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How Can You Become A Successful Freelancer

You’re probably thinking of ditching your 9-5 job to try freelancing. I’ve been in your situation six years ago. I’ve read so many stories of people abroad who are work from home freelancers. I’ve read many “work from home” blogs in the years prior – so many that I can’t count them now. I thought then that there’s a hidden industry on the internet that I should check out. And soon enough, I became a part of the gig industry.

I am writing this article from my couch while listening to Spotify, while a typhoon is passing through the region. There’s no internet, but it is fine since I don’t need the connection to write down this short article anyway. (I’ve already prepared my research materials days before, just in case we lose connection.) On a regular day, when I have work for my clients, I don’t have to commute to get into my office. It is literally a second or two away from my bedroom. What I currently love about freelancing is that I can always work and watch the current news at the same time. My table setup is just a few feet away from my couch and television. How’s that for comfort?

Anyway, in the Philippines, I’m not alone in this gig industry. More and more people nowadays discover the advantage of working from home and building their online business. Most of these people are moms (or dads), who were previously employed in the traditional 9-5 job but were either forced to stay at home to help with kids or wanted to make career shifts to virtual professions.

If you are interested in becoming one of us, the doors (of freelancing) are already wide open to receive you. Are you ready to freelance? Before you start, I suggest that you read these tips from fellow freelancers to help you become successful freelancers, too!

1) Is your skillset marketable?

What are your skills? Are you one of the many who’s also doing what you do? Competition is high among these freelancers that getting clients can be very difficult. Are you exceptional who can do one of a few? For instance, graphic designers are very in-demand virtual freelancers. They are generally paid higher compared to other freelancers.

2) You’ll get emotional over the loss of a regular working environment.

It’s inevitable. When you freelance, more or less you’ll work solo. Often than not, you’ll work at your home office, without the usual bustle of office work and co-workers. You’ll miss them. You’ll miss acquaintance parties, birthday celebrations, and Christmas office parties. You’ll let go of weekly (bimonthly) wage payments, pensions (benefits), or paid holiday leaves. I promise you that you’ll get used to it eventually. Instead of face to face interaction, you’ll learn how to communicate with team members from all around the globe via Slack or Skype. You’ll still get work payments but not as regularly as before (case to case). Also, you won’t get paid vacations. Pay for it yourself instead and go whenever you want to do it. Just make sure to inform your clients ahead of time, okay?

3) Do you have the necessary tools?

Laptop is the most important tool of the trade for any freelancer. You can also use a personal computer, but laptop is the most preferred tool these days for flexibility. So choose well. Research what is the industry’s most trusted technology requirements. A good internet connection is another necessary requirement. If you freelance and work with clients abroad, internet is a must. Invest in the fastest internet provider that you can afford.

4) When you freelance, you are the brand.

5) Find freelancer friends and join groups.

As I’ve mentioned in Tip #2, freelancing is sometimes a lonely job. You need a support group. Find like-minded people. Find time to network with freelancers who are working in the same niche as you are. I’m gonna be honest and say that when you’re starting out, you’ll need the guidance of people who are already in the business. Find yourself some mentors. It’ll be a bumpy road before it gets better. I’ll highly recommend that you find friends in the virtual world, too.

6) Promote your brand to get more clients.

Clients need to notice you first before you can land a gig. Therefore you need to promote your brand. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Start with a simple website. I highly suggest that you create an online portfolio. When looking for a gig, you don’t need a resume. You just need a portfolio. Start early on this website and build your portfolio along the way. Next, use social media to subtly promote yourself. Build Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. Share things that are relevant to your skills and branding. I highly recommend that you pay close attention to LinkedIn. Did you know that you can find lots of clients on LinkedIn? It is like a landmine of potential biz partners.

7) Take care of yourself.

When you freelance, you earn by the hours or by the projects. Sometimes, you’ll get projects after projects without any care on how many hours you’ll sleep at night. I am guilty of this especially in my first 6 months of freelancing. I run after gigs and money and I admit that I forgot to take care of myself. Thankfully, I didn’t get sick. Thinking about it now, I should have taken care of myself better before. Just remember, your brand is you– body, mind, and soul. So always take care, okay?

8) There will be bad days.

Is your Internet not working? Has your laptop died on you? Managing stressful tasks for the day or the week? Got a horrible client? You’ll get these and more. Every bad day is worse. Don’t worry about it so much. Tomorrow is another day. Just do the best that you can today, get more sleep, and rise for another hopeful day tomorrow.

9) Plan for bigger things.

This is a reality in freelancing: you may have a gig this month then you’ll have next to nothing next month. Learn to earn and save money as you freelance. There will be days that you’ll feel you’re not up to get more clients, and funding will eventually slow down. Learn to get a business plan in place. What are your plans for the next few months? Think about it.

10) Enjoy a “flexible” life.

I decided to work as a freelancer because I wanted to get flexible working time. I wanted to do other things while working. And currently, I am enjoying every bit of it. Working freelance doesn’t mean that you’ll be online 24/7. That’s crazy, but sometimes it happens. Manage your time wisely. Learn to use your time to work, enjoy doing things that you feel passionately about and spend quality time with your family, friends and significant others. Unplug from the freelance life once in a while. I’ll assure you, you’ll get fresher outlook when you do.

[heymarketeer]

11 Big Mistakes All Rookie Freelancers Should Avoid

Working as a freelancer is not a walk in the park. Whoever said it is easy is lying. 

The modern workforce is already shifting towards the gig economy, composed of freelancers and independent contractors. Many people sign up as freelancers every day. These people want to earn extra cash (and other monetary-related reasons) by selling their expertise to different companies, doing part-time (or full-time) work without being tied down to one single employer. 

As freelancers start their new business and career, they’ll experience several “rookie” mistakes along the way. It is easy to commit mistakes when you’re just starting out. As new freelancers, they still have to learn the dynamics of this modern workplace. They are not yet familiar with the standard rates for certain types of projects or tasks. Committing these rookie mistakes will most likely lead to loss of well-deserved money. It could also hurt your online reputation in the workplace, which may ruin your freelance business in the long run.  

If you’re seriously considering joining us in the freelancing industry, then this list is for you. As a business owner, you should become aware of these to help you devise a winning system and strategies. Check these most commonly known rookie mistakes and find out my suggestions on how you can avoid committing them.

1) Not creating or completing an online profile or portfolio

This is a pretty basic requirement of freelancing. It is basic, but many freelancers do not give it ample consideration. Remember that your online portfolio will make or break your freelancing business. Entrepreneurs and clients will check out your portfolio before hiring you. Find time to edit and complete your portfolio. Read this guide to help you with polishing your online profile. 

2) Working regular hours

If you’re servicing different clients from all around the globe, you should not stick with your regular local business hours. Ditch the 9-5 and work flexibly. That’s actually the luxury that lured you into freelancing in the first place, isn’t it? 

If you accepted projects from clients from the US, UK or Australia, present upfront your working hours. Some clients will probably assume that you’re available 24/7, expecting reports on tasks and progress reports on the project. But let’s be honest, you’re not superman with the superpower. You still need to sleep. 

As a freelancer, I prefer to work with clients from the UK and Australia. When I work in the morning, I can catch up with Australia’s midmorning to afternoon work hours. When I work in the evening, I can catch up with the morning to mid afternoon working hours in the UK. When my clients need me for quick updates or for clarifications on some matters, they can easily communicate with me. 

3) Failing to communicate with the clients

Communication is very crucial to a healthy working relationship. Putting my suggestions in number 2 in the equation will better help you in the communication department. Discuss how often you’ll meet with the client (if they prefer to) every month. Take advantage of project management applications that will allow you to keep the client in the loop on every aspect of the project. Be proactive in giving status reports to clients and be available when they need to connect with you for whatever project-related matters.

4) Working on projects that are outside of your expertise and skillset

It is often difficult to find reliable and expert freelancers. When clients find these, they tend to extend the contracts to make use of these freelancers for a longer period of time. If you’re a rookie freelancer, and a client wants to work with you long term, it will boost your pride tremendously.  You’ll probably go forward with the extension without putting any evaluation in the additional workload. Most freelancers committing this mistake often believe that they can do new tasks if they’ll just invest some time researching the new skill required to complete it. That’s probably okay since they’ll gain new skills while doing the project. However, clients often do not compensate these freelancers for taking the extra length of learning new skills. It can also disrupt the freelancers’ carefully established work schedule and might affect the quality of work for other clients’ projects. If you want to learn new skills, I highly recommend that you do the learning and evaluation outside any client’s project to prevent any kind of distractions.

5) Charging too little (or too much)

Know your worth as a freelancer, but make a thorough research on the standard market price of the services you’re offering. 

Most freelancers start with a very affordable service fee. This is brought about by their fear of not getting any clients when they present their real service fees upfront. I do not recommend starting out this way. When you attract low paying clients when you’re starting out, the tendency is for you to get low paying referrals as well. The cycle of getting low paying clients will never stop and you’ll get stuck with providing undervalued expertise.

Some freelancers, particularly those who are already months into the business, charge too much. Keep in mind that entrepreneurs and business owners look into hiring freelancers to cut down on employee expenses. Your service fee should be at par with the industry standard, so as not to keep clients away from your business.

6) Accepting more clients and projects  than you can handle

When one client loved your freelance services, he’ll probably spread the word and refer you to friends and other entrepreneurs. That’s good news actually. It’ll mean business growth for you. However, when freelancers accept projects more than they’re capable of completing, their online reputation suffers.  It is so easy to say YES to new opportunities but beware of the consequences when everything goes south. 

7) Rushing through projects and under-delivery

When freelancers commit mistake number 6, this will definitely be the result. In their attempt to impress clients by taking on more tasks or project, time is biting their ass faster than they can deliver quality work. Overpromising and under-delivering is a deadly combination in this business. If you’re rushing things to complete the project, the quality of the final product suffers and will not meet your client’s expectations. This will lead to dissatisfied and disappointed clients which will result to you being labeled as untrustworthy and incompetent freelancer. Remember, these clients will probably leave testimonials about your service, and they’ll let the world know of your work ethics. 

8) Not acting as a business

I am guilty of this many times. It is really hard to shift from an employee mindset to an entrepreneurial one. When you’re doing freelance work, you’re actually a self-employed business owner. You are running your own business. You’re the boss and if you’re a one man team, then you’ll run your business on your own. 

Act like a business. Operate like a business. Don’t treat your freelance work as a hobby.  

Develop a business plan, establish a legal entity, put up and issue project contracts, send professional business proposals and invoices, file your taxes and keep books and records. 

9) Don’t rely on one client alone.

When you freelance, you want to break from the traditional 9-5 job where you get your income from just one source. In your freelancing business, your income source should be unlimited and your client base must be more than 1. Don’t stop marketing your business. Continuously get updated with industry and market news. Build relationships with people, preferably from your target market and research what these people need. 

10) Not finding your field or niche.

Stay away from becoming a generalist. Entrepreneurs pay well to have a specialist on board. You should find your unique selling point. Find your special set of  skills and focus on developing it. Build your online portfolio around these skill set. When you become an expert, it is easier to sell your services at premium prices. You’ll also attract high paying clients when you showcase yourself as an expert in the field.

11) Saying Yes to everything

If you’re a newbie, you tend to say YES to everything. This will not help your business grow. It will just cripple your work schedule and stick you with an insane amount of low-paying projects. You don’t want that, right?  If your client needs more tasks done, but are outside of your expertise, say NO. Say NO if the project or the task doesn’t hit your standard bar. Assess if the project or offer will look good on your portfolio in the long run. If you believe or feel that you’re not a good match with the project or client, decline the offer. Believe me, you’ll be saving both parties with lots of disappointments and frustrations. Focus your attention in finding better projects which will help your business grow and flourish.

In conclusion,

Becoming a freelancer is a huge responsibility. You wear multiple hats across all aspects of your business. It is so easy to make mistakes that might put your work and client relationships at risk. In order to become a successful business, you should be aware of the rookie mistakes written above. The ball is in your hands now. Take action. And I hope you all the best in your freelancing business. 

[heymarketeer]

What achievement in your career fills you with the most pride?

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6 Fears That Stop You from Starting Your Own Freelance Business

I am already freelancing for two years this month. I did not renew for another few years in my previous work and honestly, I don’t have any idea what to do then with my life. Years before becoming jobless, I already knew that there are people working on the internet and earning decent dollar salaries doing virtual work. I actually envy them. Out of a whim, I decided to learn how they do that. That quest for new knowledge led me to start my own freelancing business.  Who would have known, right? 

While investing in my education before launching my business, I have lots of fears. Is this a good idea? I am new to the business so what should I offer? Will I be able to get clients? What if clients reject me? Will I be paid regularly? Are the job platforms legit and will not scam me? What will my parents and friend say?

I believe that you have these fears, too. You see, I started out just like you. You wanted to try freelancing, but you have so many negative thoughts that you’re crippled with fear. You know what, that’s okay. No one is born fearless. It’s acceptable to be terrified of something like building your own business. I believe that all successful business owners and entrepreneurs felt the same fear as yours when they’re starting out. Just learn from them, take the plunge (but with all the caution possible), and build your business ground up. 

Here are some of the most commonly acknowledged fears of freelancers, and how you can overcome them.

1) Will I ever get my first client and where?

My story: 

My first paying client is from the UK. He is a clothing apparel owner and he promotes his products on both his website and Facebook page. He knows that I am a new Facebook ads manager when I came on board. I am very thankful that he accepted my proposal and chose me to work with him on his campaigns. I remembered we worked together on his Black Friday campaign and I was really glad that that particular campaign brought more followers for his page and buyers at his websites. Years after, we still communicate with each other. I will always remember him as the 1st client who supported my budding freelancing career.

2) I don’t think I’ll be okay with rejections.

My motto is always like this: if I am rejected, that’s okay. NEXT, please. 

I will not sugar coat and say that it’s easy to land good clients. It’s definitely not the case, especially in your first few months. There will be rejections left and right, sometimes more than you can count on your fingers and toes. That’s fine because it’s part of the business. Cry a little, but don’t let the rejection sit in your mind for long. Move on and find your next potential client. Anyway, you might be rejected because you’re not a good fit for the project. Your match will come along next. 

But don’t leave it as it is. If you keep on getting rejection letters one after the other, maybe you need to re-evaluate your situation. You might be pitching to the wrong audience, your profile is not selling a unique skill set or maybe your proposal letters are not brilliant enough to catch the clients’ attention. Evaluate and modify your plan to help you get the best clients. 

3) Will I get paid on time?

Most freelancers work to earn a decent living from the internet and others work to add some extra cash to their monthly budget. Whatever the case, getting paid on time is a major concern for freelancers. This is actually my greatest hesitation about working freelance years back. I started during a time when online scams were headlining every news items on TV and print (at least in the Philippines) I’m terrified that I will get scammed by clients who are only after getting free work from new, unsuspecting freelancers like me.

4) Will people take me seriously?

The people you know will probably raise an eyebrow (or two) and roll their eyes when they’ll discover your freelance business. I can relate pretty much. I told friends and family that I am no longer working for the government and instead, I started my online marketing business. I work as a Facebook advertiser and social media marketer for busy business owners abroad. They thought I am joking. Some even thought that I am jobless. Most people thought believed I lost my mind working in an unpopular working environment.

But let me tell you, entrepreneurs, business owners, and marketers will take you seriously. They’ll mean business through and through. They want you for your special skills; you can do something that they or their staff can’t do. They’ll certainly respect your skills, time, and dedication. Therefore, they’ll hire you. 

Start your freelancing business regardless of other people’s opinion on it. Be professional and take your business seriously. In this business, people need proof of your abilities. Start by creating your brand’s website and showcase your shining portfolio. Let your potential clients know your unique selling points and why they should partner with you. 

5) Can I handle the workload alone? 

You’ll start on your own and I understand your fear of getting projects more than you can chew. Learn along the way. It is just a matter of proper time and project management. Over time, you’ll develop work routines and you’ll get a good grasp of your work dynamics. Make a business system using the most appropriate freelancing tools.  Based on this, decide on how many projects you can handle at a time. It is important to deliver quality work to your clients so smart project management is a must. 

6) Can I handle toxic clients?

I avoid confrontations at all costs. I’d say this is my fear before I started my business and is still an occurring fear even if I am already two years into my business. Honestly, you can’t avoid working with these so called “toxic” clients. They are out there; you just need to become smarter on not signing them up. 

My story:

I had one client before who’s so conscious about the number of hours I spent on social media management. She wanted me to just spend 4-5 hours on managing 2-3 social media pages including curating content, creating the social media updates, scheduling them and engaging with the followers. That was absurd. I explained it to her but she declined to accept my reasonings. 

I also had a client who didn’t pay the last month of work I rendered for his project. He just disappeared into thin air. I’ve also failed to negotiate good hourly rates on several projects in my first 3 months of freelancing. When I got more experience, I realized that I didn’t take care of my financial interests in most of my early projects. I am so eager to please my clients and over-deliver that I realized I suffered in the process. 

Freelancing is an actual business. Some clients do not understand that, unfortunately. You’re running a business and you’re not some meek employee of an opportunistic boss. Demand what you deserve and what’s your worth. Choose your clients and project smartly. Refuse accepting projects that you don’t feel comfortable working on. 

In conclusion

If you are seriously considering building your online business by freelancing, overcome your fears. Don’t let these negative thoughts delay your progress. It is good that you are reminded to take caution in every way, but at the end of the day, you should be able to work on something until you’re successful in this new career. You can do it. I did it, more successful freelancers before me, did it. Just take the plunge. 

[heymarketeer]

Planning for the golden years? An elder lawyer might be your best ally.

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Today, let's pause and count our blessings. What are you thankful for? 🙏❤️

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5 Misconceptions Freelancers Are Tired of Hearing

The modern workforce is shifting toward the gig economy. This leads to the rise in the number of freelancers globally. With the help of technological advancements, particularly the internet, more entrepreneurs and business owners easily tap into the wealth of freelancers and independent contractors who are available to work on their projects on cut-down prices. More people start freelancing and create budding self-starter businesses, selling their expertise to clients on a per-project basis. 

I am also a freelancer and I am already 5 years into owning my one-woman business. It is difficult at times, but the advantages overcome all the hardships. 

Unfortunately, many people have misconceptions about people who choose to work as freelancers. Naysayers judged freelancers as lazy people who can’t be bothered to look for regular employment. I’ve listed some of the misconceptions I am tired of hearing from other people about my business.

1) You’re a freelancer. Are you out of job?

When you describe a job by traditional definition where I get employed by another person, then yes I am unemployed. Wala akong trabaho. I have a business, though. And I provide work and services to other people. However, they don’t hire me as employee. They hire me as business partners to work on a particular project. 

2) You must enjoy the easy life.

I say this is a total lie. Managing a one-woman business is hard as it is, put in demanding clients and projects and your life will not be easy at all. We just pretend to have it easy, but we feel the same pressure of an ordinary job (and more).  It just looks easy because most freelancers do what they love doing and seems easy to the eye. But freelancing is work – just with a different definition. 

3) I envy that you can sleep all day.

4) Can you work for free?

Definitely, no! Designers, artists and writers were often offered exposure in exchange for free work. However if you value your worth as an expert in your field, you’ll never sell yourself for FREE. I can’t eat exposure, so I’d rather get paid, thank you very much.

5) Can you offer me a huge discount?

No, I don’t offer any discount. If you can’t afford my rate then we’re probably not a good match. I’ll wish you luck on finding your best match, but I’ll move forward and look for better-suited client and project. 

[heymarketeer]

Embrace each day as an opportunity to make your mark and create a legacy. 💪🌠

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Your legacy deserves better than these common estate planning missteps.

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How Can You Become A Successful Freelancer?

You’re probably thinking of ditching your 9-5 job to try freelancing. I’ve been in your situation two years ago. I’ve read so many stories of people abroad who are work from home freelancers. I’ve read many “work from home” blogs in the years prior – so many that I can’t count them now. I thought then that there’s a hidden industry on the internet. And I decided that I want to be a part of this developing gig industry.

I am writing this article from my living room couch while listening to Spotify while Typhoon Lawin is brewing outside. There’s no internet, but it is okay for now since I don’t need the connection to write down this short article anyway. (I’ve already prepared my research materials days before, just in case we lose connection due to infrastructure damages, and technological difficulties.) In a regular day, when I have work from my clients, I don’t have to commute to get into my office. My office is literally a second or two away from my bedroom. What I currently love about freelancing is that I can always work and watch the current news at the same time. My table setup is just a few feet away from my couch and television. How’s that for comfort?

Anyway, in the Philippines, I’m not alone in this gig industry. More and more people discover the advantage of working from home and building their online business by providing professional services to clients abroad. Most of these people are moms (or dads), who were previously employed in the traditional 9-5 job but were either forced to stay at home to help with kids or wanted to make career shifts to virtual professions.

If you are interested in becoming one of us, the doors (of freelancing) are already wide open to receive you. Are you ready to freelance? Before you start, I suggest that you read these tips from fellow freelancers to help you become successful freelancers, too!

1) Is your skill set marketable?

What are your skills? Are you one of the many who’s also doing what you do? Or are you exceptional and do one of a few? Graphic designers are very in demand virtual freelancers. They are generally paid higher compared to other freelancers, too. Competition is so high among these freelancers that getting clients can be very difficult. Before you freelance, evaluate your skills first. Can you add more value to your skill set so you can compete with other freelancers in the same niche?

2) You’ll get emotional over the loss of a regular working environment.

It’s inevitable. When you freelance, more or less you’ll work solo. Often than not, you’ll work at your home office, without the usual bustle of office work and company co-workers. You’ll miss them. You’ll miss acquaintance parties, birthday celebrations, and Christmas office parties. You’ll let go of weekly (bimonthly) wage payments, pensions (benefits), or paid holiday leaves. I promise you though that you’ll get used to it eventually. Instead of face to face interaction, you’ll learn how to communicate with team members from all around the globe via Slack or Skype. You’ll still get work payments but not as regularly as before (case to case) and definitely in a much higher value than before. Also, you won’t get paid vacations. Pay for it yourself instead and go whenever you want to do it. Just make sure to inform your clients ahead of time, okay?

3) Do you have the necessary tools?

A laptop is the most important tool of the trade for any freelancer. You can also use a personal computer, but a laptop is the most preferred tool these days for flexibility. So choose well. Research what is the industry’s most trusted technology requirements. A good internet connection is another necessary requirement. If you freelance and work with clients abroad, internet is a must. Invest in the fastest internet provider that you can afford.

4) When you freelance, you are the brand.

Yes, just like Taylor Swift is a brand. Your name and your skill set become your brand. You are no longer working for a boss. You are the boss. Pretty cool, huh? As your brand, you’ll be partnering with clients all around the globe to help their business take off as a start up or grow into a huge one. There will be roadblocks along the way. One of which is shifting from an employee to an entrepreneur mindset. It is really hard, kidding aside. I struggled (and still am) and I bet you’ll struggle, too. Just take one small step at a time.

Read these too:

Market Yourself Effectively. Here’s How.

How Will You Market Your Skills To Clients?

5) Find freelancer friends and join groups.

As I’ve mentioned in Tip #2, freelancing is a lonely job. Sometimes, yes. You need a support group. Find like-minded people. Find time to network with freelancers who are working in the same niche as you are. I’m gonna be honest and say that when you’re starting out, you’ll need the guidance of people who are already in the business. Find yourself some mentors. It’ll be a bumpy road before it gets better. I’ll highly recommend that you find friends in the virtual world, too.

6) Promote your brand to get more clients.

Clients need to notice you first before you can land a gig. Therefore you need to promote your brand. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Start with a simple website. I highly suggest that you create an online portfolio. When looking for a gig, you don’t need a resume. You just need a portfolio. Start early on this website and build your portfolio along the way. Next, use social media to subtly promote yourself. Build Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. Share things that are relevant to your skills and branding. I highly recommend that you pay close attention to LinkedIn. Did you know that you can find lots of clients on LinkedIn? It is like a landmine of potential biz partners.

7) Take care of you.

When you freelance, you earn by the hours or by the projects. Sometimes, you’ll get projects after projects without any care on how many hours you’ll sleep at night. I am guilty of this especially in my first 6 months of freelancing. I run after gigs and money and I admit that I forgot to take care of myself. Thankfully, I didn’t get sick. Thinking about it now, I should have taken care of myself better before. Just remember, your brand is you– body, mind, and soul. So always take care, okay?

8) There will be bad days.

Is your Internet not working? Has your laptop died on you? Managing stressful tasks for the day or the week? Got a horrible  client? You’ll get these and more. Every bad day is the worse. Don’t worry about it so much. Tomorrow is another day. Just do the best that you can today, get more sleep and rise for another hopeful day tomorrow.

9) Plan for bigger things.

This is a reality in freelancing: you may have a gig this month then you’ll have next to nothing next month. Learn to earn and save money as you freelance. There will be days that you’ll feel you’re not up to get more clients, and funding will eventually slow down. Learn to get a business plan in place. What are your plans for the next few months? Think about it.

10) Enjoy “flexible” life.

I decided to work as a freelancer because I wanted to get flexible working time. I wanted to do other things while working. And currently, I am enjoying every bit of it. Working freelance doesn’t mean that you’ll be online 24/7. That’s crazy, but sometimes it happens. Manage your time wisely. Learn to use your time to work, enjoy doing things that you feel passionately about and spend quality time with your family, friends and significant others. Unplug from the freelance life once in a while. I’ll assure you, you’ll get fresher outlook when you do.

[heymarketeer]

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How Will You Market Your Skills To Clients?

Did you know that you can use traditional marketing principles to promote your VA services?

Yes. Make sure you take these principles into consideration when promoting, even online.

1) Product, Price, Promotion, and Place

Do you use the 4P’s of traditional marketing? You should!

Your Product is…?

If you’re a virtual professional, then your products will be your virtual services. My product is Facebook Ads management services. This is what I’m actively promoting.

Your Price should be..?

If you’re an expert, you should be paid handsomely. If you’re an intermediate or beginner, make sure to get acquainted with the industry’s standard salary. In my case, my hourly rate is $15 – 20 / hour. My monthly services package is valued at $350.

How to Promote? Read my previous blog article on this.

Place..?

Send your clients to your website, online portfolios, and social media accounts. These are online proofs of your skills.

2) Unique Selling Point

What differentiates you from others?

Can you create Facebook Ads?

Can you do smart research on target audiences?

Do you know Power Editor inside and out?

Can you read and analyze the Facebook Insights?

Can you use the Audience Insights to research your market?

Can you use 3rd party application like Qwaya or AdEspresso?

What is your key selling point? Focus and evaluate your skills first. Find your unique selling point.

3) Call To Action

You need a “Call Me For My Services” Call To Action online.

In traditional marketing, you do this by networking. You go to a seminar or convention and try to mingle with the attendees. Then some of these people – at some point— will approach you to talk about business.

And if this person is a new acquaintance, the usual scenario while talking is to exchange calling cards, right? Then you’ll have his contact information after, just in case you want to reach out for business in the future.

You do the same online. You should pave the pathway of communication between you and the client.  Make it easier for them to contact and make business with you.

But how?

Start by completing your online profiles. Your profile and your portfolio are as good as clear calls to action to your potential clients. In your blog, make sure that there’s a contact form. If there are inquiries, your potential client can easily reach you through it.

Also, don’t forget to add all your social media accounts. I suggest you add your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Potential clients can easily message and tweet you if they have your account details.

Go on, apply these to your marketing techniques. Let me know in the comments below how it works for you.

[heymarketeer]

Build a future that echoes your greatness. 🏗️🌟🌱

[heymarketeer]

Warning! 4 Signs That Your Facebook Ads Manager Sucks

You need help with Facebook advertising badly and hired somebody from Fiverr or Upwork.

If you’re starting out and wanted to start real quick on Facebook advertising, my guess is that you’ll jump into anything cheap on these platforms. 

Did somebody guarantee you 1000 real estate leads at $0.01/lead? 

Have you been promised 2500 new email subscribers at $0.001/signup?

Maybe they told you they’ll get you 3000 webinar sign ups for $0.5/sign up?

Or you’ve been guaranteed that $500 ad budget will definitely secure you that 6 figure launch?

Cue in ALERT WARNING — you’ve been lied to. You became their new victim.

Unless this “expert” has worked with you in the past, in your NICHE, on a similar OFFER and you absolutely KNOW this expert can deliver these promises…they suck. In Facebook advertising, there is no “set to stone” guarantees.   

Beware of these experts who promise SPECIFIC figures and dollar amounts with this service offerings. No two businesses share the same success on running ads, be it in the same niche or on a similar offer. Believe at your own risk, but subscribe ONLY if their package comes with a guaranteed refund when your campaign doesn’t perform as they promised.

How to spot an expert? Here’s a quick rundown.

1 He will show you results of his campaigns in the same niche or similar offer. He’ll show some proof of work and explain what works and how the campaign fared in terms of success metrics.

2 He will not promise you any figures and blind you with fake claims. A true expert knows that the cost of a lead varies on many factors like the following: your offer, your niche, your target market/audience, the campaign itself, etc..

3 He will educate you on the importance of developing a sales funnel and helping you work on creating campaigns for every step of the funnel.

4 He will tell you that running a successful Facebook campaign needs time – preferably a minimum of 3 months.

But we’re here for the signs that your manager sucks, so let’s cut this list herer. (lol)

1) Their service fee is less than you pay for a Starbucks coffee

Have you hired your Facebook Ads manager on Upwork for $2.50/hour or on Fiverr for a one time gig of $50? Are you effing crazy?

Most people spend more money on their Starbucks coffee than what you are investing in Facebook Ads management.

Yeah, it’s cheap. But how far can this fee move your business success? Eventually, you’ll get what you pay for.

Facebook ads management can be a full time job — especially if you have a large advertising budget. An expert Facebook ads manager is there to help you set up the strategy and optimize your campaigns daily to maximize your advertising investments. Expect to pay at least $500/month or $1500/campaign depending on the size of your ad budget.

Pro Tip: Find an expert whose service pricing aligns with your budget and the level of performance you expect to receive.

2) Your ads look like a 10 year old created them

Does your ad look like it was created from Microsoft Paint?

Was it published in super low resolution?

Does your ad copy contain spelling mistakes (that weren’t done on purpose) or grammar mistakes?

Maybe your ad image has nothing to do with your product or target audience…

You’ve got a case of the UGLY ADS.

An ugly ad creator can not call themselves an expert

Is failing fast your objective? If yes, then stick to ad creatives and ad copies that don’t align with your product, your brand or your target audience.

Is succeeding faster your true goal? Then fire your ads manager and hire a true expert.

3) They are always incognito – you both play cat and mouse.

You needed that report yesterday!

The PROBLEM: you rarely hear from you Facebook Ads manager. Weeks go by without an update. You don’t have any idea what is happening.

You’re mid launch and your ads manager has gone MIA. You are already on the edge with all urgent stuff. You’re going crazy worried about how much you’re spending on Facebook ads.

A great Facebook Ads manager will proactively update you every week or on dates you both agree to in the beginning. An even dependable ads manager will periodically report to you when he make a change or have a suggestion in improving the ad results.

4) They don’t know what “retargeting” means

RED ALERT

In this business, anyone can watch Facebook advertising videos on YouTube on how to use the Power Editor, set up audiences and figure out how to fire up a Facebook Ad campaign.

But…

Not everyone knows how to target.

Go to Fiverr and you’ll learn that there are many gig providers for Facebook audiences there.

It is a profitable business. Why? It’s obvious that not everyone knows who to target in their specific niches.

One important measurement of a Facebook Ads expert is how well they RESEARCH and REACH your target audience.

Age, gender, location, competitors, behaviors, demographics, ad placement, device usage… all of these factors and others come into play with audience targeting.

Oh… and if they have no clue what “retargeting” is.

Fire.

Them.

Immediately.

If a “self proclaimed” expert’s promises sounds too good to be true, chances are they are too.

You’ve been warned.

If you are looking for a team that considers Facebook advertising our zone of genius – move over and let us take care of it for you! Find out how you can work with us.

[heymarketeer]

Remember you are the star of your life ✨🌟🙋

[heymarketeer]

True story for me. 🙏😘✨👍