Tag: freelancer

Beware of Scammers Posing As Freelancers

I just read an article discussing how scammers – you know, those incredibly persistent and enthusiastic people who could probably be millionaires if they put their time and energy into something … I don’t know … legal – well they’ve now turned their attention to freelancers. The article details a growing trend of scammers stealing a real freelancer’s information using sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, websites, associations, etc. and then creating a bogus account on freelance sites like Upwork and Freelancer using that information (including a real picture of the freelancer they stole the information about). I don’t really understand how the scam works though. I know with Upwork a business can dispute if the actual work is not being done and not pay the scammer. The article doesn’t detail how the scam works, if the phony is just trying to get access to the business information and does their damage there or if they’re actually getting paid for work not done. Regardless, as a freelancer keep a close eye on your name/image and brand to make sure it has not been stolen. And for business owners looking to hire a freelancer, make sure you do your homework before hiring someone. […]

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2019-2020 Remote Worker Trends

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 […]

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How Has COVID-19 Impacted You As A Freelancer?

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 […]

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A Freelancer’s Nightmare – A Halloween Story

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.

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If Content Is King, Quality Is Queen

We’ve all heard that “content is king” and while that’s true, it’s not the whole truth. If “content is king,” then “quality” is queen. Great content is crucial to your website (and if your website doesn’t have a blog that is updated regularly then it’s basically a static, online brochure) but it won’t matter how good your content is … if it doesn’t speak to your audience!

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