Category Archives: Freelancing/Self-employed

What you need to know about freelance work

July 20, 2020 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

Freelance work allows me to work and study from home. It also allowed me to homeschool the kiddies these last few months. A few years ago, I was stuck in a job I hated and dreamt of being able to work for myself from home. Freelancing has allowed me to break out of that job and pursue my dreams. It has completely changed my life and I am forever grateful to be able to do what I do, how I do it.

What is freelance work?

Freelance work is a flexible sort of self-employment job that allows you to provide a service to a variety of clients. I get to work with all sorts of businesses all over the world and I have met some incredible people along the way. My freelance work allows me to work on small and big projects, both short term and long term, depending on the project.

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What jobs can I do freelance?

You can do almost any job freelance. I handle copywriting, blogger outreach, blog coaching, and social media management for many businesses. Other jobs you could carry out on a freelance basis are –

  • Proofreading
  • Public Relations
  • Graphic Design
  • Videography
  • Data Entry
  • Book Keeping

These are just a few examples of jobs you could do for clients on a freelance basis. There are many more freelance jobs you could do. Quick research in your chosen field will shed more light.

What are the benefits of working freelance?

Here are some of the most amazing benefits of working freelance –

  • It is flexible. You can set your own working hours
  • You can work from anywhere you choose
  • Freelance work is usually varied and variety is the spice of life.
  • You are your own boss.

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Where can I find freelance work?

You can find freelance work anywhere depending on your niche. I started off getting jobs on LinkedIn and other social media networks. These days the majority of my jobs find me thanks to my blog and existing connections. However, if you are just starting out, Upwork, Freelancer, and Peopleperhour are great sites to check out.

How much do freelancers get paid?

The beauty of being a freelancer is you get to set your own rates. You can decide to be paid hourly or set up a fixed rate. The choice is yours. It is best to do some research and find out what other freelancers in your niche charge. That way you make sure you set realistic rates.

What do I need to become a freelancer?

For you to be a successful freelancer, you need to have the skills required for your niche. So to be a successful copywiter, you need to be a great writer. You also need to be self-motivated and organised to succeed as a freelancer. The beauty of freelancing is you are your own boss, and that means there is no one to remind you to get your work done. You need to be able to motivate yourself and stay on top of your workload to succeed.

 

Managing your money as a freelancer

June 28, 2020 By in Blogging Tips, Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

I have been freelancing for almost 7 years now and I had to learn on the job. The many articles I read before and while on the freelancing journey did give me tips and tricks to help me as a freelancer, but none of them really prepared me for how to manage my money as a freelancer. When it comes to managing your money as a freelancer, you need to have your numbers head screwed on tight and quick or risk losing the plot. The life of a business owner can be a rollercoaster. You have to be prepared for the busy times as well as the not so busy times.

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Here are a few tips that should help in managing your money as a freelancer –

Set your prices

One of the first things I did was to set my prices. I have a fixed price for every service I offer. That way I don’t have to research or think about what price to give a client for a job. I know what I am worth and I do market research every now and again to make sure my prices are competitive.

Send out invoices

I know many freelancers don’t send out invoices to clients for various reasons but I always make sure my clients receive an invoice for every job. That way I have a trail of all my jobs, clients, and prices. It also makes submitting my tax returns easy since I have all the records in one place.

Take payment in advance

I like to take payment in advance where possible. That way I don’t have to chase payments (that is a job in itself). I appreciate clients that pay quickly and in advance. Going forward, I will be requesting to take more payment in advance. It saves time and effort.

Save for the rainy day

Most freelancers will know all about how busy work can be in some months and how quiet it can be in other months. I have been freelancing for a few years now and I know the pattern. My advice to not just the freelancers but every business owner is to save some money for the rainy day. Don’t spend all your earn, stash some away for when work is quiet.

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Don’t work for free

These days, I thankfully don’t have people asking me to work for free anymore. My work pays my bills and more, so working for free isn’t really an option. I know my worth and I am very quick to ignore anyone who questions it by asking me to work for free or for a ridiculous fee. I manage my money by not working for free.

At the end of the day, we are all different and we will manage our money in our own way. These are some of the ways I make it work for me. Being able to work for me for this long is a dream come true. It has completely changed my life for the better and I am grateful to be able to do all that I do. Apart from this blog which is my main source of income, I am also a Content Writer, Blogger Outreach Consultant, Social Media Manager, Blog Coach, Authour, and Vlogger.

How do you manage your money as a freelancer/business owner?

How To Find Clients For Embroidery?

June 24, 2020 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

*Collaborative post.

If you have an embroidery business or if you are into applique embroidery designs for earning money, you need to find the right clients to keep your business going. But how can you find them and where can you find them?

So, before you start looking for clients, here are some of the essentials you need to make sure are fulfilled.

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Your Customers

Before finding your clients, you should know your target audience. Make a list of all your potential clients you can cater to the needs of. Know their scale of production and if it matches with yours. Once you know them well, it will become easier to find them.

Your Niche

It is also important to place your embroidery business in a particular niche. Establishing a niche will also help in finding the right clients and customers for your business. To know your embroidery business niche, access the type of products your business excels in, know your likely competition, and finally set your niche on the most viable one.

Your Business Website

Another thing to focus upon to find clients for your embroidery business is own a good business website. An intuitive and well-established website could help you find possible clients for your business. 

Display samples of your work in clear and high-quality photos. Don’t forget to include an About Us page and Contact Us webpage to make your probable customers reach you easily. 

Once this is set, now you got to start finding your clients. 

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Your Network

Once your niche and customers are all set and defined, it’s time to expand your network by communicating more. Build your network with the help of your existing network, make use of recommendations. Focus on building new business relations. Also, if you are willing to expand your existing network, be sufficient enough by expanding your working base, tools, and capacity to produce more. 

You can even expand your network by fulfilling more needs for your existing clients, communicating with them daily, and being social in all ways possible. 

Spread A Word Within Your Circle

The closest and cheapest way to find clients is within your circle. Spread a word about your embroidery business within your family, relatives, close friends, and other acquaintances.  They may not be your direct client but can turn as a word of mouth advertisers and promotors. 

Search Geographically

To start with, visit the nearest shop or business that would be interested in your products. Visit the nearby boutiques, souvenir shops, and other related businesses that could accept your first order. Find retail shops to start your embroidery business with. Remember to know your capacity and their needs before finalizing the deal. 

Expand Further To Big Businesses

Next, move on to other clients that could be your probable customers like salons, dance studios, hotels, restaurants, and the like. Yes, these could be your clients and you can seek the opportunity of your embroidery business in them. The possible products you can help them with are their customized towels, logo towels, embroidered costumes, and much more. 

List down your possible embroidery products related to every industry to widen your approach. Present the list to your probable clients to make them easier for them to choose from them. 

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List Your Business Online 

Another trendy method to gain clients for your embroidery business is through listing your business on online platforms like Etsy, Garmeo, and Artfire. With so many social media platforms, it is rather easy to provide the exposure that your business needs to get started. 

By adopting some right tactics, you can put your products well on these online services, get offers, and accept and reject them according to your need. 

Attending Trade And Craft Shows

Always be ready to put your products on sale on trade and craft shows. There is not a place where craft and trade shows don’t take place. Be at the forefront of these shows, display the best of your work, and gain the needed leverage your embroidery business needs through such shows. 

Attending local community craft fairs is the best for building a network. Try to lure your customers by offering them discounts at such events. Also, if it doesn’t hurt your pocket, send out a few freebies to make people remember you. 

There were some of the ways you can find a client for your embroidery business. Moreover, as embroidering is a creative job, you can always find great clients by increasing the list of your product you deal in. Go creative and find the new realms of embroidery designing, present your product to your potential business partners. Lastly, working in a partnership is another way to hype your business.

 

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