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As vaccination rates rise and states start to ease up their COVID-19 restrictions, you may be looking for a reason to get out of the house. In addition to the thrill of finally working somewhere other than your couch, coworking spaces can provide a number of unexpected benefits. Coworking spaces include the amenities needed to facilitate productive work. In a study by researcher Steve King, it was found that: ● 82% of freelancers using a coworking space reported that they have been able to expand their social network. ● More than half (54%) of freelancers in these coworking spaces hang out with these fellow freelancers after work and on weekends. ● 64% of freelancers also claimed that their coworking space network is a source of generating new referrals, new jobs, and chances to explore new opportunities. While many recent publications have touted the flexibility of remote work and focus on the benefits that can be drawn from working remotely, working in isolation also comes with some serious drawbacks, includes stumbling over creative blocks and struggling through loneliness. Loneliness can be as much a health problem as it is a social disaster. How so? Well, the former United States Surgeon General asserted that loneliness is associated with a reduction in lifespan. Terming it the “loneliness epidemic,” he added that this isolation has a greater effect on our lifespan than health concerns, such as obesity. According to a study at the Donald R. Tapia College of Business, the isolation, loneliness, and common distractions associated with remote working are the primary cause of creative blocks that many freelance creatives struggle with. Whether you’re using a coworking space for its social benefits, business/career impact, or both, your ability to get creative work done regularly as a freelance creative is imperative. A study from the University of Michigan supports the idea that freelancers using coworking spaces experience a higher sense of community through their interactions in the common coworking space. In addition, proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences prove this type of working environment critically affects the ability of “high creative individuals to generate innovative ideas.” Types of creative blocksMost publishers have classified creative blocks based on their cause. There are three main types of creative blocks: The mental blockSometimes, our minds become so broad that we are trapped in our thoughts, finding no escape. Usually, socializing and distracting yourself from those crushing thoughts can help you jump back on track. Emotional barrierOur emotions have a powerful effect on our productivity and creativity. Too excited or angry and creativity will take a corner seat in your head. Fear is another emotion that cripples creativity in writers. Most freelance writers, like many other creatives, think of themselves as perfectionists. As such, the fear of imperfection sends them down a spiral that precipitates procrastination and creative block. Communication breakdownThis is another type of creative block with both internal and external possible causes. Whether you’re part of a remote creative team, writing for the marketing department of a startup 100 latitudinal lines away, ineffective communication of ideas between client and freelancer can cause a creative block. Writers might find themselves wondering what exactly clients want or how they want it. Internally, miscommunicating a creative task to yourself can cause blocks as well. Setting unrealistic deadlines and convincing yourself that you can meet it can leave you in free fall as the deadline creeps closer. So, ensuring that communication within yourself and with clients is free-flowing and expectations are realistic and clear. The difference between creative block and incubationCreative blocks happen for several reasons. According to the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, stress, unhappiness, and pressure could lead to creative blocks. Also, sometimes we are swamped with ideas and wondering which to pursue. When this happens, we are blocked from creativity as well. However, there is the incubation of creativity which is often mistaken for a creative block. The creative process takes time. An idea is conceived and then formed. This process can be slower than expected, depending on the complexity of the idea. Then, the cultivation and bloom of the idea follow. At this stage, writers become fluid, they get “in the zone.” How can using a coworking space help you eliminate creative blocks?Using a coworking space can help reduce creative blocks and fasten creative incubation. The unique qualities of coworking spaces ensure these. FlexibilityWith flexibility comes the freedom to create. The freedom to lay back on a chaise lounge with your laptop in hand and your mind well-rested can open the floodgates of creativity. Reduced pressureIn a traditional workplace, office politics and hypocrisy dampen creativity. Not having a boss looking over your shoulder in a cubicle is just the right amount of freedom needed to become more productive. As a freelancer, while no boss is looking over your shoulder, the pressure from household chores and other non-business tasks can be equally overwhelming. Reduce lonelinessThe loneliness that comes with working from home can be depressing. Our minds tend to drift when we are alone. We worry about things and our thoughts take a life of their own and hinder our ability to create. The mind is a powerful weapon for either self-destruction or brilliant achievements. We either keep it busy or it does so to us. When using a coworking space, we focus more on doing work than on our wandering thoughts. Better use of timeWorking from home, time creeps away without us noticing it. When we realize how much time we’ve wasted, well, procrastinating, a feeling of self-contempt envelops us. Unhappiness, especially towards self, is a major cause of the creative block. Joining a coworking space can help you make better use of your time. When time is well spent, a sense of accomplishment is derived, and the motivation to do more is born. With the loneliness epidemic sweeping life out of freelance writers, joining a coworking space can reduce creative blocks, expand their network, and improve productivity. Check in and enjoy creativity. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/29/beat-creative-blocks-by-coworking/
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As a business owner, mum, and someone who likes to be liked, I have been known to say “yes” to things I don’t have the capacity for, I’m not the right person for, or just don’t want to do. Maybe you have too. Perhaps it’s offering to take on a project you know will mean burning the midnight oil. Perhaps it’s clients who regularly haggle on price or scope creep. Or maybe it’s agreeing to host the baby shower or family gathering you just don’t want to host or flying to a destination wedding you just can’t afford. We’ve all been there. On the surface, you can probably justify your yes. After all, it won’t take you that long. It’s easy enough for you to do. That couple came to your wedding. It’s easier to just say “yes” than “no.” But here’s the thing, your capacity is finite. Every time you say yes, something else has to give. What if (my favorite question!) you asked yourself the following question before agreeing: If I say yes to this, what will I have to say no to? Would you be saying “no” to your kids? Would you be saying “no” to yourself? Would you be saying “no” to your values? Would you be saying “no” to your goals? That itty-bitty request doesn’t feel so small anymore, right? Now it feels like what it is – something that’s taking you away from the things that matter most to you. Being in integrity with what you will and won’t do doesn’t have to make you an unpopular hard-ass! Quite the contrary, clear boundaries allow you to show up as your most transparent, kind, and generous self. If transparency, kindness, and generosity sound good to you, here are 3 ways to help you gracefully say no to (or let go of) the things that don’t serve you. 1. Identify your prioritiesWe often say “yes,” not because we want to do the thing, but because we haven’t got clearly defined reasons to say “no.” The result is that familiar doom cycle of internal back and forth (should I? shouldn’t I? What will they think of me? etc. etc.). The antidote is getting crystal clear on what your personal priorities are. For me, my priorities are – in no specific order – health & well-being, family, friends, clients, and joy. When I’m stretched too thin, those things suffer and I’m not as good at my job, or being a good human! 2. Know your capacityI LOVE this one because, if you’re anything like me, you think your capacity is far greater than it actually is. We tend to overestimate what we can do in the short-term and underestimate what we can do in the long-term. So, if you have big plans for the long term, e.g., a tidy nest egg, living in the home, town, country you dream of, kids graduating college without crippling debt etc., you’re going to want to manage your short-term commitments. Capacity is always shifting. For example, in the earlier days of my business (pre-kids), I could work as long as I wanted and regularly left my office at 7 p.m. With my kids still being pretty young, my workday is shorter by necessity. As they get older, it’ll change again. There’s no “right” or “wrong” capacity, just what’s right for you, right now. When considering an opportunity, I use the following questions to help me figure out if I have the capacity:
3. Check in with your valuesYou know I’m a BIG fan of identifying and articulating your values (and the behaviors that go along with them). Because, when clearly stated, they become your north star and help you make the right decisions. For example, if one of your values is “family” and a client clearly shows signs of having zero regard for your family time, expecting you to be available on nights and weekends, you can say “no” with a completely clear conscience. 4. Be honestPut your hand up if you’d rather tell a teensy white lie than the truth when saying “no” to someone. After all, where’s the harm, right? But here’s the thing, honesty reinforces the fact that you’re doing the right thing in saying “no.” The great news is if you’ve done steps 1, 2, and 3, you have all bona fide reasons you can share. For example: I’d love to take on that speaking opportunity, but I believe artists should be paid for their work, so unless it’s paid, I’ll have to respectfully pass. Should anything change, please do reach out again. Thank you for thinking of me. Or Thank you so much for considering me for this project. As a working parent, I have a policy of not working on evenings and weekends and, given the time frame and turnaround, I’ll have to pass. Or That sounds like an exciting project. Due to the high-touch nature of my work, I only take on 2 new clients per month, so I won’t be able to start work on this until (fill in the date). I understand if this timeline doesn’t work for you and, if that’s the case, hope you’ll consider me for future projects. I appreciate that, no matter how much sense this all makes in a blog post, this stuff isn’t easy. It’s a lifelong work in progress. Start with just one thing, be gentle on yourself and others, and practice, practice, practice. Good luck! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/28/setting-boundaries-how-to-say-no-with-grace/
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This article is reproduced with the permission of Backstage.com. To activate your 30-day free trial as a performer, or waive the typical casting fee as a creator, use the code FLUCAST19 at checkout here. And for free access to Backstage Crew, sign up here. The hot social media app Clubhouse has taken the acting and voiceover world by storm. Where previously actors and freelancers would pay handsomely to get in the room with an expert in their industry to listen to their pearls of wisdom, suddenly Clubhouse is bringing the experts to us — for free. When you first get onto Clubhouse it’s almost an overload on your senses. In your “hallway,” once you’ve followed people and selected your interests, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Here’s just a few rooms I can join today—Speed Networking for Film and Media, Breakfast with Champions, The Brits Are Here, PR Like a Celebrity, Good Morning Horror Fam, and Quiet Morning Meditation Space—the list of rooms is endless. As you get more familiar with Clubhouse, you’re likely to want to put your hand up to go up onto the virtual stage where you can also speak yourself. At this point, Clubhouse etiquette becomes important. Having been co-modding a relatively successful actor room for a few months now, and having joined and modded another 100+ rooms, in my humble opinion I can say that there’s a right way to hang out in a room and there’s a wrong way. As actors or filmmakers, we all want to light up the virtual stage in the best possible way just like we would an audition. To help you get started, I’ve put together some dos and don’ts so you make the best possible impression first time round, and as they say in acting speak—book the room. 1. Introduction and question.Often when you’re invited by the moderators (mods) of the room to put your hand up and come onto the stage there’ll be a topic of conversation or theme for the room. It’s important to listen to the moderators and make sure that you respect the space and what they’ve chosen to talk about. Deviating off the yellow brick road can be really frustrating when a room is full and there are lots of people waiting to speak. 2. The three Bes.Be cool, be kind, be authentic. You’re on a platform that thrives on authenticity and honesty. There’s also a lot of people on the app who will have less experience than you. So, it’s important to always be kind and helpful. Be cool, there’s no need to big yourself up. You can do that in your bio. 3. Don’t name drop.Like the above point, no one likes someone who name drops. That’s what IMDb is for. If someone wants to check out more about who you are and who you’ve worked with, they can look you up. Get on with the business of conversation and leave your bio to do the work. 4. Don’t make things up.If there’s one pet peeve I have about our industry, it’s people who give out bad advice. If you don’t know something, that’s totally fine. You can say that. But don’t lead people down the garden path because you put your own made-up spin on things. Eventually, you’ll get caught out. But before that, a newer actor might be getting the wrong advice and that’s never a helpful thing. 5. Add value, don’t repeat.It’s so lovely when people have the same thoughts about a topic. But sometimes someone else will beat you to the punchline. That’s OK. You don’t need to repeat what they just said. We all heard it from the other speaker. Just say politely “that’s what I was going to say. Well said!” and move onto another thought. 6. Check that you understood the intention of the room before you speak.You can learn a lot about the mods, the speakers, and the room in general just by listening for a few minutes. Sure, you may not have come in right at the start, but at some point in the conversation, the moderator will refresh the room which means they’ll give everyone who has joined a mini description of what the room is about and what’s being discussed. Make sure you know what the room’s objective is before you start spouting off about your film credits or your product, or something else equally about you. It’s best to operate from a place of giving something, rather than taking it. 7. Use the mic to applaud.A little trick that you’ll learn quite quickly if you’re up on stage is that you can applaud speakers or acknowledge something said, by flashing your microphone button repeatedly, hopefully without giving your finger a repetitive strain injury. It means you don’t have to cut them off mid-sentence. 8. Help people who are reading the conversations as opposed to listening.When you’ve finished making your point, get into the habit of saying “This is Angela and I’m done speaking.” This allows anyone on the app who is reading the transcript of the room, rather than listening, to be able to identify when a new speaker is speaking and when the previous person has finished. 9. Peace out.Finally, once you’re done, you can click the little peace out sign and leave quietly and be on your merry way. You don’t always have to tell people that you’re leaving. After you have been in a few rooms, you’ll likely get a sense of when you need to tell people you’re heading off (if you can’t stay until the end) or when you can just leave quietly and let the conversation continue. Don’t worry, it’s not a do-or-die situation. If you don’t get it right the first time, that’s fine. You can simply put your hand up next time and give it another go. Clubhouse has been built on an ethos of support, fun, honesty, and authenticity. You want to believe the people you’re listening to and you want to trust the advice they’re offering is correct and useful. But as always in work and life, do your due diligence. You can use sites like IMDb and Google to check if people are who they say they are and if they’ve been in the industry for as long as they suggest, with the credits they say they have. You are ultimately in the driving seat for your career. You don’t want to be relying on whimsical made-up nonsense. But equally, embrace the beautiful human side of Clubhouse, a creative space that has literally transformed the way we can communicate with other industry professionals, in real life and real-time by using some of these dos and don’ts. Australian actress and voiceover artist Angela Peters writes an award-winning blog, www.actingbabe.com, alongside coaching actors in the business of being a professional actor. She has studied method acting in Australia and clowning in Paris (Ecole Philippe Gaulier) and when not doing film work, she also spends lots of time doing voiceovers for the likes of “I’m A Celebrity,” BP, Singapore Airlines, Macleans, PPS Mutua,l and Dyson, plus hundreds of others. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/24/9-tips-for-speaking-in-a-clubhouse-room/
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This article was first published by the IRS and has been reproduced with permission. Subscribe to IRS tax tips here. Year-round tax planning is for everyone. An important part of that is record-keeping. Gathering tax documents throughout the year and having an organized recordkeeping system can make it easier when it comes to filing a tax return or understanding a letter from the IRS, especially when you have multiple sources of income over the year or many business expenses, as most freelancers do Good records help:
In general, the IRS suggests that taxpayers keep records for three years from the date they filed the tax return. Taxpayers should develop a system that keeps all their important information together, like a software program for electronic recordkeeping or storing paper documents in labeled folders. Records to keep:
via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/23/a-better-tax-season-starts-with-good-records/
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If you’ve been a freelancer long enough, you’ll know how crucial a skill expectation management is. Clients want things done, and most of them want them done quickly. Let’s face it: You can’t do everything at once and risk delivering shoddy work. This is why it’s important to manage client expectations from the beginning, especially when it comes to deadlines. But it’s not enough to merely set expectations. You need to put them in writing and clearly communicate them to your client too. What better way to do that than by visually plotting deliverables on a project timeline template? Let’s take a look at how you can create a project timeline and manage client expectations. Break the project down into smaller tasksYou’ve scored a massive freelance project and are being asked for a deadline. Don’t rush to commit to a date. Pause and evaluate the project properly to narrow down the realistic timelines. Start with breaking the project down into smaller tasks. As productivity specialist Melissa Gratias puts it, “Breaking tasks down helps us to see large tasks as more approachable and doable, and reduces our propensity to procrastinate or defer tasks because we simply don’t know where to begin.” Apart from that, breaking tasks down also gives you a clearer view of the workflow and project requirements. For instance, let’s say you’ve been brought on board to improve the search engine rankings of a website. In this case, it’s wise to break this project down into tasks such as conducting an SEO audit, doing competitor research, building backlinks, etc. Determine the time required for each taskYou’ve laid out all the tasks that need to be done to successfully complete the project. Look at every task as a project milestone and determine the time required for each. While some tasks can be completed within a few hours, there will be a few that will require several days to complete. If you’ve been given a hard deadline, work backward and assign a specific timeline for every task. This is an integral part of creating a project timeline because it gets everyone on the same page and makes it easier to track progress along the way. What’s more, it helps you justify deadlines to the client. Consider dependenciesIt’s frustrating when you’ve started a project and midway through, you realize that you’re missing some critical information from the client. This leads to delay and prevents you from meeting deadlines. How do you avoid such a situation? By considering project dependencies in the planning stage. As the name suggests, dependencies are when you require certain tasks to be completed in order to complete your task or project. According to Kissflow, the five main types of dependencies are:
You can use a concept map maker to map out and communicate project dependencies to the client early on so that you’re not met with any roadblocks and can factor them in while planning timelines. Source: Venngage Plot the schedule visuallyYou’ve done all the groundwork. Now, all you need to do is communicate the project timeline to the client. You can either send them an email listing out deadlines for every task (and have it get lost in their inbox) or create a visual timeline that presents the tasks chronologically. The latter is certainly a more professional and clearer way to communicate. Create a project timeline by plotting all the tasks along with their respective deadlines. This helps you: Make sure you keep the descriptions brief and use icons and color-coded elements to make the timeline easier to read and scan. Here’s an example of a project timeline template you can use. Source: Venngage Present it to the clientRemember: a project timeline is not just for your internal use. It’s equally important to share it with the client before you begin work and get their feedback as well. It’s a good idea to conduct a meeting over a video call to present your timeline, discuss priorities, manage expectations and ensure alignment. This is your opportunity to address concerns, questions, and any potential roadblocks you may foresee. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/22/how-to-create-a-project-timeline-to-manage-client-expectations/
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Some issues that freelancers face are universal — things like getting paid on time, navigating taxes and managing your career. Freelance writing comes with its own challenges, from copyright and contract considerations to libel and slander claims. That’s why our team at Dinghy, together with Freelancers Union, recently brought together a panel of industry leaders to offer freelance writers key advice for running their businesses. If you missed the event, don’t sweat. This blog post is the first in a series that will recap our panelists’ key insights. Wudan Yan, Independent Journalist and Co-founder of The Writers’ Co-op, on Knowing Your Value & Negotiating An independent journalist whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, New York Magazine and the New York Times, among many other outlets, Wudan Yan is also a business coach and co-host of the popular podcast The Writers Co-op. With perspective as a freelance writer and a business coach for freelancers, one of the most common issues that Wudan has noticed in her career is how much freelance writers undervalue themselves. “The way that we’re trained, socialized, to think about pricing is completely wrong,” she says. “People really have a hard time drawing the line at what payments they will accept, and then they wonder why they’re not reaching their business goals. And then how little we’re paid in journalism distorts their view of how much they should be charging when they go to other clients.” The problem in a nutshell? Wudan cites the example of being in writers' groups where fellow freelancers ask what they should charge an organization to produce a specific deliverable. The responses, usually along the lines of “$30 an hour seems fine,” have Wudan shaking her head. “It’s completely the wrong way to think about pricing as a client buying your time,” she adds. “The client is buying a product, which has high value, and they are seeking it from you because what you do is valuable. So, when people start only thinking that clients are buying their time, that’s how you basically are a bad boss to yourself.” Wudan goes on to explain that not thinking about the value of the work is how writers put themselves out of business — and how that’s tied to issues about confidence and impostor syndrome. Encouraging all freelancers to begin negotiating early, she stresses that confidence and bravery are muscles, saying, “When we exercise them more, the easier they are to use in the long term. Whether that small negotiation is $50 more on top of a 300 or 400-word story; can you work to $100 more on the next one? Have you outgrown other clients because they can’t pay what you need them to? Are you working on project rates in increments of $1,000? I see so many freelancers living in increments of $50 or $100, and not only is that not sustainable, that shows to me that we are socialized to think that we should settle for less because if we don’t take it, somebody else will.” Having built her own business by starting out with small negotiations, Wudan now coaches freelance writers on how to break out of that mindset and exercise those muscles that are often rarely used. From rates and rights to indemnity, expenses, deadlines, or what she calls micro-negotiations — for example, having a client cover the cost of a $15 transcription service — she hammers home the point that everything is negotiable. To hear more from Wudan and our other panelists — which include Umair Kazi, Director of Advocacy and Policy at The Authors Guild; Ryan Goldberg of the Freelance Solidarity Project; and Rob Hartley, Co-Founder of Dinghy, offering first-of-its-kind freelance writer insurance— view the recorded event. Plus, stay tuned for insights from other panelists coming soon. Freelancers Union is partnering with Dinghy and NSM Insurance Group to offer affordable freelance writer insurance faster and easier than ever before. Learn more and get a free quote online in minutes. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/21/issues-facing-freelance-writers-in-2021-rates-negotiating/
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Chasing clients for late payments is one of the activities every freelancer would want to avoid. Those conversations about money tend to get uncomfortable. Moreover, getting paid late can have a significant impact on a freelancer’s cash flow, as freelancers are usually working from project to project. No matter whether you are working for a nonprofit or a big enterprise client, you deserve to get paid on time. In this article, we explain how you can get paid faster without engaging in uncomfortable conversations with your clients. 1. Set up automatic invoice remindersWhile some customers will intentionally shift invoice payment into the indefinite future, others just forget. So, what can you do to remind clients of payments in a nice way? Some invoicing tools help you automate this process by setting payment reminders. This way, you don't have to worry about reminders. With the majority of invoicing tools these days, you can write a personalized reminder message when creating an invoice and define when it should be sent to your clients. This practice is especially useful if you are working with a lot of clients and your process of sending reminders has become inconsistent. 2. Use expense automation solutionsWhen working as a subcontractor, you may bear expenses that your clients usually reimburse after you finish the project. For example, a freelance editor can hire a graphic designer to create visual content for an article or a proofreader to improve on its grammar – all this to manage a content workflow more effectively. At the end of each month, the client would reimburse the expenses. This way of cooperation is especially widespread among companies that prefer to outsource almost any process and prefer one person to manage all workflows. As a freelancer, you often can’t carry all expenses before you get paid, as it can significantly hurt your cash flow. That is where expense automation solutions can come in handy. Companies that use this software can pay freelancers faster, even before they finish a project. So how does it work?
If the company you are working with is not using such a tool yet, this is the moment for you to suggest your client getting interested in this solution! 3. Sign documents onlineDo you remember when you had to travel to a client’s office to sign your contract? These days, you can use online signature software that helps save time on paperwork. How can online signatures help get clients to pay? First of all, the faster the document is signed, the faster clients can make an upfront payment for your services and you can start working on your project. But that’s not all! The other reason for using online signature software is that some tools connect with Apple Pay and a bunch of other payment services. After clients sign a contract, they are automatically redirected to the payment gateway. Online signature software is one of the remote work tools you should be using if you are working with international clients. 4. Ask for a late feeUnfortunately, a stick is often more effective than a carrot when clients are not paying on time. Instead of encouraging early payments with a small discount, you can use a late fee as a mechanism for creating an incentive. Clients that intend to pay on time would not be against signing a contract mentioning a late fee in one of its clauses. Those clients who predict having problems with their cash flow at some point will back off signing such contracts. But would you really want to work with them? Here is how you can include late payments in your contract: The amount you charge should not be large, usually not exceeding 1.5% of the project fee, unless you find a larger fee easy to justify. You should also set a due date on your invoice and bring it up to your client. If a client skips paying, send an invoice reflecting the change in the final sum once the deadline is passed. 5. Choose clients wiselyInstead of worrying about clients not paying on time, you can do your best to prevent such situations from happening. The solution is simple – examine the profile of a customer who never pays on time and avoid working with clients similar to that one. If a new client who wants to work with you is just too similar to that client profile and raises red flags, it’s always better to pass on such projects. But how can you identify those problem clients? If you have a personal webpage or social media profile, add video testimonials from the clients you consider to be your ideal customers. For example, you want to work only with established companies and avoid working with startups that often have problems with cash flow. By collecting a few testimonials from the clients that represent established companies, you can turn away startups that will examine your webpage online. They will realize you are not focusing on the companies with their challenges. 6. Build your personal brandBy building your brand, you can get more gigs to choose from. You can become more selective in who you work with and start cooperation with the companies you can trust. Instead of remaining another candidate on a freelance jobs website, you can finally stand out from a crowd and win more respect. By creating more industry-specific content, you can get clients to connect with you faster. There is another positive aspect to becoming an industry thought leader that can improve your cash flow significantly: With a solid personal brand, you can stop selling your time, rather investing it in working out more scalable ways of earning money. There are at least two ways you can try out if you have grown your brand. By using membership site platforms, you can launch an online course, sell it, and get paid for a product you created once and can sell forever. Starting blogging and growing your reach is another way. You can earn money as a blogger by selling advertisement space or joining an ad network, working on affiliate marketing, or selling digital products to your readers. Wrap upGetting clients to pay on time doesn't have to be time-consuming – most of the time, you don’t have to send dozens of follow-ups before getting your check. By introducing small routines, you'll improve your chances for getting paid faster. You can also go a step further and work on diversifying your income to not worry about late payments again. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/17/6-ways-to-get-paid-faster/
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As a freelancer, you often don’t know what a client is willing to pay you for a project. You have to rely on your own knowledge, confidence, and negotiation skills to get paid a fair rate that you can live with. Here are some tips to negotiate better as a freelancer. 1. Understand your worthThe first step is to understand what you bring to the table. Going into a project thinking that you just need something will not help your negotiation. You have to develop your skills and understand what the market will pay you for your skills. If you don’t have the skills right now, take some more time and develop those skills. 2. Research the marketOnce you have an idea of what the client is looking for and you've sold them on your unique skills, it's time to do your research. Reach out to other freelancers and network with them to find out what they charge for comparable projects. 3. Don’t share your expected fee firstSharing your expected fee first weakens your position. When the client asks you for your rate, you can answer, “I expect to be paid competitively according to market standards for this project.” This will do two things: you will not be anchored to a lower fee, and you will be able to update your cost as you find out more relevant information. 4. Don’t overshareRemember: The client is not your friend. They are there to get the best deal for the company they represent. If you are looking to change clients because of constraints such as a recent unemployment, it’s best to keep this under wraps. There’s no reason to share this with the client. You will only lose your leverage in negotiating by sharing critical information that they could use against you in negotiation. 5. Have alternativesWhen your negotiation is not going the way you expect, you have to be willing to walk away. Alternatives help you walk away. To have options, you should always have a pipeline of potential new clients coming in. In negotiation, having choices is called BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement). For the client you’re negotiating with, having other competitive candidates who can do the job is their BATNA. For you, the freelancer, having competitive offers from other clients is your BATNA. Regardless of your situation, you need to signal to the client you’re negotiating with that you have alternatives and will not take just anything that they offer. 6. Negotiate over emailIf you’re an introvert like me, you’ll find it easier to negotiate over email. When you’re in a conversation, you’re likely to be surprised and blurt out answers without thinking them through. If you negotiate over email, you’ll have more time to reflect, consult with others, put forth what you want, and respond well. It also gives the added advantage of keeping everything in writing to refer back to the conversation if things get forgotten. 7. Have valid reasonsOf course, you want more money because you believe your skills are worth more, but the client may signal that they have a low budget to get you to agree to a lower scale. In this case, have excellent reasons for why you cannot settle for a lower charge. Perhaps you’re the best in your field or perhaps you have better experience. Giving a valid reason for charging more will help you negotiate better and lend validity to your argument. 8. Defer your decisionDo not agree to an offer before considering it from all angles. You should always say that you’ll discuss with those that matter to you and get back. It could be the friend with whom you talk things through, or your significant other, or your family. This gives you the space to negotiate and bring up items you hadn’t thought of earlier. 9. Build trustThroughout the negotiation process, you need to be polite, cheerful, build trust, and genuinely work with the client on coming to an agreement. If the offer is too low for you even to consider, it is better to decline than to waste your time and theirs. On the other hand, if the offer is in your ballpark and can be improved, you should negotiate. By being upfront about your expectations, you can build trust and avoid constant back and forth, making the client feel like they are coming out on top. 10. Be willing to work through thingsNegotiation is not a win or lose situation. Even if the terms of the pay are not 100% satisfactory, there are other aspects to consider, such as the ease of working with the client, flexibility, network, etc. If you like the client, but they cannot truly afford to pay as much as you would like, consider other aspects that are important to you before declining. Final ThoughtsMany freelancers shy away from negotiating. We don’t want to come across as too greedy or demanding. However, keep in mind that everyone expects you to negotiate. Many clients put out a lower ballpark figure, saving some room for negotiation. If you accept the first offer they make, you are leaving money on the table. You owe it to yourself to negotiate. No one is going to reject you just because you negotiated. Go out there and ask for what you want! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2021/06/16/10-steps-to-more-successful-freelance-negotiations/
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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. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that the future is unpredictable. Nobody imagined, for instance, that a coronavirus would bring the global economy to a standstill. Even in normal times the future is unpredictable, which is why it’s important to establish an emergency savings fund that can provide a cushion in case of a financial shock, whether it’s a lost job or a trip to the ER. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t have any emergency savings. According to a 2019 study by the Federal Reserve, roughly 4 in 10 Americans cannot come up with $400. As a result, unexpected expenses force them to rely on costly debt, such as payday lending. The good news is that there are easy ways to create that financial cushion, even in times like these. In a recent piece in The Wall Street Journal, I described 3 strategies that can make saving for emergencies as easy and painless as possible, even for freelancers. Here’s how you can start saving now:
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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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