The freelance space is brimming with various activities part of which are game changers. Freelance Life Magazine identifies these occurrences that matter and brings them to you as a news review. These are engrossing topics from popular websites and freelance platforms that you don’t want to miss.
Imagine engaging in a conversation and you have little or no idea of what is being discussed, no one wants that to happen to them. That’s more reason we compiled a selection of interesting and value-adding information from May. Below are recent topics from the best freelance websites we can find around. Stay tuned!
The 4 Best All-in-One Productivity Tools for Freelancers
Source: Makeuseof
Managing your time as a freelancer can be difficult once you have established yourself and built a solid customer base. If you don’t keep track of project deadlines, you may miss them, and you may also struggle to keep track of other key responsibilities, such as keeping proper accounts and paying your taxes on time.
However, with the rise of project management software, it is now easier than ever to become a freelancer. You can use these tools to keep track of invoice payments, create simple lists of your customer portfolio, and much more. Check out four of the best all-in-one productivity tools the website Makeuseof talks about;
Notion
You can use Notion for effortless note-taking, which is probably why you’ve heard of it previously. However, as a freelancer, you will discover that the software also functions as a powerful all-in-one productivity suite. Some of its primary characteristics are as follows:
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- Creating pages and sub-pages with little effort.
- Organizing your freelance management workflow with customized templates
- Notion creates multiple workspaces.
- With Notion, you can pin important pages as favourites.
- You can download Notion for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Pricing: The Notion-free plan is enough for most freelancers, however, in case you need more blocks or file upload space, Notion Plus costs $10 per month and $96 per annum subscription.
Pros:
- All features are mostly free.
- It’s user-friendly.
- Notion uses a broad range of templates.
Cons:
- Limited online usage.
Brite
Brite makes planning your week a breeze. The app is one of the latest options on our list, but it has a solid array of tools for both noting and tracking your chores. The following are the features of Brite:
- Can categorize tasks into official and private tasks.
- You can decide task priority level
- You can schedule regular tasks on repeat
- The app includes a note-taking capability similar to Apple Notes and Google Keep.
- There is a calendar to help you keep track of your schedule on Brite.
Pricing: Just like Notion, most of the needed tools for freelancers on Brite are also free. You can also upgrade to a paid version to access more features and this costs $4.50 per month and $39.48 per year.
Pros:
- You can manage projects in one location.
- Easy to use interface.
- Sort the things you have to do into various categories.
Cons:
- No Android App
- No desktop-designed app (though you can use the iOS version on your Mac), so you will need to use the web app instead.
Asana
Asana is undoubtedly the greatest all-in-one productivity tool for freelancers in terms of usability. The following are the unique features of Asana:
- Asana allows you to create multiple projects all at once.
- You can create new cards for each project to monitor your tasks accurately.
- You can also create deadlines for deliverables.
Pricing: With the free version of Asana, you can create unlimited projects and tasks. Asana allows you to collaborate with up to 15 users before requiring a subscription plan, so you might not need to upgrade to the paid version.
Asana Premium costs $13.49 per month and $131.88 per year. Meanwhile, the Business plan costs $30.49 per month if paid monthly, and $299.88 per year if paid annually.
Pros:
- The free plan has a plethora of features.
- Available on several devices.
- Tools for creating comprehensive projects.
Cons:
- In comparison to Brite and Notion, there are fewer customization options in other aspects of the software.
Monday.com
Many people connect Monday.com with major corporations, but the app is also a fantastic all-in-one productivity solution for freelancers. The following are the features of monday.com:
- Can create up to three boards with a free plan and use these to organize your client’s work and your tasks.
- It allows you to keep better track of your projects.
Pricing: Monday.com’s premium subscription cost is determined by the number of people purchasing a plan. You can check monday.com for monthly per-seat subscription prices.
Pros:
- Tools for freelancers that are comprehensive.
- There are several templates available.
- Optimization for mobile and desktop.
Cons:
- Most people will encounter a bigger learning curve than with some of the other products.
There are several productivity tools available for freelancers, but having everything in one place will help avoid decision fatigue. Each of these apps will help you manage the various facets of being a freelancer. You can conveniently keep track of your ongoing customer projects while also avoiding overloading yourself.
I Made $10,495 in One Month of Freelancing and Worked Less than 16 Hours a Week. Here’s What I Did That Made All the Difference
Source: Businessinsider
This time Businessinsider brings us a story about Zulie Rane who makes six figures as a content creator and believes anyone can make a thousand a month if they are ready to work as hard as she did.
Zulie became a freelance writer on October 10th, 2020 and she was scared of making a few mistakes as a beginner due to panic in her new career. However, she was determined and set a goal for herself that until she makes $10,000 a month, only then can she consider herself a success in her new-found career.
Fortunately, as the goal-getter that she is, her goal was accomplished after 8 months she launched into a freelance lifestyle when she earned $10,495.33 in May 2021. She shares the secrets of how she was able to do this. Check them out below.
I was not an overnight success story
Do not allow anyone to deceive you that success happens overnight because it doesn’t! In May she earned $4999.26 from her blog and YouTube channel combined which she considers not a random one-off occurrence or luck but a result of 2 years of working, writing, editing, filming, networking, and learning.
I had a backlog of clients
She got to a point that she had the luxury of turning down paying work which she finds it difficult to believe. She earlier thought turning down paying jobs was a stupid decision, however, in the long run, she realized it’s one of the benefits of successful freelancing. She can say no to work and keep her free time for herself.
I failed to sell myself
The final bit of her big $10k month came from selling herself and her services, $1,021.07 in all. She was a little sad to know that she hadn’t managed to sell herself as much as she initially intended. Although, it’s hard to promote her courses and services. She believes many other writers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs feel the same. Sales are not natural for most of us, she admits.
I worked 16 hours per week
She says that her real success is not the money she made but rather the time she spent not working. She uses Clockify to track her time and she recorded spending a total of 65 hours, 40 minutes, and 39 seconds working in May 2021.
She believes her lifestyle is valuable for the money it gives her, but also for the time it gives her. She once wrote about how she loves working as little as possible, and how she believed the true value of the freelance lifestyle is the free portion of it.
I allowed myself to experience downturns
In June, she was stressed out due to unforeseen life events and wasn’t sleeping well. She was anxious and nervous and had no motivation to work or create. A part of her wanted to push through and secure a higher income. Since she already hit the $10k milestone, she believes she should keep hitting it every single month.
It takes continuous effort and improvement to grow in the freelance world, know your weaknesses and improve on them, it could be the ability to sell yourself, or knowing how to price your services.
The 7 Best Apps for Finding Freelance Remote Work
Source: Makeuseof
Makeuseof brings you news on the best apps that will help you find the remote freelancing work you are seeking from among the many that are readily available online. These apps serve as a platform for communicating with firms looking to recruit individuals remotely. Check out some of the top platforms for finding remote freelancing jobs below:
Upwork for Freelancers
With a large user base and a global footprint, Upwork, formerly Elance and oDesk, is one of the most popular sites for seeking freelance jobs. You can work on Upwork by downloading the Upwork for Freelancers app, which is available for both Android and iOS.
You can find client-posted positions by conducting a quick search or browsing the most recent job postings. You may use the app to engage with clients and bid on projects. You can submit a job application proposal directly from the app.
Freelancer
Freelancer, like Upwork, is a large freelance platform with an excellent smartphone app where you can browse for jobs of all kinds. To find a job, choose the right keywords and refine your results with filters. You can also find projects by category, such as web or app development, graphic design, content writing, and so on.
You’ll have to write a proposal and submit it for a specific project. Its friendly chat feature allows you to communicate with clients on the platform to better understand their needs. Above all, it offers a secure payment mechanism that allows you to get paid safely via several withdrawal choices.
Fiverr
With a vast user base, Fiverr ranks alongside Upwork and Freelancer at the top of this market. Almost all of the site capabilities on the Fiverr app may be used to find freelancing gigs, as they are known on this platform.
There are two modes in the app: buyer and seller. You can only use the seller mode to find a freelance job. The app has an order area where you can manage your current and previous orders. Through this app, you can cancel an order, check the current progress and time remaining for completion, and chat with relevant clients.
PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a freelance platform and marketplace that is less well-known than the other three apps earlier discussed. However, it is a fantastic platform that can assist you in landing high-quality remote jobs in your field. In reality, if you do not adhere to its criteria and objectives, your account may be suspended.
PeoplePerHour’s money interface is well-designed, allowing you to manage payments and monitor their statuses. You also receive all important notifications on your phone, allowing you to respond to clients promptly and keep track of job statuses.
Kwork
Kwork is a new freelance marketplace with a rapidly rising user base. It features a web version, but you may also use its smartphone app exclusively. The chat function in Kwork allows you to keep in touch with customers. Attachments such as files, photos, and documents can be sent over chat.
If you’ve used Fiverr before, you will soon get how Kwork works. You place an ad for your services, and interested customers contact you for further information before hiring you. Unlike Fiverr, you may benefit from less competition, but the money may be lesser as well.
- 24Task for Freelancers
24Task is a combination of Upwork and Fiverr, and it also has a decent smartphone app. Posting gigs from your phone is made simple with the app. You can also go through the jobs that buyers have posted and submit bids on them.
You can set your own working hours with 24Task. This helps you maintain your life in balance and advises your clients on how to interact effectively. Once your job is finished, you submit it to begin the payment process which is safe and secured.
- Toptal
Toptal works a little differently than the other apps on this list. Since the term Toptal is an abbreviation for top talent, the admin team is very careful about who they hire to work as a freelancer on their app and website.
To get a job on this app, you must first apply as a freelancer and then go through and pass the screening procedure, thus competition is fierce. However, if you get it through and join the Toptal team, the rewards will be well worth your time.
In conclusion, ensure you fill out your detailed profile on whichever app you select to increase your chances of landing the next freelancing remote job. I’ll suggest you only include only skills and qualifications that are relevant to the profile being set. This allows companies to get to know you better and appear attractive.
This Freelance Project Manager Went from Making A $75k Salary to $180k Without a College Degree
Source: Afrotech
This article speaks about a young 29-year-old man, Lloyd George who applied for a role to get into project management without a college degree. His story published by the platform Afrotech was inspired by his unwavering determination. The article identifies George as a real definition of a true goal-getter. The platform Aftotech published this inspiring story. Sometimes, all you need to do in order to advance in your career is to identify your strengths.
Currently, George works as a freelance project manager, he accomplished his goals. He said being able to explore different types of project management roles at different companies helped him a lot because each time he tries a new role, he’s more than likely to get an increase.
Doubling his income also required him to know how to negotiate effectively. His secret weapons have been learning on the job and keeping track of what recruiting managers tell him about what qualifies him for particular roles. Using their explanations aided him in requesting better pay.
George works as a freelance project manager during the day and as a content developer at night. Despite being held back by fear at first, he began making content in December 2021. What began as free daily posting on TikTok for months turned into life-changing chances just like that.
Brands were aware of his efforts to create content for users new to social media. Furthermore, they approached him to create user-generated content (UGC) for their TikTok accounts, and he charged $75 for his first transaction. George’s highest-paying video has already reached $3,000.
George, like many other Black content creators, has received lowball offers. However, knowing his worth and return on investment (ROI) has helped him become a stronger negotiator rather than seizing every opportunity to expand his portfolio.
I think I’ll agree with George on his belief that in the future, more Black IT workers will take up space, whether by starting their businesses or becoming content creators and sharing their unique ideas with the world.
3 Gen Zers on Deciding to Become Full-time Freelancers: “I Wouldn’t Go Back” to a Corporate Job
Source: Cnbc
As Generation Z makes its way into the workforce, many of its members are re-evaluating the standard nine-to-five job. According to a February 2023 Fiverr study of 7,121 Gen Zers from around the world, the majority, or 70% of Gen Zers, see freelancing to be a viable career option on par with a regular office job.
Freelancers already constitute a sizable share of the labour force. According to Upwork’s 2022 Freelance Forward poll of 3,000 professionals, more than a third, 39%, of Americans freelance. This is a three-point increase from 2021. Cnbc met some members of Generation Z who are eager to get started. Check their profiles below:
Gigi Robinson, 24, Influencer
Gigi Robinson, 24, has previously suffered from chronic ailments such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and endometriosis. While pursuing her BFA at the University of Southern California, she began to gain a following by exposing her problems on sites such as TikTok. That’s when companies began approaching her about becoming brand ambassadors.
She chose to take those brands up on their offers during her final semester of school in the fall of 2020, realizing there was money to be made as a freelancer. She launched her initiative, Gigi, a company that combines her many income streams including children’s books, public speaking, career coaching, and ongoing commercial relationships. Robinson earned more than $170,000 in total last year. She says she wouldn’t go back to the corporate setting.
Mark Sanos, 24, Video Editor
A 24-year-old Mark Santos began his personal YouTube channel in his hometown of Sao Paulo, Brazil, at the age of 11, documenting his life as a young teen. When he was 15, he relocated to Boca Raton, Florida, and began filming videos describing what it was like for a Brazilian to live in the United States. And they gathered traction.
Santos had expanded his offerings to thumbnail and banner design, among other things, by the time he graduated in May 2022, and was working “at least 12 hours a day,” he adds. He’d also begun hiring freelancers to take on part of his client’s work. It was obvious that this would eventually be his job.
Nathaniel DeSantis, 26, podcast producer
Nathaniel DeSantis graduated from Furman University in 2019 and says he “applied to around 100 jobs,” eventually finding one making parts for military equipment. During his time there, the Greenville, South Carolina native began a movie review podcast with a friend and discovered he enjoyed the format.
After a year of studying everything he could about audio engineering and growing a podcast, he resigned from his manufacturing job. A friend put him in touch with a local NGO that needed help establishing a podcast in late 2021, and Podcast Studio X was established. In my opinion, it was simply a matter of knowing what was feasible for DeSantis.
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