How to Price Your Services as a Freelancer!

Have you entered the freelance economy and don’t know what to charge? It’s true, you can make more money by freelancing. You don’t want to under or overcharge for your freelance services, however. You could end up doing tons of work for too little money or not get any clients because you are charging to high. Fortunately, there is a way to find out what your freelance hourly rate should be, and price yourself as a freelancer.

 

1. Perform research and come up with an hourly rate. Consider the scope of the project. Know your role and the goals you have to meet. Know whether this is a one off project or ongoing work. Know the budget the client has, as well.
2. Estimate Length in hours. You’ll need to break the project down into parts and estimate how long each will take.
3. Multiply rate by hours and then add to it. You’ll want to take your base hourly rate of pay and multiply it by how long it will take you, and then add to that figure. The padding you are adding will be for questions, revisions and other unforeseen things.
4. Communicate clearly. You don’t want their to be any questions in regards to what you are charging and what your duties are.
5. Track hours and adjust accordingly. If you find that you are under or overestimating the length of a project, you can change for future projects or even discuss on your current project.

 

With these tips there will be no more guessing what to charge. You’ll know your worth and feel confident when setting up a contract for work. You won’t be undervaluing yourself and making less money, and you won’t be scaring clients away. It will be a good fit for your business. Know your worth, and don’t apologize for it.

The Gig Economy is Getting Rid of the Office!

Studies show that most full-time employees are not engaged at work. Within the gig economy, there is much less focus on attendance and the 8 hours (or more) work day. The freelance worker can generate ideas from anywhere, at home, or even while running errands. The gig economy focuses more on the results the freelance worker provides. This gives the individual a lot more freedom to do what they want in life. They also can be a lot more passionate about what they are doing. You get to chase your own dreams when going into business for yourself.

For companies, office space can cost as much at $12,000 per month. That’s very expensive and you would want to get the most for you money. In truth, workers spend a lot of time at the office not even working. Independent workers and cheaper and much more motivated to increase their portfolio and get good reviews. There is less overhead with freelancers than with a traditional full-time employee.

For freelancers, it makes the most sense to work at home doing what they love. They don’t have to commute and they don’t necessarily even have to deal with many people outside of those they contract with. There is no office drama. You don’t really have to worry about sick days. There is a lot more freedom and they can do what they want when they want. Working remotely from home is ideal for them.

It seems clear that freelancing is ideal versus a full-time job. There are many platforms where a freelancer can search for clients. Many companies are finding it is cheaper to hire freelancers instead of full-time employees. You may prefer looking for great work rather than a great job, as they are disappearing. Most freelancers have no desire to return to full-time work once they leave it behind, and with good reason. For a freelancer, it is easy to use gig websites or even set up their own website to find their ideal client. Once someone starts freelancing they may never want to return to the office again.

It’s Easier to Live the American Dream Somewhere Else

Are you curious about becoming a freelancer? If so you aren’t alone. There are many Millennials today joining the gig economy. For many, it is desirable to be your own boss, set your own hours, and offer services you enjoy doing. Why spend your life making someone else rich? Many today just simply aren’t interested in traditional employment.

I came across this quote recently, “There are a lot of good reasons to consider running a business as an expat,” according to Ryan Paugh, the co-founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council. “Overhead can be significantly lower. Finding the right talent can be far less competitive. Not to mention, many foreign countries are welcoming foreign startups and entrepreneurs as an economic development opportunity — frankly, something the US could learn from.”

It’s true. Many freelancers are opting to live elsewhere instead of the US, because of the cost of living. If you are a digital nomad, there’s no need to stay somewhere expensive. You might prefer living somewhere that your income will go farther. Due to this, the US is losing a lot of talent. Millennials are finding that the American dream simply doesn’t exist for them, so they find it elsewhere. Major cities that might appeal to young Millennials are simply too expensive to live in from housing to even the cost of food. What good is being your own boss and having freedom if you can’t afford to do anything? This is why, among other reasons, Millennials are leaving the US.

In addition, there is also the desire to simply travel and see the world. There are tons of great places to visit that have cafes with wifi, for example. Why stay in the US when there is so much more to see? Cultures to learn from, food to try, and tropical beaches. (Although I have heard having your laptop at the beach is not all it’s cracked up to be.) Being location independent is an exciting opportunity especially for the young entrepreneur. There are so many great places to go that are beautiful with lots to do and aren’t expensive to live in.

You may be considering joining the gig economy and becoming a freelancer. You should do this with a plan and have savings in place before you launch your new business. You too can consider relocating once you don’t have ties to your current area. There are many services you can offer as a freelancer whether creative or technical. You can start a website, or even just do random gigs off freelancing sites that already exist. Freelancing is a great way to see the world and have new experiences that you would not have otherwise. There is no income ceiling, and you might find a place where the cost of living is more manageable. You only get one life, live it to the fullest. Once you go freelance you might never go back to traditional work again. It is life changing.

Why a Freelancer Needs a Website?

Are you unhappy at your current job? Maybe you heard about freelancing and want to give it a try. Freelancing has given a lot of people freedom to do what they love. You can escape the dread of your 9 to 5. There is no income ceiling, so you can make more money. Or perhaps you’ve had a side gig for awhile, you have good feedback on freelancing sites. You are getting to the point where you really know what you are doing but would like to grow. Either way, you are wondering if you should have your own website for your small business. But you might be seeing some issues with taking the leap.

1. Websites cost money and you aren’t sure if you want the added expense. Setting up a website can cost thousands of dollars, but there are ways to do it yourself. You can do research online.
2. Isn’t it complicated to set up a website? There are certain hosting plants that can have a nice look to them are aren’t necessarily as complicated as WordPress can be. If you aren’t a designer, make sure you look into this for a great website that is less complicated.
3. What type of design should I choose? A design can be expensive, but some or free or at little cost and can get the job done.
4. What domain should I choose? This can be a hard thing to decide. If you aren’t sure, most people just use their name.
5. I have other ways of finding work. You might already have clients, but you can possibly find your dream clients by having a website. This lets people learn more about you, what you offer, and maybe even what you charge.

So why should you get a website? You’ll be building your brand, which is crucial in the gig economy and growing your freelance business. Prospects will know more about the services you offer which can encourage them to buy. You own your content, which isn’t the case on a lot of free platforms. Really, you need your own website, especially if your main gig is something like freelance writing. Most people like to at least reference a blog before hiring someone. It shows off the freelancers skills quite nicely.

How to Get Paid More as a Freelancer?

Are you looking to increase your freelance rates? Have you heard you can make money by freelancing? You may have some freelance business ideas but you aren’t sure how to increase your income. There are steps you can take to make more money freelancing.

1. Set up an office. Instead of treating freelancing as a hobby, treat it as a job. Take breaks, but don’t constantly make trips to the kitchen. Set work hours. Don’t have family and friends coming over unannounced. Take freelancing seriously and you will make more money.
2. Put in more time. You’ll want to put in more hours starting out to make money. It takes time to set up profiles and apply to gigs on sites. If you already have clients, then you’ll be spending most of your time meeting deadlines and their individual needs.
3. Join more freelancing sites. There are several to choose from. You can also get email updates from sites like Problogger. You should be pitching daily if you can, at least every other day. Don’t get comfortable. You could lose clients at any time, at no fault of your own.
4. Carry electronics with you everywhere. Keep a phone or tablet with you so you can respond to inquiries quickly. People won’t want to wait till the end of the day. You have to be ready to answer any communication immediately.
5. Meet deadlines. Life happens, but you need to try to meet deadlines so you get good feedback and a good reputation. The individual that hired you is counting on your work. Take it seriously or you won’t last long as a freelancer.
6. Use social media. You can gain clients on social media if you post that you are for hire and use appropriate hashtags. Don’t waste time with a personal profile if you can help it. Focus on your business.
7. Don’t put your eggs in one basket, and save money when it’s coming in. The freelance marketplace can be feast or famine at times. Be ready for that.

With these steps, you will earn more money freelancing. You’ll put out better work and score clients from word of mouth. You’ll be able to have more time to yourself and family. After all, isn’t that what freelancing is about? You’ll soon be creating an empire with your freelance business.

How to Hire and Keep the Best Freelancers?

Most small business owners depend on freelancers. It may be how you keep your business afloat. However, you could hire the best of the best and then they back out at the last minute. It can be a pain to work with freelancers at times. You want to get the best work possible at the best price. There are certain ways entrepreneurs can get their needs met, and hire a great freelancer, or several.

1. Hire specialists. Ask them if what you are hiring them for is their specialty. A general talent is not the way to go. Don’t hire a writer for social media work, etc. When a freelancer niches down, they are generally doing something they enjoy and are really good at. Go for them.
2. Hire passionate people. Ask the person if they have a passion for what they are doing. Hire those that have a great attitude and are ready to work. You don’t want someone flaky who is going to quit on you at the last minute. You want someone who will meet deadlines and deliver results.
3. Pay more. Ask how much would make them happy. You get what you pay for in the freelance marketplace. If you are hiring for a really low rate, you may not get the best work available.
4. If you can’t pay more, consider offering products or services as part of the deal. Some freelancers will really love this and happily oblige.

 

With these steps, you’ll know how to hire a freelancer. You’ll find quality freelancers to complete projects you either don’t know how to do or don’t have time to do. Then you can spend your time on things you only can do yourself. There are freelancers all over the world hoping to work with you. This is the best way to keep your business running smoothly.

 

You Can Start These Freelance Businesses For FREE Right Now

Have you heard anything about freelancing? Some people are excited to start a freelance business as soon as they learn what is possible. You could be making money doing what you love instead of working that 9 to 5 and dealing with a crappy boss. You might be scared to take that leap though or not have a whole bunch of money to get started. That’s okay because there are businesses you can start right now for free. You’ll have more freedom doing the following in the gig economy.

1. Social Media: With social media marketing, you can teach companies how to use social media to get clients as well as retain their current customers.
2. Blogging: There is so much you can do with blogging. All you need to decide is which platform to use and what your topic will be. You’ll want to niche down so your message is targeted at your ideal customer.
3. SEO: Search Engine Optimization is the key to getting content discovered on the web. You can master this for your own sites and also use those skills to help companies with their sites.
4. Teaching: There are online teaching jobs that you can do remotely if you have a degree.
5. Copywriting: If you have a way with words, you may want to consider copywriting. Businesses pay a lot of money to someone who can craft words in a way that sells their product or service.
6. Ghost Writing: There’s a lot of people out there who have something to say but don’t have the time or skills to write it themselves, that’s where you come in.
7. Magazine Article Writing: There are lists all over the internet of magazines that accept submissions.
8. Grant Writing: Maybe you’d like to help a nonprofit. Consider grant writing.
9. College Admission Essay Writing: There is students with big dreams of ivy league that are willing to pay someone to write their essays.
10. Editing: There is constantly new content being created every day, and it needs to be edited. This can be big business with big profits for you.
11. Online Research: Are you great with Google? You might find solo employment as a researcher.
12. Translation: There are many companies and gigs that need someone who is bilingual. Put that skill to use.
13. Legal
14. Graphic Design: If you are artistic and tech savvy then graphic design might be for you. Help create logos and design brands.
15. Photography: There are many ways of selling photos online. If you have artistic skills with photography, even with just an iPhone, you can make money.
16. Wedding Photography: People pay top dollar for wedding photos.
17. Photo Editing: All those photos being taken need editing. Not everyone is good at that. If you are, it could be quite lucrative.
18. Virtual Assistant: There are a lot of successful VAs behind thriving online businesses. You could be who an entrepreneur relies on.

You might also be able to find jobs on the best freelancing websites out there. If you do a bit of research you find that there are many to choose from, but some will be better for workers wanting to start freelancing. Freelance writing is a common path. You’ll have to consider the skills you already have as well as ones you are willing to invest in and learn. You may not necessarily have to have secondary education, but you may want to do an online course.

You Should Stop Trying to Land a Great Job, and Do This Instead!

Are you thinking about going back to school for either a Bachelor’s degree or an MBA? You may be wondering if a degree would make you stand out in the workforce and prepare you for a great traditional role at a large company. It used to be that you could get a Bachelor’s degree and immediately land a job. But now even those with Master’s degrees are having trouble becoming a full time employee. Unfortunately, education can only take you so far at this point. When dealing with a large amount of student loan debt, that is not great news. This is for several reasons.

 

1. Full time jobs are disappearing. Growth is stagnant and there is not the financial security there once was. Companies are now looking for ways to outsource work.
2. There is a decline in job growth. The economy has only recovered so much from 2008.
3. Full time employees are a company’s last resort. Most companies are starting to avoid them. They use business models that can help them hire as little people as possible. They are the most expensive and least flexible source of labor. It costs 30 to 40 percent more to hire a full time employee than an independent worker.
4. Traditional work does not work for most Americans. 30% of Americans do some form of independent work. Nearly 70 percent of full time workers are not engaged at their jobs, while another study found that 74 percent of freelancers had no intention of returning to the regular work force. These numbers are hard to ignore.

 

So what is the solution? Prepare to be an independent worker in the gig economy. Start looking for great work, and stop looking for a job. MBA programs have been very slow to adapt to this and still are geared towards traditional employment and full time work. They don’t strive to create a diverse portfolio of gigs but instead opt for internships in traditional employment for one company. A freelance MBA should be the way of the future, preparing students to enter the nontraditional workforce.

 

Freelancing can let you work on things you are passionate about and outsource the things you don’t like doing. You can go in business for yourself, instead of working toward someone else’s dream. You can choose your own hours. You can make doctor’s appointments and take care of family. There is a lot of freedom that comes with freelancing that you simply can’t get from traditional employment. This is why many Americans are choosing to go freelance instead of working full time for a company, if they can even get hired. It’s time to look into freelancing, as it may be the best option for you.