your love for writing into a profitable career with 13+ hours of content on freelancing, platforms, and marketing. What’s the deal? This bundle consists of the following courses: Kickstart a Freelance Editor & Proofreader Career on Upwork Build Your Online Freelance Editing & Proofreading Career Today! Fiverr: Start a Profitable Fiverr Freelance Business Today Earn a Side Income Using One of the Top Tools Available to Freelancers Today Freelance Success For Artists: A Quick & Easy Guide Get Started & Build Your Freelance Empire the Smart Way The Complete Freelance Writing Course Build an Impressive Portfolio, Find Ideal Clients & Become a Valuable Freelancer Freelance Kickstart: Start a Successful Business You Love Learn How to Get Paid to Pursue Your Passions Sales & Marketing for Freelancers Learn to Market Yourself As a Freelancer & Obtain a Stable Number of Clients Freelance Wealth Kit: Get Started Freelancing Become a More Successful Freelancer & Generate Long Term Wealth How to Win Jobs Freelancing on UpWork Launch an Online Freelance Career by Mastering UpWork Good to know Length of time users can access this course: lifetime Certification of completion included Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase For terms, certification and instructor info, click here . What’s the benefit? This Kickstart Your Freelance Career Course Bundle normally costs $1,592 but it can be yours for only $29.99 , that’s a saving of $1,562.01 (98%) off! >> Get this deal, or learn more about it << See all Online Courses on offer. This is a time limited deal. Get $1 credit for every $25 spent · Give $10, Get $10 · 10% off for first-time buyers. Not for you? If this offer doesn’t interest you, why not check out the following offers: Disclosure : This is a StackCommerce deal or giveaway in partnership with Neowin; an account at StackCommerce is required to participate in any deals or giveaways. For a full description of StackCommerce’s privacy guidelines, go here . Neowin benefits from shared revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site , and it all goes toward the running costs.

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12 Best Websites to Make Money Online

Whether you want to launch a side gig to generate regular part-time income or you’re looking for some quick extra cash, there are websites that can help you do it. Consider these top resources to make money online : — Upwork.com — Fiverr.com — Etsy.com — TaskRabbit.com — Wonder.com — ThredUp.com — Swap.com — Gazelle.com — Cardpool.com — OfferUp.com — Neighbor.com — Merch by Amazon Depending on whether you’re looking to earn extra money quickly or build a long-term income stream, each of the following websites offers unique advantages tailored to different needs and interests. Read on for more information on each site. Upwork If you’re a freelancer, or you’ve become one due to losing a job, you might want to look around Upwork.com and look and see if anyone is hiring for gigs that you would be good at. Sanket Abhay Desai is a digital marketing consultant in Herndon, Virginia, and he says that he has found a lot of work on Upwork. “Upwork is basically a global ‘e-lancing’ platform where businesses and freelancers from all over the world can connect and collaborate on certain projects,” Desai says. “Businesses usually can hire freelancers for a variety of different services. This includes writing, web design, running SEO campaigns and so on.” Desai says that last year, he made approximately $30,000 in projects through Upwork, which, it should be noted, takes a commission for each project you get — anywhere from 5% to 20% (the more you make, the less they take). Fiverr This is also a popular website that can be helpful for freelancers . Know something about digital animation? You can work for someone who doesn’t have these skills and pick up some extra cash. Even better, you can offer to compile web research for someone for fast cash. The only caveat: You probably aren’t going to get rich quickly by taking on these jobs. The website’s tagline is, “Freelance services for the lean entrepreneur,” and its name comes from the fact that many people work for $5 per task (yes, you can ask for more). With that said, if you get a lot of gigs, you can get paid a significant sum in the long term. Desai says that he earned $20,000 on the website last year. Etsy Are you crafty? If you’re artistic and are the type of person who can make custom jewelry or refrigerator magnets with the best of them, Etsy is the place to sell your products. For the rest of us, we must find another website to go to, so we can earn money to buy things from the crafty entrepreneurs at Etsy. TaskRabbit Are you willing to get your hands dirty? (Think: Weeding somebody’s garden or cleaning somebody’s garage.) People come to this site to find those willing to do various tasks for them, such as putting together a bookcase or running an errand for them. Do as many tasks as you want, and this could become quite the part-time (or […]

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Creative freelancers and small businesses given a helping hand

Creative businesses are the fastest growing sector in the UK economy, now accounting for one in eight of all businesses, the Creative Industries Federation says. More than two million people are normally employed in the creative sector, with a third of the workforce being self-employed. Understanding the different needs of businesses founded on the creative talent of individuals is so important. That’s why the UK’s leading online accountancy firm for freelancers and micro businesses has joined forces with a specialist insurer, Create Insurance. Mazuma, based in Bridgend, South Wales, has a long track record of campaigning for freelancers. Mazuma co-founder Lucy Cohen said, “We work directly with freelancers and small businesses in the creative industries, so we understand the challenges they face, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic when many creative projects are on hold. “We fly the flag for freelancers with our #freelancersfirst campaign because they are a key part of our economy. “They and creative micro-businesses need expert help and advice to create a good cash flow and ensure they are viable and profitable. This is particularly important as many creatives are paid per project, rather than via a monthly salary. “We’re pleased to be partnering with Create Insurance to offer freelancers and micro-businesses in the creative industries the specialist services they need, especially now when many have been dealing with their finances and business planning during lockdown.” Partnerships Director for Create Insurance, Ajay Mistry, said: “We are delighted to partner with Mazuma – a company that is very much aligned to our own values and customer-centric approach. “The creative freelance economy is diverse and growing rapidly as more people than ever make the shift away from traditional ways of working. This can be daunting enough, and we know they need a simple and straightforward way to buy the insurance cover they need, how they want, and when they want it. “Our partnership with Mazuma will ensure that our customers also have direct access to an accountancy service that understands them and their needs.” Create Insurance provides a range of cover for freelancers, self-employed workers, and small businesses in the creative industries. Customers can buy short-term or annual policies online for: · Public liability insurance · Professional indemnity insurance · Equipment insurance · Employers’ liability insurance The intuitive online quoting system allows creative professionals to tailor the cover to their own individual needs, choosing their own levels and lengths of cover. The whole process is designed to be as quick and easy as possible, providing creative workers with a flexible and customisable insurance solution – allowing them to buy insurance on an annual basis, or to cover particular projects and jobs. Create Insurance are based in Leicester and are a part of BHIB Insurance Brokers. In building Create Insurance, BHIB brought in a team of former freelancers and people with marketing backgrounds to design and shape the Create Insurance offering. This means the customer base is firmly at the centre of every part of the proposition – and […]

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Avoid Burnout and Give Yourself Enough Time To Run Your Business

Busy business owners often find themselves running out of time, especially when they start to grow. Your workload will increase, but you will still be a long way away from being able to expand your team, making it tricky to manage your time well enough to meet all of your commitments. Thankfully, the modern world is packed with tools that can help you with this. To make it easier to start using them, this article will be exploring a range of the best services for business owners that are finding themselves short on time. Phone Answering Services It can be all too easy to find yourself spending hours on the phone each day, achieving very little by answering simple questions and helping customers with queries. Of course, though, you can’t simply ignore the phone, and you need an alternative that will enable you to keep your customers happy while improving the service you offer. A virtual HQ company will be able to provide you with phone answering services, along with forwarding addresses and a range of other tools that will make it easier to keep your time free for the things that matter. Most customers won’t be able to tell the difference. Document Template Services Businesses have to deal with a lot of paperwork, though much of this is digital nowadays. Having this sort of work on a computer gives you the opportunity to save a lot of time, with the documents you have to make on a regular basis following templates rather than being made fresh each time. There are loads of companies around the web that can provide you with document template services. Some are free, but it can be a good idea to shop around to make sure that you can’t get something better by spending a little bit of money. Freelance Recruitment Tools While your business may not be ready to start taking on a permanent team just yet, you may be able to afford to pay freelance workers. Employees like this won’t have a fixed contract, either working until their project ends or until you don’t need them anymore. There are loads of sites around the web that are designed to make it easier to recruit people like this, giving you the ability to start growing your freelance team right away. This process will always be cheaper than hiring employees, while also taking less time and effort on your part. You will need to learn a little bit about managing a freelance team before you get started with this. Saving time as a business owner can be an opportunity to make more money, and this always makes it worth it. Of course, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your workload, you should always look for ways to reduce it. This doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your income, though you may have to make some investments along the way that will enable you to keep working without putting all of your time into the […]

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4 Pricing Mistakes to Stop Making in 2020

Working on your pricing strategy is one way to increase your income in 2019. Many freelancers and small business owners with service-based businesses make mistakes with pricing that cause them to leave money on the table. These are mistakes to avoid in 2019: Mistake #1: Racing competitors to the bottom. Stop thinking like a big-box store that touts having the lowest prices as the big selling point. Freelancers and small business owners can go broke with this mindset, especially when your competitors are charging next to nothing. For certain services (like freelance writing and web design), companies and individual freelancers may be charging a price that doesn’t add up to a wage that’s comfortable to live on. Set your price based on your expertise instead of trying to beat others. Explain the results that you provide in negotiations if the prospective client questions the rate. People who value results and expertise more than finding the cheapest deal will seek out your business. Mistake #2: Not packaging. Clients want it to be easy to work with you. Packaging the services they need rather than having an a la carte menu can make invoicing and paying simple. This method also lets you upsell services within the package for an additional cost. For example, you could have a package promotion that includes five blog posts a month with the sixth one free to sweeten the deal. It gives them an incentive to buy the package rather than one-off services. Mistake #3: Not taking into account taxes and business expenses in your hourly rate. More work should go into setting your hourly rate than just choosing a number. Your hourly rate has to cover taxes and business expenses first before you can pay yourself. Forty dollars per hour may seem like a fair price at first if you’ve never made over $25 per hour at a full-time job. But when self-employed , you pay self-employment taxes , and you have to invest in your business to keep it running. Take away 30% to set aside for taxes from you $40 hourly rate — you’re left with only $28. Next, take into account your business expenses. You may realize you’re taking home a lot less than you desire. If so, it’s time to bump up your hourly rate . Mistake #4: Naming your price first. You don’t have to come to the table first with a price for a client unless you have a preset rate sheet that you give to all clients. Here’s why: Late in 2019, I had a call with a prospective client. Before the call, I wrote down a price that I wanted to pitch. I asked how much they pay other freelancers instead of stating my price first. The client quoted me more than double what I was going to pitch. Always, ask for a budget. Having a budget and asking for a price sheet will ensure you don’t leave any money on the table. Final Word If you […]

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Blockchain solution to freelancers’ problems: FreelancerChain

FreelancerChain platform is a new generation freelance platform with Blockchain support where freelancers from all over the world can find jobs and get paid. Its main purpose is to make the payment between freelance and customer with blockchain support reliable, fast and low commission through FCN token. The most important feature that distinguishes the FreelancerChain platform from other freelance platforms is that the shooting process is completed with only 3% commission in as little as 24 hours. In addition, quality-control and escrow services aim to solve existing problems in the freelance sector by acting as a bridge between the customer and the self-employed. The sectors available on the FreelancerChain platform include information technology and software, translation, writing and content, sales and marketing, design and media, accounting, business and law. The platform has a user-friendly and easy-to-use interface for customers. Clients can list their jobs and freelancers can bid for them. In addition, customers can hire freelancers without listing any jobs. One of the biggest problems of the platforms is that if you don’t have a premium membership, you can bid no more than 8 within 1 month. At the same time, the privileges granted to premium members cause an inequality in the platform. For example, the offers of premium members appear above the offers of regular members. There is no paid membership on the FreelancerChain platform and as a result, the problem of inequality between members disappears. Any member can bid as much as he wants. In today’s freelance working platforms, it is necessary to wait about 15 days in your first withdrawals. Moreover, freelancers have to pay a 20% commission on the first withdrawal. Withdrawals generally take place 2 days a week, and if any problems are encountered, the transaction is postponed to the next week. Withdrawal on the FreelancerChain platform is done within 24 hours at the latest with the support of Blockchain. There is no extra commission payment problem in the first withdrawal process and the first withdrawal time, like the normal withdrawal period, takes 24 hours at the latest. Many of those who trade on freelance platforms do not trust the other party during the transaction. In the FreelancerChain platform, the problem of trust between freelancers and customers is eliminated with the escrow service. FCN tokens are kept in the FreelancerChain Escrow wallet during the transaction to ensure trust between the customer and the freelancer. Most platforms require $ 200 to investigate a dispute between the customer and the freelancer. There is no charge for any dispute that occurs on the FreelancerChain platform. The FreelancerChain platform reviews messages, project details, and the project if it creates a customer or freelance review request. After the examinations are completed, both parties are informed and action is taken to solve the problem. Freelance platforms provide the opportunity to trade at high rates. Commissions are around 20% on many platforms. There are different commissions for customers and freelancers depending on the type of membership. On the FreelancerChain platform, the […]

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Hiring Your First Remote Employee? Follow These 16 Tips

Working remotely has become the new standard in the COVID-19 era. Companies that followed a traditional in-office model have had to adjust to how they presently work, and soon will have to learn how to hire remotely. Young Entrepreneur Council members offer their advice for bringing on remote employees. 1. Try Freelance Contracting First I find it helpful to hire applicants first on a freelance basis. This allows you to build trust and establish a good working relationship with the person. Additionally, a freelance contract lets you see if their work improves or declines over time and allows you to make any necessary changes before hiring. If you’re new to remote work, don’t jump in all at once, and try a freelance contract. – Jordan Conrad , Writing Explained 2. Start With An Experienced Remote Worker Your first remote worker should be someone already experienced in working this way so they can help provide their employer or client with guidance on best practices. Having someone in place who knows what to do can be beneficial for also hiring more remote workers because they can again lend their expertise to the process. – Peter Daisyme , Hostt 3. Talk To Them First It’s important to have a face-to-face talk with your new remote hire through conferencing software. Doing so will help you establish a relationship with them, which will lead to better communication. Being able to communicate well is essential since you aren’t working with them in the same physical location. Once you have a great line of communication, you’ll feel more comfortable. – Syed Balkhi , WPBeginner 4. Practice Solid Communication With remote workers, communication is the key to success because it’s the one thing you have to ensure that deadlines are met and projects are completed correctly. Without communication, there’s no telling where their progress is at. So, make sure you have the tools and resources needed to ensure effective communication with remote team members. – Stephanie Wells , Formidable Forms 5. Transmit Your Company Vision And Values It is very important that, beyond being completely remote, the company ensures this transmission of what vision and values the company possesses is still intact, all in order to ensure that the employee candidate really connects with his or her work. Be clear and concise, but provide the information you think is necessary for this kind of opportunity. – Kevin Leyes , Leyes Media & Team Leyes, by Leyes Enterprises 6. Have A Process In Place Have a process in place that will allow the remote hire to be productive and effective even while being remote. Having worked as a remote worker myself, the most useful thing you can do for a remote worker is to give them the tools to succeed. Communication tools are also critical to keeping in touch and helping your remote workers stay in the loop and feeling like part of the team. – Maria Thimothy , OneIMS 7. Create Guidelines Hiring remote workers can seem […]

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Setting Up a Freelance Business

So, you are planning to create your own freelance business. You keep on searching for the flexibility and freedom that can only be answered by yourself. A freelance business refers to the one being managed by a person who is working for himself. Simply, it is described as independent contract work. The following are the things you need to follow to start your freelance business. Know What your Plans for your Business The first step you need to do is to ask yourself about the things you want and the reasons behind your desire to put up a freelance business. Understand the possible reasons for building a business is your choice. Think About Your Personal Financial Situation Understand the possible expenses that are associated to business and yourself. After that, think about the time that your savings can support your business. Keep an eye and analyze your current financial situation. Through that, you can determine the alternative methods you can follow when the first plan did not work. Set Measurable Goals It is also important for you to create a set of goals to ensure that your business is progressing without experiencing any problems in managing it. It will also help your confidence to increase for every goal you obtain for a course of time. Ensure that the goals you set are SMART, which means it should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. Also, don’t forget to set various goal types for on-going, short-term, and long-term. Know Your Potential Customers If you are building a business, take note that your customers are the ones who will give you an income. Thus, make sure that you know them. You understand the things they like and dislike. Figuring out who are your possible customers will help you to create the right approach for your business. Know the Price When it comes to pricing, the methods you performed on charging your customers should be taken into consideration. You need to know the process of how you will create a penny before pricing it. When you are in the state of your pricing structure, you need to know the possible cost you need to charge as an exchange for your business. If you are new in the industry, ask some professionals. They will help you a lot. Market Yourself Effectively The last step is all about marketing yourself on the market effectively. You may consider blogging. If you will do blogging, it is important to ensure that you are making relevant content. Your main goal here is to make yourself as a leader in the industry. This will help you to gain the trust and loyalty of your customer. Once gained, other people will start to reach out to your business. We recommend you to go to anonsys to get more information about setting up a freelance business. Do you have a coronavirus story? You can email us on: news@alphamedia.co.zw

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18 Places to Find Talented Freelancers

These 18 entrepreneurs delve into where online freelance talent is most readily found. Businesses have changed their approach to hiring in recent years. More and more companies are relying on freelance talent as opposed to in-house contracts. It’s not surprising that the paradigm has shifted in this way: Freelancers can be less of a drain on company resources and more cost-effective than in-house hires. Before hiring them, though, businesses need to find freelance sites that offer talented individuals, accessible search functions and escrow services in some cases. All of these factors contribute to a long-lasting business relationship with a freelancer. The rise of freelancing has caused different sources to open up around the internet that offer businesses a chance to interact with professionals for hire. Because there are so many freelance sites to sort through, finding the right fit for your needs may take some trial and error. Businesses need to be careful about sourcing their freelancers to avoid hiring someone who is not a good fit for the project or may have unprofessional behavior. So how does a company narrow down the best places to find a freelancer online? We consulted 18 entrepreneurs from YEC about the best places to source freelance talent online. Here’s what they told us. 1. Upwork “If you need someone quickly, Upwork is the place to find them. We’ve recently taken on the task of changing our project management platform, and we were able to find someone who specializes in the software we’re transitioning to within a day of our initial post. The site has talented freelancers that can fit your budget.” – Brian David Crane , Caller Smart Inc. 2. Indeed ” Indeed works well because it offers a wide range of freelance talent and allows an employer to list a comprehensive job description. It makes it easy to track talent that applies or to search through the existing talent without creating a job description.” – Peter Daisyme , Hostt 3. Fiverr ” Fiverr is a great marketplace to find talent that can get you fast, very cost-effective results. It tends to lean toward cheap and fast rather than expensive and good, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.” – Ryan D. Matzner , Fueled 4. iFreelanced “A great option would be iFreelanced.com . I like it because of the diversity of freelancers available and how easy it is to navigate and find the right freelancer for your project.” – Serenity Gibbons , NAACP 5. We Work Remotely ” We Work Remotely is an excellent job board where we often post jobs. It’s full of amazing talent from all over the world that you can hire remotely.” – Jared Brown , Hubstaff Talent 6. Reddit ” Reddit , believe it or not, has many dedicated subgroups focused on connecting talent with opportunities. I first discovered a freelance writing group there a few years ago that was filled with active opportunities. Naturally, this option does not provide an escrow or proxy like other […]

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