Category Archives: Freelancing/Self-employed

Self-Employed Gals, What’s The Next Target?

January 15, 2021 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

*Collaborative post.

New year, new projects! 

Even though 2020 has been a tough year for all of us, a lot of self-employed professionals have been able to rise above the challenges and grow their business presence. Perhaps, this has to do with the self-employed/freelancing mindset. When you embark on a career path where you are on your own, you can afford to miss opportunities. Therefore, a lot of self-made solo entrepreneurs have seized the challenges of a post-pandemic world and make them work for their businesses. 

So at the beginning of a new year, it’s worth considering how to leverage the lessons of the pandemic and boost your presence further. Here are 10 ideas to bring your business profile to the top! 

self employment tips image
Unsplash – CC0 Licence 

#1. Expand your business network

We live in a digital economy. People work remotely. They also shop remotely. So why shouldn’t you embrace the remote landscape and leverage it for your business? In a remote environment, you can build partnerships with international suppliers and business partners that will benefit from clients. If you are a tech freelancer, for example, you could send money to China to a local tech partner who can report on the latest gadgets. Are you a fashion and beauty business? Why not build bonds with South Korean to find out more about the 10 steps Korean beauty routine? Growing your business network allows you to diversify your offer. 

#2. Build an international presence

English is a proxy language. But that doesn’t mean that all your customers are fluent in English. Why not spend some time digging through your web analytics? You could find out where international visitors come from. It can be a good idea to create an international presence with Google translate plug-ins. You can even buy a new domain or subdomain to match your overseas target. 

#3. Let others do the menial tasks

We get it; you got there by yourself. But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from outsourcing and contracting some tasks. Ultimately, delegation can help free up time for more important and pressing matters. Picking the right person for the job isn’t always easy. Take your time to find someone you can trust. There are plenty of freelancers around, so it’s worth checking their qualifications before you make a decision.

#4. Launch your next corporate product/service

Bringing your independent business to the next level needs money. A lot of freelancers begin with small and cost-effective services until they are ready to release an offer that can compete with big players. As a beauty and fashion blogger, for instance, you may want to create your range of products. It’s a brilliant way of reaching out to a new market. But you need investors to make it happen. When the bank isn’t an option, crowdfunding platforms can be a game-changer!

#5. Influence, and influence some more

Why be one of the many small fish when you can become a big fish in the digital pond? Becoming a social media influencer can catapult your business presence from unknown to the top of the list! Social media influencers play a huge role in business marketing strategies as you could build a source of income through your online presence. Growing your online influence can help getting noticed by big brands.

Freelancing tips image

Unsplash – CC0 Licence 

#6. Diversify your offer

If you’ve had to adapt your business services to the pandemic situation, you are probably aware that people’s needs have changed. Why not run market research to gain a better understanding of your post-pandemic audience. What do people in 2021 expect from the market and how can you make it happen? 

#7. Update your brand image

As they say, new year, new you. If you’ve been working with the same brand image for a long time, you could consider some minor tweaks and improvements to update it. A brand image update is not a rebranding project. Your brand remains recognisable to your customers. But it feels fresher and more dynamic. Brand update ideas include a professionally-taken profile photo, minor changes to the logo and brand guidelines, or even a new web design. 

#8. Start a podcast

We’ve all got a story to tell. Blogging is an effective tool to publish your words. However, the pandemic has created a sense of digital data overload. There’s too much everywhere all the time. People’s attention span has suffered dramatically. So, your heartfelt blog article could get unnoticed because it’s too long. But podcasts, on the other hand, give your words a new voice. And they’re super accessible, so it’s easy for your audience to relax and listen. Podcasts also serve a marketing purpose for small businesses, as they can be cost-effective to produce and release while promoting your expertise to a broad audience. What’s not to like? 

#9. Make a video

No, we don’t mean a filmed selfie that you upload on Instagram. We mean a professional video that shares your story and your business goals. There are plenty of professional video companies that can help you create a short introduction film that packs a lot of engaging content in a short time. Becoming a full-time video blogger – vlogger for short – is time-demanding and requires additional equipment. However, you can refresh your online presence with a short video that engages with web visitors. 

If you’ve got an extra marketing budget, you can also publish your video on advertising platforms, such as distributing it on the Google Display Network and Youtube. It can be helpful to define your target audience beforehand so that you’re only showing the video to the relevant target. 

#10. Get that LinkedIn Premium membership

LinkedIn offers two premium membership packages, for individuals and businesses. With a premium account, your business can expand its network by reaching out to more potential partners and peers. InMail messages are a smart and useful tool to boost your business awareness and find new opportunities. Not sure if that’s the right thing for you? You can try for free for a month. 

What’s your business strategy for 2021? Are you going to grow your social influence, expand your network, or deliver additional services to your customers? Whatever your goals, it’s time to seize the opportunities and make the most of the post-pandemic business environment. Small businesses and freelancers have been quicker to adjust than big brands. Make sure to maximise your chances while you can! 

 

 

Perfecting The Art Of Delegation

January 12, 2021 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , 4 Comments

*Collaborative post.

Perfecting The Art Of Delegation picture

https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-of-people-using-laptops-1560932/

If there is one thing that a lot of project managers are yet to master it is the art of delegation. If we are honest with ourselves, most of us will admit that we are guilty of spreading ourselves too thin because we attempt to take on tasks ourselves when we could – and should – be delegating them to our team members. With that in mind, read on to discover some top tips on how to delegate more effectively as a project manager. 

Be specific – One of the worst things you can do when giving out tasks is to be vague. You need to be specific with what is required. You should also explain why the task needs to be done, what results are expected, and the deadline. 

Pick the right person for the task – When delegating, do not dish tasks out on a first come first serve basis. Rather than simply assigning tasks to the first person available, you need to ensure tasks are matched to the right person for the job. Do not give someone a task if they are not qualified to do it. You wouldn’t give someone with an HGV licence accounting tasks, would you? You need to play to the strengths and skills of your team. 

Don’t over-delegate – While a lot of us are guilty of not delegating enough, you also need to make sure you do not over-delegate. You should not simply start delegating projects because you have fallen behind or you want to shift something off your desk that you should be doing. Delegating is about dishing out those tasks that you should not be doing yourself. It is vital to recognise the difference. 
Give apprentices some responsibility – If you have any apprentices on your team, make the most of them. A lot of businesses make the mistake of having their interns and apprentices merely staying in the background. There are bound to be plenty of tasks that your apprentice could be working on, so make sure you give them something worthwhile to do, i.e. something that actually contributes to the project. 
Don’t micromanage – There is no point in delegating a task if you are only going to micromanage it afterwards. Once you have handed out a task and provided training if necessary, you should set up a schedule for touching base, and then once you have done this you should step away from the project. You have assigned the task based on skillset, so you should trust the person in question to get the done job properly. 

If you follow the advice that has been provided above, you should be able to delegate tasks more effectively and efficiently so that your project team can achieve more and you focus on the tasks that really matter rather than spreading yourself too thin.

 

 

Signs You Could Be Wasting Time In The Wrong Career

December 5, 2020 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

*Collaborative post.

Are you suddenly wondering whether you may be in the wrong career? The fact that you’re even thinking about this could be an indication that you are. However, you shouldn’t go on this thought alone. Looking for other signs that you could be in the wrong career is a good idea. Below, you’ll find a list of signs that could indicate whether you are in the wrong career – take a look and see if it’s time for you to make a change:

  1. You Spend Too Much Time Complaining About Work

Do you spend a lot of your time complaining about work? If so, it could be a sign you need a change. Complaining every so often is ok, but if you’re complaining all the time and struggling to find things to be grateful for, then it could be a sign you’re in the wrong field, industry, or role. Examine what is making you unhappy and whether it is temporary or permanent. 

2. You have Work Anxiety

Having work anxiety is not pleasant, especially since we spend so much of our lives in work. Are you anxious about the workplace, someone at work, or an element of your job? You may be able to speak with your boss and sort this out, but if not, it could be a big sign that you need to move on. 

Make Your Next Career Move Your Last image

3. You’re Not Sure Why You’re There Anymore

Maybe you started this career with the best of intentions, sure that you were going to do some meaningful things to fill you with purpose. However, if you’re not sure why you’re there anymore, it looks as if you may have grown or evolved as a person. Just because a job once filled you with joy and purpose, doesn’t mean it will forever. This is why remaining flexible is key. Just because you’ve put a few years into something, doesn’t mean you should continue to plug away at it when you’re clearly not happy. 

4. You Imagine Quitting 

If you sit at work and daydream about quitting and going off to do something else, this is a huge sign. If you know there’s something else you’d rather spend your time doing, but you’re not doing anything to work towards that, maybe now is the time to get started on an action plan.

5. Your Lifestyle Isn’t One You Enjoy

Your lifestyle is hugely important, and the type of work you do can impact it. Your work will impact how much you make, how much time you have off, flexibility, and so much more. If your lifestyle doesn’t suit you currently, it could be time to explore roles that offer lifestyles that do. You could look into driving instructor courses, as this role often comes with more flexibility than a regular job. However, it’s up to you to define the lifestyle you would like.

6. You Know Your Skills and Talents Aren’t Being Utilized

In any job role, skills and talents should be utilized for your satisfaction and your best work output. If you know that your skills and talents just aren’t being utilized, then you likely need a role where they are. What are you really good at, and what sort of role would help to enhance that? When do you feel most alive, and happy? When are you focused and in the flow? Define these moments and skills so you know what sort of things you need to be doing.

lifestyle blog image

7. You Have No Energy

Having no energy doesn’t always come from having a super busy job where you’re on your feet all day. You could begin to feel exhausted even if you’re sat down all day – jobs you hate can mentally exhaust you. Or, perhaps you feel exhausted physically and mentally because you’re giving everything you’ve got, but you’re not really getting anything back. In your ideal job, you may get tired from time to time, but you won’t mind much because you’ll feel purposeful.

8. You’re Sick All The Time

If you’re sick, either physically or mentally, it could be down to spending so much time in a job you’re not gelling with. Many people don’t feel mentally well in the wrong job. They can become riddled with anxiety and stress, amongst other issues. Plus, mental stress can lead to a lowered immune system, so the two go hand in hand.

9. You’re Just Bored

Maybe you’re seriously bored at your job. If it’s no longer a challenge for you and you want something you can get stuck into, it could be time to move on. Some people would never leave a stable job out of boredom, but where’s the fun in life if you’re going to play it safe constantly?

10. You Have To Focus On Extras Just To Get Through The Day

Maybe you’re not living in the present moment, and instead, having to focus on the extras just to get you through the day. Perhaps you’re looking ahead to a future bonus, a conference, a milestone anniversary, or a sales team trip. Maybe you constantly count the days until the weekend and dread Mondays. If you have to focus on extras to get through the day, you should definitely be elsewhere.

11. Your Values Don’t Line Up

Knowing your own personal values and what’s important to you can help you to pick the ideal job. You should work in a role that aligns with your values. Not only that, you should be working with a company that aligns with your values! For example, if you’re a vegan who loves animals, you wouldn’t want to work for a company that sells animal products. This would be at odds with what is important to you and would likely make you unhappy in one way or another. That’s just one example – make sure you know what your own values are! 

Have you figured out whether you’re in the wrong career yet? If you find yourself thinking about it all the time, then this is enough of a reason to move on. You don’t need a big reason for taking a leap of faith and doing something new. Life is to be lived, whatever stage you’re at and whatever age you are. Thanks for reading and leave your thoughts below! 

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