Essential Outsourced Services That Every Growing Blog Needs
blogging help
When growing your blog into a fully-fledged business, the last thing on your mind is probably hiring employees. Blogging, after all, is mainly focused on the content itself, i.e. your posts. However, there are many other components that are required in order for you to grow your blog into a business. Whether you’re a new blogger that has gained a lot of attention in a short period of time or a slow-growing blog with plans to take the next step, here are a couple of outsourced services that you will need in order to continue growing your blog.
Accounting
It doesn’t sound like an essential component, but you’ll be surprised at how many different sources of income you’ll be receiving once your blog grows. There will be sales for your products (if you have written an eBook or something similar). You might get donations. There is ad revenue to think about and you may even have an affiliate program with a company like Amazon.
There are so many difference sources of income that it might be difficult for a single person to manage all of those streams and calculate the proper amount of tax to pay.
Not only can it be confusing, it also eats into your time. As a growing blog, you want to dedicate more of your time to providing content instead of dealing with other matters. Companies such as Howlader & Co are a great place to look for accountants that can help you manage tax payments. Although it might be expensive, think of the time it saves and you’ll quickly realise it is worth your money.
Web Designer
Are you still using templates? Then it’s time to hire a designer and get rid of that boring and overused layout. Don’t forget your blog is still a website and that you need to attract readers in order to build an audience. Your content itself might be fantastic, but not everyone will come back to your website if it’s hard to navigate or if it requires a lot of clicking just to find the content they want.
Get a web designer on your side and design something that amazes your readers, is personalised for your content, and makes you stand out from the rest of the template-using crowd.
how to be a blogger
Lawyer
Yes, even you, a blogger, will need a lawyer at some point. Once you grow popular, you’re going to get a lot of questions and comments about your content and you may even be sued for something like improper image usage.
Of course, these could be for legitimate reasons or for reasons to spite you. For instance, you might be using an image that was uploaded as royalty free by accident, landing you an expensive image copyright lawsuit that could completely destroy your brand.
With a lawyer, you have nothing to fear because they will be able to protect your rights and advise you on your next move. Lawyers can also help you crack down on other blogs who are blatantly copying your content or stealing your work.
Freelancing Doesn’t Mean Going It Alone: Three Areas Where You Need Help
When starting out, a lot of freelancers make the mistake of trying to handle too many of the little tasks by themselves. Some of these jobs require very specialised skillsets and others are simply too large to tackle on your own. Attempting to do them yourself wastes time and can become expensive. So, for some jobs, it’s best to go to a professional. To help you out, this post will go through some of the easy ways to get help in three areas. Now, all you have to do is get to work!
freelancing
Business Consultant
A lot of freelancers start their new career without much direction. People assume that their knowledge of their trade is strong enough to carry them through with customers. Without any business experience, though, it can be very hard to make sure that you’re doing the right things. But, you’re never truly alone and there are people that can help you.
Business consultants can give you the advice you need to start up straight away. They understand invoicing and contracts, proper quoting, business analysis, and much more. Along with these skills, a business consultant will also be able to help you to build a strong business plan. With all of these resources, you'll find it much easier to start conducting your business.
IT Support
Most people don’t have a huge range of computer skills. When it comes to using computers in day to day life, you might be just fine. But, when it comes to solving problems with hardware and software, a lot of people simply panic.
This sort of field can take years to get into. People study for a long time to be able to work in IT support. And, it makes sense. This area is very complex, so, it’s best if you leave it to a professional. A company like Xceptional Networks has the tools and resources to help you to manage all of your IT; without having to break the bank. These sorts of services are perfect for freelancers because they only charge you for what you use and, you probably won’t use them very much, anyway.
how to freelance
Freelance Web Developers
When it comes to building a website, loads of people have been drawn to handy-dandy DIY website builder tools, in recent years. But, this will almost always result in a site that lacks the design and functionality the freelancer wanted when they set out. It's much better to simply go to a professional. Other freelance workers are your best bet here. There are loads of freelance web developers around. Getting a website custom made will often cost as much as a year's worth of hosting, so not so bad.
Hopefully, this will inspire you to start getting the help you need as a freelancer. A lot of people try to go it alone and struggle. As time goes on, you’ll notice the difference that this truly makes.
Need step-by-step help starting your freelancing career? Take my master course on how to become a well-paid freelance writer.
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.
Four Essential Pieces Of Tech For Your Home Office
what you need for your home office
Working as a freelancer can be psychologically odd. When you have a nine to five job, you get up in the morning, get washed and dressed and commute to work. When you arrive at the office, you are subconsciously aware that you should now be working. Your brain will start perceiving things differently, concentrating and responding in different ways. If you're good at your job, this change will be advantageous and will allow you to prosper.
With freelancers, they get up, get washed and dressed (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise) and then go into the room where they work. They are still at home, the place where they relax, so getting into the mindset for work is sometimes more of a conscious process. This can be difficult sometimes. One way of dealing is separating your home into zones where you work and zones where you relax. Do not watch a movie in your office, for example, and do not do any work in the living room.
Another difference from people who go to work and have a boss is that freelancers have the most freedom when it comes to deciding what their work environment should be. No one is going to come by and tell them to take down whatever pictures they want to put up. It is their home after all.
One of the disadvantages of this, though, is that the freelancer has to procure all of their own office supplies. There is not a cupboard at the end of the hall that has everything that you could ever need. If you want it, you have to get it yourself. If you are thinking about working from home, here are four pieces of tech that you will need.
1. A Shredder
Just as freelancers don’t have abundant office supplies, they also do not have an entire legal team to help them out if they make a mistake. When working alone, you have to look out for yourself. To ensure your own financial and personal security, you should get a shredder. Check out papershredderpros.com. Shredders may not be that sexy but they could save you a lot of money in legal fees.
2. Office Chair
If you are going to be sitting at your desk all day, you need to pick out an office chair that is right for you. Your back only needs to be damaged once for it to be a problem for the rest of your life. The benefits of good furniture speak for themselves. I personally have a Serta Executive office chair because it is fully adjustable.
3. Hard Drive
Freelancers also do not have their own IT departments. It is, therefore, apropos to get a backup hard drive. There is nothing more frustrating than working all day only to have it all wiped out.
4. Video Conferencing Gear
The wonders of the internet never seem to cease. Near instantaneous video conferencing is now taken for granted in modern business. So as not to be left behind, check out https://www.logitech.com/en-gb/. You want to make sure that you can be seen and heard perfectly.
freelancing
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
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.
How to Make Some Extra Cash Away from the Office
Making a bit of extra money outside of work is easier than it ever by the rise of the technological advances. As technology has grown, the capabilities to work pretty much anywhere have grown too.For instance, there are a whole host of ways to make a bit of extra money via the internet. You can create your own online marketplace and sell everything you no longer need any our life; you can take on the world of the online stock market; you can begin a blog; or you could upload videos to Youtube and make a cool £11 million net worth from doing so like Youtube personality KSI. Okay, maybe it would be a bit hard to make that much, but you can always use the Internet legally to make a bit of extra cash on the side.
But why limit yourself to making just a bit of extra cash outside of work? You could take the venture of making your own money a step further by starting your own-home based business. There are whole host of ideas that you can turn into a reality, some of which can be found here:https://ponbee.com/home-business-ideas/.
If you have become sick of the long commute to work every morning, or are just sick of being an employee, then eradicate the problem. Running a business from home means you don’t even necessarily have to get out bed, and it certainly means you won’t be an employee of anybody any longer. And there are services and platforms out there designed specifically to enhance home-based businesses and make them seem more bona-fide than they actually are. Virtual office systems, such as that provided at yourvirtualofficelondon.co.uk, allows for the stigma of working under a residential address to not be one that your business has to worry about despite that fact that it does actually work under one. Your mail would be sent to an office that would be deemed as being far more professional, and then forwarded to you; thus meaning that both you and your client are happy.
Whatever type of work you do from home, however, it is imperative that you remain as healthy as possible — a task that is sometimes surprisingly hard to do. What with all the not-so-healthy food in the cupboards in your kitchen and the fact that working from home can sometimes drive to delve into them because of boredom, and because of the fact that you don’t have to do whole of moving about, remains healthy whilst working from home is one of the biggest challenges involved with the venture. You can counter it by stocking your cupboards with healthy alternatives that will provide you with just as much energy and stimulation as junk food does, trading your teas and coffee for green teas, and spending a few hours a day stood up instead of sitting down when working. In regards to the latter: one the bright side, at least you won’t be getting any funny looks for doing so, like you may do in the office!
Stand up at your desk
Whatever way you decide to make some extra money, or even forge a career, you should always make sure that you are dedicated enough to see the venture through, especially if you quit your job to do so.
When A House Move Becomes A Career Move
There are plenty of good reasons for moving . Your family may have outgrown your current accommodations. Maybe you want to be closer to relatives. Perhaps you have to move to a new city to start an exciting new job. Before you sign on the dotted line for your next property, have a think about the long term future. Are you perhaps ready to start pursuing your own freelance business opportunities?Even if you’re moving as part of a career advancement with an employer, you should consider where you hope to be in five years or even ten years time. Most people that start their own business have to start very small. They can’t afford to give up the day job for quite a while as they begin to build a reputation and client list. No matter how humble the beginnings, you can still make it, though. All you need is a space at home that is dedicated to your business.
becoming a freelance writer as a career
Moving house is the perfect opportunity to make sure you have that nook, room, or garage that can become the center of operations for your startup. It can be better value for money than renovating too. Freelancers, especially freelance writers, need somewhere quiet with minimal interruption. A space that promotes your creativity will have a window with natural light and air. There will be walls where you can hang motivational posters, calendars, noticeboards, and ideas. Search for properties that have that extra space for you.
Another benefit of a fresh-start property is that you can organize the furniture in a way that better suits this part of your life. Everything is packed up, and you have a fresh canvas of space to unpack it into. This can be quite freeing as it helps you keep clutter at bay. Choose safe movers that you can trust to take care of all your belongings responsibly. If you need some storage space for a while, your moving company should be able to assist.
You might be starting a job with an employer, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be just as excited about your home office. Having a dedicated space for you to launch your own business could be just the push you need to get going. Of course, you may already have left your working life behind, and you’re ready to go it alone. Would a house move better your chances at success?
No matter what kind of business you’re in, you will need to meet with clients, visit research centers or libraries for fact checking, and find suppliers. Rural living is great for some people, especially creatives. The trouble is that it makes it difficult and costly to get to the city to meet the people that support your business. As your business grows, you may not have access to the talent pool you need. Moving your home closer to the center of things can help you progress if you have a home business.
A change of house can herald the start of a new era for you and your family. It may also afford you the space you need to make your freelance business or working career bloom. Would you move to make it?
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.
Maintaining Health While Working From Home
Staying healthy while working at home
When people start working for themselves, they rarely think of the impact that it might have on other aspects of their lives. Of course, working from home will always limit the amount of exercise that you get. And, this will also impact your diet. Maintaining health when your lifestyle involves spending so much time indoors can be a challenge. You have to work extra hard. To help you out, this post will go through some easy ways to get and stay healthy.
Fitting in Exercise
When you work at home, it’s easy to spend nearly all of your time in a chair. Of course, this is great if you don’t like exercise, but, it’s not good for your body.
Not only does lack of exercise do a number on your body, it also hurts your brain. Exercise increases the blood flow to the brain and increases hormone production, which can make you smarter and happier.
I noticed a big difference when I started working out. My foggy brain diminished and my creativity increased.
One of the best things to do is find exercises you can do from home. Things like skipping are great. There are also plenty of free workout videos online. I like the Fitness Marshall. He's hilarious and gives you a fun workout.
I like going to the to the gym most of the time, though. It gets me out of the house and interacting with real people. Getting out of the house is great for your creativity, so you're getting a double boost.
Getting Social
Humans are very social creatures. We require company from other people to make sure that we are happy. Your mental health will take a big hit if you don’t see anyone for a long time. So, even if you don't head to the gym, it’s worth taking the time to see friends once you start working from home. If you ignore this, it will be harder to reach out to people in the future. And, you might lose some of the social skills that you’ve gained throughout life. Being social is a big part of being healthy.
Eating Right
Your diet plays an even bigger part in your health than your exercise. Without the right food, your body won’t be able to perform at its peak. And, yes, more foggy brain. If it gets bad you may actually get ill if you deprive your body of the right nutrients. Companies like Healthy You have the resources to help you to eat healthily without having to do any work. You simply accept food deliveries and chow down; perfect for when work is at it’s hardest.
If you don't have the money for a food service, I like keeping a bottle of water and a can of mixed nuts on my desk. When I'm too busy to get up and eat a proper meal, I eat a serving of nuts. They give you a boost of protein and "good fats" that are great for your heart. Keeping meal replacement bars on your desk is also a great idea. I often skip meals and then go crazy at dinner. So having these on my desk ensures that I not only eat, but eat healthy. It's kind-of like having a healthy you vending machine handy.
Hopefully, this will give you the inspiration you need to get out there and get healthy. Working from home can make it easy to fall into bad shape. But, the earlier you start working against it, the faster you'll see results. Start today never look back.
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.
How To Cope When You Can't Escape Stress
stress running a small business
It’s perfectly normal to have days when your small business stresses you out, or you don’t seem to have enough hours to get through your to-do list. Minor stress is part and parcel of life, let alone running your own business, but what happens when you hit a sizable bump in the road, and you can’t see a way forward? If you can’t escape stress, hopefully, this guide will prove useful.
Pinning Down a Cause
There are so many things that can cause stress, and we all respond differently to different situations. What stresses one person out may be water off a duck’s back for another. In some cases, there’s a very obvious source of stress. Life events, especially those that hit us unexpectedly, are one of the most common causes of severe or prolonged stress. Examples may include losing a loved one or going through a relationship breakdown. Money worries and pressure at with your business are other common causes of stress.
Many of us also get a little frazzled when we’ve got a lot on our plates, or we’re struggling to contain or control our emotions. This can often be linked to tiredness.
If you feel stressed on a regular basis or you can’t remember feeling ‘normal,’ it’s a good idea to try and think about the cause or causes. Why do you think you feel the way you do? And can you think of any ways to move forward?
how to manage stress as a business owner
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Seeking Help
Stress is such a broad concept. It’s very easy to say that you’re stressed out, and we tend to overuse this phrase. Stress may be thought of as a very minor ailment, but in some cases, it can be incredibly damaging.
If you have severe stress, you shouldn’t have to try and find a way through it alone. Once you’ve determined the cause of stress, you can work out a plan of action.
If you’re struggling to cope with bereavement, the healing process can take a very long time, and it’s important that you have people around you to look after you and support you. Losing somebody who means a lot to you can turn your world upside down, and affect every aspect of your life.
You may struggle to interact with others, and even the idea of going to work may fill you with dread and apprehension. If you feel like this, and you have another job other than your business, speak to your boss. Many employers have measures in place to protect their workforce when life gets tough. Employee Assistance Programs, such as those provided by Health Assured, are benefit programs that aim to help employees deal with personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health and wellbeing. If you know you’ve got support at work, this can help to ease anxiety. You can access services like counseling through work or see your doctor for advice.
If you’re finding it hard to cope with the breakdown of a relationship, it’s hugely beneficial to have friends and family around you. Be as open and honest as you can be, and try and look forward rather than dwelling on what’s gone wrong. Time is usually the best healer, and there will come a time when you feel strong enough to move forward.
Sometimes, tackling a situation head on is the best way to deal with things that are making you uneasy. This is often the case for stress when running a business. I always find that if I get the hardest task of the day out of the way first thing, my day is much less stressful.
If you hate your day job, consider moving on to new pastures.
THC Products Can Help
It's tough when you're feeling stressed, and you can't seem to escape it. You might feel like you're constantly on edge or like you're just not yourself. But there are ways to cope with stress, even when you can't seem to escape it. One way is to try using low-dose THC products, like Delta 8 Gummies. Delta 8 is a cannabinoid found in cannabis and is known for its relaxing properties. Taking a small dose of Delta 8 can help take the edge off your stress and make it easier to cope with. Delta 8 can also help improve your mood and reduce anxiety. So if you're looking for a natural way to cope with stress, Delta 8 Gummies might be worth a try.
Taking time out
One of the best things you can do to manage stress, no matter the cause, is to take time out. It doesn’t matter whether you escape the office for 15 minutes when you’ve been chasing your tail all morning, or you book an extended trip. Time to yourself can help you to clear your mind, rationalize situations, and think and reflect.
Everyone is different, but there do seem to be some effective stress-management techniques out there. If you choose to fill your time meditating, exercising, being creative, laughing or even cuddling your pet, you may find that you are able to cope with stress better.
If nothing else, turn off your phone and computer for awhile and bask in the lack of electronics beckoning you to some new problem.
Do you sometimes feel like you can’t escape stress? The demands of modern life can take their toll, and sometimes, the unpredictability of life can catch us off guard. Stress affects everyone but to varying degrees. It is possible to combat stress, especially if you can learn to spot the triggers, depend on others and manage situations before they become more serious.
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!
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
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!