That was Javier Ortega-Araiza’s response when asked what inspired him to become a freelance writer. And, despite being a journalism school dropout and dabbling in other careers, his true passion has always been writing and storytelling.

His story is proof that it isn’t always about what school you go to or what degree you have; if you have a passion for something, you can make a career out of almost anything.

The Prelude: His First Foray into Entrepreneurship

In business school, Javier started his first business which was centered around organizing immersive experiences for students who wanted to learn more about specific careers.

“I realized that if students could have a first-hand immersion into whatever they were into, maybe we could make more informed decisions about what path we wanted to pursue,” he explained. His business was a hit; Javier had surpassed $1.5 million in revenue within 18 months.

However, his success came with challenges. “I was very young and made wrong decisions, especially concerning people,” Javier admitted. These poor decisions eventually led to the business’s downfall.

“Losing that business jump-started my spiritual journey. After being close to opting out of life, I re-emerged stronger, with many stories to tell,” he reflected

Rediscovering Writing

While an undergraduate, Javier built a six-figure business writing papers for other students. However, he procrastinated on committing to writing as a career due to his own preconceived notions about its financial viability. He never viewed writing as a long-term career opportunity.

But when the pandemic hit, he decided to give freelance writing another shot.

“I wrote a few articles here and there for various outlets, but nothing consistent. My most consistent attempt had been writing on Medium, but I got disappointed because my earnings on the platform never surpassed $20.”

In 2022, Javier launched a few Substack newsletters and began pitching writing opportunities. “I started pitching every opportunity related to my topics of interest. The first few days, I received a lot of rejections, but gradually I got a couple of gigs, and I just gained traction from there,” he reflected.

Related: 12 Ways to Grow Your Income as a Freelance Writer

Five Pitches a Day, Every Day

Javier’s transition from treating freelance writing as a side hustle to making it his primary source of income was marked by a shift in mindset and discipline. “The gamechanger for me was this: My earnings from writing changed the moment I became serious about putting time into it, and treating my writing business as a business,” he explained.

In 2021 and 2022, Javier’s writing efforts were sporadic. “I published articles here and there, but they were scarce, and I did not have a habit of pitching publications consistently,” he admitted. This changed in 2023 when he set a clear and ambitious goal for himself. “I set a target of making at least five pitches a day, every workday. I reduced that gradually as I started to get more work, but I believe pitching so regularly also helped me hone my pitches and get better at identifying what editors were looking for.”

Javier also focused on building relationships with editors to secure ongoing work. “It was about building a relationship with some of those editors so that I could get ongoing work and not have to pitch so much,” he says. This strategy not only reduced the amount of pitching he needed to do but also helped him create a more stable and consistent income stream from his writing.

Reaching His First $10,000 Month

Javier’s persistence paid off. “I remember the first month my writing earnings surpassed $10,000. I was initially in disbelief. Did my words really earn me that?”

On average, he earns between $5,200 and $6,000 monthly from freelance writing, mostly because he has scaled back on some client work to focus on new projects. “I always have plenty of irons in the fire, so there’s no shortage of work,” he adds.

Javier’s Top 3 Challenges

Achieving success as a freelance writer did not come easy for Javier. Here are the top 3 challenges he says he faced as he was growing his business.

1. Balancing social needs with a solo profession

One of Javier’s biggest struggles during his first year of freelance writing was adjusting his schedule to meet his social and physical activity needs. “I need human interaction. I’m very social, and I’m an athlete,” he said, referencing his background as a competitive tennis player. Writing, however, can be isolating.

“I pivoted more times than I can count to make sure I had a schedule that worked for me,” Javier shared. Finding a balance that allowed him to be productive while maintaining his social interactions and physical activity was crucial. “When things are in balance, I love being in the zone and writing, but if I overdo it, I can get drained very quickly.”

2. Navigating the overwhelming “creator economy”

Another significant challenge was finding his way in the vast and overwhelming creator economy. “The creator economy is enormous; we constantly get bombarded by all kinds of ads, courses, coaches, and opportunities,” Javier explained.

In the beginning, he found it difficult to know where to start. “Everything can feel too much to digest.” To navigate this, he relied on newsletters that compiled opportunities from various platforms and centralized information, making it easier to manage. “I also relied on ChatGPT. It is an awesome assistant to structure complex scenarios and break them down into manageable tasks,” he added.

3. Balancing workload and income

Finding the right balance between making enough money and not overworking was another major challenge for Javier. “This required a lot of communication with my clients, especially those that paid per piece or per assignment,” he noted. He regularly communicated with editors to set expectations for each month, combining this information with the workload from clients who paid him a flat retainer. “Without having that line of communication open, it would have been a lot harder to plan for a month, and something would have suffered — my income, my health, or the quality of the work,” Javier said.

He emphasizes the importance of open and transparent communication with clients to achieve a balanced workload and maintain quality. “Even if, as freelancers, we’re independent contractors and we run our own business, we still need to learn how to work in teams and collaborate with our clients to reach our goals.”

A One-of-a-Kind Approach to Freelance Writing

Javier’s freelance writing strategy sets him apart due to his wide-ranging interests and refusal to confine himself to a single niche.

“So many people say that writers should find a ‘niche’ and stay within that niche,” Javier explains. While he acknowledges that focusing on a niche can be beneficial for specific publications, he believes that a writer’s body of work and personal brand can encompass much more.

Rather than limiting himself to one area, Javier embraces his many interests wholeheartedly. “I’ve written travel stories for literary magazines, done journalism for Canadian outlets, and even covered immigration issues,” he says. His passion for different subjects has opened numerous doors. For instance, his interest in entrepreneurship led him to write over 30 stories featuring inspiring individuals for Canadian newspapers like the Winnipeg Free Press and SaltWire-owned publications.

“I’ve published poetry books, written SEO articles on sports betting, explored personal development through tennis, and delved into mental health and spirituality,” he shares. His diverse interests have led him to write for prestigious outlets like Forbes, FOX, and the New York Post on topics ranging from personal finance to tech startups and venture capital.

This diverse approach has strengthened his writing. “Embracing various aspects of myself has made me a way better writer and given me better visibility of the big picture,” Javier notes. He believes that each line of work enhances the other, allowing him to bring a unique perspective to each project.

How Javier Finds Freelance Writing Clients

Knowing how to write well and knowing how to find freelance writing gigs are two very different skills, but you need both if you want to make it in this industry. Here’s how Javier goes about finding prospective clients.

1. Freelance gig newsletters

Javier finds newsletters to be invaluable in his client acquisition process. “Some newsletters really helped because they aggregate many opportunities and share them with people like me who don’t have the patience or time to scour LinkedIn, X, personal websites, and other portals like Indeed,” he explains. These newsletters provide a centralized source of potential gigs, saving him time and effort.

Related: 50 Freelance Jobs to Find Your Next Remote Gig

2. Old-fashioned research

Javier also employs a more traditional approach to finding clients. “I Google outlets that are looking for submissions on a particular topic I’m interested in, or brands that I believe can benefit from my input,” he shares. Once he identifies a potential client, he looks for a specific point of contact, avoiding generic email addresses. “Personalization is everything,” he insists. His detailed pitches highlight how he can add value to the client, increasing his chances of securing work.

3. Leveraging tools to find contact information

To streamline the process of finding contact information, Javier recommends using tools like RocketReach. “You can simply paste a LinkedIn profile, and it will give you an email address for whoever you’re trying to get in touch with,” he explains. He says it’s very effective, with an accuracy rate of over 90%.

It’s All About the Pitch: Javier’s Top Tips for Landing Clients

Javier emphasizes the importance of crafting effective pitches. Here are his top tips:

• Personalize Your Pitch: “If you’re limited on time, it is way better to send one thoughtful pitch per day than ten hurried, generic emails.” Taking the time to tailor each pitch shows potential clients that you value their specific needs and interests, making you stand out from generic submissions.
• Research Your Audience: “Do a Google query on a person and learn more about them. Genuine compliments and specific reasons why you can contribute to their mission can set you apart.” Understanding who you’re pitching to and showing genuine interest in their work can make a significant difference in your pitch’s reception.
• Share Relevant Work: “I tell them what I like about their work, how I believe my work can bolster it, and why I am the right person for the job. Relevant pieces from my portfolio, like my Substack on sports betting, have helped me secure gigs.” Highlighting work that aligns with the client’s interests demonstrates your expertise and relevancy to their needs.
• Be Honest: “For one personal finance section, I admitted I had no experience writing about credit cards but explained how I’d figure it out. Honesty helped me get started.” Transparency about your experience builds trust and shows potential clients your willingness to learn and adapt.
• Avoid Working for Free: “I don’t consider outlets that ask for finished pieces or unpaid samples. If someone doesn’t value my time in the short run, how can I trust they will in the long haul?” Valuing your work and time ensures that you establish relationships with clients who respect and appreciate your contributions from the outset.

Related: Should You Work for Free? 5 Scenarios You’ll Be Tempted To

On utilizing the “Deep Work” approach to time management

Javier employs Cal Newport’s “Deep Work” strategy to manage his time and projects effectively. He blocks specific periods for different types of work to maintain focus and ensure quality. “Editing with the PR agency requires me to be more responsive, so I allocate some time for that to be able to respond in real-time,” he explains. This method allows him to handle diverse tasks without mixing different types of writing.

By dedicating time blocks to specific tasks, Javier ensures that each project receives the attention it deserves. “The key is to not get different types of writing mixed up,” he advises. This separation helps him maintain clarity and productivity throughout his workday.

Another simple yet effective tip that Javier swears by is reading similar articles before starting a new piece. “Before writing a piece, read some articles that are similar or about the topic you need to write about,” he suggests. This practice helps stimulate creativity and ensures he is in the right mindset for the task at hand.

Javier’s Advice for Aspiring Freelance Writers

Drawing on his own experiences, Javier shares practical advice for stay-at-home parents, working professionals, and students who are considering freelance writing as a side hustle.

Embrace your unique story or perspective

Javier believes that everyone has a story worth telling. “A lot of people who I’ve spoken with doubt the power of their own story. They say, ‘What am I going to write about?’ But we’ve all lived through stuff. We all have interests,” he says. He emphasizes that the creator economy has room for everyone, with diverse topics and thriving communities around nearly any subject.

Set realistic expectations

For stay-at-home parents, working professionals, and students, time management is crucial. “If you only have half an hour a day to build your freelance writing career, it is better to be honest and define how you can use that half an hour to move forward than to set unrealistic goals,” Javier says.

Balance the short term with the long term

Javier recommends adopting a portfolio approach to manage your freelance writing finances, similar to how someone might invest their savings. “When I first started, I needed a source of revenue, so I prioritized that. Now, I’m allocating time to projects with longer-term potential returns,” he explains. Finding that balance is key for stability and long term success.

And, speaking of investing, don’t forget to set aside money regularly towards retirement. Since you won’t have a normal employer that offers a 401(k) plan, it’s up to you to save on your own.

Break down goals into bite sized chunks

Starting a freelance writing career can feel overwhelming. Javier suggests breaking down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. “This is something that inspired me to start Write Your Freedom.” That’s his business that helps new freelance writers get started without getting overwhelmed. He offers one-on-one coaching as well as group coaching.

Diversify your income

Javier stresses the importance of diversifying income sources within the creative economy. “I’ve had jobs end because media outlets ran out of money, and clients tried to reduce rates. That’s why I’m skeptical about the subscription model,” he says. Instead, he looks for innovative ways to leverage his writing. For instance, he plans to incorporate experiential trips related to his personal finance newsletter, offering unique value beyond regular content. Additionally, freelancers can diversify by offering coaching, public speaking, organizing retreats, or selling merchandise.

The post Meet the Journalism Dropout Making Six Figures as a Freelance Writer appeared first on DollarSprout.

Before you know it, you blurt out, “I onboarded 2 new clients for my fitness coaching business!” and suddenly, all eyes are on you—especially your boss’s. Oops.

In today’s gig-fueled economy, side hustles are more popular than ever. They’re a fantastic way to pad your wallet, pursue passions, or just get out from under the 9-to-5 grind for a few hours each week.

But this brings us to a modern workplace quandary: should you tell your boss about your side gig?

It’s a delicate dance between transparency and maintaining your professional image, and getting it right can feel as tricky as explaining TikTok to your grandparents.

Why You Might Want to Tell Your Boss

Diving into whether to share your side gig with your boss can feel like walking a tightrope. Let’s unpack the reasons why opening up might just be a step worth taking.

Transparency First

Yulia Saf was a full-time project manager when she first started her side hustle, a tourism blog called Miss Tourist. “Transparency was pivotal in maintaining professional relationships at my day job while I was developing my own venture,” Saf shares. “In many cases, an employer could immensely benefit from the diversified skill set an employee acquires balancing multiple roles.”

Remember, trust is a two-way street. Being upfront about your side hustle can build trust between you and your employer. It shows that you are honest and considerate of your workplace obligations – plus it can also prevent any misunderstandings about where your loyalties lie, especially if your side hustle activities ever impact your work schedule or performance. 

Seeking Support

You might be surprised to find that your boss could be your biggest cheerleader. “I think if you have a good culture, bosses can help influence and inspire your side hustles to grow and flourish” says Brittany Betts, a marketing manager at FloridaPanhandle.com who does freelance photography on the side. 

Disclosing your side hustle opens the door to potential support, whether it’s flexible hours to accommodate your other commitments or advice based on their own experiences. This conversation could lead to valuable mentorship and growth opportunities. “It shouldn’t have to be a secret, but also it can be completely up to you whether or not you choose to divulge that information” Betts adds.

Related: How to Stand Out at Work (According to 10 CEOs)

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Depending on your contract or the industry you’re in, you may be legally obligated to inform your employer about any external business activities.

This is often true in fields that handle sensitive information or have strict non-compete clauses.

Being open from the start can help you navigate these waters without jeopardizing your job or reputation. 

Reasons to Keep it Under Wraps

While openness has its perks, sometimes the spotlight can attract more drama than applause. Let’s explore why you might want to keep your side hustle a secret.

Conflict of Interest? Better Safe Than Sorry

If your after-hours project aligns too closely with the interests of your employer, it could raise eyebrows or even breach company policy.

Obviously, this introduces an ethical gray area, but if you know that disclosing your side hustle will cause more harm than good — and you cannot afford to lose your day job just yet — staying discreet can help you avoid any unintended professional clashes or questions about your loyalty.

If you do choose this route, it’s best to have a game plan in place for what to do if word gets out…before it happens. 

Just make sure that you are not breaking any laws by not disclosing. 

Related: What to Do When You Hate Your Job and Want to Quit

Focus on the Day Job

“My boss doesn’t know, and I don’t want him to know,” one anonymous side hustler told us. 

Employers value commitment, and showing that your primary focus remains on your main role is key to maintaining trust and job security.

And once the seed gets planted in your boss’s head that you might have obligations elsewhere, it’s hard to un-plant that seed – even if you are clearly maintaining your day job as your number one priority. This is one of the top reasons why it might be best to keep your side hustle to yourself.

Keeping the Peace at Work

Discussing your side hustle might unintentionally lead to workplace tension or envy.

By keeping these activities to yourself, you ensure that office dynamics remain undisturbed and that colleagues continue to view you through the lens of your professional accomplishments. This approach helps maintain a neutral and supportive work environment.

Related: How to Quit Your Job: 10 Tips for Leaving on Good Terms

How to Decide

When it comes to telling your boss about your side hustle, the decision isn’t always black and white. It requires a careful balance of personal judgment and professional awareness. Let’s walk through some key considerations that can help you make the right choice.

Check Your Contract

Before making any decisions, it’s essential to review your employment contract and any related policies. Look for specific clauses that might restrict or require disclosure of secondary employment. Understanding these details will help you gauge whether it’s even an option to keep your side hustle under wraps. Again, don’t violate your contract. That’s easy grounds for dismissal or even legal action.

Evaluate Your Boss’s Temperament

Knowing your boss’s attitudes towards entrepreneurship and side projects can be a critical factor in your decision. Consider their past reactions to similar situations and their overall management style. Are they supportive of personal development and entrepreneurial efforts, or do they prefer a strict focus on work-related activities? 

Consider Your Company’s Culture

The general culture of your workplace can also influence your decision. Is there a spirit of innovation and self-improvement, or does the company maintain a more traditional view on employment? Understanding this can help you predict how news of your side hustle might be received. 

How to Approach the Conversation

Deciding to share your side hustle with your boss is one thing, but discussing it effectively is another. Here’s how to approach this tricky conversation with tact and confidence.

Plan Your Pitch

If you choose to disclose your side hustle, think about how you can present it in a positive light. Emphasize how the skills you’re developing can benefit your primary job, perhaps by enhancing your creativity, time management, or technical skills. Prepare to explain clearly how you’ll ensure that your side hustle won’t interfere with your job responsibilities.

Timing is Everything

Choosing the right moment to discuss your side hustle can significantly affect the outcome of the conversation. Opt for a time when your boss is less stressed and more open to discussion—perhaps after a successful project completion or during a routine one-on-one meeting. 

Prepare for Reactions

Be ready for any type of response from your boss, whether it’s support, indifference, or concern. Plan your responses to possible questions or objections. Demonstrating that you have thought through potential impacts on your work shows responsibility and foresight, which will likely be appreciated by your employer.

Sharing Your Side Hustle — Yay or Nay?

Deciding whether to tell your boss about your side hustle is a personal decision that requires weighing various professional and personal factors.

Whether you choose transparency or discretion, the most important aspect is to ensure that your side hustle enhances rather than hinders your career growth.

Now, we’d love to hear from you! Have you ever shared your side hustle with your boss, or do you prefer to keep your entrepreneurial adventures on the down-low? Drop your stories or tips in the comments below. Who knows? Your experience might just be the guiding light someone else needs to make their decision.

Related: 

• How to Change Careers in 7 Easy Steps
• How to Write a Resignation Letter (with 3 Examples)
• 15 Best Employee Benefits to Look For When Job Hunting

The post Should I Tell My Boss About My Side Hustle? Here’s How to Decide appeared first on DollarSprout.

While you’re dedicated to nurturing your family, you might also be exploring ways to contribute to your household’s financial well-being without sacrificing invaluable time spent with your loved ones.

When my daughter was born, I wanted nothing more than to stay home with her. Unfortunately, living on a single income wasn’t going to work for our family. Debt and other fixed expenses meant that we had to be a two-income household.

If you’re similarly on the lookout for flexible, fulfilling work that aligns with your skillset, schedule, and financial goals, you’re in the right place.

This guide is tailored specifically for stay-at-home moms like you, aiming to uncover a variety of job opportunities that not only offer the flexibility you need but also tap into your unique talents and interests.

Online Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms

If you prefer to work while your kids sleep or during odd hours, these virtual stay-at-home mom job ideas are great options to consider.

1. Proofreader 

Do you have a good eye for detail and a knack for spotting spelling and punctuation errors? Becoming a freelance proofreader might be the perfect work-from-home opportunity.

Proofreaders check over documents and transcripts to ensure there are no mistakes. Many proofreaders are self-employed and have the freedom to choose when and how much to work. You can work anywhere from a few hours per week to full-time by working as a general proofreader or in a specific industry.

Veteran proofreader and entrepreneur Caitlin Pyle offers a free workshop for those considering proofreading as a career. Her workshop covers five signs proofreading could be a good fit for you and how to start booking clients.

Related: How to Become a Proofreader in 5 Easy Steps (Beginner’s Guide)

2. E-commerce store owner

For stay-at-home moms, launching an e-commerce store on platforms like Shopify or Etsy allows for the selling of handmade jewelry, vintage finds, or curated products directly to consumers.

Key steps include choosing a niche, such as jewelry, home decor, or eco-friendly products, and sourcing items through wholesale suppliers, dropshipping services, or creating them yourself. Success hinges on understanding your market, optimizing your online store for search engines, and leveraging social media for marketing.

This approach provides a practical, high-ceiling avenue for financial contribution that looks and feels like running a real business, all while accommodating the demands of family life.

Related:

• How One Recent Grad Started a $2,000 a Month Shopify Side Gig
• How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 8 Simple Steps
• How to Start an Online Thrift Store in 7 Simple Steps

3. Blogger

By starting your own blog, you control how much work you do and what kind of content you create.

You can write about what you’re passionate or knowledgeable about including cooking, travel, personal finance, parenting, or books. Focus on creating useful, helpful, and well-written posts regularly.

You can earn money blogging through affiliate marketing, display advertising, and sponsored posts or ads. 

• Potential Earnings: Earnings can be quite variable; some make $100 – $10,000+ per month through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content.
• How to Get Started: Choose a niche you’re passionate about, start a blog using platforms like WordPress, and create high-quality content to attract readers and advertisers.

Related:

• How This “Mom Blogger” Makes Nearly $2,000 per Month From Her Blog
• These 5 Millennials Make Over $1,000 per Month Blogging. Here’s How
• Blog Income Report: How We Made $347,675 Blogging in 2 Months

4. Transcriptionist 

For stay-at-home moms with strong typing skills and a good ear, transcription offers flexible, home-based work. Transcriptionists convert audio recordings into written documents, serving various sectors like legal, medical, and media.

To start, familiarize yourself with transcription software and practice to increase typing speed and accuracy. Certification through a transcription training course, while not always required, can be beneficial, especially for specialized fields. Finding work can be as straightforward as signing up on transcription platforms or freelancing sites. 

• Potential Earnings: $10 – $25 per hour, with specialized fields like legal or medical transcription paying more.
• How to Get Started: Improve your typing speed and accuracy, familiarize yourself with transcription software, and apply for positions on transcription service websites.

Related: 9 Legitimate Places to Find Transcription Jobs

5. Bookkeeper 

Bookkeeping is an ideal profession for SAHMs with a penchant for numbers and organization, offering a high degree of flexibility and the option to work remotely for various clients.

With the advent of cloud-based accounting software, moms can easily manage clients’ finances, from invoicing and payroll to reporting and reconciliation. The ability to take on as many or as few clients as desired allows for a customizable workload, making bookkeeping a lucrative and fulfilling career choice.

• Potential Earnings: $20 – $50 per hour, varies with client size and task complexity.
• How to Get Started: Learn bookkeeping basics online and begin pitching services to small businesses.

6. Virtual assistant

An increasing number of business owners are hiring virtual assistants or VAs to complete tasks like booking travel, answering customer emails, sending invoices, or editing website content.

Their value shows, too. VA work has quickly become one of the most profitable jobs for stay-at-home moms in America, with gross incomes hitting $5,227 per month according to Indeed._[1] 

Most VAs work as freelancers, giving them the flexibility to earn money while staying home with their kids. How much you earn depends on your rates, the hours you work, and how many clients you’re able to take on. Better yet, you don’t need a degree or certification to work as a VA. 

• Potential Earnings: $10 – $30 per hour, with specialized skills commanding higher rates.
• How to Get Started: Gain familiarity with common online business tools, consider a VA training course, create a detailed LinkedIn profile or a listing on freelance platforms, and offer your services to potential clients.

Related: How One Woman Makes $3,000 per Month as a Virtual Assistant

7. Freelance writer

Freelance writing is a great way to earn money while working from home. There are tons of jobs available, and you have the opportunity to use your unique skills and experience to find the right niche for you.

If you become a freelance writer, you’ll create original, creative, and informative content for online and print publications. This can include blog or website content, newsletters, email marketing campaigns, white papers, or marketing copy.

The more versatile you are with the type of content you can write will help expand your opportunities to make money, but if you’re just beginning, it’s best to stick with one topic.

• Potential Earnings: $15 – $100+ per hour, depending on experience and niche.
• How to Get Started: Create a portfolio of any past writing, consider a freelance writing course, set up a profile on freelance job platforms, and start pitching to potential clients or responding to job postings related to your interests and expertise.

Related: Meet the Journalism Dropout Making Six Figures as a Freelance Writer

8. Social media manager

It’s more important than ever for brands to have a strong social media presence, and they need people to manage it. Many companies hire social media managers to run their social media pages or to help them build their brand online. And there’s a lot more to establishing an online presence than just creating a Facebook page.

A social media manager ensures brands have up-to-date posts that engage fans and consumers. They create online profiles, post pictures on Instagram, curate collections on Pinterest, and respond to questions on Twitter. They can even moderate comments, edit videos, or manage Facebook ads.

Since the tasks are so varied, many find the skills acquired from social media management translate well when it comes to paid influencer work as well. 

• Potential Earnings: $15 – $50 per hour, based on experience and client base.
• How to Get Started: Build a strong personal social media presence to showcase your skills, and offer your services on freelance websites or directly contact businesses you’re interested in working for.

9. Graphic designer

If you have an eye for design and color, are creative, and can put together eye-catching logos or other graphics, working as a graphic designer is a great stay-at-home mom job to consider.

The hours are flexible, you can set your own rates, and then decide how many clients you want. It also has a low start-up cost, with many graphic design programs offering free options. You can also deduct at-home work-related expenses on your taxes.

You can also use these design skills to earn money creating websites for clients. While there are free themes and designs for website owners to choose from, many still opt for custom designs. You would work with your clients on unique layouts and color schemes along with logos and other images, as well as provide website maintenance.

• Potential Earnings: $20 – $75 per hour, with rates varying by project complexity and designer’s experience.
• How to Get Started: Develop a strong portfolio showcasing your design work, and create profiles on freelance platforms or your own website to attract clients.

10. Freelance photographer 

Photography offers stay-at-home moms a flexible and creative outlet to express themselves while also capturing life’s precious moments. It’s also a profession that can easily adapt to a mom’s schedule, allowing for work during odd hours or around family commitments. 

Additionally, there are websites that will pay you to use your photos as stock photos. It’s easy to get started with these sites – just upload your photos. When an individual or company selects your photo, you get paid.

You have less control over how much you make because the site you’re using is responsible for promoting your pictures. It also depends on the type of photo licenses you’re selling, and the commission or royalties structure of the site. Some of the most popular places to sell your photos include Shutterstock, iStock Photo, and Etsy.

• Potential Earnings: $25 – $200+ per hour for shoots; selling photos online can yield variable income based on sales.
• How to Get Started: Build a portfolio of your photography, set up a professional website, and offer your services for events or sell your photos on stock photography sites.

Related: How One Photographer’s Side Hustle Became a $330K a Year Business

11. Online tutor

Online tutoring jobs have seen a remarkable surge in demand since the onset of the pandemic, transforming it into a highly sought-after profession for stay-at-home moms.

With schools having moved to more remote-focused learning, parents have increasingly sought out additional academic support for their children — specifically the need for personalized, one-on-one tutoring.

This shift has not only opened up new avenues for those skilled in specific subjects but also highlighted the invaluable role online tutors play in the educational landscape today. The flexibility to work from anywhere, coupled with the increased demand, makes online tutoring an even more attractive and viable career path for stay-at-home moms looking to contribute financially while supporting their family’s educational needs.

• Potential Earnings: $15 – $50 per hour, varying by subject and level of expertise.
• How to Get Started: Acquire certification if necessary for specialized subjects, sign up with online tutoring platforms or create your own website to offer your services.

Related: This ESL Tutor Makes $2,000 per Month Online. Here’s How

12. Customer service representative 

As a way to manage overhead and provide 24-hour support, more companies are moving toward hiring work-from-home customer service representatives.

This position is great for stay-at-home moms because it allows you the ability to work overnight when your kids are sleeping or during the day when they’re at school. You can also work part-time or full-time hours, giving you the flexibility you need.

You can work as an online chat agent, call center agent, or with technical assistance.

• Potential Earnings: $10 – $20 per hour, depending on the company and complexity of support.
• How to Get Started: Develop strong communication skills, familiarize yourself with customer service software, and apply for remote positions on job boards.

13. Health coach

Health and wellness coaching is a growing industry. With more people looking for ways to get healthy and fit, there’s a need for coaches who can help guide them on their fitness journey.

An online health coach gives advice, checks in with clients, and provides encouragement. In most cases, all you need to get started is a passion for health and a desire to help others. Check with your local laws and regulations to make sure you don’t need any certifications or licenses to work as a health coach.

As a health coach, you can choose to work for a company or on a freelance basis. There are several companies that offer health coaching services online. On the other hand, you may want to work as a freelance health coach so you can have more freedom in setting your own hours.

• Potential Earnings: $20 – $70 per hour for virtual sessions, depending on certifications and specialties.
• How to Get Started: Obtain certification from a reputable organization, set up a website or profile on fitness platforms, and offer virtual training sessions or personalized workout plans.

Related: How to Start a Personal Trainer Side Hustle (Up to $75,000 per Year)

14. Language translator

Language translators offer a critical service, bridging communication gaps between cultures and industries. For stay-at-home moms fluent in more than one language, this career path provides an opportunity to work flexibly from home, translating documents, websites, or video content. Starting involves identifying your language pairs and specialization areas, such as legal, medical, or technical translation.

Building a portfolio and gaining certification, if available, can enhance credibility. Freelance translators typically find work through online platforms, direct client outreach, or translation agencies. This role not only capitalizes on linguistic skills but also contributes significantly to global communication, all while maintaining the work-life balance essential for parenting.

• Potential Earnings: $0.10 – $0.50 per word or $20 – $50 per hour for freelance translators.
• How to Get Started: Become fluent in at least two languages, earn certification if possible, and apply for gigs on translation websites or offer services directly to businesses.

Offline Jobs for Stay-At-Home Moms

If you have the opportunity to get out of the house for short bursts or you want to include your children in your work, consider one of these legitimate gigs.

15. Child care provider 

If you stay home with your kids, you can earn income by watching other people’s children at the same time. You can offer before or after-school care for older kids or full-time hours for parents with young kids. Extra services can include transportation to and from school or weekend hours for parents who do shift work or want some kid-free time for date night.

You can advertise your services on Facebook, community bulletin boards, or by signing up with a service like Care.com. Make sure you check with local and state regulations that might apply to watching kids in your home.

• Potential Earnings: $10 – $25 per hour, depending on location and number of children.
• How to Get Started: Meet any local licensing requirements, create a safe and engaging space in your home, and advertise your services to local parents or through online platforms.

Related: How Gennifer Rose Earns $5,000 per Month as a Surrogate Mother 

16. Pet sitter

People need someone to care for their pets when they’re away from home. If you’re looking for an easy work-from-home job you can do with kids in tow, starting a pet-sitting business is a solid option.

You can offer dog walking or boarding services, cat feeding and litter box changing services, or even small rodent care. It’s up to you what services you provide and to what kinds of animals. Use a website like Rover.com to find clients or you can advertise your pet care services locally or through social media.

What makes this stay-at-home mom job great is that you’ll earn money and teach your kids how to care for pets and grow a business at the same time.

• Potential Earnings: $15 to $25 per visit, $50 to $75 overnight. Rates vary by location and services offered.
• How to Get Started: Gain pet care experience, create a profile on platforms like Rover, get pet first aid certified, and use testimonials to build trust.

17. Laundry service provider

Most people don’t like to do laundry or have the time to do it as often as they’d like. You can provide a valuable service by washing, drying, and folding their laundry for them. You can even offer alterations and ironing to earn additional income.

This works as a great in-home job, especially if you don’t have a car or limited access to public transportation as you can have your customers drop their laundry off (and pick it up) directly at your house. You can do the work at any time, and you can have your kids help you with the task.

Word-of-mouth is best for advertising this kind of service, but you can use social media, Care.com, or other job boards to promote your washing and folding business.

• Potential Earnings: $15 – $30 per hour, depending on services offered and local demand.
• How to Get Started: Learn laundry care techniques, market locally and online, and set competitive rates based on services like washing, folding, and ironing.

18. Craft seller

Selling homemade crafts like quilts, picture frames, T-shirts, and jewelry is a fun way to make money as a stay-at-home mom. There are a number of places to sell your wares such as Etsy, craft shows, or your own Facebook business page. You control everything from inventory and price, to how many hours you spend working.

If you want to make it easier and don’t want to manage any inventory, you can use a dropshipping site like Shopify to host your store and send products to your customers.

You can have your kids help you make your crafts or give them their own section to sell their crafts. It’s a great way to spend time together and make money at the same time.

• Potential Earnings: Earnings vary widely; profit margins depend on product, pricing, and sales channels.
• How to Get Started: Create unique items or curate a collection, then set up a shop on platforms like Etsy, eBay, or Shopify to sell your crafts.

19. Data entry clerk

Data entry clerks input information into databases, a role well-suited for stay-at-home moms looking for flexible work they can pick up and put down at a moment’s notice. These jobs require basic computer skills and attention to detail.

To get started, proficiency in typing and familiarity with spreadsheet and word processing software are essential. Opportunities for data entry jobs can be found on various online job boards and freelance platforms. It’s an ideal position for those seeking to work at their own pace, offering the ability to balance work with family commitments while contributing financially from home.

• Potential Earnings: $10 – $20 per hour, based on the speed and complexity of the data being entered.
• How to Get Started: Practice typing and data entry skills, familiarize yourself with common data management systems, and look for data entry job postings online.

Stay-at-Home Mom Side Hustles

The careers we’ve listed here are great stay-at-home mom jobs for those who want or need a full-time setup. But what about moms who just want to earn a little extra money on the side?

There are plenty of good side hustles for stay-at-home moms to make money without the commitment of a new career. You won’t make as much money, but these ideas can help you get extra cash.

Market researcher

Market research companies need to know what consumers think and they find out by conducting research through paid online surveys. You can sign up to take these surveys and earn cash and rewards. It’s a quick and easy way to make money from home.

There are lots of sites that claim to pay you for taking surveys, but many offer very low pay or are just plain scams. Freecash, Survey Junkie, and Swagbucks are reliable companies that pay you to take surveys.

Food delivery driver

If you have kids in school and access to a car, you might be able to make some money during those hours by delivering food for companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats, or by shopping for groceries with Instacart.

The money you earn depends on how many orders you accept, any tips you receive, and the hours you work (i.e. peak delivery times pay more than off-peak). Make sure you read the requirements and payment schedule for each program before you apply, and factor in expenses like gas and car maintenance.

Flipper

By selling items you no longer need or sourcing undervalued goods to sell at a profit, you can tap into the growing market for pre-owned items.

This approach not only helps in decluttering and organizing your home but remains one of the precious few income ideas that require minimal upfront investment. 

Source items on places like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, local thrift stores, or flea markets, and refurbish or resell on niche marketplaces like Decluttr (tech), Etsy (handmade), and thredUP (clothing). 

Balancing Work and Family Life

Balancing work and family life as a stay-at-home mom involves strategic planning and setting clear boundaries. If you’re finding it difficult to juggle both, these tips may help: 

1. Create a Schedule: Designate specific work hours that fit around your family’s routine. Early mornings, nap times, or evenings can be productive times for work without interrupting family time.
2. Set Up a Dedicated Workspace: Having a specific area for work helps in mentally separating work from home life, making it easier to focus during work hours and step away when it’s family time.
3. Prioritize Tasks: Identify your most important tasks for the day, both for work and family. This helps in managing your time effectively and ensures that you’re not overcommitting yourself.
4. Communicate with Your Family: Share your schedule with your family so they understand your work commitments. This helps in setting realistic expectations and supports in managing interruptions.
5. Take Breaks and Self-Care: Regular breaks and self-care are vital. They prevent burnout and ensure you have the energy to enjoy time with your family and be productive in your work.

Tax Considerations  

Firstly, It’s important to determine if you’re classified as an independent contractor or an employee, as this affects your tax liabilities and deductions.

Independent contractors need to set aside a portion of their income for taxes, as they’re responsible for both income tax and self-employment tax.

“Make sure you set aside 20% – 35% of your side hustle income to cover your tax obligations to the federal government, your state, and even your local government,” says Ben Watson, CPA and vCFO at DollarSprout. 

Keeping meticulous records of income and work-related expenses is vital, as many costs, such as home office setup, internet, and even a portion of your utilities, can be deductible. It’s also wise to make estimated tax payments quarterly to avoid a large tax bill at the end of the year.

Consulting with a tax professional can provide personalized advice, helping navigate the complexities of tax laws and maximizing potential deductions, ensuring that your financial contributions from home-based jobs are as efficient and beneficial as possible.

Related: 6 Tips to Avoid an Unexpected Tax Bill from Your Side Hustle

Child Care Options

Diving into childcare options can make a huge difference for stay-at-home moms juggling work and kids.

Whether it’s part-time daycare, a trusted nanny, playdates, or a shared care co-op, these strategies offer the breathing room needed to focus on work tasks. It’s all about finding the right balance that allows you to be present as a parent while also meeting your professional goals.

The post 19 Flexible Stay-At-Home Jobs for Moms That Pay Well appeared first on DollarSprout.

This year is setting up to be no different. And while the numbers aren’t as eye-popping as they’ve been in years past, due to low unemployment and signs of a tepid economy, merchants have still announced over 400,000 seasonal openings they look to cash in on the busy season. 

“Many are pulling out every stop they can think of. They’re raising wages. They’re offering an increased number of jobs with benefits. They’re offering flexible schedules. They’re literally offering entry-level job seekers the opportunity to go to college and have it paid for,” says Ian Siegal, CEO of ZipRecruiter._[1]

If you’re out of a job, looking for more hours, or simply searching for new opportunities, you’ll be happy to know that the holiday season – coined the “hiring season” – is just around the corner.

10 Companies Hiring Seasonal Workers at $15 Per Hour (or More)

From traditional seasonal jobs at retailers like Kohl’s and Macy’s to packing and delivery-oriented jobs with shipping companies like FedEx and UPS, all the way to online jobs with tech giants like Amazon and Radial (eBay’s parent organization) – large companies are offering perks beyond just a high base salary to lure in potential workers.

1. Target

Target announced it is hiring an additional 100,000 new team members for its nearly 2,000 stores, distribution centers, and fulfillment centers across the world. There are job openings in logistics, sales, cashiering, inventory management, and food services (some locations have cafes on-site).

Employees receive a 10% discount on Target merchandise and get 20% off wellness purchases. Target’s On Demand initiative also aims to allow workers with inconsistent schedules to pick up hours more flexibly._[2]

Seasonal workers also get access to free mental health and virtual doctor visits during their employment period. 

Current Openings:  100,000
Pay:  Starting at $15.00 per hour
Apply:  Search Target Job Openings

2. Walmart

Like their giant commerce competitors, Walmart has upped the pay ante by offering workers an average wage of nearly $17 per hour to help with their retail, curbside, and online positions. With over 10,000 locations, 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a store — meaning your daily commute doesn’t have to present as a lump of coal this holiday season. 

Walmart has signaled they won’t be hiring as many seasonal workers as they usually do for 2023, but are instead focused on hiring or relocating workers to locations where employee needs are greatest. For example, they’re currently offering $7,500 for workers to move to their Lancaster, TX location._[3] 

Associates have realistic pathways towards career advancement — 75% of salaried store management began their careers as hourly employees — and Walmart currently offers 100% tuition and book reimbursement through their Live Better U program.

If you transition to a full-time role, additional perks include:

• Paid time off
• No-cost counseling
• 401(k) with a 15% match up to $1,800 yearly
• Parental leave and more

Current Openings: 500
Pay:  $15 per hour and up
Apply:  Search Walmart Job Openings

Related: 15 Festive Ways to Make Extra Money for Christmas 

3. UPS

UPS hires package handlers, drivers, and  “driver helpers” to help with the holiday rush. That rush applies to hiring too, as UPS says they’re looking to go from application to “hired” in 30 minutes or less for the 2023-2024 holiday season._[4]

According to a company spokesman, “over 74% of seasonal workers wanted their temporary position to turn into a long-term job” — a huge positive for someone looking for lengthier opportunities. 

With pay starting between $21 and $23 per hour, temp employees can further boost their earnings by electing to participate in the company’s Earn and Learn program, which pays up to $25,000 (lifetime maximum) towards an employee’s higher education expenses._[5]

Current Openings:  100,000
Pay:  $21 to $23 per hour (certain locations offer weekly bonuses of $100 to $200)
Apply:  Search UPS Job Openings

4. JCPenny

J.C. Penney’s is looking to add around 10,000 new cashiers and sales associates to their 650 retail stores in the United States. They’re also hiring operations associates to help with backroom inventory and merchandise replenishment._[6]

Perks are location-dependent but include up to a $3 per hour “Premium Hour” boost for high-demand periods, 25% employee discounts on merchandise, and unlimited $300 bonuses for referred employees.

Current Openings:  10,000
Pay:  Up to $17.00 per hour (with Premium Hour incentives) 
Apply:  Search JCPenney’s Job Openings

5. Kohl’s

Kohl’s is getting in on the seasonal action and opening its doors to new sales, freight and distribution associates. Kohl’s sales associates typically help stock merchandise, provide customer service, fill online orders, and assist with credit operations.

Their freight and distribution associates typically help with order packaging and delivery.

Associates will receive a 15% store discount and get paid weekly — a convenient perk for those needing near-immediate cash flow. 

Current Openings:  Thousands (not specified) 
Pay:  Starting at $13 to $15.00 per hour
Apply:  Search Kohl’s Job Openings

6. Radial

Radial is looking to fill over 10,000 open positions in its fulfillment and customer service centers. Workers help source and send the surge of orders the company is expecting over the holidays._[7]

Wages for Radial’s seasonal workers are location-dependent but start at $15 per hour and go higher from there, according to a company spokesman. They provide some of the highest-paying seasonal jobs available. Employees will also have the opportunity to be brought on as permanent team members.

Current Openings:  10,000
Pay:  $15 per hour and up
Apply:  Search Radial Job Openings

7. FedEx

FedEx is looking for new packagers and drivers this holiday season. They’re additionally looking for roles in data science and IT. If you think you can handle a warehouse or brave the elements, or have computer smarts, FedEx is positing jobs with wages starting at $16 per hour for all shifts (morning, day, evening, and overnight, with premium pay for full-time workers). 

Current Openings:  Hundreds (not specified)
Pay:  Starting at $16 per hour + incentives 
Apply:  Search FedEx Job Openings

8. Macy’s

Mac’s is looking to fill nearly 38,000 seasonal jobs between their retail storefronts, fulfillment facilities, online chat jobs, and over-the-phone customer service roles, and nearly 1,000 support staff for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and other holiday events.

Notable perks include: 

• Up to 20% merchandise discount
• Flexible scheduling
• Regular, optional overtime shifts
• $500 employee referral bonus
• Additional $2 per hour weekend bonus program
• Path to Growth Incentive
• Quarterly bonus offered to qualifying colleagues

Current Openings:  38,000
Pay:  Starting at $15 per hour (plus incentives)
Apply:  Search Macy’s Job Openings

9. Amazon

It’s no surprise that one of the world’s largest companies is looking for some serious manpower this time of year. Specifically, they’re looking for help filling 250,000 full and part-time fulfillment and transportation jobs. 

“The e-commerce giant also wrote in a blog post that it will invest $1.3 billion this year toward pay hikes for warehouse and transportation employees, raising the average pay for those roles from $19 to over $20.50 per hour,” according to the hiring announcement._[8]

While Amazon has caught flak in the past for their hiring and pay practices, the new wage and bonus offerings are amongst the highest we’ve seen for seasonal workers, especially those interested in continuing work after the holidays. 

Current Openings:  250,000
Pay:  $19 per hour and up
Apply:  Search Amazon Job Openings

10. 1-800-Flowers

1-800-Flowers, alongside companies like FTD, are looking for customer service associates to help with the surge in holiday flower requests. Employees would be helping fulfill, track, and troubleshoot the large volume of orders coming through during the Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day seasons (no need to worry about a crash course on becoming a florist although those positions are open too).

Temporary employees with good track records and great attendance are often invited to stay on as permanent team members.

Current Openings:  8,000
Pay:  $15 to $17 per hour depending on the position 
Apply:  Search 1-800-Flowers Job Openings

“Temp” Jobs Can Lead to Full-Time Opportunities

Many of the seasonal jobs posted are temporary (to help with the holiday rush) while others help fill vacant full-time positions; many have great benefits.

Having your foot halfway in the door, even in a temporary role, is a great way to secure a more permanent position and advance your career.

Related: 5 Financial Mistakes to Avoid This Holiday Season 

The post 10 Seasonal Jobs Hiring at $15 per Hour or More appeared first on DollarSprout.

A nursing to marketing transplant, I had no formal education when it came to digital advertising, social media marketing, and influencership, the seemingly essential skills needed to drive traffic. But everywhere I looked to study these concepts, I found I wasn’t alone.

Even people with formal “marketing” degrees were scoffing (just look here, here, here to get an idea) at how poorly universities equip graduates with the hard skills they’ll need to help run a business. 

Facebook ads, webinar funnels, truly effective social media marketing, none of it is being taught in schools. Or if it is, its theory and principle versus actual implementation. After all, what university is going to lend you $500 — let alone $50,000 — in advertising spend to practice with. And yet, billion-dollar businesses rely on multi-million dollar per year ad spend to keep things afloat. 

The incongruency between formal education and needed business acumen creates an opportunity for self-taught, privately mentored, or enterprise-trained individuals to offer services that are truly essential to businesses — at their own price point. 

If you’re one of a select group of people on the planet that can effectively scale fix- and six-figure ad campaigns, create high-converting funnels, or consistently rank at the top of Google for important search terms, your skillset cannot easily be replaced. You easily become the most important person in the room. 

With that in mind, here are ten essential digital marketing skills — which aren’t effectively being taught in school — that are crucial to virtually every modern business with an online presence. 

1. Web analytics

Big data powers some of the largest companies in the world. Even mom-and-pop shops will benefit from a clear understanding of what customers are doing when they visit their web properties.

Google Analytics has long been the premier tool for tracking visitors, how long they stay, and the types of products and pages consumers are most interested in. This sort of quantitative data can be used to make pivotal decisions about future product or content offerings that consumers are interested in.

Elite marketers can take things a step further by supplementing inferences gained by analyzing quantitative data with powerful deductions gained by analyzing qualitative data: how users behave and/or feel about the pages they’re visiting.

From automated A/B testing and heat mapping to session recording and feedback widgets, advanced tracking tools like Google Tag Manager, Crazy Egg, and Hotjar can be used to help businesses gain an understanding of what consumers are doing once they actually reach a webpage.

• Tools worth learning: Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Hotjar, Crazy Egg, Kissmetrics
• Courses worth taking: Google Analytics Academy

2. Social media marketing

Organic social media marketing has changed tremendously over the past several years. Gone are the days of chronologically sorted timeline/news feed distribution (say goodbye to the easy traffic heyday of Google+, Facebook, and Pinterest), in are the days of engagement-based distribution. 

Brands have caught on — hence the tacky call-to-actions asking consumers to interact with posts — but their implementation is often rocky at best. It’s all well and dandy to understand the types of content that typically perform well on social, but intimately understanding specific social platforms is what will get businesses results.

As such, it’s common to see brands establish a presence on several different platforms where their audience lives, but their inbound marketing success often lives and dies with their ability to master a specific social media outlet ( and then leverage that success into growth of the brand on different platforms.) 

If social is your thing, start by learning the fundamentals of a comprehensive marketing strategy. HubSpot Academy offers one such course.

Denise Dorman, an award-winning inbound marketer and Top 1% subject matter expert on LinkedIn, suggests familiarizing yourself with the tools that will actually move the needle for clients. She recommends Hootsuite, HubSpot, and Talkwalker as social listening tools that will help guide marketers into creating actionable items that clients can move on.

After mastering the fundamentals, start by working to your strengths. If you excel at seeing the big picture, work to create a holistic strategy for reaching your (or brands) ideal client where they are.

If you prefer to niche down because you see potential on a single platform, become the go-to consultant for that media source. 1-on-1 coaching, account consulting, knowledge courses, and asset creation are but a few of the many services you can offer. 

• Tools worth learning: Buffer, Buzzsumo, Hootsuite, Mention, Hubspot, Talkwalker 
• Courses worth taking: HubSpot Academy, TikTok Marketing Masterclass, Advanced Social Media Marketing for Picking Up Clients 

3. CRO

Conversion rate optimization — CRO for short — isn’t exactly a new science. But, you won’t find digital CRO best practices in a textbook at your local university. Instead, you’ll find scattered literature in an array of entry-level marketing classes that talks in general terms about how improving conversion rates can impact a brand or business’s bottom line. And then they proceed to share very little about how to actually do it. 

And that’s where understanding today’s advanced tracking tools can make you an invaluable part of any marketing team. Simply put, there are a finite number of digital tools on Earth that help businesses make sense of conversion data, but many lack the personnel or understanding to put them into practice. 

Their usefulness cannot be understated. 

Example 1: A small, privately-owned clothing boutique with 4 full-time employees can’t understand why the online sales page for one of their popular dresses isn’t converting the way they thought it would. A CRO expert uses A/B testing software to control several variables on the sales page, including but not limited to: alternating creatives (dress images), subtle copywriting changes, check-out button location, and neuromarketing-oriented changes. After the suggested changes are implemented, the conversion rate jumps from 2.5% to 9.0% to previously warmed traffic, resulting in a 260% increase in revenue. 

Example 2: A CRO expert is consulted by a local plumbing company to see if changes to their services page would lead to increased customer acquisition. The expert quickly notices the services page lacks any sort of call-to-action (CTA) that might prompt a customer to take immediate action. An eye-catching CTA box is added above the fold (top of the page) that solicits potential customer information. Calls to the company’s dedicated service phone line increase 65% month over month, and a new database of recurring client information is created. 

Getting started is easy, as many certification courses require less than ten hours of training. With a relatively low barrier to entry, mastering CRO helps you stand out in a relatively unsaturated field. 

• Tools worth learning: Hotjar, Crazy Egg, LuckyOrange, Google Optimize, VWO Testing, Instapage
• Classes worth taking: Complete Conversion Rate Optimization Course, CRO Training

4. CRM

Customer relationship management systems (CRMs) help companies track every portion of the customer journey. A relatively young web industry, CRM experts help companies make sense of customer leads they’re acquiring, and what sort of journey they want the customer to go through as they become more acquainted with the brand. 

These systems can be incredibly simple, like a blogger that wants to capture reader emails and send them through an automated email sequence (that familiarizes them with the blogger’s story and builds trust).

Or they can be incredibly complex — a Fortune 500 company that needs to know which consumers are ready to convert on a particular funnel, and which customers need additional fostering to build a purchase relationship. 

In either instance, knowledge of CRM tools can help you track and organize every component of the customer journey. Need to know if a customer has lost a package or voiced a complaint? CRMs can log that. Need to know which customers are most likely to become repeat customers? CRMs generate those reports, too. From contact information and service issues to sales opportunities and full marketing campaign tracking, CRM systems are the premier way for businesses to get a clear picture of the entire customer journey. 

• Tools worth learning: Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot CRM
• Classes worth taking: HubSpot Academy, Salesforce Administrator, Zoho CRM Certified Consultant

5. SEO

Few marketing skills are as simultaneously loved as much they are hated; such is the case with search engine optimization (SEO). The number one source of free, targeted traffic on Earth, companies across the globe clamor to be at the of SERPs (search engine response pages) for queries important to their business. 

Want to be the premier plumber in Seattle? Have your website rank #1 for the search “best plumber in Seattle”. Want to sell math tutoring services in your local area? You guessed it: rank #1 for “best math tutor near me”. 

It sounds simple…it’s anything but. Besides the competition (it’s free customers), major search providers (Google, Bing, etc.) constantly change their guidance on what constitutes best-practice SEO, if they share guidance at all. For what it’s worth, it makes sense things are so convoluted. 

1. The algorithms they use to rank search results are proprietary. Closely guarded trade secrets, in a nutshell. 
2. They want to keep a level playing field, less they be accused of favoritism. Ethically speaking, these companies know their search algorithms impact nearly every business on Earth. Their end goal is to return search results that are most helpful to the user so that users continue to search on their platform. 

As such, their guidance is generally very simple: create web pages that match what users are looking for, provide unique value, and don’t try to game the system. The constant change in guidance — even if at times seemingly contradictory — is what builds the love/hate relationship marketers have with SEO. 

While SEO has been around for decades, and there are almost certainly classes taught on basic optimization principles in schools, few curriculums can keep up with the ever-changing guidance that is released on the topic. This is a huge deal because outdated practices/optimization techniques can be critically harmful to a business’s aspirations when it comes to ranking for certain terms. As such, most advanced SEOs are self-taught, have a mentor, or have worked in a marketing agency/enterprise setup to gain their skillset. 

Independently mastering the skill can help you claw in millions of dollars in “free” exposure for a business, or gain you desirable positioning to sell your own product or service.  

• Tools worth learning: Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, Deep Crawl
• Courses worth taking: Stupid Simple SEO, Semrush Academy, HubSpot Academy, SEO Starter Guide by Google

6. Email marketing

A personal weakness of mine, email marketing is an incredibly effective tool for interacting with followers, building trust, and pitching interested customers. In fact, email subscribers are often a company’s most robust source of revenue. Most simply, this is because these followers have already shown some form of interest. 

• An email address was acquired through a past purchase.
• An email address was acquired because of a value proposition. (The company offered something — often free — in return for a customer’s email address.)
• An email address was acquired out of a genuine desire to learn more about a product or service. 

In any of the three instances, the leap to conversion is small. These followers are ready or near ready to make a purchase. With a strong email game, marketers can start and foster the beginning of the customer relationship.

Even if the relationship solely exists to build trust and name recognition, with no immediate conversion in site, consumers are more likely to come back to that brand in the future if/when they’re in need of their product or service. If you’re a skilled copywriter, even if you’re background in writing emanates from a totally different area, the jump to email marketing may be a small one. 

• Tools worth learning: Constant Contact, Drip, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, Pardot
• Courses worth taking: Start Growing Your Own Email List Today, HubSpot Academy, ClickMinded  

7. SEM and digital advertising

Run a quick Google search for the query “Facebook Advertising College Class” — or Instagram, or TikTok, or Snapchat — and let me know when you find an organic result for a college that offers something of substance. I’ll wait. 

The patient searcher may find LSU’s $2,499 Facebook Digital Marketing Specialist Certificate buried on page 4 of the search results. But, again, we’re talking theory vs. implementation. Just look at the expected learning outcomes: 

Understand this, understand that. A surface-level primer of subject material. This isn’t to rag on LSU or any other university for that matter — they’re bold for helping introduce interested learners to the field. It just highlights the steep challenge higher education faces when A/B testing creative advertising material can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. 

Alas, $356 billion was spent on digital advertising in 2020._[1] The vast majority spent by a select few marketing specialists that have mastered reaching customers where they spend an inordinate amount of time: on search and social media platforms.  

Search engine marketing, often Google/YouTube/Bing Ads, or paid social acquisition (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok ads, etc.), helps businesses reach new customers as a part of a holistic marketing strategy. From targeting cold audiences (display ads) to re-targeting cart abandonments with discounts or one-time offers (OTOs), digital advertising is often the most controlled variable in a business’s expenses.

If the average lifetime value of a customer to a particular brand is $182, and you can get them in the door for $6.37 in ad spend, you’re going to have a job as long as you can count. 

• Tools worth learning: Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ad Manager, Zapier, AdEspresso
• Courses worth taking: Facebook Side Hustle, Google Ads Certification, Social Media Marketing Mastery

8. Advanced affiliate marketing

There’s a phrase commonly used amongst bloggers and email marketers that states “the money is in your list.” It’s a metaphor for the fact that, as previously mentioned, your email list is the often source of your most fervent and loyal [repeat] customers. 

And while it’s absolutely true, few things best the passive income (and scalability) that a well-constructed affiliate program boasts. (For those unaware, affiliate marketing is the act of selling another company’s product for a commission). 

Example 1: A popular teeth whitening company approaches a TikTok influencer about promoting their product. They pay a $15,000 sponsorship fee for a 30-second spot in one of the influencer’s upcoming videos. Beyond the initial sponsorship fee, the company offers a $15.00 commission for each viewer that visits an interest form and signs up giving their name and email address. The $15.00 CPA (cost-per-action) is an evergreen relationship that incentivizes the influencer to keep promoting the company if/where it’s relevant within their content. 

Example 2: A well-known credit card company needs an affiliate manager to set up and track affiliate relationships with over 1,000 finance content publishers. The affiliate manager uses one of several available affiliate network software’s to create the automated program, negotiate payouts with publishers, and create unique tracking attributes to better understand when certain publishers are meeting or exceeding desired KPIs. The credit card company receives real-time reporting from the affiliate manager via a robust reporting dashboard and selects a few high-quality publishers to run large-scale promotional campaigns with. 

In either example, an affiliate marketer uses their mastery-level understanding of commonly used affiliate software to create an advertiser-publisher relationship that mutually benefits each party. As a one-man show, you’ll be expected to know the intricacies of cookie tracking, server-based tracking, and all the nuanced complexities associated with ensuring that conversions across all devices and browsers occur when they’re supposed to. 

Influencers and publishers like to get paid for commissions and brands don’t like to deal with the fallout when things don’t track correctly. You have to be on your A-game here, but you’ll often get paid handsomely for it. 

• Tools worth learning: Impact, Tune, Everflow, Cake, Post Affiliate Pro, ClickBank, CJ Affiliate
• Courses worth taking: Start Your Affiliate Marketing Business, Authority Site System, Sub-Campaign Tracking Guide 

9. E-commerce store management 

Dropshipping, Amazon FBA, Shopify, Alibaba. It’s all word soup for what has become affectionately known as e-commerce to many forward-thinking entrepreneurs over the past 25 years. I’m not talking about your local Kohl’s taking their brick-and-mortar locations online (although that’s e-commerce, too), I’m talking about the small-box retailers competing against the well-established giants for space in the digital ecosystem. 

The once-small startup trying to sell razors (hello Dollar Shave Club). The local clothing boutique trying to get its new product line out there. The small-town art gallery trying to get traction. The David’s of the world, not the Goliaths. 

These companies often struggle to make it because their digital presence isn’t there to help make ends meet when their physical location underperforms. Even local bakeries can 10x their business with the right e-commerce systems in place. And for every dozen businesses that struggle, you see that one headline of a kid out there crushing it. 

While things have come a long way, and do-it-yourself digital storefront options abound, the truth is most small business owners don’t understand the difference between simply listing their stock, and using website architecture, CRO, SEO, and paid advertising to get the most of out their shop. 

While there’s a lot there to untangle, merely setting up an e-commerce shop, making it user-friendly and easy to navigate, and establishing a payment gateway is often too much for small business owners to handle. 

• Tools worth learning: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, JungleScout, ProProfs, Oberlo
• Courses worth taking: Shopify Partner Academy, WooCommerce 101, BigCommerce University, Ecom Success Academy [Premium]

10. Project management, freelance support, and outsourcing

There comes a point in time where business owners almost universally realize one thing: they can’t do it all. 

It’s hard to let go. It’s hard to not micromanage when you feel like you’re the only one who can and will do things correctly. But not letting certain aspects of your business go is almost certainly a nail in your coffin when it comes to growing and maintaining a business. 

Some business owners know this, and they’re actually ready to take the first step, but they don’t know where to start, or what to actually outsource. They get it wrong, waste money outsourcing the wrong thing, and now they’re out time, money, and their sanity.  That’s where a project management expert can help.

As the expert, you’ll get intimately familiar with a client’s business, organize it from top to bottom, and help them identify the correct areas to plug and play freelance/contract support if hiring FTEs isn’t on the table. 

You’ll start by having in-depth discussions about standard operating procedures, company goals, and opportunities for growth. You’ll systematize and organize projects within popular project management softwares (Asana, Trello, Basecamp and so many more), and you’ll get to work finding inefficiencies in the current workflow that you can effectively (and affordably) hire out to start alleviating pressure on business owners struggling to maintain operational control. 

For the detailed-oriented neat freak, it’s the perfect tech job. And it’s one companies will praise you for over and over again when things start operating smoother than Trea Turner’s recent slide into home.

• Tools worth learning: Asana, Trello, Basecamp, LiquidPlanner, Teamwork
• Courses worth taking: Simplilearn, BrainSensei

The post 10 Digital Marketing Skills They Don’t Teach You in School appeared first on DollarSprout.

We had about 1,000 ideas written down at any given time. We’d wake up, meet in the living room (back when we shared an apartment), have our coffee, then sit down and start working on whatever idea we felt most inspired about that day.

You might be thinking that doesn’t sound like the best strategy for building a business. And you’d be right.

There were many weeks and months where we looked back and thought, “What did we even accomplish?” We weren’t making (or were barely making) any money, which is kind of the whole point of a business. Without revenue, you really just have a hobby.

We spent so much of our time being busy, working 14+ hours a day. But we weren’t being very productive, and we definitely weren’t focused on the things that matter most in a business — the ones that bring in revenue.

We didn’t know it at the time, but we’re far from the only people who venture into self-employment that have this experience.

The Idea for the Freelancer Playbook

We’ve been in business for over five years now. In that time, we’ve met a lot of other business owners.

Having a community of fellow self-employed entrepreneurs is great for sharing business highs and ideas. But it’s also great for commiserating.

It’s through this commiserating that we realized so many people experienced the same problems we did in our business:

• Always feeling “busy” but not productive
• Not knowing what to focus on or how to prioritize tasks and projects
• Unclear of the path forward and how to actually grow a business

Now, before we go on, I want to be very clear about two things:

1. Ben and I have never really been freelancers.

We started our business as a membership site. Then when that didn’t work out, we transitioned to a media company.

We did have a handful of coaching/consulting clients in the early stages, but freelancing was never really our business model. Why, then, would we decide to create a planner for freelancers?

Well, a few reasons:

• There are already a lot of planners and journals out there for people who aren’t freelancers or solo-preneurs. But there are very few planners that address the unique challenges of a freelance business owner.
• We love the idea of freelancing. There are over 57 million freelancers in the U.S. for a reason._[1] It’s one of the most accessible ways to start an online business because you don’t need much to get off the ground — just the skills you already have and clients who are willing to pay you. Which is why freelancing is one of the number one ways we recommend for building a business or making extra money.
• Freelancers struggle with these issues the most. At least in our experience, speaking with freelancers we’ve worked with and those in our community, freelancers seem to have the most trouble focusing on the right things and building sustainable revenue in their business. And it makes sense. As a blogger or affiliate marketer, the money you make isn’t directly correlated to the hours you spend working. But as a freelancer, you’re often trading time for money, which means the less focused and productive you are, the less you’ll make in your business.

So that’s what led us to decide on freelancers, but what about the idea for a planner? That leads to clarification number two:

2. Neither Ben nor I have ever really been planner people.

I know that’s not a good look for us at first glance, but hear me out.

I’ve always been a pen-and-paper kind of guy. Both of us have.

When we first started this business, we had a living room full of white boards, easels, and stacks of notebooks on our living room table.

Whenever I have a lot on my brain or a new idea to work out, I sit down with my favorite pen, grab a notebook, and let the thoughts flow from my brain, down my arm and onto the paper.

There’s something about physically writing something down — whether it’s an idea or a to-do list — that you just don’t get with digital tools.

But admittedly, I’ve never liked planners. I’ve tried using several of them before, but I didn’t like the structure and rigidity of so many planners. It either felt like there was too much stuff that I didn’t need or want to use, or it just didn’t fit my goals as a business owner.

That’s why when we decided to create the Freelancer Playbook, we knew we wanted to make something practical and streamlined. Something that included everything you need to build a freelance business and nothing you don’t.

Which is why we co-created the Freelancer Playbook with actual freelancers and planner lovers. We got feedback from our own team of freelancers, created a group of over 200 beta testers, and asked the questions no one had asked them before:

• What do you absolutely have to have in a planner?
• What are deal breakers for you in a planner?
• What have been the most helpful exercises in helping you set and achieve goals in your business?
• What do you struggle with the most when it comes to staying organized and being productive in your business?

With all this information in hand, we set out to create the Freelancer Playbook.

Designing the Planner

I am not a graphic designer. 

So, naturally, I decided that I was going to be the one to design the entire planner. The cover, the logo, the daily pages, the works. 

It felt like the best way for me to understand the problems of the freelancers in our community and incorporate all their feedback. Plus, I’m guilty of sometimes making things more difficult for myself than they probably need to be.

I don’t know how to use any of the fancy design programs like Photoshop or InDesign or Illustrator. I’m a PowerPoint guy. So that’s what I used to create all the designs.

Before I started sketching out rough drafts of each page, I made two lists from the responses we’d received so far.

On the first list, I wrote what our freelance community wanted this planner to accomplish. Here’s the Objectives List:

• Help freelancers balance all the areas of their business
• Teach freelancers how to not just work “in” their biz, but “on” their biz
• Help people create (and accomplish) short- and medium-term goals
• Encourage routine introspection
• Stay on top of the day-to-day tasks
• Etc.

On the second list, I wrote down what kinds of “base” pages we would need. Here’s the Pages List:

• Daily planning pages
• Monthly calendar
• Weekly planning page
• Backburner pages
• How to Use section
• Etc.

With both lists side by side, I started connecting the dots and mapping out which Pages were going to be used to accomplish each of the Objectives. In the beginning, some Pages had a bunch of lines (i.e. Objectives) connected to them, whereas others had none. And there were a few Objectives that didn’t yet have a home.

The Sketching Begins

Once I had all of this written down on paper, it was time to start creating. To be honest, I was overwhelmed and had no idea where to start. 

After a few hours of accomplishing basically nothing, I decided to focus on just one page at a time. I started with the Daily Planning Page. This was the page people would be using the most often, so it seemed like a good place to start. Definitely smarter than designing all the pages at the same time, which is what I was trying to do before. 

Here’s how the sketching process worked:

1. I would draw out a wireframe of how I wanted the page laid out.
2. I would ask freelancers (either on our team or in our beta group) to point out everything they could think of that was wrong with the design.

And let me tell you, there was no shortage of feedback. I needed it, and I’m thankful to our community for being so generous with their time and providing thoughtful insights.

Something I learned: Don’t just ask someone what they think about something you’re making. Ask them to poke as many holes in it as possible… and keep pressing them until you have a nice list of things that can be better. People are nice and want to tell you that they love what you made, but you need to dig deeper. There is no room for emotions here!

One other thing: It can be physically impossible to incorporate everyone’s feedback. Some people want lines in their notebook, some want no lines. One person wants ribbon bookmarks, someone else hates them. At the end of the day, I trusted our feedback group and went with the majority consensus.

Turning Sketches Into Printable Files

I won’t lie, this part was a serious grind for me. Mainly because a) I’m not a graphic designer, and b) I was creating everything in PowerPoint. 

Again, we could’ve hired a designer to create everything in Illustrator, and I’m sure it would’ve saved an enormous amount of time. But I didn’t want to delegate this part of the project. Part of the purpose of co-creating this planner with our community was that I wanted to be involved, to work directly with the people we were serving. And it felt like the best way to do that was to be the one in the design chair, even if it was a new (and somewhat uncomfortable) role for me.

After each page was made in PowerPoint, I would print it out and see how it felt on physical paper. This led to way more adjustments being made than I expected, but I’m so glad I did it. Sometimes what looks good on a screen simply doesn’t translate the same way on a printed page, especially when it’s a page that’s meant to be handwritten on. 

Examples of things I changed after seeing the printed drafts:

• Font sizes
• Space between lines
• Spacing between checkboxes

Most things were minor, but wow they made a huge difference once they were fixed. I’m also realizing as I’m writing this that I might be a little too Type A.

Finding a Manufacturer and Nailing the Specs

We started this process with zero knowledge of how to make a physical product. Ben and I had literally no idea what we were doing.

I figured getting a planner made would be fairly straightforward, but alas, it was not. Before I could even get quotes from manufacturers, I needed to learn all the terminology and decide on the exact specs for the planner.

In this phase, I learned about:

• Paper weights
• Binding types (smyth-sewn, spiral, wire, etc.)
• Cover types (linen, leather, paper, etc.)
• Cover printing (emboss, deboss, foil stamping, et.)
• Standard black vs. Rich black ink
• And much more

I spent hours and hours researching all of this stuff and going back to our group to see what actually mattered to them and what they didn’t really care about. (I was glad to hear that I’m not the only paper snob.) We want the 90-Day Freelancer Playbook to be the clear #1 choice of paper planner on the market for freelancers, so I definitely took my time on this to get it 100% right.

Waiting on the Prototype

As I’m writing this post, our first prototype is still being made. It should be here in less than a week. I’m nervous as can be, but I’m also cautiously optimistic that it’s going to be awesome. We’ve been co-creating this planner with our community for months, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone and finally see it in use.

Once we get the prototype in hand, the tentative plan is to:

1. Go through, page by page, line by line, and find any mistakes.
2. Do a mini photoshoot of the planner for our Kickstarter campaign.
3. Publish the campaign and get the word out to as many people as possible who might be interested (via email list, ads, our blog, social media, etc.).

If all goes according to plan, we’ll launch the Kickstarter campaign in mid-May and (if the campaign succeeds) submit a mass production order for at least 1,000 90-Day Freelancer Playbooks in June!

Getting It Into People’s Hands

I can’t wait to see how freelancers use The Playbook. There really does seem to be a hole in the market for a planner like this one, and I think the right people are going to get a ton of value out of it.

It’s scary to try something so new and different from what we normally do in our business, and it’s also scary to share a behind-the-scenes look at how it’s going before we know if it’ll be a success. That’s part of the thrill of documenting it all online — you get to come on the journey with us.

If you’re interested in the Freelancer Playbook, you can grab a copy on our Kickstarter Campaign page.

The post Behind the Scenes Look at the 90-Day Freelancer Playbook appeared first on DollarSprout.

Sometimes, a company offers you a higher salary than its competitors, but it comes at the cost of worse benefits. The bigger paycheck may not give you the best value once you factor in the higher healthcare costs or a lower 401(k) match.

The last time I was job hunting, I was lucky enough to secure three offers. The salaries were within $5,000 of each other, but they each offered different perks. I chose the organization with the best employee benefits package, and it ended up being the right move.

Employee Benefits to Look For When Job Hunting

Sometimes you can negotiate certain benefits, but others are governed by a plan document and can’t be changed for an individual employee. Here are the benefits to look at when comparing job offers.

1. Retirement

If your potential position offers a retirement account, you may think you’ve hit the jackpot. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

These plans, such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, offer benefits that vary from firm to firm. Some come with high fees that result in diminished returns while others offer low-fee programs with great investment options.

In my first position, I got a 3% contribution to my retirement plan regardless of whether I put money in. But a different job required me to set aside 6% of my salary to get a 4% match. Before you accept an offer, understand how any matching funds can be earned.

You should also understand the vesting process. Some companies require that you work there for a certain length of time before you’re 100% vested, while others have immediate vesting.

2. Paid time off

The names for this benefit vary. It may be called paid time off (PTO), vacation, sick time, or paid leave.

Whenever I switched workplaces, I always tried to negotiate more vacation time. I was often able to secure an additional week of PTO beyond what each employer offered, even though it went against the established policy. Firms may not be willing to budge from their official paid leave benefits, though.

3. Raises, bonuses, or overtime

Knowing your total compensation is vital. You have to understand how much you’ll be paid beyond your salary or hourly rate.

Ask if you’ll be eligible for overtime. For non-exempt workers, overtime pay is governed by law. Despite the fact I was an exempt employee, which is a term for employees not required to be paid overtime, my first position offered straight-time overtime for their salaried workers.

Bonuses and raises can play a big factor in your total take-home pay. Research pay potential on anonymous sites like Glassdoor. You should also ask the hiring manager about their usual bonus and pay increase practices.

An organization that offers a high initial salary but only gives raises for major promotions may not be the best choice. Another company that gives sizable annual raises to most employees may result in higher pay down the road.

Related: How to Ask for a Raise: The Advice No One Ever Gave You

4. Insurance

Employers may offer health, vision, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance. Other types of insurance, such as pet insurance, may be offered in rare cases.

When comparing insurance options, ask for the insurance plan documents. This gives you an idea of what the insurance pays for. Premiums, deductibles, providers, and coverage options can vary between plans.

Find out if the business subsidizes the cost of the policy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average civilian employer pays 67% of a family health insurance plan’s cost. This can provide massive savings.

While insurance isn’t negotiable, it’s necessary to understand what you’re being offered.

5. Work from home opportunity

The opportunity to work from home is a benefit more workplaces are offering. You may want the option to avoid the office to save on commuting time and costs. Some people perform better away from the distractions of the workplace.

Even human resources professionals see the benefits of remote work.

“If I were to convince an employer to allow me to work from home, and I did, I would definitely talk about the potential for increased productivity,” said Sandy Smith, Senior Certified Professional in HR and founder of the Elevate Community.

Related: Is Working From Home Bad for Your Mental Health?

6. Paid training

Paid training can be a big money saver if you hold a professional license that requires continuing education. It may be offered to help you learn skills or to maintain certifications relevant to your career.

As a Certified Public Accountant, I must complete 40 hours of continuing professional education each year to maintain my license. My public accounting firm jobs paid for my training, but I had to negotiate having my education costs covered when I moved to corporate accounting.

7. Tuition reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement can benefit employees and the companies providing you the option to pursue a bachelor’s or a graduate degree. Even so, tuition reimbursement doesn’t mean you can study anything.

“If you’re going to be pursuing another degree or program, understand what potential employers cover in their reimbursement programs,” said Jen Bohler, PHR, SHRM-CP and YouTuber at The Budget Bounce. “If yours isn’t currently included, try to negotiate it into your offer, and get it in writing.”

Be sure you understand any repayment or employment restrictions associated with the benefit. You may have to repay certain costs if you leave before your agreement specifies.

Related: Should You Get a Graduate Degree?

8. Student loan assistance

As the student loan crisis continues to grow, more employers are assisting with the repayment of student loan debt. You may have to meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for a workplace’s program, though.

Programs may offer monthly, yearly, or matching payments. Lifetime maximums on the total amount repaid or program time limits are standard.

9. Family planning benefits

Paid parental leave has become a hot topic in the United States. FMLA requires 12 weeks of unpaid leave in certain circumstances, but paid time off isn’t required.

“It’s nice to be able to expand your family without worrying about money,” Smith said. “More companies are providing up to 12 weeks of paid leave for men, women, and adoptive parents.”

Some progressive companies are even offering assistance with the costs of fertility treatment or adoptions.

10. Employee stock purchase plan

Some businesses provide workers an opportunity to own shares of the firm’s stock through an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). These can be a great way to invest at a discount if you believe in your organization’s future.

The programs have strict guidelines, but it’s one way to get extra compensation through the discounted stock price. There are tax consequences for investing.

I never participated in an ESPP. The industry I worked in wasn’t one I was fond of investing in. Plus, I didn’t want to worry about my investment and my career if the firm faced difficult financial times.

Unique Employee Benefits That Set Companies Apart

Old-fashioned employee benefits provide significant services, but innovative workplaces are moving toward offering newer perks to help make their employees’ lives better. The most important benefits to employees aren’t always traditional ones.

11. Tech benefits

If you must be responsive around the clock, you may be provided with the technology to do so. If not, the organization could give you a stipend to buy equipment.

It may be tempting to use the equipment for personal use to save money.

“If the company does give you a device such as a cell phone, laptop, or tablet, you’re likely subject to usage monitoring,” said Laura Gariepy, a human resources expert turned freelancing coach at Every Day by the Lake, LLC. “Use that equipment strictly for company business.”

12. Pet-friendly policies

If you have fur babies instead of children, pets are a huge part of your world. Employers are beginning to recognize this and may offer pet insurance or the ability to bring your pet to work.

13. Personal health benefits

Progressive firms have started offering health-related benefits other than insurance. My first workplace had a small gym in the building any employee could use.

Others may offer free or discounted services in the office on a regular schedule, such as bringing in a massage therapist once per month.

Related: 11 Good Work Habits for Becoming a Stand-Out Employee

14. Time off for volunteering

Organizations often like to give back to their communities. One way they can do this is by offering employees time off to volunteer locally. Your options may be limited to certain causes your employer supports, though.

If this perk is important to you, Bohler suggested asking if there is a designated volunteer program, if it includes company-sanctioned volunteering events, or how many hours you may get paid to volunteer per year.

15. Free meals

“When your employer provides free coffee, snacks, and meals, it can save you a pretty penny and the hassle of having to procure them on your own,” Gariepy said.

When certain workplaces offer this perk, it’s a genuine way to say thank you to employees. Other companies may use this to get you to put in more hours in the evenings. Consider the motivations behind the perk before assuming it is a benefit.

Related: How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary

Read the Specifics of Your Company’s Policies

Before you sign your offer letter, get the specifics of any employee benefit policies that are your top priorities. Ask any questions you have before you commit.

When reading the policies, look out for commitments or hidden downsides. You may be required to stay employed by the organization for three years after receiving tuition reimbursement.

If a critical employee benefit isn’t available or isn’t as strong as you’d like, try to negotiate with the employer. You may be able to secure an extra week of PTO or a 2% higher salary if a competing offer provides more robust benefits.

Remember, a job is more than the salary. The best employee perks can result in a much different compensation package when viewed as a whole with your pay.

The post 15 Best Employee Benefits to Look For When Job Hunting appeared first on DollarSprout.

The information he wanted, which included my annual income, my mortgage amount and interest rate, and how much I had in savings, had nothing to do with the work I was providing as a writer; rather, he wanted to use it for his own purposes.

He told me I had a responsibility, as a personal finance writer and editor, to be transparent. If I didn’t share those details, he’d use his investigative journalism resources and contacts to find it anyway.

Needless to say, I terminated that relationship and never looked back.

Firing a client isn’t always as clear-cut as that experience. Often, it’s hard to tell when it’s time to fire a client. And when you decide it is, it’s a difficult conversation to have. One that most freelancers would avoid.

However, if you approach firing a client professionally and courteously, you can protect your professional reputation and still get paid.

Signs It’s Time to Fire a Client

Sometimes it’s difficult to know when to let a client go. Maybe you’re quitting freelancing for a full-time job. Maybe you just want to reduce your workload to spend time on other hobbies and pursuits.

Sometimes you just want to stop working together, but you’re worried about losing money or risking them badmouthing you to other people.

It’s not always obvious when it’s time to fire a client, but there are some warning signs to consider.

• Scope creep. This happens when a client incrementally increases the amount of work, regardless of how the project was outlined in your contract, without increasing your pay. Scope creep is one of the biggest problems in the client/freelancer relationship, and is a primary cause for terminating contracts. If you’ve asked for a rate increase due to scope creep and were denied, it may be time to let go.
• Time-consuming. Sometimes you might wind up taking on a client who takes up more time than you allotted or planned. This could be for a variety of reasons including scope creep, constant emails or texts, or unnecessary phone calls. If this happens frequently, it might be time to consider letting the client go.
• Lack of respect for boundaries. A client should respect limits you put on the relationship, whether that’s communicating with you only during your established working hours, only asking you to perform tasks you’re comfortable with, or not sharing excessively personal details. If you find they’re crossing a line, you probably need to end the project.
• Poor communication. Without clear communication, a freelance project can’t succeed. If you have a client who frequently changes their mind about what they want and doesn’t tell you, fails to answer your questions directly, or disappears for days at a time with no contact, it’s likely indicative of a larger problem.
• Chronically missing deadlines. A key part of effective freelancing relationships is both parties meeting deadlines. If your client fails to provide you with documents but still insists on the same deadline, or fails to pay you on time, it’s best to terminate the relationship. Someone who doesn’t respect your time isn’t worthy of it.
• Ignores all recommendations. Depending on the nature of your freelancing project, you might find yourself making strategic recommendations to the client. If they constantly question your suggestions, blatantly ignore them, or insist that what you’ve suggested is wrong, that client might not be worth keeping around.
• Makes unreasonable demands. Unlike the other warning signs, this is one you can generally pick up on in the beginning stages of a project. If a client wants a 100,000-word book edited in two days or a house built in a week, you’ll know this upfront and can say no before you even get started. But sometimes clients start off reasonable and progressively increase their demands. When those demands become unreasonable, whether it’s setting impossible-to-meet revised deadlines or wanting you to offer a discount, it’s probably time to fire them.

Depending on the client, you might be able to fix most of the problems on this list without ending the relationship. Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself and assert your boundaries.

However, there are three circumstances in which you should almost always fire a client immediately: if they’re abusive, sexually harassing you, or asking you to do something illegal, unethical, or potentially harmful to another person or business.

The long-term consequences and harm done by abuse, harassment, and breaking the law aren’t worth it.

Related: How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Firing a Client

If you’ve established that there’s cause to fire your client, you should have an honest conversation with yourself about why, how, and any potential consequences to terminating your professional relationship.

Some questions to ask include:

• Why am I firing this client?
• How will this impact my business financially?
• How will this impact my business’s reputation?
• In what ways will this impact the client?
• Are there any legal consequences? Do I need to consult a lawyer first?
• Are there steps I can take to fix the relationship?
• Can I have an open conversation with the client, revise the contract, raise my rates, or establish stricter boundaries?

Make sure you thoroughly answer these questions. Your responses responses will inform how you approach your client. It’s also a way to work through your concerns about firing them as well as provide a foundation for your termination letter.

If you have a mastermind group, partner, or friend in the same business, talk through the questions with them as well. They might provide a perspective you hadn’t thought about or give advice on what to do next.

You might even find that, after answering these questions and talking them through with others, you can approach your client with an open and honest conversation and implement some solutions without having to fire them.

Related: What to Do When You Hate Your Job and Want to Quit

6 Tips for Professionally Firing a Client

If you’ve tried to fix the freelancer/client relationship and nothing has changed, or you’ve decided the relationship isn’t worth salvaging, you need to fire your client professionally. You don’t want to burn any bridges, and you still want to get paid.

To make sure that happens, here are a few steps to follow.

1. Set a meeting time and method.

Once you’ve made up your mind to fire a client, it’s best to get an appointment with them on your calendar as soon as possible so you don’t lose your nerve.

If you’re going to meet with them face to face, make it somewhere neutral and quiet. Your office or theirs is a good choice, but if that’s not an option, you can always try a public library, co-working space, or another public location that offers meeting rooms.

For online conversations, make sure you have a reliable internet connection and your laptop or phone is fully charged. That way your connection doesn’t go out in the middle of the conversation.

If a face-to-face meeting isn’t possible, you can terminate your client relationship via email. Before sending the message, take some time to proofread it. Make sure it’s free from spelling errors, ambiguous statements, and emotionally-charged language. You can also send it to a friend beforehand to see if they agree with the tone and content.

While it might make you feel better to say exactly how you feel, once it’s been received in writing, you can’t take it back.

Related: How to Maximize Your Productivity and Increase Your Earnings as a Freelancer

2. Create a plan and timeline.

Just like you would when quitting your job, give the client a detailed plan for ending the relationship. Spell out details including:

• Revised timeline for project completion
• Final payment schedule
• Securing a reference or recommendation

Out of professional courtesy, you can work with your client to formulate a plan that benefits both of you, but it’s a good idea to have your details worked out ahead of time. For instance, if you want to end the project in two weeks and get paid one week after submitting your final deliverable, bring that timeline to the meeting.

Even if your client doesn’t agree with your timeframe, it gives you a starting point for negotiations.

It also shows that you’re the kind of freelancer who respects your clients enough not to quit in the middle of a project. Bethany McCamish, freelance writer and owner at Bethany Works LLC, makes sure to see her contracts through until the end.

“Contracts that are ongoing (like writing work) are a bit different and can be ended at any time by either the client or myself, but I always make sure to complete the assigned articles first,” she said.

Seeing a contract through to the end helps protect your professional reputation, and you might even be able to secure a good reference from your former client.

Related: 5 Steps to Sell Your Services Online and Fill Your Freelance Schedule

3. Make it clear it’s not personal.

Even if you’re firing a client because you can’t stand them or working with them feels immoral, you want to make sure you refrain from telling them that. You want to communicate that the reasons you’re terminating the relationship are purely professional; that it’s a business decision, not a personal one.

Some reasons you can give:

• You’re raising rates
• You’re no longer providing that service
• They’ve violated the terms of your contract
• You haven’t been paid for any work

Freelance writer and best-selling author Emily Guy Birken uses a creative strategy when she lets a client go. Rather than completely quitting, she raises her rates.

“I choose an amount that would make it worthwhile for me to keep working under the same conditions, but I generally suspect that my new rate will deter the client from asking me to take on more work,” she said.

This puts it in the client’s hands whether or not they want to keep working with her, and she’s typically found that the ones she’d like to fire are the ones who don’t accept her rate increase.

While you generally want to let the client know this is a business decision, in cases of abuse or harassment, if you feel comfortable, you should address this directly with the client. Tell them that their behavior is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated, and you’re ending the project as a result.

Related: How to Ask for a Raise: The Advice No One Ever Gave You

4. Reach out to other freelancers.

When you decide to fire a client, do your due diligence and reach out to your network to see if there are any other freelancers who might be willing to take them on.

This frequently happens in a Facebook group I belong to. When one person can’t work for a client for whatever reason — they don’t have time in their schedule, the subject matter is beyond their expertise, the pay is too low — they present the opportunity to the rest of the group. Those who are interested let the original freelancer know, and that person brings the list of options to the client.

Presenting options to your clients makes it feel like they’re not being hung out to dry, and that they’ll have someone to complete the unfinished work or assist with future projects. It shows that you care about your clients and are willing to go the extra mile to help them, even when you’re no longer under contract.

It also helps your fellow freelancers, as McCamish found. “I think it’s essential as a freelancer to pass on work and help out my colleagues this way,” she said.

Paying it forward is a great way to set yourself apart and ensure that one day, someone in a similar position might do the same for you.

Remember, if a client is particularly challenging, and you can’t in good faith recommend them to someone else, don’t. You don’t want to compromise your relationships with others in your network over one bad client.

5. Write a script.

Even if you think you’ll never need to fire a client, it’s a good idea to have a script on hand just in case. There might be that one situation or project you just can’t do, and you’ll need to let the client know.

A good format for your termination script starts and ends your letter with positives and keeps the negative information — the reason you’re ending the professional relationship – in the middle.

McCamish follows this format and says it’s helped preserve her professional relationships.

“Whenever I ‘fire’ a client…I will always thank them for their business and personalize exactly how they helped me grow,” she said. “Then I give the reason for leaving. And sandwich this again with another thank you/how we can stay connected.”

Here’s a sample script that follows this format:

[Name],

Thanks for meeting with me today. While I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with you, I’ve decided that as of [date], I will no longer be able to work on this project.

After evaluating my goals, I have decided to take my business in a different direction, with a focus on new services and more work-life balance.

You can expect me to finish all the outstanding work, and I’m happy to connect you with other freelancers who might be a better fit for your needs and budget.

If you’d like, we can schedule an additional time to outline a plan going forward, including deciding which deliverables are a priority to complete and revising the payment schedule.

When using a script, it should be concise, direct, and respectful. Tailor it to your specific client and circumstances, taking care to not just copy and paste in an email.

You might also want to create different scripts for the various reasons you might fire a client, whether it’s personal reasons, raising your rates, changing the scope of your services, or something specific to your industry.

6. Trust your instincts.

Firing a client is never easy. But you know what you’re willing to deal with, and how much someone needs to pay you to put up with increasing demands or unreasonable expectations. If you’ve reached a point in your client relationship that it’s become toxic to you, and you can’t handle it anymore, it’s time to fire the client.

Although you might question your decision now, over time you’ll realize letting this client go was best for your business, your mental health, and your self-esteem.

It’s OK to Fire a Client

Whether it’s for financial reasons, worried that they’ll never find another client, or needing to build a portfolio, many freelancers feel that they need to keep working with clients who are difficult, unreasonable, or even abusive.

But that’s not the case.

If you do quality work, are professional and reliable, and have reasonable rates, there will be clients who want to use your services. And if you need to fire a client at some point, and do it respectfully, timely, and thoughtfully, it shouldn’t hurt you in the long run.

The post How to Fire a Client: 6 Tips for a Polite Breakup (with Script) appeared first on DollarSprout.

When I first started writing my resume, I made some of these common resume mistakes. In particular, I didn’t do a good job of giving specific information about my job duties or customize my resume for each job posting I applied to. Had I corrected these errors, I may have ended up taking a much different career path.

When you’re competing for a job, you don’t want your resume to stand out for the wrong reasons. Here are some common resume mistakes to avoid.

1. Spelling and grammar mistakes.

Spelling and grammar mistakes are some of the harder errors to spot, but they’re important to catch before you turn in your resume.

“Many hiring managers, myself included, will throw out resumes with even a single spelling or grammatical mistake, especially if there are many job applicants,” said Becky Blake, a millennial money expert, career coach, and founder of TwentyFree.

Well-written resumes show you’re a strong communicator, but those with spelling or grammar errors warn employers you aren’t detail-oriented. And if the job is competitive, a manager may have no qualms about tossing a potential candidate because of a resume typo.

Typos on resumes make sense. When you’re staring at a document for hours, it’s easy to read what you meant to write rather than what’s on the page. Have friends or family proofread your resume because they’ll be more likely to catch typos.

If you don’t have anyone else to help, give yourself at least a 24-hour break before looking at your resume a final time. You should also read it aloud to see if it reads well and makes sense.

“Consider reading it from bottom to top to catch mistakes that you’d previously missed,” Blake said.

Related:  How to Make a Resume from Start to Finish

2. Including generic information.

Generic statements about your job experience don’t give hiring managers the full picture. Make your work history shine by including specifics.

Communicate the nature of the duties you oversaw. Rather than saying you managed several employees as a shift manager, include the number of people on your team, explain if you were responsible for hiring or firing decisions, and any other relevant details.

Give specific information about your accomplishments and use numbers whenever possible. Don’t just say you’re a President’s Award winner. Explain you earned the President’s Award because your $1,250,000 sales volume was among the top 5% of salespeople in your company.

The more quantifiable details you add that strengthen your case, the more you separate yourself from other resumes. Managers care about results, and numbers are the best way to communicate them.

3. Exaggerating your abilities or accomplishments.

Exaggerating may seem like a way to get noticed in a competitive job market. But there’s is a fine line between tweaking your resume to look good and deception.

This can have a disastrous effect if you do get hired. If you add skills you don’t actually have, such as saying you’re fluent in a computer language that you have only basic knowledge of, you’ll be in trouble when you receive the first assignment that requires you to use that language.

“You may find yourself in a position that you can’t handle because your employer thinks you’re more skilled than you are,” said Laura Gariepy, a human resources expert turned freelancing coach at Every Day by the Lake, LLC. “This can lead to high levels of stress and poor performance on the job, which could ultimately result in your getting fired.”

4. Leaving out extracurricular activities.

Early career job seekers don’t have a long employment history full of accomplishments to fill their resume. If that describes you, consider adding relevant extracurricular activities to make your resume stand out instead of leaving blank space.

These activities outside of work give hiring managers insight into your skills, hobbies, and interests. This doesn’t mean you should include everything you’ve ever done, like starting a monthly craft beer meet-up, but you should include activities that are pertinent to the job.

“Make sure that there’s a tie between the activity and the job you’re trying to get,” Gariepy said. “For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level sales job, you absolutely want to include the fundraising committee that you were on.”

You can drop these extracurricular activities from your resume once you have enough relevant job experience.

5. Making it too long or too short.

Balancing the length of your resume can be tough. Newer job seekers may feel they don’t have enough to fill up a page. Those with more experience may want to write a book detailing their accomplishments and responsibilities.

So how long should your resume be? One-page resumes are appropriate for jobs that aren’t high-paying or for people just entering the workforce, said Jennifer Grimson, a long-time resume advisor for executives and host of the Micro Empires podcast.

“If you are at an executive level or seeking six-figure income, you must have a two-page resume,” Grimson said. She advised against resumes longer than two pages. Adjust your resume length to your current career and the job you’re seeking.

Most people don’t read past the first third of the resume before deciding about the applicant. If your relevant experience isn’t from your most recent position, minimize the responsibilities listed so your most important jobs take up more visual space and are more easily identified.

6. Not tailoring it to the position.

Using the same resume for every position you apply for may save time, but it’s a recipe for disaster. Potential employers may notice if you didn’t put in the effort to your resume for the position.

“When you try to use something that speaks to everyone, you effectively speak to no one,” said Kamara Toffolo, a resume writer and job search strategist.

To avoid this, consider writing different resume templates for each type of job you plan to apply for.

Some companies use resume scanning software. This software may throw out your application if it doesn’t include certain words or phrases related to the position mentioned in the job listing.

Tailor the skills you highlight for each application by taking clues from the job posting and including them on your resume. If the job description requires knowledge of a specific CRM system and you’re a power user, list your experience in the appropriate part on your resume.

7. Trying to accomplish too much.

When you’re struggling to fit your experience on one or two pages, it can be tempting to fill up the entire page. But this can result in a resume that’s not very visually appealing.

“Recruiters and hiring managers look at your resume for less than 10 seconds,” Blake said. “Trying to squeeze as much information as possible onto an 8.5 x 11″ sheet of paper will only drown the important information in a sea of irrelevant text.”

You don’t need to include all of the responsibilities of every job you’ve held on your resume. Duties from an entry-level accounting position aren’t as important as your experience as an accounting manager when you’re applying for a CFO position.

Provide more details for the most relevant jobs you’ve held while minimizing details on less important positions. Focus on leaving white space so that your accomplishments can be found.

The best way to utilize the space is to break down your relevant points into bullets. Have each bullet start with a verb. Then, describe the specific outcomes you’ve accomplished, Blake said.

8. Not including a cover letter.

Even when a cover letter is optional, you should always try to include one. A cover letter gives the company more information about you and is one more way to stand out. Experts, including Toffolo, often recommend including one with all applications unless the job posting prohibits it.

“Cover letters tell parts of your story that your resume can’t or didn’t,” Toffolo said.

Use your cover letter to explain potential concerns an employer may have about your resume. Explain a skill or career gap or the unique abilities you offer. Tell the company why you want to work for them and why you’d be a good fit.

Related:  How to Write a Cover Letter

9. Not following the company’s instructions.

Always pay attention to the job posting’s instructions about how to apply. If you don’t follow the instructions, it shows a lack of attention to detail, Gariepy said.

Submit your resume and supporting documentation in the correct format. Address your application packet to the right person, include their correct title, and double-check their name spelling.

“You may otherwise be a perfect candidate for the position, but the hiring manager could drop you from consideration because they perceive you as careless or insubordinate,” Gariepy said. “Plus, if you send your resume to the wrong place or the wrong person, it may never get reviewed.”

10. Not addressing career gaps.

Work gaps are a part of life for many career-focused individuals. Whether you got laid off during the Great Recession or you took time off to raise your kids, gaps are obvious on resumes.

Some people prefer not to bring attention to resume gaps, thinking the manager won’t notice them. They may be embarrassed about them, especially if they reflect a long period of unemployment.

“It’s a mistake to leave career gaps unaddressed because you’re exposing yourself to interpretation and allowing the reader’s imagination to run wild,” Toffolo said.

Insert a single-line placeholder describing the reason for your career gap. According to Toffolo, hiring managers understand that gaps happen, but most want to know why they exist and if you did anything productive during that time.

Related:  Should You Get a Graduate Degree? Probably Not. Here’s Why

Your Resume Should Leave a Good First Impression

A successful resume leaves a good first impression. You may not get a second look or a call back for the job if you make one of these 10 resume mistakes to avoid. You want the person to remember your resume —  in a good way — so it doesn’t end up in the trash.

Hiring a resume professional is one way to help you polish your resume to the level hiring managers expect to see. If you prefer a different route, ask a friend to look for errors you may have overlooked. This gives you a final chance to avoid resume mistakes that result in an employer disregarding your application.

The post 10 Common Resume Mistakes That Make Employers Cringe appeared first on DollarSprout.

Bad habits are enjoyable in the short-term, but having good work habits leads to success, and success is big-F Fun. Hitting six figures was Fun. Realizing I had the power to negotiate because I was a stand-out employee was Fun. Running my own business, finishing and publishing my book, and being my own boss are Fun.

Hitting snooze, watching that extra hour of TV, and thinking of an excuse of why you couldn’t turn in your report today are not accomplishments that will make you, or your ten-year-old self, proud. They’ll keep you spinning your wheels, wondering why you can’t ahead.

Only good work habits, applied consistently over time, will get you where you dream of going.

Great Habits Won’t Go Unnoticed

With so many habits to choose from, how do you know which ones are the most important? These successful entrepreneurs, executives, and career coaches discuss their favorites and how you can apply them to your work life.

1. Know the “why” behind your work.

Career strategist Jasmine Escalera said she, like many people, used to cling to the idea that hard work equals success. However, applied like a blunt instrument, this belief led to overworking and burnout, damaging her quality of work.

“What I have recently learned is that your intention is really what leads to your success,” she said. “Knowing what you are working toward and, more importantly, why is pivotal to gaining the success you want in work and life.”

Get specific with yourself and write down your career goals, earning goals, and lifestyle goals so that you know exactly where you’re headed and why. It will impact your work ethic, helping you focus and stay on track even on the days you don’t feel like it.

2. Track your progress.

Business coach Amanda Abella echoed the need for a clear goal, but added that you need to track your progress towards your goals. If you don’t know how to track your progress, your goal probably isn’t clear enough. It needs metrics like numbers and dates.

“When I don’t do this, I fall off the wagon, and when I do this, I feel really on it,” she said.

Tracking your goals helps you not only stay focused, but it helps maintain motivation. “What happens when people don’t do this is they have a tendency to think they’re doing worse than they actually are, so then they lose momentum,” Abella said.

To track your goals, she advises to keep it simple. A journal or spreadsheet will do. Measure the most important metrics, like dollars in the bank or sales calls made.

Related: 15 Ways to Maximize Your Productivity and Earnings

3. Clarify your goals with your manager and stay focused.

Sometimes we think saying yes to everything is the way to get ahead, but career success coach Michelle Gomez said sometimes that can only keep you stuck.

“When we say yes to everything in a chase for validation,” she said, “we’re only going to overcommit.”

She advises picking three to five areas where you want to focus and grow in your job, and review them with your manager. If they ask you to take on a project that’s outside of those skills, don’t be afraid to push back.

“Otherwise you become the office workhorse,” she said.

If you’re not sure how to approach the conversation or what to say in these circumstances, she suggests the phrasing, “I feel like it would take away from my ability to give full capacity in my other tasks.”

4. Plan out your day.

One key work habit is to spend time each night before your workday to plan out your tasks and schedule, suggests Andrea Woroch, co-founder at One Take Media Coaching.

“If you wait until the day of, it’s easy to lose track and lose focus and not be as productive as possible,” she said. “Not only do I write out all the tasks I have to get done the night before, but I also block off time in my calendar for each task, even small things like sending invoices to clients or even personal items that can take up time, like calling my health insurance company.”

She advises to get the most important tasks done as early as possible in the day, so if there are any surprises, you’ve already handled the most essential goals. If you’re not sure which ones are most important, you can speak with your supervisor or list them by deadline, working on the ones with the soonest deadline first.

5. Create moments to recognize your accomplishments.

Sometimes we get in the habit of focusing on all that we have to do without looking back to congratulate ourselves on what we’ve done.

“Have a ‘Did do’ list in addition to a ‘To do’ list,” said Caroline Tien-Spalding, chief marketing officer at Aptology. “Not only does it give you a sense of what you’ve accomplished for that weekly report, it highlights any large deltas between what your priorities are and what ends up taking over.”

By looking back on what you’ve accomplished, it will help you realize how much progress you’ve made. This will motivate you to accomplish more before your year-end review, providing you with tangible evidence of all the value you’ve provided that year.

Related: How to Stand Out at Work (in the Best Way Possible)

6. Always be learning.

Did you think your education stopped at your high school or college graduation? It hasn’t. In fact, the most successful people are life-long students. With the world changing as rapidly as it does, a little studying should be part of your daily schedule. Your office should also be your school.

“The most important work habit that has helped me is to set aside time for learning,” said Sarah Li Cain, finance writer and host of Beyond The Dollar. “Circumstances, rules, regulations, jobs, etc. will change, so it’s important to find time to identify what piques your curiosity and can help you further your professional development.”

If you do 15 minutes a day of reading, listening to a podcast, practicing a skill, or even taking a class, you’ll have 65 more hours of education than you otherwise would, every year. You can take that education with you no matter where you go.

7. Protect your focus.

Every little ping, ding, and buzz costs you time, focus, and quality of work on your most important projects.

“Understanding how to stay focused is exactly what it takes to get things done and get ahead,” said Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable.

He suggests “slaying the messaging monster” by consciously removing distractions. Turn off notifications on non-essential apps, schedule time to check email (and refrain from checking it beforehand), and block tempting websites with programs such as Freedom.

You can even use your phone’s autoresponder, the one you usually use while driving, simply to focus.

8. Learn to follow through.

It can seem so easy in theory, but so many people have a hard time mastering the art of doing what they say they will.

“Whenever I’ve had to hire paid interns and freelancers (and even award scholarship funds), I’ve also seen firsthand how many just drop the ball. Emails unresponded to, projects left partially completed — literally leaving money on the line,” said Lauren Keys, who managed to semi-retire in her 20s and create a travel blog called Trip of a Lifestyle. “Showing up, as simple as it sounds, really is a huge part of the equation.”

Keep a journal with you at all times and write down any project, meeting, or task you commit to as well as anything you should follow up on. Then review the journal daily, checking off what’s done.

By following through, you’ll demonstrate you’re reliable and someone clients, managers, and coworkers can trust.

Related: 11 Skills Employers Look for That Most People Never Think About

9. Prioritize your to-do list.

Not all tasks are created equal. You’ll have to choose sometimes. But how do you know which ones to do first?

Robyn Ireland, career coach at Robyn’s Couch, provided a list of questions to ask about each task:

• Have I been given a clear deadline? If yes, when is it? If no, who do I need to follow up with to get clarity?
• Who is waiting for a response from me right now?
• Who will be impacted by me not doing this task during my workday?
• How will completing this task quickly improve my career aspirations?
• What on my list has a higher priority?
• If no deadline has been assigned for a task, what deadline will I give myself?

Use your answers to these questions to prioritize your to-do list. If you’re still struggling, talk with a coworker or manager to help you. You also want to make sure the time frame for your list is appropriate.

“I understand that not everyone likes the pressure of a deadline, that is why you need to be reasonable with yourself about getting things done,” she said. “You never want to be the person who breaks trust with the boss or clients by over-promising and under-delivering.”

Prioritizing tasks will help you feel less overwhelmed and it will help you focus and concentrate on the most important ones.

10. Always over-deliver.

Back when business strategist Rebecca Cafiero worked a corporate job, she knew her clients would get a survey. She told them that her goal was to give them stellar service, and she asked them to tell her if they ever felt they weren’t getting it.

“You have to ask to understand what the expectations are,” she said. “But also understand: an expectation is a bare minimum. You’re not going to get a raise for getting there on time. Look for areas where you can excel past that.”

According to Cafiero, the secret to providing amazing quality of work is not assuming you know what over-delivering means to your external customers, like clients, and internal customers, like your boss.

“You want to make sure you’re over-delivering in areas that actually matter,” she advised. “It’s a little like love languages for business.”

When you’re asking for expectations, clarify with your boss what areas are most important. Also, go to people who have had your position and moved up. Ask what they felt were the five most impactful actions they took that led to their success.

11. Create healthy work-life balance habits.

You can only bring your best self to work if you take time to care for yourself. So an important work habit is actually taking care of yourself, even in your off time.

“Scheduling personal time to care for myself and husband is always prioritized,” says Colleen Simo, a Director of Human Resources who also runs her own coaching practice. “I maintain a twice-daily 20-minute meditation practice and yoga a few times per week and if I didn’t put this first it would slip away. Maintaining my meditation practice makes everything easier.”

You may want to put a daily recurring 15- or 30-minute appointment with yourself on your calendar for mindfulness exercises to train your focus to take on the day.

Related: Is Working from Home Bad for Your Mental Health?

Good Work Habits Can Make or Break Your Career

This far into my career, my days are structured on the building blocks of good work habits. Learning them takes away some of the decision fatigue of deciding what to do every day. They make my schedule easier, my days less stressful, and my work more rewarding.

Leveling up with your work habits will feel like changing gears on a bike. You’ll climb larger hills faster, and arrive less out of breath.

The post 11 Good Work Habits for Becoming a Stand-Out Employee appeared first on DollarSprout.