Author: george

  • Why I Stopped Calling Myself A “Freelancer”

    As you introduce yourself as a freelancer what reaction do you get back? How do you position your freelance business not to come off as a person in between “real” jobs? Freelancers are real business people having to deal with the entire business process. Consider the following as you introduce yourself the next time the opportunity presents itself.

    THE TROUBLE WITH “FREELANCER

    “The words you use influence others’ perception of you. What’s your first thought when you hear the word “freelancer”? Do you picture a college kid working out of her parent’s basement? Many people who call themselves freelancers don’t exactly think of what they do as a business. But they should.

    Saying you’re a freelancer doesn’t signal to others that you’re a know-what-you’re-doing, take-no-crap professional.

    That bias may be unfair, but it’s a reality. Clients too often see freelance arrangements as low-cost line items rather than strategic partnerships.

    Read the rest of this awesome post on FastCompany

  • The Best Invoice Payment Terms to Avoid Past Due Invoices

    Invoice payment seems to be the stitch on every freelancer’s side. When to do it. How to do it. What terms are best?

    Being clear as to how to get paid is an important step in actually getting paid on time.

    When you send out an invoice, you’re telling your client how much money you expect in return for the work you’ve done. The payment terms specify when that money is due and how it should be paid.

    So the most important aspect of the payment terms is the timeframe in which you expect to be paid.

    But as part of the payment terms, you can also specify what will happen if people don’t pay: perhaps a penalty or interest to be applied after a certain date. Or, if you want to be more positive, you can offer a discount to anyone who pays early. You can also specify payment methods.

    We’ll look at how those options work in the next section, as well as examining which ones work best.

    Read the rest of this awesome post on Envato Tuts+ Business Tutorial

  • 5 skills you need to ensure your freelance survival in the future of work

    Many are considering freelance as a way to make a living more than ever. Those that make the jump, quickly find out that there are unforeseen hurdles that puts one at a decisive precipice. Is the personal challenge worth it?

    Increasingly people are seeking the autonomy to do what they want to do when they want to do it, and they want their work to have meaning.

    This very desire for autonomy with a purpose is manifesting itself in a number of significant ways not least of which is the rise of the next wave of freelancers that is expected to increase to 70 million by 2020.

    Welcome to the world of First Name, Last Name Inc.

    Individuals are their own companies and their own brands. Yes, your reputation precedes you. The walls are

    Read the entire post on Freelancers Union

  • How to Stay Productive and Stick to a Daily Rhythm

    Productivity is one of those freelance areas that seem very elusive. All of us at some point feel that we need help in getting our act together in order to produce more.

    Let’s face the facts first. Since we all are different, we all have very unique ways of being productive. To some working during the day is a must. To others working in the silence of night is a must. No matter what your bent is, here are a few suggestions to think about your productivity method and some things you might consider changing.

    Small and large changes, new opportunities, life choices, and circumstances beyond your control stack up to create an ever-changing landscape. It’s on this shifting ground that you’re trying to build a productive, focused life.

    Fortunately, you can learn to maintain stability even in the midst of ongoing change. It’s not always easy, but with a few key strategies, it’s doable. And the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

    Step 1. Change How You Think of Change

    Humans tend to equate safety with predictability. We feel more secure when we know what’s coming, even when what we can accurately predict isn’t that pleasant, valuable, or good.

    Read the rest of this awesome post at Tuts+ Business Tutorial

  • How to create a simple 2-page business plan for freelancers

    Writing a business plan can be a daunting proposition. It conjures up images of a giant multi-page document with charts, numbers and information you have no idea where to get.

    Though not everyone feels the need to create a business plan, admittedly it is a good idea to at least have a cursory idea of where you’d like to take your business.

    What Problem Do You Solve?

    Freelancers can do many different things. You can be a freelance artist, a freelance consultant, a freelance writer, designer, producer, filmmaker, wedding planner, photographer – the possibilities are endless. When people ask us what we do, as freelancers we tend to just say that we are “freelance ____ (insert noun here)”. But in your business plan, rather than defining what you do, drill down on exactly what problem you solve.

    Read entire post on:  Freelancers Union

  • Stabilize your freelancer rollercoaster income

    One of the most difficult things to a freelancer is how to stabilize their rollercoaster income.

    It seems like the fluctuation from month to month is sometimes to much to bare. It also makes running a home budget nearly impossible.

    No matter how new or experienced my creative entrepreneur clients are, one of their top worries is how to manage inconsistent income.It’s easy to find personal finance and business planning tips on how to control your expenses or increase your income, but to truly develop a well-oiled system for achieving financial stability, you need to tackle both sides.

    Check out these 5 steps to start creating a more stable income.

    Read full post on Millo.co

  • How to Overcome the 5 Biggest Obstacles to Business Growth

    2015 is almost behind us. As freelancers we already need to be looking back and planning to move forward.

    If your business is ready to grow, check out these tips for dealing with some of the factors that frequently thwart small business growth and putting them to your advantage.

    Trust Your Gut, But Pay Attention to Business Indicators

    Your gut instinct is a great catalyst for growth, but don’t rely on it alone or you may find yourself going down the wrong path. Instead, look to your business reports to assess growth opportunities.

    Read entire post on FreshBooks Blog

  • Land juicy freelancer projects with budgets to match

    collabmiami freelancer freelance

    Finding a client that loves your work is the easy part. Landing juicy freelancer projects with budgets to match is a completely different thing.

    As a freelancer, you’ve got the skills. But as potential clients become more savvy they not only want skill, they want to know that the value you bring to the table is worth it.

    Identify what makes you unique and how that is of value to your ideal clients.

    Imagine this: you have a full pipeline of high-quality clients who have great projects and budgets to match. Your clients respect what you do, you love your work, and your business affords the lifestyle you wish to have. Does that feel like an inspiring and attainable goal? Or are you so stuck in a cycle of unfulfilling, low-budget projects, you don’t even have time to think about it? If it’s the latter, don’t feel bad, everyone’s been there at some point.  But if you have the talent (and I know you do!), those projects and budgets are within your reach, and this post is all about taking the first step to making that dream a reality.

    I learned that high-quality clients will hire the most qualified person to solve their problem, and are willing to pay top-dollar for their services.  It was my job was to position each creative professional on my roster as a specialist within their field, uniquely qualified to solve the problems their ideal clients had.

    Whether you know it or not, we are all born with a unique gift or talent. No exceptions! Whether you’re a freelancer photographer, illustrator, graphic designer or video producer, your unique talent or specialty is how you create positive transformation in the lives of others. And when you identify your talent and share it with your ideal clients, you can’t help but achieve the fulfillment and success that you wish for.

    Read the full post at: Freelancers Union

  • Discussion Series Recap

    ColabMiami_TamboDiscuss_recap

    Wow! What an incredible time for all at the CollabMiami Discussion Series Meetup!

    The vibe was awesome at TamboWorks, an awesome new coworking space in the heart of South Miami. The founders were on the floor and made everyone feel welcomed from the get-go.

    From the onset, the meetup engaged everyone in the room. The subject matter at hand was “How to scale your freelance business.” As soon as the topic hit the floor everyone enthusiastically joined in. I mean everyone. Ideas and suggestions came from every direction. Everything from “How do you know you’re choosing to collaborate with the right freelancer?” to “What apps are best to keep team communication functioning?” were discussed. All in the spirit of freelancer helping freelancer.

    This is what makes CollabMiami meetups far more then another event on a calendar. It is not about one person’s expertise being expounded upon. It is about a community of professional freelancers coming together to meet, share information and help each other along the freelance journey. It doesn’t get better then this.

    Till the next meetup,
    George

    #freelancersunite

  • Want a better freelance business?

    Want a better freelance business? Value people more than the business.

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    Some people wonder if CollabMiami is just another business networking meet up… absolutely not! CollabMiami values people relationships more than business profits. Not a popular business model, but it is our credo.

    CollabMiami is building authentic friendships first with the ability to form trusted business relationships between freelancers and solopreneurs. Our MeetUps are no-hassle, no-agenda, no-pressure. Total strangers become friends by the simple act of sharing a table and working alongside each other. IT IS AWESOME! It has truly been an absolute pleasure to meet such incredible people and make such great friends along the way.

    Can’t wait to schedule a freelancer flash mob!

    See you at the next MeetUp;)
    george