Tech Tools for Freelancers

Tech Tools for Freelancers

by | Blog, Contributed Post

***Contributed Post***

It will come as no surprise that to make it in the freelance world, you have to rely on yourself. However, there are a few pieces of tech that can help you on your way. Running a small business isn’t an easy feat by any means. You are responsible for finding work in the early days, invoicing, taxes, websites, and many other facets of running a successful business. There is somewhere in the region of 54 million freelancers in America at any one time, in a few key areas. Writing, consulting, photography and design tend to be the top choices. 

It doesn’t matter if you are just dipping your toe into the freelance pool, or you’ve been at it for years. Here are some tech tools that will help you manage your business that much better.

Money Matters 

When it comes to managing your money, you have to be smart. Having a card swiper handy when you go to meetings, or you are wrapping things up with the client is always a good idea. Not everyone wants to pay the fees for online transfers like PayPal. There are also a couple of very popular choices if you are doing your own accounting (and you probably are for the most part). 

Wave. This is a free service that helps you generate a dashboard configured to the needs of your business. You can put in information like transactions, receipts, invoices, and other information. It will help you keep everything in order without much fuss. This is suited to smaller businesses or freelancers who aren’t planning on huge growth. 

FreshBooks. This cloud-based accounting software system is excellent for tracking things like billable hours, invoices and will even calculate taxes for you. This is a step up from Wave and is suited to businesses that make a decent turnover but need to keep track of their billable hours. This nifty kit can also work out your profit, losses, and provide you with quarterly analysis.

 

Time 

When it comes to freelancing, your time is literally money. If you start a project but waste too much time procrastinating, you are wasting perfectly good billable hours. One of the most popular ways of breaking down a working day is by using a Pomodoro, time tracker. This will improve your productivity and give you a way to track your working hours. 

Pomodoro Timer for Trello. If you like to have your projects neatly organized, they chances are you use Trello already. The Pomodoro Timer for Trello allows you to implement this productivity tool in your cards. 

Self-control. If you find yourself floating between a research website and Facebook, you can curb that nasty habit quickly with this app. You can block specific sites for set periods of time. So, if you like to work from 10-4 every day, then you can block that period of time each day. Just set the time, click start and work away. 

Getting in Order 

When it comes to making the most of your time you need to make sure that you have some organizational tech in place. These might be simple checklists, or you might like more comprehensive options. 

Wunderlist is a super simple to-do list app. You can access it on your mobile or desktop so you can work easier on the go. You can set your to-dos up by client or project and then break it down into tasks. The extra added bonus for this app is that you can add photos, files, and notes as you go. Plus, you can set yourself deadlines and reminders that will sync across all of your devices. Handy. 

Google Drive. This is used by freelancers and businesses the world over, and it’s probably not a surprise to see it made the list of tech that can make your life easier. Some people are terrible at keeping track of their files and can never produce what they are asked for on a whim. Google Drive has options like Sheets which is similar to excel, and Docs which works like any other word processor. You can share things quickly with a link, and you can protect your work with a view only option. You can export into .doc or PDF and a few other file types so you won’t run into compatibility issues. And, you’ll never lose your work as it is all stored safely in the Google Cloud. If you travel a lot, and many of us do, the Dos app is available on your phone if you should need to edit anything on the go or share the files. 

For other great gadgertry check out this post – The Essential Gadgetry That Every Business Needs.

 

Exploring Your Digital Marketing Options

Exploring Your Digital Marketing Options

by | Blog, Contributed Post

***Contributed Post***

The time has come for you to start advertising online, but you’re not sure where to start. You have so many options available to you that it seems almost impossible to know which one is best for you. Exploring those options and conducting your own research is the key to unlocking the full potential on the digital marketing world and allowing your business to fully prosper online. So, let’s take a look at some of the options available to you as you start your campaign. 

Firstly, we are going to discuss social media. If there was ever an example of too many options when it comes to online marketing, then this is the one. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram and so on. There are so many social media websites that knowing where to start is going to be nigh on impossible without doing your research and understanding the USP of each one. 

For example, younger users use Twitter to access their news while older internet users are the driving force behind Facebook’s continued growth. Understanding your own abilities is going to be key with social media as well. If you don’t know how to create video content, why would you spend time on a YouTube channel now? When you’re starting a digital plan, you want to make sure that you’re targeting what is useful for you.

 

Moving away from social media and looking at the alternatives. Search engines and email marketing are two tried and tested ways of advertising directly to your target market. For starters, you should be exploring Search Engine Optimisation. This is the art of improving your website’s online visibility so that it yields better responses in unpaid searches. This is a good way of saving some money on paid marketing while also getting your website up to speed. 

Email marketing should be familiar to anyone who has shopped somewhere in the last ten years. Targeted campaigns will be sent to your customer’s inbox and you base that on their shopping habits or to encourage repeat business. Getting the timing and content of these emails right is vital to their success because the last thing you want is for it to look like junk mail and be discarded without consideration. 

The options available to you might seem too many to comprehend and actually make you struggle on where to start. That is why there are companies out there with the aim to help you with your decision making. Comparison websites like Growth Supermarket, for example, look at all the digital marketing opportunities available to you so that you can make an informed decision. After all, information is crucial to getting the most out of your advertising budget. 

Looking into your options can seem a little daunting when you first embark on a digital marketing campaign, but it doesn’t have to be. Research will get you where you need to be with a little bit of trial and error to carry you over the line.

3 Quick Web Traffic Boosters

3 Quick Web Traffic Boosters

by | Blog, Contributed Post

***Contributed Post***

If the numbers to your website have been declining lately, you need to come up with a plan to get them back on track. It is, after all, going to affect the amount of customers your business is attracting as well, and your marketing efforts will definitely suffer if your website is suffering.

Start by having a look at the clever tips below in order to boost your website traffic and increase your sales numbers. It’s not necessarily going to happen overnight but at least you’ll have a battle plan ready and a strategy in order to fix the issue that is putting you behind. 

Here is a handful of ways to increase the traffic to your website and get back on track as soon as possible. 

#1 Work your social media profiles 

The great thing about social media is that it is basically free marketing. You get to build up a network of customers as well as an audience that may potentially become a customer – all you need to do is to keep them engaged and active. 

A quiet and empty social media profile isn’t going to do this for you, though, so it’s better to have a plan in order to make the most out of your profile. Create snappy blog content which you can refer to through your social media profile, engage with your audience in their discussions, and stand ready to answer all of their questions. 

You never know if you should start a conversation about something important that engages your audience or if it should bring you a lot of traffic straight to your website. No matter what, the efforts you put into it will certainly be worth it. Plus, it’s going to boost that Google seo significantly when you have a lot of references to your site across the web. 

#2 Work with other bloggers 

The blogging community is tight-knit and tends to help each other out. If you don’t have a blog for your business yet, you need to get this right away, by the way, so that it can get started on bringing in a bit more traffic as soon as possible. 

One of the best ways to increase those numbers is to make sure that people are referring to your site in their own content. This is a give and take situation, though, and if they’re going to put your name in their blog posts, you need to offer them something in return. 

#3 Work on a video blog 

If you’re feeling brave, you might want to consider creating a few videos as well as a regular blog. These tend to bring in a lot of views and people will be a lot more engaged when they have a face to associate with your business – plus, you can post your videos on those social media accounts and bring the numbers even further up. 

While getting the traffic you need to your website is hard work, there are so many ways to do it. Try these out or get in touch with a professional to take care of it for you.

The Essential Gadgetry That Every Business Needs

The Essential Gadgetry That Every Business Needs

by | Blog, Contributed Post

***Contributed Post***

As a new startup, you’d be forgiven for becoming overawed by the amount of hardware, software, gizmos and gadgetry on the market professing to make your business life easier. The market for technology in the business world has become saturated with pretty mundane kit. However, look through the mediocre tech, and you can find some worthwhile equipment and hardware that can be worth your while investing in. While you might not have the biggest budget in the world because you are just starting out and you want to preserve your cash flow, you could seek ex-display models of hardware or second hand reconditioned software. Take a look at this essential gadgetry that every business needs.

Laptops 

It goes without saying that every startup needs a decent laptop or two. Even if you work from home and you are a sole trader, you need a bit of kit that has enough storage for your needs, has sound Wi-Fi capability and will provide you with the graphics and sound that you require. If you are a graphic designer or work within the photography realm, an Apple MacBook or a Google Pixelbook may suit your requirements. The screens are vibrant and bright, and you can utilize your screen as a drawing board with add-on pens. 

If you need nothing more than a bit of kit to check emails, organize meetings, set up appointments and do the odd bit of web development and social media management, something a little less extravagant will suffice, like a trusty Dell or HP. These are stalwarts of the laptop world and for good reason.

Payroll Software 

The most tedious aspect of any entrepreneur’s working life is the afternoon spent glued to a screen and a calculator working out payroll. The numbers need crunching, but it doesn’t have to be you that does it. Plenty of software is now available that will work out your payroll at the click of a mouse. You no longer have to worry about working out tax implications, pension contributions or even issuing payslips. A payroll software package is money well spent as your time is then freed up to be spent on more pressing areas of your business vision.

Protection Of Your Assets 

While you will have a firewall present on your network and untold layers of encryption on your sensitive files, you also need to employ this approach toward your premises. At the very least, you need a security camera system to monitor your leased office or warehouse. Small businesses can find it nearly impossible to recover if mammoth amounts of stock are stolen. Protect your business with a system that is hooked up to local law enforcement and allows you to monitor the cameras from your own home. The chances are that the cameras will act as enough of a deterrent so no theft is ever attempted and it will give you ultimate peace of mind that your hardware or product is safe and secure. 

Businesses struggle to get by in the twenty first century without the implementation of technology. Do your research and ensure that you are spending your money wisely on the right bits of kit.

You’ve Gotta Love Technology!

You’ve Gotta Love Technology!

by | Blog, Contributed Post

***Contributed Post***

You really have got to love technology. Our world revolves around it, so if you’re one of these people who really is anti-technology, then think about what you’re missing out on. There definitely is a race between some of the biggest tech giants at the minute, which is why we believe there has been such an advancement in the way we use technology, and the technology that’s being rolled out of the production line. Can we always afford the biggest and the best technology? No, we can’t. We have to say, if there’s one thing not to love about technology, it’s the price that comes with it. But, for the most part, our love for technology will just keep on growing! If you don’t feel like you have a love kind of relationship with technology, let us try and fix that for you!

It’s Our Closest Friend 

If you think about it, technology follows us around everywhere. Out of everyone, it will know the most about us, without us even realizing it. Especially mobile phones. They’re now being designed as to literally understand you. To know what you want, what you might want to look at, and what you’ve been up to. Plus, think about how much we rely on our phones and TV’s, probably more than we would rely on our actual friends. Tech is there for us when no one else is, and is on call 24/7 at the ready! Is this always a good thing? Well, that’s up to you to decide. It’s important not to be too reliant on it, which is why an AI detector could be a good idea to make sure your business isn’t using too much tech and losing the human touch. It has been said that technology knows a little too much about this, and it’s one of the reasons how supposedly the higher forces of the world are watching us. No, we’re not talking about the government. Some say they know too much about us, and the reason why they do is through technology.

It Fuels Our Businesses 

The world of business is essential to our daily lives, even if we don’t realize it. The many people who are setting out on the quest to become a business owner every day are the reason why our world is so advanced today. Technology definitely does rule the business world, which is why there are so many backups in place for when things do go wrong. For example, repairing your barcode scanner, repairing computers, repairing servers etc. is now just so easy. There is literally a business for everything when it comes to repair, so a business is always going to be afloat on the technology front.

It’s Just So Funky! 

The way that technology is evolving is great. It’s so funky, interesting, and just great to use. From a young age, children are now being made accustom to technology, and that means that growing up with it ensures it is a way of life, rather than something we just rely on. Designs are getting sleeker, the abilities they have are growing, and the way in which we rely on them is changing. If you don’t love technology purely for the fact that it can just be so funky, then you’re not using technology right!

Developing A Profitable Business In The Digital Security Industry

Developing A Profitable Business In The Digital Security Industry

by | Blog, Contributed Post

***Contributed Post***

Any entrepreneur that wants to create a successful company should focus not only on picking the perfect business idea but also picking the perfect industry. As the years go by, old industries fade and new industries rise. In the present age, digital marketplaces are taking the business world by storm. These are the industries to watch if you’re an entrepreneur with any sort of background related to technology. In particular, the digital security industry is proving to be quite profitable. Consumers and businesses want to protect themselves from digital threats, given that the online world dominates our daily lives. Here’s some advice to help you develop a profitable business in the digital security industry.

Prioritise investment.

Investment is important in any industry, but it’s absolutely vital in the cybersecurity industry. You need funding and investment because digital industries are constantly evolving. If you stop updating your business plan, then you’ll very quickly fall behind the competition in your industry. When it comes to digital security, new online threats emerge with every passing day. You need to conduct regular market research, monitor new problems facing the market, and develop security solutions that will keep you at the forefront of the industry. Constant investment in the improvement of your business will keep you profitable.

Create a strong sales strategy.

With any industry, the key to success is finding your target market. That’s how you’ll create a strong sales strategy. No matter how good your marketing campaign might be, you won’t see client retention if you misunderstand your target market. In the case of digital security, you’re trying to find businesses and individual customers who might need extra protection in the digital world. Target your campaign at companies based in other digital industries who might need to keep their information safe, for example. Create an email marketing campaign that targets the right kind of people; that way, you can start personalising your advertising messages to your intended audience. 

You also need to show the market why they should value your brand. That’s the key to an effective sales strategy for businesses in this industry. It’s all about quality when it comes to cybersecurity. You can’t cut corners; consumers want to know that their systems are going to be safe. You might want to do some research on the subject if you want to know the key to a cybersecurity sales strategy. It can be tricky to market your business effectively in such a competitive industry, but the payoff of creating a strong sales strategy is that you’ll start to build a big reputation.

Offer fantastic customer service.

As mentioned in the introduction, the digital security industry is becoming increasingly popular because we’re all concerned with protecting our information both online and offline. Data plays a key part in our daily lives, and that’s why you need to make it clear to your customers that you’re going to protect their information. If you want to create a profitable cybersecurity business, then you need to reassure your client base that they can trust you to secure their systems. But they also need to trust your company to store its own information securely. If you have regular clients, then they need to know that your business keeps its data safe. Otherwise, they’re going to have a tough time trusting you to deliver effective cybersecurity services.