If you have encountered some freelance mistakes during your journey, don’t worry. Know that you are not alone and a lot of other freelancers are experiencing the same things as you are. However, to make things a little easier for you, this list will help you find out the mistakes you need to avoid in the future.

Back then, there was very little support for freelancers, simply because it was a concept that was new. Freelancers had to make their own mistakes and learn from them. But now, the freelancing community is growing and new freelancers are getting support and guidance that can make their journey easier. And what better way to learn than by learning from the mistakes of others?

15 Freelance Mistakes to Avoid

If you are new, you definitely need to check out some of the mistakes other freelancers have made. Even if you have been freelancing for a few months or even a year, there might still be some things you have yet to encounter. And the list below is still something you can learn from to improve as a freelancer:

1. Not Being Prepared

When you become a freelancer, there should be a period where you set everything up first. You need to prepare everything from your portfolio to your invoice template, right down to your contracts and your payment methods. These are the things you have to prepare even before you start looking for clients.

Some freelancers also do a good job by already having their branding intact and creating business profiles on social media. It is definitely a mistake to not have all of these preparations because they take time to make. If you ever start talking to a client and they start asking you for your proposal or portfolio, you should have these ready. Take too long to reply and you might lose your potential client.

2. Taking on Random Jobs

Whether you are scrambling for money or just going bored from not working, it is a freelance mistake to apply for and accept random jobs. It might be tough and you want to make ends meet but this is not a good start or a good process for your freelancing business. Being a freelancer, one of the best paths is to have a specialization or a niche. You stick to this and you can become successful easier as opposed to trying to handle jobs that you can do but you aren’t really passionate about.

For example, if you are a freelance artist and you specialize in animation, you stick to this. It can be tempting to accept short and abundant gigs like doing self-portraits or web designing. But if this isn’t really going to help you boost your animating skills, don’t force yourself to do it.

3. Thinking You Will Only Do Your Freelance Work

This is one of the most common freelance mistakes people make. If you are new to freelancing, you might expect that you only need to work on your job, for example, programming. But as a freelancer, you are going to do more than just programming. You have to talk to clients, you have to do admin work, you have to learn how to write proposals, you have to be your own accountant, and so on. Freelancing is pretty much running your own business and you are the only person in it.

4. Letting Work Eat Your Schedule

Now, this isn’t a mistake exclusive to freelancers, pretty much the entire workforce is guilty of this. A work-life balance is a must. Even if you have a ton of projects going on or working with an important client, nothing should be more important than your health. You have 24 hours in a day and not every waking hour should be allotted to working on your projects.

This is something freelancers commit, sometimes they are not even aware of it. You can get into a mood where you feel productive so you just keep working and working. In the end, you’ll get burnt out and your work will suffer, too. So do set aside time for other important things in your life, like socialization, exercise, and rest.

5. Not Realizing the Importance of Networking

Just because you are a one-person team doesn’t mean you are a lone wolf. The freelancing world has an amazing community and it helps to be a part of it. Networking is a must for freelancers because it’s an excellent way to learn new things, secure new jobs, and even find a freelancing support group. For example, if you have too much on your plate, you can find a fellow freelancer to take on some gigs for you. They can also do the same or ask you to collaborate with other projects.

6. Saying Yes to Everything

When you are new, saying yes to everything can be so easy, simply because it’s so hard to say no. But this is a freelance mistake as it can lead to burnout in the future. What’s more, you won’t have control over your clients and projects. When you are starting out, it’s hard to be picky, especially if you are running low on funds. Maybe, you are also eager to start working. But if you say yes to the very first opportunity and every other opportunity after that, you’ll have nothing left for yourself.

It’s important to filter your clients and your work. That’s one of the best things about freelancing, you have a choice. This isn’t like the corporate world where you get stuck with a client and you can’t do anything about it. As a freelancer, you can pick out your clients the same way clients can pick out freelancers. Don’t say yes to everything, say yes to projects and clients that can help you grow.

7. Not Utilizing Freelancing Software

Freelancers of today are way luckier as they have more resources. And not using these available tools is one of the major freelance mistakes. Kosmo is an online freelancing app that can pretty much cover your admin duties. It allows you to list your clients and projects all in one place. It even has tools for invoicing, templates for contracts and proposals, and even a time tracker to keep you in check.

Utilizing this handy app can definitely help you get organized with your freelancing journey. It can make your life easier and you can focus more on your actual work instead of worrying about billing your clients wrong or keeping your documents organized.

8. Going Too High or Too Low on Rates

Rates as a freelancer can be very tricky, you don’t want to undersell or oversell yourself. The best thing to do is to go with the average or standard rates, especially if you are new to freelancing. When you go too low, clients may think something is wrong with your work, or that you can be taken advantage of. And if you go too high, no one will book you or the client will have too many expectations.

9. Not Doing the Math

Aside from your rates, you also need to figure out if you are actually making a profit. You have to do the math and figure out if you will actually earn enough money from a project. Because you do need to survive and make a living. Make sure that the money you earn can cover your expenses while you work (think: electricity bill, coffee shop receipt, etc.) and also you get a little extra in the end.

10. Focusing on One Client (Without a Contract)

As a freelancer, you need to learn to juggle clients. But in some cases, you might find yourself working for just one. When this happens, make sure that you have a contract. Or else, you might end up with nothing. The client can pull out anytime and not pay you.

11. Forgetting to Learn or Improve

Freelancing mistakes are not just about the actual work or dealing with clients. It’s also about yourself and your self-improvement. When you are a freelancer, it’s very common to get stuck in a cycle or loop of work. You get a new client, finish your deliverables, get paid, and repeat. It’s important to allot time to learn new skills or improve on your specialization.

This isn’t just for your well-being. Staying current with the trends of your industry is a plus for some clients. It can be your edge over your competitors.

12. Not Checking Out the Competition

There are thousands of freelancers who are in the same industry as you. So, how can you possibly get picked by a client when there are so many choices? Freelance mistakes also include competitors. You need to check what’s new with other freelancers in your industry. Are they charging more? Do they start offering packages? How much are their rates? Do they have new training?

Getting information about your competitors can also be a way to improve yourself. It can also show you maybe you need to change up your rates, enhance your branding, or start offering better services.

13. Being Too Casual

Freelancing doesn’t mean you are free from the social interactions that are commonly found in the corporate world. It’s one of the major freelance mistakes: being too casual. You have to remain professional when talking to clients. This is still a job, you are not their bestie who is doing a favor. You are getting paid for this work.

14. Doing Work Whenever

Yes, freelancing may make you think of freedom. But you can’t really work whenever you feel like it. You should still have a system so that you don’t miss your deadlines. It’s also important to follow the work schedule of your client so you are available if ever they need you.

15. Not Trying

Finally, the worst of the freelance mistakes would have to be not trying. If you are new, you may be apprehensive to try applying for a job or trying to take on a project. Maybe you are scared of rejection? But if you don’t try, nothing will happen to you as a freelancer. You can’t succeed if you don’t try.

Conclusion

There are probably more freelance mistakes that you may encounter in the future but the important thing is that you learn from them. The freelancing industry can be challenging but it is with these challenges that you grow. Don’t be afraid of freelance mistakes, be more afraid of not giving yourself a chance to become a successful freelancer.

Post written by:

kosmo on October 15, 2022

Are you wondering what is the main action a writer takes when proofreading? If you are new to freelancing, you’ll soon find out it is a one-person team. It’s not like corporate jobs where you are a writer and you have a dedicated proofreader or editor who’ll help fix your work for you. No, as a freelance writer, you have to do everything on your own—and that includes proofreading.

No matter what type of writer you are and what industry you are in, (journalism, advertising, copywriting, scriptwriting, tech writing, social media, poetry, etc.) editing is a vital step. Maybe you are confused between editing and proofreading. The two are not the same, because proofreading falls under editing. Editing has a bigger and broader scope whereas proofreading has a more specific action.

So, What Is the Main Action a Writer Takes When Proofreading?

The short and simple answer is correcting mistakes. Maybe you are thinking, but isn’t that the same as editing? To make things clearer, a writer who is proofreading can only edit up to a certain extent, which will be explained further below.

Proofreading Corrections

To give you a better idea on what is the main action a writer takes when proofreading, below are the things you need to correct. Again, proofreading allows you to correct surface errors only. Anything beyond that is no longer on you. This is especially helpful if you take on a freelance job that requires you to proofread only, this way you don’t exert effort on something you’re not supposed to be doing.

1. Spelling Mistakes

It happens, spelling mistakes are very common, especially when you use a keyboard. Keys can get stuck, your fingers don’t really know which letters are being struck, and so on. Don’t be too hard on yourself, even if you know how to spell words correctly, it’s just tough to type—it’s called human error. But don’t worry, that’s what proofreading is for.

You can always, always spot spelling mistakes after it is written. And, let’s face it, not every word in the dictionary is known to everyone. However, you should be very cautious of commonly misspelled words. Because even if you are using Grammarly, it might not be able to correct every wrong spelling you make, especially if the word you mistakenly used is a real word. For example, you may want to say affect, but you wrote effect instead.

As a proofreader, you have to be able to spot these immediately. And sometimes, you can’t rely on auto-correct alone. What if you work on a project that requires you to write with pen and paper on the spot? You’re going to have to reread your work and rely on yourself to spot those spelling mistakes on your own.

2. Grammar Errors

Grammar errors are also very common among writers, and it’s not because you don’t know the rules of grammar. Sometimes, it just happens, especially if you are writing or typing away thoughts that go speeding through your mind.

Some of the most common grammar errors you need to watch out for are verb tenses. This can be quite confusing too, aside from the usual past, present, and future tenses, you have future continuous, present perfect continuous, etc.

You also need to be careful with subject-verb agreement, this can be very tricky, especially with a word that ends in the letter “s” but is technically not a plural word. So for example, the word news is singular, you can’t say, “The news are terrible.” It is your job as a proofreader to change it to “The news is terrible.”

3. Punctuation Problems

You would think that all you have to use is a period, a couple, of question marks, and an exclamation point here and there to survive writing. But you’ll be surprised that there are dozens more that you will encounter when you proofread. And, since other punctuation marks, like colons, semi-colons, hyphens, dashes, apostrophes, and ellipsis aren’t as common, they can be trickier to use.

It’s important for proofreaders to familiarize themselves with all of the punctuation marks and their usage. For example, when you are separating a thought in a sentence, what is the best punctuation mark to use? Is it an em dash, a comma, or a parenthesis?

4. Sentence Structure Flaws

Since writers tend to just type out words as their thoughts go along, sentence structure flaws pop up every now and then. Proofreaders must be able to catch these as these errors need to be corrected. A common sentence structure flaw is a fragment, which is an incomplete sentence. There is also dangling or misplaced modifier and run-on sentences, which a proofreader can even encounter in copywriting. For example, “Get teeth whitening Dr. John Doe is a certified cosmetic orthodontist.”

Proofreading Tips for Writers

With so many errors encountered, it’s no wonder a lot of writers experience imposter syndrome. However, know that this is the reason why proofreading exists. A writer, just like every other human, is not perfect. That’s why writing is a process and you don’t submit what you have written right away. Below are some tips to help you out with proofreading, especially when it is your own work:

Take a breather

Putting some distance between yourself and the article you have to proofread can do you a lot of good. If you keep reading the same thing over and over or if you start proofreading the minute you finish, you won’t be able to spot mistakes.

The best thing to do is to take a break, maybe about an hour. You can relax first or even switch to a different project so when you read the article again, it will seem like it’s new. Which is the easiest way to spot mistakes, when you read something for the very first time.

Get some help

If you can get a second pair of eyes that will be really helpful. Freelancing may require you to be a one-person team but that doesn’t mean you have to be a lone wolf. There are other freelance writers out there who may need proofreading themselves. You can ask your community or a trusted freelance friend to proofread for you and you can return the favor when they need it.

Thanks to modern technology, you can also get help from an AI writing assistant. Most word processing software and apps come with a tool that can spot your mistakes for you. Do take advantage of this feature but don’t rely on it 100%, you still have to proofread on your own, think of it as a safety net.

Print it or switch to screen

No matter how many times you read and reread your work on your screen, you’ll never be able to spot your mistakes. The technique here is to change your platform where you proofread. So, if it is on a screen, it’s time to print it out. Words will look different once it is on paper, so go ahead and grab your red pen to spot the mistakes.

Now, if you have written something on paper, it’s best to type it out on your computer. You’ll have an easier time seeing errors when you don’t see the words written in your handwriting. Maybe, you’ll even catch the mistakes as you type.

Conclusion

By now, you should have an excellent grasp on what is the main action a writer takes when proofreading. Being a freelance writer can be challenging as your task is not just to write. You also need to learn how to self-edit and proofread your own work. No one else will do it for you, or if someone else will do it, it comes with a price. So, it really is essential to learn what is the main action a writer takes when proofreading to make it as a freelancer.

Post written by:

kosmo on October 12, 2022

Yes, there are Google Forms freelancers that you should use. Forms are helpful tools for your business. Whether it is to review your product or service or to conduct a survey, these are easy methods to connect to your clients or get information from the public.

In the pre-digitalized world, businesses rely on surveys and polls conducted to the public to know their insights on products, services, or customer satisfaction. Survey forms are handed out in supermarkets, parks, and malls with agents patiently waiting for customers to finish answering (that is if a customer agrees to do the survey). Some even do one-on-one interviews or go house to house to get a review of their product. Yes, it is pretty exhaustive and time-consuming. It is also an expensive venture for a business as you have to pay for additional employees to do that. Still, they do this activity because the responses are crucial to product development and innovation.

Now fast-forward to today, here comes tech giant Google, with an easy and free application. Google Forms. As a freelancer, you should definitely take advantage of this technology, especially if you do not have a budget for paid software that offer the same services.

Google Forms 101

Google Forms is an online software developed to help users create surveys and questionnaires for free. All you need is a Google Account (which is also free), and you can easily access Google Forms through Google Drive. The app is very easy to use, with a basic step-by-step procedure. You will be provided with a basic template, but you can customize it if you want. You simply have to input your questions, and just like that, you have your form. There are different question types in Google Forms freelancers can use:

• Short Answer – Use this for questions that require short answers.
• Paragraph – If your question would need a longer answer.
• Multiple Choice – This provides a set of responses that limits the options and is easier to analyze.
• Checkbox – Options are also pre-determined, but responders can tick more than one answer.
• Dropdown – Similar to Multiple Choice, a dropdown menu is used instead of ticking a response.
• File Upload – Used when a file is needed as a response.
• Linear Scale – Commonly used in measuring the rating or preferences, like satisfaction ratings or level of difficulty using numerical values.
• Multiple Choice Grid – Also used to get ratings, but instead of numerical values, responders tick the choices given.
• Checkbox Grid – Just like Multiple Choice Grid but responders can choose multiple answers.
• Date – When your question requires a date as an answer.
• Time – When your answer requires a time as an answer.

You can send your forms to your target responders through email or share the link. Responses are automatically received in your Google Drive. It can then be analyzed or interpreted via Google Sheets. You can do this by simply choosing the Excel icon on the Responses page.

With the simplicity of use and great functionality of Google Forms, besides the benefit it brings to your business, it also improves the digital customer experience of your clients. Google Forms is mobile-friendly so your clients can easily access them even when they are on the go.

Google Forms Freelancer Can Create

1. Inquiry Form

More often than not, when clients want more information on your product or service, they either call you or send a message. This can take much of your time if you have to answer several calls in a day. Or, you may miss a call for inquiry if you are currently preoccupied with another task. Missing a call could mean missing a big gig opportunity.

One good feature of Google Forms is that you can set an automatic response once a responder has sent a form. You can set a reply that says you will get back at them, say, within the day. That way, you can schedule a particular time of the day when you check your Google Drive and send responses to all inquiries.

Another advantage of having an inquiry form is that you are creating a pool of clients with every inquiry you get. Just add contact information questions like name, email address, telephone number, or social media URLs in your questionnaire (using the short answer question type). So even if a gig did not push through, you now have a potential customer to send emails to for promotions or offers. So go add that inquiry form link to your website or social media pages.

2. Order Forms

One of the most common Google Forms freelancer use is for taking orders. This is a practical way to use the app. You can use the multiple choice or checkbox question type for this kind of form. By using an order form, you get to track all orders that correspond to the specific client ensuring the delivery of correct orders. With the pre-determined options you provide, you get the exact order. Less room for mistakes.

For example, if you are into jewelry making, you can already list down the types of jewelry you offer, and they can simply tick the ones they are ordering. Or, if you are into t-shirt designing, the options could be the sizes of shirts available and the quantity they are ordering. You can also add a file upload question where they can upload the design they want. Easy and simple, you get the orders in detail and have a way to double-check before delivery.

3. Feedback

As a freelancer, whether you are just starting or have already reached a certain career level, it is important that you get your client’s feedback. Their reaction and insight on your product or service, and this could not be stressed enough—can make or break your business. You can use either the linear scale question type (i.e., on a scale of 1-5, with five being most satisfied, how satisfied are you with the product) or the multiple choice grid to see the customer satisfaction rate.

Aside from getting valuable feedback from clients, you can also get their suggestions on how to improve or, on a positive note, know what they liked best in your product.

The analysis feature of Google Forms can show you your weaknesses and strengths. This is beneficial to your business as it provides first-hand evaluations from people who actually experienced your product or service. You do not need to guess anymore about what you need to improve on or what is the best thing you can offer to the market. So, yes, always send a feedback form after each and every gig you finish.

4. Survey Forms

One advantage of a survey form is that you wouldn’t need to start on a venture blindly. If you are about to start a business, you can conduct a survey to make sure you will do well in the market. For example, if you are a wedding photographer, you can do a survey on what kind of photography packages couples are willing to spend on. Or, if you are a graphic artist, you can do a survey on what materials the businesses in your community are looking for. Then you can focus your business on the survey results.

Yes, Take Advantage

So you see, using Google Forms is very practical for your business. You can create different forms for whatever purpose you need. It is so simple to use and provides analysis. Google has integrated all the applications you will need. And the best thing of all, it’s free! So there is no doubt that you should explore and get to know Google Forms freelancers like you should take advantage of!

Post written by:

kosmo on October 11, 2022

Are you about to venture into a new business and want to know how to start an animation studio? If your heart and mind are set on entering the market, then you are on the right track. Animation has been a strong industry leader and is projected to continue growing. With tons of resources and technology available and high demand for the craft, you can definitely say that you have chosen the right industry to invest in.

As an animator, starting your own studio can be challenging. You have the creativity and skill to produce sellable works, and now, you must also have the passion and courage to start the business. Don’t worry; with the proper guides and tips, you can do this!

How to Start an Animation Studio: The Checklist

Having an animation studio does not only mean getting a physical place—a “studio.” Starting an animation studio means creating your career, your name, and your business. It means establishing yourself as one of the industry experts. Sounds good to hear, right? So check out the step-by-step guide on how to start an animation studio:

Step 1: Know The Industry

Before anything else, you should learn and understand the animation industry. Know how it works.

Have you worked in an animation company before? Do you know how an animation business runs? If you are already familiar with the industry, then good for you. Starting up the business will be less challenging. Having a background and hands-on experience in the industry is surely a bonus. Knowing the system, technology, and client behavior will make the process very easy and familiar like it’s the back of your hand.

Have you ever been inside an animation studio? You should know what it feels like inside. The space each team member needs to work in comfortably, who the key players are, the necessary equipment and software, the room temperature vital to the machines, and the lighting in the room—you need to know these.

Know how much time a project needs to be completed. Learn the quirks of both animators and clients. Understand the market. Remember that you cannot go into a huge business like animation if you are not familiar with the industry. Why do you need this familiarity? Because first and foremost, you need to know how much capital is needed to start the studio. You have to be ready with the resources: the money, the technology, and the people.

Step 2: Decide on an Expertise

There are different types of animations, as you would know. And with all the animation studios and other freelance animators out there, you need to find your niche so you know where to excel and stand out. Remember, clients do not go with the first animator they find. Instead, what they look for is the best producer in the market because they want their money’s worth.

Knowing the type of animation you would focus on will also determine the team of animators, equipment type, and software that you will invest in. Of course, you can still do other animation jobs, but your money-maker is your animation expertise. For instance, you intend to be known for 3D animation. 3D animation works will then be your major project. But you can also accept small gigs in 2D animation or stop motion.

It would be best if you also familiarize yourself with where animations are used. Animations are common in explainer videos and corporation materials. The marketing and advertising industries are also heavy on animation requirements. And, of course, there are full-length and short films.

This is where your knowledge of the industry will come in handy. Before deciding on your target specialization and market, know what’s in demand, see the market value, understand the audience, and know the craft. This way, you can start strong in the right direction.

Step 3: To Team or Not to Team

You have to decide whether you will build a team or not. Now that you are learning to know how to start an animation studio, you need to determine if you can do it all on your own. If you have limited funds, it might be best to start smart and do it yourself first. Then, see how your business will progress and take it from there.

If you are going solo, starting may be trickier. Remember that you will have to do everything by yourself. You are drawing the elements and layouts, doing music production, and the actual animation. Not to mention the client management, marketing, and admin duties. Truly, you will be wearing a lot of hats. So, set your expectations. You will definitely be doing fewer projects because it will take more time to complete with only you working on them.

However, if you have enough budget and want to hire people, why not? Just remember that in building a team, there are many things to consider too. Will they be a partner? Meaning they will invest with you and have a share of profit and a say in every decision? Will they be purely employees?

When building a team, think not only of getting the coolest animators but the best fit for the entire group. While getting animators with different specializations may be practical, you have to consider the group dynamics too. Remember that these people will be working together on visual arts projects, and one common problem is when creative people have different styles and opinions. So be careful when building your team.

Basically, this is the step where you decide on how small or big your business will be. During this time, you will know if you need a big studio space for working with a team. Or if you can work in an area at your home since you are not yet expanding your business.

This is also where your equipment and software requirements rely on. Of course, if there will be more than one person working, you will need more equipment and software as compared to if you are alone.

Step 4: Brand Name

Now, this is exciting. As a creative person, this is where you will have the most fun. What will be your studio’s name? Have a list of your choices. If you have a business partner, you can work on this together. As you go through your list, think of a logo for it and maybe a tagline. Remember that this name will be your brand. This name will appear in all your works, letterhead, invoices, and calling cards. It will be prominent on your website and social media pages. So take time in choosing your animation studio name. And it should be catchy and unique.

Step 5: The Business Plan

Now that you have established the basics for your studio, the next thing you do is make your business plan. This is important whether you are doing it solo or starting with a team. Do not be scared of how formal this sounds. This is, plain and simple, your roadmap. Think of it as your ultimate guide to success. Yes, your map to success! So what are the basic components of your roadmap?

• Concept: Going solo or jumping in with a team? What is your specialization? Describe your business. A sample concept may be like this: A startup animation studio specializing in traditional animation for marketing and advertising.
• Finances: How much is your capital? How much are you willing to invest? You can list down your estimated expenses here, such as business registration fees, equipment, and gadgets, software, rentals, if any, salaries, and so on.
• Legal: Write down the legalities for the business. Registrations and permits, contracts needed, royalties to be paid, if any, etc. Know the tax implications of your animation studio too.
• Marketing Plan: List down job opportunities available to you and how you intend to drive your business in the market. Do you already have a client pool or a list of potential clients? Will you use job boards and social media platforms? Explore ways how to land clients.
• Goal: Set your goal. Will your goal be profit-centered, like, earning this much in two years? Or will your goal be like being the most sought-after animation studio?

Having a roadmap will keep you on track at all times.

Step 6: Legalize It

You now have a solid plan and doable plan. It is time to register your studio. Know the necessary business registrations and permits to establish a legitimate business. Do not forget to visit your intellectual property rights office to know how your logo could be protected!

Step 7: Demo Time

While waiting on the paperwork, set up your studio space and equipment. Then go and start creating your portfolio. Make demo reels. If you are working with a team, start on tasking delegations and try it out with a sample project to see if there is anything you need to work on. See your chemistry and how you harmonize your work.

If you are doing this on your own, time your work process. Make a demo reel and see how long it would take you. This can be your standard production time. This is also the best time to see if there is any more software you need or configurations in your equipment that you have to do. It’s like having a dry run. Get a feel of what it’s going to be like when projects start coming in.

Step 8: Have Online Presence

Create your website. Set up your social media pages. Maximize the online platforms available to you. This is where you can showcase your work and post your portfolio.

The best marketing tool in this generation is online presence. Every client will be looking for producers online because it is easy and efficient. That said, make sure you are available to answer queries through calls or messages. Have a professional email address too, separate from your personal one. Be available online at all times possible. Be available to potential clients.

Step 9: Admin Matters

Yes, your administrative duties matter. You cannot simply focus on animation alone. This is a business, after all. Keep in mind that there are tasks like sending proposals and signing contracts. You also need to generate invoices and track payments. You need a record of all your documents too.

So how are you going to attend to admin concerns? Invest in a complete project management software like Kosmo. Project management programs offer proposal and contract templates, time-tracking, invoice issuances, and payment modes. With time-consuming work like animating, you might get caught up with projects and fail to do other tasks like drafting your contract for a client or tracking payments. So make sure that you have a good project management software.

As you venture into this new and exciting business, administrative duties should be the least of your worries. Resources are available, so make use of them.

The Grand Launch

Congratulations! You now have an animation studio! Make this an event to remember. One for the books! No matter what your budget is, there is always a way to create a buzz with your launch.

This step-by-step guide provides you with a strong and sound way on how to start an animation studio. You will be okay. Now go have a blast with your new business!

Post written by:

kosmo on October 10, 2022

Every freelancer knows that the trick to the trade is knowing what software freelancers and coaches use to help manage their business more efficiently. Running a business single-handedly is not an easy task. Yes, you may be enjoying the perks of being your own boss, but remember, you are also the secretary, the accountant, the purchaser, and the messenger!

Juggling multiple roles and tasks is tricky. Imagine forgetting to go to a meeting because you are at a supplier’s store buying materials for a project. That would be absolutely stressful. So if you do not have the budget to hire an assistant, or simply do not want to, keep in mind that there are software and apps that can help you make your life easier.

Software Freelancers and Coaches Must Have

One of the struggles of being an all-around professional is having a good productivity rate. Having a high productivity rate means your product is equal to the number of hours you spend on the project. So good productivity rate means you are managing your time and resources appropriately. It is not very inspiring if you spent so much time and energy on a project and earn very little from it.

While a high productivity rate sounds good to the ear business-wise, it also means you are more likely to be less stressed and are actually on the right track. If you want to land high-paying clients and big projects, know how to balance your time and resources properly.

So how do you balance your time and resources? How do you make sure you are not at your witts end in finishing a gig? It’s simple, actually. Have the right tools. There are software freelancers and coaches can use which are even available for all devices. You can have these on your desktop computers, tablets, and even smartphones.

Some software is free, while others require fees for opening an account. Others are free to use but have additional charges for specific services. There are a ton of options, and to help you out, here’s a list of must-have software freelancers and coaches should know about:

1. Productivity Software

Productivity software streamlines all the essential elements as you go along with your project. These basically help you run your business without missing the tiny details and small tasks. Productivity software may be used by an individual so you wouldn’t have to handle several things at once. IFTTT, for instance, may be used to put together all social media apps so you don’t have to manage this one by one. Software like Notion, on the other hand, is designed for team collaboration so you can always check on each others’ progress. There are different types of productivity software:

a. Time Management

Admit it; keeping track of several appointments and schedules is hard. Most especially if this is not the only thing on your mind. For example, you may be focused on finishing a layout that you missed a scheduled meeting. This sadly happens to everybody.

If you do not manage your time wisely, you will end up definitely missing an appointment or, worse, double-booking a meeting. You do not need this anxiety. What you need is a smart digital secretary. And that is why apps and software like Calendly exist. For time management apps and software, you simply need to input your appointments, meetings, and other activities. Alarms are usually set to make sure you are alerted of an upcoming schedule.

Time management software does not only help you with appointment setting, these also have a things-to-do list and reminders alert features. You wouldn’t miss sending a birthday greeting to your mother anymore when using time management apps.

Here’s a list of some online scheduling apps and software you can explore:

• Calendly
• Sprintful
• Vocus.io
• Rize
• 135List

b. Academic and Research

One of the more important software freelancers and coaches use are those that help in their research and documents. As a writer, you may want to have plagiarism detection software and Grammarly, just to be safe. There are online testing tools that support coaches and health professionals. You can also utilize online hubs that collect journals and research papers.

A simple software like Pocket, which allows you to store articles for later reading is convenient, especially if you do not have time to read at the moment. Blinkist, on the other hand, is an app that you can use if you want to listen to books and podcast discussions while walking or driving.

Some software and apps used for academic and research purposes aside from Grammarly, Pocket, and Blinkist:

• PlagiarismDetector.net
• Hello Audio
• Remente
• Reedsy Book Editor
• Evernote

c. Accounting and Finance

And then there’s math. With all the things you have to juggle, you should not let poor bookkeeping or delayed payment collection get in your way. Having software that provides accounting and finance-related features like invoicing and payment portals is a must.

When tax season comes, you do not want to be burdened by mountains of paperwork. You wouldn’t want to spend hours balancing a year’s worth of income or lose your mind looking for a missing transaction invoice. Bear in mind that your records are very important, and there are software and apps that can help you manage your finances. Check out some of your options:

• QuickBooks Online
• Wave
• Quaderno
• Zoho Books
• Odoo

d. Project Management

If you want all of the above features in one complete package, get a project management software like Kosmo. Project management software combines all the important business aspects, from creating proposals to appointment setting to sending out invoices. Look for platforms that also allow receiving of payments through various payment options. Clients appreciate fully digitalized transactions.

Some, if not most of these platforms not only have the necessary technical features but also offer customizations. For example, you can create templated invoices or add your logo and digital signature to your invoices.

Think of it as your own digital team of admin support. As a freelancer who does not have a team to delegate tasks to, a complete project management software will do the trick. What’s more is that in having a complete project management software, you wouldn’t have to switch to different apps to stay on top of your projects. Everything you need is just a click away, without leaving the platform. Isn’t that convenient?

These are practically the most effective software freelancers and coaches can use.

If you take an in-depth look at project management software and apps, you will realize that besides their very functional features, they will also help you keep your sanity. With project management apps doing the admin work for you, you can have more time to focus on your product. Or have time to take breaks. Or sleep-in.

Other than Kosmo, there are other project management software you can check out:

• ClickUp
• Trello
• monday.com
• Jira Software
• Asana

e. Industry Specific Software

There are software and apps that are specific to certain types of fields. There are photo editing software for photographers, digital design programs for architects like AutoCAD, and even music writing and scoring software like Sibelius First. For life coaching professions, apps like Quenza are very helpful.

Some other examples of industry-specific software are:

• Lightroom for photographers
• CATIA for engineers
• Audacity for music producers
• Pinlearn for online tutors
• Sketch Up for 3D rendering

2. Designer Tools

Whether you are a creative expert or not, designer tools like Canva and, of course, the Adobe Creative Suite will help you in your business. In starting your career, you may want a logo, right? Or maybe have a digital signature. Designer tools will help you brand your works. Visual arts software usually also include photo and video editing features that you can use to create ads, posters, and other marketing materials. Some even offer royalty-free photos, and audio and video clips.

At any stage of your gig, you will need to make a presentation, right? Whether it’s a sales pitch or a status report, you will need a creative software to help you produce a good material. If you want to record a speech or discussion that you need to show to multiple clients, these types of apps and software will come in handy. What makes these apps even better is that they have made these user-friendly. You simply drag and drop the elements you want, and presto, you’ve made an amazing calling card!

Software like Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite are also available:

• Visme
• Design Wizard
• Snappa
• Doodly
• Crello

3. Buy and Sell Software

Commonly known as job boards, software that serve as an online marketplace for freelancers and coaches is very useful. Many clients go to job boards to search for specific services and products. It is an additional platform for you to market your gig, and these are usually free to use, so why not use it, right?

Many, many years ago, people with specific skill sets posted their services and goods on community bulletin boards or got out to the streets handing out flyers. Nowadays, thanks to the rapid development in technology, you can place your ads and profiles on these job boards in the comfort of your own home, in a coffee shop, or aboard a plane.

Job Sites or Online Marketplaces online :

• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• Glassdoor
• Monster
• Fiverr

If you want good market reach for your service or product, of course, social media is always the best platform. Buffer is an example of a social media marketing app that helps you build an audience within your target market. It analyzes and schedule materials you want to be shared across various social media apps.

If you are willing to do cold emailing, Hunter.io can be helpful for you. Hunter.io is an email hunter that helps you find contacts and potential clients that may be relevant to your field of service.

4. Communications

The secret to building good relationships with your suppliers and clients is having excellent communication. As a freelancer, you definitely rely on digital forms of communication for easy and quick exchange. Emailing is a popular form of communication, but sometimes, we do miss specific important emails or mistakenly send out one. A software like Boomerang is helpful in these situations as it helps schedule emails and track responses.

Of course, what are other better ways to communicate to clients than to be able to speak to them? The problem with email is the exchange usually takes time. Well, video calls are here. It is faster and more efficient. Zoom, for example, has a lot of great features like file sharing through its chat feature, screen-sharing so you can easily present and discuss projects, and even record conversations. Just remember to be mindful of what your mic and camera may pick up in the background during your meetings.

Another must-have software freelancers and coaches may use are client-reporting tools. Some clients want to be updated every now and then, with details explained to them as the project develops. Filestage and Hightail are some examples of review and approval platforms. Through these software, clients can receive files and send feedback on your projects.

Other software that can help improve communication:

• Microsoft Teams
• Skype
• Slack
• Webex
• Google Workspace

Conclusion

The advancements in technology are definitely doing the gig economy a favor. Aside from having the gadgets and devices to help you run your business, software and apps are being developed by the minute. Shifting to digitalization is convenient and practical. Imagine if you have to depend on hard copies of each and every paperwork and document for your business. Imagine if you lose a document? Or your pet ate it?

As a freelancer or coach, you are presented with many, many software options. There are actually so many that it is hard to choose the perfect one for you. Yes, the list goes on and on, with features and offers getting more and more better. Use these to your advantage. These software freelancers and coaches must-haves are definitely your lifesavers.

Post written by:

kosmo on October 5, 2022