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(Art Credit: Pedro Gomes) This article is posted with permission from our partner Lili. Get the digital bank account designed for freelancers with Lili and manage your business expenses, estimate your taxes, and save for a rainy day all with zero account fees. Start a Lili account today. And yet, despite knowing how important they are, most freelancers also feel intimidated by the mere thought of asking a former or existing client for a referral. We get it: it feels awkward. You find yourself picturing all the worst-case scenarios of how that client might respond, even though you know they love the work you do. But remember that as much as 91% of new freelance business comes through referrals or word of mouth — that’s a huge chunk of work! And sometimes, all it takes to get that work is simply asking for it. Asking for a referral doesn’t have to be scary. Take a few deep breaths, and let’s talk about some simple strategies for successfully asking your clients for referrals. Choose the Right TimingNo matter what you’re asking for, timing is key. If you ask for a referral at the right time, not only will your client be more inclined to say yes, but you’ll also make it a lot easier for them to follow through. Some good times to ask are:
Also keep in mind that referrals don’t only have to come from current clients. But asking for a referral from a previous client out of the blue after not speaking to them for months or years isn’t the best idea. To avoid such a situation, keep in touch with previous clients, even if it’s just sharing a helpful article or resource here and there, to keep the line of communication open. Doing so will increase the chances of repeat business and also make it more likely that they’ll think of you when someone asks them about freelancers they’d recommend. Be Direct & SpecificDon’t overthink it — just ask! Beating around the bush is a waste of time and might leave the client confused about what you really want. When you do ask, be as clear and concise as possible. Instead of asking them to rack their brain for anyone they know who might be interested in hiring a freelancer, ask them if they know anyone in your specific target audience who needs your specific offering. That will make it easier for them to remember, and it also increases the chances that the person they refer you to will actually be a good fit for your business. Additionally, there’s nothing wrong with reminding the client of specific things they’ve said about your work or results you’ve gotten them, and then asking them to share those comments or results with people they know. If you’re still too nervous to ask outright for a referral, you can ease into it by asking for a testimonial to display on your website. Just writing the testimonial can sometimes prompt a client to refer you to others even without you directly asking, but more importantly, asking for something small first (and getting it) can help you feel more confident asking for something bigger later. Make it EasyAbove all, asking for a referral should be as easy and painless as possible for both you and the client. You might want to make or download a template, so you don’t spend hours each time agonizing over every single word. If you’re routine-oriented, make yourself a standard operating procedure (SOP) that builds referral requests into your regular client communication processes, so it becomes just another part of running your business instead of a big, scary task you have to talk yourself into doing. When you reach out to your client to ask for the referral, make sure they have all the information they need. You could even send them a nicely formatted list of your services, rates, and contact information, so all they have to do is forward it. Ask for Referrals with ConfidenceRemember, clients who enjoy working with you and value your services want you to succeed and will be more than happy to put in a good word for you. But, if you never ask, they may not know what kind of clients to refer you to or whether you even have the capacity to take on new work. Now that you have some simple strategies in your referral request toolkit, it’s time to practice using them. The more you ask for referrals, the easier and less intimidating it will feel — and the sooner those referrals will start sending new clients your way. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/26/3-stress-free-ways-to-ask-clients-for-a-referral/
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This post is from one of our partners Embrace Pet Insurance, click here to access a freelancers union discount on pet insurance (Art Credit: Pedro Gomes) My young daughter struggles with anxiety. During a recent episode of panic I was struggling to help her calm her racing mind when my sixty-five-pound Pit Bull mix came to check on her, and it brought me a moment of clarity. “You know,” I said to her, “scientists found that petting your dog can help you calm down when you’re upset.” She didn’t hesitate to put her hand on his neck and stroke him. In a few moments, the tears slowed and her breathing improved. She sat there petting him slowly, and in a matter of minutes it was almost as if nothing had happened. Since her worries tend to pop back up at bedtime, I asked if we could move the dog’s bed into her room. He’s slept by her side every night, and we’ve had no bedtime struggles since. Our pets provide us with so many avenues to improve our mental health beyond just a comforting presence. Yes, it’s true that petting a dog can release oxytocin and lower your blood pressure (even more than talking to another human according to this study). You might be surprised at some of the other science-supported ways your pet helps your well being. Walking Your DogMultiple studies have shown that dog owners are less depressed than those without dogs. Most dog parents, a whopping 87%, exercise the recommended 150 minutes per week. Mental health benefits, including reduced anxiety and depression, as well as physical health benefits follow with each step. You don’t need to make dog walking an epic journey. Just a quick 10 minutes around the block, stopping at a few trees or fire hydrants along the way, can make huge improvements and get the ball rolling for increased endurance later on. If walking a dog isn’t an option, just playing with a pet in the home releases serotonin and dopamine to help your mood. If pet ownership isn’t a reality for you right now, consider volunteering to groom cats or walk dogs at your local shelter where you’ll get these benefits, help adoptable animals, and even build a routine for yourself. Building Routine & Building RelationshipsRoutine is important. Some pet parents report that their walking routine helped their overall well being, while others said the walk helped them feel more connected to their neighbors. The sense of purpose that comes with routinely feeding, grooming, and attending to your pet can help you find meaning and joy in life when it can otherwise be a struggle. If you aren’t up to taking care of yourself, now might not be the right time for pet ownership. But if you think you might have an easier time getting out of bed in the morning if a pet needed to be cared for regularly, a pet might help you. Fostering could be a good short-term stepping stone into pet ownership. The companionship that comes with a pet has been well-documented to decrease the symptoms of depression and loneliness and increase the quality and length of life. Pets Provide ReassuranceI feel safer and calmer when my dog is around. On those rare days when I’m home alone without him, I’m more aware of every noise I hear. When our pets are home and sleeping quietly, we can’t help but feel more secure and at ease. This sense of reassurance is not limited to watchdogs. Experiencing the love of a pet helps children and adults build their self-confidence. Whether a child is reading to a dog, snuggling with them, or teaching them tricks, the dog-human bond is free of any judgement, criticism, or negativity, and can even lead to increased social skills with other people. One last bit of uplifting news: Most studies on the mental health benefits of companion animals find that animals also benefit from the same increased levels of oxytocin and dopamine that we do when we spend time with them. Your dog doesn’t just look at you like they love you. They really do love you. Knowing that the mental health benefits of pet ownership are reciprocal makes me happier just thinking about it. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/25/how-your-pet-can-help-your-mental-health/
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(Art Credit: Pedro Gomes) This post was provided by Dinghy. Freelancers Union partners with Dinghy and NSM Insurance Group to help freelance writers say hello to peace of mind with liability insurance crafted exclusively to meet their needs. Get a free quote in minutes here. Happy Earth Day, freelancers! Yes, today is the day where people all over our beautiful blue and green planet celebrate all things Mother Nature and pledge to do their part to help the environment. The theme this year is “invest in our planet” – calling for businesses, governments and citizens to work together in a “partnership for the planet.” Freelancers are a growing part of the global economy, and you, too, have a part to play in supporting a greener future. To help you in that mission, consider these eight tips for running an eco-friendly business in 2022. 1. Work remotely 2. Make lunch at home 3. Use public transportation 4. Scale back on printing 5. Upcycle where you can 6. Recycle everything you can 7. Switch it off 8. Use ethical suppliers Even small eco-friendly steps in the right direction can add up to a big impact for the environment. The most important thing is being mindful of Mother Earth and making smart choices not only in your personal life, but when it comes to your business as well. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/22/8-tips-to-be-a-greener-freelancer-in-2022/
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(Art Credit: Karen Fischer) Hands up if you’ve ever believed your peers are further along/more organized/more successful/generally better than you? I’m willing to bet nearly all of you have your hand up. I know I do! Whether we’re talking about your perception of yourself as a freelancer, entrepreneur, creative, parent, friend, etc. we all have a tendency to believe everyone else has their act together, while we consistently flounder. This is why when we’re being told we need to set goals so we can finally get it together and become a “new” (read, better) person, can be so hard on us. We can mistakenly believe that in order to succeed, we need to overhaul every aspect of our lives, shoehorn ourselves into goals, behaviors, and actions that aren’t authentic to us, aligned with what success looks like for us, or that we’re simply not ready for yet. It’s what drives us to buy yet another online course, to follow the guru promising the 6-step formula to X-outcome, or succumb to compare and despair. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the focus and intentionality that a goal provides me with. But I’ve found that my most expansive, “successful” years were when my goals were driven by what was particularly meaningful and resonant to me. The times I set goals for what I thought I was “supposed” to achieve, were less satisfying or sustainable. For this exercise, we are going to use the “life map” visual and a few prompts to help orient yourself towards success in your life. Are you ready? Life map Using the visual above, reflect on each area in your own life and grade yourself on each section. You may find you feel really strong in love and relationships, but less so in finance. Or you might be on solid financial ground, but realize your relationships or community ties don’t feel as strong as you’d like. This is a judgment free zone. What you learn will give you insights into what areas would be the most meaningful for you to set your goals around. Because we can’t focus on too many things at once, I recommend you choose 1-2 areas (max) to prioritize this year. Next up, check out the prompts below and write what comes up for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned journaler or a complete skeptic, I invite you to give it a try. There’s something about the brain/hand connection that helps us tap into our own wisdom, process, and define the next step. Prompts:
How do you feel? Maybe you’re experiencing the good feeling rush that comes with a little clarity and a good next step to take. Or perhaps you have mixed emotions and feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. Wherever you are, I encourage you to bring curiosity rather than judgment to whatever you see, trust the timing of your life, and move forward at your own pace. I’m here, cheering you on! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/21/feeling-behind-in-your-freelance-career/
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(Art Credit: Andrea Hernandez) This article was first published by the IRS and has been reproduced with permission. Subscribe to IRS tax tips here. The April deadline for filing a 2021 tax return is near, but IRS tax help is available 24 hours a day on IRS.gov. Whether filing a tax return, requesting an extension, or making a payment, the IRS website has answers to most tax questions and can help people avoid having to call the IRS. Electronic filing is the best optionTaxpayers who electronically prepare and file online will likely have fewer mistakes on their tax return. Electronic filing options like IRS Free File or commercial tax software do the math, flag common errors, and ask for missing information. Taxpayers with income over $73,000 and those who are comfortable completing their tax returns may choose to use IRS Free File Fillable Forms. Reconciling advance child tax credit or claiming recovery rebate creditPeople who need to reconcile advance child tax credit payments or claim the recovery rebate credit will need additional information about 2021 payments to file an accurate tax return and avoid a processing delay. These individuals must have the total amounts of advance child tax credit payments to receive the remainder of their child tax credit and the amount of their third round Economic Impact Payment to claim a recovery rebate credit. Taxpayers should check their online account or review Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, and Letter 6475, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment, for their total payment amounts. This will help them file an accurate return. Married spouses who received joint payments will need to log into their own online account or review their own letter for their portion of the total payment. If filing a 2021 return as married filing jointly, they should add the payments together to provide the total amount. Extension to file requestTaxpayers have until the April deadline to request an extension to file until October 17. This is not an extension of time to pay. Taxpayers must estimate their tax liability and pay as much as they can by April 18 to avoid possible penalties and interest. Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19 to pay to file their returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states. Individual tax filers, regardless of income, can use IRS Free File to electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form and should pay any amount due. If taxpayers submit an electronic payment with their Online Account, Direct Pay, Electronic Federal Tax Payment System or by debit, credit card or digital wallet and select Form 4868 or extension as the payment type. They don't need to file Form 4868 when making an electronic payment and indicating it's for an extension. The IRS will automatically count it as an extension. Some taxpayers may have extra time to file their tax returns and pay any taxes due. This includes some disaster victims, taxpayers living overseas, members of the military, and eligible support personnel serving in combat zones. Refund status optionsTaxpayers may have their refund electronically deposited into their bank or another financial account. People who don't have a bank account for a direct deposit can visit the FDIC website or the National Credit Union Administration using their Credit Union Locator Tool for information on where to find a bank or credit union and open an account online. They can check on their refund by using Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov or download the IRS2Go mobile app and get the most up-to-date information. Payment optionsTaxpayers can go to IRS.gov to pay their balance using IRS Direct Pay or another payment option. The electronic payment options are secure, and taxpayers receive immediate confirmation. The IRS has options for taxpayers who owe taxes but cannot afford to pay. Mail a paper return to the right addressTaxpayers should check Where to File for their state on IRS.gov so they mail it to the correct address. Taxpayers who mail a tax return will experience a longer wait. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/20/important-reminders-for-people-filing-their-tax-return-at-the-last-minute/
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(Art Credit: Andrea Hernandez) This post is from one of our partners Embrace Pet Insurance, click here to access a freelancers union discount on pet insurance Your dog is probably overjoyed that you don’t have to go into the office, but they don’t understand that this isn’t an extended weekend with unlimited opportunities for chin scratches and walks. Having canine companionship during the day is a blessing, but it can be tough to keep your dog quiet when you’re working from home. Here are some tips to make sure your four-legged coworker doesn’t get you into trouble with the boss. 1. Walk Your Dog Before You Start WorkingTaking your dog for a long walk before you start your workday will do you both good. It likely means getting up earlier, but take your travel mug of coffee and let your dog do all the sniffing they want. Exercising releases stress and nervous energy before it causes problems in the middle of your conference call. Plus, showing your dog attention and effort early on lets them know you care about them so they’re less likely to seek affection throughout the day. 2. Feed Your Dog In A Puzzle FeederInstead of feeding them breakfast in their bowl, put their kibble into a puzzle feeder or food dispensing toy. The right puzzle feeder will keep your dog occupied and tire them out while you’re getting your day started. Pro Tip: Avoid the hard, hollow toys while you’re working. Some dogs like to throw them which is very loud. 3. Enrich Your Dog’s EnvironmentOffering your dog their own “job” or project while you’re unavailable gives them a distraction and will keep them quiet while you’re working from home. A smear of peanut butter or spray cheese in a Kong or other hollow toy can keep a dog busy for hours. Chew toys or puzzle toys where the dog has to find a hidden item can keep a dog quiet while you’re working. Consider giving them a special toy only when you really need them to quiet down, so your dog is more interested in it during that time. It’s best to avoid toys with squeakers or hard toys that can be noisy. You can also hide toys and treats around the house to give them something to do while you’re working while strengthening their scenting abilities. 4. Work In A Separate Area From Your DogIf your dog is used to you being gone all day, it shouldn’t be a big deal for them to be separated from you while you need to get work done. If you need to crate your dog or close the door so they can’t come into the office, that’s okay. It never hurts to turn the TV or radio on for them to keep them distracted. If they’re having a hard time being separated from you, look at our tips for separation anxiety. Dogs who whine constantly are trying to tell you something, so it shouldn’t be ignored – there are always things you can do to help them. 5. Consider Hiring A Dog SitterIt’s okay to utilize professionals to help keep your dog’s needs met. Even if you’re working from home, doggie daycare or a dog sitter can tire your dog out so that you can focus on your tasks and not feel guilty about working through lunch. Plus, you’re helping others pay their bills which is a win-win! 6. Take Breaks To Give Your Dog Some LoveYou don’t have to make every play session a marathon. You’re supposed to get up from your desk every 30 minutes anyway. While you’re waiting for coffee to brew or a meeting to start, take this time to play a little with your dog – throw their ball around a few times, or give them some snuggles. Your productivity and health will benefit from these quick breaks too. 7. Get A Companion For Your DogYou’re probably thinking, “I can hardly handle one dog!” But if two dogs get along well, they’ll entertain each other while you’re trying to meet your deadlines. Two dogs double the poop and double the vet bills, it also doubles the cuddles and cuts the time keeping them occupied in half. Adopting, or even just fostering, a second dog offers your dog a built-in companion. Hopefully, you’ll find your new full-time office mate is just another perk of working from home. With a little effort and planning, you and your dog will have a great workday together. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/18/7-tips-for-working-from-home-with-your-dog/
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(Art Credit: Sisi Recht) Being a working parent has never been easy. Traditional work scenarios are designed for people without boundaries and constraints with performance (explicitly or implicitly) tied to long workdays and the expectation to be “on-call” constantly. Fifty-six percent of parents say it is very/somewhat difficult to balance their job and family. Working for myself gave me a level of control over my time that allowed me to meet my needs and my family’s needs. I’m not alone; seventy-four percent of freelancers say that freelancing gives them the flexibility to be more available as a caregiver for their families. My “work/life balance” looks different from someone with a 9-5 job, it’s more integrated, and I’ve made sacrifices to make it work. I didn’t take twelve weeks of maternity leave. I went back to work after six weeks, but when I did, I was able to work while taking care of my daughter because I didn’t have a full client load and cultivated long-term client relationships that supported me in parenting while working. I can’t tell you how many calls I did that first year while breastfeeding or pumping! That is just one example of the give and take required when freelancing as a parent. Ultimately, I can’t imagine being able to raise my daughter and maintain my own sanity while working for someone else—I genuinely believe that being a freelancer makes me a better parent. I’m not saying people with a 9-5 are bad parents. Freelancing makes me a better parent than I would have been otherwise. Every parent finds their own balance for making parenting work for their life. I co-parent with a 9-5er, and I happen to think he is a top-notch dad. With that said, here are a few of the reasons why freelancing helped me be the best parent I could be. TimeThirty-nine percent of working mothers and fifty percent of fathers say they spend too little time with their kids. This seems obvious when you think about how time is structured when you work a traditional job. If you work an eight-hour day and have a thirty-minute commute, you’re looking at ten-ish hours away from your home when you factor in lunch or other breaks. When you factor in taking your child(ren) to childcare and picking them up, you’re likely adding at least another hour, so now you’re at eleven hours of your day spoken for. This means that if you’re sleeping for eight hours a day, you only have five hours left to be with your kids, take care of yourself, and do everything else adults have to do in a day. These constraints disproportionately affect women because women are more likely to be in charge of children’s schedules, chores, and other non-work responsibilities. Time was already a key motivator for me when I decided to quit my 9-5, and that became even more important when I had my daughter four years ago. When I worked for other people, I barely felt like I had enough time to spend on myself, let alone take care of another human. Freelancing allows me to have more control over how I spend my time; it also means that sometimes the boundaries between work and life are a bit fuzzier. MoneyI make more money working for myself than working for other people. I’m not alone in this. Sixty-two percent of freelancers say they make more than they would for a traditional employer, and the number of independents reporting annual earnings of $100,000 or more increased by nearly thirty percent from 2020 to 2021. It isn’t just that I make more money, it’s that I get to think differently about how I spend that money and the time it takes to make it. I used my flexible schedule to keep my daughter with family or with me for the first year, avoiding the crippling costs of full-time childcare for an infant. I continue to leverage that flexibility to avoid paying for after-school care and expensive summer care now that she’s in a public school. I can also build passive income streams that allow me to change the relationship between money and time. On top of the obvious benefits of having more money and making it work more effectively for me, I’m also teaching my daughter different ways to think about income and the relationship between time and money. Health & HappinessIf parents barely have time to spend with their kids, do you think they have time to take care of themselves? This was a huge one for me before I had my daughter. I constantly felt like I was sacrificing my health and happiness for work. I know that I’m a better parent when I’m healthy and happy, and research supports the connection between parents’ mental health and children’s mental health. Freelancing supports my mental and physical health in so many ways. I have more time and flexibility for my own health and happiness activities (e.g., working out, meditating). I also have less stress because of the way I’ve integrated my life and work. Most importantly, I’m fundamentally happier because I’m doing work I love and working with people I enjoy. Recent research shows that this is true for other freelancers as well. Eighty-seven percent of full-time independent workers say they are happier working for themselves. Sixty-seven percent of freelancers say working for themselves gives them the flexibility to address personal mental or physical health needs. I know working for yourself isn’t for everyone, and there are millions of parents out there working a “normal” job and being amazing parents. I also know that for me, all of the benefits of working for myself also allow me to be a much better parent than I would otherwise. On top of that, I get to show my daughter what it’s like to follow your dreams and create the life you want to live. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/14/3-reasons-freelancing-makes-me-a-better-parent/
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(Art Credit: Kathryn Sheldon) Email marketing has long been an integral strategy for growing a product-based business and developing passive income streams, but what about growing your business as an exclusively service-providing freelancer? Social media and blogging are great for growing your business and sharing your expertise, but email marketing allows you to truly own your audience and get right in front of them in the comfort of their own inbox! By developing and engaging with an email list, you’re moving into a space where the rest of your competition’s messaging won’t interrupt yours. You’re positioning yourself as an authority in your industry and building trust with your dream clients, creating an actual brand for your business. The Purpose of Email MarketingEmail marketing is a long game. You don’t want to send pricing and services in your first email! That feels pushy and inauthentic, and won’t build trust with potential clients. Get to know your ideal client — who are they? What problems do they have? What would make them interested in subscribing to your emails? How can you serve them before they become a client? Also, take some time before setting up your email marketing to write down your own goals. What actions do you want subscribers to take at the end of your campaign (i.e. the series of emails they’ll receive overtime)? How many new clients do you want or need? What might you want to use your email list for in the future, beyond gaining clients? As you build your email list and see the success or failure of different email marketing campaigns, review your goals and client persona and adjust as needed. Setting Up Your Email Marketing PlanOnce you’ve set your goals and have identified your ideal client, you’re ready to get into the nitty-gritty of email marketing! This can be a lot of work upfront, but once you have your campaign all set up and automated, you can let it run and simply focus on promoting it, so it’s worth taking the time now to have it all set up and running smoothly. 1. Getting a Professional Email with Your DomainBefore you can create the emails for your automated campaign, get a professional email connected to your domain ([email protected] or [email protected]). This will look more professional and avoid getting blocked, as bulk emails from free, personal domains likely will. To get your custom professional domain, you can either set it up when you buy your domain through registrars like GoDaddy or BlueHost, or you can get one with Google Workspace (previously G Suite), which has the added bonus of storage space and other content organization tools. The way you set it up depends a lot on your domain host, so be sure to look at your host’s specific guidelines for setting up a professional email for your domain. Here are guides for Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix. 2. Choosing an Email Marketing PlatformThere are dozens of email marketing platforms out there to choose from, and choosing the best one for you really depends on your needs and preferences! If you’re just starting out, look into one of these free options:
3. Building a Drip CampaignA drip campaign is an automated series of emails that guide subscribers from the initial opt-in to your final offer. It’s the path you take to build trust, establish yourself as an industry expert, and convince subscribers to take that next step and convert into paying clients! This can happen over just a few emails or a dozen, depending on how long you think your ideal clients need in order to be prepared to sign up to work with you. In general, your drip campaign should flow through the following four phases: opting in, building trust, narrowing interest, and offering services. Drip Campaign Phase 1: Opting In This is where you convince users to sign up to receive your emails. You can provide incentives through free downloadables or answers to key questions they’re asking. Get them to subscribe in a way that will also set them up to stick around for more! Drip Campaign Phase 2: Building Trust Introduce who you are, what you do, and why you’re an expert in your niche. Provide free information and tools to help your subscribers on their own business or personal journey, all the while piquing their interest in working with you. Drip Campaign Phase 3: Narrowing Interest Those who have remained subscribed to this point are clearly hungry for more, so begin to niche down toward your offer. Start teasing how you can help them and remind them of the problem(s) you can solve. At this point, you can start offering discovery calls or invite them to a free webinar where they can learn more. Drip Campaign Phase 4: Offering Services This is it! For those who have made it this far and not yet committed, it’s time to pitch your offer to them. Remind them of all the good times you’ve had so far and how working with you will allow them to dive even deeper and really grow their business! Other Uses for Email MarketingIf you don’t need new clients at this time, you should still consider investing your efforts in email marketing. You can use an email marketing strategy to grow a waitlist if you’re booked out, or grow a community for selling products, tools, or courses in the future for passive income. It will also give you a place to continue connecting with potential clients and industry peers in the event of a social media collapse (temporary or permanent — you never know!). Just remember that email marketing is a long game, so don’t be discouraged if it takes you a while to get those initial subscribers. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/13/how-to-grow-your-business-with-email-marketing/
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(Art Credit: Kathryn Sheldon) File an Extension for Freelance Taxes Now to Avoid Fines and Penalties Missing documents? Mega-busy calendar? If you’re like many freelancers you have more than enough on your plate to keep you busy all day every day, without the added burden of tax preparation. However, the IRS doesn’t take kindly to missed tax filing deadlines, which is why you need to file your taxes by the April 18 deadline, or file an extension now to avoid paying fines and penalties later. Here’s what to do if you can’t file your freelance return on time:
In addition, don’t forget to file any appropriate state and local extensions. For example, in New York City, you need to file a New York State extension and, if self-employed, in New York City you need to file an extension for the NYC Unincorporated Business Tax if you are subject to this filing. Missing information or need corrected information, here’s what to do. If you are missing information or need updated or corrected forms in order to file your taxes, these tips from the IRS can also help you take care of them so you can get your taxes filed on time (or with an extension if necessary):
If you receive an incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits, you should contact the issuing state agency to request a revised Form 1099-G . If you cannot get it in time to file by April 18, you should still file an accurate tax return, reporting only the income you did receive. Another potentially missing or incorrect piece of information may be related to advance child tax credit or economic impact payments. You must have the total amounts of advance child tax credit payments you received and the remainder of your child tax credit and the amount of your third Economic Impact Payment to claim a recovery rebate credit. This information will be available in your online account or if you received these documents: Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, and Letter 6475, (Delete: add in your) 2021 Economic Impact Payment. Add these for the total payment amounts. This will help you file an accurate return. If you have lost or misplaced these letters, you can check your online account. Married spouses who received joint payments will need to log into their own online account or review their own letter for their portion of the total payment. If filing a 2021 return as married filing jointly, you should add the payments together to provide the total amount. Don’t wait and pay fines and penalties! File an extension if you can’t finish your freelance taxes by April 18. While there are many different reasons why you may not be able to file your freelance taxes on time, it is critical to file for an extension if you are not going to be able to make the April 18 deadline and make an estimated payment to offset your tax liabilities. This is the first step in avoiding paying more tax and penalties in the long run. Then do your due diligence to obtain any missing tax documents so you can ensure that you meet the extension deadline well in advance. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/11/tax-day-is-coming/
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(Art Credit: Andrea Hernandez) There’s no way around it: building and maintaining a brand takes time and energy. It takes critical thinking and a strategic mindset, asking big questions and making tough decisions. It may require collaboration with other people for their input and approval. And it means staying flexible and open-minded as the world around your brand changes, as does your audience’s needs and interests. But there’s good news: as a freelancer, you decide for yourself how you want your brand to look, feel and act. You don’t need to attend a series of workshops, have long debates about concepts or emotions, or convince anybody what color palette makes the most sense. But just because you call all the shots doesn’t mean it’s easy! To build your own brand from scratch, let’s break it down a bit further. In this post, we’ll answer the following questions:
What is a brand?One of the reasons this topic can be so intimidating is the language involved. It’s easy to get lost in a soup of terminology related to brand building, and if you ask two people to define “brand” you will hear two different answers. In the world of freelancers and small business owners, a brand refers to:
As you can see, a brand is a lot more than a name and logo. Why build a brand?The effort of brand building is done to shape the way you are perceived by others. You could very well ignore your brand and focus only on your products and services — and many businesses take this route — but you leave yourself vulnerable to your competition, to being easily forgotten, and to others having more control over your reputation than yourself. Simply put, good branding reduces confusion about who you are. A brand creates shortcuts in the minds of consumers, as well as marketers. For a business owner, having a clear brand makes it easier to design a marketing strategy and decide what tactics to employ, as well as determine which partners and vendors to work with, and what kind of employees to hire. For consumers exposed to endless choices, brands help us make faster buying decisions. When we see a brand we recognize and have a good feeling about, it’s easier to choose that brand over one we aren’t familiar with and are less confident in. The world’s strongest brands do exactly that – they signal trust. These brands show the world what they stand for, and build emotional bonds with their audiences (know any Tesla or Apple lovers?). What makes a strong brand identity?How will you know if your brand identity is strong? Below are some of the most important attributes to consider when building a brand:
How to build a brand identity from scratchBuilding a brand is an iterative process that you’ll return to again and again as your business grows and things change. Below are the key steps of a process you may return to over time:
Depending on your situation and resources, some of these steps will seem more straightforward than others. You’re bringing something entirely new into the world, and the more love and energy you put into it, the stronger your brand will be. 1. Do some self discovery.If you don’t define yourself, others will. And that starts with looking inward and getting clear with yourself about why you’re doing whatever you’re doing in the first place. If you’ve been in business for a while, think back to your earliest days, and your dreams of starting your own business. Next, sit in the present moment and focus on why you’re here. Some good questions to consider:
Jot the answers down in a notebook or in a file somewhere because they’ll come into use later. For a huge dose of motivation and inspiration, listen to Start With Why, an 18-minute TED Talk by Simon Sinek that is widely known in the field of marketing and advertising. 2. Research your audience.This is one of our favorite parts of the process of defining a strong brand. It’s a great way to stay balanced and focused on who really matters: your customers. It’s easy to get lost in the conceptual world of who you are and why you exist, and many brands fall into this trap. Some ways to do audience research:
3. Study the competition.It’s important to know what your top 3-5 competitors are doing and saying, for a few reasons. This helps maintain relevance with customers, if there’s a certain language or terminology that’s used by other brands in your industry. But it also helps identify opportunities to stand out. You don’t want to use the same color palette as your main competitors or this will cause confusion. And you certainly can’t use the same taglines or slogans, or this could lead to bigger problems. Competitor research should include:
Tips for competitive research:
4. Narrow your focus.Now it’s time for some deeper thinking and decision making. Using all the research you’ve done up to this point, it’s time to define who you are on a single page. We can’t express how useful it is to get stuff out of your head and onto a page, even if you’re the only person who will be looking at it. Having everything on a single page may seem like an unnecessary step – or an extremely daunting one – but it’s guaranteed to make life easier in more ways than one. There are a few tools used by brands to simplify their focus. You don’t need to use all of them, and they won’t appear anywhere. This is not your tagline; it’s an internal statement of clarity for you to point to anytime you need to remember who you are, what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
5. Choose a name.This is one of the more difficult parts of the whole thing, believe it or not. You could always just use your name as your business name, coupled with a description of your services (e.g. Betsy Jacobs Marketing). However, creating a new name is a huge branding opportunity, as names can tell a whole story by themselves, when chosen well. For example, when you think about Nickelodeon, how does it make you feel? The name itself is full of character and spunk, and fun to say; perfect for a children’s entertainment network. Plus, the origin has meaning, too. The word nickelodeon was originally used to describe small movie theatres in the early 1900’s which charged a nickel per show. And, the ancient Greek term for theatre is odeion. Tips for choosing a name:
6. Design a visual identity.This is the look and feel of your brand and so it obviously plays a huge role in creating distinction. Your visual identity includes:
7. Bring your brand to life.Once you’ve defined your strategy and crafted an identity, your branding should appear in some form across every customer touchpoint, from your website through your marketing, and even how you speak to customers in chat or email.
Building a brand from scratch doesn’t need to be a massive undertaking, and you don’t need to do it all alone. Use the resources we provided in this post, and be sure to check out our other articles on the Lili blog. And if after all of this, you need tips on reducing stress while growing your business, we’ve got you covered there, too! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2022/04/08/how-to-build-a-brand-creating-a-brand-identity-from-scratch/ |
AuthorI have 5+ years experience working as a medical transcriptionist. When I am not working, I enjoy sports like playing basketball or judo. I love making friends and connections. Archives
April 2023
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