Tag: Freelancing Buzz

As a solopreneur, you end up wearing several different hats. You source the products, fund the inventory, create product listings, handle logistics, manage your PPC advertising campaigns—the list goes on! Ecommerce entrepreneurship involves a lot of moving parts. The good news is that you don’t need to do everything yourself. There are many talented freelancers, Amazon FBA consultants, and even large agencies available to help sellers wrangle the mundane or difficult tasks that come with running an Amazon business. As your business develops, you’ll hit a point at which you’ll need help to continue growing. While most people start their business by themselves, one in five Amazon sellers believes hiring employees or freelancers is a major factor in the success of their businesses. When deciding who to hire, focus on your strengths and rely on others to fill in gaps in your knowledge, skills, or time. Work on your business, not in your business. In this post, we will go over what an Amazon FBA consultant or freelancer is, what they can help you with, and how to vet and hire someone. What is an Amazon FBA Freelancer? An Amazon FBA freelancer, virtual assistant, or consultant is someone who uses their Amazon expertise to help other sellers manage and grow their Amazon businesses. While it’s not difficult to find information on how to handle every single task involved with selling, it can take time to learn everything there is to know. Instead of devoting months to understanding niche aspects of FBA, you can hire a professional who already has the industry experience you want. That way, you can feel confident running your business even if you’re brand new to ecommerce. Why do successful Amazon sellers become freelancers? The simple answer is that helping others offers experienced Amazon sellers another stream of income to tap—as any smart entrepreneur would do. When I first started selling almost 6 years ago, I didn’t have anyone to learn from or hire to help me. I just figured selling out on my own. At this point, I’ve developed the skills necessary to both run my own Amazon business and work as a freelance consultant, helping fellow entrepreneurs write and optimize their listings. I spend a good amount of time working with other sellers and small brands, and can speak to the time-saving power of collaboration. If you don’t have money to hire a consultant right away, that’s fine—I actually recommend taking the time to learn the business. As you develop experience and start to make some money, you can then look into hiring someone to help you expand even further. Who knows, maybe you’ll become a freelancer yourself. What can an FBA freelancer help me with? The answer: anything! When you first get started selling, you’ll face a bit of a learning curve to figure out how everything works—including navigating Seller Central . How do you add a new product? How do you create a new FBA shipment? Where do you update product listings? […]

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In the modern technical world, freelancers act as nomadic one-off hires that come aboard to complete a job and then are released back into the void. The rise of the gig economy and similar services has delivered new opportunities for those who need work and those who want to provide it , with entire platforms built around this idea of temporary employment. This is certainly viable and has given individuals more reach than ever before across networking systems. However, these services tend to have some limitations – each job is isolated and usually cannot guarantee follow-up work with the same company. Workers may not be building themselves up meaningfully – lasting relationships with businesses aren’t guaranteed, interactions with colleagues might be brief, and long term freelancing might be viewed negatively. It can function alongside a career path, but is not necessarily a replacement for it (or at least is more difficult ). Maybe this could be blamed on the status quo and attitudes regarding employment, where extended tenure at the same company connotes loyalty and merit. There’s been some push against this in recent years given the way widespread platforms have enabled job seekers, but the hesitancy remains. Corporations want to hire quality candidates, but favor in-house employees that have proven themselves. This is where Contra comes in , aiming to improve how freelancers function in the greater context of their industries. Based on their pitch, it does this by first placing a larger emphasis on networking, and then uses this as a way to reframe how we think about freelancing’s efficacy. Contra suggests that professional relationships hold more significance than traditional metrics. After all, referrals are king . Put another way – people are your best bet to securing continued and new jobs, so let’s turn away from things like how long you’ve been somewhere and instead favor referrals , offering a path to focus on what you’ve done . As co-founder Gajus Kuizinas says, “…We are giving people the tools to describe their proudest career moments, publicly thank the people with whom they’ve worked with, and begin accepting inquiries for future opportunities.” The hiring process might need a modern refresh Maybe Contra isn’t saying it in so many words, and perhaps this is a harsh way to think about it, but maybe our current models for evaluating employment are misguided. There’s an emphasis placed on working at the same place for an extended period of time and at prominent companies. Those aren’t bad indicators by any means – there is something to be said for working at well known and established corporations. But this can be hazy and gloss over what exactly someone did, which can hurt or diminish their contributions. If we focus on the positive, proactive question here of hiring qualified individuals, then what is the best thing to look at? The work. Nothing is as accurate as looking directly at the results someone has produced – that is what matters. Quality outweighs where you […]

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Have you ever tried to hire freelancers before? With an estimated 1.1 billion freelancers worldwide, finding the right professional proves difficult. Sifting through skill sets and relevant experience eats up valuable time. The best outsourcing solution is to work through a digital agency. FreeUp offers a wide array of resources to meet your hiring and recruitment needs. Read on to discover how an agency benefits your business. Digital Outsourcing Boosts Efficiency The main purpose of business outsourcing is to free up time. You and your company’s team members may have too many other responsibilities to meet every need. And when your people can’t get work done on time, efficiency suffers. Elevated efficiency happens when your people can stay on deadline. If you outsource through an agency, you’re more likely to work with professionals. Outsourced work boosts efficiency if the hired freelancer completes work with timeliness. Many companies are hesitant to hire freelancers for fear of unprofessionalism. Poor communication and incomplete projects leave many business owners wary. Hiring through FreeUp protects you from these issues and guarantees you an efficient professional. A Digital Marketing Agency Assures Expertise Expertise is easy to claim. Many inexperienced or dishonest people overhype their skill sets. If you turn to a digital agency, you’re protected from this kind of unprofessional behavior. FreeUp vets every freelancer’s skills. Testimonials and references are important to look for. As part of freelancer onboarding, applicants are required to submit a resume or CV. The agency’s team then assesses the validity of these documents. Assured expertise guarantees the value of your business outsourcing. No more worrying over the capability of random freelancers for your business. Instead, hire freelancers you know can get the work done and done right. Outsource Digital Needs for Quality Pricing With guaranteed expertise, you can remain certain of the price, too. If you outsource digital needs, a significant concern is consistent pricing. Staying within your budget is important, no matter who you hire. If you largely work with an in-house team, your prices are set by their salary. With freelancers, pricing is often negotiable. This means you might get a great deal or end up overpaying. To avoid this kind of financial uncertainty, turn to a digital agency. You’ll find FreeUp has a set range of pay so that you won’t go over budget. This also communicates the value of the work you receive from an outsourced employee. Quality pricing includes the freelancer’s skills, time, and experience. A set price avoids the tension and uncertainty of navigating project-specific or long-term pricing. Work with an agency and pay for what you want. Why FreeUp Is The Right Digital Agency For Your Business Wherever you turn to outsource digital needs, you deserve consistency and quality. You don’t have to waste hours finding skilled professionals if you turn to the right digital agency. FreeUp offers experts in multiple industries. They evaluate freelancers’ capabilities to ensure your business flourishes. They aim to free up your time. Work with them today and […]

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hiring freelance developers So you have a pending project in the pipeline and need more hands-on-deck? Freelance software developers can save the day, BUT… Unfortunately, the challenges associated with searching, testing, and onboarding a truly great freelance developer candidate cause most employers to give up before they even start. You are looking at recruitment expenses, time-lapse, and the struggle to find the right candidates in a sector currently plagued by a mix of both good and bad apples in one basket. While hiring freelance developers is not a walk in the park, the benefits are worth the effort. In this article, we’ll provide detailed guidance to help you dodge the common pitfalls and set yourself up for success. Popular Regions To Outsource To The majority of companies hiring freelance developers favor outsourcing to Eastern Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East in that order. Often you will never go wrong with the first two, but this is not to say you can’t find real gems in Asia and the Middle East. Establish Your Expectations Before you set about hiring new developers, make a quick rundown of what you want to achieve with your workforce. This way, you can set a reasonable budget in accordance with the costs and talent you expect to meet. What tasks should you assign to freelance developers? Most businesses assign freelance developers simple tasks such as edits, quality assurance, or integration with third-party apps. Only very few companies trust freelance developers with software architecture and security tasks. Usually, such companies already have well-defined structures for protecting their sensitive information. If you are not confident about your security, it’s best to assign low-risk tasks to freelance developers. The Hiring Process Searching for a good developer can take months. However, when it comes to freelance developers, the process is somewhat simpler. You are looking at a procedure whereby you can just look up a specialist on a dedicated platform, reviews included. A simple inquiry using the method of your choice can quickly provide you with a shortlist of contractors who can start working on your product within a few hours. Below are a few steps you can follow to make your selection process more insightful and yield the best results. Scan The Portfolio It’s not enough to just have a developer claim to be competent in something. Make sure you review their portfolios along with the resumes. Developers typically post code samples on resources like GitHub; these are a great place to start. You will also need to contact traceable references from other people or organizations they have worked with previously. This will help you determine how they will fit into your team. Test For Proficiency One great way to test a developer’s proficiency is with test tasks. You can put together a task that helps you gauge the candidate’s approach and performance on the tasks they will be handling on the project. You can even have a trusted party evaluate the code written by the […]

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Examples of industries embracing the gig economy continue to grow. As legal firms also embrace this trend, what are the legal issues faced by freelancers in various occupations? From Uber drivers to skilled marketers, business consultants, and lawyers, freelancers benefit companies by decreasing their running costs. Today, technology allows firms to manage their freelancers. Meanwhile, gig workers are exchanging the security of a steady paycheck to pursue flexibility. In the U.S., the gig economy has over 50 million workers . Legal issues are not uncommon among them. As the legal world itself embraces freelancing, the need to help freelancers with various law issues continues to rise. Lawyers and the gig economy The potential for lawyers to work in the gig economy continues to grow and is attributed to various factors. First, projected job growth opportunities for lawyers are at 4% for the decade from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the same average as for most occupations and means the legal arena has more graduates than legal jobs. Second, the pandemic has changed the way lawyers are viewing remote work and flexibility. In the survey conducted by Thompson Reuters Acritas, 77% of senior lawyers indicated their desire to continue working flexible hours. Of these, 22% said they would consider leaving their job if their firms were unwilling to accommodate them. Finally, an ABA Journal article in 2019 showed that up to 25% of younger lawyers were willing to accept reduced compensation in exchange for more time off and flexible work arrangements. Demand for legal freelancing has increased in some areas because: It can improve smaller firms’ profitability and sole practices since their workforce can be scaled according to their caseloads. Allows for the outsourcing of challenging tasks like marketing and social media. Law firms can acquire highly skilled people only when needed. Client acceptance of the legal gig economy model generally depends on the type of law services needed by them. The model is unlikely to be embraced by clients needing litigation, corporate, or estate legal services. On the other hand, once-off legal advice, simple wills, uncontested divorces, and retail legal services do not rely on a developing client-lawyer relationship. Rights of freelancers In all industries, freelancers are not covered by the labor laws that guarantee a traditional workforce’s rights. Some of the well-known gig industries make their models work by having processes, policies, and systems in place. As freelancing becomes more popular within the legal sector, it needs to address these issues with innovative thinking. In some gig economy jobs, legal clarity needs to be given to freelancing employment rights issues. These include sick and maternity leave and pay, protection against discrimination, and the gig workers’ safety. Freelancers have no workplace pension protection and must make contributions towards a pension themselves. Understanding and representing the legal issues faced by freelancers As more professions move into freelancing, so the need for lawyers who specialize in this area grows. Besides employment issues in […]

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Kolabtree connects businesses to freelance medical device consultants from all over the world. Medical Device Consultants Kolabtree’s experts work in product development, research and development (R&D), data analytics and regulatory affairs and many more. Our specialists have experience across device classes and therapy areas. Regulatory affairs consultants A robust regulatory strategy is essential for the success of a new medical device. Our qualified regulatory affairs consultants and freelance regulatory writers can carry out gap assessments, identify technical documentation required, and provide a comprehensive regulatory plan for journey-to-market. Work with our Clinical Evaluation Report writers for European Union Medical Device Regulations (EU MDR) compliance or 510(k) submissions experts for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals. Medical copywriters If you have a great product but are not able to communicate its benefits to your target audience, our freelance medical copywriters combine creative writing skills and subject matter expertise to produce effective marketing campaigns. Leverage the industry experience of our freelancers to position your product in the market. Areas of expertise Kolabtree experts are specialists in therapy areas such as oncology, neurology, cardiology and cardiovascular diseases, urology, gynaecology, dermatology and more. They have worked with Class I, Class II and Class III medical devices. Work with them for support with developing: Neurological devices Orthopaedic devices Dental implants Surgical instruments Pacemakers Digital health-driven sensors or wearable devices Stimulators and scanners Benefits of hiring Kolabtree medical device freelancers The MedTech industry is dominated by server message blocks (SMBs) that are innovating rapidly. Hiring freelance specialists gives you access to otherwise-unaffordable talent that gives you an edge over your competitors. This, while keeping your overheads low and streamlining your operations. The main benefits of hiring Kolabtree experts include: Faster time to market: get a safe and compliant device to market quickly with the help of an experienced specialist. Avoid the risk of product recall, which can spell heavy losses for your business. Save costs: we help MedTech clients to save up to 40% costs by hiring experts on demand over in-house staff. Use Kolabtree to build a sustainable channel for your business. One-stop-shop for talent: access a wide range of experts under one roof. Build a ready-to-hire remote team you can access at any time for specialist skills. How it works Search for an expert and contact them directly for a quote, or post a project and we will personally handpick and invite experts for your project. Get bids from relevant experts. Discuss your requirements and set up interviews to ensure you hire the best candidate. Set up milestones, share files, make calls and work seamlessly with your expert using our workspace. Verify the project is complete to your satisfaction before paying the expert. Confidentiality and privacy At Kolabtree, we understand the importance of confidentiality and we take extra steps to ensure your end-to-end experience is safe, secure and risk-free. Your internet protocol (IP) is protected by default in our terms and conditions (T&C) but you can sign custom non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for added […]

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Getty getty One of the questions I regularly get asked by freelance entrepreneurs is how to make their platform more sticky. Or more specifically, how can they make their platform more attractive to top performing freelancers. When top performers congregate in particular platforms, such as Toptal in tech, or YunoJuno in agency, Inex.One as an aggregator of expert networks , Talmix in management consulting, or Patreon among creatives, it naturally attracts other, similar, freelancers. These platforms – and there are others I will mention below – do a better job than most platforms in managing talent and revenue leakage . Talent leakage is when a platform member leaves the platform as they gain some success. Revenue leakage is the loss of that individual’s revenue generation, but it’s also when platform members contract with clients outside the platform, denying the platform a return on its investment. Informal data suggests that most freelancers are members of 3-5 different platforms. That’s a problem on both sides of the two-sided marketplace. For freelancers it means that they tend not to commit to a platform, and invest little time and effort in helping to make the platform successful. Freelancers who don’t commit to their platform are reluctant to share opportunity or work with other platform members to “ hunt in packs .” That reduces their effectiveness in sourcing work, and at scale, it significantly harms overall platform performance. It’s a vicious cycle. My co-author Norm Smallwood and I first answered the question – what do top freelancers expect from their platform – in our book, Agile Talent . Since its publication in 2016, there has been a rapid expansion of regional and niche platforms in many areas , from diplomacy to pharma clinical trials management to satellite telemetry and AI. And, we’ve seen the growth of mega-platforms such as Freelancer.com which now boasts 50,000,000 members. Slightly larger in population than Spain! Through my Forbes #freelancerevolution writing, I have a regular opportunity to speak with groups of freelancers on a pro bono basis. Most recently my conversations included an “ask Jon Younger anything about the freelance revolution” with freelance audiences in Copenhagen, Brussels, Moscow, and Boston. Inevitably the topic is raised: What leads top performers to commit to a platform or treat one platform as primary? So, how can platforms establish a level of trust that builds commitment and engagement? My data continues to show that freelancers want five services from their platform, performed at a consistent level of quality: call them the big five commitment drivers . When platforms regularly and competently provide these services, and invest in their freelancer’s careers rather than inventorize them, freelancers stick and engage. We know that because platforms like Hoxby in the UK, Toptal and Contra in the US, Sneakers & Jackets in France, Appjobs in Sweden, Comatch in Germany, and Mash in Australia are among a number of excellent examples of high commitment platforms. Here they are again, with additional examples: Regular work . The number one […]

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Image licensed via Shutterstock / Olena Yakobchuk 2021 will be a challenging year for freelancers in many ways. But even if the economy declines, it’s not all bad news. Just like during the global downturn of 2008, brands will turn to individual freelancers rather than more expensive, overhead-laden agencies. And so there’ll be exciting new opportunities for independent contractors and small businesses. In short, this could be the greatest year ever for your freelance practice, as long as you grasp the nettle. And an important part of that means getting a handle on your finances and maximising your potential earnings and income. We’ve teamed up with online accounting software Xero , which helps freelancers automate and manage their finances, to bring you ten practical tips. Covering everything from raising your rates to getting paid promptly, this advice will put you on the right path for the year ahead. 1. Know your value Many freelancers stick to the same rates for years on end. But that makes no sense because the longer you work, the better at your craft you’ll become, so you should be charging more. Recognising this is the key to raising your rates confidently. This means that if existing clients baulk at the new rate, you’re willing to walk away and find others. As Ben Veal, founder and MD at Second Mountain Communications says, “Know your value and what your expertise is worth in the marketplace. Don’t be afraid to turn down work if this value isn’t appreciated by someone else.” 2. Test the market How do you know when to raise your rates? It’s partly a question of trial and error. You’ll only find out if clients will be willing to pay more if you ask them. Lakshmi Padmanaban , a copywriter for brands, says: “I’ve been following a thumb rule for raising my rates: if four back-to-back prospects agree to my rate without any negotiations, then it’s time to raise it.” 3. Sell your rate rise When you’re raising rates, put yourself in your client’s shoes. If they’re going to be shelling out more money, what are they getting in return? Matt Lamont, director of Out of Place Studio , recommends that: “When raising rates, write more about your specific offering in the proposal. Talk about the process, milestones, strategy, benefits, etc. And always send a nice PDF proposal specifically targeted at them. Show you value the client, as much as they should value your time.” Designer and artist Sally Wanless adds: “I have found if clients want something quicker, that’s a surefire way to increase the money you can charge them.” 4. Control your costs Of course, raising your rates is only one way to make money as a freelancer. Freelance video/audio producer Steve Folland suggests you also look at the other side of the balance sheet. “You can also make more money by checking your overheads, and making sure you’re not wasting money on things you no longer need,” he points out. “So […]

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Job Profile Teaching – Tutor Contract Type Freelance Job Purpose Teaching for this role will take place online A BPP freelance tutor has the following core areas of responsibility: Teaching on a range of Apprenticeship School programmes and subjects as required Marking summative and formative assessment materials Contributing to curriculum development work, including scholarship and innovation, planning and evaluation as required Providing pastoral support and guidance of students on relevant programmes and modules as required Ensuring regulatory compliance with BPP systems and processes Through this, you will work with and support the School in delivering excellence in teaching, materials and pastoral support within a compliant regulatory framework Job Background The Apprenticeship School designs and delivers programmes in England and Scotland at Levels 2 -5 in the disciplines of Banking, Business Administration, Risk & Compliance, Insurance, Investment Operations, HR, Management and Project Management. The School aims to deliver a student experience based on the principles of mastery that supports apprentices to gain a professional qualification and also measures application through the setting and assessment of developmental activities (that are relevant to industry), and through detailed preparation for a final, robust assessment. Key Responsibilities: Duties will include but are not limited to: Teaching on one or more HR programme, usually online although there might also be an occasional requirement for face-to-face teaching Keeping abreast of new developments in relevant areas of HR management and practice and be a subject matter expert Keeping abreast of relevant pedagogic methodologies, including undertaking training and development as required Attending programme tutor team meetings or liaising with other tutors as required to ensure uniform delivery of modules to ensure successful progression of students between and within programmes and modules Preparing for teaching and teaching in small and/or larger groups as required Striving to obtain the highest level of teaching feedback from students Assisting with the smooth running of assessments as required Mark formative and summative assessments and giving feedback in accordance with BPP policies Contributing to curriculum development work, including innovation, planning and evaluation including those relating to specific modules and courses as required Attending any relevant training in relation to HRM, course design and innovation as required Providing appropriate academic and pastoral support and guidance to students throughout their academic studies, and ensure students are directed to appropriate BPP operational services when necessary Please refer to the job description for full details Department Professional Apprenticeships – Apprenticeship School Vacancy location UK, Nationwide, Nationwide Candidate Criteria Essential : CIPD Advanced Diploma in HRM or CIPD Level 5 Diploma in HRm Current member of CIPD Experienced HR practitioner at middle- or senior-level within an organisational structure Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work autonomously and flexibly The ability to effectively plan, organise and prioritise workload The ability to work well in a team and be collaborative Able to develop rapport, build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and students Excellent computer/IT skills Self-motivated A commitment to vocationally-orientated HR apprenticeships Desirable : A teaching qualification […]

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Image source: Getty Images Being a freelancer or gig worker can be rewarding, but it can be easy to make poor financial decisions. These tips will set you up for success. According to a study conducted by Upwork and Freelancers Union, 57 million Americans freelanced in 2019. It’s likely that this number will only continue to grow in the coming years. Whether you’re freelancing on a full-time basis or working a gig as a side hustle , it’s essential to keep your finances in order. That’s because this kind of lifestyle has different financial implications. Keep reading to check out some personal finance tips for freelancers and gig workers. 1. Outline a budget The first thing you’ll want to do is outline a monthly budget. You need to know how much money you need to make to cover all of your expenses, bills, and savings needs. This will help you set your freelance income goals. If you need help budgeting, we have some excellent budgeting tips . 2. Set aside money for taxes If you’re a freelancer or gig worker, you’re probably classified as an independent contractor. This kind of work is different from a W-2 paycheck job. Instead of having your taxes taken out of your paycheck, you’ll need to set aside a portion of your income for your taxes yourself. Make sure you do this on a weekly or monthly basis to avoid added financial stress. 3. Pay your taxes quarterly As a freelancer or independent contractor, you should pay your taxes every quarter. You’ll pay estimated taxes throughout the year since the taxes aren’t coming out of your paycheck each month. Make sure you pay all local, state, and federal taxes quarterly to avoid penalties in April. Plus, you’ll feel better knowing that you don’t have a huge annual tax bill. 4. Hire for tax preparation If you’re new to gig work or freelancing, you may be confused about your tax situation. That’s understandable, but you don’t want to guess your way through filing your taxes because you may make costly mistakes. Instead, hire a professional to help out. You’ll be less stressed, and you’ll feel more confident knowing you filed your taxes correctly. 5. Don’t ignore retirement savings Just because you don’t have a W-2 job with retirement benefits doesn’t mean that you should ignore saving for your retirement years. If you’re freelancing and have no job benefits, you need to think about the future. Treat your retirement savings as a monthly bill when budgeting and set up automatic contributions. There are several retirement account options to consider, including a Roth IRA, IRA, SEP IRA, or Solo 401(k). 6. Set aside an emergency fund When you freelance or work in the gig economy, your income can fluctuate throughout the year. There may be times when you’re not making much money, and an expensive, unexpected bill comes up. Having an emergency fund is critical. When times are good and you’re busy with plenty of work, don’t […]

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