There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about what social media marketing is and what it does out there. For a beginner (whether that’s a new business owner or someone who’s been in business for years) it can be overwhelming to the point of getting tossed into a back corner as “something I’ll look into later when I have the time and energy.”
Before the massive influx of people being forced to work remotely due to lock downs from the pandemic, the number of remote workers was already on the rise. In this article by Remoters, (https://remoters.net/remote-work-trends-future-insights/ ) there are some interesting stats from 2019 and early 2020 that are worth looking in to: In a study done by Buffer.com about the state of remote work in 2019, 99% of the interviewees reported that they would like, at least once in their career, to be able to work off-site. A report by Zapier.com published at the end of 2019 revealed that about 74% of the workforce would prefer to quit a job for one that offers remote positions. Remote work is also an increasingly desirable trait an employer can offer, with 57% of the workforce saying that the option to work remotely is their most preferable employment perk. GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com data shows that regular work-at-home, among the non-self-employed population, has grown by 173% since 2005, 11% faster than the rest of the workforce. Telecommuting in the US has seen a 115% increase in the past decade. Investment company Betterment estimates that about 33% of remote workers are freelancers, translating to about 1 in 3 […]
I have yet to speak to any entrepreneur that can honestly tell me they’ve never had to deal with fear – fear of starting their own business, fear of failure, fear of not being able to provide for their family, and the list goes on. As an entrepreneur myself I can tell you that there is nothing more satisfying, freeing, or fulfilling than building something from the ground up and nurturing it into a successful business able to scale and grow through time. I can also tell you that there’s nothing more terrifying (and yes, exhilarating) than knowing that your financial future depends entirely on you. There’s no vacation, no sick leave, no company provided insurance (at least not usually). On this subject, I found a great article on Entrepreneur.com that says it a whole better than I can, and today I’m going to share that with you because it also offers tips for dealing with that fear. The article is called 5 Fears All Entrepreneurs Face and the link is: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353219 Take some time to give it a read! I think it’s especially pertinent right now, with everything going on in the world, with the uncertainties we’re all facing […]
There are some statistics coming out now that are not a good sign for freelancers – PRWeek’s study found that half of freelancers are considering throwing in the towel as they’ve lost 60% of their income. (Source: https://www.prweek.com/article/1679652/coronavirus-impact-half-freelancers-consider-quitting-lost-least-60-per-cent-income) On the other end of the spectrum, Fortune writes that, “Remote work could become the norm – Upwork and the Freelancer’s Union believe that the majority of the U.S. workforce will be freelance as soon as 2027. As the new work-from-home reality of corona virus leaves its mark, we could find that number growing even more quickly.” (Source: https://fortune.com/2020/04/15/freelancers-coronavirus-stimulus-package-freelance-work-covid-19-impact-predictions/ ) From my perspective, as owner of two complimentary yet completely different business models, it’s been … an interesting challenge. My speaker company, Free Speaker Bureau, has taken a pretty devastating hit from the pandemic – events are canceled or delayed, there is still so much uncertainty about where things will stand months from now that everything is pretty much on hold currently. At this point it’s a negative balance on the books and if this was my sole source of income, I’d be in trouble. My virtual assistant company, Create 2 Sell, on the other hand has seen both a decline and […]
Public speaking is one of the best ways to position and brand yourself as the local “go-to” expert in your field, and it’s also an excellent low-cost marketing strategy. The value of becoming a key-note speaker at local group meetings extends far beyond the event itself.
One of the first questions I ask clients (and myself) is how do you plan to grow your business?
The fact is that if you use outsourcing intelligently, your productivity will increase dramatically. To break it down even further, not only will your productivity increase, but your ROI will as well, which means increased profitability for you and your business.
The nuances between coach and consultant are subtle, but there is a distinct difference between the two. The most basic definition is that a consultant helps with systems and processes, a coach helps with behavior. Both help with skills, just a different set of skills.
If you’ve attended any type of marketing seminar or paid any attention at all to marketing philosophies over the last few years or so, then you’ve no doubt heard the “you have to find your niche” party line. Now don’t get me wrong, having a niche or target is solid marketing. If you don’t know who your “Ideal Client” is, then there’s no way to focus your marketing strategy on them.
In celebration of today’s spookiness, let’s discuss something most freelancers find horrifying. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found at some point that you’re so busy helping your clients take care of their business that you’ve begun slacking on your own company.