Tag Archives: Freelancer Tips

Perfecting The Art Of Delegation

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

*Collaborative post.

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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.

 

 

How To Find Clients For Embroidery?

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

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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.

 

A beginner’s guide to working from home

March 9, 2020 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , 10 Comments

With all what we have going on, many people will find themselves working from home now. If you are one of those people and working from home is new to you, this beginner’s guide to working from home may help you make the most of it. Working from home can be a blessing and it can be a curse. It depends on your personality and the work you do. I have been working from home for about 6 years now and I have tried various techniques to help me stay productive and actually work from home in the midst of all the distractions. My working form home is really going well, and I have recently started studying from home too!

 

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Here are some tips to help you work from home effectively –

Work when you are most productive

You need to figure out when you are most productive and aim to complete the main tasks then. This will allow you work on other tasks that are not as important or demanding when your concentration levels are low. Being a freelancer means you can set the times you want to work. You may not have to work the traditional 9-5 if those hours don’t favour you. I love the flexibility of setting my own hours around when I am most productive. Once you figure this out, you can work from home and actually get work done.

Have a routine

I love routines. They keep me focused and productive. I would be lost without a clear schedule on how my day needs to go. One of the first things you need to do when you start working from home is to have a routine and stick to it. That way you know what needs doing and when it needs to be done. For every working hour, you have a clear schedule. There should always be room for flexibility when needed. After all that is the beauty of being self employed. Once you have a routine and you stick to it, you will find working from home easy and productive.

Take regular breaks

Don’t get tempted to keep working without taking regular breaks in between. Remember sitting is the new smoking. Good to move around for a few minutes after every hour of sitting down. Regular breaks are good for the body and the mind. You could go for a short walk to clear your head or just walk around the house doing some chores.

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Days off are important

Back in my early days of working from home, I worked every free time I got and I did this pretty much everyday. This is no longer the case for me. I now take a day or 2 off every week and that helps me recharge. It can be difficult to not work every single day, especially if you have just started freelancing. The anxiety or the fear of missing out keeps you grinding, but this is dangerous for your health and productivity. Days off are important so factor these days in when planning your schedule.

Avoid the distractions

I am not easily distracted. The bed, tv and the chores don’t distract me when I need to get work done. If that is the same for you then you will find it easy to work from home. If you are easily distracted, you will need to find ways to deal with your distractions. Working on a chair/table will help so you don’t get too comfy on the bed. Switching the tv off or working in a room without a tv helps too!

Do you work form home? How are you finding it?

 

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