Friday, April 30, 2021

How to Become a Freelance Copywriter

Thinking about becoming a freelance copywriter? Wise choice. Every single business out there needs copywriting services, regardless of its size or specialization. Companies hire copywriters to work with ads, emails, posts on social media, presentations, product descriptions, landing pages, and plenty of other copies. This is a form of marketing that helps a business to […] Thinking about becoming a freelance copywriter? Wise choice. Every single business out there needs copywriting services, regardless of its size or specialization. Companies hire copywriters to work with ads, emails, posts on social media, presentations, product descriptions, landing pages, and plenty of other copies. This is a form of marketing that helps a business to grow and achieve its goals. Aside from being in high demand, a career as a copywriter is rewarding. It gives you flexible working hours and location independence to work remotely anywhere you want. Besides, you can pick your niche and write about areas you are passionate about. Our guide will help you to get started as a copywriter. Work on Your Skills To become a freelance copywriter, you do not need any fancy equipment or software. Yet, the job requires a person to have a specific skill set. Naturally, you need good writing skills. Many students hate writing assignments at school, but the knowledge of how to write a five paragraph essay might actually help you become a copywriter. Of course, you do not need to follow the same strict rules to structure or format copies, but writing practice allows you to hone skills and express yourself better in writing. Another fundamental skill is creativity. To write engaging copies and grab readers’ attention from the first line, you need to offer them an unusual perspective. You can suggest a new angle, appeal to emotions, or evoke a response from the audience with vivid images. It requires you to be open to exploration and work on creative thinking. Copywriters do much more than just express an opinion. The aim of a copy is to persuade the audience, reinforcing the message with solid arguments. To accomplish it, you might want to turn to academic writing and learn more about argumentative essay format . It will help you to write more persuasive texts. Do not worry if you are young and just making your first steps in the field. A lot of companies are willing to train their employees. Be open to learn new things and adapt to the strategies and vision of the company you work for. Most importantly, never stop improving your skills. Sign up for courses, read books, join workshops, and take every opportunity to learn that comes your way. Choose Your Niche Copywriting comes in different types and forms. Creative, technical, marketing, and SEO copywriting types have their own features and purposes. Trying everything might be beneficial only at the beginning. However, dabbling in all areas, you cannot get a clear focus or reach mastery. Therefore, it is more productive to find your niche and follow your […]

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Docker Developer

Professional Services General Information: We’re one of the largest consulting firms in the world, bringing strategy and operational efficacy to businesses across verticals. We need a developer for the programmatic build of a Docker environment using a continuous integration toolchain. The ideal hire can dockerize existing python models. Design your lifestyle as a full-time freelancer, with the freedom to work however, wherever, on your terms. About Toptal: Freelance work is defining the careers of today’s developers in exciting new ways. If you’re passionate about working flexibly with leading Fortune 500 brands and innovative Silicon Valley startups, Toptal could be a great fit for your next career shift. Toptal is an elite talent network for the world’s top 3% of developers, connecting the best and brightest freelancers with top organizations. Unlike a 9-to-5 job, you’ll choose your own schedule and work from anywhere. Jobs come to you, so you won’t bid for projects against other freelancers in a race to the bottom. Plus, Toptal takes care of all the overhead, empowering you to focus on successful engagements while getting paid on time, at the rate you decide, every time. As a freelancer, you could join an ever-expanding community of experts in over 120 countries, working remotely on the projects that meet your career ambitions. That’s why the world’s top 3% of developers choose Toptal. Developers in our elite network share: Requirements: English language proficiency At least 3 years of professional experience Experience with system architecture or leading a software team is a strong advantage Full-time availability is a strong advantage Project management skills A keen attention to detail If you’re ready for a career shift to impactful freelance work, take the next step by applying today!

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Thursday, April 29, 2021

How to become a freelancer

Being a freelancer is often idealised as ‘being your own boss’. And while there are many perks to the freelancer lifestyle, such as flexible schedules and being able to work from trendy cafes (or from home in your pyjamas), freelancing is definitely not a walk in the park. Challenges can include finding a reliable client base, building up your reputation, and dealing with an ever-fluctuating income. It can be a massive adjustment, especially for someone who has worked a ‘regular’ job for many years. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of freelancers and remote workers that we see in the UK, and this way of working is becoming far more popular and attainable for the average person. Before you hand in your resignation and decide to become a freelancer, ensure that you educate yourself about all of the possible challenges and regulations surrounding freelance work to ensure that this decision is a good fit for you. Can anyone be a freelancer? The great thing about freelancing is that most of the time, the work is done remotely, so you can work from any time and from anywhere and offer your services to international clients. Technically speaking, anyone can become a freelancer as there are no prerequisites for becoming a freelancer. All you need is the equipment and tools required to offer your services effectively. That being said, freelancing is not particularly suited to every profession or individual situation, and certain people may face many struggles along their freelancer journey. If you need a steady monthly income every month to pay certain bills, freelancing may not be the best option for you, as it can take a while to build a client base. And even when you have a steady stream of clients, you can never rely on an exact figure. What you could do is freelance on the side while still keeping your regular job and only hand in your resignation once you have built up a loyal list of customers. There are many people that work as both employees and freelancers for numerous different reasons, and having freelancing as your side-hustle may suit you better than freelancing on a full-time basis. If you really want to be a freelancer, there are many ways that you can make this a reality. How do I start freelancing? Are you ready and excited to start your freelancing journey? Starting freelancing can be explained in six easy steps. Decide what type of services you want to offer What skills, knowledge, expertise, and experience do you have behind you? Thinking about this should help you decide what type of freelance services you could successfully offer. If you are just coming out of high school, you could look at doing a short online course that will help equip you with some basic skills to assist you with starting freelancing. Popular freelance services include digital services such as copywriting, graphic design and web development, as well as teaching classes and skills online. Get creative […]

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9 Content-Writing Tips for Beginners

Welcome to ToughNickel!Welcome to ToughNickel! Kshitiz Gaur is experienced in earning money online in a variety of ways, including freelance writing, answering questions, and blogging. Do I Really Need Content-Writing Tips? You can actually learn a lot about content writing by simply doing it. However, you can advance quickly if you take advice from someone who has been doing content writing for several years. The right advice can help you double or triple your earnings in no time. So, if you aren’t learning from the experience of others, you are essentially missing out on some of the money on the table. I don’t claim to be an expert on content writing, but I have had a lot of success in my freelance writing career. Maybe clients like my content because I do something right. In this article, I share nine key content-writing tips that I think all beginners should know. 1. Write a Compelling Headline If your headline isn’t attracting people to your article, then you won’t get much traffic. A great headline can be the difference between a successful article and a failed one. Search engines don’t care much about your headline as long as you are using the right keywords, but people do. Since search engines care about people, they will rank your article lower if your headline isn’t attracting them. It is not easy to write a headline that stands out and makes it impossible for the viewer to not be intrigued. This is something that you will have to master with time and experimentation. Maybe you can ask a friend to give their opinion on the few headlines that you have come up with. 2. A Killer Introduction Is Necessary There are several ways to do an intro right. If you have some authority on a subject, it would be great to mention why you are an authority in the beginning of your article. It is important for the reader to feel that you are offering something that several other articles on the topic aren’t. If the reader feels that way after reading the first few lines of your article, there is a really high chance that they will read till the end. While writing the introduction, think about what your readers want and how you can help them get what they want. You just have to convince readers that you understand their needs and have the knowledge or expertise to help them. Bonus Tips : Quote some stats to make the introduction even better. Or, in rare cases, you can write something controversial to hook readers. For instance, I could have written something controversial, like “Most content writers don’t know how to write properly” at the beginning of this article, but that is not my style. 3. Research Everything You could be one of the finest content writers out there and still end up disappointing your readers if your articles aren’t well-researched. Research is the backbone of any article—even if it is on a […]

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Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Freelance Digital Marketplace for Legal Services in Africa

Lawteract Digital Marketplace is pleased to present Africa’s pioneer digital marketplace for legal services. Lawteract aims to be the Fiverr of legal services with the latest technology and service innovations to make legal services easily accessible and available. From clauses, and agreements to contracts, whatever be the legal requirement, Lawteract provides all kinds of solutions to individuals as well as businesses at very affordable prices. Lawteract boasts of a network of legal experts who are ready to offer their services on freelance basis. Customers have the option of directly searching for their needs or posting a custom task and attract bids for the required job. After that the user can easily choose an expert based on their requirements, connect with the expert and pay conveniently from home. Lawteract’s most amazing features include features like price setting, contracts and agreement samples, in-built chat system, areas of specializations, price predictability and flexibility of payment, etc. One can also search for legal experts based on their location on Lawteract. “Lawteract reflects the realities of the new market for legal services through technology and innovative service delivery. One can easily find the expert they need from the comfort of their own home. Most importantly, Lawteract is budget-friendly. The legal services provided here are 50% less that any quotation one can get outside. This is something we can guarantee with pride and confidence,” said a spokesperson from Lawteract. Lawteract’s mission is to provide valued, feasible and efficient legal solutions while maintaining the highest global standards with local expertise. All the experts are confident in their ability to provide legal services across a wide range of practice areas. With a keen focus on quality, reliability and affordability, Lawteract provides legal solutions involving corporate & commercial law, civil & criminal law, property law transactions, litigation and a lot more. With skill-proven, verifiable and competent legal experts, Lawteract is the perfect place to find quality and cost-effective legal solutions. For more information, please visit: https://lawteract.com.ng/ Media Contact Company Name: Lawteract IT Ltd Contact Person: Taiwo Abiodun-Oni (Founder) Email: Send Email Country: Nigeria Website: https://lawteract.com.ng/

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Ensure the Digital Security of Your Freelance Business

If you’re running a freelance business, chances are you work online a lot. Whether you’re a graphic designer, web developer, or coach, you probably communicate with clients, handle your finances, and manage your gigs in the virtual sphere. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure the digital safety of your data – and your clients’. Especially now that cybercrime is up 600% since the pandemic started. Since many freelancers fail to take even basic precautions, they’re easy targets. A breach can damage your freelance business irreparably. For one, you’ll struggle to regain control of your own information, from online banking access to your social security number. You’ll also have to tell your clients that the data they trusted you with – from website access to payment details – has been compromised. To help you ensure the digital security of your freelance business, here are seven easy-to-implement tips. 1 – Step up Your Network Security To start with, you need to increase the security of the networks you use for your business. Statistics show that 90% of hack targets are actually routers and IoT devices. Leaving the default settings on your home WiFi makes life easy for cybercriminals. Luckily, there are few straightforward steps to remedy the situation : Create a complex router password and change it periodically. Change the router admin credentials. Change the default network name. Activate network encryption and firewalls. Disable Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Remote Access. When you’re not at home, be careful about what networks you connect to. Don’t use public WiFi for sensitive business . A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you stay secure wherever you are. 2 – Be Suspicious And Keep Up With Scams that Compromise Digital Security Knowing about them is a huge part of staying safe from cyberattacks. The majority of cyberattacks take the form of phishing and other social engineering scams, delivered via email or social media. Fake invoices are the most popular disguise for malware distribution via email, with 15.9% of scams taking this form . This is closely followed by email delivery failure notifications (15.3%), and messages relating to legal issues and law enforcement (13.2%). To stay safe from these attacks, you need to stay suspicious and keep up with popular scams in your industry. Make sure you enable your spam filter, and never open attachments or download documents without running an antivirus scan. 3 – Update Your OS and Software Most hackers exploit known vulnerabilities in operating systems and applications, rather than look for new ones. In most cases, these vulnerabilities have already been fixed by developers. To benefit from that, though, you need to install updates and patches. For the best security, install any updates as soon as possible. Alternatively, create a schedule to update your business devices and software all at once. 4 – Maintain High Password Standards and Hygiene As a freelancer, you probably have a million accounts to keep track of – both your own and those of clients. Consequently, […]

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Monday, April 26, 2021

6 Reasons Your New Business Should Hire Freelancers

I’m the founder of goLance, an online freelance marketplace with more $89 million in payouts and I run this business from home—and sometimes anywhere—with global freelance talent. I’d like to share with you some of the many ways that using freelancers can help entrepreneurs reduce costs while getting the quality talent they need for achieving amazing results. Here are some key advantages adapted from my book, REMOTE iT!, Winning with Freelancers: Save money Freelancers are essentially self-employed and running their own businesses and you can avoid paying certain overhead costs that companies pay for employees. Freelancing is something they chose, and they enjoy the freedom and flexibility it offers well beyond what is expected from a corporate job. Get specific, versatile skills not available in house They may be more likely to have multiple skills in the areas that you need. Bringing in a freelancer who can tackle a challenge more effectively and in a much shorter time than it would take to train someone can help you to reduce costs while meeting business demands. Use them to fill the gaps while lowering costs When your business peaks, call in a freelancer to help. When they finish the contract, you won’t have to worry about keeping them on or trying to find assignments for them. They’ll move on to the next client or project. Get a fresh perspective On average, freelancers can work on one to three contracts simultaneously. They tend to have a high level of enthusiasm and new ideas because they’re used to working with a wide range of people on a variety of projects. Increase adaptability You may want to leverage skills that are more affordable and available outside your region or country, and global freelancers can fill this void. They can also provide support outside of your normal working hours, which makes your business more accessible to people in different time zones. Go totally remote and save If you move to a fully remote office operation with freelancers, and avoid having to use an expensive office, think about all of the potential benefits. When you don’t have to pay for office space, the money you’ll save in utilities, insurance, and leasing expenses alone can dramatically increase your profitability. When your business already leverages remote online freelance talent from the start, like mine, it helps to protect you from a wide range of disruptions that can impact your business. It can also enable you to reduce costs while meeting the demands of your customers. Author: Michael Brooks, is the CEO and founder of goLance , an online freelance marketplace that connects businesses with freelancers and is used for recruiting, screening, hiring, managing, and paying global talent.

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The workforce of the future: how HR Managers can prepare

When you imagine freelance workers, what do you think of? And when you think of the people hiring them, who do you see? Understandably, a large portion of the discussion around the world of work post-pandemic has been focussed on the challenges and opportunities posed by remote working. Will productivity levels stay the same? (Yes). Will health, both mental and physical, improve? (Yes). Will the office-based businesses survive? (Unsure). One thing that has become apparent as we have shifted to a more remote work-based model is that it’s not only possible for a whole range of business tasks to be conducted away from the office but that they’re often performed more thoroughly and successfully when they are. The freelance workforce can play a significant role in this new business landscape, allowing businesses to prosper, with the advantages of fresh insight, new skills, flexibility where it wasn’t available before, and frequently, a reduction in the associated costs, as talent is employed only as and when it is needed. While integrating freelancers into your working model can bring multiple benefits, it can also present difficulties from the perspective of human resources. HR teams need to be aware of the changes that working with a freelance team can bring, and rethink their strategies and key demographics for making those changes. In my experience, those changes can be covered by the following steps. Here are five fresh ways to think about hiring and managing the teams that may be the future of your business. Change your recruitment standards. When you’re recruiting for a new team member, the focus tends to be as much on team dynamics as it is on the skills and experiences of the individual. But when working with freelancers, the focus shifts to a work-first format. So, while certain freelance hiring is based on testing, it usually only works for singular small projects and can become expensive as the company increases in size and ambition. Very few teams are trained to identify a candidate’s red flags, which means the quality of the hired freelancers can bring down the overall productivity of teams. It is vital to create standards that team members must adhere to while hiring freelance workers. This could include what third-party platforms to hire from, portfolio expectation, minimum platform ratings/experience, the number of interview rounds to pass, minimum and maximum pay, and so on. Adhering to these standards minimises potential bad hiring, and also prevents team members from hiring their friends and families to work on projects. Create policies that are geared towards freelance workers Short term onboarding processes aren’t common within business. There are so many compliance issues to deal with. With freelancers, this is rarely necessary. What is necessary is clear communication routes. And established protocols for onboarding and offboarding talent. So, what’s the best thing you can do when it comes to hiring freelancers? Actually have a designated member of staff who handles onboarding and offboarding. And before you ask, yes, offboarding is important. Because […]

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Sunday, April 25, 2021

Finding work as a designer online

Photo, ConvertKit. Finding website or graphic design work online is actually quite easy, however, the challenge is getting people to select your services, reply to your job applications, and finally hire you to take on the job. In this guide, let’s look at how to find work, and the best tactics to use when trying to land new contracts and build a solid reputation. Photo, Balázs Kétyi. Tools you will need setup specifically for design before you apply for jobs: — A portfolio website — Instagram Account — Twitter Account — Facebook Account — Pinterest Having these accounts gives you a broad reach to your target audiences; when they ask to see you work, you can give them access to your social media profile on the employer’s preferred platform. But, having a portfolio website is perhaps the most important thing because it is the one place where you can really showcase your work and show your potential clients what they would be getting if they hire you. 1. Online Freelance Job Websites: Freelance websites are the very first place to look for design work if you want to work from home or land your company a few small contracts before looking for bigger jobs. ‘Small’ is the operative word here because you will probably only be able to land small contracts to begin with because your freelancer profile will not have any feedback. Therefore, accept that you will need to sell yourself at bargain basement prices and over-deliver. Once you do this a few times, your profile will show positive feedback from multiple customers. One mistake you want to avoid is to demand market rates; this is why most people fail on the website that offers freelance work. Think about this, why would someone hire you at the going market rate when they can simply hire someone with a proven track record for the same rate? Therefore, you need to accept that you will need to invest time for a low return and deliver high-quality work so eventually you can start charging the market rate for web design work once you have an established profile. The next problem is getting someone to put their faith in you when you have no proof that you are an able designer. However, with a good cover letter, persistence, and options for the person hiring to see your portfolio, you can let the employer know that by hiring you he or she is getting great value for money. Lastly, when you apply for a job, be honest; tell them you are an excellent web designer or graphic designer, and the reasons your rates are low is because you want to build a profile with great feedback. Photo, Josefa nDiaz . 2. Freelance Marketplaces: One of the hardest places to get work online is online freelance marketplaces . It is difficult because in general you will not have the option to apply for jobs, while there are some facilities offered on these websites for […]

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The Benefits of Outsourcing and Flexible Staffing

Freelancers will certainly have a decisive role to play in the labor market as businesses wade back toward post-pandemic normalcy. 2019 survey data from the hiring platform giant Upwork found respondents identifying talent scarcity and access to in-demand skills as core challenges for hiring. Subsequent findings from that survey in 2020, however, marked an important paradigm shift: Nearly half of all reporting organizations had implemented hiring freezes, and another 39% had either already laid off employees or expected to do so in the future. Likewise, employers anticipated by then that only 53% of their laid-off workforce would be rehired, while only 10% of businesses reported a hiring increase in light of the pandemic. So what does all of this mean for your business? Whatever your hiring strategy, every operation eventually has to reckon with how to scale properly — whether to grow internal teams and when to outsource. Know that where there is successful expansion, your business will likely find itself having to outsource at least some of its nonessential functions. There are considerations to weigh between both moves (which we’ll cover here) so that flexible talent has the place it needs in your business scaling strategy. Flexible Staffing Solutions by Talent Type Although it might be tempting to take an on-demand hiring approach to reduce company overhead through flexible talent, bringing on the right out-of-house talent should be a front-and-center consideration when it comes to your business operations and strategy. Two of the more common types of talent include: Freelancers: Known also as “gig workers,” all freelancers work on a contract basis, and many prefer it that way. Quality talent from this pool brings valuable and reliable expertise to your operation, and you only need to tap freelancers when you have project work. You might also consider whether permalancers or interns need to be part of your agency strategy. White-label services: Essentially, this refers to a service that you rebrand to make it appear as your own. Oftentimes, you will have a customer who wants a service that is not part of your current service offerings, for instance. In this situation, you can outsource the work to white-label partners who will allow you to put your own name on the service. Overall, white-label partners can provide this service without disruption to your current operations. Even though the benefits of hiring a freelancer are plenty, intentional hiring must always be central to your business operations and strategy, rather than reaching for the cheapest staffing option. Knowing which talent types can do what for your company will count in a big way toward that end. The Benefits of Outsourcing (Beyond Simple Cost-Cutting) It is more than just effective overhead management that agencies stand to gain from a more flexible staffing approach. The common reflex among agencies is to adjust their headcount according to business opportunities as they exist in the moment — or even in the quarter. Although wide, impacting decisions need to be made in real time, this is […]

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Saturday, April 24, 2021

6 Things Every New Consultant Should Know

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. When I started my communications consulting career, my goal was to get six-month, on-site contracts from big corporations that paid large hourly fees. I would extend the contract for another six months when it ended or move on. I was more interested in getting steady contract work than building a business . It worked out great for about five years. Unfortunately, I got sick, had surgery, and couldn’t work. Hourly consultants don’t get paid when they don’t show up. And I didn’t show up for several weeks. The good news — companies kept calling to see if I was available. The bad news — I couldn’t leave home. Remote work wasn’t an option. My duties required working with executives to gather information to set up internal processes. I didn’t have off-site access to the clients’ systems. During my recovery, I decided to change my business model and improve my processes. It was time to build a business. Most entrepreneurs learn by trial and error. My journey was no exception. Even with extensive industry experience, a mentor and great business contacts, it wasn’t easy to go in a new direction after my surgery. But I needed to survive, and it’s hard to know what works or doesn’t work if you don’t try new things. There are many facets to becoming a successful consultant. I’ve perfected my process and believe these six things helped scale my business. 1. Consultant or freelancer? Freelancing and consulting are two very similar but different entrepreneurial paths. One title is not more prestigious than the other, but prospects and clients may disagree, preferring freelancers for short-term creative work and consultants for in-depth industry expertise. When you are starting out, it’s easy to use the titles interchangeably to describe who you are and what you do. Your goal is to get new clients and if prospects are looking for a freelancer, you are happy to be one to land the business. This can be a mistake. Most companies hire freelancers for projects that require creative skills and often consider them gig workers. They hire consultants to help restructure their businesses or implement company policies and procedures — and they’re willing to pay for it. Freelancers and consultants may provide identical services and charge the same fees, but it’s better for your brand to choose the right title to land the right clients. As a new consultant, you are the brand. It’s important to remember that at all times. 2. Pricing your services Pricing is more art than science. Large consulting firms know the value they bring to their clients, and they charge accordingly for their expertise. You should, too. To stay in business, you need to know what it costs you to do business. That means understanding your business margins. Most novice business consultants don’t know their margins and work for low project or hourly fees. This strategy may get you a client, but it won’t keep you in […]

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Making It As A Freelance Writer

Getty getty According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 131,000 individuals in the US who call themselves writers . This was a surprise to me, because I personally know more than that many frustrated novelists! My disbelief was vindicated when other categories of people who write are added. For example, the 118,000 editors who plan and manage content, the 52,000 journalists now employed or freelance, the 58,000 technical writers, and the 274,000 PR specialists who primarily earn their daily bread through a pen and keyboard. Writer.com estimates between 650,000 and one million souls world-wide who write as their principal source of income, but I think that we might easily double that when additional writing-centric roles like technical trainer (writing how-to manuals), proofreader, and translator are added to the list. The data also point out that the profession is bifurcated. Traditional roles are shrinking, for example, with writer losses at 2% and journalism shrinking by 11%. On the other hand, new media and digital demands for people-who-can-write continue to grow: PR specialist growth is estimated at 7%, and technical writers are growing by a similar percentage. A recent research report “Web Content Management: Global Markets” introduces its findings this way: “The web content management market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The market is mainly driven by the rising demand for outsourced content writing and the growing trend of web-based marketing.” Moreover, the report reminds us that word based communication is a growing part of a rapidly expanding communications ecosystem that is feeding the demand for content. Organizations are speaking to customers as never before, and customers are expecting and demanding ever more information on which to make purchases and investments. To feed that increasing demand for the electronic word, we’ve seen the development of a global network of freelance writers, editors and designers, as well as full stack marketing teams. Writing agencies, networks and marketplaces face a mixed future: a boon, but also a dilemma. On the one hand, it democratizes opportunity, making it more possible for a freelancer’s work to be seen by a larger audience. And, platforms like Patreon offer freelance writers the opportunity to build a subscription business of “patrons” that may provide them with a good income. But, along with the good is the challenge: more writers without equivalent demand growth means that pay is in danger of becoming a race to the bottom. In that scenario the top 10% of writers make 90% of the income. What to do? These are the issues that led me to ask relevant CEOs and thought leaders the question for this survey: “What are the key opportunities and challenges facing writing / communications freelancers over the next few years? What advice would you give writing/communications professionals who are considering a move into full-time freelancing?” Here’s what our CEOs and thought leaders had to say: Matt Mottola, Founder VentureL . “30% of our network are writers, and we’ve noticed that their key challenge […]

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Thursday, April 22, 2021

How to Start a Freelance SEO career?

There are many reasons for which you can start a freelancing career. From having more income to flexible working hours, freelancing can be of great help for you. SEO freelancing is about learning and developing relevant skills of Search Engine Optimization and finding clients who will pay you for optimizing their sites. Though it may sound very easy, SEO is not very easy and the initial growth in the field is very slow. Firstly a certified SEO expert is always preferred so completing courses related to SEO can be of great help. You can find plenty of SEO courses online that will not only help you to develop a new set of skills but will also help you to understand the importance of SEO in the field of digital marketing. Initially, gaining more and more knowledge about the field is very important if you are starting as a freelancer. Hard work and constant determination are a must in the field. There are certainly other factors that will surely help you to boost your career. Some of them are as follows, Boost up your skills: As mentioned above, it is always better to enroll in a course that will help you to develop a great sense of the field. You should know the algorithms of different search engines and the basics of optimizing a site. Writing Skills: Writing skills are very important in the field as they will certainly help you while writing descriptions, meta-descriptions, titles, and other components of a website that are crucial for SEO. Building up your network: TO start off with your career, you would need clients. This is the reason you would need a good network to increase your reach so that you can get more and more potential clients. SEO Tools: SEO tools are very important and will make your work easy. Being skilled in using these tools will not only help you but the results will make the clients happy too. Many courses are also offered about various SEO tools that you can use. Analytical Skills: SEO experts are supposed to present detailed reports to the clients about the performance of the site. Google analytics, SEMRUSH, etc. will help you to make these detailed reports. One should be familiar with these tools before starting with a freelance career in SEO. Google Webmaster Guidelines: One should know the Google webmaster guidelines, which are the set of quality standards that are important for ranking a website. These are just a few fields that you need to work on before starting a career in SEO. SEO experts play a major role in the ranking of a website that directly influences the reach and profits of the company or businesses. If you want to start a career in this field, it is strongly recommended for you to opt for a course that will help you understand how SEO works. If you are really passionate about the internet and tech-savvy, you can opt to be an SEO expert. […]

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Freelance Junior/Mid Graphic Designer

We’re looking for a freelance junior-mid graphic designer ready to start asap. You will be part of a team of creative minds that will assist in delivering impactful online content from informational videos to gifs for social media to website banners and interactive mailers. Non-negotiables: A minimum of one years’ industry experience. Relevant degree or diploma. Competent in Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, After Effects or similar (Experience in Figma a Bonus!) Excellent ability in creating quality animations and video in After Effects. Understanding of HTML5/Responsive design. A keen interest and knowledge of digital marketing, especially social media. You will be required to: Create new concepts, infographics and animations that communicate complex ideas and concepts in a simple and clear manner. Execute and ensure an efficient and coherent branding system is adopted throughout the performance marketing channels Frequently review brand assets across the board to ensure the highest quality and alignment. Familiarity with design techniques (e.g. prototyping and print design) Understanding of visual elements and basic design skills (layout, type, and fonts) A keen eye for detail especially when it comes to design and layout. Advantageous skills: Experience in CSS Competent in WordPress CMS Basic SEO Personal attributes: Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Self-motivated. Masterful time management, productivity and organizational skills. Creativity and problem-solving aptitude. You must have contactable references and a portfolio. Please only apply via email using the subject reference #Freelancedesigner

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Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Ways a VPN Can Increase Productivity as a Freelancer

Whether you are a freelance coder, writer, or even graphic designer, you only need to have a decent laptop, a steady internet connection, an ergonomic workstation, and probably a fresh brew of coffee. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a vital requirement for any avid freelancer, asides from the aforementioned essential freelancing requirements. Besides providing top-notch privacy protections that put cybercriminals at bay, a VPN confers plenty of other benefits, which enhance your productivity as a freelancer. As you’re busy living the freelancer dream, here are several ways a VPN can increase your productivity. What Are Virtual Private Networks? As the online space continues to grow, online security has become one of the biggest concerns for the virtual workspace. With increasing security issues such as Firesheep and Wi-Fi spoofing, it’s now more vital than ever to keep your online activity secured. There is no better way to do this than by using a VPN. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network of private servers that allow users to connect to the internet through a safe and encrypted tunnel. In simple terms, a VPN is a technology that will enable you to create a secure network connection while using a public network or even some unsecured private networks. With a VPN, you can anonymize your online activity on a network, hide your IP address, browse the internet without worrying about being tracked, and most importantly, ensure that your connection is always secure. That said, here are several ways a VPN can increase productivity as a freelancer. 1. Increased Bandwidth One of the most significant benefits of using a VPN as a freelancer is automatically increasing your internet speed thanks to the additional bandwidth. As a freelancer, you’re most likely working from home or a café using a private network supplied by a local internet service provider (ISP). ISPs usually throttle the bandwidth of their users during congestions or whenever they deem necessary. This action leads to a slow internet connection, significantly affecting a freelancer’s efficiency and productivity. Using a VPN, you’re assured of additional bandwidth since VPN clients use faster servers that surpass the bandwidth cap and speeds put in place by the internet service provider (ISP). With an increased internet connection speed, you’ll be able to get many tasks completed in less time, translating to increased productivity. 2. VPNs Make Connections More Secure As a freelancer, you may at times find yourself working in public places such as airports, libraries, shared workspaces, hotels, or your local coffee shop. You’ll need to use public Wi-Fi in such areas, given that mobile connections are much slower. However, public Wi-Fi connections are not often secure and are usually an easy target for cybercriminals preying on unprotected devices. A VPN allows you to use public Wi-Fi networks securely and without worrying about cybercriminals in public places. As such, with a VPN, you can take advantage of public networks and get the work done in time wherever you are. 3. Bypassing Filters and […]

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Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Seven high-tech freelance jobs

If you’re a freelancer, you can generally work when you want, where you want, and you choose how many hours you put in. IT is well placed as an industry to absorb the growing numbers of freelancers, especially as high-tech freelance jobs are on the rise. A range of companies are looking constantly for these type of workers to fill long-term or temporary voids. As of 2020, 57 million Americans chose to take this route instead of working a full-time job from an office, making up a huge 35% of the workforce. Moreover, there was an ever-higher density of freelancers in a number of tech-focused specialities, such as computers and mathematics, as according to the numbers 42% were freelancers. There are a wide range of reasons as to why workers prefer freelancing to heading into an office every day. In order to make this switch, you’ll need the ability to get your work done independently and reliable high-speed Wi-Fi. You should also be able to work from home or while on the road. Does your partner need to travel somewhere for an important business meeting? You can now accompany them without missing a thing. If you choose, you can work on a sandy beach or by the swimming pool while sunbathing. Feel free to switch a stuffy suit and tie for a pair of comfy sweats, too. Plus, if you need to get some work done around the house in the middle of the day, your freelance gig should be able to give you the freedom to do so. What’s more, even though you’ll have this newfound freedom, it’s not essential to sacrifice your wages. Read on to find out about seven high-tech freelance jobs with all the freedom you want and the great salary you need. Web development and design Average Hourly Rate: $61-$80 Useful Certifications: Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) $60 Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) $450 New websites crop up by the minute, and many companies prefer hiring a freelancer developer instead of shelling out a salary and benefits for a full-time employee. If you know what website users want and how to code, and you have experience as a website developer or designer, there a deep pool of potential clients looking for a worker just like you. You’ll need to know HTML, coding, and some Javascript . It also doesn’t hurt to invest some time and money into a few certificates, including the Microsoft Technology Associate and Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer certificates. The more you can put on your resume, the more available jobs you can land. Internet security specialist Average Hourly Rate: $40-$55 Useful Certifications: CompTIA Security+ $349 Certified Informations Systems Security Professional (CISSP) $699 If you are looking for an in-demand position, look no further. Securing data, networks and computer systems is a top priority for companies of all sizes. Some may prefer to bring in a freelancer rather than keep a full-time person on the books. If you have skills in networking and […]

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Monday, April 19, 2021

Build and Manage Your Next Marketing Team

eCommerce is changing the way the whole world shops. The COVID-19 crisis has sped up this whole digital transformation. Online sales increased in North America by 129% year over year in April 2020. In response, companies are ramping up their marketing efforts. According to Statista, digital advertising will grow between 2019 and 2024 by 83%, and marketers are poised to spend more than $350 billion on digital marketing worldwide next year. To avoid getting left behind, companies need to adjust their marketing strategy quickly, identify what needs to be done and find the most efficient way to implement it quickly and successfully. It boils down to transforming traditional work processes and finding the right experts to get the job done smoothly. Those that manage to scale their business by saving time and money are coming out on top. This explains why along with the need for effective digital marketing is a growing number of freelancers that are specialized in a specific area. This has been a blessing and a curse for businesses. On the one hand, freelancing platforms, such as Fiverr and Upwork, have thousands of potential candidates. On the other hand, you need to put in the hours to sort through the lists to find the right match. One of the main goals of hiring freelancers is to access top-quality marketing talent. But to hire the right fit for your business requires you to spend hours sifting through candidates who may or may not be the right fit for the job. Sometimes you may find a decent candidate only to feel frustrated at the inability to monitor their performance. This can keep your marketing campaign from reaching its true potential. Perhaps it is more accurate to say your company doesn’t need freelancers but experts. But aren’t these experts hard to find? Here is the good news, it isn’t difficult at all if you become familiar with the concept of Deep Job Platforms and what they can do for your business. Transformation of the Workplace and What This Means for Building High-Performance Marketing Teams The way we work in the 21st century is entirely different from any time in the past. Most people no longer expect to work for the same company for decades and then receive a gold watch at retirement. Companies are tightening budgets and find it more efficient to hire part-time staff or freelancers instead of in-house workers. Also, workers are looking for more flexibility. They may feel that their level of expertise is unappreciated if they remain employed by just one company and feel they can offer more value if they focus on a niche and market that skill to a multiplicity of clients. This development has allowed companies to construct high-performance marketing teams, and this has been resulting in the highest ROI. However, on regular job boards and freelancing platforms, it can be challenging to locate the right person with the expertise you need for particular needs. For instance, you may find marketers who […]

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What freelancers should know about navigating gig economy

In this episode of In The Know’s Getting Rich, financial expert Carmen Perez chats with certified financial planner Brittney Castro on everything freelancers should know about the gig economy. The gig economy refers to freelancers, contractors or anyone with a specialized skill set including graphic design, home repairs and web development. But freelancers have to consider things full-time works may not have to, like the cost of private insurance and setting aside taxes. When you’re self-employed understanding personal finance can make or break you but it can also offer you freedoms a nine to five can’t. “The main feature of this type of work is freelancers get to take on as much or as little work as they want, set their own pay and generally work across a variety of different industries,” Perez said. A common misconception Castro, the founder of Financially Wise Inc. , runs into with freelancers is the belief that creatives can’t handle the financial side of things. “Creativity is so valuable with finances and wealth creation. If you just stop saying that and take the time to learn and get yourself empowered, you’ll probably be really good at managing money,” Castro said. So to ensure you get all those sweet freelancing perks, you’ve got to be prepared. “Make sure you have a separate account for taxes. All and any money that you make, [make sure] you’re setting aside the right amount of taxes for that,” Perez said. Keeping records in one place whether it’s QuickBooks or a notebook, will make things that much easier on tax day. Another piece of advice from Castro was to think of yourself like a business from day one. “Separate your business and personal checking accounts right away. Have a business name, have a business entity,” Castro said. “Maybe you have to learn bookkeeping, maybe you have to learn health insurance, learn about benefits. It can be frustrating and challenging but with those learning curves you get empowered and you keep going.”

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Saturday, April 17, 2021

Guide to managing finances as a freelancer

One of the most common complaints I hear is how most mainstream personal finance guidance, how many budgeting spreadsheets, saving plans and financial products, are geared towards people with a steady, salaried income from an employed role. And yet, there are more than five million self-employed people in the UK – so how do you manage your money when you work for yourself? Of course, there’s not just one brand of self-employment, either. You can operate as either a sole trader or a limited company, and there are pros and cons to both. As a general rule, most accountants will advise that it’s more tax efficient to operate as a limited company once you are earning over £30k per year, and certainly most would suggest it before you hit the VAT liability threshold of £85k. But however you operate, here are a few ways to make managing your money as a free agent easier and less stressful: Keep your business and personal finances separate, in every sense of the word This means keeping your money completely separate, both in terms of your mindset and the practicalities. Mindset is important here, because when you’re employed, the financial reward for your labour is set when you accept a job offer, or when negotiating at a salary review, but when you’re freelance, you could be setting or negotiating rates more or less constantly. This means that you have a closer connection between your time and your money, and it’s easy to start seeing every moment of your time for its monetary value. This can make it really difficult to take any time off, and can mean that any questioning or even rejection of your rates can affect your feeling of self-worth, perhaps leading you to reduce your rates or offer your time for less than it’s worth. Having a clear idea of what your time is worth within your business, but making sure that your non-work time is not for sale can help you to really create a boundary between work and your personal life which will make both negotiating and taking time off easier. In a practical sense, having a separate bank account for your business finances – i.e. for invoices to be paid in and out of – is something that you’ll probably benefit from doing as soon as possibly. This makes calculating your tax and business expenses easier, enables you to pay yourself regular amounts if you want to, and will essentially save you a lot of time that you could be spending earning or resting. Save your tax right away Again, when you’re employed, you don’t even have to think about tax. It’s whisked away before you even have a chance to look at it, so you don’t miss it (well, unless you spend too long looking at your pay slip) and can’t spend it. When you’re self-employed, you’re liable for your own tax, and you have to actually have it in your account before giving it to […]

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Seeing gig workers as entrepreneurs

SCORE certified mentor Question: Are freelancers really entrepreneurs or just gig workers? Answer : All gig workers are entrepreneurs. They have ventured out from the security of the workplace, opting not to work for a business that provides a regular paycheck and some form of benefits. The mind of an entrepreneur is different from one who finds complete satisfaction working for someone else. They put themselves in challenging positions that don’t have the security blanket of other-owned businesses. They are always in motion, attempting to add value from all of their activities. They see failure as part of the process of growing, learning and experiencing all that is necessary to become successful. They find networking a valuable way to learn, expand their sphere of influence and discover what is working for others and what is not. They approach problem-solving differently. Instead of looking for the easiest, fastest solution, they look at a situation from many different perspectives and then choose the one that seems most likely to achieve the desired result. They revisit their vision regularly and critically. They are constantly testing whether they are seeing the future objectively. And they are lifelong learners, reading and consuming information from many sources so they have a variety of views on any one subject. As a freelance entrepreneur, you need to think about how you are marketing yourself to get visibility in a crowded marketplace. Develop a brand : A brand is the physical representation of the values entrepreneurs bring to their customers. Brand is a perception, and perceptions become facts. This step precedes creating business cards, PDF flyers, brochures or even your website. After the name is created, defining the brand by detailing the values that define it is the next step. Reliability, trustworthiness, customer focused. Although there is a start to building a brand, there is no end, since it is a continual process with many iterations. Consistency is critical from platform to platform. That is why defining the brand comes before the creation of other marketing communication tools. You need consistency across all platforms to communicate your brand. When a buyer sees your message on your business card, website, the trade press or commercial advertising or emails, they need to see the same message in content, context and image. Before expenditure of any funds on marketing communication tools, test the name, brand and tagline with potential customers or prospects. The look and feel of the brand needs to reflect you, but also needs to be relatable by the marketplace in order to take the business’s call to action seriously. Having a name that communicates who you are, what you do and what the business offers is important so there aren’t extraneous words to deliver the brand’s message. Tell your story : When buyers engage a freelancer, they are not just acquiring the skills, but accepting the person who represents the brand. It is important to share your business’s story — the journey. How did you get from where […]

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Friday, April 16, 2021

Did you know you can work as a freelance data scientist?

Experts in Data Science, You can Work as a Freelance Data Scientist Too! The market for freelancers and consultants have grown significantly over the decade. LinkedIn has seen a development in the number of freelancers utilizing their platform by 43% in the last 5 years as businesses like to recruit self-employed entities over employees. In data science as well, many data scientists don’t know that they can work as a freelance data scientist . While facts demonstrate that the best data science is done by the individuals who understand their company as well as their business problems well overall, there’s a great deal about data science that loans itself well to counseling style commitment. You can too take up data science freelance projects and work as a freelance data scientist. With this development, now is the best and ideal time to get into freelancing as a data scientist. Certain questions will definitely pop up in your mind like – How would I find organizations searching for freelance data scientists? Where would I be able to connect with experts in my field? What will make my portfolio stand apart among a pool of many freelance data scientists? How can I find data science freelance projects? The below steps will assist you in beginning with finding customers or assist you with improving your present technique of freelance data science work Market yourself When you initially start as a freelance data scientist, be compelling in your endeavors to look for some kind of employment. Refreshing your LinkedIn or Indeed, and then assuming that leads will pour in will not cut it. Don’t think that freelance data science projects work will come to you. You’ll need to find it. First of all, make a website that exhibits a variety of your work. Ensure your site is not difficult to explore, clean, and cutting-edge. Potential employers will wish to see an updated portfolio of your work, so try to invigorate it continually. Second, don’t be hesitant to network. Take part in talk discussions and in-person meet-ups, get some available work, get some information about clients looking for freelancers. Regardless of whether customers have data science freelance work or not for you right now, that doesn’t mean they will not call you once they do. Know Your Client There are typically just a small bunch of individuals in each company that have the ability to buy freelance data science consulting services. They’re the CEO, the CTO, the software engineering manager, and the office head that is dealing with a critical project in their space (like a Head of Risk or Head of HR). These individuals are your customers. You should become more acquainted with them. Build a Better Portfolio and Make a Profile on Freelancing Websites for Data Science If you don’t know Upwork and Toptal, finding out about these organizations and other freelancing websites for data science is an obligatory initial step. Freelancing websites go about as a platform for connecting freelance data scientists […]

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Fashion / Freelance Graphic Designer

Fashion / Freelance Graphic DesignerImmediate start preferred. Ongoing freelance work available! Sydney based. (but can work remote) International womenswear label seeking a skilled graphic designer! You will be responsible for undertaking digital design activities relating to seasonal, promotional, digital and content in accordance with Brand directives and guidelines. Tasks will include: Interpret and manage a creative brief, design and build assets Ensure that all designs communicate the intended message that is in line with the brand personality and seasonal campaigns Create website content relevant to the customer demographic Re-purpose creative concepts for all other digital requirements including: social media assets, banners, digital advertising Retouching of brand images for digital content use (product images, content creation and campaign images) Generate content for the brand that can be used across multiple touchpoints including eDMs, social media and on the website Home page design and updates across all International Sites Create third party website, promotional, blog, social and digital marketing assets Upload and management of digital content to screens You will have: Relevant tertiary qualifications in Graphic/Digital Design Proven experience in the fashion space Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite Ability to create powerful narratives through visual assets Strong attention to detail Creative, Innovator, Driven, risk taker and goal orientated Be flexible and always approachable Strong communication and collaboration skills Experience in developing eDM layouts and templates Knowledge of design fundamentals and principles Knowledge of shopify Sound good…? Then what are you waiting for! Success awaits you!

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Thursday, April 15, 2021

Freelancing skills courses on Airschool

Airschool is welcoming more freelance and professional skill-based courses every month. This April, choose from 5 exclusive, quality courses created by the best domain experts and learn flexibly from home. Airschool is welcoming more freelance and professional skill-based courses every month. This April, choose from 5 exclusive, quality courses created by the best domain experts and learn flexibly from home. Freelancing is growing enormously popular among Pakistanis, with increasing interest in the higher dollar pay and remote-work flexibility. Made easier by available freelancing platforms and the payment methods they support, this is a change the nation is embracing at full speed. To cater to this exponential growth, a lot of individuals are searching for beginner-friendly skills to learn and apply to freelancing platforms. The following courses are popular on Airschool due to highly applicable course content, affordability, outstanding results and beginner-friendliness: About the courses All five courses target highly in-demand skills that can be applied in freelancing or otherwise. They are created keeping in mind beginners, so prior knowledge is not required. Introduction to SEO course focuses on preparing individuals to become SEO experts, as well as aid prospective digital and content marketing professionals to come to terms with search engine optimization for business success. Now learn how to bump up page rankings without spending any money. Evolve from a newbie to an SEO professional by covering the following areas extensively: Keyword research & mapping, reading SERPs, WordPress & Blogging, technical SEO and SEO funnel, SEO for e-commerce, Google Analytics and all relevant material. This course is delivered in the English language and priced at PKR 825. You can enroll for this course here. Introduction to Modern Data Analytics course is for beginners interested in Data Science. As data science and analytics is a field that requires highly sought-after candidates for jobs and freelance opportunities, this course can be monumental for student careers. With no prior education or experience required, this course covers the absolute basics of data analysis by going into files and data types, data gathering & wrangling, data mining, communication findings and more. This course is delivered in the Urdu language and priced at PKR 1500. You can enroll for this course here. Introduction to JavaScript course is for programming enthusiasts who want to learn the most famous and widely used programming language in the world. This course will help students comprehend the syntax and fundamentals of Javascript. This course has been designed to be short, precise and straightforward and demands basic programming knowledge. Moreover, the course also equips you with the necessary concepts to declutter the interview questions in order to land web development jobs and gigs. This course is delivered in the Urdu language and priced at PKR 500. You can enroll for this course here. Become a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) course is for individuals starting out in digital marketing and advertising. Paid search and PPC is one of the most sought after skills among digital marketers as paid search is a highly effective marketing […]

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How to Be a Successful Freelancer In India

Online websites like Upwork have made it possible to start a booming career as a freelancer no matter where you live in the world. Freelancing has become incredibly popular in India, and you might work as a web developer, SEO expert, or perhaps a freelance writer. There are a lot of advantages to freelancing, no matter where you live. You can earn a potentially limitless income and grow your business on your own terms while enjoying freedom and flexibility. If you can get high-paying jobs from American or European clients, even better. To make that work, you’ll have to impress them and stand out amongst the competition. A lot of U.S. and Europe-based freelance clients prefer native English speakers. With that in mind, you might want to practice your English conversational skills and explore the most effective way to minimize your accent. Beyond that, the following are some other tips to follow if you want to launch a successful freelance career. The Basics of Freelancing First, before you can start a successful business, you want to have a general idea of what your goals are . There are marketplaces online like Upwork and Fiverr where clients go to find freelancers to do a wide variety of tasks. Some of these are one-off projects, while others are ongoing. You don’t always have to go through a marketplace. You could create your own website, but then you have to optimize it so that people can find you. Plus, you don’t have the protections that many of these marketplaces offer, like escrow for the funds to pay you for a project. On marketplace sites for freelancers, you have to build out your profile, showcase your skills and start developing a history of good work. Just like Amazon or most other sites, your clients will be able to leave you reviews and feedback on your work. You may have to initially take lower-paying jobs to build up feedback as you’re just starting. Then, once you have more of an online reputation, you can start to charge more for your services or be pickier about the clients you take. Types of Freelancers As a freelancer, you might fall into one of a few categories. There are full-time freelancers. When you’re a full-time freelancer , this is how you make all of your income, and you don’t have another job. When you’re just starting, it might make more sense for you to maintain your day job as you build your reputation and profile. That would make you a side hustle freelancer. There are contract freelancers who agree to work with a company for a certain period of time or until a specific project is completed. There are also freelance business owners, and these people may have a team of other freelancers or employees working under them. Finally, you can also operate as a consultant, meaning that clients might pay you a set amount of money for your expertise, maybe weekly or monthly. Prepare for the […]

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Wednesday, April 14, 2021

How to Make Money Remotely this Summer

Looking for a summer job usually comes relatively easy, especially if you are staying in a college town. However, with Covid-19 still raging this past year, finding jobs became quite challenging. However, students looking to make some extra money this summer may find themselves lucky as many remote positions remain available. If you stand out as one those people searching for an online position, perhaps you can find the perfect remote job to earn money this summer. REMOTE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE A customer service representative holds the responsibility of supporting customers by supplying useful information, providing answers to questions and additionally handling complaints. Luckily, most of these inquiries come by phone or email, making it the perfect remote position. These types of jobs require above average communication skills and the ability to deal with frustrated customers. If you think you meet the qualifications and don’t mind some angry customers from time to time, this seems like the perfect way to bring in some easy cash this summer. VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Many high-ranking members from different companies hire assistants to handle smaller issues and jobs that they cannot fit on their schedule. As a virtual assistant, possible tasks that may come your way include taking phone calls, scheduling appointments or meetings, responding to emails and even paying bills. A good amount of these tasks usually get handled solely online, making it a great option for those looking for remote work. The ability to multitask along with top-notch attention to detail will benefit you in your role as a virtual assistant. ONLINE TUTOR Got a good GPA and feel comfortable teaching subjects you know to other students? You may want to consider tutoring students in those areas which you find come naturally to you. Being a tutor can feel highly rewarding, as spreading your knowledge to others usually does. While many tutoring jobs exist right on campus, it also remains possible to freelance yourself out to various other students as well. Tutoring online remains one of the simplest ways to make money using information you need to know anyway. VIRTUAL CALL CENTER AGENT A virtual call center agent assists in various tasks that involve telecommunications. These jobs can include customer service, telemarketing, making reservations and scheduling. Once again, excellent communication skills will definitely help you snag a remote position such as this. Prepare yourself to spend a majority of your day on the phone if this job sparks your interest. With a massive amount of virtual call centers out there, finding a job at one should not stand out as too challenging. FREELANCE WRITER Freelance writing can bring in big bucks if the proper time and effort get put into it. If you consider yourself a decent writer, you may want to consider freelancing. Businesses and individuals that require writing services often look to freelancers for what they may need. If you want a picture to show with your comment, go get a gravatar . Name (required) Email Address (required)

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What I’ve Learned After Paying More Than $1 Million to Freelancers

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. One of the many benefits of working in a digital industry like affiliate marketing is the accessibility to talent. Need an experienced web designer to build you a digital application? Want to find a virtual assistant to manage redundant tasks? There are hundreds of qualified candidates at your fingertips. Through the years, I’ve worked with many remote workers and have paid over $1 million across all the freelancers I’ve hired. This investment has given me a unique vantage point into the world of freelancing . In fact, my latest project is a completely remote organization working with digital freelancers in the US, UK and Sweden among other countries. My first experience with a freelancer was with a writer named Felix. He reached out and offered to write a free newsletter for my previous business . I accepted the offer and after a few assignments, I was a client paying roughly $1,000 monthly for his services. While access to top talent is easier than ever, there are still rules guiding the client-freelancer relationship — something I have learned time and again. In many ways, how you follow these rules will determine the quality of the work you get in return. Here are a few key lessons I have learned over the years when hiring freelancers to set them up for success and increase my chances of getting good work back. Clients need to carve out time for their freelancers Some business owners contract out freelancers thinking these professionals won’t require any additional management, training or resources. They send a vague brief of the assignment and leave the rest up to the freelancer. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way as a client, and now understand the importance of investing time on the front-end to set up freelancers for success. It’s a lot easier to catch a mistake before the project starts than once you’re reviewing the final product. Be willing to put in additional time onboarding your freelancers so you put them in a position to succeed. If you told five illustrators to draw you a dove and that was the only instruction provided, do you think you’d get identical results? They may all give you a dove, but you can bet their approaches and styles would be unique. If you’re not willing to invest time and resources into your freelancers, you can’t be mad when they deliver work that doesn’t match your expectations. Managing freelancers is still management. You need to provide clear instructions for your contractors, including outlines, resources and style guides. You also need to be available to answer questions and provide clear feedback at the beginning and throughout the relationship. The more you work with freelancers, the more comfortable you become with the entire management process. Having gone through COVID-19, many business leaders have gained additional confidence in remote management solutions like Asana, Monday, Slack and Google Drive. If you’re willing to put in the time to help […]

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Tuesday, April 13, 2021

How To Protect Yourself When Working Freelance

Freelance work can be a precarious job. Getting paid and getting great reviews requires a bit of effort on your part. It’s good to know the basics of how to protect yourself when working freelance so that you don’t end up travelling down the wrong path without realising it. Here are some points to help you get started. Research your client thoroughly While you can market your services to people from all walks of life, it’s important to do your research. Consider what the client needs and wants , and then create a proposal that details how you will address those needs/desires. The more you know about your potential clients, the more you can tailor your proposals to their specifically You should also provide an estimated cost for the project, but don’t get too hung up on money in the beginning. Money is often less important than results when working freelance Be sure to have a contract before starting work As a freelancer, you should be aware that two of your greatest assets are your ideas and services. When someone hires you for the job, they usually cannot afford to lose you or your service. This is why it is important to have some kind of written contract in place between you and the client. These contracts can be based on hourly rates, or if you are selling a product, hourly rates may not be necessary. But the bottom line is that you should never work as a freelancer without a contract. Have some form of legal cover If you’ve been working freelance for a while now, chances are you’ll have come across professional indemnity insurance . This type of insurance protects you if, for example, a tool breaks or is faulty, or say a client is not happy with your work and takes legal action against you. You need to ensure that you have the best coverage that will stand in the court of law should a claim be brought against you. It’s going to help protect your work and your finances. Have a portfolio ready to show proof of work If you want to be freelance, you’ll need a portfolio ready to impress potential clients. Having a portfolio shows that you’ve done your homework and have serious intentions towards your freelance career. It will also boost your confidence and make you feel more relevant in your target market. Request upfront billing Did you know there are many more freelancers who don’t get paid than those who do? In fact, studies have shown that millions of dollars go unpaid each year by clients. What is worse, it is estimated that 54% of contract workers never receive payment for the work they do on time. There are many reasons why this occurs, but it is usually due to a breakdown in communication at the beginning of the process. The best way to prevent this is to request the client to pay all or a part of the bill upfront. […]

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3 Simple Ways Any Business Can Increase Sales

Think about it for a second. When was the last time you raised your prices? Maybe it’s been a few years. What would be possible if you raised your price by just 5-10%? If you stopped using discounts as a closing tactic, most of your customers wouldn’t even notice. Say you’re a freelance designer and bill 40 hours a week for 50 weeks. That’s 2000 billable hours. Increasing your rate by 10% from $80 to $88 will increase your sales by $16,000 a year. But how do you increase your hourly rate from $80 to $88? One way to subtly increase your hourly rate is to move to a flat rate for a project. This requires a little front-end math to accurately estimate the number of hours a project will take, but it’s one way to raise your revenue without having to discuss hourly rates. Raising your rates is especially effective for newly acquired customers. Add new customers Stay in business long enough and you’ll experience the pain of a customer unexpectedly leaving. It’s just how it goes. In fact, I tell my consulting clients to expect a certain number of customers to leave each year. If your business isn’t adding new customers, then it’s dying. The solution is simple. Set a goal of adding 5-10% new customers each year. Here’s the best part about new customers: They don’t think twice about your newly increased rates, because they don’t know anything different. Staying with the freelance designer example, if you currently bill 2000 hours and grew your customer base by 10% that would, at a minimum, increase your billable hours from 2000 to 2,200. This 10% increase at the new rate of $88 would result in a sales increase of $17,600. Maybe you don’t want to work more hours. No problem. Partner or contract with another freelance designer that will accept a lower hourly rate, like your old rate of $80, and pass the work along to them. You can make an additional $1600 without working overtime. Sell your customers something else This is the most practical — but most ignored — tactic. It’s far easier to do more for an existing customer than it is to get a new one. It’s so much easier to call your existing customers and offer them a new service than it is to sell your services to a new company. Existing customers have already seen the quality of your work and trust you. Now is the time to check in with your existing customers and find ways to expand your offering with additional services. Using the freelance example, you could create an additional stream of 220 new billable hours at the new rate of $88 if only 10% of your customers took advantage of the new offering. This would result in a sales increase of $19,360. Sometimes the best opportunities are the simple ones. If you implement just one of these tactics, you could grow your business by leaps and bounds in […]

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