In this era of super-fast internet, information is available all around, and every piece of data is competing to make itself visible to a broader audience. SEO or search engine optimization is widely used by freelancers to make their content stand out and gain organic traffic.
But sometimes, good content is not enough to get a high search engine ranking. The latest method of perfecting SEO is by using expired domains, and it is being used by freelancers very commonly. [Read more…]
Freelance writers need to earn repeat work. Of course, finding new clients is vital too, but to give yourself as much job security as possible and to actually earn a decent wage, you need to get clients coming back to you with more assignments, time after time.
Repeat work from SEO and digital agencies can be a great earner for freelancers, because they’re likely to have multiple clients in need of quality copy, potentially month after month. And if they’re any good at their job – and you’re any good at yours – their need for copy will increase, and you will get first refusal of that work. [Read more…]
The world of freelancing can be a fun, frustrating, and extremely lucrative one when approached correctly. However, with so many people jumping into this space with heavy expectations, without the right tools and work ethic in place, your valuable earnings might soon disappear right before your eyes. This can happen for a number of reasons, and many of which we will be covering in this article today — along with some importance tips on how to better manage your freelancer finances in the process.
First off, according to Statista, there are an estimated 62.2 million freelancers in 2019, across the United States. This number will just continue to rise, as third word country keep getting access to better internet and more freelance marketplaces open their doors to foreign markets.
This figure is set to rise in the upcoming years, and by 2027, there will be an estimated 85.6 million people who are freelancing. Being your own boss, setting your own hours, and doing your own thing are just some reasons why people are becoming freelancers.
Working from home on something you are passionate about is great, but freelancers also have to keep track of their finances. This is especially true if you are writing for a wide range of clients, while also working on various freelancer marketplaces.
If you are thinking about becoming a freelancer, here is everything you need to know about how to organize finances.
If you have previously worked for other company’s or you have never worked before then thinking about how to manage your own finances can be difficult.
There are a number of financial costs involved with setting up your own freelance business and you also need to think about filing and paying your own tax.
We have the low-down on the tips and tricks on how to manage finances better if you are a freelancer.
Make sure you know how much money you have earned each month. Keep a track of your income as this will help you:
A good way to keep track of your income is by creating a document that includes all your monthly going ins and going outs.
There are certain apps and software that allow you to put in your income information and keep track of your money, such as ThePayStubs.com.
There are two reasons why you need to set money aside because being a freelancer means that you don’t have a set income each month and that you also need to pay your own taxes.
One month you might earn a lot of money and work with many clients, whereas another month might be very quiet and you might not earn that much money. This is why it is very important to set money aside. Give yourself a strict freelancer budget and make sure you save some money each month.
You should also set aside enough money to pay for your tax. Often this is about 30% of your income, but it can always be good to set aside more, just so you are covered.
As a freelancer, it’s also important to make sure you aren’t limiting your incoming revenue and finances by only accepting payment certain forms of payment.
Depending on where you are located, you might be limited in this area already, but new payment options are opening up all the time. As pointed out by WPBeginner, there are plenty of payment options out there for accepting money online. This can prove quite useful if you have your own website or brand, and can accept payments directly.
Such payment solutions include:
However, when doing business with anyone in the United States, Paypal is going to be one of the most requested options for payments.
If you are thinking of becoming a freelancer and are wondering how to organize your finances if something bad happens then you need to get insurance. Ensure that you have health insurance that can cover you if you have any health problems and need to take some time off.
If you don’t have insurance as a freelancer than you might be at risk of getting into a lot of debt. This is something many top freelancers have a problem with and also discuss through their websites and blogs to help other freelancers. Carol of MakingALivingWriting.com, recommends the following insurance options:
There are a whole number of businesses that offer insurance for freelancers, so have a look around and find one that covers your business and needs.
Being a freelancer is great because it gives you more freedom than working for somebody else, however, you need to make sure that you are smart when it comes to the money side of things. At the same time, don’t forget — millions of other freelancers are fighting to get work as well, so if you want to make money as a freelancer, you need to treat it like a serious business.
Follow our four simple, yet effective, tips on how to organize finances and you will be able to have a successful freelancing career.
If you’re a writer, you’ll know that it’s an awesome job. You’re getting to do something you love — something most people aren’t able to do — and you’re getting paid for it.
Unfortunately, the pay as a writer isn’t always as high as we’d like it to be. Whether you’re a freelancer, part-time or novelist, it’s always a good idea to diversify your income and get cash flowing in more freely. The best way to do this? E-commerce. [Read more…]
If you’ve got a flair for writing and enjoy creating stimulating and informative articles, then you’re probably ready to start your own freelance writing business.
But, being good at writing isn’t enough. It’s a very competitive marketplace. You need your business to stand out from the crowd and to keep your present online; even when you’re not.
The best way of achieving this is to have an effective marketing strategy. [Read more…]
Have you lost yours yet? Maybe you just used it as a coaster for your morning coffee or to wipe your windows on a writing-procrastination cleaning binge (we’ve all been there.) Whether you bemoaned the pages full of adverts or enjoyed the old school approach to romance in the classifieds, research from the Press Gazette found 40 local print newspapers closed in the UK in 2017. The local newspaper for my home town – a clipping of me holding a certificate was cut from this paper and remains to this day on my mother’s fridge – has just announced its end. [Read more…]
Guest blogging is one of the most effective ways to not only reach new audiences and to potentially add new backlinks to you site, it’s also a great way to improve your existing writing skills. Best of all, it’s a working method for freelance writers, bloggers, and brands of all sizes.
When you look at the average internet user today, it’s hard to know what you are going to get. They will likely come to your site for it’s content, but they will likely only read a little bit of it.
Forty-three percent of people say that they skim blog posts. If you’re going to go to the time and effort of writing guest posts, you want people to read them!
Read on to learn how to write a guest post blog that people will actually read (and that will be accepted by the site’s editors).
The most important rule for writing a guest blog post is to carefully read and follow the guidelines the editor sent you.
Especially if you are writing for one of the many websites that pay writers, it’s important to keep the guidelines straight.
The world’s best-written blog post can be rejected for failing to stick to the link limit or including an image from an unacceptable source.
The guidelines usually cover everything you need to know about tone, style, and word count. It may also tell you how many words you can use for your author bio and rules about your headshot.
If the guidelines are unclear, go ahead and reach out for clarification.
What good is a blog post if no one can find it? Use Google’s best practices to ensure that your blog post comes up in the first few results of an internet search.
A good structure for your blog post means that you use short paragraphs. Aim for three sentences or less per paragraph.
Use the right header tags for your headlines. Except for the title, do not use H1 header tags. Your main headings should be H2 and any headings within that section will use H3 and so on.
This will make it easier for people to read your blog post and it is also the way Google likes it. So it’s a win-win.
When you have a list, use bullet points to make the list succinct and clear. And make sure to number your recipe steps or instructions so it’s easy to follow.
Using this format will save your editor time and help you organize your ideas in the best way possible.
And when it comes to the methods you are using to create content and rank your site higher in the search results, we recommend you read through the many different blogging tips that have been compiled by more than 82 different entrepreneurs, marketing experts and site owners.
People click on a search engine result only if they like the headline.
Take time to brainstorm the perfect title. Write out three to five and choose the best one. Don’t just go with the first one you come up with.
If your headline is catchy, engaging, and clearly articulates what a reader can expect to learn on that post, you’re headed in the right direction. Quotes, statistics, and questions often make for the best blog post titles.
What about when they click and open up your post?
The first thing readers are drawn to is the headers. Give those skimmers a reason to read the section under the heading by crafting a descriptive and interesting title.
Hooray. Someone read your guest blog post to the end, now what?
Include a call to action at the end of your post. What do you want them to do next? Subscribe to a newsletter? Comment with their thoughts?
Give the readers specific instructions and they are more likely to do it.
Looking to reach a wider audience? Read more details about the specifics of guest post outreach.
Thanks for reading! We hope this quick tutorial on guest posts has given you the confidence to get your words out there.
The unfortunate thing is that most people will simply read through this post and think about how everything mentioned was a great idea, but few will actually move forward. With so many people complaining about competition online, how they have no money to invest in their business, or that they aren’t seeing any SEO or traffic to their sites… it all comes down the time, work, and effort you put in.
Guest blogging is free. It works, and it’s going to be working for a while now.
Think you’re ready to write for a site like FreelanceWritingGigs? Check out their guidelines and fill out this form to get started.
Freelancing in any field carries risks. How can you possibly feel safe when you’re not getting a steady, guaranteed paycheck? However, experienced freelancers know the truth. With a traditional job, you could be fired or laid off at any time—meaning you have less control over your income than you do when you’re self-employed. [Read more…]
Back in 2014 I started writing my friends’ CVs for them, to help them out during their job searches.
Realising there was some demand for this service, I started offering freelance CV writing services to individuals alongside my day job. [Read more…]
Being self-employed brings with it many challenges. You’re either working in your business or on your business. Being busy is great but your leads will dry up without consistent marketing.
One way to have your name out in the market consistently is to register on directories websites. [Read more…]
