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For many freelancers, landing clients is the hardest part of running a freelance business. This is especially true for those who are just getting started. But if you really invest in marketing and promoting your freelance business, finding clients can be a lot easier than you think. Here are some handy tips to help you get your freelance business off the ground. 1. PROMOTE YOUR SERVICES ON SOCIAL MEDIA Social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are great ways to get exposure for your freelance business. Optimize your social media profiles with keywords for whatever service you’re offering. Also, have a professional profile photo that’s the same across all platforms, which creates brand consistency. Follow the businesses you’re targeting and comment on their posts. Engagement is the key to building trust. 2. ASK FOR REFERRALS FROM EXISTING CLIENTS If you already have clients, but you’re struggling to find more, you can always ask your existing clients to...
The stark reality between the employed and self-employed is all too apparent as we all find ourselves living in the unknown. The only thing scarier than this pandemic is not knowing how you’re going to provide for yourself over the next week, let alone the next few months. We’re now seeing the detrimental effects of what COVID-19 means for our global economy and how most of all it’s impacting a very vulnerable part of our population — freelancers. In 2019, Fast Company reported that 57 million people in the U.S. worked as freelancers, making up 35 percent of the U.S. workforce. Freelancers all take a risk in their respective line of work and there’s always a gamble with having an unstable income and no employee benefits. Over the past three weeks, we’ve seen the coronavirus pandemic grow at an alarming rate, so much so that the entire world is seemingly shutting down. It started with large-scale events across all industries and quickly trickled down to closing all non-essential...
California’s new Assembly Bill 5 law takes effect on the first of January. However, instead of setting a good tone for the new year, for many, AB5 appears to be a tone-deaf effort. Launched by California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez to address gig economy issues that have resulted in unfair treatment of Lyft and Uber drivers, AB5 was designed to protect these workers. “AB5 forbids businesses to use contractors unless the companies can pass a stringent requirement known as the ‘ABC test.’ It’s designed to ensure that all workers are classified as employees unless they perform their work independent of supervision, have an established business doing the same sort of work for multiple customers and are doing work that isn’t part of the company’s core business,” Megan McArdle said via The Washington Post. Companies classifying these workers as “employees” must then set aside taxes, Social Security benefits and other benefits . The new law — designed to protect rideshare drivers — hurts...
Here’s the thing about being a freelancer: there are a lot of gigs out there. However, many companies see the gig economy as a way to get professional services at the lowest possible prices. If you’re a full-time freelancer with expert skills, this can be incredibly frustrating. Over the past few years of freelancing, I’ve developed some of the best practices for engaging with high-paying clients. In my experience, sites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer have not been fountains of high-quality, high-paying clients. Here’s my advice on how to utilize these sites to your advantage and take your freelance game to the next level: 1. Find Your Niche Developing a unique specialty can do wonders for your income potential. As a former engineer turned writer, I knew that my bread and butter would come from the technology industry. Tech companies are always looking for writers who can understand complex topics and craft outstanding content. Whatever service you offer, dig deep into your work...
The fear of ditching a 9 to 5 job is all too real for those contemplating freelancing full-time. A predictable pay schedule, health insurance, and a 401K afforded by a day job are securities that rebuttal the option of freelancing. However, as a freelancer, you can have all of the aforementioned and other perks like flexibility in your schedule, avoiding hostile work environments, and the stresses of dealing with your nagging boss. If you are afraid you won’t be able to make ends meet as a freelancer, think again. It’s possible to not only survive but to thrive as a freelancer. Start by understanding what you’re good at. You would be surprised at the niches available to freelancers and how well they pay. Think about your hobbies and side hustles that you enjoy doing for fun. Chances are your niche is totally outside of the scope of your degree, but you’re passionate about it and would do it for no pay. Then there is the possibility that it might be tailored to your degree, and you...
Earlier this year, I committed to the full-time freelancing lifestyle. While I knew that budgetary constraints would be real, I looked forward to a life on my terms. That is, the ability to earn money while traveling to all of my dream locations. Now, after a few months of doing this, here are some things I’ve learned about the digital nomad life as a freelancer: 1. Racism Still Exists In Black Countries This one caught me off-guard because I grew up in a majority-Black country and thought I would feel comfortable in any other majority-Black country. Additionally, I had heard from other Black digital nomads how much safer and more respected they felt outside of the U.S. The truth is, any economy that relies heavily on white tourism will not be entirely accommodating for Black tourists, even if their population is largely Black. Between suspicious glances in restaurants and coffee shops, to outright rudeness from service providers because they assume you’re “just a local girl,” you...
As a freelancer, I spend the majority of my day alone. After my morning workout, I shower, get dressed, and plant myself at my local coffee shop for hours. Most days, the only human interaction I get is with my loving boyfriend and the barista. Don’t get me wrong; I love this life. However, I can’t dispute that networking is an essential mechanism for building my career. The value of getting my name out there, learning from others in the industry, and forming professional relationships cannot be understated. But, when I spend hours alone with my laptop every day, how can I network effectively? Here are some tips for networking as a freelancer: 1. Reach Out To Other Professionals Whenever I see a job posting, I always look for the people who already hold the position. Sometimes I just check out their educational and professional credentials. Sometimes I request a connection on LinkedIn so I can strike up a conversation and learn how they got to where they are. Either way, you will...
Books have long been a source of wisdom for business leaders, offering guidance on everything from financial strategy to leadership development. Certain books have stood the test of time, selling millions of copies and earning praise from business icons, investors, and top executives. Whether you’re looking to sharpen l eadership skills , build a profitable company, or develop a better financial mindset , here are the most famous books for business success. Think And Grow Rich By Napoleon Hill Originally published in 1937, Think and Grow Rich has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. It’s earned distinction as one of history’s best-selling personal development books. The book is based on Napoleon Hill’s research into the habits of wealthy individuals, including Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford. It presents a blueprint for achieving financial success through mindset and persistence. Readers often praise the book for its emphasis on the power of visualization and goal-setting. Some of...
Unemployment insurance (UI) is a critical safety net for workers. It’s designed to provide temporary financial assistance to people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. For startups , it’s important to understand the legal obligations around unemployment benefits, especially when navigating the challenges of hiring employees and managing payroll. While large corporations typically have well-established unemployment insurance practices, startups may be less familiar with the requirements. This article explores whether startups are required to offer unemployment benefits, how unemployment insurance works, and what employees and founders should expect. Understanding Unemployment Insurance And Employer Responsibilities Unemployment insurance is a joint federal-state program that provides financial assistance to eligible workers who are unemployed for reasons beyond their control. Each state administers its unemployment insurance program within federal guidelines. This...
The modern workplace is becoming much more diverse, equitable, and inclusive . However, neurodivergent individuals — those with conditions such as autism , ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences — still face significant barriers to employment . Despite their skills and potential, many struggle to secure jobs or advance their careers due to systemic challenges, bias, and a lack of accommodations. Research shows that unemployment remains a pressing issue in the neurodivergent community. Up to 85% of adults with autism in the U.S. are unemployed, according to Golden Steps ABA . This statistic highlights the urgent need for more inclusive hiring practices and workplace policies that recognize neurodivergent talent. A Misunderstood Segment Of The Workforce Although “neurodivergent” is gaining recognition, many Americans still lack a clear understanding of what it means. A recent YouGov poll found that only 32% of Americans can define the term without prior explanation, while 56%...
Fintech platform Raenest has raised new funding to support African businesses. The company, founded in 2022 by Victor Alade, Sodruldeen Mustapha, and Richard Oyome, offers a range of services, including virtual and physical dollar cards, international transfers, invoicing for global payments, the ability to create USD, GBP, and EUR bank accounts, and currency conversion, among other features listed on its website. Raenest’s original platform was structured as an Employer of Record (EOR), helping foreign companies pay employees on the continent while remaining compliant, TechCrunch reports. The founders recognized a deeper-rooted issue, leading them to update Raenest to assist the continent’s gig economy and businesses directly. “A U.S. company might not care if a payment is delayed by five days, but for someone in Nigeria or Kenya, that’s a big deal — especially when converting to local currency becomes another hurdle,” Alade told TechCrunch. Looking ahead, Raenest intends to secure...
Midway through the pandemic , in 2022, there were a small amount ( 19% ) of American workers who were working in jobs that were exposed to artificial intelligence (AI). Meanwhile, almost one-quarter (23%) of workers had the least exposure to AI. The remaining job industries varied with AI exposure. And while there are differing opinions about whether AI is taking away jobs from American workers or helping them to skip monotonous tasks, job seekers would arguably agree that they’d love to have an AI program that automatically filled in all of those little boxes in job applications. Even with a functional resume that focuses exactly on what the job description is looking for, some companies will still require filling out traditional job applications with your job history in sequential order. And this can quickly get tedious. Autofill sorta helps but not enough to avoid job seekers having to edit the automated info afterwards. So with all the extra work involved in using automated...
Founder Craig J. Lewis is revamping his mission to empower the gig economy. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Lewis leads Gig Wage, a fintech platform aimed at improving payroll for 1099 employees. With his background in payroll sales at Payroll Plus Inc. from 2009 to 2010 and a two-year stint as a payroll technology consultant at CyberPay, Lewis has a deep understanding of the industry, as mentioned on his LinkedIn profile. “I helped to sell ADP’s [the largest payroll company in the world] first cloud-based product called ADP Run, and that’s where it all started for me,” he told AFROTECH™ in a 2021 interview. “I’ve seen the impact that technology has on the payroll space. After reading an article about the global independent workforce, aka the gig economy, I realized that there wasn’t a payroll space for that group, meaning, people who do work for a company but the companies aren’t really designed or don’t have access to the technology to pay these type of people. These are your...
Choosing a career can feel like a monumental decision, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process less overwhelming and more fulfilling. It’s a journey of self-discovery, research, and planning that aligns your interests, skills, and values with professional opportunities. For those still in university, this can even impact your studies when it comes to choosing a major. About 25% of college students surveyed by BestColleges reported reconsidering their chosen field frequently. Choosing a career comes down to choosing what you want to do presumably for the rest of your life. It’s not unusual to feel a bit of pressure. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can narrow down your choices and learn how to choose a career. Reflect On Your Interests And Strengths Start by identifying what genuinely excites you. Consider activities or topics you enjoy in your personal life and at work or school. Are you drawn to creative tasks, analytical problem-solving, or helping...