Popular Benefits Of Social Media Marketing
social media
With the huge increase of users on social media, there is no surprise that so many more business and online ventures are turning to this as a form of marketing. As a freelance writer, it’s important that you build a successful online presence through some of the major players on social media, to help build your success.
You Get Better Coverage on
Search Engine Results
Social media plays a huge part in your SEO when it comes to your website and online presence. Search engine optimization is the best way to ensure that you have visibility in what can be a hugely saturated market online. Regular and engaging content can help build your coverage on search engines. Digital marketing agencies can really help improve your ranking using social media.
More Business Opportunities
Social media is a great way to interact with existing customers, but this can also open you up to potential new clients. Someone who likes, shares or retweets your content can open up the opportunity for it to be seen by someone new to your business. This, of course, can then develop into website clicks, conversations and even new business.
Engaging with outsourced marketing experts can help you to expand your current marketing efforts. Choosing a video production team that can showcase what you have to offer and elevate your current marketing efforts will be a great support to your business, changing the way you do things for good. Social media is growing with the help of video - being a part of that is a must!
More of a Customer Understanding
Social media enables you to give your business a voice. Which means that those potential customers and clients are able to gain a greater understanding of your business from what you post. Maintain the same tone in all of your text and try to share photos that have colors and content that echo your freelance business' brand.
Creates Brand Awareness
and Authenticity
Interaction with your audience, regularly and professionally, just secures the belief of brand authenticity from your business. It improves faith, and it even can boost your credibility. People like to feel like they are dealing with real people, which is why so many more bigger corporations are taking advantage of responding to customers instantaneously through their social media pages and feeds.
When someone messages on one of your pages, respond as quickly as possible and always respond to comments to make your customers feel that you are an authentic person.
Social media is a such an easy platform to be part of, whether through Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, to name a few. It provides consumers with instant access to you and your business. A chance to message and be responded to quickly, rather than waiting days. The internet based business is far more fast paced, and social media only speeds things up. I hope this has inspired you to make more of your digital presence.
Taking Yourself Seriously As a One-Person Business
running a small business
Something that freelance writers and other similar professionals know is that they need to think of themselves as a fully-fledged business in order to succeed. If you are a freelance writer, and you have not yet got to the point of thinking of yourself in this way, you might want to ask yourself what it is that’s stopping you.
No matter what, you need to ensure that you are doing everything you can to take yourself seriously. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to make sure that that is the case. Let’s have a look at how you can take yourself seriously as a one-person business.
Register
First of all, let’s take a look at the actual process of legally becoming a business. No matter where in the world you are located, you can guarantee that your local government body will want to know that you are a trading business.
As such, you need to ensure that you officially register yourself, otherwise you might find yourself in a whole heap of trouble further down the line. Registering these days can normally be done online, and is relatively straightforward, but be aware that you do need to have a business name. This can just be your name, or if you prefer you can choose something else, so long as it has not already been chosen.
This first step is vital, and will also go a long way towards helping you take yourself more seriously, so be sure to do it.
Stock Up On Supplies
It is often surprising to newcomers just how many supplies you actually need to be a freelance writer one-person business. Even if most of what you do is online, you will find that you need a lot of standard office supplies as well.
When it comes time to set yourself up as a business, make sure you go out of your way to get all the supplies you need - and be sure to buy in wholesale to save money. Places like the Postal Tube Shop are a good place to start, but you should also be sure to shop around. Buy in bulk so that you save as much money as possible, and gradually you will fill up your office with everything that you need.
Some things to start with are:
File folders
Notebooks
Pens
Pencils
Printer paper
Tape
Staples and a stapler
Set Aside Some Space
Most likely, you will be working from home - a situation which has many pros and cons. Most people find that they quite enjoy working from home, but you should prepare yourself, as it can also be a little lonely at times.
In order to take yourself as seriously as possible, ensure that you set aside a decent space in which to carry out your work. This will really make a huge difference when it comes to doing your work, as you will feel much more like an official business. It doesn’t have to be anything over the top, just a corner of a room will do - as long as you have your specific writing space in which to carry out your work.
The Outsourcing Solution For Startups
freelance life balance
There is going to be a point during your startup career when you are going to have to look to other options. This may be to save money, to save time or to save on resources and staffing - all of which come at an extra cost which is hard to cover. When you are first starting out, expenses need to be reigned in in order to hold in reserve for when times get bad (don’t worry; almost everybody has this blip). The solution to this? Outsourcing.
Do You Need to Outsource?
You don’t actually have to outsource in some cases. You can get the job done a lot more quickly (and for free) within your own office. Buying software that automates processes can help. On the other hand, if you just simply don't have time to add another thing to your list, like installing and automating software, outsource.
What Can I Outsource?
When it comes to outsourcing, you can get just about any job done by pretty much anyone, at any time. The quickest thing to do is hire an online service or virtual assistant.
You may find that it’s easier to get something done overnight, in which case outsourcing to a professional in another country who is operating hours ahead or behind may be the best option. It’s certainly the most profitable option.
The things which are most commonly outsourced are:
Accounting work
Admin work (you can get personal assistants who are remotely located but can still do your office work for you - great for if you are a hot-desking style company)
Printing - https://www.xerox.com have made their millions from being a recommended outsourced printing company
Graphic design work
Why Should I Outsource?
There are many reasons as to why. The main reason is the cost; it is a lot cheaper to outsource for particular jobs with companies who are constantly lowering their prices in a battle to win your business. Another is the functionality of it; you will never be able to get every single job done by yourself. As the leader of the startup, you have better things to focus on and invest your time in. Leave the other jobs to the professionals.
How to Keep Small Business Employees Happy
Small businesses are becoming more and more popular due to how easy it is to set one up. All you really need is an address, a website, some employees and an idea. Though the idea part can be tricky, the other parts are relatively simple. But, this article will focus on employees. More specifically, we’ll be talking about how you can hire and keep employees, even though you’re just a small at-home business.So whether you’re a blog owner, designer or just a small-time business owner, here are a couple of ways to keep your employees happy.
Small businesses are becoming more and more popular due to how easy it is to set one up. All you really need is an address, a website, some employees and an idea. Though the idea part can be tricky, the other parts are relatively simple. But, this article will focus on employees. More specifically, we’ll be talking about how you can hire and keep employees, even though you’re just a small at-home business.So whether you’re a blog owner, designer or just a small-time business owner, here are a couple of ways to keep your employees happy.
small business
Advertise as part-time
If you’re a small business, then you probably don’t have the funds to pay for several employees or even full-time ones. When you advertise a job opening, it’s important that you don’t overestimate what you can offer them. Make sure you tell the truth and tell them it’s a part-time opening, or that you’re only interested in hiring freelancers. This way, you’ll be truthful to your staff and they’ll understand what they’re getting themselves into before they apply to work for you.
Don’t hire too many people
If you’re short on cash or you’re a growing business, then it’ll be hard to predict how many people you can actually hire for your workforce to remain strong yet affordable. As mentioned in this article at https://www.eremedia.com, over hiring can destroy your business if you don’t manage it properly. If you find that you’ve hired too many people, then make sure you’re firm with them and let them go as soon as possible so you don’t waste more money.
Make sure you pay them on time
There's’ nothing worse than a disgruntled employee that isn’t getting paid on time. By using a service like https://www.thepaystubs.com you can ensure that your employees are being paid on time with a paystub generator that works and is hassle free.
If you have to delay their wages, then make sure you give them ample notice by speaking with your accountant or finance manager. This way, your employees can prepare for a smaller or no paycheck for some time. It’s best not to make a habit of late payments, though.
Allow them to grow
Giving your employees the freedom to grow and express themselves is incredibly important. As a small business, there’s a very small chance that you’ll actually grow your business to a point that advances their careers.
In fact, most of your employees are probably going to leave for greener pastures because it’s incredibly difficult to inspire loyalty when you’re just a small-time business owner. Make use of their talents, allow them to stretch their intellectual muscles, and don’t be sad to see them go.
Build a company culture
If you’ve ever worked in a shoddy office, then you’ll know how difficult it is to get along with colleagues and your boss. By establishing a positive office culture, you and your staff will always be on the same wavelength and you’ll be able to work more efficiently, deal with conflict faster, and grow together as a team.
Suggested reading: The Ultimate Guide to Airbnb for Business Travelers guide explains how choosing Airbnb for professional travel stays can cultivate a strong company culture through activities such as collaborating in common areas and booking team outings through Airbnb Experiences. We also provide information on how Airbnb can drastically reduce travel expenses for business owners, and how to easily manage employee travel through Airbnb’s corporate dashboard.
After you read the book, you may also want to look into an Airbnb cleaning service.
5 Essential Steps To Move Your Ecommerce Enterprise Onto The High Street
Want to boost your sales, drive traffic to your site and engage in a more meaningful way with your customers? The answer is no longer confined to the web. The smart companies are spreading their wings and heading back down to earth. Market leaders in retail such as Amazon, Warby Parker and Bonobos are investing in bricks and mortar and reaping the benefits. There is no reason why service industries, such as my own beloved freelance writing sector, could not follow suit by introducing some physical products into the mix.
ecommerce tips
Image
The online virtual high street is crowded and hugely competitive, it is dominated by huge brands and it is so hard for newbies to get a foothold. Why not try to attract some local, loyal clients by opening up a brick-and-mortar business to support your online presence? Now all you have to do is buy or leases a premises. Here are some top tips for doing just that.
1. Choose the right type of property for you
Obviously this will depend on the type of business that you are in. Entrepreneurial schemes come in all shapes and have a lot of pitfalls to overcome. If you need to display and sell stock you will need to be realistic about how much storage you need. If you plan on knocking down a few walls you need to make sure that this is structurally possible.
2. Be clear about your budget
Time for a hefty dose of realism here! You will need to shelves so that you can display your wares, accept credit card payments and attract customers into the shop in the first place. Even if you are leasing or renting the shop, it is likely that you will have to pay for decoration and external signage. Make sure these are factored into your budget.
3. Secure the finance
In the absence of a very healthy savings account, you will need to secure a loan to get this scheme off the ground. To get a loan you will need a clear business plan so do your homework. Show the lender that you know what you are talking about and have the ability to turn this into a success. No-one wants to back a loser!
4. Location is what matters most
You know that you need to target your demographic with online marketing, right? Well, selling on the high street is no different. Draw up a profile of your ideal customer and then identify where they hang out. Do they favour a shopping mall, arcades or quirky streets? You need to be where they are loitering! Also think about deliveries, parking and noise and, of course, the competition!
5. Timing can make or break the deal
This is where you may need to be patient. Property markets fluctuate from season to season and from year to year. Buy at the wrong time and you could end up paying far more than you need to. Ideally, you should buy when demand is low and availability is high. That way you can secure a killer deal.
How to Get Your Business Shipshape Again
business help
From time to time your business may not be as shipshape as you want and need it to be. But just because it isn’t in the condition you want it to be in right now, it doesn’t mean it can’t be in that desired condition in the future.
There are a number of ways to get your business in shipshape condition — one way is to ask for help.
Accountant
The first person you should ask to help you is an accountant. You could bring in an in-house accountant that will help you not only in the present but also continually in the future. Or you could use the services of a professional accountants company in order to steady your ship in the present.
Whatever direction is is that you take, you should task the accountant you bring in with making sure your finances are shipshape straight away. Your business’s finances truly are its backbone. If it can’t pay its necessary outgoings, such as its bills and its payroll, it will collapse.
The accountant you bring in should put their training and qualifications to the test right off the bat by first ensuring all of your outgoings are going out as and when they should. And they should then turn their attentions to making sure your other financial matters are as shipshape as possible. They should deal with your VAT. They should focus on the successful continuation of your PAYE procedures. And they should ensure all is as it should be regarding your tax. A business can only be in a shipshape condition if all of its financial matters are in order, which is why asking for help from an accountant in regards to them is pivotal.
Employees
Once everything is as it should be in the office with your finances, you should turn your attention to the customer facing areas of your business. Specifically, your employees. They are the foot soldiers. They are the men and woman ‘on the ground’ that are selling your business and its products for you.
Because of this, you should ensure that all your employees are as shipshape as possible and promote your business in the right ways. Pivotally, they should be well versed in the art of deal sealing. Your employees should also know how to sell. Negotiating should come as second nature to them. And they should know the importance of presentation. To ensure they know what they're doing, you will need to invest in your staff and provide them with training, either internally or externally.
Your employees are generally the point of contact for a customer. And if a customer thinks your business is shipshape, due to the fact that your employees seemingly are, then that’s half the battle won.
Keep it Up
Once your business is shipshape (have I said that word enough? lol), it’s imperative that you don’t allow it to de-shipshape itself again anytime soon.You must stay on track with the progress that you have made. Don't get lax! If you don’t, well you’ll have to go through the struggle of making your business right all over again.
The Ins & Outs Of Launching A Virtual Content Creation Service
20 years ago, around the time I started my freelance writing business, virtual businesses didn’t exist. Today they make up one of the fastest growing industries in the world. For freelancers, bloggers and entrepreneurs, virtual businesses make starting out easier and more affordable. They can also offer a stepping stone to launching a prosperous and profitable business. That being said, while some people only use virtual businesses as a stepping stone to launch their brick-and-mortar entrepreneurial careers, others are happy to keep their business virtual for the foreseeable future. Virtual businesses are much cheaper to run as there are few overhead costs, they are often easier to keep organized, there’s no commuting, and then there’s the flexibility of it, of course.
For these reasons and many others, a lot of freelancers opt to launch their own virtual content creation services. Now, while virtual businesses are easier to run, that doesn’t mean that they are guaranteed to be successful, which is why if you are going to launch a virtual business, you need to know what it takes to make a success of it.
how to start a virtual business
Invest in Your Website
If you are going to run a virtual business, then one of the most important features will be your website. When you have no actual business building, your website becomes even more important, because it’s the main hub of your venture. That’s why investing in your website is so vital.
When it comes to the design of your website, it’s important to use a skilled and experienced web designer, so that you can ensure that your site looks professional and runs properly.
Sure, you could create your website yourself, but if you want your site to look and feel professional, using an expert is recommended. The most important thing is to make sure that your site is responsive and is easy to use and navigate on desktops, tablets and phones. If your website isn’t easy for visitors to use, they won’t return.
Realize the Importance of Branding
When it comes to the success of your business, branding is crucial. They key to making your business seem more professional and more established within the industry is to utilize cohesive branding.
The right branding will improve brand awareness which will help to boost your customer base and will give your success a boost. From creative logos to unique business cards, make sure your logo, font and color usage is the same on all your marketing. Also, before you design any of those marketing products, be sure that they convey the feeling you are trying to invoke in a customer. For example, hard lines and dark colors may be great for a company aimed at an older, more serious crowd, while it may not work so well if you are targeting fun-loving millennials.
A lot of businesses struggle to get their branding right, but if you take the time to research what good branding is made up of, then you will find utilizing it much easier to do.
Utilize Social Media
You may have the most amazing business that provides services that everyone wants, but if your marketing isn’t effective, then your chances of success are low. If no one knows about your business, you can't expect it to be successful, can you? That’s why it’s crucial to utilize social media to ensure that as many people as possible know about your freelance business and what you offer.
When it comes to launching, it’s important to know what the crucial parts of an online campaign are. If you're not sure about what these crucial parts are, it's probably best to outsource the task to a specialist.
Be Clear About the Services You Provide
As a business, a lot of freelancers make the mistake of not being clear about the services they want to provide or the rates that they wish to charge for them. However, coming up with a clear plan is important before you start taking clients.
Don't know how to come up with rates? I cover that topic and a lot more in my book The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course. These tips work no matter if you are a writer, designer or other type of virtual content creation business.
4 Retail Business App Ideas to Help Your Business Grow
There is no denying that owners of retail businesses are often trying to find innovative new ways of enticing customers to their stores. They might come up with some quirky promotions, for example. Or they might hold competitions for people to win a valuable prize if they do something like take a selfie with a particular product.While many of those ideas work to some degree, business leaders are still thinking of better ways to draw more folks into their stores and to ultimately spend money with them.
Given that many of us own a smartphone of some description, it makes sense to use them to your advantage. But, can you really get people into your retail establishment by communicating with customers via their mobile devices? In short, the answer is yes! If you’re not convinced, here’s a few ideas for mobile apps that you can develop for your business.
app ideas for your business
1. Personal Shopper App
If you run a retail business that caters to the premium end of your market, you might be wondering how you can better serve your existing customers and entice new ones to your store.
One ingenious way of drawing people to your store with mobile app technology is with a personal shopper app. You can designate members of your team to be a customer’s dedicated personal shopper, helping them to select the right products for their needs. In short, you can offer your patrons a real 21st-century concierge service.
2. In-Store Product Finder App
We all know how easy it is to go to an online store and search for what we need. But, the same cannot be said about physically finding something in a retail establishment. You have to go to the trouble of finding a member of staff for a start. Plus, you have to pray they know what you’re talking about when you ask them for help!
Imagine how you could make life easier for your customers if you offered an in-store product finder app! Using iBeacon indoor navigation technology, for example, your app can visually guide customers to the aisles and shelves where they can find your products.
Mobile Point of Sale app
Another brilliant use of mobile app technology is to provide your customers with a way to buy goods in-store using nothing more than their smartphones. One well-known example of this is Apple store's POS app.
In a nutshell, you can use your iPhone to pay for items that you want from their stores without needing to carry around any debit or credit cards or cash. Such an innovation will save your store customers a lot of time and offer them extra security when they buy goods.
Store Loyalty app
Last, but not least, a simple way to draw in more people to your retail establishment is by offering your customers the opportunity to download your store loyalty app. It can incorporate bar code technology, allowing people to scan an item at the checkout for rewards.
How Can I Make Money With My Writing Skill?
Working from home is the dream for many. No long commute or having to rush out of the door in the morning, no boss micromanaging you or bitchy colleagues to deal with. Instead, you can work from the comfort of your home office, working on your own terms.
There are a few different avenues you can take as a writer. Ideally, you will have your fingers in a number of pies, which will give you a more stable and reliable income. Here are a few ventures you could pursue.
Blogging
If you’re a keen writer, chances are you already run a blog. It’s a fantastic way to showcase your writing, continue improving, connect with other people with similar interests and also a chance to learn new skills, too.
When you run a blog, not only do you have to write the content, you also need to take beautiful photographs and learn to market yourself online. Social media promotion is a useful skill to have- especially if you want to run your own business later down the line.
But while you might be blogging for fun, have you put much thought into monetizing your site? You could sign up with Google Adsense, which pays a small amount each time someone clicks on your ads or buys something from clicking through from your site.
You could look into affiliate marketing, too. You incorporate links to products in your posts and again get paid if anyone clicks on them or buys as a result.
The way you will earn most of your money as a blogger is through sponsorships, though. Companies will contact you and ask to either publish a post they’ve written or ask you to write a post including their link. You can be paid great money for this, although the problem is you have to wait for them to come to you.
Freelance
Freelancing sites allow you to ‘bid’ for jobs, and if you’re accepted by the seller you write the piece for an agreed fee. While each project will have a deadline, being able to pick and choose the pieces you want to write allows you to control your workflow. Once you have successfully completed a few projects, your rating will increase, making it more likely you will be accepted for future pieces.
Services like content writing, copywriting, proofreading and editing are always in high demand online, so it’s something that’s likely to do well if you go about it in the right way. I cover how to get clients and start making $100 to $200 an hour in my Freelance Writing Starter Pack.
Ebooks
Having a book published is the dream for many writers. However securing a book deal is difficult and something that even the best wordsmiths and storytellers aren’t always able to achieve. However, you can self-publish relatively easily, and produce an ebook to sell on Amazon. You get a little bit of money every time someone downloads it, which can add towards any other income you get from writing.
Small Business Solutions: Everything You Need to Stay on Track
When you run a small company, it’s essential to be aware of the risks of potential disasters that could put you out of business. It’s hard enough to make a new venture successful in a fiercely competitive marketplace without having to try and recover from setbacks. If you’re a small business owner (freelance writers, I'm looking at you!), here’s everything you need to stay on track.
Keeping Your Business Premises Safe
You’ve invested blood, sweat and tears and a whole heap of cash. The last thing you want is to lose everything to opportunistic thieves. Whether you run an office at home, rent a studio, or you’ve bought an office block, it’s essential to make sure your premises are secure.
All your equipment should be insured, and you should use security systems to try and deter thieves. It’s very common for businesses to have valuable items, which are appealing to burglars, so make life as difficult as possible for those who want to try and breach your defenses. Use CCTV cameras, outdoor lighting or an alarm system to protect the building and its contents. It’s also worth investing in a safe if you store money in your office overnight.
security for small businesses
Preventing technical glitches
Every business owner dreads that moment when the server goes down, or the website crashes. Even the shortest period of downtime can have an impact on your finances, as well as your appeal to clients and customers.
If you don’t already make use of cloud IT solutions or have backup from tech support, now is the time to reassess the situation. If you outsource IT support, you’ll pay a monthly or annual fee in exchange for a package that will protect your systems, ensure that your software and security are up to date and give you access to expert help. It’s also essential to make sure that you keep up to date with office maintenance checks to ensure that all the equipment you use is safe and fit for purpose.
tech in small business
Customer service
In a day and age when many people read comments and reviews before they make a decision, it’s more important than ever to offer first-class standards of customer service. If you run any kind of business, you want your clients to leave you a glowing report and recommend you to their friends, family and other internet users.
A good review could put you on the map while a bad write-up could reduce customer numbers and drive people to your competitors. Customer care should always be a priority. Go the extra mile to make sure you get that positive feedback every time.
One good tip is to answer any Facebook messages or emails within the hour. This gives potential clients a great image of you.
good customer service
As a small business owner, you want to do everything possible to prevent disasters and hiccups, which could hold you back and eat into your profits. Make sure your premises are secured and ensure you’re doing everything to make your business run smoothly on a day to day basis. Investing in technology and support services can help to prevent downtime, and increase productivity and efficiency. Don’t lose sight of the importance of positive feedback. Word of mouth and Internet reviews are very effective marketing tools, so you need to make sure that your customers only have good things to say about you.
Transitioning From Freelancer To Entrepreneur
As a freelancer, you are no doubt be used to working for yourself, but as your workload starts to grow, you'll soon have to make the decision to form a company and hire employees to help you out. Transitioning from a freelancer to an entrepreneur might seem like a scary prospect to some people. However, it proves that you have a good head for business and your customers buy from you because you know what you’re doing. If you’re a freelancer and are at the point where you need to become incorporated, you might be wondering how best to transition to this new phase of your business. Despite what you might be thinking, the process isn’t as difficult or scary as you may have first thought. In today’s blog post, I will give you a rough guide to turning into a business leader from a sole trader. Here is what you need to know.
building a freelance business
Setting Up a New Legal Entity
When you work as a freelancer, you and your business are virtually the same thing. When you transition over to an incorporated company, though, you become separate entities. It’s important that you set up things like bank checking accounts in the new business name and that you start paying your bills from it.
Before you can do any of that, you need to register your new company. The process also involves getting a tax ID from the IRS so that you can file returns for your business. Once you’re up and running, you are now an employee of your new firm!
When you hire employees to work with you, it’s vital that their tax details are properly recorded and processed. That way, you can ensure they get paid correctly and any applicable tax gets paid by your business.
With that in mind, you should ensure you have an in-house payroll and accounting professional working for you. Providers such as Portfolio Payroll can help you out in that respect.
Moving to New Premises
Even if you plan to hire freelancers that work from home, it is still beneficial to have dedicated office space for your company. Doing so helps you portray a professional image to your clients, especially those that will only do business with other companies and not freelancers.
The cost of renting an office need not be expensive. In fact, you could even just rent a mailbox at a prestigious business address and hire meeting rooms there when you need them. Search online for virtual office providers like Regus to see just how affordable and flexible such a solution can be for your business.
Hiring the right talent
When you transition to a fully-fledged company, you will need to hire the right people to work for your brand. While it’s important to focus on skills and experience when short-listing potential candidates, you must also determine whether people will be a good fit for your company culture.
For example, you don’t want to hire people that are used to working in formal environments if every day is “Dress Down Day” at your workplace!
By considering the above points, you will find it easier to transition yourself from a freelancer into an entrepreneur running a company. Good luck!
Want to take your freelance business to the next level? Read my new book!
4 Pitfalls of Being An Entrepreneur...and How to Overcome Them
running your own business
There’s a lot to be said for entrepreneurship. A lot has been said, most of extolling the many admirable traits of those who dedicate their life to challenging themselves and pushing the world in any large or small way. Yet while there are many great reasons why going at it alone is worthwhile, there are a number of lesser talked about pitfalls than budding Richard Branson’s should be aware. Here are four of them and some guidance on how they can be overcome.
Source: Pexels.com
It’s Hard Work
We’re hoping it won’t come as any great shock to you that being an entrepreneur is very hard work. You need to create something that doesn’t exist and make other people believe in it. That’s not something that just anyone can do and those that can usually have to work extra hard to prove it.
How do you overcome hard work? Why, by not thinking of it as work at all. This is your passion project. It is your life. So get building!
You’re Responsible For Others
This is one that usually creeps up on entrepreneurs. One day they’re mapping their route to business success in their garage, the next they’re responsible for a team of workers, and all the quirks and trials and tribulations that go along with that.
Every entrepreneur needs to have some degree of people skills, but sometimes the problems you’re faced with will be beyond that. You should be looking to outsource your HR responsibilities early on. Find out more here and make sure the employee aspect of your business is taken care of. In the meanwhile, you will be able to get back to building your dream!
The Pressure Is On
Any job that’s worth a grain of salt has pressure connected to it, but what you’re doing is a different kettle of fish altogether. Whereas most leaders share their pressures with other people in the company, you’re essentially an island, floating along on a sea of pressure. It is the life you chose, and you have to accept that the side effects of entrepreneurship can’t all be positive. To combat this, make sure you don’t fall into the trap of believing your hype. Stay level to the ground, and remember that if you fail, then it’s not the end of the world. Move on to the next thing.
Finding Other Joys
Finally, when it comes to other aspects of their life, entrepreneurs tend to...well, not have other aspects of their life. Their lives are dominated by what they’re trying to achieve; personal relationships, hobbies and other joys can take a seat that’s quite far back in their mind. While you do need to show high levels of dedication to your company, it’s also important that you take the time to take a break every now and again. It’s important for your health, wellbeing and also your company, since you’ll return stronger than before.
Freelance Pressures Getting You Down? Here's How to Change That
There is no doubt about it; being a freelancer is stressful. You have no job security and you have to constantly be on your toes just to make enough money to stay afloat. However, there are good things about being a freelance worker too. For example, when you work for yourself, you can run your own schedule and make your own decisions. You don’t have to be subservient to someone else. That can only be positive, but if the pressures and stress of freelance life are getting you down, here’s how to beat them and get back on track.
Closely Regulate Your Work-Life Balance
Getting your work-life balance right is one of the most important things of all when it comes to working as a freelancer. It can often seem like you never have the time to do the things you want to do. It’s about time you starting paying more attention to your work-life balance. You will only cause yourself problems if you allow this balance to get out of kilter. No one wants to be working all the time at the expense of their personal life. You need to regulate your time and set work boundaries for yourself.
freelance life balance
Get Help from Others
Getting help from other people is not about meeting defeat or giving up. Instead, it’s all about making the most of your time and freeing yourself to focus on the things that matter most.
You can outsource some of the dull, repetitive and time-consuming tasks to external companies. If you have a vital IT system in place, you could use managed it services from itWORKS!. And if you don’t know how to manage your own money, you could hire an accountant. These things mean spending money, but if they free up your time, they could allow you to make more money too.
Stop Taking on More Work Than You Can Handle
If you are taking on more work than you can handle, you will end up under pressure and stressed out. That’s the last thing you need when you’re trying to run your freelance company in the right way.
It’s easy to do this because when you work for yourself, there is no one there to manage your workflow. Doing that is entirely up to you. You should work out how fast you work, and how much money you need to make, and then regulate your own workflow and work schedule from there.
invoices
Don’t Accept Underpayment of Missing Payments
Unfortunately, underpayment or missed payments are still very commonly experienced by freelancers. It’s shocking that people think that they can ask you to do work for them and then stall when the time comes to cough up the cash. Most freelancers have experienced this at least once. You should have a one strike policy in place, and warn clients of it beforehand. If payment is not received by an agreed upon deadline, refuse to work with them again. That’s the only way to get the message across to people who want to rip you off.
I also ask for all or half of the payment upfront from new clients to be sure I get at least some of what I'm owed.
From Tiny Freelancer To Professional Outfit
writing a blog
Freelancing as a writer is a completely valid way of working and can make a fulfilling lifelong career, especially for those who don’t like the constraints of more traditional setups. However, there’s no doubt that freelancers face some resistance from clients who might otherwise jump at their services. The trick might be to frame yourself as a professional business, rather than a professional individual.
Brand Like a Pro
The first thing to do is to make sure that no part of your branding says anything about you besides "professional." When you’re working on all your marketing content by yourself, for instance, it’s easy for typos and errors to worm their way in there. You have to be thorough, using tools like Grammarly to double-check absolutely everything you put out. For the site, you should ensure that you’re using a professional designer if you’re not fully proficient enough to create your own page.
But branding is about the message as much as it’s about how it’s presented. To create a great brand, think through the client’s eyes first and foremost. What do they want to see from you?
Be Upfront with Your Proof
Sometimes, the people who know best what your clients want to see are the clients that you’ve worked for in the past. There’s no better way to get that than to ask them for testimonials. Testimonials aren’t just kind words to give yourself an ego boost. They’re proof positive that your work has worked for others in the past, often highlighting the points that potential clients will care about the most.
Here's some things people have said about me.
Don’t Give the Game Up
Sometimes, the issue a potential client has is the size of your operation and nothing more. To do away with that, brand yourself as a business, not a person.
For instance, instead of using a home address, you can use a mail forwarding service to give yourself a truly professional address. Besides that, when you talk to clients, don’t immediately introduce yourself as the CEO or owner. Don’t outright lie to clients, but let them believe what they want about your setup.
branding your business
Work Outside Your Work
Building your brand and the brand of the business outside your writing services might do a lot to show that you’re the real deal as well. For instance, running your own blog, your own podcast and your own social media community can show that you’re a well-respected and often listened to voice in the field (providing that you are). If you work on other projects like speaking appearances, getting in respectable online and print publications, and even writing your own eBook, can highlight you as an industry expert. There are few things better for the brand.
The stigma against freelancers is something of a silly prejudice for a lot of clients, but it’s one that you can work your way around. You just have to make sure you go the extra mile to emphasize the professionalism of your setup.
How to Make Writing your Career
So, you’re looking for a career that allows you to make the most of your way with words. There are lots of options out there. Some of them might seem unrealistic or unattainable to you, but it's important not to rule things out when you’re choosing the career that’s going to be best for you. It’s much more important to just focus on what you’re good at and what you’re capable of achieving.You don’t have to settle for second best or take on a job that you don’t find fulfilling. Below, you’ll find plenty of information on some of the best writing career paths out there. Read about them all and don’t rule anything out until you’ve given them careful consideration...and even tried it out.
Pursue Your Creative Writing Dreams
Many people assume that their dreams of being a creative writer are not realistic. However, this negative kind of attitude can drag you down and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. These days, it’s easier than ever before to get your writing out there and have it read by real people. That’s all thanks to the boom in self-publishing. You can use Kindle and other similar platforms to publish ebooks that people can buy. So, if you think you have the skills and talent to write creatively, there is nothing stopping you from giving it a try for yourself.
Proofread Work to Check for Mistakes
Ever been accused of being a grammar Nazi? Then this job is for you!
There is so much written work that gets produced each day. A lot of it needs to be checked for errors before it is sent out into the world for publication. Proofreaders are the people who take care of this kind of work. It’s a job that’s perfectly suited to the kind of people who love spelling and grammar. Although there are now computer programs that can help with this, nothing quite beats the talents of a proofreader. It’s a career path to consider if you know what you’re doing. Many proofreaders work as freelancers, but there are fixed jobs out there too.
how to become a writer
Edit Other People’s Words
Editing is similar to proofreading, but it’s not quite the same. They do a bit more than proofreaders do. Editors come up with ways in which a written text can be improved. They might suggest changing sentence around and fixing the structure or come up with ideas. Many editors are also content gatekeepers. They research what the readers want and assign projects to writers based on their findings.
Become a Technical or Contract Writer
Technical writers tend to produce writing that is complex and specific to a certain industry or type of business. For example, this type of writing might be required in the world of science or medicine. It usually demands an understanding of technical terms and other such things. Many people who enjoy writing, but have a background in a technical vocation opt for a career as a technical writer.
Contract writers, writers who literally write contracts, need to have a legal background and an understanding of contract law, of course. These types of writers are always in demand, so don’t rule out these career options.
Try Your Hand at Copywriting
Copywriting can be a lot of fun if you want a career in writing that pays well, while also being able to be a little creative. You will be producing copy for companies that both markets products and informs customers. It’s safe to say you can’t just write adverts in a hard-sell kind of way because that’s not what copywriting is all about. Instead, you need to be interesting, engaging and authentic. That’s what the vast majority of businesses are looking for when they hire a copywriter, so it’s what you’re going to have to provide. Read about copywriting online to learn more about it.
Some types of writing copywriters do are:
Ad articles for magazines
Marketing emails
Copy for commerce websites
Brochure text
Consider a Career in Journalism
Journalism is writing for news outlets. It often requires an unbiased opinion on topics and good investigating skills.
It is a difficult career to break into, though. You should consider a career in journalism if you believe that you have the tenacity and investigative spirit to make an impact and get noticed. You have to be talented and willing to make yourself stand out if you want to become a professional journalist these days. You will also need the right training and industry accredited qualifications. A BS in journalism is usually required for any job in this industry. You can start small, at a small town newspaper and make your way up, though.
10 Powerful Tips to Write and Sell Your First eBook
Don’t set your expectations too high if it is your first time to publish an ebook. At the same time, you should do everything possible to create a quality e-book and advertise it to a lot of people. The key to success is creating quality content. Make sure your ebook is unique. Inject a lot of personal stories and learning.
The next step is to edit the content. Try going through the pages over and over again, even backwards. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. These minor details could affect your reputation. Instead of buying your next ebook, people will feel like you didn’t put a lot of efforts on the first one.
Most of all, you have to focus on marketing the ebook. Let everyone know that you are publishing one, weeks or months before the release. Offer a pre-order service so that you have guaranteed buyers. Show a glimpse of what they can expect from the ebook. This is how you build anticipation before the actual release.
Once you have finally prepared the ebook, sell it and find people who are willing to review it. Let them speak based on their actual experience of reading the ebook to make the reviews more authentic.
Just follow the tips shown on the infographic below and your first ebook will be a massive success.
Warning...Make Sure Your Business is Disaster-Proof
protect your business
There is no doubt that setting up a business is an extremely challenging prospect for anyone. That's why it's so important that you keep it protected from any potential disasters that may occur. The last thing that you want to happen is that you invest a great deal of time and money into developing your business, only for it to suddenly go up in smoke.
When it comes to protecting your company from disaster, there are a few things that you can do to make sure you are in the best position possible.
Put a Disaster Plan in Place
The first thing that you need to do is to put a disaster plan in place so you are fully prepared for every eventuality. It may be that you are unable to continue working from your current location. It may be that your website goes wrong and you lose access to your important files.
Whatever is the case, you should think about how you will respond to each situation and create a plan of action. This way, you won’t be floundering around trying to solve the issue with no idea exactly what you are doing.
For example, I have a sick day plan. Since I'm the only one at my business, no one is here to take over when I'm sick. So, I plan my schedule carefully to make room for a floating day off. Usually this means that I have to stay one day ahead on all of my assignments.
Make Sure Your Business is Well Protected
You will want to make sure that your business is protected from all eventualities by having the right type of insurance in place, too. As well as your standard business insurance, it is worth ensuring you are fully covered for other situations which may arise, such as flood or earthquake, it your current policy doesn't cover them.
You should also make sure you know of a good lawyer who is well versed in copyright, commercial law and asset protection, amongst other areas. You never know what situations could occur down the line so it's good to have a phone number handy.
Backup All Your Files
back up your files
Nowadays, there are a lot of the potential disasters that threaten your computer. Hackers, spills, accidental droppage and more can ruin your company if you don't have your files backed up.
Many people are now opting for cloud-based storage, and this could well be the type of system that offers you the most protection and ensures you keep access to your important files. These usually charge a monthly fee.
A free option is to open a Gmail account and email everything to yourself. It's a pain, but it works.
There are also external hard drives you can purchase once and use for the duration of your business. Just be sure to update the hard drive with new files at least once a week.
Build Up a Strong Support Network
In business, the relationships you form can make or break your company. If you have people to turn to when times get tough who can offer support, you will be in a much better position to deal with any situations that may occur.
Similarly, if you have clients who have become close to you and are personally invested in your company, they are much more likely to stick by your side as your business recovers.
Data - The Foundation For Your Future In Business
Most of the fear in life comes from a fear of the unknown. People who don't drive, for instance, may be scared to venture onto the open roads as they don't understand how they work. We are scared of the dark because we don't know what is going on, as we can't see - we can't get that visual information as our eyes won't work that well in the dark, they send nothing to our brain, so our brain can conjure up all sorts of things. We don't like what we don't know, and that can make us afraid. We can defeat our fear with intelligence, though. Information makes it all different, and it takes our fear away. When you flick a light bulb on, you can process everything going on in that dark corner - when you learn to drive, you lose your fear. When we learn or gain information, it gives us strength.Information? That gives your business strength as well. We aren't talking about spies like those in the old Willy Wonka novels that spied on the marvelous factory of Willy Wonka to gain industry insight - no, not that type of corporate espionage that can help you get the jump on your competition. Every business in the modern age has access to information - thanks to the internet. Those businesses that are using the internet will find themselves rich in data. But what can simple data do for our business? What can these numbers tell us what we don't know? Will they be a lightbulb that we can turn on to rid us of our worries? Well, not necessarily, but at the very least they will lift your business out of the dark world of the unknown. Data can tell us a lot.
In data's most basic function, it exists as numbers. From the data that shows us profit, which would be the difference between a business's income and expenditure, to visitor figures and follower counts. These numbers can be used to show how successful a business is, their patterns can also allow an opportunity to forecast future success.
Then there is the data that moves on from numbers - visitor locations that show where in the world a website is being accessed from. This gives us a picture of a new market.
There is also the advanced data - names and addresses that can help someone promote their business, gained from advanced campaigns through something like Postman email marketing software, which can also deliver queries to customers - are they interested in a product? Yes or no? Those answers are the data that light the way forward for your business.
Data is just information. We can twist and manipulate information in ways that we see fit, we can also ignore data. Data won’t do its job if you don’t do yours and use that data to inform your next big move in business. Data isn’t something that works for you and it certainly isn’t an employee - don’t wait around for data to do something for you and your business, but see what you can notice and realize from the data to boost your business.
Brand New: How to Start Online Marketing Your Business
branding on buildings
Many modern businesses depend on online marketing methods to drive sales and get the cash registers ringing. Whether you’re launching a startup, you’re branching into e-commerce, or you’re keen to generate more interest online, it pays to come up with an online marketing strategy that works.
So, what do you need to be successful? Here are some handy hints that may help you answer this question.
Branding
Branding isn’t just about catching somebody’s eye when they walk into a shop. It’s also about giving them more information about the product, making them think about who you are and what you do, and encouraging them to buy into your business. Branding is a means of using aesthetics and design concepts to appeal to clients, but it’s also about generating a link between certain products and your brand name.
You shouldn’t have to physically walk into a shop and see a product to associate a brand with a product. If somebody asks you about fizzy drinks, for example, what company names come to mind? This happens automatically without you seeing a page full of pictures or slogans.
If you’re paying more attention to online marketing, make sure your brand has a strong online presence. Your social media accounts and your website should bear your name proudly. Use the same handle across social media platforms and encourage followers to engage with you on more than one site. Use your logo on emails you send out and posts you submit. Be consistent.
branding your business
Give people more
When you buy something online, you don’t have the opportunity to see it with your own eyes and feel it. This is why it’s so important for retailers to provide as much information as possible.
In a shop, you may have a rack of clothes to choose from or a shelf packed with stand up pouches filled with all kinds of edible delights on offer. You can use your senses and sample items to help you make a decision. With e-commerce, you’re reliant on what you can see in front of you.
If you’re selling clothes, for example, make sure you include a range of images, which show the piece from every angle and offer a feature that allows you to zoom in. Show the clothing on a model as well as on a hanger, and provide information about the model so that the client can get an idea of how it would look on them and what size they would need.
You can also run a blog on your website to provide more detail about selected items and feature them on your social media pages. It’s also useful to have an online chat feature so that you can respond to questions rapidly.
how to sell online
Emphasize convenience
How often do you see companies telling you can book an appointment in a second or buy something instantly? If you’ve set your business up with convenience in mind, make sure you play a role in your marketing campaign. Show and tell people how easy it is to buy from you. This could be the thing that sets you apart from your rivals, so don’t undersell it.
If you’re keen to inject some vigor into your online marketing strategy, bear these tips in mind. Hopefully, you should notice a positive difference in no time.
4 Steps to Make Sure Your Blog Is Read
If you’ve spent time constructing, researching, and writing a blog post that you think is worthy of people’s attention, it can be a bit dispiriting when you review the stats of how many people engaged with it only to discover hardly anyone visited your site in the first place. Don’t take it to heart - it has nothing (OK, a little) to do with the quality of your writing or how interesting your subject was. By making a few simple changes to how you handle your blog, you can get the readers you crave.
blogging tips to drive traffic
Source: Pexels.com
A Blog is About More Than the Writing
Ernest Hemingway would have had a difficult time getting visitors to his blog. He was pretty self-interested, and seldom played up to the crowds. If you want to have your blog read, don’t be like Ernest. After you’ve finished the writing part, it’s time to dress is up so that it’s a webpage that people will visit. This means including things like photographs and gifs, breaking up the text so that it’s easy to read, and including a few links within the piece so that it’s given an SEO boost for Google. Also, don’t underestimate how much people are drawn to a catchy title.
Into the Inbox
You’ve written a blog...and now it’s time to send it out there. People will find your content of their own accord, but many more will “find” if they’re given a gentle nudge in their inbox. If you’ve already got a list of subscribers, make sure it’s going out to them.
If you’re a new blog trying to get traffic and don’t have a list yet, some people buy bulk email lists. I don't advocate this, but some people do, so I guess it might be something to consider, as long as the emails were collected ethically. Many of these list contain fake or unused email addresses, so be careful.
Spreading the Word
Aside from sending posts directly to the email addresses you have in your database, you should also endeavour to get the word out to as many people as possible by posting your blog around the web. If you have an engaging blog post about a topic that is hot at the moment, people will be interested. Get it on your Facebook page, your business Facebook page, and submit it to companies with high follower count. Who knows, it might even go viral! And once you have people to your site, you should be prompting them to join your mailing list. It can be a slow process, but it’s a good way of doing it.
Make it Good
Finally, it goes without saying that your content should be good. Instead of posting several adequate posts a day, post one or two high quality blogs instead. If your blog has many spelling or grammatical errors then it doesn’t matter how many people visit your site; you’re running the risk of them leaving pretty quickly and not coming back. Take your time to make your blog posts as good as they can be - you’re showcasing your talents, after all!