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There’s no doubt that freelancing brings a lot of freedom. But with that freedom also comes a tough truth: Nobody tells you that you’ll be spending a lot of time running your own business. From pitching and prospecting a gazillion leads to invoicing, there are several overlapping tasks. For this reason, it’s important to leverage nifty tools to streamline and optimize your freelancing business, especially now, when landing clients can be a difficult feat. I’ve compiled the ultimate list of tools every freelancer can use to up their game to A-level and excel in their business. Read on to learn more about them. All the Tools You Need to:● Track Your Goals ○ Monday.com Project Management Software ○ ProProfs ○ Podio ○ Automate.io ● Attract Customers With Less Effort ○ SalesHandy ○ MeetEdgar ○ Aweber ● Own Your Time ○ Time Doctor ○ FocusBooster ○ Feedly ○ Coffitivity ● Manage Your Money Like a Boss ○ Mint ○ Wave Accounting ○ FreeAgent If you’re not taking control of your projects and being organized, you’re not managing your time as efficiently as you could. The simple nature of being a freelancer means you’re constantly juggling your projects in different stages of completion. And meeting deadlines is important. Use these tools to track the progress of every project along your freelancing journey. Tool #1: Monday.com Project Management SoftwareMonday.com has one of the best project management tools out there. It’s a comprehensive project management tool that also gives reports for your goals. Whether you’re tackling your clients’ projects or even starting your own business, Monday.com has got you covered. You can even use it alongside Monday.com’s Work OS for maximum project management coolness. It’s also excellent for managing remote teams. Features: ● Clean and simple interface ● Ability to break down projects into sub-tasks ● Collaborate better by sharing files, ideas, comments, and more with your clients Price: Free 14-day trial, then price depends on the number of users Tool #2: ProProfsIf you own a website or ecommerce store and you get a lot of customer questions, you’ll need a ticketing system. Handling every query from your inbox is OK, but most businesses outgrow this solution fast. Customers nowadays expect an answer within one hour. A ticketing software like ProProfs helps you keep on top of customer questions from start to finish. Side note: If you need more tools for your team, check out Chanty’s 50+ amazing tools for team collaboration. Price: From free to $15 per user Tool #3: PodioPodio stands out from the other tools because of one thing: personalization. If you want a next-level tool that’s super-customizable, Podio is it. I especially like its ability to add project templates, which can help you as a freelancer. For example, you can use the same template if you’re writing articles with a similar outline for a client instead of making a new one each time. Features: ● Ability to add links, text boxes, categories, and maps to projects ● Can make project templates to clone and reuse for different projects ● Super customizable— control the design of each project outline Price: Free for basic or $9 a month for more than 5 users Tool #4: Automate.ioFreelancers use several tools and platforms to go about their workweeks. For this reason, it’s a good idea to use an integration tool for seamless experience. Automate.io is an automation tool that works great to integrate your online tech stack. It creates simple one-to-one integrations, or multi-app workflows, and several other automations in just a few minutes. Do 3x more automated tasks and scale your freelancing. Cool, so your projects are well-managed. But it’s not really useful if you can’t get your name out there and convert your audience into paying clients or customers. So let’s check out some marketing tools to take your marketing game to the next level. Tool #1: Sales HandyAutomation is your best friend as a freelancer. If you’re still sending every pitch and proposal manually, stop right now. All that extra time you spend trying to sort your outreach into different categories could be automated. SalesHandy is an excellent tool for automating and tracking your email outreach. You can even send 10,000 emails with them if you want (wow!). Having trouble attracting customers in the first place? Limecall has an amazing article on some of the best lead generation tools available. Features: ● Email scheduling ● Email templates ● Email tracking ● Email campaign ● Auto follow-up Price: The free version comes with unlimited email tracking Tool # 2: MeetEdgarSo you want a cool tool to automate your social media needs? MeetEdgar is a scheduling tool you can use to post content on your social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you combine MeetEdgar with sweet visual presentations, you’ll have some sick social media content that attracts visitors. As much as we love browsing Facebook, wouldn’t it be better to let someone else post all your stuff for you? Features: ● Have a constant stream of fresh content for social media ● Schedule it and forget it. Reuse old content so your sweet posts will keep on getting the attention they deserve ● Split test your posts so you know how well you’re performing Price: Free for 30 days, $49 per month after Tool # 3: AweberIf you’re looking for a sweet e-newsletter automation tool, look no further. Aweber helps you create and send newsletters. Plus, with over 700 templates you can choose from, Aweber blows the rest of the competition out of the water. Pro tip: Want to take your social media automation to the next level? Check out Content Studio for content automation tips. Features: ● Unlimited emails to send to your subscribers with more templates than other tools ● Analytics and easy integration into third-party apps ● Great customer service and support options Price: Free for 30 days. Then 5 plans, ranging from $19 per month for up to 500 subscribers and $149 for up to 25,000 subscribers So we’ve covered how to market yourself — now let’s look at productivity tools. In the world of all things freelance, being more productive is key to being more efficient. And nothing beats getting your work done days before your deadline so you can relax and have your own free time. Tool #1: Time DoctorIn the world of remote freelancing, it’s not all about leisurely working in your pyjamas. Not getting enough sleep and ongoing distractions are real problems. Time Doctor is one of the best time tracking tools. It helps freelancers to effectively manage time and to keep track of the hours spent at work. It allows users to create to-do lists for the day. Because most freelancers struggle with distractions, Time Doctor has an built-in anti-distraction tool that helps remote workers avoid getting side-tracked. As a freelancer, you can also use timesheets to keep track of how much time you spent on each task and each client’s specific projects. It also helps you generate accurate billing information for your clients. Features: ● A to-do list feature makes it easier for you to manage tasks ● Warnings whenever you start getting sidetracked by unproductive sites and apps ● An accurate dashboard that generates timesheet reports, project reports, and web usage reports Price: Free 14-day trial, then from $12 for one user Tool # 2: FocusBoosterIn the world of productivity, timing is everything. And with FocusBooster, you’ll be able to use the popular Pomodoro Technique to set your working time — usually 25-minute intervals — followed by short breaks. If you have a hard time concentrating for long periods, check out this app to maximize your productivity. Features: ● Records your working time so you can have a better idea of how long you’ve worked ● Generate invoices and reports so you can share with clients ● Multiple platforms, from online, Windows, Mac, and mobile Price: Free for limited use, then starts at $2.99 for individuals Tool # 3: FeedlyFeedly is a great tool that essentially acts as a better bookmarking service, letting you access all your online findings in one location and come back to it later. It’s great for compiling all your favorite marketing content or to save important info for later. Features: ● Clean, easy-to-use interface with bright colors ● Can choose between many different layouts for reading sources ● Easy integration with other services like Facebook, Google, or Microsoft for social network sharing Price: Free for standard version, $5 per month for pro version BONUS Tool # 4: CoffitivityHere’s an extra tool for the ambience lovers. Stuck working at home but love the good vibes a coffee shop brings? Coffitivity comes in to save the day. This online tool mimics the gentle morning hums and busy chatters of a real-life coffee shop. It’s essentially a tool that helps you get those good vibes and work more consistently. Features: ● Great ambient noise to help you focus and work better, whether you’re programming or learning how to start a blog ● All online, so you don’t have to download it at all ● Free — no hidden fees Price: Totally free Pro tip: For even more productivity tools, check out the best productivity tools for 2020 (that are perfect for anyone working from home). Let’s move on to the good stuff: money. Money’s especially important if you are dealing with multiple clients — and when you have several sources of income, you’ll need the right tools for the job to track them. Otherwise, your money may just be going out the window. Tool # 1: MintMint is an awesome app you can use to plan your budget and reduce expenses. It tracks all your expenses and income earned through updated information from your own bank accounts. And it connects to most Canadian and US financial institutions and banks (it’s trustworthy as well, with an excellent privacy policy and millions of users!). Features: ● Ability to connect all your financial accounts and see their balances in one place ● Up-to-date information that’s categorized in a clean interface ● Customized tips and savings with recommendations based on your current balance and accounts Price: Free Tool # 2: Wave AccountingWave is an accounting software for freelancers that helps you manage your income and expenses — you can track your payroll, payments, and invoices with automation. It’s a complete software that has everything in one spot — and the best part is it’s all free. Features: ● Lightweight software and mobile app is easy to navigate ● Instant syncing of all your data, from invoices to payrolls and automated reports ● Support for currencies from over 180 countries Price: Free Tool # 3: FreeAgentFreeAgent is another awesome tool for freelancers that allows you to invoice billable hours and expenses to your clients. It also offers basic inventory management features and is totally cloud-based — so you can access it from any browser connected to the internet. Features: ● Ability to snap photos with your phone and upload them so you’ll never lose a receipt ● Send and track professionally designed estimates and invoices to clients ● Connect to your bank accounts for automatic transactions Price: 30 days free, then starting at £9.50 per month The more you can use tools to your advantage, the more time you’ll have to spend on other important things in life — like coming up with new business ideas and spending time with loved ones. As productivity consultant David Allen says, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, it's hard to eat spaghetti.” Likewise, you’ve got to find the right tools for yourself to make your freelance journey easier. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/29/the-ultimate-freelance-business-toolkit/
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By now, it’s no secret that Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) systems across the country are not working. On May Day, we published the results of our latest survey, in which a shocking 84% of Freelancers Union members who had applied for government assistance had not yet received a single dollar. Four weeks later, things have not improved. While we work to improve the laws that govern the PUA system, we are also working on the ground to help individuals get through the system as it exists today. If you’ve had your unemployment or PUA claim erroneously denied or miscalculated, or have been stuck in limbo for weeks waiting for your claim to be processed or disbursed, here’s what to do. In New York CityA new free legal clinic run by Prof. Minna Kotkin at the Brooklyn Law School has been set up to assist workers who have had their unemployment/PUA claims denied or are facing other coronavirus-related employment discrimination. The Pandemic Unemployment Relief Clinic has more than 100 legal students ready to assist you with the appeals process and provide legal advice and possibly representation should you need it. Fill out their intake form here. You'll need to have whatever claim documentation you may have on hand in order to provide a brief description of your situation. Legal Services NYC has also committed to provide assistance to those who need it. Call their hotline at (917) 661-4500, where you'll be asked a few brief questions about your needs before you are paired with an attorney who can help. Their service is available in multiple languages. In San FranciscoWe have secured an agreement with State Sen. Scott Weiner’s office that they will speak with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) on behalf of Freelancers Union members. If you have a claim that needs review or has been denied and are having trouble getting through to EDD, reach out to his office at (415) 557-1300, let them know you are a Freelancers Union member, and provide the following information:
His office will submit a formal request to EDD for response on your behalf. Everywhere ElseIf you have a pending, denied, or miscalculated claim and are having trouble getting through to the agency that manages UI/PUA claims in your state, your best bet is to contact your local representative and ask them for help. Find your state representatives here. When you call them, use the following script to ask for their assistance: Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME]. I’m a member of your constituency, and I’m a member of the Freelancers Union. I need help getting through to the Department of Labor to review my Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claim. Then provide a brief description of your situation, including how long you’ve been waiting for a decision or if your claim was rejected or miscalculated and you need to appeal. Be prepared to give them your claim number, account number, and any other information that can help them identify your case. We are working to secure agreements with other representatives across the country to advocate on your behalf, and will keep this post updated with the relevant contact information. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/28/need-help-with-your-unemployment-insurance-claim-heres-what-to-do/
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Here’s the short version of the story:I had a virtual coffee yesterday with someone who blogs for a major business publication. She asked if I was interested in being interviewed for her column. I said, “Sure.” Here’s the slightly longer version:A couple of months ago, my friend and client Alisa sent one of those “you two should meet” emails to me and her friend, Sandy. She told us both how wonderful the other person was and suggested we get together. Sandy and I exchanged a couple of emails, picked a date and Zoomed yesterday. I wasn’t trying to meet Sandy because she’s an influential blogger — I had no idea. In fact, by the time yesterday rolled around, I really couldn’t remember very much about her at all. But she’s a friend of a friend and, as I'll describe below, coffee (now virtual) with other humans is part of my marketing plan. As we got to talking, she thought that whatever it was I had said (don’t ask, I don’t remember) seemed relevant for her readers. So she asked if I was interested. I said, “Sure, I’d love to!” (I told you this was the slightly longer version.) Here’s the part that relates to you:Many solo professionals don’t bother with these types of unfocused, unqualified meetings. “Too random,” they say. “I need to spend time with prospects and key referral sources.” That’s fine — it certainly makes logical sense to meet with those types of people. The thing is, if you only spend time with people who seem likely to lead you to a goal — more clients, more visibility, whatever — you’ll miss out on the (often very fruitful) serendipity that comes from interacting with people who don’t seem likely to lead you anywhere. And that’s the key phrase — don’t seem likely. Because the fact is, you often can’t tell. The spouse of a colleague is the CEO of a company that needs your help. The client of a friend has been looking for someone who does what you do. The friend of a client blogs for a (did I mention major) business publication. It’s hard to predict before the fact, but it’s definitely, consistently out there. So here’s what I recommend for taking advantage of these “coincidences”: Put aside a little bit of time to interact with people for no good reason. I know you’re busy. Me too. I’m talking about something that won’t take up a ton of time. Here, for example, is one of the key pieces of my own marketing plan: Once a week, I get together for lunch or coffee with someone — virtually now, in person again when we return to normal. No agenda, no sales pitch, no nothing. Just lunch or coffee and conversation. That's 50 one-on-one meetings a year. Many of which, I admit, result in nothing but a pleasant hour of chatting and coffee. But many times – more often than you'd probably think — it leads to something much more tangible. Enthusiastic referrals. Paying clients. Even the occasional interview in a (colossally significant) business publication. Here’s the bottom line. If you believe that word of mouth is the best way to grow your business, you need to build the relationships that support those words and mouths — many of which can’t be figured out before the fact. Make sure you’re not closing down opportunities tomorrow in your single-minded eagerness to close business today. Michael Katz is Founder and Chief Penguin of Blue Penguin Development. He specializes in helping small professional service firms talk about their work in a way that is clear and compelling. Sign up for his free newsletter, The Likeable Expert Gazette, here. (LINK: http://bluepenguindevelopment.com/free/) via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/27/add-uncertainty-to-your-marketing-plan/
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I’ll spare you the gloating, but needless to say it was the right move. It’s designed so that I can deliver workouts you can perform at home – pants optional – using minimal equipment. 1. Subscribe for FREE and receive one workout per week. 2. Subscribe for $29.00 and receive three workouts per week (in addition to special content). My hope is that it helps take the thinking out of things and keeps people more accountable to workout more consistently. Currently, in most states, small(er) independently owned gyms are being lumped into the same category as places like Soul Cycle, larger box gyms, and even Casinos. This…is….absurd. Jason breaks down how smaller, more boutique studios can open safely and DO IT RIGHT. Slow clap of the week. I don’t know about ya’ll, but I was the Babe Ruth of wiffle ball as a kid. I was also a World Champion in Laser Tag, hide-n-seek, Burn Ball, dodgeball, and won Kumite. Today’s youth athletes seem more like robotic one-trick ponies, and it’s unfortunate. Erica brings the heat in this excellent article. via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2020/05/stuff-to-read-while-youre-stuck-at-home-not-wearing-pants-5-22-20/
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[unable to retrieve full-text content] Tips from a freelancer on how to stay afloat when jobs start disappearing.via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/22/what-to-do-if-youre-losing-freelance-work/
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Just to get the obvious question out of the way: I have ZERO idea why the Copenhagen Side Plank is called what it is. My educated guess is it’s not because it was popularized in Detroit. In THIS article, though, via Carl Valle, he notes the origin of the exercise is a bit of a mystery, but that the Danes have most of the acclaim directed toward them because they’re the ones responsible for much of the most recent research on groin injuries in sport. Fair enough. Side Planks Are “Okay”Regular plain ol’ side planks – you know, the ones you see Karen or Jim perform at your local gym – are fine. There’s indeed a myriad of efficacious uses for the exercise; especially for those dealing with chronic low back pain. The world’s most renowned low back researcher, Dr. Stuart McGill, has belabored this point for the better part of the past two decades, most notably in his seminal books Low Back Disorders, Ultimate Back Fitness & Performance, and, for the TL;DR crowd, Back Mechanic. In Short: The side plank provides a splendid opportunity to target the lateral obliques and quadratus lumborum in an ISOMETRIC fashion. Much of McGill’s research backs up the idea that isometric exercises to enhance muscular endurance are in favor over dynamic, more traditional strength & conditioning exercises in improving spinal stiffness and stability. Too, because there are two sides of the body – left and right (SPOILER ALERT) – using the standard side plank to compare discrepancies between both sides is a powerful assessment tool. If someone can smoke their left side, yet can barely perform ten seconds on their right without breaking form… …it may provide some important information and a pertinent starting point in terms of rehab. That said. I’m not a fan of plank variations that go on and on and on and on. I don’t have enough eye rolls to give for people who “brag” about their insane five-minute planks holds. First off: No one gives two flying fucks about a five-minute plank hold. You may as well brag about your ability to perform a cartwheel, or, I don’t know, your proficiency in long division. Seriously, no one cares. Secondly, most people’s form turns into utter garbage after the 60 second mark and with it… …all benefits of the exercise. I much prefer to make plank variations more challenging than just tacking on time for the sake of more time. Oh, Hello Copenhagen Side Plank(s)
Just as a heads up, not only are they great for people with low back pain but they’re also fantastic for:
There’s a bevy of variations to consider here, but two of my go to’s are highlighted in the video above. 1. Copenhagen Side Plank w/ Leg LiftThere’s really nothing fancy here. As is the case with any plank variation, think: Abs on, glutes on. From there don’t just think about haphazardly lifting the bottom leg towards the top. Do that. But ALSO think about driving or pushing the knee of the top leg INTO the bench or table. At the top SQUEEZE your knees together, hard. And then CONTROL the lowering portion. 2. Copenhagen Side Plank w/ Low Leg DriverTake all the cues from above and now bend the knee of the bottom leg 90 degrees and then move the same leg into hip flexion/extension; without allowing your pelvis to lower or dip. Tip: if you want to keep yourself honest, place something like a glass of water or yoga block underneath the bottom leg. If at any point your leg knocks over “the thing,” you suck at life and should be ashamed of yourself. Basically you’ve besmirched your family name. 150 points from Gryfindor. Tip #2: Many articles advocate for trainees to place the ankle (of the top leg) on the table or bench, so that the legs are completely straight. I’m not a fan of this because it places a lot of unnecessary strain on the medial component of the knee out of the gate. Notice in the video how my knee is supported by the table? Start there. You can progress to less “support” as you gain more proficiency with the exercise. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2020/05/exercises-you-should-be-doing-copenhagen-side-plank-shenanigans/
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If you’re new to the freelancing world, you may be learning the difficult but important lesson that selling your expertise is not easy. If you want to close the deals with prospective clients, you need to follow a strategic sales process. This is where the sales pipeline comes in. The pipeline shows in detail how leads (that is, the people you’d like to become your clients) should be nurtured through various stages from initial connection to conversion. Your success -- or lack thereof -- depends on how well each pipeline stage is planned and executed. Source: Freshworks You will need to clearly define the actions to be taken in each stage of the pipeline, and then follow them in the correct order. In this article, I’ll give you an overview of the seven stages of an effective sales pipeline. 1. Create a New OpportunityThis is where you identify a new lead and record their contact information. A great way to gather this information is to invite people to fill out a form on your website in exchange for a consultation or other relevant freebie. Source: Leadpages An easy way to manage the leads you gather in this way is by inputting information into a spreadsheet. However, this is time-consuming, and you risk missing a follow-up and potentially missing out on a client. This is where a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool comes in handy. In addition to capturing the details of the 3% of people who are ready to buy, try to capture the details of people who fit your ideal demographic but are not yet prepared to purchase. There are a variety of ways to do this online; one of the most common is to get people onto your email list by offering a relevant content upgrade that would interest your target demographic. If you’re serious about growing your sales pipeline, I highly recommend automating this first stage. With a good CRM tool or email marketing platform, you can create email drip sequences that help you manage that connection. 2. Connect With Your LeadMany freelancers say that this is the difficult stage of the sales pipeline. Now that you’ve got your lead’s contact information, it’s time to develop a relationship. Some leads stay for a long time at this stage, perhaps because they are very busy or difficult to engage. Others pass through this stage quickly. Start by contacting your lead using the information you gathered in the first stage. From there, you can trigger an automated series of events depending on the results of the conversation. An automated email sequence from a drip campaign might look something like this:
That’s a simplified email drip sequence. But an email sequence by itself won’t be enough to convert your lead into a sale. Explore other methods for connecting with your audience. For example, webinars are a great way to establish a bond with your leads. And valuable content like white papers or guides can help establish your authority in your niche. 3. Engage Your LeadDepending on what you are offering, that second stage of the sales pipeline might take days, weeks, or even years. At some point, some of your leads will turn into prospects that are interested in your products or services. They will arrange a consultation with you or take some action that pushes them down your sales pipeline. When they take this action, you will get to know your lead’s concerns and needs, and whether they are a strong candidate for your product or service. Then you can classify them into one of these three categories:
According to Spark Reaction, a qualified lead is one that is highly engaged and considering purchasing your product or service. There are a variety of factors that will lead you to determine if a lead is qualified, but the two most important factors are:
A lead that is qualified but not ready to buy is one that seems interested but has a lower level of engagement than the qualified lead. They may even express that they are interested but, perhaps due to budgetary concerns, can't sign a contract. Statistics suggest that these people may account for up to 50% of your total leads: Source: Ladder This does not mean, however, that you should stop nurturing them! They are not ready to make a purchase now, but if you build a relationship then they will think of you when the time comes for them to buy. Equally, if your lead is not qualified (that is, not interested in making a purchase now or in the future), don't invest time in them. Return them to stage two of your sales pipeline. 4. Make a ProposalOnly your qualified leads will make it to this stage. Once you’ve determined that your lead is qualified, it’s time to make that pitch or proposal. You may have some standard prices for your products and services. Ideally, however, you should build a bespoke proposal based upon the prospect’s individual needs. When building a quotation, consider the following:
The key is to offer competitive rates without short-changing yourself. You deserve to get paid what you’re worth. Some leads will move through this stage quickly if they’re interested in purchasing your services. Others, however, will take longer to respond. Make sure to maximize communication at this stage. 5. Move Prospect Closer to DealExactly how this stage of the pipeline looks will be different for each prospective client. It might involve scheduling a meeting, sending a product sample, or offering a free demo. Whatever route you take, the idea is to move the lead closer to the end of the pipeline. Your lead may wish to clarify things from your proposal, add or remove specific elements, or ask other follow-up questions. Regular meetings or video calls are a good idea at this stage. If your potential client says yes, you’re well on your way to closing the deal. If they still need to think about it, give them time and space to make a decision, but make sure you set a date for another meeting or a follow-up call. 6. Close the Deal (or Don't)You're almost there! If the potential client says yes, both of you should sign a contract that details the important information, including the scope of your work, the price, when payment is due, and the duration of the project. Once both parties sign the contract, the deal is done. If they reject your pitch, try to find out if there is a compromise to be made or a way to alter your proposal to be more closely aligned with their needs. While you should never compromise on your non-negotiables or vastly undersell yourself, meeting your potential client halfway might be the deciding factor. A willingness to compromise can help you seal the deal. It may also make your new client more likely to put in a good word for you with their friends and associates. 7. Win (or Lose)Congratulations, you’ve successfully closed the deal! At this point, you should schedule an onboarding meeting. This shows your new client that you’re serious about your work and that you don’t waste time. In other words, your services are worth every penny they are going to spend. If you did not manage to close a deal with the prospective client, don’t lose hope. Continue to nurture the relationship by keeping in touch with them. Sending the occasional email is a good way to do this, but be careful not to send too many, or you’ll become annoying. If you developed a good rapport, you can also consider connecting with them on LinkedIn and occasionally interacting with their posts. The key is to make yourself visible without being pushy or overbearing. You never know when another opportunity might come along. Who knows -- that no might turn into a yes at a later date. Successful Freelancers are Good SalespeopleThere are two things that I want you to understand after reading this article. The first is that your success in freelancing depends, to a large extent, upon how well you can sell your services. And the second is that your ability to sell depends upon a robust understanding of the sales process. It’s not enough to be fantastic at what you do. You might be the best web developer, writer, or graphic designer in the world. But if you cannot convince the right people that they need your services enough to pay you for them, you do not have a business. In order to successfully nurture leads into clients, you need to understand every phase of the sales cycle. You must clearly define the actions you’re going to take at each stage of the pipeline, and follow through on those actions. This sales pipeline has been tried and tested. Follow it strategically and consistently, and you may end up with more new clients than you know what to do with. Good luck! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/21/build-a-sales-pipeline-to-bring-in-more-clients/
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Many people think cover letters are optional. They’re not. The smartest freelancers know that writing a cover letter — even if it’s not asked for — brings with it a bushel of benefits. Mutual BenefitsFor your prospective client, a letter shows that you’re a serious candidate; the extra effort is evidence of a robust work ethic. For yourself, writing a letter helps you develop the elevator pitch you’ll need for an interview. After all, you’ll need these tailored talking points at some point; why not get a head start? Similarly, a cover letter allows you to preempt questions that your résumé might raise. Do you lack a key requisite from the job description? Is most of your experience in a different industry? None of these issues is a deal-breaker, but each calls for an explanation — if not now, later. A cover letter provides the perfect place to clarify and calm any potential concerns. Here’s another benefit: Many job descriptions say they’re looking for someone with “strong communication skills.” Sure, you could reference your “strong communication skills.” Or you could validate this talent by showing it off. (For a peerless example, check out this 1934 letter from writer Robert Pirosh.) In fact, a cover letter allows you to show off not only your skills, but your personality. Granted, some clients prefer a “just-the-facts” approach, but most people want to glimpse your character — to ascertain if you'll be easy to work with or if you'll have a hard time understanding each other — before they commit to working with you. Recap Me NotA common myth is that a cover letter simply recaps your résumé. That’s what amateurs do. True pros know that a cover letter frames your résumé. A cover letter establishes themes and conveys a narrative, giving the recruiter the big-picture facts about you, allowing them to focus on the specifics that separate you from the other 347 résumé pushers in their inbox. It may be perfectly clear to you that you’re qualified for the job, but a cover letter helps you make that connection explicit, to identify how your experience lines up with the requirements. As Uma Thurman put it in The Producers, “When you got it, flaunt it. Step right up and strut your stuff.” The EAR TestIn reading a cover letter and résumé, every recruiter is asking three questions: 1. Are they passionate about the work? 2. Are they qualified? 3. Are they the best person for it? I call this the “EAR” test — are you excited, able, and right? While #2 (your aptitude) can be communicated in a résumé, #1 and #3 (your attitude) cannot. And that, friends, is why you write a cover letter: To present the full picture of who you are. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/20/write-a-cover-letter-every-time/
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The 2020 crisis we all know as COVID-19 has split the world into before and after. Sudden and uncertain, it has messed up the contract for freelancers, especially those working with content creation; stresses and worries about what will happen to their business in the next few months discourage freelancers’ creativity, active brain work, and overall health. And while most mental and physical health specialists advise taking it easy in times of crisis, freelancers understand that they need to work harder than ever to stay afloat. Plus, as a freelancer, you know that your productivity and ability to deal with stresses and black swans like COVID-19 is a great chance to build a brand reputation for your freelance business, right? The question is, how? What freelancers need in a crisis is not simple hacks like "manage your time," "use more tools," or "organize your workplace better," but biohacks: practices you regularly apply to increase concentration, creativity, and organization, decreasing mood swings and procrastination at the same time. They fuel your brain’s productivity while keeping you healthy and sane. So, here goes the list of biohacks (tried and tested) for freelancers willing to flourish their productivity and overall well-being. 1) Improve your attitudeNumerous studies have shown the positive influence of mental exercises on your brain's performance. These practices become true saviors for freelance writers who need to stay creative when choosing topics, innovative formats, language tricks, and relevant visual elements in their works. First and foremost, try practicing gratitude, savoring (aka "living in a moment"), forgiveness, kindness, and social connection. According to studies, not only do exercises focused on these practices positively influence your health, they also make you more productive and improve your sense of well-being by 10%. Try these practices for each:
Then, try listening to music while writing. Though it doesn't work for all freelancers — some work best in complete silence — music has been proven to boost attention span and brainpower. But the trick here is to listen to music with no lyrics, as lyrics reduce our mental performance at work. Instrumental music is what you need to boost your writing productivity. There’s also the positive impact of meditation on self-control, productivity, and memory. Just five minutes of meditation daily can decrease stress but boost focus and attention. 2) Keep your body energetic and healthyThe everyday pressure of finding and keeping clients while delivering top-notch work can make freelancers stressed and immune-weak in the best of times. This state of being doubles the negative consequences on health during a crisis. Physical activity not only benefits your health, it influences brain performance as well. What works best are aerobic exercises, which are proven to positively influence creativity, concentration, memory, and stress tolerance. Make it a habit to spend at least half an hour a day on activities such as:
For the post-quarantine future, also consider swimming, squash, or tennis. These activities work well for brain performance too. And try creating a standing desk for yourself as you work from home. More and more specialists, including the top companies like Google and Facebook, choose standing desks for their workspaces because they are good for health and can increase your writing productivity. (Say no to back pain and poor blood circulation!) At home, try setting up your laptop on a kitchen counter to find the right height. 3) Change your nutrition habitsThis one’s challenging, especially in a crisis, when your brain is experiencing anxiety and uncertainty. In fact, many people give up healthy nutrition habits while on quarantine, eating more food to satisfy a physiological need for "happy hormones" that briefly counter bad moods and stress. Don't allow yourself to fall into this trap! Optimizing your grocery list and nutrition habits can help to boost your immunity and productivity long-term, vs. the short-term boost you get from a potato chip binge. Try the following:
4) Take care of your sleep hygieneAs a freelancer, you often struggle with the temptation to give up some sleep hours for more projects to complete. This is an even more significant problem during this crisis, when you want to work harder than ever to stay afloat. On the other side of the coin, you may be suffering from sleep disorders due to daily bad news, pseudo panic on social media, fear of the unknown, etc. Whatever the case, sleep deprivation does nothing good for your health or productivity. To help your brain and body get enough rest, you not only need to sleep between 7 and 9 hours per night, but also make sure this sleep is healthy. Here’s how:
Final ThoughtsAs a freelancer, you've already developed the skill of adaptability. Even before all this pandemic stuff, you often worked from home, dealing with problematic clients, financial risks, strict deadlines, and last-minute requests. And sure enough, you've put these strengths to practice during the current pandemic. Now it’s time to work on empowering your mental and physical condition for more productive work and stress relief. Making positive lifestyle changes with these tested biohacks can not only influence your freelance productivity, it can give you energy, inspiration, and creative ideas to drive your career forward. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/19/biohacks-to-help-your-brain-do-its-best-work/
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As writers, we deal with this all the time. Imagine sitting down at your computer, staring at the blank screen, and trying to write something. Nothing happens. Inspiration doesn’t strike. You have a deadline, yet you just can’t get the words onto the page. There are several reasons you might be experiencing writer’s block. You might be suffering from a case of perfectionism.If you’ve just recently published a book or an article, you have experienced a huge rush of success and could be extremely nervous that whatever you write next will just not measure up. That’s what editing is for. Remember that anything is better than nothing. Always edit your work before submitting it. You can’t edit a draft you haven’t written, and mediocre first drafts are always OK. You might be suffering from a case of imposter syndrome.Writers are notorious for this condition, even if they are extremely famous and extremely wealthy. I guess we’re predisposed to it. Who knows? It helps to remind yourself of what you have achieved. Some people even have a special coffee cup with the word “writer” on it. Apparently this helps, because these people have sold a lot of books. You might simply be worn out.Perhaps you need to do something physical. Take a jog or a walk. Draw, paint, or listen to music. Sometimes, all you need is a little break from writing to get the juices flowing again. You might just be stumped.It happens to us all. Sometimes, you just have no idea what to write about and feel completely uninspired. When worse comes to worst, write about writer’s block. It helps, and you’ll be amazed by what you come up with! Happy writing! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/05/18/dont-let-writers-block-bring-you-down/ |
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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