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Crisis Proof your Freelancing Business

The COVID-19 pandemic will bring a “new normal” for many.

I just had my husband cut my hair a while ago then I colored it with a hair dye after. I haven’t been out of the house since March 13. I still manage to stay positive though and be grateful for what I have.

Not everyone will be affected the same way. Some Filipinos have already lost their jobs while others are thinking of resigning due to health and safety concerns. 

And there are those who surprisingly started a freelancing business in the middle of the pandemic. These Filipinos are earning a lot of income in the comfort of their home.

Crisis proof your Freelancing business

On March 21, John Pagulayan, a highly sought-after, 7-figure freelancer who has taught thousands of Filipinos how to build a thriving freelance business will teach you exactly how you can do this.

This is for everyone who wants to work from home, start a freelancing business, earn additional income on the side, or get better, higher-paying clients.

FREE WORKSHOP: The Simplest Way to Start a Crisis Proof Freelancing Business in 90 Days or Less… Even If You’re Just Starting Out

WHAT: An online workshop on how to start a crisis proof freelancing business in 90 days or less

WHEN: May 21, 2020

HOW MUCH: FREE

What will I learn from this webinar?

  • The unlikely opportunity waiting for you to earn “new” and more income during this pandemic
  • How COVID-19 accidentally created 6-figure per month Filipino earners
  • A proven plan that allows you to create a business that needs little to zero capital
  • Why freelancing has become one of the most stable source of income right now
  • What it takes to get freelance clients at will even if you don’t have skills, portfolio, or experience

Who should attend this webinar?

  • Filipinos who are looking to supplement or replace their monthly income
  • Freelancers who are overworked and underpaid and are struggling
  • Anyone who wants to create a sought-after, highly-paid, stress-free, freelance business 
  • People who want to explore and make money from online income opportunities

Who will be teaching in this webinar?

John “The Legend” Pagulayan is an email copywriter and consultant to businesses here and abroad. He has been featured in GMA 7’s 24 ORAS, Inquirer, and a regular speaker at freelancing and digital marketing summits.

His mission is to give every Filipino freelancer (regardless of their background — high school grad man o walang pinag-aralan) a fighting chance to have the business and lifestyle of their dreams.

Quick Questions:

What is a webinar?

It’s an online video seminar. All you need to attend is a computer, a good internet connection and speakers. This is great because you can learn at the comfort of your own home, wherever you are.

What if I’m not available on March 21?

Not a problem. You can watch the VIDEO REPLAY of the webinar anytime, anywhere. Please watch it at your earliest convenience because the video is only available for free viewing for a limited time.

Is there a deadline for the registration?

Yes, registration will be closed once the video is no longer available for free viewing.

When will this happen again?

This is a special learning opportunity provided in partnership with John Pagulayan. We don’t know when it will happen again.

Don’t Miss Out On This FREE Learning Opportunity

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by joining this webinar. This is your chance to learn how to create a sought-after, highly-paid, stress-free, freelance business and seize the “new” opportunities in the middle of this pandemic. 

SUMMARY OF WHAT TO DO:

  1. Register for the online workshop: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE
  2. Watch, comment and tell John your biggest takeaway, share, and win 1 of 5 Full Year Memberships at zero cost.

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

I Promise to Be a Better Freelancer this 2019

I sound so crazy saying that. You might be wondering, who actually promises to be better at one’s profession or one’s job even.

Well, that’s the entire point. Only a few of us commit to be better at what we do.

When creating goals for this year, most of us write down financial goals, weight loss goals, travel goals, etc. Hardly do we take the time out to create action steps on how we might better our freelancing profession, how we run a company or a business or even how we work in the office. We only think about improving our profession, business or career when the going gets tough, when ratings are involved or when we’re trying to get a promotion.

I think this year is the year that we push ourselves into COMMITTING to do better in what we do. Since I’m a freelancer / entrepreneur, I commit to be better at both these things. I have listed down things that I will commit to.

I will commit to seeing my worth.

Last year, I have been scared of losing. I have been scared of losing a lot of deals with clients, losing relationships and losing opportunities. I agreed to some projects that have lowered my worth as a freelancer. This year, I commit to being braver, to seeing my strengths and to valuing myself. I commit to dealing with people who see the value that I can give them. I will constantly remind myself that I am worth every penny, because I deliver great value.

My Team: #TeamTaxumo

I will commit to deliver exceptional work.

I will commit to not only deliver projects ask of me, but deliver exceptional work. I will help my client with their objectives and contribute ideas and more than the scope of work given to me. I will continue to provide more value to brands that I trust and love.

I will commit to tracking my finances better.

I will commit to logging my income and expenses dutifully. I will commit to continuously using frequently-used-apps like PayPal, Taxumo, GCASH and UnionBank Mobile Banking and to use my not-so-frequently used apps like Wally, 52 Weeks and other apps that I have downloaded an paid for. I know that these will help me, but lazy me takes over! Haha! So I will commit to fixing my finances better this 2019.

I will commit to writing, blogging and vlogging more consistently.

I commit to creating better content — content that is from the heart and more purposeful. I promise that I will b/vlog about the things that my readers will be interested in and that they will learn from. I promise to be consistent, too. I will not let the week pass without creating content.

I promise to learn more about “other” things this year.

I usually come across things that I use for my craft, but I know that I need to learn or at least read about other things that are not related to what I do. I commit to read more, listen to people, meet new people and create new relationships with people. I commit to widening my network, since I know that this is how I’ll be able to learn more.

That’s about it. These are the things that I commit to as a freelancer.

How about you? Let’s start an accountability thread. Tell me about what you COMMIT to as a freelancer, entrepreneur, employee, profesional, parent, etc. I’d love to hear about it!

How Financial Tools Can Keep You Out of Trouble

Money is a difficult subject to talk about. But with the right financial tools, anyone can learn to manage their expenses and stay away from financial troubles later on.

Those who know me would know that I like automation. And, I also like looking for financial tools that can make my life easier and my business run smoothly.

Today, I’d like to share three financial tools that can help freelancers manage their finances better. I’ve personally used these, and I can attest that they definitely work.

Financial Tool #1 – Wally for Expense Tracking

I’ve been a fan of Wally for almost two years now and I’ve been using it to tracking and managing finances.

What I love about it is that it lets me compare my income versus expenses. It also gives me insights on my spending habits.

One of my guilty pleasures is online shopping. I just can’t help it! I get curious about a lot of stuff, especially when it comes to beauty products and Zeeka’s things. I’m also into checking out local brands. Just check out my Instagram and you’d know what I mean.

And sometimes, I can’t help but be a bit impulsive.

But with Wally, I get to see the expenses I’ve made and categorize them according to their purpose. It lets you create your own budget, add tags and categories, and even the location of your purchase.

It also lets you add reminders for recurring payments, attach images and pictures of receipts, and even keep track of all financial accounts in one place. You also even set goals for savings and investments.

Wally also has a feature where you can track the loans you’ve made and strategize on payments to avoid incurring penalties.

The most awesome thing about the app? It’s absolutely FREE!

You can get yours today by visiting the App Store or Google Play.

Financial Tool #2 – Paypal

I have used PayPal ever since I started writing for a living. And being a recognisable brand all over the world, Paypal made it easier for local and international clients to trust me with their business.

What I love about Paypal is its flexibility. I can send and receive funds from my clients without the fuss. I can also integrate other apps and automate processes like recurring payments with ease.

I have always prioritized automation in running my projects and businesses. As an entrepreneur, it’s important for me to free my time so I could focus on the tasks I need to do. And Paypal has given me the option to do just that.

Paypal has come in handy for online payment options, especially for Manila Workshops and Taxumo.

Those who avail of our workshops find it easier to make seat reservations through our website. It also gives them easier access to ongoing promotions and deals with just a click of a button. Taxumo users also get to enjoy seamless payments when they use their Paypal to pay for our services.

This service from Paypal is an awesome tool you can use for your freelance business. You can use it to get direct payments from anywhere in the world transferred to your local bank account.

You can also add it to your website and other profiles for clients to make payments any time.

Here’s a quick tutorial on how you can also add a Paypal button to your website:

Financial Tool #3 – GCash

I’m such a fan of GCash because it’s so convenient. Ever since I started using it, I didn’t have to carry as much cash anymore.

GCash is perfect for freelancers, especially those who don’t have time for long queues just to pay their bills. With just a tap of a button, you can get your phone bills, credit card bills, and other utilities paid at your convenience.

Here’s a cool feature from GCash. Did you know that you can just scan your electricity bill to pay it on your GCash app?

Yep, I used to type in the reference numbers when I started paying our electricity bill through the app. This process is a bit tedious and is prone to errors, but it definitely beats standing in line at the payment centers or banks.

Thankfully, GCash now added a feature where you can scan the code at the bottom of the bill and saves you from all the effort.

GCash also has other features that freelancers can take advantage of. There’s GCredit, where you can use it as a credit card for online payments. And there’s also GInvest, where you can start investing your hard earned cash and get access to various investment funds.

You can check out my post for more information about GCredit here.

If you’re interested in investing, you can learn more about GInvest here.

Freelancing can be difficult, especially if you’re starting out or if you don’t have a steady stream of clients. That’s why it’s important for every freelancer to learn how to manage their finances well.

Good thing that there are financial tools available today that can help you stay out of debt and financial troubles.

What tools do you use to manage your finances? Share your finance-related tips with us below.

Upgrade your Freelancing Career With 5 Awesome Tips

Yesterday, I was talking with a friend and we were talking about how the industry has changed over just a few years. It’s good that freelancing has provided Filipinos jobs, not only for people in Metro Manila but also in provincial areas. But, as the number of freelancers grow, the more competitive this landscape will be. Consider that there is a rapidly increasing number of gig workers all over the world.

To upgrade your freelancing career, you can’t just stay in your comfort zone. What do I mean by that? It means that you should be looking for ways to be relevant to your clientele. You should look for ways to stand out and at least attract a certain niche.

As a freelancer, there are two ways to “earn more”: 1) get more clients at the same price point or 2) increase your price and get quality clients. If you choose the second, understand that an increase in price should be equated to an increase in your brand value.

To increase your value though, you need to have skills that are in demand. You need to have a specific set of skills that not a lot of freelancers can offer.

As years go by, never stop evolving. Why? Because this fast paced world requires you to. As a freelancer, you need to catch up. You need to know what’s happening. The field of work along with the expertise in need changes every single day. What might be in trend today might be forgotten tomorrow.

Learn new skills that are required in your chosen vertical, but also be on the look-out, study and research on new technologies and new things that are being introduced in the market.

Life-long learning should be a priority. You need to be able to adapt to the changing needs of your clients and the world. Doing so will assure you of any job no matter what happens.

Today, I will be sharing with you some awesome tips on how to level up your freelancing journey. Some are absolutely free, while other strategies may need some investment. But all of them will contribute to your success as a freelancer.

Take Online Courses, Webinars, and Events

There are tons of free courses and webinars you can attend. Be careful though in choosing which ones to take.

While most experts launch courses to help others succeed, there are still those who do it for personal gain. It’s best to get to know the credentials of the person conducting the training. Also, look for practitioners. There is value in learning from another’s experiences (especially in this field). Doing so will help you learn and acquire new skills that you can use to level up your game.

Luckily, we have a lot of experts in the local industry that offers free online courses. There are also live events, like the PayPal Freelancer Community Workshops, you can attend to help you be a better freelancer.

I recently finished a workshop hosted by PayPal where I discussed how to become an “official” freelancer.

As freelancers, you should take advantage of these complementary events. Speakers in attendance are experts in their own rights. And they also have a lot of things to share that will help you upgrade your skills.

To know more about Paypal’s upcoming events, you can follow their Facebook page for details.

Maximize Online Quizzes and Worksheets

I’m a sucker for lists, worksheets and templates. I subscribe to newsletters just because they have a list or template that I’d love to have. The value though that you get from these online template, quizzes, worksheets, etc. is ONLY IF you actually use them.

Are you studying to be a copywriter? Check out this website for free copywriting worksheets.

Want to improve your social media marketing skills? Here are some downloadable worksheets to help you manage and plan your social media marketing strategies.

You can always go to Google and look for relevant quizzes and worksheets to test your conceptual knowledge of the topic or the skill.

Check out and use Web and Mobile Applications

Technology enables us to do whatever we want at the tip of our fingertips. When you put structure to what you do using technology, you will be more efficient. When you are more efficient, you never miss on any commitments that you have made to your client. You then become more trustworthy and credible.

One way you can professionalize your career is to prepare the needed documents of a client and submit it on time. Have proposals, contracts, project timelines, and invoices ready to be sent out. For invoices, create an online invoice already using your PayPal account. You can customize your invoices using your PayPal account / dashboard.

As freelancers, these documents are very important when it comes to winning a client. The more you inject professionalism in handling your freelancing business, the more clients will gravitate towards you.

What’s important is you keep up to date with the times and learn about the important updates related to your freelance business.

Here is a video on how to use the invoicing feature of PayPal.

Enroll in an Actual School or Class Setting

If you’re seriously considering to upgrade your skills, enrolling in a school or class setting would be the best to go.

Enrolling in a specialized course can give you all you need to get the proper training you need. But make sure that you will get the best out of it. After all, it’s your time that’s on the line.

Attend to all your classes and be punctual with your schedule. It’s also vital to do all the assignments and pass all the subjects. All of your efforts will be rewarded with a certificate that will signify your successful completion of the course.

This will also strengthen your expertise as a freelancer. It will also be beneficial for your career, since it will give you the credentials you need. It will also help you get better deals and better pricing for future projects.

Put Everything You Learn into Practice

As the famous Gary Vee says, “Ideas are sh*t without execution.”

This is so true! Learning about theories is good, but without practice, it wouldn’t mean anything. Those theories and concepts will just be put to waste if you don’t use it, and come up with concrete outputs.

Make sure to try out the things you learn. You don’t have to be an expert to get results. Plus, you get to learn more things when you start doing them.

In the vast world of freelancing where workers are coming from all over the world, what makes a freelancer successful most of the time is that he/she just starts acting on plans that they create.

Stop overthinking and start doing.

So, are you ready to upgrade your freelancing career?

Pricing your Freelancing Services

The thing about how to price freelance services is that it is so complicated. How do you price your own time, effort and expertise? How do we price fairly so as not to devalue ourselves or over-charge our clients?

I honestly think that I don’t have the “right” answer to this question, but what I can share with you today is how I do it for my own freelancing services.

The Basics of Pricing

One of the most common questions is, “What should I consider in pricing my freelancing gig?” The answer to this depends on the (1) services you provide, (2) the market or customers that you want to attract, and (3) your target duration for the engagement or for how long you will do it.

As a freelancer, you can consider two approaches: B2C and the B2B approach. The B2C approach is the business to consumer approach where you offer your services to individuals. The other approach is the business to business or B2B approach where you offer your services to businesses and large corporations (sometimes called “enterprise” services / offerings).

These two approaches matter, because of the costs per conversion (for this specific article, a conversion is a client that avails your services) will certainly be different for each approach.

4 Things to Consider on How to Price Freelance Services

#1 Check on what method you’d like to use after identifying your customer or the market that you want to tap.

There are two kinds of pricing methods that you can use:

One is the cost-plus pricing.

In this process, you will first try to figure out the basic or the total cost of your service while considering your time and the amount or weight of work. Then, after having a total cost price, you may now add a certain percentage which will serve as your profit.

I personally look at the total variable costs and top up a percentage on the total variable costs. Then, I come up with a floor price and a ceiling price for reference.

Most of the tools that we use as freelancers are online, Software-as-a-Service products. I usually use my PayPal account to pay for these services. This allows me to conveniently track my online expenses. This helps me collate all of my costs easily.

If you don’t have a PayPal account yet, you can click on this link to sign up: http://bit.ly/GA_O_PayPalSignUp

Usually, for the B2B approach, you can use a more value-based pricing strategy.  This means that you need to look at the value that you can give to the customer, and then without forgetting your costs, come up with a price that you feel best “quantifies” the value that you can give.

No matter what strategy you use, what matters most is that you give justice to whatever the client is paying for you to do.

Consider your monthly budget and try to figure out how many hours you will have to work to achieve that budget. By doing this, you can avoid overpricing.

 

#2 Check on the current Market Price for services like yours.

Surf the net and research on the price of your competitor’s services.

It would be much better if you will come up with a spreadsheet and list down all the freelancers, services and prices you’ve seen. From there, try to identify the value or set of values that you can give that your competitors can’t (unique value proposition). Check on how much value this can give the customer, try to again “quantify” it, and then see what an appropriate price will be given its uniqueness.

Pro tip: You may charge higher or lower than your competitors and it’s perfectly fine! Your pricing will depend on the value that you bring and on how efficiently you run your freelancing business.

 

#3 There’s no harm in asking your Client for a Budget

You can also ask the client about his/her allotted budget if you’re unsure of how to price freelance services. Then, go through the steps I indicated above.

See if that budget is something that you can work with. Also, money is not the only thing that matters. If you see that servicing this customer will get you more clients in the future, or if you think this will be a good addition to your portfolio, then go ahead and grab the deal.

 

#4 Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate

As a freelancer, you need to learn how to face and deal with clients. This career entails you mastering the art of negotiation, and also, knowing how to deal with rejection.

There will also be some clients who will ask for lower rates. Some may even ask you why you’re charging higher when your previous work required much less pay.

You need to know your worth for you to come up with a fair price for you and your client. And to do that, you need to have an estimated target income. This way, you can estimate how many clients you need to achieve that goal.  

Instead of becoming defensive or triggered, it is best to focus on creating a relationship with your client first. Make sure you make them feel that you’re genuinely interested in their business and enthusiastic about working with them.

 

In closing for How to Price Freelance Services…

Remember, it’s the quality of clients that count more than the quantity. So focus on the positive and keep on connecting with potential clients.

Also, always have a clear view of your cash flow. At the end of the day, your net income will be based on how much you earn less how much you spend.

Paypal also has a feature that gives you valuable insights on your income and expenses. With Reports, you get to see your average monthly income and other financial reports. This will help you keep track of your earnings and see if you’re reaching your target amounts.

Here is how you pull reports on PayPal:

Tracking your financial reports will also give you a glimpse of which acquisition strategies to use. If you’re doing the same thing and getting the same results, then it’s time to up the ante and change strategies. Then take note of which strategies work and then bank on them.

Learning how to price freelance services can be tricky at first.

But trust me, once you’ve learned and implemented the process and the strategies above, it will be a ride in the park. Good luck in coming up with prices for your services and if you need anything from me, just let me know in the comments section below.