The past days in the month of march were filled with significant news and events from across the freelance world. There has never been a shortage of headlines to grab our attention. In this article, we will delve into some of the most significant stories that made waves in the last couple of days. These are interesting tips and discussions from popular websites. Join us as we dive into the stories that matter most.
Is The Freelance Lifestyle Really Rewarding? This New Study Provides Intellectual Insight
Source: Digital Information World
This outstanding insight here is from the Digital Information World website which speaks to the freelance lifestyle. The convenience and flexibility of setting your hours and working with a variety of clients are benefits of the freelance lifestyle. And at the end of the day, you have a fantastic source of income. This results in a backup strategy that many can use if their first employer decides to terminate them in the future. Consequently, it is not a huge surprise to hear from recent academics that by 2027, half of the American population would have turned to freelance.
Many now understand that the normal 9–5 job is no longer sufficient due to the present economic slowdown and rising inflation rates. One of the numerous causes for why so many people are now using freelancing as their primary or only source of income is that it is so flexible. The entrepreneur path is frequently described as one that entails numerous risks by older generations. In addition, you see young people exploring this world to the fullest extent possible to increase their income. But, upon reflection, it becomes clear that no employment in this world is genuinely risk- and recession-free.
According to research, 73% of respondents thought that, on average, freelancing could keep them in a more comfortable financial situation. And that’s why the current generation finds it to be so appealing. Companies who want to hire what is known as “new-age personnel” must adapt to this new style of working behaviour. Nonetheless, we must acknowledge that some industries benefit more from freelancing than others.
So I’d ask myself what are the major reasons for living this freelance lifestyle in the first place? Many people’s motivations include paying off debt and building their savings. Others, on the other hand, must deal with the challenge of rising prices brought on by inflation, thus earning them a respectable livelihood.
Freelancing Is Not Designed For Newly-Graduated Students
Source: Nwmissourinews
Freelancing is a great opportunity for those who have experience in their area and desire to pursue greater goals. College students must gain prior experience in the profession. Even the most experienced expert may not choose to pursue freelancing as a full-time career. Finding several possibilities that will pay enough for you to live off and actively promoting what you do through networking are key components.
The popular platform, Nwmissourinews mentions that there is just one thing you are likely thinking about during your final semester of college, and that is finding a job. I will agree with that, although the lengthy and tedious process can get boring; it is ultimately worthwhile. Depending on your discipline, you might start to hear about the possibility of working as a freelancer rather than for a single employer throughout your academic career.
You’re just out of college and have little professional experience. The majority of the work you’ve completed was for school, an internship, or a part-time job. Your four years are devoted to education, development, and exploration. You therefore lack expertise if all you have is a certificate. Although, nobody is an expert and there is always something new to learn in a wide range of subjects.
There is a chance that you could earn more than the typical salary for the field you choose to explore. In a sense, you can determine your income based on how much you charge for the task you do, but it also depends on your level of experience and education. Most of the time, businesses can provide employees with insurance in a variety of ways, which can sometimes be more affordable than getting it on their own. As a freelancer, you aren’t sufficiently committed to a single organization to qualify for such benefits.
Students generally are always with a learning mindset. When told they can freelance, they could believe this is a full-time choice when it isn’t. While thinking about the possibility of working as a freelancer full-time after graduation, students need to be more cautious. Securing a job first will set you up for success in the future if you decide to freelance. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with the professional path, it is vital to be aware of the various difficulties you can encounter if you decide to follow it right out of college.
The Top 7 Benefits of a Freelance Career
Source: Makeuseof
Have you ever considered the possibility of a freelance career as a way to maintain a healthy work-life balance? Freelancing can be a fantastic choice to support your hustle as many people juggle numerous obligations in their personal lives and want additional income on the side. There are many industries where freelancing is possible, the question is how sure are you that freelancing is the best option for you at the moment. Let’s take a look at these few benefits I found on the website, Makeuseof.
1. Work Remotely
You have flexibility in where you work when you freelance. Your method of working is completely flexible and up to you because many freelance assignments may be completed fully without being physically present.
2. Handpick Project
You will be given a wide range of tasks some of which may be challenging to balance. Freelancing allows you to focus on the projects you choose to prioritize for the week. Along with this independence, you’ll have the opportunity to concentrate on developing your expertise in the field you’ve selected, creating a sizable portfolio, or obtaining references to raise your chances of landing higher-paying contracts.
3. Growth Prospects
You may start by taking one small project a week and work your way up to performing more work than you would at a typical full-time job. The idea is to accumulate as much work as you desire which helps you develop important time-management skills, organize skills and most importantly open the door for limitless opportunities.
4. Create Your Lifestyle
The flexibility offered by freelancing makes it easy to design a schedule that fits your lifestyle. You can plan your schedule to fit the lifestyle you want. Also, you can carefully select your initiatives to make sure they align with your values and way of life. As a result, you will finish things more quickly and carefully.
5. Global Exposure
Being a freelancer is considerably easier than being a regular office worker because networking and acquiring new clients offers several commercial privileges. In contrast, you might discover that in a typical office job, you only interact with particular social circles, such as your coworkers.
6. Acquire More Skills
Working remotely as a freelancer not only gives you flexibility and the freedom to choose your jobs, but it also enables you to develop a variety of talents. Almost all of the skills you develop while working remotely as a freelancer are transferable and will help you advance into more lucrative tasks. You may scale up more easily as a result, if you so choose.
7. Job Security
As a freelancer, your commitment and diligence will determine how secure your job is. Clients will be more likely to hire you again if you put forth a lot of effort, finish your contracts on time, and provide consistently high-quality work.
4 Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers
Source: Finance.Yahoo
In response to the post-pandemic shift toward remote employment, the remote space saw a surge of independent professionals looking for banks that met their specific demands. Financial institutions have recently launched innovative new accounts that enable private owners to manage both their personal and corporate money from one location.
The issue right now is that it’s challenging to pick out the best of the options with so many coming on board. This article from Finance.Yahoo indicates that the popular website, GOBankingRates, consulted actual freelancers who have tried all the possibilities while surviving on their own in the financial struggle. I feel hearing directly from these individuals will sound convincing enough.
1. Schwab, Nomadic Freelancers Choice
One of the best bank accounts for freelancers is not that trendy account that only appears on a computer screen, but rather a market leader with years of experience and widespread awareness. The founder of GarageGymRevisited.com, mentions that he took the leap of faith that many independent professionals do and became a nomad. He chose Schwab because it supported his freelancer lifestyle as it continues to offer 100% refundable ATM fees for any ATM in the world and it is a fee-free account with no balance requirements or international transaction costs.
2. Grasshopper Checks, For Remote Workers
Perry Zheng, CEO and founder of a software firm suggests a more recent participant that made its debut as a digital bank in 2019. He identifies Grasshopper as a great option if you want to open a checking account as a freelancer. It has no monthly fees, no transaction limitations, and is digitally inclusive. It also functions as a business account with capabilities like automatic bookkeeping, invoice sending, and cash flow management allowing freelancers to use it as an all-in-one account.
3. Lili, The Perfect Option For Freelance Newbies
Moses Aremu, head of marketing at Lonelyaxe, also recommends Grasshopper for established freelancers, but he urges new arrivals to unify their financial services under one roof with a close competitor that offers free spending management tools and effective tax solutions for debit cards. There are no monthly fees or minimum deposit requirements. Even the free version of Lili supports expense categorization and quarterly expense reports.
4. Do It All With Bluevine Business Checking
The awesome thing about this is that there are no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements, so a lean month won’t leave you in debt, says Shawn Hill, the owner of the Grilling Dad. He discloses that Bluevine permits limitless transactions, which is incredibly useful. The possibility of your account earning high-yield interest is another benefit. You can use the app to pay suppliers, share access, and arrange sub-accounts. There are actually no costs associated with anything, including exports from and connectivity with QuickBooks.
How to Build a Million-Dollar Social Media Agency
Source: Entrepreneur
Rudy Mawer, an entrepreneur contributor shares his opinion and tips to start a scalable social media agency. On the popular website, Entrepreneur, she shows her concerns about entrepreneurs that always seem to complain about the unavailability of skilled and reliable talents to manage the business’s social media presence. Even 8- and 9-figure businesses struggle when it comes to posting online, as evidenced by a fast look at their content.
As an individual open to opportunity, you could quickly replace your present 9–5 job with something that enables you to work from anywhere, whenever you choose, assuming you have a Wi-Fi connection, a phone, and some basic Instagram writing, content and scheduling skills. The talent gap gradually will begin to close and the media space continues to build more experts in their respective digital skills.
Taking The First Step
Creating a portfolio that demonstrates to prospective clients your expertise in handling social media accounts should be your first step. Ask friends or family members who already have social media accounts whether you can handle it for them for free if you don’t have any experience yet. For a big portfolio that will place you ahead of anyone with a degree in communication, social media management, or marketing but no real-world experience, you just need to accomplish this for three months.
Once you have some expertise running social media accounts, you should start looking for clients that are willing to pay a high rate to run their accounts. To discover new customers and start a dialogue, the majority of ambitious social media managers will typically turn to cold emailing or cold calling in this situation. Also, while this strategy might be effective for some, it weakens your position and makes negotiating a higher rate more challenging.
Attracting High Paying Clients
Mawer suggests that starting to look for clients on Upwork and Freelancer will make project hunting easier because you’ll have acquired positive feedback and established credibility as a reliable expert. Posting quality content on social media will make you earn some authority presenting you with two benefits. It will first demonstrate to prospective customers that you are doing more than simply claiming your ability to manage a social media account.
I honestly think the best type of social proof will let you determine what works best for you and that you are already doing it. Also, it will assist you in drawing in high-profile customers who will regard you as an authority in your industry and will gladly pay you your charge.
