How to Track Your Freelance Work Hours With Timely App

Whether you are a freelancer or a small business owner, time tracking apps are essential to maximizing your productivity. With Timely, you can keep track of time, projects, and team members. This app provides team planning and project management capabilities. If you’re a gig worker or manage a creative professionals team, you can deliver maximum productivity using the Timely app. This article will describe how to implement automatic time tracking in your freelancing projects or businesses. Getting Started With the Timely App Timely app takes care of essential admin tasks that freelancers or business owners need to fulfill. You can subscribe to the free trial of the Timely app and explore its features to know if it is suitable for you or your business. To sign up, follow these steps: 1. You need to visit the Timely website home page. 2. You’ll find the Start 14-day free trial button on the upper-right side. Click on the button. 3. You should now see the Sign-up screen. You can sign up using Google or an Apple account. Alternatively, enter your Work Email , Full Name , and Password to start the free trial. 4. After signing up, you’ll see the Workspace Details screen. Enter basic information about your company and team, and then click on Next . 5. On the Set up your workspace screen, you can import existing project details from apps like Toggl and Harvest. 6. If you’re not using Toggl, Harvest, or any other time-keeping apps, you can create a new project by entering the Client name and Project name . 7. You’ll see the following dashboard: 8. You need to download the Memory AI by clicking a link on the blue ribbon located at the top of the 0h – $0 display. 9. On download completion, you can install the Memory AI app on your computer. 10. After the installation, open the app and allow it to sign in automatically. You’ll see the following screen after logging in to the Memory AI app: 11. You may close the Memory AI app. It will run in the background and stay hidden on the Show hidden icons menu of the Windows Notification area . Create a Precise Work Record for Invoicing The Timely Memory AI automates the task of capturing billable hours for ongoing projects. There is no need for you to activate the tracking system. Also, time logs are all kept in one Timeline so that you don’t have to assemble data from different documents. Moreover, the Timely app suits the discontinuous work style of freelancers. It pieces together sporadic work timings in a single frame during the project. Try the following steps to get used to the Memory AI-generated log entries: 1. After you log in to your Timely workspace, click on the Hours icon at the left-side panel. 2. You’ll see two sections on the timesheet. The left-hand-side section shows auto-populated log entries by the Memory AI. 3. The right-hand side displays the List or Timeline […]

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Microsoft Teams Alternatives for Virtual Team Meetings

Microsoft Teams is an excellent tool for video conferencing and team collaboration, but there are other potential freemium apps to consider. Teams doesn’t offer free access to crucial video conferencing features like scheduling, recording, or joining via the phone. Additionally, you or your client may prefer Google cloud tools over Office 365 subscriptions due to compliance or cost limitations. These Microsoft Teams alternatives provide essential services for free, or you can sign up for freemium plans. 1. Zoom—One of the Leading Microsoft Teams Alternatives Many small businesses, enterprises, and freelancing professionals rely on Zoom as a trusted team collaboration solution. According to Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions in 2020, Zoom is the market leader. The Key Features of Zoom Zoom offers you virtual conferencing through various communication modes like chat, phone, and video calls. You can also record the team collaboration session to review key discussion points later. Zoom also offers a development platform to aspiring developers. Developers can utilize APIs and SDKs from Zoom. Advantages of Zoom Zoom allows uninterrupted video and audio calls for up to 40 minutes for free. Zoom enables you to reach more audiences by live streaming webinars or meetings on Facebook. You can reach up to 10,000 virtual attendees through Zoom meetings and webinars. The app also easily integrates with Google Calendar. Zoom Meetings for Free Individual professionals, freelancers, and a small team can get the free Personal Meeting tier of Zoom meetings. Up to 100 participants can join in a Zoom meeting for up to 40 minutes. You can also enjoy one-to-one unlimited Zoom meetings for free. Download: Zoom (Free) Google Meet is a virtual collaboration and meeting tool that comes with Google Workspace. Unlike Microsoft Teams, Google Meet is freely available to all whether you are a Google Workspace subscriber or not. The Most Significant Features of Google Meet Google Meet is a fully cloud-based and lightweight web app available in Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Android, and iPhone. You can join a meeting instantly by using options like meeting links, meeting codes, Gmail, meeting invites, and Google Calendar events. You can share the screen with the participants to present reports, data or show any bug. The virtual meeting host can remove or mute participants. Google Meet Upper Hands Advanced level integration with many Google Workspace apps like Google Docs, Google Jamboard, Google Calendar, etc. Google Workspace subscribers can join a meeting by dialing a phone number even if they do not have Internet connectivity. Google Meet comes with anti-abuse features to keep team or client meetings compliant with professional meeting protocols. Google Meet data transfer during communication or at rest is end-to-end encrypted. Google Meet Core Services for Free If you are a freelancer or gig worker, then Google Meet is the perfect tool for your visual collaboration needs. You can host meetings for up to 60 minutes with 100 participants. Google’s speech recognition technology offers real-time captions during video conferencing. 3. Discord Developers, gamers, and streamers have long been […]

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Top-8 Platforms For Freelance Developers

Connecting with customers with confidence using the proper sites Freelance platforms are one of the driving cogs in the workforce today, with more companies than ever before utilizing them to find professional workers for specific projects that do not need permanent employment. Through these sites, freelance developers can create profiles, share their work portfolio, and communicate directly with potential employers. These platforms contain a directory of freelancers matched based on skills, experience, and other variables specific to a project. There are a number of freelance platforms on the marketplace today that expertly connect customers with developers. Before we get to naming the best freelance platforms we know, it’s important to understand that not all freelance marketplaces are the same. The major factors freelancers should take into account are the following: Is a platform bidding or non-bidding? Bidding platforms are those that allow freelancers to set their bids on projects. Through bidding, even if a client has a fixed price for the job they want to be done, you still have the option to name your rate. It can be lower or higher, but the key thing is that other freelancers can place their own bids too. Thus, it’s a common thing on bidding marketplaces to see professionals compete with the prices, which is not always a good thing because it makes working for decent money more difficult. Why would clients pay you more if they can get the same service for less from people who are willing to work for a significantly lower fee? Vetted or non-vetted Vetted marketplaces are, in 99% of cases, non-bidding. Vetted marketplaces involve a series of tests to assess your skills, experience, and personality to ensure you are indeed a professional and can be trusted with important tasks. Such testing and the fact that they generally offer their clients market-average prices help freelancers make more money with less hassle. Smart matching process Another thing usually more common among vetted freelance platforms . The platform staff will assess clients’ projects and pick the right freelancer for the job from their pool. This is generally a good thing for both clients and freelancers because they don’t have to guess one another’s’ expectations, and freelancers usually get the projects they’d be most effective at. Also, if you don’t like to go through the sales process and all that, matching eliminates the need to do that. The following are the best platforms for freelance developers to find customers, and included are the details coinciding with each of them. Upwork As one of the leading online freelance developer sites, Upwork is a major player in finding a professional solution for companies looking for talent. On the site, clients can search through thousands of developers that work across various niches, including web and app development, language programmers, software developers, transcribers, and more. Jobs are posted stating the details of the project, the fixed or hourly rate, and any other pertinent information so that freelancers that apply know what they can […]

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Freelance Business Tools You Need to Try

As rewarding as it may be, freelancing can also be challenging. Sure, you can make some money by doing something you enjoy and are good at. However, you are also responsible for managing your projects and finding clients on your own. Fortunately, there are tools that can ease the process. 1. Grammarly In freelancing, quality writing is essential. Therefore, it should be free of all spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Regardless of whether you are a freelancer or not, you need to write as effectively as possible when answering emails, cold-pitching to potential clients, or making your business website. Fortunately, freelancers can use Grammarly, a software program that checks grammar errors and spelling for free or for a fee. You can use Grammarly for many things. From checking for spelling mistakes in emails or writing projects, eliminating many misunderstandings, or just making your content more engaging. You can even ask experts for help with your writing. Grammarly is a free service, but the premium version offers more features. The advantage of the paid version is that it can check for more advanced writing conciseness, such as clarity, readability, and style. 2. Trello Both the Trello app and website are designed to enhance the general organization of any freelancing writing work, especially when you need to update your assignments or juggle several clients constantly. Trello allows you to organize any of your freelancing projects on your own or if you’re part of a team. What’s great about Trello is that you can separate your clients and projects using Boards and Cards. The user interface is pretty interactive, and you can quickly and easily move your cards, archive them or delete them altogether. That way, you can quickly move your cards between ‘in-progress and ‘complete’ projects ready for delivery and even create a separate category to know which clients still need to pay for a project. Plus, you can also use Trello to create private boards and cards to organize your personal life. You can also customize your boards and add colors or images that you like. As part of its Power-Ups feature, Trello integrates extra workspace tools, such as a calendar. There are only a few Power-Ups you can access for free. After that, you will need to upgrade to the premium version. You can start using Trello for free, or you can go for the premium version if you want. Fortunately, you can still make the most of Trello without spending a dime at first. 3. Zoom Zoom is one of the most popular video conference services out there, and there’s a reason for that. This platform offers a great option for freelancers to hold online calls and video conferences with clients and make webinars or record videos. What’s great about Zoom is that you can have up to 40-minute calls in its free version, which is more than enough time to talk to your clients or close potential deals. Plus, Zoom is designed to help 100 or more […]

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Earning Income From a Side Hustle? The CRA Might Be Watching!

Did you know that about 40% of millennials in Canada are part of the gig economy? The number is mixed between millennials who seek gigs or freelance work for passive or part-time income or people who rely on it for their primary income. It includes freelance office work, babysitting, house sitting, personal assistance services, paid work through online platforms, etc. But that doesn’t even come near the full spectrum of what you might call a “side hustle.” Earning income from things like Airbnb , ride-sharing, renting out your vehicle, parking space, and others might all come under the definition of a side hustle … and the CRA wants its cut. The CRA wants its due The CRA is worried about all the new ways of earning income (and potential income tax dollars) that might be slipping through the cracks. The tighter observation and a closer eye on crypto traders is one example of how the CRA is tightening the circle around taxpayers who might be under-reporting their income. Now, the department might do the same with freelancers and gig workers. It might be quite easy for the CRA to track the income and contract details when freelancers leverage platforms to connect with potential employers. These platforms, by design, keep their own cut (usually around 20%) from a freelancing job. The taxation on top of it is a variable that freelancers will have to “plug in” when pricing a job. These platforms are relatively easy to “police” for the CRA. However, many freelancers focus on cultivating direct relationships with clients in order to cut the platform fee out of the equation. These are the people the CRA might have to devise specific policies for. The good idea is to report all your side hustle income to the CRA. If you are unsure or fear that you might be prosecuted for late reporting, consider the Voluntary Disclosure Program. The good part about reporting all your side hustle income is that you might also claim expenses. Balance it out with tax-free income You can balance out your taxable income stream (from a side hustle) with a tax-free passive-income stream by adding a decent dividend stock like Canadian Utilities (TSX:CU). The company is currently offering a juicy yield of 5%. If you can invest a sizeable sum like $30,000 into the company, you can expect a slowly rising monthly tax-free income of $125. Canadian Utilities has been operating for over 90 years. It now comes under the ATCO sphere and has two major business lines: electricity and natural gas. The company is also gearing up to serve hydrogen — the clean fuel of the future. The company operates 75,000 km of electric lines, 64,000 km of pipelines and has a decent water infrastructure and gas storage capacity. The assets are valued at about $20 billion. The balance sheet is strong, and though the revenues and profits are slipping now, the company has the potential and presence to turn this around . Foolish takeaway […]

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Six figures from freelancing? This platform makes gig work lucrative

(ASSOCIATED PRESS) Writers, musicians, and designers are among those making good money through Fiverr, a platform aiming to become the go-to network for freelance work. Carrie French earns about $125,000 annually writing product descriptions. Beau Vallis earns a similar amount remixing music. The one thing both have in common? Fiverr , a side hustle platform that used to urge sellers to list their services for just $5, increasingly delivers six-figure incomes to the freelancers doing the work. “It’s been very lucrative,” says Vallis, who first posted a digital profile on Fiverr in 2015. “You don’t have to do any marketing. You wake up and there are your jobs.” At a time when freelancers who work for other gig economy giants, such as Uber and Lyft , say that the legacy companies are becoming increasingly exploitative, Fiverr has gone in the opposite direction. The site boosted its customer service staff; cut its fees; and created special designations for “pros,” or freelancers with advanced expertise or skills. While some sellers still list their services for less than $25 on Fiverr, “pros” are compelled to charge more. Six-figure incomes It’s all part of a strategy to make Fiverr the go-to network for both freelancers and customers in a rapidly evolving freelance marketplace, says Gali Arnon, the platform’s chief marketing officer. “The platform has evolved tremendously and so has the marketplace,” Arnon says. “We started with $5 because it was a way of eliminating the risk [for customers] of buying digital services. Today, you can find services on our platform that cost thousands of dollars.” While not all freelancers earn six-figure incomes on Fiverr, an increasing number say they can easily earn a living wage. Some say that their biggest problem is turning off — or down — the work spigot when they need a break. “I have to buffer clients by going into out-of-office mode,” says Vallis. Broad scope, unique features Freelancers who work with Fiverr say the platform has certain advantages that are hard to find elsewhere. It’s a broad-interest platform offering hundreds of services where you can post your availability to provide, for example, almost any lawful service, including some off-beat ones, such as reading Tarot cards or casting spells. You also are in complete control over your pricing and the limitations of your offer. For instance, you might create advertising jingles for $25 each. However, for that price, you can stipulate that the jingle will have 25 words or less. And, if the customer doesn’t like it, they only get one revision. If the customer wants additional revisions — or more words — there’s an additional charge. The site suggests that freelancers create three separate “packages”: basic, standard and premium. You may want to charge a small amount for the basic package, to draw in new clients and develop a loyal clientele. But Fiverr encourages you to charge more for the more inclusive packages. You spell out precisely what’s included in each package and can offer a menu of […]

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Things to consider when going freelance

Lots of people dream of becoming self-employed: choosing their own hours, working at their own pace, and ultimately, being their own boss. But the reality might not be as glamourous as you imagine – here are a few things you should consider before you quit your job and go freelance. You will have to do everything No matter what you are doing as a freelance worker there will always be admin tasks that need to be done. For example – and possibly the most important you must consider – invoicing. You will be responsible for invoicing your clients and possibly chasing them for payment. You will need to comprise your own invoices, consider tax on the payments and monitor your pricing to ensure you are not charging too much or too little. There is a variety of software available to help freelancers with their finance and admin tasks, you can easily create invoices using FreshBooks.com as they offer free invoice templates you can utilize. In managing your business finances, you will also need to remember to file your taxes promptly or you may face a hefty fine. Say goodbye to a steady income When freelancing, you will have to learn to live with an uncertain income. Some months you may be swamped with work whilst at other times there could be nothing available – depending on what you do, your work could be affected by the seasons or change in weather. You will no longer have a steady paycheck every month straight into your bank account that covers all your bills for you. Some months you might not earn enough to pay your rent! You will have to keep the quiet months in mind and put plenty of extra income away to cover the slack should you need it and manage your money appropriately. You should also be prepared to earn significantly less when you first start out – you will have a lot of expenses to cover initially such as materials and possibly marketing, and you will likely be starting out completely unknown to your customer base. Until you reach your client base and word spreads, you will likely be struggling for work and won’t see any real return on your investment for a while. It would be wise to have plenty of savings in the bank before you decide to go freelance. Can I be bothered? This might seem like an obvious one, but nothing tests your self-motivation more than going freelance, especially in the beginning. There will be a lot of work to do just to get started and without clients nipping at your heels, will you have the motivation to do it all? Working for yourself is 100% reliant on you and how much you can get done. Especially in the beginning, it can be extremely hard to stay motivated and keep on top of things while you are working essentially for free. Once you have customers to serve you may find yourself more determined […]

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5 Financial Tips From Lance

Former freelancer Oona Rokyta, the CEO and Co-Founder of Lance Bank, has created an automatic bank … [+] The traditional workforce is changing. Today there are over 60 million freelancers in the US. COVID-19 further accelerated this shift as many full-time employees were laid-off or actively started looking for side hustles to support themselves. Anyone who is currently in this stressful situation and is trying to manage their finances knows how challenging it is all year long. It’s a constant guessing game trying to plan and withhold the right amounts so you don’t come up short during tax season. Enter Oona Rokyta. A former freelancer, Rokyta co-founded Lance Bank in 2018 based on the familiar pain points freelancers and side hustlers experience when managing their finances. Rokyta shared that when she “was a freelancer, I dug into my finances with an accountant, Quickbooks and other tools but found there was nothing really guiding my approach or telling me how I should organize my finances.” Rokyta realized it was time for a new model. Created as the first smart business banking account for the self-employed, Lance’s unique business bank account and success model automatically allocates a custom personal salary, tax withholding, business expenses, and savings amounts from incoming deposits for individual businesses. With basic bookkeeping, entry level accounting and tax payments done, freelancers get what they need to grow compliant and successful businesses. Even with the help of an accountant, for solopreneurs and freelancers, it can be a struggle … [+] The backstory is worth noting. Lance was built by a team of former freelancers based on the insight that the current marketplace is still struggling to help solopreneurs manage everyday cash flow and income documentation across multiple income streams. The solution evolved into the creation of a bank account to automatically identify deductibles and manage tax withholdings, set aside savings, and pay a monthly salary – all responsive to a freelancer’s typically volatile monthly income. Participating in the $2.8MM funding round were Barclays, BDMI, Great Oaks Capital, Imagination Capital, Techstars, DFJ Frontier, along with other fintech and creative industry angel investors with the funds intended for further product development and marketing. To refine the idea and the product, the team had to do a significant amount of research over the past year including speaking with thousands of self-employed individuals. They discovered that even the most savvy solopreneurs were paying monthly surcharges for standard business banking accounts and sometimes multiple accounting software solutions. Despite their efforts to educate themselves and organize their finances, these business owners and freelancers were still having to spend too many resources on solutions and still weren’t able to surface their 2019 income or easily fill out Schedule C forms for tax filings and loan offerings. Rokyta explained how it was “time to recreate banking solutions that are mindful of different people’s financial goals. Lance’s approach brings banking and accounting together in one business account because that’s what solopreneurs need today. They’re already juggling multiple income […]

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Tools to Promote Freelance Writing and Blogs

Whether the writer’s work is published in print or online, having a presence online is rapidly becoming not just an asset, but a necessary tool for success. Freelance writers and novelists are expected to have a website, often before they are even published! For some, designing a website, or paying for one, is not possible. However, there are many easy (and free) options for writers to start building their online presence . Social Networking for Writers Social networking and news websites are designed to give an individual their own space online and make it easy to connect with millions of others. From travel writers to sci-fi novelists, there are websites and forums dedicated to helping like-minded writers meet and provide help and support. Before joining any organization, writers should spend some time researching and asking questions to find the network most suited to them. A few examples of social networking sites and what they have to offer include: Free access social networking sites – These include Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn , all of which allow users to create a free professional-looking profile as a launching point to connect with others. While many people use these sites for personal use, writers can also use them to meet others in the industry and to promote their work to readers. Social news sites – This Reddit, which allows users to create a free profile. The difference between this site and sites like Facebook is that these are specifically designed, in their own ways, to help users share and promote online content, be it articles, audio, or video. Content can be categorized with all social news sites, so it’s much easier for writers to find a specific audience for their work. Forums – A forum is a place where members with similar interests can congregate to talk about specific topics. There are forums for anything related to writing, from children’s picture books to fashion writers. Registration with most forums is free, and users can create an anonymous profile if they wish. Participating in forum chats is an excellent way to meet professional writers and learn valuable information about the industry. Blogging to Promote a Freelance Writing Career Even writers without a single published article can benefit from keeping a blog. Many are unsure of what to write about, or what to focus on. It is easier to promote yourself if you’re are part of a particular community. Some freelancers are sure that being productive aspired by the coworkers is a key to success. Here are a few tips on blogging that will help freelance writers find a target audience, build readership, and network with others in the writing community. Make it a Professional Blog Many people keep blogs as a personal journal, or as a way to let friends and family know what is happening in their daily lives. While there is a place for this, freelance writers should create a blog specifically for their writing career, and keep it as professional as […]

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Things You Should Know Before Jumping into a Freelance Career

Along with the growing trends of working from home and online, freelancing is becoming a more and more popular career path. Freelancing allows for a high level of autonomy, flexibility, and ultimately, freedom. Regardless of the industry area, there are increasing numbers of opportunities to jump into a freelance career to support multiple clients at the same time while diversifying your income in an uncertain economy. So to provide some clarity, freelancing is a type of self-employment. The key differentiator of freelancing is that a freelancer works with a variety of clients simultaneously instead of running a single business. Freelancers typically offer services, products and knowledge that support a specific area of their clients’ businesses or lives. While freelancers decide what they are going to offer, their work is usually guided by their clients’ requests and needs. Here’s what you need to know before leaping into a freelance career: What You Need to Know Your Workflow Will Fluctuate One of the biggest draws to being a freelancer is the flexibility. No more 9-5 workdays and clocking in and out. But with that flexibility comes some ebbs and flows. Depending on the services you offer, you will need to continually secure clients which will naturally lead to some variation in your workflow. Some weeks you might have a packed schedule, but then you might wrap up with a few clients and have a lighter workload for a while. So while freelancing allows you to decide your own work schedule, you’ll need to plan for financial and time fluctuations. You Need to Create Structure It’s challenging to be a successful freelancer without at least a little structure. Even though a free-flowing schedule is most likely a reason you might choose a freelance career, having a schedule will make you more productive every day, week and month. And since you’re a freelancer, you have the power to set the structure and change it whenever you want! So when you’re creating a work structure for yourself, start with setting yearly, quarterly, monthly and weekly goals. Then create blocks of time using a digital or paper calendar to work on the various projects that need to happen to accomplish those goals. Having time blocked off and real (but flexible) deadlines will help you make consistent progress as a freelancer. And don’t forget to include time for completing business-related tasks (i.e. money management), planning, professional development, stress management, breaks, meals, and personal time in your calendar, too. You Need to Sell Yourself Even if you’re doing freelance scientific writing or quantitative analysis, you need to be able to sell your skills and services to prospective clients. Think about how you can let clients know what makes you different and how you can solve their problems. To do this, it helps to spend some time writing a professional bio to use when marketing your services, building a portfolio of your past work for clients to look through, and crafting a sales pitch that speaks directly to […]

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Remote Freelancing Jobs Are On The Rise

Companies are increasingly offering remote freelancing jobs as a way to embed flexibility into their organizations. Research claims that companies are increasingly offering remote freelancing jobs as a way to embed flexibility into their organizations. While technology is typically the largest freelance job sector, the research has found that remote freelancers can be utilized for a variety of professional services. It is estimated that 37%, or about 25.7 million jobs in ‘non-tech industries’ in the U.S. could be done by remote freelancers. The coronavirus pandemic impacted companies large and small, across all industries. Many of them are facing the same challenges: getting work done with limited resources. As a result, executives are exploring new business models, rethinking their operating models, and finding ways to make their organizations more agile and resilient. A recent research report by Upwork claims that companies, including those in non-tech industries, are offering remote freelancing jobs as a way to embed flexibility into their organizations. This approach not only helps them grow and contract on an as-needed basis, but it also helps with budget constraints. “Many companies, both inside and outside of tech, utilize remote freelancers for a variety of professional services. This is especially important when activities need to scale up and down quickly, occur on a project-by-project basis, or are in skill areas that are increasingly scarce in tight labor markets.” A World of Opportunity Data gathered by Upwork shows the value and potential that remote freelancing can provide businesses outside of the tech industry. Below are some key findings from the research report: The pandemic identified the opportunity of remote work for professional services jobs across every industry: on average, 22.9% of workers across all “traditional industries” were remote as of January, 2021. The opportunity to engage remote freelancers in industries outside of tech is significant: Upwork estimates that 37% of, or about 25.7 million jobs in “non-tech industries” in the U.S. could be done by remote freelancers. Companies in these “non-tech industries” are already embracing remote freelancers: when looking at Upwork’s largest clients, as measured by spend, over 25% are “non-tech clients”. Upwork’s 100 largest non-tech clients are working with remote freelancers across many areas of their business: 35% of businesses are hiring freelancers in web, mobile, and software development as measured by spend. Followed by 12.1% in sales and marketing and 11.7% in customer service. Companies continue to realize the benefits of engaging remote freelancers: among the 100 largest non-tech clients that were also on Upwork in 2019, total spending grew by 44.2% in 2020. Non-tech clients also recognize the opportunity once they engage remote freelancers: 80% of the 100 largest non-tech clients increased their spending in 2020 across a variety of categories. Professional services are involved in every part of the economy. This means that the opportunity for professional work is everywhere, including remote freelancing jobs. Given the nature of work today, “professional services have become widespread and, as a result, these jobs exist in every industry.” Even companies […]

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Upwork: A Great Long-Term Growth Play

Photo by GoodLifeStudio/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK ) is the largest freelance marketplace provider in the world. Global trends bring tremendous growth opportunities for the business. Analysts expect double digit CAGR for upcoming decade. Our short-term strategy brings at least 21% annualized return. The gig economy is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. People prefer to work as a freelancer as it allows them to be able to manage their time freely. In 2020 the industry enjoyed tremendous tailwinds as lots of people lost their jobs and were urged to stay at home. Global digitalization and spread of internet services are huge contributing factors for the industry as employers get a chance to hire employees from international markets and find perfect workers for their companies. Employers which are located in a high-income country always face a high labor cost problem, however freelance community solves this issue as it gives an opportunity to hire a specialist with a cheaper wage from a low-income country. At the same time, employees get an opportunity to find a job which perfectly fits with their abilities and interests. It is also creating an opportunity for a low-income country specialist to get high wages coming from developed countries. So it is also solving global inequality issue as low-income countries’ employees “import” tremendous amounts of money from abroad by exporting services. Covid 19 brought tremendous tailwinds to the industry, however even pre-pandemic trends were very promising for industry players. Social surveys indicate that 67% of regular full-time employees are intended to leave their traditional workplaces for a freelance job. At the same time, employers also start to seek talents from freelance communities as 30% of Fortune 500 companies are using the network to find employees. It is also expected that the gig economy will grow 3 times faster than traditional workforce. It is worth mentioning that the gig workforce earned $1.7 trillion in 2020, while 78% of survey participants said that they will increase their gig services in 2021. So it is clear that gig economy is revolutionizing traditional workforce industry and is proposing attractive growth opportunities for stock investors. One of the leaders of the industry is Upwork which is the largest freelance platform by GSV in the world. When you search a freelance job or a freelancer to hire for you project in google.com one of the first links you see is upwork.com. The website has an average 38 million visits per month, while about 21% of these visits are from the USA. About 72.5% of visitors enter the website directly – without searches, which means that the company has already established a well-known brand and has a loyal user base. Another factor which proves high loyalty of users is the Client Spend Retention Rate of 106% . The rate measures spend retention of clients who were Upwork users more than 13 months. Visits by searches represent 15.6% of total visits; however, even in this case, the majority […]

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Most Popular Freelancing Platforms

Freelancing is one of the most acquired jobs specially among the young youth. While, previously freelancing was not that well known as a profession over the years slowly and gradually this work is making its place strong with over 1 billion freelancers worldwide currently. This means that freelancers represent over 28 percent of the global workforce and the growth has been seen rapidly increasing this past year with working voluntary choosing this as their full time profession. According to survey, a new wave of workers transitions to the more flexible form of work with 75% of freelancers claiming they wouldn’t trade their current work set up for any other type of work. The pay rate of a freelancing job varies from the job type to the amount of work but if you are someone who knows you have the potential to adopt freelancing as a profession let us assure you that the payments are better than you would expect since currently estimated market size of freelancers is $1.6 trillion in the US alone , this means you need to find the right job for you to make a good amount. But how would you know what is the right job for you? Well, freelancing has various branches like content writing, graphic designing, digital marketing, web development etc. and even if you come from some other profession totally unlinked to these types, you can still be a freelancer by choosing what among the freelancing types is your best bet. After finding the job type you are best at, learn which platform will be the best one to start off your career. You must be thinking, there are so many platforms and all of them have thousands of jobs every day. That is indeed correct but though all platforms look the same in reality they are not. Hence, understanding how platforms are different from each other and which platform will be the best for you in finding clients is very important. There are different platforms for different job types for example, for freelancing in IT CodeMentor, TopCoder, and CleverTech and many others are available. For graphic designing 99Designs, Envato Studio, Behance etc. are present. Platforms such as UpWork, Fiverr and Freelancer fall in the general category which provides access to all sorts of job types including web designing and animation. Deciding which platform to focus on can be challenging. Initially start off by checking the terms and conditions of a platform before you join them. Some platforms like UpWork gives freelancers direct access to the clients while well-known platforms like Fiverr do not. At the same time, some platforms may cut a commission fee, and may pass on the costs to your customers, charge you directly, or sometimes even both. In order to gain more tasks, the best thing to do is make a presentable profile because many well-known platforms have a huge numbers of jobs everyday but at the same time they have a lot of competition as well. So […]

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7 Signs You Might Need Content Marketing Help

Content Strategy 7 Signs You Might Need Content Marketing Help By Jonathan Crowl on May 19, 2021 Successful brand-building doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s only a matter of time before your marketing department will have to navigate talent acquisition to work with specialized services and skills. As your brand marketing strategy evolves, you may discover you need help from outside marketing experts. In some cases, this might entail engaging a content marketing partner that has the resources and expertise to execute your strategic vision. In others, it might mean connecting with freelancers, consultants, and other professionals who can complement your in-house talent with unique skill sets and perspectives. As your marketing strategy evolves, so will your constraints and pain points. Typically, though, these problems have simple solutions. The bigger challenge facing many brand marketers is identifying exactly when it’s time to look for outside help. While a bootstrapped approach to brand marketing has a certain appeal, leaning on specialized, grounded expertise is a straighter path to improved marketing performance and overall business outcomes. There’s virtue in being able to admit your marketing strategy would be stronger with another mind in the mix—here are seven common triggers and challenges that may indicate it’s time to seek a helping hand. 1. You’re ready to build a strategy, but you’re short on internal experience. Content isn’t as simple as publishing blog posts to your brand’s website. Before you start counting page views, build a strong foundation for your strategy. It’s vital to: Exhaustively understand your customers’ pain points Target content to specific buyer personas and stages of the customer journey Account for SEO and other optimizations that support content success Align content strategy with larger business goals Create consistent messaging across different pieces of content targeted to the same personas and pain points A strong content marketing program maximizes the efficiency of its content production, including how assets are managed and repurposed across multiple content channels. And, crucially, it’s built to support continued experimentation and optimization over time: Skyword research shows that 85 percent of top-performing content marketing programs routinely adjust their content mix to adapt to changing business needs. If you haven’t built or managed programs in the past, the task can be overwhelming—especially when you’re adding this project to an already full plate of responsibilities. A trusted partner can guide you through this process and build a program poised for success. 2. You’re eager to experiment with new content types, but you lack in-house expertise to guide campaign development and content production. Suppose your business is already producing certain types of content, but you’re eager to expand production to include new content types to further engage your target audiences. Each content type comes with its own set of best practices and challenges. If your in-house marketing team hasn’t worked with these content types in the past, you could be facing a lot of trial and error—and wasted resources—before you land on the right approach. A content marketing partner, along […]

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How Freelancers in Singapore Can Save for Retirement

Saving for retirement can often be an anxiety-inducing topic. With 14% of Singapore’s labor force reported to be self-employed in 2020 (World Bank), the question about how to save for retirement as a freelancer could not be more relevant than it is now. While the most obvious answer to the above question is to put money aside, there are many ways of doing it. You can simply decide to set aside a percentage of your monthly income, to invest it, or to put it in a savings account. Each option, however, largely depends on your income, retirement age, and current financial situation. Set Up a Retirement Plan In order to set up a retirement plan, you need to answer the following questions: After answering these questions, you will get an idea as to how much you need to save. The current retirement age in Singapore is 62 years, and will increase to 63 years in 2022. While this may not affect your retirement age as a freelancer, for the sake of retirement planning we will use the official retirement age. The table above assumes individual monthly expenses in retirement to be S$1,793 (Singstat). Overall spend in retirement is also based on a life expectancy of 83 years. An additional factor we need to consider are healthcare expenses. All self-employed Singapore citizens and permanent residents need to make compulsory contributions to their Medisave Account if they are making more than S$6,000. In addition to making compulsory contributions to your Medisave Account, you can choose to make voluntary contributions. The great benefit of voluntary contributions is that you can claim tax reliefs for those contributions to lower your overall tax expense. Set a Goal and Save The simplest way to save for retirement is to calculate your monthly income and monthly expenses and decide on a realistic amount you can set aside for retirement monthly. This should typically be a certain percentage of your monthly income rather than a fixed amount. Calculate when you want to retire and how much you would spend on average monthly after you retire. Average household monthly expenses in Singapore are S$3,586 (Singstat), assuming the household size is two people. This implies individual monthly expenses of S$1,793. It is also important to remember that there will be several expenses you will no longer have to worry about in retirement, such as your tax expense, your Medisave Account contributions, health insurance, children’s tuition costs, work-related expenses and possibly even life insurance premiums. This method of saving for retirement has many downsides: you are not earning interest on your savings to offset inflation, you’re not getting tax breaks on your savings. CPF Contribution Central Provident Fund is a social security savings plan providing Singaporeans with a plan for a secure retirement. While making contributions to your Medisave Account is mandatory, you can also make voluntary contributions to your CPF Ordinary Account (OA), Special Account (SA) and Medisave Account (MA). Ordinary Account contributions can be used for housing, insurance, […]

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3 Business Ideas For Students In 2021

In 2021, the workforce is going to look very different than it does today. Students are going to have a lot of different options when they graduate from college and enter the world of work. The good news is that there will be many opportunities for students in so many different sectors. For this blog post, we’re focusing on three business ideas for students in 2021 – these are all industries with plenty of growth opportunities and few barriers to entry! Entrepreneurship may not be right for everyone though so here are some alternative ideas about what you could do instead: Become a freelance writer This is one of the most popular ways for students to make money in 2021. With more and more people writing blogs, articles, content on Rapidessay , LinkedIn, or Medium, it’s a great opportunity to find work as a freelance writer! There will be plenty of demand for writers with different skill levels – from beginners who want experience before they apply for staff-level jobs at companies down the line, to experts who’ll be able to charge a premium for their services. If you’re looking for an opportunity, this is one that’s sure to stay relevant! Becoming an entrepreneur might involve much riskier ventures than going into business ownership, however, there are many benefits that can come with this decision including financial freedom and independence. Work in the gig economy Besides the writing platforms, you have the option of joining the gig economy. It’s a growing trend that can offer you an opportunity to make money in your spare time, as well as work on projects that interest you. In order for this business idea to be successful, it is vital that you provide good quality products and services at reasonable prices with great customer service! For example, you can use freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr as a gig economy opportunity. Another option is to offer yourself up for jobs through online job boards, such as Indeed and Monster, on sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. The downside of these gig economy opportunities is that in order to succeed, you need a lot of positive reviews and ratings in order to get noticed. Create an online course to teach something you know well Another great opportunity for a student is to create an online course and offer it up for sale through platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable. This business opportunity requires you to know what you are talking about in order to attract students and sell your product. You can use social media as well as other marketing avenues to promote yourself and get the word out. A successful online course starts with a message. What do you want your audience to know and believe? To have them experience what it would be like if they could walk in your shoes or see things from the perspective of where you come from? As a student, it’s hard to know where to get the […]

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Instagram Will Offer New Ways for Creators to Make Money

Image source: Getty Images Instagram will soon offer new monetization tools so online creators can make more money while doing what they love. It can be fun to create the online content that people view as they scroll through their social media feeds. But it’s also a chance for online content creators to earn a living from creating that content. Instagram is planning to make it easier for content creators to earn an income and put more money in their bank accounts . Mark Zuckerberg recently sat down with the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, to discuss some upcoming new features that will allow creators to generate money from their Instagram content. Keep reading to learn more. Instagram is developing new money-making features for content creators With these new features, creators will be able to generate income in a variety of ways. Here are some of the new features that will be available to creators: Creator shops where creators can sell items directly to their followers An affiliate marketplace where creators can make money on the products that they promote through the Instagram platform A marketplace that would match creators to branded content opportunities While Instagram is currently developing these features, there is no set date for when they will be available to creators. These features will benefit many While creators can currently make money by posting sponsored content, these transactions don’t happen on Instagram. Instead, creators have to work with brands off the platform to figure out the details and get paid for their work. Instagram wants to make it easier to monetize content with these tools so that creators can make money within the app. This will make it simple for content creators to continue doing what they love while also having the opportunity to increase their earnings. Features like the matching marketplace can also help brands better promote their own products and services and find the right creators for the job. Plus, the easier Instagram makes it for creators to earn money through the app, the more content they will likely post. It’s a win-win for all involved. Remote work and online work are on the rise According to SignalFire , there are currently 50 million content creators. That shows that many people are already making money online, and that number is likely to grow as time goes on. In today’s world, careers are evolving. More workers are pushing for remote work opportunities and are seeking out ways to make money online. Workers want greater flexibility, and some people no longer want to work in a traditional job setting. People who make an income through online apps, platforms, and gigs can enjoy a more flexible work-life balance and work the days and hours they prefer. Many remote workers and online gig workers are moving to the most affordable cities to stretch their income even further. In these cities, they can enjoy a lower cost of living and a lifestyle with more freedom. Freelance income can vary […]

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Are You a Freelance Cartoon Animation Contractor?

Are You a Freelance Cartoon Animation Contractor? 1 As a freelance animator , you are the one in charge of drawing up the designs for your client and delivering those designs to them. If you are working as a freelance animator, there are a few things that you will need to consider. The first is that you need to know all the different kinds of animations that you can draw from. Animation includes motion graphics, 3D modeling, and computer animation . You should be able to draw from these different areas and deliver the best quality animation possible. It is important for you to learn as much as you can about each of these different kinds of animation. Learning as much as you can about these different animation styles will be of great help to you as a freelance animator. This will be a great way for you to make money online. Another thing that you will need to consider is that a lot of people hire you to do this kind of work because of the versatility it offers you. You will be able to work with more than one client at a time, which is a great way to maximize your profits. There are many freelance animation sites online that you can get jobs from. However, there are also sites that post a range of hourly rates. If you are working as an hourly worker, you will be able to make a lot of money in a short amount of time. These sites will post rates ranging from a dollar an hour to more than a dollar an hour. Media Placement Opportunity With Promotions. Get 25 Articles Placed & Promoted Here is How to Get Your Press Release Distributed To 200+ Websites The Linkedin Influencer Marketing Bundle For Your Business But Under $100 You will also have a wide variety of projects to choose from. Freelance animation covers a large variety of areas, such as weddings, fashion, cartoons, fantasy, and many more. As a freelance animator, you will be able to choose creative projects based on what you like. Creative projects are a great way to make money. You will be able to choose from a wide range of different animation types , such as 3D modeling, manga, action, and more. It’s a great way to expand your knowledge of animation and develop your skills as a creative professional. When you are looking for a freelance animation project, you should keep in mind how long it will take you to complete the project. The amount of time you will need to complete the project depends on the complexity of the animation project and how involved you are with completing the project. For example, if you are animating a full length movie, you will need to have the film finished in a few months. It’s important to remember that becoming a freelance animator is not easy. There are a lot of people who become good at it and […]

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FlogApp: A new success story in the UAE

For those who may not be familiar with FlogApp, it is an application and web portal designed specifically to contribute for both sides of the freelance market only in the UAE. Freelancing has taken on a new appeal, not only saving on administrative/organizational costs (like desk and office space), this freelance model with all it offers of flexibility and diversity is proving to be the new career choice for highly skilled professionals and those looking to utilise their skills equally. This application enables freelancers to create and maintain their career ambitions by developing long-term working partnerships, and in the last ten months, FlogApp has successfully led 11,000+ freelancers and 3,500+ clients to use the application to complete their pending assignments and projects. FlogApp has recently introduced new features on their website that allows freelancers and employers to access everything from the application via the website www.flogapp.com such as creating an account, applying for jobs or pending task, and negotiating with a freelancers and many more accessibilities. As the arketing Consultant of FlogApp said that “With loyal clients and freelancers, a smart, easy-to-use application and an orchestrated marketing plan, we not only launched our website but in a short period of time, we managed to be in the TOP 10 mobile application in the UAE under our category on Google Store. Our marketing team are not satisfied yet! They are planning for more achievements to come & our main goal to keep increasing our user’s satisfaction “ FlogApp is a social impact platform that supports clients and freelancers of UAE community in this market. The hardworking staff behind the application have ensured that this platform can be trustworthy for clients and freelancers by providing a convenient way to post a job and having the right freelancer manage it, as well as ensuring that the freelancer gets paid for their work. The interesting additional to this app is that it is completely free of charge for all users unless they choose to access one of the membership plans that FlogApp offers, whether it is the Gold Plan or the Platinum Plan. Professionals in the UAE want a more flexible lifestyle with more independence and new business opportunities. We see not only doing something revolutionary for freelancers, but also a new standard for how people can work and continue to work in the future. The application is continuously adapting to the frequent developments in this fast-moving industry, so expect plenty of interesting new updates to satisfy market demand. “Perfect application that fits all ages. Multiple categories to satisfy everyone’s needs. Very user friendly platform. I have been trying to find the right person trainer for myself through websites/social media but was difficult and not what I needed. FlogApp found me a trainer with my requirements. Amazing service, quick & easy! Thanks for such great support!” – Rose Al Sheikh Happy clients strive us to do better!

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Profitable Side Hustle Freelancing

Americans are picking up freelance work to make ends meet or reach a higher earning level. Entrepreneurs aren’t immune either. According to a Zapier survey taken in January, 34 percent of Americans currently have a side hustle, while 61 million more Americans (24 percent) plan to start one in 2021. If your company is lagging a bit, freelancing can be a great way to ensure you still get a salary, even when business costs are high. But how do you make time to freelance when you’re juggling so much as an entrepreneur already? In The Complete 2021 Superstar Freelancer Bundle , you’ll learn how to make the best of both worlds. This bundle includes 13 courses and 30 hours of content all dedicated to maximizing your potential as a freelancer. You’ll learn how to kickstart a freelance business by honing in on the skills you do best, and discover how to market yourself on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and even WordPress and YouTube. You’ll learn how to win competitive jobs and build your digital profile so you can run a profitable side business from home in your spare time. There are also courses dedicated to productivity hacks and practical bookkeeping for freelancers. Before you know it, you’ll have a profitable side hustle to fall back on when business isn’t booming. Learn what it takes to become your own boss and thrive as a freelancer in 2021. Right now, The Complete 2021 Superstar Freelancer Bundle is on sale for just $39.99 for a limited time. Don’t forget to check out DiversyFund to start investing in private real estate in 2021. You don’t have to be in the 1% to get started. Invest today for as low as $500. Prices subject to change. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com

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Ways To Protect Yourself as a Freelancer

Freelancers are a particularly vulnerable group of people as we don’t have job security or employment rights. We are often prevented from getting sick pay, holiday pay or any protection at all when something goes wrong. A worker on their own booking themselves to clients is more susceptible to being taken advantage of than one who is part of a larger team in an office. Here I’m going to run through some ideas that can help you protect yourself and your business as a freelancer. Always have a contract There are a lot of things that you should consider doing to increase your chances of not getting burned by potential employers. One of the most underrated but most important things to consider is creating a contract . Nowadays, as a freelancer, if you break the rules, quit your job, or take extra jobs for pay, you could get into serious trouble. Before you get started, you’ll want to have a contract ready that spells out all the conditions under which your freelance activities can be tolerated. Get insurance As a freelancer, there are many things that you do not control. There are things that companies can do to harm your reputation and even damage your income. So it is important to be aware of the risks faced by freelancers. Also, ensure you get professional indemnity insurance so you can protect yourself when things go wrong. Freelancing is a lot of fun, and it provides you with numerous business opportunities, but one mistake can ruin your reputation and leave you penniless. Use a freelancing platform Of the many aspects involved in freelancing, one of the most important is the use of a freelancing platform that offers protection for both yourself and your client. The key to be successful in this business is finding quality clients with trustable reputation and mutual benefits. Freelancing platforms serve as intermediaries between clients and freelancers. They collect funds and ensure that payments are made to the professionals (freelancers) according to terms agreed upon in a contract, thereby protecting them from scams. Consider forming a business entity Forming a business entity creates a wall between you and your liability. You are viewed by the law as a separate corporate entity instead of an individual. So if someone is suing you, they cannot go after your personal assets. Furthermore, you can write off many business expenses that would not be considered tax deductions if you were to be taxed as an individual. Document every submitted work Failing to protect yourself as a freelancer could cost you thousands of pounds in lost income. This is why it’s important to protect yourself and make sure that all your submitted projects are well documented , both electronically and by hand, if possible, regularly. This way, if any issues arise with the payment details for your submitted work, they can be rectified in a timely fashion and won’t be held against you. Conclusion Freedom of choice, flexibility and the ability to […]

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Digital Freelance Marketing – Are There Disadvantages?

Digital Freelance Marketing – Are There Disadvantages? 1 Can you imagine life without digital freelance marketing ? You work at your computer all day, you get a paycheck, you go home, you chill. That s it. Sure, that s it if you are just working part-time and have no other responsibilities. But what if you have a business, or if you have clients? Yes, digital freelance marketing is an amazing career, but like anything else, it s not an easy path to get there, and you will experience challenges along the way. Let us discuss managing stress, for example. One misconception that most folks have about freelance marketing (and particularly about freelancing in particular) is that it is a stress-relief job. What I am talking about is actually marketing new clients for a business – a real business. Do you ever look at your next step as a stress relief? I don t think so. This is one misconception about starting up in the digital world. Freelancers make sure they stay on top of all the aspects of their businesses. The second thing clients look for is someone who knows about the industry, someone who listens to them, someone who can relate to them, someone who can help them develop the online market that they need and want. Media Placement Opportunity With Promotions. Get 25 Articles Placed & Promoted Here is How to Get Your Press Release Distributed To 200+ Websites The Linkedin Influencer Marketing Bundle For Your Business But Under $100 Many digital freelance marketing professionals do not listen, they simply regurgitate information that their clients give them. In essence, their clients are paying them to do that. This is not the type of service they are looking for, but rather, someone who can give them what they need. When this happens, their clients tend to hear what they want to hear and this can influence their decisions when it comes to choosing their next provider. If you really want to become a successful freelance digital marketing professional, you need to focus on getting started. The first step is to create your own website. You will be surprised how many people are unaware of the fact that your site will tell your entire story. You need to figure out the best way for you to optimize your website so that you stand out from the crowd. Here are 6-step guide that will help you get started. First, decide what your niche is going to be. Do you want to specialize in search engine marketing or content marketing? Both are very powerful strategies but you may want to master one or the other. If you are just getting started, you may want to start out in search engine marketing because it is much cheaper than content marketing. You can also specialize in either if you like. It is important for your freelance marketer portfolio to show that you are confident about your abilities. Most clients will want to see […]

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How to Maximize Your Freelance Writing Opportunities

Life as a freelance writer isn’t always easy. On the contrary, competition for work can be fierce. Finding new clients can be a challenge. And breaking into new industries can take months –– if not years –– of hard toil. As such, it’s important for freelance writers to understand how to maximize their writing opportunities and to market themselves as effectively as possible. Having strong writing skills alone won’t be enough to ensure you succeed as a freelancer. Thankfully, these tips will help you find quality freelancing opportunities –– regardless of your experience level. Check them out here: Deliver Excellent Returns One of the best ways to unlock doors in the freelancing marketplace is to perform at a high level for any client currently on your books. Even if you only write a few blogs a month, make sure that you go above and beyond at first to develop a solid reputation with your clients. Garnering good reviews and positive feedback from trusted voices in an industry can lend legitimacy to your resume. What’s more, some clients may even be able to refer you to their business partners for more work in the future. However, in order to get any of these benefits, you have to produce quality work first and foremost. Expand Your Reach There are many different platforms that freelancers can use to advertise their services. So if you’re not satisfied with your current workload, consider creating new profiles on different freelancing websites. Greater exposure will almost certainly lead to more hires. Update Update Update As a freelancer, you’re constantly learning new things and picking up new skills. Make it a point to let the world know about them! For instance, if you went back to school to learn SEO copywriting techniques , then update your online profiles to reflect that fact. What’s more, list what industries you’ve worked in previously. You never know when a new client might value your experience on a certain project from your past. Negotiate Negotiating can be an unpleasant experience for new freelancers. Yet, it’s a vital part of the process all the same. If you want to find good work, then you have to be willing to bargain –– at least a little bit –– with potential clients. Don’t hesitate to drop or raise your price when the situation calls for it. This is a business after all! Say “Yes” More Some freelancers have a narrow view of their own skillset. Though this can be helpful in some instances, it can also hold you back and keep you from finding lucrative opportunities online. There’s little harm in taking on a new project if you think you can handle it. Remember, everyone has to break into a new field somehow. Conclusion Whether you’re more comfortable writing a technical blog about bunions for a clinic like Northwest Surgery Center or an article on the latest fashion trends for a magazine, these tips will help you discover new freelancing possibilities. Keep them handy […]

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6 Ways To Find An Offshore Development Team in 2021

Outsourcing is the new norm for developers to build software products. The vast transformation of the remote work business model has forced businesses to switch to outsourcing. Hiring offshore developers provides businesses access to cost-efficient qualified resources. By outsourcing the development project, companies will obtain qualified professionals, a large talent pool, the latest technology development, and quality-oriented solutions. Due to the high demand for software products, the market is booming to extend offshore development teams. Nevertheless, finding an offshore development team is challenging, although it is a responsible and crucial task. In this article, we have listed below 6 ways which can assist in hiring offshore developers. Let’s lead off! 1. Industry Directories: There are many online directories such as Clutch, G2, Upcity, ITFirms, Good firms in which many of the offshore companies are listed. These directories bring together software development contractors. During the search, you can delve deeper into specific areas of expertise and obtain the company that does specifically what you need. 2. Freelance Websites: If the business project is small or the budget is too limited then you must look at the freelance sites. There are several online portals where you can partner with an offshore development team. You can post job requirements on freelance websites and the interested enterprise will connect you. Below listed are some of the famous freelance websites: Upwork & Freelancer: Both websites are the most commonly used resources to find offshore development teams. Besides, there is a rating system, to get a good understanding of their work quality. The platform handles the administration aspect of your collaboration with employees, so you can concentrate on the progress of the project. YouTeam: YouTeam is an ideal tool to find candidates or teams amongst developers. The platform ensures that the applicants have evidence of competency. Toptal: This platform assists clients and engineering teams to connect and collaborate before and during the project. And it connects businesses with potential contractors. It establishes a strong bond between the partners. The aforementioned platforms are considered the most popular and effective in terms of collaboration among client service providers. The con of a freelance website is you have to work with intermediaries such as Toptal, Up work, which will end up increasing offshore developer rates. Or you have to sacrifice security and reliability by hiring freelancers on your own. 3. LinkedIn Network: LinkedIn is a global platform, which is logged in by almost every professional offshore development company. The people who are in search of new talents need to know about this global platform as it is the basic yet significant headhunting tool for clients and recruiters. However, This platform is not the main resource for searching for offshore development teams, but it may be of great assistance. Using this website, you can access the geographical situation of the enterprises. Also, you can look in for the employees’ data, their experience, and even the accounts of the companies’ employees. While hiring offshore developers, be sure to study their […]

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Freelancing 101: How to start freelancing

The fact that you’re reading these words right now means that you’ve undoubtedly heard the term “freelancing” quite a bit by now. Maybe you’ve seen a lot of friends and relatives climb aboard the freelancing bandwagon and want to make some of that dough yourself. Perhaps you’ve heard of the impact freelancers have made in our country and are just in awe of them. After all, they did bring in $150 million worth of revenue over the course of a year . Regardless of your reasons for wanting to learn more about freelancing, you can rest assured that it is an incredibly fascinating concept. In this article, we will dive headfirst into freelancing waters and talk about everything you need to know in order to kick-start your own freelance career. What is a freelancer? Also known as an “independent contractor,” a freelancer is someone who is self-employed and is not necessarily tied with a single company. Some freelancers might use an agency to connect them with work opportunities. However, most freelancers use networking and their contacts to generate jobs. Generally, freelance work is short-term and is paid by the job or by the hour (though some may use a retainer if the client frequently uses their services). Examples of freelance work The digital economy has made freelancing a far more viable choice for workers. The scope for freelance work is pretty vast, especially now that most of our work is conducted remotely. Common freelance jobs include: Writing/blogging Web development Social media management Data Entry Graphic design Virtual assistant Accounting/bookkeeping Computer programming Pros and cons of freelancing This overview of freelancing wouldn’t be complete without pointing out the good (and the ugly) in the freelancing world. Therefore, the following are some of the most common pros and cons of a freelancing career. Pros: Flexible work schedule Acquisition of new skills Quality of work The ability to work anywhere Ability to be your own boss Selectivity with clients No commuting No office politics Cons: Inconsistent income No job security No benefits Increased financial workload Difficulty distinguishing work and personal time Juggling multiple client issues at once (particularly hellish!) How to start your own freelancing journey Making the decision to go for a freelancing career may sound brilliant, but there are several important steps you’ll have to take before you can sit back and watch the money roll in. While freelancing might seem overwhelming sometimes, especially when one considers the plethora of options and platforms available, it becomes immensely meaningful work once you get the basics right. Without further ado, let us walk through some of the initial steps every aspiring freelancer must consider. Define you goals and niche Like any venture, it’s important to have goals. Without goals, you can easily lose track of your business plan or become derailed. Gaining a clear understanding of your long-term goals will help you set smaller short-term goals to help you along the way. Some important questions to ask yourself are: Are you looking […]

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3 Key Research Tips for Freelance Writers

Freelance writers have to cover a lot of ground. One day they could be writing an article about cryptocurrency, and the next they may have to explain website design best practices. This means that freelance writing success has as much to do with quality research as it does effective writing. Indeed, the best copywriters have an in-depth understanding of their subject matter and are able to craft content that resonates with their audience in a meaningful way. On that note, today we’ll outline several key tips that freelance writers can use to conduct better research and, ultimately, write better content. Check it out here: Speak to Your Client Some freelance writers are hesitant to communicate too frequently with their clients. They may be afraid to ask questions or to request more information for fear of looking uninformed. Yet, the reality is that the better you know your clients –– including their needs, preferences, and industry –– the better you’ll be able to complete assignments for them. As such, make it a point to ask follow-up questions to clients and to insist they provide you with the data you need to succeed. Doing this step first will help you remain focused on what matters most. Vet Your Sources The rise of the internet has made it much easier for freelancers to access a lot of quality information for free with the simple click of a button. Unfortunately, not all content online can be trusted. So it’s always wise to vet your sources to verify their credentials. Look for content created by organizations with a lot of experience and positive third-party reviews. For example, if you were to write an article about foot surgery, then a reputable company like Northwest Surgery Center would be a good resource. On the other hand, a brand-new website with no bona fides that claimed to have a miracle cure for foot-pain ailments is probably a source to avoid. Go Beyond the Obvious If all you do to conduct research is enter search terms into Google, then you’re likely selling yourself short. There are many ways to find excellent insights that aren’t readily available online. Depending on the nature of your assignment, you may consider any of the following: Interviewing experts on the subject. Reading published works such as books, magazines, or journals. Conducting firsthand research yourself. Utilizing anecdotal evidence. Accessing public databases or surveys. Conclusion In the end, carrying out extensive research will not only improve the quality of your writing but make your job much easier. Businesses value thorough and detailed content, so use these tips to enhance your research efforts, make more money , and advance your career! Staff writer

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Underpinned: A Platform for Freelancers

UnderPinned was built to help freelancers of all shapes and sizes build good businesses and work through the entire work cycle all in one place. Currently, no one leaves education or full time employment knowing how to build a successful freelance business leaving them chasing job after job. To make things harder, they are forced to use a multitude of tools which all make them feel like an add-on. With 2.2m self-employed and 12.5m side hustlers in the U.K. alone, while millions more are starting to make the move, UnderPinned is there to help build a solid foundation for good freelance businesses. UnderPinned is pulling freelancing out of the gig economy and empowering the next phase of small business through freelancing. How did the company start? My co-founder Jack and I were both working as freelancers of a very different kind, him as a copywriter on gig platforms, and myself as a consultant for tech and media companies. Over coffee, we realised that the problems faced by freelancers were the same regardless of industry or stage; we both struggled to find consistent work, we both had issues managing the work when it actually came in, and getting paid in a timely manner while handling contracts and invoices felt impossible without willing to spend huge chunks of cash on lawyers and accountants. We started talking to other freelancers and pretty quickly saw there was a gap in the market, and what’s more, one that we were passionate about solving because it was our problem too. What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs? Investment is a tool for rapid growth, not the end goal. The goal should always be to build a thoughtful, self-reliant business, not one that just attracts investors. If you build something that works, the investors will come. What can we hope to see from UnderPinned in the future? The continued growth of the “Find Work” section of UnderPinned’s Virtual Office and our next Educational Course starting May 4th (learn more here). But further into the future, we want to expand to America and the rest of Europe, while also building out a client-side portal so that businesses can manage their freelance teams on the platform as well.

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