The freelance workforce is growing, with 57 million Americans currently working as freelancers. Freelancing has its benefits for workers and businesses alike; while freelancers get the flexibility and autonomy they crave, business owners get access to highly-skilled talent without the commitment of permanent staff.
That talent is especially useful when it comes to big-picture projects like marketing. Most small employers can’t afford to bring on marketing, design, and web development professionals full-time, instead focusing their labor pool on the people who keep the business running from day-to-day. However, businesses still need access to these highly skilled pros in order to drive sales and scale their operation.
Are you thinking about hiring freelancers to grow your business’s marketing and sales? Before you do, this is what you need to know.
Freelancers vs. Independent Contractors vs. Employees
You’ll hear the terms “independent contractor” and “freelancer” used interchangeably to refer to self-employed workers. As far as the IRS is concerned, all self-employed workers are considered independent contractors when they fit a specific set of criteria. As long as a freelancer meets the classification requirements, businesses don’t have to withhold payroll taxes or offer benefits; they simply collect W9 forms from each freelancer and issue 1099-MISC forms for freelancers they pay more than $600 in a year.
It’s important to read those criteria carefully, however. If you exert too much control over where, when, or how freelancers do their work, they could be considered employees by the IRS. Businesses that treat employees like independent contractors are subject to steep penalties.
Freelancers for Small Business Marketing and Sales
Businesses can find freelancers for nearly any job imaginable. However, when it comes to growing your business’s revenue, there are a few types of freelancers to focus on.
Website development
Your business needs a website that appeals to modern users and meets a business’s needs. If you want someone who can customize and improve the performance of your website, look for a WordPress developer, but make sure they have the necessary skills. These developers should fully understand WordPress themes and plugins and web development fundamentals, and they should be able to maintain, debug, and troubleshoot WordPress sites. While many rates for freelance WordPress developers may seem high at first glance (some freelancers charge up to $150 per hour), the potential ROI of a well-designed business website makes it well worth the cost.
Graphic design
Graphic designers create everything from small business logos and packaging design to the colors and buttons you use on your website. While hiring graphic designers for one-off projects may save money, contracting with the same freelancer for all of your graphic design needs leads to greater brand consistency.
Social media marketing
Everyone is on social media, but that doesn’t mean anyone has the skills to run your business’s social media account. If your social media pages are filled with lackluster content and struggling to engage followers, a freelance social media manager can take over and develop a social media presence that reflects your brand’s voice.
Content marketing
Written content is great for sharing on social media and driving traffic to your website, but compelling blog content is harder to produce than it seems. Rather than tasking your admin assistant with the task, seek out a freelance content writer who has experience writing about your industry. With the right expertise and click-worthy headlines, you can create content that draws shoppers in and gets them to stick around.
What to Pay Freelance Help
The going rate for freelancers depends on the industry and skill set. In general, you can expect freelance rates to be significantly higher than — possible even double — your employees’ hourly rates. Some business owners are put off by freelancers’ high rates, but for most small businesses, it’s a bargain. That’s because when you hire freelancers, you’re not paying payroll taxes, workman’s compensation, health insurance, or any of the other hidden costs associated with hiring employees.
However, you should avoid falling into the trap of assuming a high rate indicates high skill. Rather than going by rate alone, review freelancers’ portfolios and customer testimonials to find professionals who fit your needs. Once you have a short list, contact references to be confident that you and your freelancer will work well together.
Where to Find Qualified Freelancers
Businesses have two options for marketing help: Hire a full-service marketing agency or contract with individual freelancers. While the former is more convenient, it can also be a lot more expensive.
If you’re on a budget and up for the challenges of managing freelancers, use these websites to find and hire freelance help for your business:
Upwork
Guru
99Designs
Fiverr
Behance
Collaborating with Freelancers
Speaking of managing freelancers: This is where most business owners get tripped up. On one hand, you need freelancers to coordinate with your team and stay accountable to the project’s deliverables. On the other, you need to give freelancers enough freedom so they can do their job and you don’t risk an IRS audit.
Since you can’t micromanage freelancers, you need to set up expectations and systems from the start. These tips will help you work effectively with freelancers:
Set basic expectations with a freelance agreement that details deadlines, deliverables, and payment terms.
Schedule check-ins where freelancers give project updates and your team has an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
Establish a clear chain of command. When freelancers know who to report to, it reduces the risk of confusion.
Keep freelancers tuned into team meetings through video conferencing. When freelancers can’t join in on a call, use automated speech-to-text transcription to efficiently take notes and distribute them to team members shortly after the call. Some services provide over 80 percent accuracy and will charge $6 for an hour’s worth of audio.
Create in-house office space for freelancers. While it’s up to freelancers to decide where they work, sharing space builds a sense of company culture.
Pay your freelancers well and on time. Mistreating your freelancers only makes it harder to find quality help in the future.
Ultimately, how your business uses and collaborates with freelancers is something you’ll figure out with time and experience. Rather than diving in head-first, start with a small handful of freelance professionals and work out the kinks before expanding your freelance workforce.
If you’re running a small operation, you’re more in need than ever to keep track of everything you own. You have limited resources, after all, and you’ve had a lot of money sunk into everything currently in use in the office or the storeroom.
But of course, it can be hard to properly keep track of all your assets. You’ve got a lot of responsibilities on your plate, and you can’t keep an eye out at all times. At the same time, your employees are going to be using them on a daily basis, so they can go walkabout from time to time, and there’s no guarantee the ledger will always be signed to keep you updated on where they are!
Which is why it’s key to change tactic - there’s plenty of other ways to keep track of your assets, and a lot of them are far more reliable for your time and money. So, without further ado, here are some such ideas to get you started.
Not all assets are created equal, after all. You’re going to need to prioritize some assets over the others, simply because they’re worth more to you, and your business has a lot more use of them. In the business world, some assets are very much disposable, and it’s working out which ones are which that’s key here. Be sure to make this your first task, so you’re not wasting time keeping track of things that simply don’t deserve your time and attention!
Big assets, such as the office you work in, the cars you use to get to and from work, and any digital device you know is quite pricey, all require a bit of more time and care when it comes to a tracking system.
Use a Spreadsheet for Software
Computer programs make up a lot of the modern business world, so you’re definitely going to want to keep an eye on what you’re using and how it’s working for you.
If you want to take inventory of the amount of software you use, you’re going to need to use a spreadsheet or similar program to keep track of things. If you can add new software and applications into a spreadsheet, unit by unit, it’s going to be a lot easier to add in dates and ways of use at the same time.
Simply put, a spreadsheet is a good way to just lay things out before you, and see what you get out of the software your company uses, as well as what will need updating and when.
Take Physical Inventory
Of course, you’re going to have to take physical inventory every once in a while. As a small business just starting out, you might want to conduct one every 6 months or so. But once you get used to owning and operating your own business, you can change this schedule to every 1 or 2 years.
How do you take inventory? Head into your stockroom. Hopefully, you have a list of all the assets you started with, and now you can compare the worth of that list with the list you're going to create now. You can use a computer program to help you out, or you can just count things up by hand and clipboard!
You’ll need to take stock of hardware too. If your employees are on a constant cycle of use with tablets and smartphones, or e-readers and company laptops, be sure to install a system of mobile device management on these ‘endpoints’.
Install a GPS into Fleet Vehicles
And finally, if your company is lucky enough to be using its own fleet to get from A to B, make sure you keep track of these vehicles with onboard GPS. If you can install one into every single car that’s on your business tab, you’ll be able to see what’s in the garage and what isn’t.
At the same time, you’ll also be able to watch where a car goes - if you have a particularly errant employee, using an onboard GPS to keep track of their position on a five-minute cycle will be invaluable to you.
So, Are You Tracking Your Assets Well?
If you’re out to keep track of your business assets, good on you! It means you’re a responsible business owner, and that’s crucial at the small, first stages. Keep going with habits like these and you’re likely to never lose out in the business world.
Several companies and brands know a little about SEO for their websites and online platforms, but few know about the vast benefits it provides for a business.
While it’s clear that SEO will improve the searchability and overall visibility of a website, there is additional value that comes with making the most of SEO.
Here are some of the reasons SEO can help to take your business to the next level, with tips from the experts at IslandSEOConsultant.
Searching Organically Is the Primary Source of Online Traffic
When people search for a brand or business, they usually do so organic search engines. This factors into the way your website performs, and plays a major role in how many people actually buy from your business. The more people search for your website, the more likely these searchers will turn into customers and engage with your business often through your site or social media pages.
Marketers are also aware of the fact that Google owns a large part of the search market in comparison to competitors like DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Bing and Baidu.
This doesn’t mean that all search engines can’t make a brand more visible to potential clients. However, Google owns around 75% of the total search market, and if you want to be seen on the leading search engine, there are some guidelines to keep in mind. Don’t forget that the remaining 25% of of the search market controlled by the other search engines can be valuable to your brand as well.
Learning More About Google
Google is the most visited website in the United States as well as the world. Google is also the world’s most popular email provider – Gmail has over 1 billion users. YouTube, which is also owned by Google, is the second largest search engine. It’s also important to note that most of the world that has internet access goes to Google a minimum of once per day to get the information they need.
As a brand, you should be highly visible and deemed a credible resource by Google. This will always work in your professional favor, and quality SEO is the way to accomplish this.
SEO Makes Your Brand More Credible and Trustworthy
Experienced SEO exists to create a solid foundation for an appealing website with an enjoyable user experience that easily searchable. This increases the credibility and reputation of your brand.
There are several factors that make your company authority on popular search engines like Google. In addition to the benefits we’ve already mentioned, your reputation is built over time with elements like positive user engagement, high-quality backlinks, and optimized content and on-page features.
Making yourself an authority in your niche will do wonders for your brand and all your digital optimizations. Just remember that this won’t happen overnight. It takes time for your customers to trust you, just as if you were establishing an in-person relationship with your clients.
It’s important to be patient with the process and commit to making our company one of the best. Engaging with your customers in a positive fashion and delivering quality products and services with each interaction will make your company more reliable in the eyes of consumers. If you are looking for software development, IslandSEO can help - check it out.
SEO Can Improve User Experience
Finally, remember that good SEO can enhance the search experience for users. All companies want better organic rankings and as much visibility as possible. However, few companies know that creating a positive user experience will help them accomplish these goals.
Google has learned how to decipher whether users are having a negative or positive experience. When users have a familiarity with searching and finding your business website, this will lead to success for your business. The bottom line is that consumers know what they’re looking for. When they can’t find it, they’re more likely to give up and go another route, which lessens the chances that they’d find your company. Not to mention your website traffic will suffer.
Working with your marketing department to come up with proven SEO strategies for your business can bring about more consumer interaction and sales and increase the popularity of your company.
No matter the size or scope of your business, it’s essential to have reputation management. This ensures that your company will be seen in a positive light and increase the chances that more people will patronize your business.
With a reputation management platform, you can keep track of what consumers are saying and make the necessary changes in your business that will keep your company moving forward.
What Is Reputation Management Software?
If you own a business and want to know more about reputation management software, check out ReputationDesk to learn more about the ins and outs that are designed to help clients perceive you in a positive light. The software will also capture negative customer experiences and promote their products and services and will let you know what other people think about your business. You can also use the monitoring tools in the reputation management software to capture posts and discussions on social media.
How does this type of software work? Since many consumers rely on reviews to get information on products and services, you need to make sure customers are satisfied with what you have to offer. According to Ambassador, 71% of people who use social media are likely to recommend a business they’ve had positive interactions with. It’s important to remember that recommendations can make a huge difference in the way people see your business.
Does Reputation Management Work?
Reputation management software utilizes tools to increase your sales by providing you with insight. When you see how your company is perceived, you can make the necessary adjustments to enhance customers’ experiences. You can clearly see the ways that you can improve in your marketing and consumer service and can make the necessary adjustments.
The software is especially effective, since 94% of search results from Google are organic, which means they are not paid ads. An astounding 42% of adults have searched businesses online before buying anything. On the other hand, 45% of these internet users changed their mind about doing business with a company if they discovered a negative review or unfavorable information about a company.
What Are the Perks of Reputation Management Software?
One of the most prominent benefits of reputation management software is the secure online environment that helps you with getting more online reviews - learn more. Professional teams that have access to confidential data can share the information from customer reviews and not worry about privacy issues. This is why it’s vital that only certain people should have access to the information to maintain security.
Reputation management software also allows you to work collaboratively. Larger businesses require online platforms where both external and internal teams can work together. You can also manage campaigns with several solutions, so you can choose to methods that work best for your company.
You’ll also be working in a single platform or window when you’re using reputation management software. The software will provide you with a dashboard so you can hand out information to your team. Reputation management software also serves as the sole destination for detailed that you’ve gleaned from social media, listening tools and blogs to see what people think about your company. The ideal software for reputation management should also have the ability to monitor new stories and discussions and the origins of these details. You should also choose software that will generate reports based on social media interaction with your business.
Reputation management software management is also a cost-effective way to ensure that you’re using the right marketing tools for your business. Using conventional methods for monitoring customer interaction with your company can be time-consuming and expensive. You’ll also get real-time notifications, which lets you know which services and products your customers prefer.
Reputation management software can be a significant help when you’re trying to grow your business and keep your current client base satisfied. You can work with your marketing team to find the reputation management software that will work best for you.
Presenting products, designs, and artwork in a beautiful gallery is an important remit for many website owners and with so many website visitors arriving via a mobile device, a responsive gallery is critical for both usability and website performance. Here’s a quick look at five of the best responsive galleries that are easy to implement and can help make your web pics and videos look great on any device.
Responsive Performance
It’s not all about choosing the right gallery plugin, you also need to make sure you have a supportive and fast WordPress hosting solution to ensure maximum performance from your image and video galleries. Speed and performance not only improve the experience for your visitors, it also helps improve your organic search presence and Google is a big fan of speedy, efficient websites - prioritizing them over slower, less optimized sites.
1. Envira Gallery
Envira gallery is arguably the most popular responsive WordPress gallery plugin. With a 320k+ strong user base, it’s designed to be powerful but very easy to use. It’s free to use at the basic level, but of course there are a variety of premium ad-ons available if you become a big fan. It’s also a popular choice for agencies, as it supports white label applications and even has an affiliate program.
2. Unite Gallery
Another very popular WordPress friendly responsive gallery plugin is Unite Gallery. It’s very flexible and also available for Drupal, Joomla, and other popular CMS platforms. With lots of customizable effects, over 120 gallery styles, and a plethora of video gallery options, Unite is a solid choice for a responsive gallery solution.
3. Justified Image Grid
Justified Image Grid is an extremely easy to use responsive image gallery solution. With over 340 customizable settings and 20 different image gallery templates, there’s a lot to love about Justified’s offering. Wisdom of the masses suggests it’s a good option as it’s CodeCanyon’s most popular image gallery, and it even has an add-on for WPBakery Page Builder, something not all galleries have.
4. Juicebox
Jukebox touts itself as a spectacular HTML5 responsive image gallery and it certainly presents well with plenty of templates and customizable options. It plays well with WordPress, Lightroom, NextGen, PhotoShop and others.It has a smart, responsive user interface and offers eCommerce, SEO, and social media sharing support out of the box.
5. NextGEN Gallery
Imagely’s NextGEN gallery for WordPress is the heavy duty photographer’s favorite. If you are a professional photographer selling your images online, then this is the gallery option for you. With over 27 million downloads, it even offers an automatic print fulfillment option alongside dozens of pro gallery templates and style options. This is probably the best pro option available at the moment for the dedicated WordPress users photography needs.
It’s important to ensure that your website is fully responsive as mobile device use is only going to increase in the coming months and years. Make sure your image and gallery displays are optimized to look their most beautiful, using one of these powerful responsive gallery solutions alongside speedy web hosting.
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