Three Tips for Becoming A Better Freelancer
As great as freelancing is, like any job, it also has its downsides. By its very nature, it can sometimes be rather lonely. As much as people complain about how difficult it is to go into to work and talk to their colleagues every day about the weather, freelancers don't have that opportunity. Whether you are a freelance writer or graphic designer or any number of other professions, you will likely be at your home office every day doing what work you have at the time. Your only chance to communicate with someone is likely to be in the form of emails with clients, people you will probably never meet.
Another difference between freelance work and more conventional forms of employment is that with freelance work, there's not a lot of job security. With a nine to five job, the employee will usually have a permanent contract and can therefore reasonably expect to be able to pay their bills for the foreseeable future. The fear of getting fired are there, but it's slight. Redundancy brings with it a severance package too.
Also, with freelance work, there is a constant need to find new clients. The whole process is one long job interview.
However, there are lots of upsides too. You are your own boss, and that can be good depending on how much you like taking orders from yourself (you have to be self-disciplined or else you will fail), and the commute is really easy too.
If you are finding you’re stuck in a cycle, here are a few tips for becoming a better freelancer:
how to become a better freelance writer
Get Out
It may seem obvious but the best way to improve how you do most things in life is to get out and talk to people who know more about it than you.
That may mean going to a conference. If you have never been to one before, you should know that you do usually get a name badge. Fun! You also get to meet a lot of confident, self-motivated, successful people and you can ask them all the questions you want. Here is some information on a few conferences that took place last year. It can give you some idea of where to get started.
becoming a better freelance writer
Get Organized
While you may have lots of different projects right now, you should always make sure that when it comes to the time to submit an invoice, all of your records are in order so you do not get any of it wrong. There's nothing worse than doing all the work only to find that you get paid the wrong amount. Setting up a filing system and organising all of your paperwork in a professional manner may not seem like a fun way to spend a morning (or an afternoon or an evening, for that matter), but it can really help when it comes time to getting what you deserve.
Revisit Old Clients
Old clients are a goldmine. Every six months or so, check in with them and ask if they need any new work done. You would be surprised at how many orders you'll get, just from checking in. Sending e-holiday cards are another way to remind clients that you exist and send more work your way.
Need more in-depth help with starting your freelancing career? Take my master course on how to become a well-paid freelance writer.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Take Your Blog From A Hobby To A Job
making a business from a blog
For a lot of people, blogging seemed to be the logical step. It was a way to get involved in something they love while maintaining their hopes of earning a little bit of extra cash from it, perhaps one day even earning a living. But how do you go about making money from your blog?
Well, luckily for you, there are a few options out there, some of which may be used on their own and some that may work together to maximise your revenue. Just remember that, whatever route you decide to go down, it should be compatible - and appropriate - with your intentions, and what your blog is about.
Go With Affiliate Advertisements
This remains one of the most popular routes for bloggers to go down because there are thousands and thousands of affiliate programs offered by every type of retailer imaginable. The reason for this is, there are millions of different products and services on sale and some of them may be suited to your blog, making you perfectly placed to act as an online seller.
Of course, the only way you actually make money from this is if someone comes to your website, clicks on the affiliate advertisement and then buys the product, upon which you will receive a pre-agreed fee. But given there is no hassle to you, it is an easy way to make money.
Make Some Merchandising
A lot of blogs these days need to have a recognisable logo or image that sells what they are about. It is that very thing that people will associate with your blog. It will instil a certain feeling or association. Well, your logo may lend itself perfectly to being printed onto merchandise. So why not start out with a few tester items, like mugs and t-shirts and bumper stickers, that kind of thing?
If they become popular, in which case why not apply for some short term business loans and capitalise on this revenue stream? Your blog could very quickly become an online store, somewhere that sells much more than just branded mugs. Somewhere that sells items people can’t find on the high street; it could sell anything from quirky art to homemade bits and bobs.
Start Selling Space
Selling advertising space on a blog has long been the standard bearer in reliable income, and a great way to earn a healthy profit. All it takes is the right conditions and proof that you have a healthy amount of visitors coming to your site, and you could see advertisers offer you a substantial amount of cash for a small banner at the top of your page.
Of course, the more reliable traffic you have coming to your blog the more money you will be able to command, so make sure your blog posts are popular. A great place to start is with Google AdSense, as this will start getting some money flowing in. Then you can move on to other networks like Izea that are looking for successful blogs like yours to produce content or share links for cash.
Need step-by-step help with starting your freelancing career? Take my master course on how to become a well-paid freelance writer.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
The Seeds Of Success In Ecommerce
ecommerce
If you’re of an entrepreneurial spirit and you like the idea of working from your own home office, there are plenty of ways to do it. Ecommerce is fast becoming one of the most successful modern selling platforms. But it’s not as simple as selling products online. You need the right selling tactic to go along with the products.
Keep Constant Focus on the User
Convenience is priority number one when it comes to any ecommerce business. Your focus always has to be on creating a user experience that’s as painless as possible. Take your time thinking of features that will make that the case. In navigation, for instance, breadcrumbs can make the shopping cart process a lot easier to bear. People don’t like not knowing how many clicks they are away from getting what they want.
Work Closely with Social
Don’t hand your social media responsibilities to outsourced parties or your colleagues. If you’re the one looking at the data on the site and seeing where customer interest is, then you need to be the one with your finger on the social pulse. You can also be there to offer support and personally answer criticism, showing your community that you’re a business that genuinely cares about the customer experience. Putting people who can’t speak for the company out there is going to slow your ability to control any situation in social media. Plus, mistakes and mishandlings are much more likely to happen with someone else at the helm.
make money online
Have a Reliable Site
Convenience doesn’t much if the site isn’t working. Don’t rush the launch. If you don’t have a full grasp on what you’re building, then consider enlisting a Magento agency to create a site that’s easier to manage.
Make sure you’ve done plenty of testing before you launch, too. You should take a closer look at how responsive it is and what might be missing between different platforms.
Offer a Better Look at the Products
People like getting informed on what they’re buying. If you’re not able to offer the huge kind of range that sites like Amazon can, then you have to offer more in terms of depth and detail instead. For instance, creating a blog or even a vlog alongside the site to give product demonstrations can be a great idea. It shows not only how products work, but that you’re committed to testing and curating products that really have some quality to speak of.
how to sell stuff online
Keep Evolving
Ecommerce itself is an ever-evolving sector. You have to be ever-evolving as well. Not only should you look at site data to see which products are doing best and where most of your marketing budget should go, you should be looking at the trends of the business. New navigation styles and features appearing on other sites should give you ideas of how to overhaul your own.
Ecommerce has to be more than just a convenient place to buy products. It has to be an experience that keeps bringing customers back. Focus as much on the fun aspects of the business, such as content and social media, as the essentials like the site and navigation.
How To Be A Freelancer (Without Losing Your Mind!)
A lot of people feel trapped by the everyday humdrum of nine to five work. They feel as though they have no freedom over what they do, their time no longer belongs to them, and that they're not really getting anything out of the work that they're doing. For people in this kind of position, there's one type of work that's more tempting than just about any other: freelancing. Working freelance often seems like the solution and, for the most part, it is! However, it's important to know that it's not all rainbows and butterflies. Freelance work is still working.
If you're sure that the freelance life is something that you want to pursue, here are a few tips for how to be a freelancer without going completely insane.
Give Yourself Set Hours
setting hours for your freelance business
One of the most tempting things about working freelance is that you get to be in charge of your own hours. This can be incredibly tempting because it brings to mind the idea of getting to lie in bed until noon and then start working whenever you feel like it.
This is certainly possible, but it's important to remember that you've got to make that time up somewhere, and it's usually at night. Unless you're happy becoming completely nocturnal, it's a good idea to set yourself reasonable hours and stick to them to avoid collapsing from exhaustion.
Have a Dedicated Workspace
freelance writer office
You might be tempted to spend every day working in bed while still wearing your PJs. DO NOT DO THIS! This is one of the most common mistakes that many freelancers make in the early days. By doing this, you're going to end up doing two things.
Firstly, you won't be able to separate your home life from your work life, which means that you're going to end up feeling a constant pressure to work. And secondly, you're going to end up hurting your spine pretty badly. Working bed or on the couch puts a lot of strain on your back.
It's a much better idea to find the best office chair that will offer you the maximum amount of both comfort and support. Plus, having a dedicated space to work at will help you avoid the dozens of distractions that are probably all over your home.
Always be Ready for Something New
new opportunities
One thing about freelancing is that you can't always be sure where you're next paycheck is coming from. It's a good idea to have a large selection of clients you can work for so that if one falls through you're not left totally in the lurch. Because of this, you're going to want to be ready for anything. One day you might be working within the lifestyle industry, the next you might have to know about the engines of large-scale naval ships. Do your best to stay in your niche, but be prepared to write about everything and anything!
Need step-by-step help with starting your freelancing career? Take my master course on how to become a well-paid freelance writer.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Quick Tips for a New Freelancing Business
how to increase sales
Hopefully, everything is going well and your freelance business is booming? Still, even if this is the case, you will still want to increase sales. It’s human nature to want more from your company. However, you don’t want to waste time and energy because they are precious resources. What you need are tips that are as quick to implement as they are effective. The good news is that you’ve come to the right place.
Mobile Market
Get an app and go mobile. The days of the desktop computer and laptop are over. In 2017, it’s all about mobile technology. As you know, smartphones are taking over when it comes to shopping. Customers just don’t have the time or patience to use another medium, so m-commerce apps are sweeping up all in their path.
One thing you should understand about m-commerce is that it isn’t a fad. Mobile shopping is growing and it’s here to stay. Thankfully, an app will rectify the problem if you aren’t mobile-friendly. With an application, your customers get quick and easy access to the company. In most cases, this results in a boost in sales.
Focus On One Service
A mistake that a lot of freelance businesses make is trying to offer too much. Although it might seem like a good idea, it often inhibits sales. The reason is there's too much choice for the consumer. Instead of focussing on a single service, they get caught up looking at dozens. In the end, they become exhausted and give up completely. So, stick with your one idea, and don't be in too big a rush to expand. Remember – you can’t please everyone all of the time.
how to make more money with your business
Market The Content For Consumers
Excellent pieces of copy are invaluable when it comes to sales. The customer needs a short and thorough description if they are going to pull the trigger.
Far too many sites use content that has first person pronouns. Instead of ‘you,’ it’s full of ‘I’ and ‘we.’ You're not aiming your content at the customer base. They don't want to hear about you, they want to hear about how your service will benefit them.
Instil Urgency
Customers like to take their time. You, on the other hand, want them to be decisive as it increases the chance of a sale. The longer they take to make a decision, the less likely they are to commit. With this in mind, you need to make them think that you need to impose a time limit. The limit doesn’t have to have any bearing, but they don’t know that. When you put up warnings like ‘hurry, sales ends today,’ customers have to act fast. Another one is, 'I only have time in my schedule for one more client.'
Why? It gives you perceived value and they can’t afford to let the opportunity slip. A subtle ultimatum like this works wonders.
Need step-by-step help with starting your freelancing career? Take my master course on how to become a well-paid freelance writer.
Rookie Blogging Mistakes, And How To Fix Them
Professional blogging is a massive industry, and keeps on growing all the time. Whether it’s a burning desire to make money from your passion or the promise of being able to work from your bedroom, there are all manner of reasons why people decide to get into blogging. If you’re a newbie blogger, there’s a fair chance you’re making some common rookie mistakes. Don’t worry, help is at hand! Here are some of the most common mistakes, and how to fix them.
Using the Wrong Platform
how to make your blog better
A lot of newbie bloggers start on Google’s platform, Blogger. Since it’s fairly easy to use and absolutely free, this often seems like a no-brainer. While it’s certainly possible to create a successful blog using this basic platform, it can be a little stifling when it comes to making small but necessary tweaks to your content, UX design and so on.
I made this mistake and then switched over to WordPress. Ask anyone who’s been in the business for a few years, and they’ll tell you that WordPress is the platform to go with. This popular platform is good enough for a lot of Fortune 500 companies, so it’s safe to say it’s good enough for your fledgling blog! It gives you complete flexibility. Of course, different bloggers will work better with different platforms, so do your research before jumping in.
Not Having an Opt-In and Lead Magnet
One of the most embarrassing rookie mistakes you can make is going for months on end without making any effort to collect emails, or grow conversions through some other kind of opt-in model. There’s another rookie mistake closely tied in with this: not dangling anything in front of your visitors to incentivise them.
If you’ve taken the initiative to set up an opt-in form on your blog, then great! Now, put yourself in your target audience’s shoes, and ask yourself how compelling the proposition is. Don’t just have a form that’s headed by the title “join my newsletter!”. No one wants to have another newsletter cluttering their inbox!
Instead, focus on giving something of value to your readership in return, like a free eBook or exclusive news about something related to your blog. Doing this right will send your conversion rate through the roof!
Doing it Just for the Money
making money from a blog
I’m not saying that you should abandon your dreams of being a full-time blogger. I hope that everyone can get paid for something they enjoy eventually. However, with professional bloggers becoming more and more numerous, it’s important to make sure you’re not getting caught up in the gold rush and pursuing this project purely for the money you want to make.
Sure, you can make a full-time living from blogging, but if you’re doing it just for the money, it’s a sure-fire way to be disappointed. First of all, it usually takes months if not years of earning peanuts before you can afford to quit your day job. Secondly, if you’re forcing yourself to come up with fresh content just to get paid, the quality of what you’re publishing will inevitably begin to suffer.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Upgrading Your Blog to a Business
Freelance writing gives you the freedom to work as you see fit. You can write whatever you like, work with whoever you want, and take on projects that you enjoy instead of being forced to write for subjects you don’t care much about. This makes freelance writing a fantastic career choice. Sadly, being too selective with your assignments makes it a bad business choice and, before you know it, you might be getting fewer requests and jobs because you’ve fallen behind on recent trends.
If you’re currently enjoying some success with your blog or freelancing career, then you might be tempted to upgrade it from just a side job or a hobby into a fully-fledged business. Now, you might think that blogging as a business sounds like a silly idea, but when you take a look at major blogs such as TechCrunch and Kotaku, you’ll realise that there is potential in the idea.
If you want to capitalise on your audience, a niche or even a trend, then you need to take risks. One of the biggest risks in the world of blogging is to turn your personal blog into a business. This means you’ll need to look for affiliate programs and even hire other writers to work under your name. You’re going to be creating a brand off the back of your personal success and not all of your readers are going to be happy about you becoming a mainstream writer. Your blog will lose some personality, you will lose old readers and gain new ones, and you’ll be under constant criticism.
However, if those are things you can stomach, then let’s dive into a few considerations you’ll have to make before you announce that you’re going pro.
blog business
Rent an Office or Work From Home?
There are many advantages to working at home. You’ll get to be closer to your family, you get to pick and choose your own hours, and you can work in the comfort of your room instead of an office.
Sadly, once you start to grow, and hire employees, you'll need a separate office from your home. It will act as a space to recruit and interview employees, you can separate your work and personal life, and you’ll have an area to set up computers and other pieces of equipment so that you and your staff can share ideas and create content.
However, there are many components to renting an office and starting up a business that you might not have thought about. For instance, you’ll need to worry about the health and safety of your employees. An innocent office with just a few electronic devices and computers may not sound dangerous, but it’s essential that you learn how to take care of your future employees to avoid possible lawsuits and claims of neglect.
If you’re unsure how to proceed, then health and safety training courses, such as those provided by Croner, allows employers to provide whatever information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of your employees.
blogging for a job
Responding to Criticism
If you’ve been blogging for the love of it, then you’ve probably built up a relatively loyal fan base that praises you for your work. However, if you announce to them that you’re going mainstream and have decided to take your blog in a new direction, you might lose a couple of readers.
Not only that, but if you’re focusing on getting more views and exposing your blog to the masses, you will eventually attract trolls and individuals who make it their duty to trash talk your blog, spam you with nasty comments and incite arguments.
Unfortunately, not much can be done about these individuals, but it does raise some troubles. For starters, it can be hard to tell when someone is leaving legitimate criticism or if they’re subtly trying to make you feel bad. When you have a smaller audience, you probably see the same names and faces responding to your posts so you get to know them and you build a community. However, with an influx of new readers and commenters, it can be hard to discern if a comment is constructive criticism or a subtle attempt to troll you.
As a rule of thumb, ignore comments that don't offer constructive criticism.
blogging for a business
Diversifying Your Content
Just writing content isn’t going to be enough to raise your view count and expose your content. You have to learn how to reach a wider audience. You can do this by diversifying your content, either with the mediums you use or the topics you talk about.
For instance, if you previously specialised in writing reviews for novels, then you could perhaps branch off into reporting on the latest book releases, interviewing authors, teaching others how to write fiction, or even previewing upcoming releases. You might also consider reaching out to other bloggers and industry figureheads to creative videos, podcasts, or even ask them to write guest posts for your blog in order to get more attention.
Similarly, if you used to write about something like video games, then you could branch off by creating a YouTube channel that is closely linked to your blog content. For instance, your YouTube channel could discuss current affairs and show preview videos of gameplay footage, while your blog tackles the heavier written content such as reviews, news and previews.
making money online
Income Streams
If you want to upgrade to a business with employees, an office and a very wide audience, you need to understand how to establish multiple streams of revenue.
For instance, affiliate programs might make up the bulk of your income if you review a lot of products as a team and have a wide audience. Your secondary income might come from advertising revenue on your blog or even your YouTube channel. Finally, you might also make money from sponsorship deals with various companies. If you review games, then a developer might pay you to review their content or feature their work on your blog—just remember that this information has to be disclosed!
The alternate option is to charge a monthly fee to read your blog, but this isn’t a very popular option unless your content is extremely high quality. You could also charge monthly fees in the form of donations and support on a website like Patreon. This is a much better option because the cost becomes optional, and you can set up incentives to convince others to donate money to your company.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Turn Your Freelance Writing Into A Business Today
how can I become a freelance writer
If you are a freelance writer, and you dream of turning your everyday career into a fully-fledged business, then there is no better time than the present. Fortunately, it is probably easier than you think to make this work, and it is likely that there is less to do than you might think.
Still, you need to know exactly what is involved. In this article, we are going to look at some of the essential steps that you need to take in order to turn your freelance writing into a big business today.
Get Serious
The first vital step is not something material, nothing you can see, but it is the most important step of all. You need to make a clear goal in your mind about what you want to achieve, and think about what you might need to do in order to get there. If you don’t take it seriously enough, then you can’t really expect it to take off, so make sure that you know what you want and how you are going to go about getting it.
Get out a notebook and figure out how much you need to make each month. Then, make a checklist of the things you need to do. Here are some things to add to your list:
Create a website
Come up with a marketing plan
Acquire a laptop or desktop, printer and scanner
Find a spot in your home for an office
Study freelancing tax laws to ensure you pay your taxes properly
Hire An Assistant
If you begin to notice that the mere maintenance of your business is getting on top of you, then you might want to think about hiring an assistant to give you a hand with it all.
There is plenty to think about here, such as managing sickness absence, managing holidays, following employer laws and of course the pay itself. As long as you cover your bases, you should find having an assistant or assistants is hugely helpful in your new business.
Think About Space
At some point, it might become time to move into a larger space. You may need extra room to carry out the extra workload - and have a space for your new assistant as well. Or it might just be that you think it is time to show yourself that you are taking it all seriously, in which case giving yourself some extra room is a great way to do just that.
Either way, there are some major considerations to take on board here, such as extra costs of lighting and so on, so you need to be sure that you really need it, and that you think you can afford it.
Do you need step-by-step guidance to becoming a successful freelance writer? Want to make a lot of money much sooner? I have a course that does just that. Learn more here.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Stop Showing Visitors The Door
Get more website visitors with these simple fixes.
Trust me. When it comes to a business’s online presence, there’s nothing as important as the website. Think of it as your front door. You don't want people to walk away before they get the skinny on your business.
If people are leaving before they get a chance to get themselves properly informed, it might be because of a few of the issues mentioned below.
getting visitors for website
Looking Amateur
It’s the first mistake that a lot of businesses newly online will make. They will take the design of the site into their own hands and aim for something that looks passable. In the end, it only looks generic and amateur. Put some thought into the visual brand of the business and what you want the site to communicate visually.
There are plenty of design tools you can use, like customizable WordPress templates, such as Customizable (that's what I use).
Make sure that someone outside of the business gets to offer some input on on your design, too. Insular design strategies are the easiest ways to miss glaring flaws.
Adding Barriers Where You Don’t Need Them
Even more important than how a site looks is its usability. Sites like https://www.candidsky.com make it clear that user experience is the core of what makes a good website. Content that clogs up a page so that the user has to keep scrolling to find what they want and navigation bars crowded with options get in the way of usability. Think about the goals of the user visiting the site and create set paths for those goals specifically. The rest is fat that needs to be trimmed. Cut out quotes of the day, gifs and pages that have nothing to do with your topic, personal rants and other junk.
Leading People to Broken Pages
Perhaps the most anti-user experience you can provide is letting people click on a link that takes them a 404 page or a page under construction. You probably didn’t want that to happen, but the websites you’re linking to change over time and you need to make sure you’re not left in the lurch by that. There are a lot of tools you can use to check the site for dead links, so make sure you do some housework from time to time.
Showing Outdated Info
The same rule applies to any content that you have on the site. You might want to keep some for posterity’s sake, but if you have content that is ill-informed because it’s out of date or you’re showing stats that have improved, people won’t trust what you have to say. As Designcouncil.org states, you have to keep a business relevant to make it look like a professional operation. Take the time updating your content when you need to.
Your Content is Inconsistent
There are many ways to use different forms of content on your site. Written content, video content, infographics, so on and so forth. Using a variety isn’t a bad thing, but you have to make sure that there’s some consistency in them. They need to fill the same space in the site layout, they need to be consistently categorized and they should fit the tone of the brand. If they don’t, it looks like the business is scatter-brained and doesn’t know where to focus, making you look unprofessional.
Getting people onto your site isn’t enough. You need to ensure that you have a site that’s going to keep retaining them. A well-designed, reliable site with some semblance of relevance and a message to it is the minimum requirement for a good business site.
Note: Post contains affiliate links.
Don't Just Rely on Facebook - Build a Website!
Using social media for small business
Facebook seems like the most ideal way to get your business on the internet, right? To many startups, it seems like there’s not really any need to build your own website anymore. Worryingly, there are a few articles out there that seem to be promoting this kind of mindset.
You can see why people may think this way. After all, it’s free to set up a business page on Facebook. And, with Facebook being the most popular website on the internet by quite some margin, there are millions of people out there who could stumble upon your business.
There is also the benefit of there being little to no technical expertise required to build and maintain a Facebook business page. Plus, Facebook is already optimized for SEO. That’s why, when you Google a business, you’ll see their Facebook in the top search results - sometimes as the top search result. (Though this also requires some good SEO-based content creation on your part to maintain.)
using facebook for business
With all of this in mind, why would anyone build a website separate from their Facebook page anymore? After all, starting a business is expensive. Is it really necessary to increase those expenses by building a website from scratch?
Websites can make money for your business, even if you’re not selling anything directly on the website. Advertising, for example, can help bring revenue to your business if you have a healthy flow of traffic. But when it comes to ecommerce, transactions simply aren’t going to work over Facebook. Even marketplace technology which can be setup immediately can’t be setup on Facebook - you need your own website!
setting up shopping for online businesses
One of the biggest problems with just keeping your web presence limited to Facebook is that you don’t have that much control over your online presence. You are completely at Facebook’s mercy, and if you think Facebook is some passive and fair space in which to do business (or even voice opinions), then think again.
Make no mistake: a social media presence is a must. But if you want to retain control over your online presence, then you need to build your own website. Without your own website, you’re also going to have a limited amount of power when it comes to marketing since Facebook has a very limited amount of tools available to businesses.
Plus, as the end of the day, prospective clients and customers simply aren’t going to be very impressed if you can only direct them to a Facebook page!
making your business mobile friendly
Another thing you have to keep in mind is that Facebook isn’t right for every business. Sure, you should have a Facebook page, but the amount of attention you should pay to it will differ from business to business. For some people, the interactions you want to have with customers simply can’t be facilitated using the Facebook platform. With your own website, you can design and develop it to your heart’s content. You can control how much content is on there, how many pages you have, how your customers contact you, and what images people can and can’t see. Facebook is important - but don’t make it the centerpiece of your web presence.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Become A Scheduling Queen (or King)
female run small business
According to Lou Gerstner, a former CEO of the tech giant IBM, nobody should ever own your schedule. What he meant by that was you should make your own rules and not let other people decide where you are at any given time.
When you first start out running a small business, you’ll spend a lot of time faffing about, running around like a headless chicken from one appointment to the next. After a while, you’ll learn how to organize your time better and plan your week. After all, you are the boss. Here is some advice that you might find useful.
Block Off Time For Email
When you work for yourself, email is a constant headache. There’s always something demanding your attention. This is why so many people block off the time to look at their emails. Responding to emails in dribs and drabs means that you’re constantly switching between tasks to respond to people. But blocking off time for email means that you can fully concentrate on what you’re doing, whatever that happens to be.
Use Appointment Slots
One of the first things that cloud-enabled businesses should do is automate appointment slot booking. But many professionals still aren’t taking advantage of field management software that makes it possible. Most are still using old-fashioned diaries. The good news is that none of this has to happen anymore, even if you’re a service that goes out to people’s homes to do your work.
Experiment With Different Meeting Lengths
In business, it seems to be an unwritten rule that a meeting has to last 45 minutes. But is there any reason for this? Most meetings can be whittled down to 30 minutes if you skip the chat and just focus on business. And most calls, especially calls to new clients, can be condensed into as little as ten minutes.
how to run a small business
If people know you have these rules - that meeting must last no more than 30 minutes and that calls must last no more than 10 - then people will skip the small talk and get straight to the point. Although it might take a bit of getting used to, you’ll be surprised just how much more to-the-point your staff is once you start implementing these new measures.
Finally, always make sure you block off meetings according to your schedule so that they can’t run over. A 30-minute weekly staff meeting will suffice for practically every business.
Create A Routine
Have you ever wondered how the most productive people in the world managed to become so productive? Usually, it was because they came up with a routine that enabled them to fit all their obligations into their schedule with time left over for the things that matter in life, like exercise and socializing.
You can easily create a routine for yourself that does exactly this. Because your business will evolve over time, think carefully about how you need to spend your time today and how that might change in the future.
Want to start up your own freelance writing business? Take my Master Class!
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Infographic: 7 Blogging Myths Debunked
how to make a blog
Dave McDonald over at How to Start a Blog Online was kind enough to share his infographic 7 Blogging Myths Debunked. If you want to start a blog, or already have one, take note. These are all sooooo true!
From Branding To Blogging: The Best Ways To Promote Your Business
If you run a business, your aim will always be to make money. Even if you’ve turned a passion into a career or you’re doing something you love on a daily basis, when it boils down to it, the success of your company will depend on the numbers on your balance sheets. In order to turn over a profit, you’ll need to promote your business. Whether you’re trying to generate an income from a blog or you’re preparing to take the world of business by storm with a new venture, there are lots of ways you can make people aware of what you’re doing.
Online Marketing
The internet offers a wealth of amazing resources for new business owners. If you’re a blogger, your marketing strategy is going to revolve around online platforms, but the World Wide Web can also be hugely beneficial for businesses in the retail, manufacturing and services industries, like freelance writing.
If you use it properly, you can create a buzz, get people talking, and boost your sales dramatically.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is hugely effective for driving traffic to your website. Using search terms and backlinks, you can encourage more people to visit your site, and hopefully, place an order.
Social media can also be beneficial, especially if you’re targeting a younger demographic.
If you’re using a blog to drum up more interest, work with other bloggers, and make sure your content is fresh, relevant, and original.
Pitching and Presenting
If you’re trying to sell a product, you’ll probably find yourselves standing in front of a panel or an audience at some point. To sell large quantities, you need buyers on board. When you’re pitching, remember that you are representing your brand and the people you’re standing in front of will make a decision based on what you tell them and how you present yourself, as well as how much they love the product you’re offering them.
Set the right tone and create a positive first impression.
Dress smartly, arrive on time.
Maintain eye contact, and be friendly and approachable.
Practice your presentation, and be ready to answer tricky questions.
Show off your passion for your product, and share your story.
work at home mom
Getting Your Branding Right
Branding can make the difference between success and failure. Your branding should make your company stand out, and ensure that it’s memorable.
Think carefully about the colors, slogans and catchphrases you use and be consistent. If you have a logo or a tagline, they should be present on everything from your website homepage to delivery vans or drink menus.
If you’re not an expert in branding, it may be worth outsourcing work or hiring freelancers with experience in this area. You’ll also find some useful branding tips online from articles like Must Read Tips for Building a Brand.
branding tips
To achieve success, you need to promote your company and get the registers ringing. There are so many different ways you can make people aware of your presence in the industry. Take advantage of the internet, create a strong brand, and represent your business in the best way possible. Good luck!
Perfect Your Professionalism as a Freelancer
working at home
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Freelancers often have a bad reputation when it comes to professionalism - through no fault of their own. And, while I don’t believe it to be true, it’s something you have to fight against constantly. Whether you are pitching for a slot on an online magazine or trying to attract the attention of a local marketing agency, you're up against a lot of resistance.
There are, however, some simple solutions to the reputation problems you might have as a self-employed writer, designer or creator of any description. I’m going to go through a few of the major issues with you right now and provide you with some hints and tips on where you should focus your efforts to perfect your professionalism as a freelancer.
how to work at home
Always Deliver on Time, Every Time
This should be a no-brainer, folks, but always make sure you are delivering the goods to your clients on time. Do great work, and you will reap the rewards, whether it’s ongoing work or the benefits of word of mouth advertising from happy customers. Life is tougher for freelancers than many clients will believe, as you have so many hats to wear. But, ultimately, no clients care if you have been feeling ill, or experienced a power outage, or any other travails you might be experiencing. They want their work delivered on time, every time, so be always be ahead of yourself and never leave anything until the last minute.
Have a Professional Address
Many freelancers work from home, but many of your potential prospects will often use this against you. Like it or not, business owners prefer working with other firms, and even if you have a smart office in your spare room or in the garden, that home address can often make them think twice before hiring you. I mean, they can Google Maps you and see your house!
There are a few options available to you, however. Coworking spaces are proving beneficial for freelancers of all kinds, so visit the website of any hubs in your area and see what you can find. You can also get yourself a PO Box, which will, at least, give you a professional-sounding address on your website.
freelancer's desk
Dress Smarter
OK, so you have finally convinced a potential client to meet with you. It is vital that you look the part (including in Skype meetings!), or you could be tarred with the unprofessional brush. Image is such an important part of business. People will judge you on your appearance in an instant - the truth is if they don’t like the look of you, it may not even matter what your skills you can bring to the table. I’m not suggesting you need to turn up in a three-piece suit for every meeting, of course, but professional attire helps you appear like you mean business.
Show, Don’t Tell
Are you branding yourself as a ninja, guru or expert on your website and other marketing materials? If so, it’s probably time to stop. While expertise is vital in attracting prospects, people want to see it in action, not hear about it.
Talk about your experience and niche, and explain how you get your results. Ultimately, it’s results that matter to your clients, not bold, unprovable statements about how great you are. Show, don’t tell, and you will find yourself picking up more clients than you ever have before.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
The Real Truth About the Cost of Starting a Blog
starting a blog
We have all had the scenario where we’ve hit the snooze button one too many times on a Monday morning. The thought of having to head out to work again can take its toll. We all have bills to pay, though. So it is easy to see why more and more people are choosing to start their own businesses or start working freelance. When your time is your own, and you only have to answer to yourself, it can make ‘heading out’ to work much more bearable.
But doesn’t it take a lot of money to get your own business up and running? What if you don’t have the cash upfront?
So then you might start thinking about some low-cost business ideas to get you started. Many people turn to a blog, since it seems to have a relatively small upfront cost in return for a greater earning potential.
How much will it cost to set up, though?
The start-up costs of a blog are pretty minimal, but it can grow to a large sum.
You’ll need to decide on a hosting platform and then pay for the hosting and domain name. But paid over each month, it can be as little as $10 a month.
If you don’t have a laptop or computer that will work for it, then that can be an upfront cost, too. A decent laptop that will work for blogging can cost as little as $200. I suggest going to your local pawn shop. Often, you can find high-end laptops for a third of the price.
If you want to hone your skills and improve things like the photography on your blog, then investing in a decent camera is a good idea. My choice is the Canon Rebel T6i. This Rebel T6i kit comes with a new camera, filters, memory cards and other photography accessories for a low price. It runs around $500, which is less than what most sites sell the camera for alone.
The design of your blog is a key factor in turning your blog into a successful business. So if you’re not too savvy with tech, it might be worth hiring someone like a Divi Expert to design your site for you. You want it to be a responsive site so that it will work well on tablets and mobile devices. You also want it to look good and flow well, so your readers can find that they want easily, and not just click off. If it looks quite messy, then people will just give up. So that could be an expense worth investing in. Costs vary, depending on who you hire.
writing a blog
Once you start to churn out posts, it might be worth spending a little to make your life easier. As your blog gets popular, then it could be worth hiring someone like a virtual assistant, just for a couple of hours a week. They could edit photos for you, do some of your social media, or even write out some blog posts. If you hire from abroad, then the cost can be pretty minimal. Virtual assistants can run the gamut in fees, so shop around.
Also, when you get a few people subscribing to your blog, then it might be time to look into a decent email subscribe mailing system. Then you can update them with a newsletter from time to time, for example. This can cost around $30-$50 per month.
Though it may be more than you expected, the start up costs of a blog are low when compared to other businesses, but the potential is massive if you have a good niche.
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The Ultimate Social Media Toolkit: Templates, Cheats and Tips that Will Get Your Brand Noticed
Hey, I'm glad you're reading this!
Don't let social media make you feel like this!
After almost 20 years of creating content for businesses big and small, I've learned tips and tricks to grabbing a reader's attention. In social media, grabbing attention is essential to getting followers, likes, clicks and conversions. It means everything, especially if you are a small business. So, I am going to share some of the quickest and easiest ways to peak readers' interest with you. Best of all? These are proven techniques that get results. I hope you find the following information useful. Have questions? Send me a tweet. I'm @alinabradford over there.
Click here for your kit.
29 Facts Every Freelancer Needs to Know
information on freelancing
Freelancing sounds so carefree. You get to make your own hours, show up in your pajamas and choose which clients you'd like to work with. Yah, it's great. There's more to it, though. Take a look at this infographic:
Don't Get Caught In The Web: Use It To Climb Higher!
how to become a writer
As a writer, how many times have you fallen into a spiral of despair at a mistake in a social media update? Grammar mistakes are rife online. One thing’s for sure; it never takes long for someone to spot the error and ridicule the culprit.
So few people know the difference between their, there and they're! Aggg!
Many of us are under the belief that the internet has done terrible things for the English language. It’s never been possible for so many people to publish unchecked work before. And, even us writers sometimes fall under the spell of not proofreading before we post!
The internet isn't all bad. In fact, it can be a huge help for writers looking to develop their craft. The trick is knowing how best to use it.
Online Courses
The most obvious way the internet can help you is through online writing courses. In an ideal world, we would all go out to a local evening class. But, who can honestly say they have time for that?
The good news is, you can now get many of the benefits from a writing class from the comfort of your home. From finding your course to downloading your course material; all it takes is the push of a few buttons!
The best thing about this is that you don’t need to settle for the nearest course to you. You can pick any course to suit your writing needs! Want to hone your freelance skills? No problem. Or, are you more passionate about writing fantasy? The internet’s got you covered there, too!
All it takes is a little research to find the perfect thing. Choose from courses that come in modules and last a few months, or one time Skype sessions with other writers.
Create Your Own Group
If it’s writerly interaction you’re after, you could set up your own group on Facebook. Get the word out on social media and see if anyone’s interested. That way, you’re not writing into the void. Editing the work of other writers can also be a huge help with your work. Seeing what they’ve done wrong will save you making the same mistakes.
how to become a freelance writer
Social Media
Speaking of social media; that can be a huge help as well! Building an audience is important for any writer. Any potential publisher will feel more comfortable to work with someone with a guaranteed readership. It makes their job a hell of a lot easier!
Plus, it can be a boost to know there’s people out there who want to read what you write before it’s written! Social media can also be an excellent way to get yourself noticed. Sites like Twitter are fantastic for interacting with other writers.
You could even get your face known by agents and publishing houses. And, they do say it’s about the people you know! Build an audience by posting often and getting involved in conversations.
And, don’t think you have to stick to traditional social media routes, either. Youtube is a popular platform for budding writers to talk about what they read and write. The correct term for it is Booktube. Or, a more recent addition, Authortube! Authors such as Jen Campbell have developed an audience nearing 30,000 viewers. Find out about the best vlogging cameras and set up a channel. Watch videos from other Booktubers to get some idea of how to do it, and then take the leap! And remember, get involved in conversations to get your face seen. It’s the fastest way to get subscribers of your own.
writer life
Practice and Perfection
The internet also offers a fantastic opportunity to practice and perfect your writing. What better practice than blogging? Knowing your writing will be out there for the world to see will put added pressure on getting it right. It’ll be a huge help in honing your skills.
Short blogging on social media can also help you hone your skill. When you only have 140 characters to work with, every word counts. Set yourself a challenge of posting a small story on Twitter each day. If you like it, micro fiction could be for you!
There are also some fantastic websites out there to help with writing. Hemingway app tests the readability of your work. It's wonderful if you’re guilty of overusing adjectives. Or, head to a site like Grammarly, which makes sure there are no grammar errors in your online writing. It’s a great way to avoid embarrassment. Let’s be honest, a lot of people could do with a grammar check before they post!
Finding and Sending Work
The world wide web is also a huge help in finding and submitting work. If you’re working freelance or writing short stories, most business will be online. Freelancers can join sites where they bid for work. The competitive aspect will force you into being the best you can be! Or, you can find out about magazines looking for articles. Short story writers can learn about writing competitions galore online. Signing up to sites like Submittable allows you to send stories hassle-free. You'll also be able to track them without worry. Here are some places that list jobs for writers.So, there you have it. The worries about what the internet is doing to language are largely unfounded. It can be a huge help if you use it right.
And remember to always check your work. A writer making a public grammar mistake will be a difficult thing to live down!
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Work at Home Woes
Working from the comfort of your own home is relaxing, soothing and much less stress than commuting to an office—or is it? If you’re on your work-at-home honeymoon period then you are probably over the moon about your new career choice. You can wake up, get a fresh cup of coffee, procrastinate for a bit and then start your work instead of stressing over your car not starting or public transportation being on strike.
Whatever the reasons for you working at home, there are a few troublesome things about being independent that you just can’t ignore. I know I went over some of these a few days ago, but it bears repeating.
how to work from home
Utilize Home Comforts
There are, of course, many advantages to working at home. For starters, you’ll be closer to your children which is great if you have a young child or a baby to look after. It’s somewhat of a distraction, but it’s better than paying for expensive child carers. You also have easy access to your personal kitchen, meaning you can cook up comforting meals instead of buying junk food, and what about the coffee makers you have at home compared to the work ones? The coffee machines at work are probably nasty and not that great, but from home, you can get a coffee delivery to your doorstep, and have a fresh brew of delicious coffee for that caffeine boost you need to get yourself through the day.
Distractions
Some people would argue that working from home is far more distracting than working in an office. An office environment is usually filled with machines and people that are all busy at work, so it’s natural for you to follow their example and get to work yourself. You’re also able to communicate with your team, which makes it easier (most of the time) to focus on your work instead of being distracted.
When you’re at home, you’re close to all of your comforts. Your bed is close by if you want a nap, you probably have the television in the room, and you have the freedom to blast loud music while you work.
To remedy the problem of distractions and be more productive at home, try to set up space or a room and designate it as your working zone. Remove all distractions from this area and try to focus on creating a professional looking space for you to motivate yourself to work. Heck, even use an app that disables the internet while you work, if that's what you need.
how to avoid distractions when working at home
Breaking the silence
Let’s face it, working at home is lonely. You’re not going to be working as part of a team unless you utilise some form of messaging with your office, but if you don’t have an office and you work as a freelancer then you probably aren’t going to get much interaction. To combat loneliness, it’s a good idea to plan some events with friends or to go and speak with your neighbors now and then.
Interaction is important so that you don’t go completely insane working in silence. Another great way to break the silence is to play some relaxing music as you work. It should ideally be something repetitive or soothing, but some people work great blasting electronic club music as well—it all depends on your personal preferences.
Are You As Productive As You Could Be At Home?
home office
Do you work from home? If so, are you as productive as you could be? If you have an office or a studio at home, here are tips and tricks to help you get more out of your working day.
Problems with your workspace
When you work at an office, you have a dedicated area. You sit at your desk, switch your computer on, and you’re ready and raring to. If you’re having a meeting, you can pop into a spare room, which is equipped with everything you need. When you’re at home, the setup may be a little different.
If you’ve only just started working from home, you may not have had time to finish off your office yet. Even if you’ve been based at home for a while, you may still be finding your feet. When your home doubles up as a workspace, it’s essential to separate work and play. Don’t try and run the world from your kitchen table. You’ll find it hard to concentrate, there will be papers everywhere, and you may lose track of what needs doing on a daily basis. Trust me. I know!
Once you’ve got a workspace sorted, turn it into a room in which you want to spend time. Add an element of excitement or fun if you have a creative job, and personalize it. Just because you’re working doesn’t mean you want to stare at four blank walls all day, every day. Make sure you have enough space, invest in the equipment you need, and ensure that you’re comfortable.
how to work from home
Ironing out annoyances
It can be hard enough to concentrate when you’re working from home without any additional annoyances or distractions. If there are problems that are bothering you, try and iron them as soon as possible. Is your office too hot or cold? Are you struggling to get comfortable when you’re typing? Is the room too noisy? If you’ve got HVAC issues, get in touch with a company like Academy Air. If you need a new chair, have a look at office furniture online or visit a showroom and try some different styles out. If you’re struggling to concentrate over road noise, consider soundproofing the room or wearing earplugs while you work. It’s important that you’re comfortable so that you can focus on your work.
Establishing a routine that works for you
Routine is imperative when you work from home, but there is no universal regime that suits everyone. Play to your strengths. If you’re a morning person, tackle the most demanding tasks first thing. If you take a while to warm up, start your working day at 9 am rather than 6 am, and finish later. This is what I do. I am NOT an early morning person!
Write to-do lists, keep your filing tray organized, and manage your time using a diary. I've started using bullet journaling to keep organized and keep track of my goals. Here's my Pinterest board for bullet journaling, if you need ideas.
freelancing
If you work from home, this doesn’t mean that your day is an easy ride. Working at home can often be more taxing than going into an office because you have to contend with the temptation of home comforts. If you are based at home, take these tips on board to make your working day more productive in no time.
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