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.

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.

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.

We took on as many side hustles as possible to make extra money, but quickly realized that not all side hustles are created equal. We wasted a lot of time doing gigs that paid less than minimum wage. Eventually, we found a way to earn a great return on our time: offering services online.

Learning how to sell your services online could be the solution to your income problem, and possibly set the foundation to skyrocket your long-term earning potential.

5 Steps to Start Selling Your Services Online

Unlike an app or website that controls your services, payments, and marketing, starting your own online service business means you have to do those things yourself. The bright side is once you finish setting everything up, it’s relatively easy to maintain, and your opportunity for growth is much higher than working for a traditional company.

1. Choose your service.

There are hundreds of online business ideas, and it can be challenging to choose one. Many new service providers make the mistake of picking multiple unrelated services. While that seems like it makes you more appealing to clients, it actually does you a disservice.

Your best move is to choose one specific and specialized service that capitalizes on your professional experience. However, if you want to offer multiple services, make sure they’re directly and closely related to your primary offering.

For example, if you have experience with social media, you might consider becoming a virtual assistant, or VA. There are dozens of things you can do as a virtual assistant, but if social media is what you have experience with, stick to that while you’re starting out.

2. Choose a niche.

Once you’ve chosen your service, you can then niche down. It might sound like a virtual assistant who specializes in social media is niche enough, but you can be even more successful if you pick a specific industry. For our social media VA, that might look like serving only real estate businesses or local restaurants.

“Even if your skills are very transferable, a prospective client will feel like you’re a better fit for them if you specialize in their niche,” said marketing consultant Abir Syed with UpCounting. “They’ll be more likely to choose you over another similarly skilled individual who works with all sorts of clients.”

To determine your niche, think about what industries you’re already connected to, have experience with, and want to work with long term to determine your niche.

3. Analyze your competition.

It’s important to know your competition. After you’ve narrowed down your services and target client niche, do your research to see what your competitors are offering to your ideal clients.

Don’t just look at pricing. Look at advertising methods, what they’re including in their service packages, the types of clients giving their testimonials, etc. That’ll help you design offerings that are competitive but also right for you. For instance, if you see someone offering a price lower than yours, you don’t necessarily need to lower your cost to compete; instead, consider offering more services in your most comparable package.

4. Choose a selling platform.

There are quite a few places to sell your services online as a beginner. Where you sell your freelance services depends on what you’re selling and who you’re selling to.

Fiverr

Fiverr is an online marketplace for almost any kind of service. Freelancers can use Fiverr’s platform to find clients, accept payment, and collect testimonials all in one place. There’s no fee to list your service on Fiverr, but they do take 20% of each transaction.

Legiit

Legiit is another online marketplace for freelancers, but it specializes in SEO (search engine optimization) and other marketing services like graphic design and internet marketing. It was started in 2018 by a top freelancer on Konker, another SEO service-selling platform. Legiit is well-known in the SEO space but is still relatively new, so there’s not as other sites.

Sellers keep 70% to 85% of every transaction.

Shopify

Shopify is a well-known e-commerce platform for products, but it can also be used for services. You can apps to your storefront that allow clients to schedule appointments and consultations.

You’ll have to pay a monthly fee and transaction fees, but it’s a good platform to start with, especially if you plan to add digital or physical products to your offerings.

Outschool

On Outschool, you can sell live or prerecorded classes on any topic for students from Pre-K through high school. You don’t need teaching credentials to list your course on Outschool but you will need to apply and be approved.

The platform is best for freelancers who are experts in their field and have experience working with young people. You control the length, number of students, and price of your class, but be aware that Outschool takes 30% of each transaction.

Related: How to Get Paid to Teach on Outschool (Even with Zero Experience)

Teachable

Teachable offers a place for coaches to sell their services via online courses. You can sell, interact, and assign homework to your clients all through the Teachable platform. Teachable does charge a monthly fee and a 5% transaction fee on its basic plan.

These are just a few online marketplaces for freelancers. You can find many more service-specific platforms out there and as more people start to sell professional services online, new ones are popping up all the time.

Related: 50 Sites to Find Your Next Freelance Gig

5. Create an online presence.

In addition to your service’s listing, choose at least one online medium that’s “home” to your brand and service business. The easiest way to get started is with a website.

Your website should be quick to load, look great on mobile devices, and explain what you do and for whom. It will also house your portfolio, testimonials, reviews, and offerings. That way if you decide to switch selling platforms, you don’t lose the value you built there.

In addition to your website, it’s also a good idea to be active on at least one social media platform. Choose a platform where your ideal client is and get creative with the content you post. Ask questions and polls in Instagram stories, start a group on Facebook, or make videos answering frequently asked questions on a YouTube channel.

Related: How to Fire a Freelance Client Without Ruining Your Reputation

How to Market and Sell Your Services Online

Once you’ve set up your online service business, you need to learn how to sell your services effectively. There are many ways to find your first clients as a new freelancer, as well as simple strategies for scaling your business over time.

Partner with another service provider.

Syed recommends finding a service provider with a similar target demographic and a complimentary, but non-competing, service, and helping one another by recommending each other’s services.

“If one of you specializes in Google Ads and the other in web design, you can recommend each other as both are useful for a client interested in marketing, but they’re not mutually exclusive services,” he said.

Ask for referrals.

Referrals are a great way to get clients when you’re getting starting. Don’t be afraid to ask current and former clients to spread the word, and you could even offer a cash incentive for every referral.

When asking for referrals, be sure to be specific. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to be the person others think of when they encounter your ideal client.

“Asking ‘Who else can I meet?’ is not a useful referral question,” said Bruce Harpham, a specialist in marketing automation. “Instead, make your request much more specific like this: ‘Do you know any marketing managers at Toronto technology companies with more than 50 employees?’”

The most important things to be specific about are the niche you want to serve and the positions in the niche that are most likely to seek your services.

Network with your target client.

Harpham also advised that instead of attending one-off events, network with your ideal clients by becoming a regular participant in a niche community. He joined a local group for his ideal clients that hosted events several times a month.

“As a result of regular participation, I was invited to speak at an event with 70 people in May 2020,” he said. “Along the way, I’ve deepened my knowledge of the industry and met plenty of people.”

If in-person events aren’t available, join Facebook groups and answer questions members ask. It’ll demonstrate that you have expertise and people will remember that when it comes time to hire someone. You can also follow people in your target niche on Instagram and engage with their content and audience

Use direct message.

A growing email list has long been the most essential asset of any online business, but only about 30% of people who receive an email newsletter will open it. Alternatively, 85% of people will open and read a Facebook message.

“The sales calls of the past are the DMs of the present,” said Olga Gonzalez, CEO of Pietra Communications. “Keep your pages up to date with relevant information, create unique content, and talk to people via direct message.”

If you don’t have the time to direct message your clients all day long, consider using a Facebook Messenger bot. Messenger bots work through your Facebook page and essentially “greet” visitors. It can open up conversations, answer questions, and gauge where potential clients are at in needing your services.

Advertise on Facebook.

Paid advertising is a great and effective way to quickly grow your service business. Facebook has one of the most customizable ad platforms available, allowing you to reach relevant potential clients affordably.

Customize your target audience by age, gender, location, what they like, and whatever other demographics make them your ideal client. You can also retarget people who’ve been to your website or added your service to their cart but didn’t make a purchase.

Related: 28 Legit Online Jobs That Are Easy, Flexible, and Profitable

Best Practices to Sell Professional Services Online

Now you know how to start, market, and sell your services, but you can take it a step further to get an edge on the competition.

Share testimonials.

Rather than telling potential clients what you do, let past clients speak on your behalf. Ask for a testimonial from every client, especially when you’re starting out. Don’t just use end-result testimonials, either. Try to get them from clients midway through the process, so people know what it’s like to work with you as well.

Video testimonials are incredibly effective, as are testimonials accompanied by case studies and data. If you feel apprehensive about asking your clients directly, set up an email autoresponder to run once you finish the job that asks for testimonials.

Use social media wisely.

It’s not enough to have a social media account. You should follow best practices so you can keep showing up in your ideal client’s feed and get them to interact with you.

“Consistency is key with any marketing effort,” said digital marketing strategist Rachele Wright. “If you’re going to spend time on a social media platform, be consistent with showing up even if it’s starting small, just 1 time a week.”

She also recommends taking advantage of features the platform wants you to use. “Facebook really has a huge push and focus on groups. If you’re just posting to a Facebook Business Page, but not participating in groups or creating your own, you’re missing out on the potential of that platform.”

Emphasize your client’s transformation.

Donald Miller’s StoryBrand framework emphasizes making your client and their transformation central to your marketing and to position yourself as the guide.

Anywhere you show up online, make sure you tell people exactly what you offer, how it’ll get them to their desired transformation, and make them excited about what life can be like when they’ve accomplished that transformation.

Related: 18 Legit Online Jobs for College Students

Provide value.

ABPV: Always Be Providing Value.

Most people look for value-adds when paying for a service. Instead of lowering your prices, see if there’s a way you can add more value to the package. “One way I provided value before I had a larger client network was by participating in free Q&A sessions with business professionals in other niches,” said SEO expert Aaron Cote.

Through these Q&A sessions, Cote was able to meet new people and become an authority within that group. “By demonstrating my value and my expertise, I was able to secure about four clients in my first month,” he said.

Some other ways you can add value are through one-on-one coaching, maintenance training on the software or product you’re setting up, customer service, or a warranty.

Don’t Stop at Selling Services

There are only so many hours in the day you can provide direct services. However, you can take your business even further by building scalable passive income streams.

“I wish I had known sooner to think about what else I could sell, even if it’s for small dollars,” said e-commerce marketer Andrew Maff with BlueTuskr. “We’ve built out workshops, coaching classes, workbooks, and a lot more that we use as lead generation but also make some decent money off of.”

As you gain experience, use your expertise to build products you can sell on autopilot. And if you love your service but need more time to take on clients, create systems for tasks that you can hire out to a virtual assistant.

If selling your services online is something you want to do full time, always be looking for ways to grow it, and you’ll be there before you know it.

Related: 19 Digital Products You Can Sell Online to Generate Passive Income

The post How to Sell Services Online Like a Pro appeared first on DollarSprout.

Freelancers make up 36% of the U.S. workforce and contribute $1 trillion to the national economy._[1] But some are dealing with less work right now while others are working overtime to keep up with new demand. And on top of an uncertain financial future, some freelancers might be struggling with isolation and anxiety.

12 Things Freelancers Can Do During The Coronavirus

There are still ways to build a community, find sources of income, and stay productive during the pandemic. Here are 12 steps you can take to manage the emotional impact and keep earning a living.

1. Communicate with your clients.

Reaching out to current and prospective clients with a professional, empathetic tone can put them at ease in the face of uncertainty. When you contact those clients, ask about scheduling a phone call to discuss their concerns or needs. These small gestures can go a long way now and after the crisis passes.

“Many experts predict that post-COVID-19 freelance work is going to be even more in demand,” says Andi Smiles, a small business financial consultant. “Connecting with people now means that they could refer to you later.”

To prepare, consider creating some of these resources:

• A page on your website explaining your pay rates and services.
• Another page detailing how you’re handling change during the pandemic and any new services you’re offering.
• Social media posts that help clients understand how you’re handling the crisis—and why you’re the best go-to freelancer to contact.
• Email templates to send to new and existing clients.

Hang on to these resources, and document how you handled issues throughout the pandemic so you’ll be better prepared for future crises when they arise.

Related: 50 Sites to Find Your Next Freelance Gig

2. Pivot to meet demand.

Freelancers are natural adapters, but COVID-19 may be pushing you to work even harder. If some clients have stopped sending you work altogether, you may need to find different sources of income or adjust your services.

Jackie Lam, a freelance writer and financial coach for artists and creatives, offers these tips:

• Look for ‘cross-sections.’ That’s the intersection between your skills and what’s in demand. For example, a pet sitter with relationship-building skills can pivot to delivering groceries and other items to her clients.
• Focus on what’s in demand. What do your clients and their end users need right now? This will be specific to your industry, so you can reach out to your network for ideas or do your own research.
• Repackage your services. Go over your full suit of services and think about how you can adjust them to remain competitive.
• Reach out to new clients. Send them an email, reach out via social media, or ask a colleague to make an introduction. Explain how you think your services can help their business.

Logan Allec, a CPA and founder of personal finance blog Money Done Right, noticed a shift in demand for his services during the pandemic.

“I’m a financial expert,” Allec says, “but during COVID-19, people aren’t worried about their taxes. They were worried about unemployment and stimulus checks and things like that.”

He began creating YouTube videos to help people understand how COVID-19 affects their money and how to get financial help. “I ended up making over $30,000 in YouTube ad revenue in April alone, excluding affiliates,” he says.

Related: 21 Inexpensive or Free Ways to Market Your Small Business

3. Find support in your freelance community.

Even if you thrive working from home without co-workers, it’s important to build a network with others in your industry.

“Colleagues are there to help you maintain your sanity, provide guidance if you’re struggling with some aspect of your business, and point toward promising work leads,” Lam says. And if you’re lucky enough to have a mentor, “they can help you define your values and drum up a game plan to achieve your business goals.”

Your community is especially important during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. “People remember the people who helped them and made them feel better during a scary time,” Allec says. “Be there for people right now even if there’s no immediate return, and you could forge relationships that could become extremely mutually beneficial when things pick up again.”

You can establish these business relationships through social media groups, virtual meetups with local business owners, and freelance friends. Conferences also offer a great way to meet colleagues—although in-person events may be on hold.

4. Review your contracts.

Long-term contracts between freelancers and clients typically protect the client rather than the freelancer. Clients might cut budgets during tough times, but they shouldn’t ghost you when it comes to paying invoices and honoring retainer contracts.

It’s critical to have a contract that protects you and clearly defines the scope of work, rates, and payment terms. This can help you pursue legal action if a client doesn’t pay up.

Go through your contracts or create a new template, if you don’t have one already. An attorney who specializes in freelance work can help, or you can check out the Freelancers Union’s free contract creator.

5. Evaluate your finances.

Now is a good time to review your budget and eliminate unnecessary expenses. Go through your business transactions from the last three to six months and consider ditching services and products you don’t use or that won’t help you earn money.

You also might want to check on your personal finances, too. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to a nonprofit credit counselor. For example, GreenPath Financial Wellness and the Association of Independent Workers, two national nonprofits, have teamed up to offer free services for independent workers during the pandemic.

6. Apply for grants.

A grant is money that you apply for but don’t have to repay—which can be a lifesaver if your income has taken a hit.

To start, look for grants for freelancers within your city or state or ones that are specific to your industry. Some grants align with your demographics, too. For example, some are geared toward women or people of color.

Smiles recommends getting specific: “Freelancer grants are very competitive, and the general funds are exhausted quickly. The more nuanced you get, the better chance you have of receiving a grant.”

7. Leverage federal programs.

In the past, independent workers couldn’t apply for unemployment insurance benefits. But “pandemic unemployment assistance,” or PUP, expands these benefits to the self-employed.

“It can be a game changer for people’s financial security,” Smiles says. “The con is that you have to stay on top of the compliance requirements.” Look for details at your state’s unemployment website, and check whether you need to apply through PUP.

Your freelance business might also qualify for a federal loan or grant. Check out the Paycheck Protection Program or other resources through the Small Business Administration. An SBA office near your city may be able to give you more specific advice.

Related: 25 Programs to Get Free Money from the Government

8. Take care of items on your to-do list.

In the months leading up to the pandemic, you may have pushed certain tasks to the bottom of your to-do list; but now’s a great time to tackle them.

“If you’re facing a lull, think about how you can make the most of the downtime,” Lam says. “You might’ve been so busy with client work that you haven’t had a chance to revamp your website, or be consistent in posting to your social media channels.”

Some items to tackle on your to-do list might include:

• Responding to emails.
• Catching up on invoices.
• Updating your contacts.
• Networking with colleagues.
• Creating your website or developing new content for it.
• Making a list of people you’d like to work with or projects you’d like to do.

Related: How to Make More Money as a Freelance Writer

9. Set short- and long-term goals

Although it’s satisfying to check off your to-do list items, it’s also important to revamp and revisit your business goals. Smiles advises also using this time to create a roadmap for setting or achieving long-term goals.

Those long-term goals may include:

• Growing your business and hiring people.
• Brainstorming long-term projects, like hosting workshops or events.
• Developing a social media strategy.

Don’t forget to set short-term goals as well. These might include increasing your rates, renegotiating a contract with a high-paying client, or offering a new service.

10. Work on a passion project.

A passion project is typically a creative side project that excites and inspires you. Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a book, create a podcast, or start a charity. And if you lacked the time or energy to put toward your project in the past, you might have all the time in the world now.

Even if the passion project isn’t related to your work, it may still help advance your freelance career. These projects can demonstrate your full capabilities, expand your skill set, and provide a new platform for different work. “You’re also telling clients, ‘Hey, this is what I’m about,’ or ‘This is my dream project. Look at what I can do,’” Lam says.

Get the ball rolling by defining your result or goal. Then plan out the steps, figure out if you need to get others involved, and set up a timeline. But remember: While the project might benefit your work, it should also make you happy.

11. Enroll in training programs.

If you aren’t earning income right now, Lam suggests carving out some time for self-improvement. You can invest in your business by improving your craft, learning new skills, or simply chatting with seasoned freelancers.

You can do it on the cheap, too, as dozens of online courses are free right now. Earning a professional certification is another option. For example, a personal finance writer might check out Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) courses. Although you may have to spend money on the education program, the new designation can help you charge more for your services.

Related: The Best Online Writing Courses for New Freelance Writers

12. Take a mental break.

The coronavirus pandemic is causing a historic rise in mental health issues—and they’re only compounded if your income is taking a hit, too.

If you’re struggling, The Centers for Disease Control offers a few ways to manage stress:_[2]

• Take breaks from the news if it’s making you feel anxious.
• Exercise regularly. Go for a walk or run, stretch, and meditate.
• Eat healthy meals and avoid alcohol.
• Get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
• Make time for activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others through video chats and phone calls.

You should also take regular breaks, set regular office or working hours, and stick to a routine. Work-life balance is important, even if your finances feel uncertain.

Taking care of yourself also means taking care of your mental health. If you need to speak with a professional, some therapists are offering virtual therapy sessions.

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

Take Time to Consider Your Next Steps

If you’re feeling the mental and emotional effects of the pandemic, it’s OK to hit the pause button. These tips are a starting point for taking care of yourself and your business. During this time, you may choose to work on your business, get some rest, or do a combination of both.

But it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process, Smiles says.

“You don’t have to make huge, sweeping changes to your business model,” she advises. “Even the act of questioning how you could improve your business will help you expand your offerings and income.”

The post 12 Steps Freelancers Should Take During the Pandemic appeared first on DollarSprout.

That’s where you, as a virtual assistant (VA), come in. VAs can take care of these types of administrative and marketing tasks so business owners don’t have to.

If you’re looking for a work-from-home job, virtual assisting may be a good option. Although you’ll probably earn more money working for yourself, a virtual assistant company can be a great way to break into the field or find steady work.

List of Virtual Assistant Companies That Pay Well

After researching the hundreds of virtual assistant companies out there, we found two that stand out above the rest: Belay Solutions and Virtual Assist USA. Not only do they pay the most, but these companies also promote teamwork and collaboration with other VAs. 

In addition, they provide VAs with the opportunity to earn pay increases on an annual basis.

1. Belay Solutions

About: Founded by a husband-wife duo in 2010, Belay Solutions employs U.S-based virtual assistants and other specialists like bookkeepers and web developers. Formerly known as eaHelp, Belay serves church leaders, photographers, authors, attorneys, and consultants in addition to small businesses and executives.

Scope of work: While Belay Solutions offers bookkeeping and web maintenance, its primary service is virtual assistance. The company’s VAs help with all types of requests such as project research, travel arrangements, and calendar management.

After Robin Snyder had children and decided to get back into the workforce, she applied for a VA position at Belay. “I spent five years working as a VA at Belay and can’t recommend them enough. They have a great support team and a Facebook community for all VAs to share ideas and encourage one another,” she said.

Snyder was placed with three clients during her time at Belay and all three of them eventually hired her as a freelancer.

Employment type: While Belay Solutions does hire full-time virtual employees in Atlanta, all virtual assistants are contractors. Snyder’s contract was 25 hours per week but she explained that VAs can work more or less if they prefer.

Pay: VAs at Belay can earn between $15 and $18 per hour and receive payment via direct deposit on the 15th of every month. They can receive the opportunity to request a pay increase each year during their annual review.

How to apply: After you apply online and submit your resume, Belay will reach out and ask you a few questions to get a feel for what you’re looking for. If you pass the initial screening, you’ll have a video interview and will be required to pass a few skills tests.

As one of the top virtual assistant websites, Snyder notes it gets thousands of applications each month so it’s important to make yourself stand out as much as possible.

2. Virtual Assist USA

About: Virtual Assist USA has been around since 2008. The company serves entrepreneurs, small business owners, and Fortune 500 companies like Dow Chemical, Harvard Business Review, and Twitter.

Scope of work: While Virtual Assist USA offers a variety of VA services, some of the most popular ones VAs complete include travel booking, data entry, research, and web design. Clients are matched with VAs who meet their unique needs, and since the company fosters a teamwork mentality, if a VA is struggling with a task, another one can assist.

Type of employment: Although Virtual Assist USA only hires full-time employees, it does offer flexible start times. Employees can choose their own schedule as long as it falls between 6:00 a.m and 7:00 p.m. EST. Part-time positions are also available for VAs who prefer to work 15 to 20 hours per week.

Pay: VAs earn $18 to $19 per hour starting out and receive payment every two weeks via direct deposit. VAs have the opportunity to earn more through bi-annual and annual compensation reviews. Virtual Assist USA also offers a 401(k), paid holidays, and paid vacation days. 

How to apply: Once you submit your resume through the career page, it’ll go into Virtual Assist USA’s database. If the company believes you’d be a good fit, it’ll conduct two interviews: one over the phone and one via video. While the phone interview is usually about 15 to 30 minutes, the video interview is 45 minutes to an hour and involves a series of behavioral questions.

The goal of the video interview is to see how well you work in a fast-paced environment remotely while juggling multiple clients at the same time.

Related: 16 Best Online Business Ideas for Beginner Entrepreneurs 

Other Virtual Assistant Companies That Pay Well

Not all virtual assistant jobs are created equal, especially when it comes to pay. You may come across several of them that ask for a lot of work in exchange for very low rates. Fortunately, there are some that compensate fairly.

3. Priority VA

About: Priority VA made its debut in 2013 to match small business owners, CEOs, entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, and coaches to virtual executive assistants or EAs.

Scope of work: EAs perform a number of different tasks including booking travel and appointments, drafting content for blogs and social media, and managing calendars. They are also trained to proactively take repetitive activities off their clients’ to-do lists to simplify their day and increase productivity.

Type of employment: EAs at Priority VA work as contractors.

Pay: Most EAs earn between $16 and $22 per hour. Contractors are paid on a monthly basis via direct deposit.

How to apply: You’ll need to submit an online application and complete a series of follow-up questions and skills tests. You can also expect to participate in two video interviews.

Related: 17 Online Typing Jobs You Can Do From Home

4. Virtual Work Team

About: Founded in 2006, Virtual Work Team specializes in all types of VA services to support clients across the country and world. Its goal is to “help businesses grow” at an affordable price.

Scope of work: Virtual Work Team VAs schedule doctor’s appointments, create slide show presentations and excel spreadsheets, moderate webinars, manage schedules, freelance write, and more. Each VA on the team has their own unique set of skills and is matched to clients who can benefit from them.

Type of employment: Since VAs work as contractors, they can choose how often they’d like to work. Most of the contractors the company hires already have some previous VA experience.

Pay: While pay is based on skills and tasks performed, new VAs can expect to earn between $10 and $35 per hour. VAs receive payment bi-weekly via company check, PayPal, or Payoneer.

How to apply: To work for Virtual Work Team, you can use its online contact form to submit your resume and a few references. If the company wants to move forward with your application, it’ll contact you to set up an initial interview with a hiring manager. The next step is a round table interview with a few team members.

If you’re hired, you’ll need to complete a virtual onboarding process where you’ll meet the team and participate in a formal orientation with your assigned client.

Related: 51 Sites to Find Your Next Freelance Gig

5. REVA Global

About: Connecticut-based REVA Global specializes in VA services for real estate professionals. It also offers marketing and medical virtual assistant services. Founded by a real estate investor, REVA Global’s mission is to help those in the real estate industry save time and money by making the most out of every lead or opportunity they receive.

Mike Qiu, a house flipper in Seattle, hired REVA Global to assist with his business. “I feel very fortunate to have found them and my VA has been tremendous in allowing me to get work done,” he said.

Scope of work: Virtual assistants at REVA Global perform tasks that help real estate professionals including researching and sorting through data to develop lead lists, creating and managing Facebook ads, writing content for a website, updating lead lists, and texting cold leads.

Employment type: Virtual assistants work as independent contractors.

Pay: REVA Global VAs earn between $10 and $15 per hour and receive payment every two weeks via direct deposit.

How to apply: To apply online, you’ll need to attach your resume and take a DISC assessment to uncover your personality type and behavioral style. You’ll also need to create a video that proves you own a reliable computer with memory space.

If the REVA Global team wishes to move forward with your application, you’ll receive an invitation to participate in a few video interviews.

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

It’s Possible to Earn a Full-Time Income Working for the Right Virtual Assistant Company

If you’re looking for a way to make a full-time income from home, working for a virtual assistant company can provide that. If you’re just getting started, working with a VA company can help you gain experience, connect with clients, and build your VA portfolio. 

Over time, you may find you want to branch out on your own and start your own freelance virtual assistant business. Working as a freelance virtual assistant can give you greater flexibility, higher pay, and complete control over your schedule.

The post 5 High-Paying Virtual Assistant Companies to Work For appeared first on DollarSprout.

I spent those years making low five figures annually. After I landed a full-time writing job, I was terrified to ever go back to freelancing for a living. I thought I was just bad at it. Then I got laid off.

In December 2019, I was suddenly without a job and only had about one freelance assignment every other month.

But this time, I kicked up my freelancing game — and went from making almost nothing to matching my full-time salary in less than 90 days.

12 Ways to Make More Money as a Freelance Writer

If you’ve got the basics of being a freelance writer down and are ready to make more money, try these steps that’ll boost your value and get clients knocking on your door.

1. Learn to write for the web.

Content marketing and online publishing drive some of the greatest demand for writers. Companies need writers for blog posts, social media, email marketing, e-books, and landing pages.

If your background is in print journalism or creative writing, bone up on how to write for online platforms, including search engine optimization (SEO) and social media, to vastly increase the gigs you qualify for.

Related: How to Generate Unlimited Blog Topics That People Actually Want to Read

2. Develop a niche.

I attribute a lot of my success gathering clients quickly to my focus on writing about personal finance, a sought-after niche. I’d worked full time for five years in the space, honing my expertise in complicated topics.

I initially didn’t want to niche down because I like writing about so many things. But labeling myself a “personal finance writer” and leaning into my greatest knowledge base helps me attract clients searching for that expertise. It also helps my network think of me for referrals.

Finance, health, and law are all lucrative niches that always seem to have open writing opportunities. They each cover complex topics that have a major impact on readers’ lives, so expertise from writers and editors is crucial.

I don’t have a certification, such as a Certified Financial Planner or CPA, but those would add authority and boost your value as a niche writer. Legal blogs often want to see a law degree or education in addition to experience writing about law.

3. Be referable.

Through full-time jobs and freelance side gigs over the years, I developed strong relationships with editors and fellow writers.

Networking has never been my strong point. I developed relationships instead of the strength of my work — I turned in clean copy, met deadlines, and proposed good ideas. When my friends and colleagues knew I was available for work, they were happy to refer me to clients and pass opportunities my way.

No matter how much you’re getting paid for your work now, put your full effort behind it. Showing up and doing a killer job will set you up to see referrals roll in — so you can eventually be picky and feel confident negotiating higher rates.

4. Be flexible with rates.

Setting freelance rates is a complicated dance. I set my initial target somewhat arbitrarily, based on what I knew from colleagues and freelance writers I’d worked with as an editor. It was pretty high, and I turned down a few offers from prospects who couldn’t match it.

But then I got an offer from a site I knew I’d enjoy writing for. It offered a set rate to all freelancers — half my target per-word rate. But it also had endless opportunities for assignments, so I’d spend less time pitching and seeking new work.

A low rate with the promise of abundant work could be more lucrative than a high rate for one-off or sporadic assignments you have to spend unpaid time securing. Build that difference into your rates to avoid turning down good opportunities that don’t fit your stringent standards.

5. Work based on earnings, not hours.

You can plan your days as a freelancer in a few ways:

• By time: Commit to working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or any set number of hours). Stop at quitting time, even if you’re in the middle of a project, and resume the next day.
• By tasks: Create a to-do list for the day, and work until you check everything off.
• By earnings: Aim for an average daily dollar amount, and work until you’ve earned it.

I plan my days based on earnings because it helps me earn the most and consistently increase my earnings without increasing my hours or workload.

Working toward a dollar amount each day helps me prioritize work, and it helps me quickly see when I need to rebalance my workload by dropping over-taxing clients and reaching out to new prospects.

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

6. Do some math.

This was one of the most important steps I took to boost my income by 70% in my third month back at freelancing. Early on, I was doing a lot of content management work that filled up to 20 hours per week, and I was doing a few writing assignments to fill in the rest.

Tracking the hours spent on each project helped me quickly see that writing had a much better ROI.

Keep track of the time you spend on each project to know your effective hourly rate. You’ll see which projects are earning you money and which are sucking your time.

To set a target hourly rate, a good rule of thumb is to double your full-time hourly rate. If you’re aiming for an annual salary of $50,000, the hourly rate at a full-time job would be about $24. Aim for about $48 per hour freelancing.

You have to aim for more as a freelancer because you don’t get paid for every hour you work. You spend tons of non-billable hours on tasks like writing pitches, researching publications, searching job boards, writing proposals, meeting with prospects, or networking.

When you’re self-employed, you also have to pay more taxes and buy your own health insurance if you don’t have a spouse who can provide coverage.

Related: The Best Online Writing Courses for New Freelance Writers

7. Drop time-sucking clients.

After realizing I could earn more on writing than on content management, I fired a client that had commanded a ton of my time for a low hourly rate.

When I filled that time with other clients, my hourly rate jumped about 40%. That meant I could earn more money and work fewer hours. I was hesitant to lose that client, who promised as much work as I wanted, but I knew I could make better use of my time.

Be aware of inefficient work that sucks a lot of time you could spend on more lucrative work; and don’t be afraid to drop clients for better opportunities.

Notice clients who waste your time with non-billable work — the ones who require complicated invoicing, email you at odd hours, micromanage every assignment, expect several rounds of revisions, or are generally disorganized. Account for that extra time when figuring out the hourly rate you earn for that client’s projects.

Related: 29 Best Work-From-Home Jobs for 2024

8. Don’t rely on pitches.

My biggest mistake in my first stint as a freelancer was thinking pitching was the only way to get work.

Sending a one-off pitch is a great way to get an assignment at a high-end magazine or newspaper, or at blogs as a new writer. But it’s a laborious way to make a living writing.

Focus on finding clients that offer ongoing writing work and want a long-term relationship. Small businesses often work this way, as do niche sites that require expertise, like finance, health, or legal blogs.

Or turn one-off assignments into ongoing gigs by doing a great job.

Follow up after one successful assignment with another pitch. Once an editor knows how great you are, let them know you’re available to accept assignments. Most sites have a wish list of articles they’d like written, and they’ll be happy to pass them your way once you’ve proven yourself reliable.

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

9. Look for gigs in the right places.

As a new freelancer, you might have relied on broker sites like Upwork and Textbroker to find places to get paid to write. But clients on those sites are often looking for the cheapest hire and aren’t as concerned with quality.

Now that you have more experience, you have better options to find freelance jobs:

• Browse higher-quality job boards, like MediaBistro, JournalismJobs.com, and Mediagazer.
• Host a portfolio and “work with me” page on your own website, and link to it from your social media profiles to help clients find you.
• Join membership groups of writers, like Freelance Writers Den, Editorial Freelancers Association, or Society of Professional Journalists, which host vetted job boards and let you list yourself as available for hire.
• Use your network and make sure colleagues who love your work know you’re available, so they can send prospects your way. Try to return the favor when you can.
• Join freelance writer groups on Facebook, like The Freelance Content Marketing Writer and The Write Life, where editors post quality opportunities.

10. Become (a little) tech-savvy.

Being easy to work with will make you more valuable to clients — and a little tech savviness makes you less of a headache than someone clients have to handhold with every new piece of software.

Learn how to use basic tech you’ll encounter as a freelancer, including:

• Video conferencing: Google Hangouts and Zoom.
• Project management: Trello and Asana.
• Word processing and collaborating: Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
• Content management: WordPress (and Wix for some small businesses).

11. Subscribe to writing newsletters.

Newsletters for writers are a simple way to stay abreast of writing gigs without constantly perusing job boards. Plus, they usually come with tons of writing tips.

My favorite newsletters with unique writing gigs are:

• FundsforWriters by C. Hope Clark.
• Where to Pitch by Susan Shain.

12. Reach out to new clients.

When you’re a new writer, it can be easy to rely on job boards or Facebook posts to find new clients, but you can make more money if you find clients on your own.

Use sites like Crunchbase to find startups in your field. Send emails to them explaining what you offer and how you can help grow their business with your writing.

Set a calendar reminder to follow up within a few months with a quick check-in and a link to your latest article.

Following up is key, even if you never hear back or only receive a lukewarm response. You never know when a company will be ready for freelance help. It could be six months or a year from now.

Related: How to Get Paid to Write Reviews

Kick Up Your Earning Potential

Making more money as a freelance writer is about more than knowing how to negotiate higher rates. A little organization, strategy, and good work will give you a serious boost, even if you never have a conversation about money.

Increase your value by focusing on a niche and proving your quality and work ethic to colleagues. Avoid low-rate job boards, and seek jobs through industry groups, vetted listings, and network referrals.

Even though it can be tedious, try to track your work. Understanding how much your time is worth is the first step to figuring out how to get more out of it.

The post 12 Ways to Grow Your Income as a Freelance Writer appeared first on DollarSprout.

In order to reach those goals, individuals and businesses will often enlist the services of a consultant.

Most people have busy schedules that make it difficult to meet in person. This opens up the opportunity to earn income as a virtual consultant.

Whether you need a new side hustle or plan to make it a full-time gig, virtual consulting is a profitable and efficient way to reach your ideal clients and have the flexibility to work from wherever you want.

Virtual Consultants Cover a Range of Topics

One of the biggest perks of virtual consulting is that it’s versatile enough to cover any topic you can imagine. Potential clients will need help with everything from job search strategies to social media marketing, and if you have the skills and experience, you can offer solutions to their problems.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re moving your current consulting online, [research] is an important step. You want to know not only if the service you offer is one that is needed, but can it be delivered online to the people who want to pay you?

Bob Minhas, Management Consultant

Still, expertise alone won’t guarantee success as a virtual consultant. Bob Minhas, a management consultant with more than 17 years of consulting experience, recommends doing market research to narrow down what kinds of services to offer and how valuable they are to potential clients.

Once you’ve done your research, Minhas suggests using a beta group to test out your consulting services.

“Set the expectation that this is a learning experience and get feedback, as well as testimonials. Be sure to monitor and measure every part of the virtual consulting experience, especially the results,” he said.

Related: How to Become a Virtual Assistant: A Step by Step Guide to Earning $25+/Hour

Become the Go-To Specialist In Your Space

With such a wide range of options in consulting, you might think it’s ideal to brand yourself as a “jack of all trades” to land the most clients. While this sounds like a good idea in theory, it can actually do more harm than good.

As a generalist, you run the risk of spreading yourself too thin to keep up with multiple industries. It also becomes more of a challenge to find and connect with your target audience. Potential clients might be confused about what you do and will be less likely to hire you when they need help with a specific problem.

A better option is to focus on specializing in one particular specialty or industry. This helps position you as the go-to expert in that niche.

Let’s say you want to be a consultant in the wellness space with a focus on working moms. In this case, you can find your target clients by joining Facebook groups and sharing tips and recommendations with other members. Connect with colleagues on LinkedIn who work for wellness brands that speak to your audience and engage with them regularly. Read articles and blogs that cover wellness topics and share them with your networks.

By staying knowledgeable in your niche and consistently engaging and sharing with your target audience, you’ll ensure that you stay at the front of their minds when they’re looking for a consultant.

Create Recurring Revenue

Even when you have the expertise to step into consulting, you might struggle with figuring out the best way to package your services. Your potential clients’ budgets will vary as much as their specific needs. It’s important to know who your client base is and what they can afford, but still package your services in a way that gives you stable, recurring income.

You can’t be everywhere all the time. Choose high-impact activities that work for you and play to your strengths.

Krystal Covington, PR and Marketing Consultant

Although consulting seems like a one-off service, trying to reach new clients every month is much more challenging than retaining the ones you already have. One option to maintain those client relationships is a monthly service where you check in on their progress and answer any questions that might have come up.

“A great way to provide virtual consulting is by offering a low-cost monthly membership for access to Q&A chat, monthly calls and emails, or a monthly business review to keep [clients] on track with goals,” explains Krystal Covington, a PR and marketing consultant.

She does this herself with a small group of people who pay a monthly fee to access her services. “It provides a recurring income for me and low-cost resources for them,” Covington says.

Related: 16 Online Business Ideas That Anyone Can Start (with Little or No Cost)

Other Ways to Make Money as a Virtual Consultant

While traditional consulting usually consists of sitting down in a one-on-one session with clients, you can make money in several different ways as a virtual consultant.

Starting out, you’ll probably want to stick to individual client sessions. As you gain more experience, consider offering products to supplement your consulting services that add value to your clients.

1. eBooks

An eBook is a useful resource you can offer to your clients with more in-depth information on your area of expertise. They can refer it to before or after an initial consultation. While the idea of creating an eBook may seem daunting, chances are you probably have most of the content you need already.

If you have a blog or regularly share helpful information on social media, you can expand on those posts and repurpose them for your eBook. This will require some work up front, but once it’s complete, an eBook can be a great passive income stream to include with your services. It’s also a great way to establish your authority and expertise in your niche.

2. Online courses

As your consulting business grows, you’ll likely come across common trends, problems, and frequently asked questions from your clients. Rather than repeat the same information to each client, create an online course with Teachable or a similar platform. An online program is an efficient way to offer value to your clients while allowing them to learn at their own pace.

Like an eBook, creating a course will take a bit of legwork up front, but it’s useful for clients if you’re fully booked for one-on-one sessions, and to create recurring income for your business. You can also use it as a lead to attract clients who want more in-depth services.

3. How-to guides and templates

Everyone loves a good template. This is a quick and simple tool you can create to provide examples of everything from writing a cover letter to setting up an out-of-office email response or creating a budget.

How-to guides, scripts, and templates are helpful options for clients who may not have the time (or desire) to commit to an online course or eBook.

Related: 5 Best Virtual Assistant Companies Hiring Right Now

How Much Money Can You Earn as an Online Consultant?

Glassdoor salary estimates that a full-time virtual consultant averages about $77,638 per year, with a low-end range of $53,000 and a high-end range of $113,000._[1]

But if you’re working for yourself, you can make as much or as little as you want. How you price your services varies based on several factors, including years of experience, area of expertise, personal expenses, and whether you’ll be consulting part- or full-time.

Since it’s your business, you can offer products and courses in addition to your consulting services, putting no limit on your earning potential.

Related: 29 Best Work-from-Home Jobs for 2024

How Do You Sell Your Services?

Once you’ve decided what services you want to offer, who your ideal client is, and how much you’re going to charge, the next step is to find clients.

You can’t be everywhere all the time. Choose high-impact activities that work for you and play to your strengths.

Paige Arnof-Fenn, Mavens & Moguls

According to Paige Arnof-Fenn, CEO and Founder of the marketing consulting firm Mavens & Moguls, there are many tools available, but you should choose the few that work best for you.

She says this can include things like speaking at conferences, writing guest blog posts, or hosting podcasts and webinars. This gives you the opportunity to get in front of your potential clients regularly and show them what you have to offer.

You may also need to spend a lot of time marketing your services online. With so many platforms, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to use for your business. However, don’t feel pressured to be everywhere at once.

Arnof-Fenn advises that if your customers don’t use Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to find you, then you don’t need to make them a priority. Pick the one your ideal clients use most and build your business there.

“Having a good online reputation is incredibly important to build a strong professional service network and positive word of mouth,” Arnof-Fenn shared.

The key to growing your online business is to make yourself accessible and easy to find. Include your contact information on all your social media profiles and content marketing materials, as well as your email signature. Always follow up with client leads and set up a system to keep in touch, even if they’re not ready to sign up for your services right away.

Related: 37 Small-Scale Business Ideas for Beginner Entrepreneurs

Find a Problem and Create a Solution

Like any online business, virtual consulting takes a lot of work, trial and error, and persistence to make it a success. Still, don’t let the idea of hard work scare you away. The most important part of your business is to stay focused on the value you offer to your clients.

It’s likely that your target audience will always face challenges they need help solving. If you can consistently demonstrate that you’re the person who can solve those problems, clients will be more than willing to pay for your services.

The post How to Become a Virtual Consultant: Salary, Topics & Finding Jobs appeared first on DollarSprout.

Whether you’re working remotely or in an office, distractions pop up, and tasks that earn you money or a promotion take a back seat.

While some distractions are inevitable, they shouldn’t steal your focus from doing things that create value and help you earn money, says Grace Marshall, author of the award-winning book “How to Be Really Productive” and productivity expert at Think Productive.

According to Marshall, productivity is about managing your time, energy, and focus—so you can get work done, get money, and still have time to, well, get a life.

15 Ways to Maximize Your Productivity and Earnings

With that in mind, here are 15 ways to boost your productivity and earning potential.

1. Find your most productive hours.

There’s usually a time of day when you’re ready to do your best work, but that time of day differs for everyone. “For me, my creativity comes alive late at night, so I reserve the evenings for working on big campaign ideas and new client proposals,” says Aimee Joseph, founder of marketing boutique Brand Love Solutions. “My advice would be to determine when you’re most creative and work with it.”

To find your golden hours, listen to your body to get a sense of when you feel focused and motivated to tackle big projects. Plan your day so you’re doing the highest-priority work during your most productive hours, while routine tasks can be done when you don’t need as much concentration.

2. Figure out which office lifestyle is best for you.

Some people work best independently, while others thrive in an office setting. “In my experience, introverts really tend to enjoy working from home because they are energized by alone time,” says Alexis Haselberger, a productivity, time management, and leadership coach. “Extroverts tend to have a harder time working from home for the opposite reason; they are energized through time with others.”

Have you noticed that where you work impacts your output and focus? Consider finding a job or shaping your career path based on where you can work: remotely, in an office, or a combination of the two.

Related: 29 Best Work from Home Jobs for 2024

3. Track and limit time spent on each task.

After a few months in the same role, you probably know how long it takes to complete your normal, routine tasks. When you need to schedule one, allot a reasonable amount of time and aim to get it done within that time frame.

If you need help figuring out where your time goes, tools like RescueTime can help. This app automatically tracks how you spend your time, lets you set daily goals, and provides regular reports. Based on your customizations, it also limits the time spent on any task and blocks temptations like social media, notifications, and news alerts.

4. Schedule your week.

Racheal Cook, business strategist and productivity expert, says she creates a weekly Google Calendar and first blocks out time for family, friends, and fun. She then blocks out major work tasks during defined hours to help create boundaries between work and her personal life. If you don’t make time for both, “then work can quickly take up every available moment in your week,” Cook says.

Blocking out time also keeps you on track and helps you to be realistic about deadlines, Haselberger says. She also decides (in advance) what time she’ll stop working each day.

5. Give yourself periodic breaks.

Working at 100% capacity at all hours just isn’t sustainable. “If you don’t take regular breaks, you risk burnout,” Haselberger says.

Some productivity methods suggest working in short bursts followed by a short break. For example, productivity-software company DeskTime says the most productive people work for 52 minutes, then break for 17 minutes. Remove yourself completely from work during this time. “A quick walk or reading an article can really reset your brain to get back into productive mode,” Haselberger says.

6. Make time for personal and career development.

“When we’re busy delivering the work that gets us the next paycheck, we react to what’s very immediate,” Marshall says. But it’s important to also think about your long-term personal and career goals and what steps it will take to get there.

Career development could include attending a training course for the next step in your career, watching a self-development seminar, or reading a book. Investing time in yourself might mean skipping billable client work now, but it boosts your earning potential over time. And focusing on personal goals can help you round out your work-life balance.

7. Avoid meetings if possible.

You’ve probably heard this workplace one-liner: “This meeting could have been an email.” While meetings can be an efficient way to collectively brainstorm ideas and create solutions, more than $37 billion per year is spent on unproductive meetings, according to one estimate._[2] But if you must have one, Haselberger offers these tips:

• Ensure every meeting has an owner. This person schedules the meeting, sets the agenda, and facilitates the discussion.
• Only include necessary attendees. Information can be disseminated to others on a need-to-know basis via other means.
• Always have an agenda. The owner sends the agenda to all attendees. It should state the objective, items for discussion, and any relevant materials to prepare attendees.
• Define the goal for the meeting. If you don’t know what you hope to accomplish, don’t schedule a meeting.
• Decision vs. discussion. Decide whether the purpose of the meeting is for decision-making or brainstorming and discussion.

Employing a strategy will make meetings more organized, productive, and a better use of time.

8. Outsource or delegate work if you can.

Whether you’re running a business or part of a large project with co-workers, everyone has a strength and a role. Delegating or outsourcing work means “letting others do what they can do, so you can do what only you can do,” Marshall says.

For best practices, Marshall suggests communicating the results you want and defining ground rules. Although someone else will do the task differently than you would, “sometimes they’ll do it better or in a different way that still achieves the results you want,” Marshall says.

9. Avoid time wasters.

Distractions can torpedo your workday. These come in the form of household chores, co-workers or kids, and emails and notifications. “Most people check email on average 37 times a day,” Haselberger says. “Every time we are interrupted or distracted, it takes, on average, 23 minutes to refocus.”

Don’t let these derail your schedule. Instead of pausing work to tackle small tasks, you can:

• Block off time to check and answer your emails.
• Turn off notifications on all devices during work hours.
• Set communication boundaries with co-workers or household members.
• Dedicate time for chores.

Incorporating these necessary tasks into your schedule ensures that they are done while still allowing you sufficient, undistracted time to complete your larger tasks.

10. Create your own work processes.

If you’ve figured out a good way of getting things done, “let’s not reinvent the wheel,” Marshall says. Creating resources like processes, checklists, and pricing structures allows you to do the thinking and the work just once. Having the documentation will also help if you plan to grow your business in the future, Marshall says.

11. Automate tasks when possible.

In any business, repeat tasks need to get done but take up precious time. Some of these can be automated, which means using technology to speed things up. For example, instead of emailing back and forth about setting up a chat, you can use an app like TimeTrade.

Collaborating with project management tools, using accounting software, and scheduling social media posts are some other ways to automate tasks.

12. Exercise regularly.

Exercise does so much more than lower your blood pressure and help you fit into your jeans. In one study, employees who visited the gym said they were more productive, managed their time more effectively, and had smoother interactions with their colleagues._[3] Exercise can also:

• Boost your concentration, memory, and creativity.
• Help you learn faster.
• Lower your stress levels.

Joseph says that exercising gives her a surge of creativity. When that happens, she captures ideas on her smartphone to check later. “Writing down everything is key for me, as my brain gets overloaded with ideas. Reviewing my ‘ideas dump’ later on is a great way to weed out the weak and identify the ones with real opportunity.”

You can use voice memos or another app to record your ideas if it’s easier than stopping what you’re doing to write them down.

Related: 13 Apps That Pay You to Walk

13. Take time to rest and recharge.

Plenty of folks work nights and weekends, take few vacations, and retire late in life. “People often think about free time as a luxury or an afterthought,” Marshall says. “But rest is fuel for productivity.” It can also improve your immune system, increase creativity, and reduce stress.

Rest will look different for everyone, but here are a few ways to make it happen:

• Block off at least one day a week where no work is allowed.
• Practice self-care, which generally means sleeping enough, eating well, and exercising.
• Take a “mental health day” if you need it.
• Make time to visit friends and family. But don’t be afraid to say “no” to social visits if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Spending time away from work and projects is important not only because it gives you a chance to rest and recharge, but you might find yourself inspired or with a fresh perspective when you get back to your desk.

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

14. Get enough sleep.

“If we’re not feeling refreshed, it can hamper our ability to do our best work,” Marshall says. “Research suggests that if you’re sleep-deprived, the long-term cognitive impairment is equivalent to being drunk.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep._[4] What’s considered “enough” varies by age and person. But generally, adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, the CDC says. Here are some ways to help that happen:

• Save caffeine for the morning, and cut it from your afternoon and evening.
• Get into a consistent sleep schedule by going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day, including on weekends.
• Don’t use smartphones and other devices right before bedtime. They emit light that can mess with your circadian rhythm and ability to fall asleep.
• Avoid exercising and eating close to bedtime.

Establishing a bedtime routine and better sleep habits ensures that you’re well-rested and able to perform at your best the following day.

15. Make good food choices.

It may come as no surprise that food is directly tied to your energy level. You’ve probably grabbed a 2 p.m. snack or coffee to boost your brainpower for the afternoon. But while any food generally fuels your body, some types of food are better at promoting productivity. Here are some general guidelines:

• Have healthy food choices available. In particular, fruits and vegetables have been shown to promote curiosity, motivation, and engagement._[5] Nuts are also a healthy option.
• Don’t skip breakfast. A meal full of protein and complex carbohydrates gives your body the energy it needs to get through the day.
• Graze. Hunger can lead to lower levels of productivity, so have a steady stream of healthy snacks on hand to eat throughout the day.

If finding ways to incorporate healthy food choices into your day is difficult, consider setting one day aside for meal prepping. It’ll not only save time and decision fatigue, but it can save you money as well.

Bottom Line

It’s normal to let distractions or procrastination get the best of us every now and then. But learning strategies to harness your focus and energy will help you use your time more meaningfully and efficiently.

This list serves as a starting point for taking care of yourself, setting goals, and squashing the time wasters that don’t contribute value to your work or personal life. You can start with one or combine a few into a more comprehensive strategy. Whether you’re freelancing or pushing for a raise at your full-time job, one thing is true: greater productivity equals more money in your pocket.

The post 15 Ways to Maximize Your Productivity and Earnings appeared first on DollarSprout.

We’ve all clicked off of a website if the menu is hard to read or the content is impossible to find. I know I’ve done it.

People also evaluate a business’s credibility on the website’s appearance, and they expect it to load in two seconds or less. That means that websites need to look good, be user-friendly, and load quickly enough to keep visitors from moving on.

But how does a business achieve a functional, beautiful website that attracts and keeps users?

Among other things, they hire a web designer.

What is Web Design?

Web design is the appearance, layout, images, and other visual front-end elements that affect a user’s experience on a website. To create an aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly website, many businesses and website owners use web designers.

Web design vs. web development

While web design involves what users see when they go to a website, web developers work on the backend to make sure that the site functions properly.

This includes things like how fast the pages load, that users don’t experience errors, and making sure the website is mobile-friendly. Web developers typically use coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to do their job.

Website owners might employ both a designer and developer to create a site for their business.

Related: 16 Online Business Ideas That Anyone Can Start

What Does a Web Designer Do and How Much Do They Make?

Web designers use their creativity and eye for design to create functional, user-friendly, and beautiful websites. They work in tandem with their clients to choose the site’s layout, colors, fonts, and images. They also make sure readers can easily navigate the site on a laptop, desktop, phone, or tablet.

Web designer qualifications

Web designers often have a degree or certificate in visual design. This isn’t a necessity, but it does help provide a fundamental understanding of website elements like color schemes, fonts, layouts, and proportions.

User Experience (UX) training is also helpful for potential web designers. This training helps designers think about different types of people who might use the site to help them map how each user will navigate it.

To implement the design and UX ideas, web designers often work with a programmer or learn coding languages like HTML (what gives the site structure) and CSS (what allows you to change colors, images, and other visual aspects). Learning these languages isn’t crucial for a web designer, but it can make you a better designer.

Average salary

According to Glassdoor, full-time corporate web designers make an average of about $52,000 per year. If you’d rather work for yourself, freelance web designers can make between $30 to $80 per hour._[2]

Related: 50 Freelance Job Websites to Find Your First (or Next) Gig

How to Start Working as a Website Designer

People who enjoy designing websites can build their own business with just a few simple steps. It may take time to grow a full-time income, but it is possible.

1. Enroll in a web design or development course

First, think about what skills you have and the ones you need. Then consider taking classes to bridge the gap. Udemy offers affordable classes on HTML and CSS, visual design, and user experience.

Online classes are practical and worthwhile if you’re trying to grow your web design skills. The cost for the courses is an investment that can pay off as you build your business.

The more skills and services you can offer, the more you can charge and the higher-profile clients you can work with. Plus, you can deduct the classes on your taxes.

2. Create your own business website

A great way to practice your design skills is to work on your first project: your own website. You can start by making a simple blog or website.

If you want to grow your web design business and attract clients, you need somewhere to showcase your skills and abilities. Your business site is your first and best advertisement to potential clients.

3. Add your portfolio to your website

Clients will hire you based on what they see, so it’s crucial that you showcase your design skills and personal projects on your business website. If you don’t have any clients, you can create mockup sites to demonstrate how you’d approach a particular design.

You can also reach out to local nonprofits, churches, or business-owner friends and offer to work on their site in exchange for testimonials.

4. Identify your ideal client

As you’re starting your business, you need to think about what your ideal client looks like. Ask yourself questions like:

• What type of business do they run?
• Is there a particular topic or genre you’d like to specialize in?
• Who runs the site you’re designing?
• How old are they?
• Where do they live?
• What is their budget?

This is just a sample list of questions. When creating your ideal client profile, you can add as many details as you want that will help you identify the types of sites that your ideal client owns and how to market and network with them.

5. Find clients

As a web designer, you’ll find work in one of two ways: working for someone else or freelancing. If you’re interested in freelancing, you’ll need to pitch clients as well.

Traditional web design jobs

Sometimes working for someone else is a great way to get your foot in the door and build your skills while earning a consistent paycheck. Some people prefer a traditional schedule and other perks of being an employee.

To find a job with a web design company, check out job postings on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. You can also do a search for “web design companies” and browse the careers section of their websites.

Make sure you have a solid resume, even if you don’t have much experience. Highlight things like your relevant training, testimonials from past clients, and the designs you’ve done.

Freelancing

As a freelancer, you’ll work for yourself. That means it’s your responsibility to manage your own schedule, track your income and expenses, and find clients.

One way to find clients is by networking. Figure out where your potential customers might be and visit those places. It can be a Facebook group, in-person meeting in your town, or even LinkedIn. Try networking with other freelance web designers; they may have some good tips for finding your first clients.

If networking with strangers is uncomfortable for you, you can start by designing a marketing campaign. Share your new services with your social media followers or email list, put together a Facebook ad campaign, or let your family and friends know what you’re doing.

Ask them if they can connect you with any potential clients. Sometimes that personal connection makes it a little easier to network.

Related: 25 Legitimate Ways to Earn Money Online

Pitching

Once you’re in front of potential clients, you’ll need to pitch them. Include a description of how you can help them, what makes you different, why they should hire you, and a brief summary of your experience or skills.

If you’re at a networking event, try to distill all of that information into a 60-second “elevator pitch,” and make sure you have some business cards on hand to distribute so potential clients have a way to contact you. You can even use your cards as a small sample of your work.

6. Promote your services

To grow their business, freelance web designers need to promote themselves and their services.

Social media is a free and effective way to generate interest in your design skills, and it’s also a way to stay connected to your network. Using free platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you can share updates on your projects, your menu of services, and even ask your followers what they’d like you to learn or work on.

Sponsored or targeted ads on social media networks are another effective method for driving traffic to your design services. This expands your potential client base as you have the ability to reach clients beyond your local area.

If you have an email list, you can use that to share design tips and tricks, give inside information on upcoming projects or updates, or even offer discounts for new customers.

Related: How to Become a Graphic Designer in 8 Simple Steps

7. Build your brand

As a web designer, you’ll help companies build their brand. But it’s equally important that you build your personal brand as well. There are a few ways you can do this:

Your website. Create and update your website to reflect your personality. Make sure that you’re conveying the right feeling to your ideal customer.

Your social media. Be consistent across all platforms. Use the same name, profile picture, tone (e.g., casual vs. professional), and website information everywhere you share your business details. People will get to know you this way.

Your niche. Focus on a particular niche, ideally one you’re passionate about. It’s easier to market to a specific audience than to everyone. Who knows, you could become the go-to person for healthy recipe websites or handmade soap makers.

Your services. Work well with your clients. A happy customer will refer you to friends or family who need your services, and reviews from satisfied customers are the easiest way to build your brand.

Creating a solid, consistent brand builds trust, recognition, and makes potential clients more likely to hire you.

Should You Become a Website Designer?

If you’re creative, good at design, and have basic coding skills (or are willing to learn them), you might do well working in website design. You also need to be able to listen to your clients, work collaboratively with them and web developers, and, if you’re interested in freelancing, be able to market and pitch yourself.

Although breaking into the field can be difficult, especially for those without any specialized training, if you practice, network, and look for opportunities to develop your skills and portfolio, you can find success as a web designer.

The post How to Become a Freelance Web Designer in 7 Simple Steps appeared first on DollarSprout.