by Samuel Gitukui

Statistics show that over 2.5 billion people around the world use social media. It has become an integral part of daily life and businesses now tailor their marketing efforts to reach out to customers through social media.

This is all well and good until you realize that there are over 3.7 billion people using email. That alone should tell the savvy entrepreneur that email is still a force to be reckoned with in this time and age. Simply put email still outperforms social media and is going nowhere.

It follows then that business people should be able to create marketing campaigns that not only make use of email but still appeal to the social media generation. People do not like canned emails so you should aim to create personalized messages designed to fulfil the needs of the individual.

And this is how to do it.

1.      Make use of trigger emails

Did you know that an email is far more likely to be read if it is expected? If you just send random emails to your potential customers, they might view this as just another promotional message and ignore it.

However, for customers who register with your website and then receive a welcoming email telling them how they can benefit from your website and how to make a purchase, then this is more likely to be taken positively by the customer.
Another example is when a customer has started a search but never quite completed. You could send a reminder email asking them to complete their search.

2.      tag customers for follow up emails

It is all good to get customers to register with you for the first time but you could also lose a significant portion of these potential customers by just sending them a welcome email and not following up on them.

It is highly important that you tag your customers for follow up emails. This helps nurture that business relationship. You could send a follow up email asking, “how was that item that you bought working for you?” or something like, “we have noticed you bought this item last time, check out this other item that you can use with the first item.”

Such reminder and reengaging emails help to keep the business vivid in the minds of potential customers. In case they want to make a purchase it your business that they will think of first.

3.      Make the words count

It is not so much the email as how it is written that really engages the customer. You want to steer away from using long texts, tiny fonts or any other thing that could make it hard for the customer to read.

Instead the words should be sweet, short and simple. The font should be medium sized to large, easy to read and the images should also be less complicated.

Think of that time you received a long email. Did you really want to spend the time going through all that text?

by Samuel Gitukui

Social media is a great tool for marketing one which many businesses have recognized and embraced. It offers a more immediate and personalized way to connect to potential clients. This begs the question, are we seeing a decline in email marketing?

The short and simple, answer is no. In fact, email marketing has resulted in an increase in the number of emails sent each year. However, something to keep in mind is that your business is in competition with many other businesses trying to target the same market. This means that you should send emails that are going to stand out and catch the readers attention in seconds.

This is how.

1.      Start off with a good list

You need to make sure that the people in your email list are actually interested in your emails. Otherwise what would be the point of sending messages to someone who is not interested in them? They will have absolutely no effect and will end up being deleted.

One of the ways you can do this is to check the opening rate. According to data, emails have a 25% opening rate so if yours is below this, then you should consider that you may have a stale lust.

2.      Try something different

If your email marketing doesn’t have a good opening rate then you will want to try something different to grab the interest of the contacts in your emailing list. This could be offering promotions, sending something entertaining, and basically just doing things different.

It gets tempting to hold on to contacts that remain unresponsive and it can sometimes be the hardest thing to get rid of unresponsive contacts but one thing to always keep in mind is that for you to truly reap the benefits, you would need to send emails to people who actually want to read messages.

3.      Using Images

The first thing that you want to do when using imagery is to source them from a stock photo website. After all you are trying to impress your prospective clients with high quality content, right?

However even while the emails you send should high quality, that doesn’t mean that you need to get professional photos. In fact, it could be harder for your prospect to engage with you as the message looks too promotional.

On the other hand, if you were to use your own real images from Facebook or Instagram for example, this would resonate more with the customers.

4.      Keep things simple

The last thing you want to do with sending emails is to use corporate jargon and complicated buzzwords. People do not want to spend their time trying to decipher what the email actually means. Instead, keep the language short and simple and assume you are talking to your friend.

When the reader goes through the email, he or she will find it much easier to engage with you and will actually spend time reading what it says on the email.

by Summer Worsley

Freedom of the press is all very well. However, as anyone serious about writing content fit for public consumption knows, there is some conforming to the norm. One of the key sources guiding publications and writers around the world is, of course, the Associated Press Stylebook.
 
The electronic version is kept current with any changes and updated regularly. The hardcopy edition is revised annually, with a new edition due for release at the end of May 2019.
 
Some of the most significant changes to this year’s AP Stylebook include:
 
Split Infinitives Are Now Acceptable
 
The force is now with us, and split infinitives are okay after all. An oft-quoted example of a split infinitive is Star Wars’ opening statement. Captain Kirk's attestation “To boldly go where no man has gone before” was previously an AP no-go. The split is the insertion of the word “boldly” between the infinitive “to go”. This type of construction is now acceptable to the AP to convey meaning and add clarity.

Their use is, of course, nothing new. As historical events often are, the utilization of split infinitives has been cyclical. They were okay in Old English or Anglo Saxon times, but not so much in Shakespeare's time. The arrival of prescriptivist grammar manuals in the late 16th century deemed split infinitives incorrect. This was, in large part, because these grammars were based on Latin rules.

Many writers have been gleefully splitting infinitives again for years. The AP Stylebook has just caught up with others on the infinitive frontier.
 
% Not Percent
 
How many times out of one hundred do editors correct the use of % to percent (US) or per cent (UK)? Quite often, in fact. But the AP Stylebook change for 2019 has made it simple: If you’re using numerals, you can just use the % symbol. Odds are that 99.9% of people will find that quicker, easier, and more intuitive than the writing out 99.9 per cent in full.
 
Suspensive Hyphenation              
 
Do you inhale deeply at the thought of how and when to hyphenate? Let alone figuring out the use of suspensive hyphenation? Good news, you can exhale that deep breath. The 2019 AP Stylebook has expanded advice on how to hyphenate.
 
Suspensive hyphens cut down the number of words needed in a sentence with similar elements or multiple compound modifiers. For example, the difference in the interest you may spend between 15-, 20- or 30-year mortgages. Compared to the differences you may spend between 15-year, 20-year, or 30-year mortgages.
 
With hyphenation in general, the 2019 AP Stylebook has moved with the notion that less is best. Feel free to take them out of any prefixes with double-e combinations. Rework re-establish as reestablish. If you want to bring back a dedicated worker you can reemploy them rather than re-employ them.
 
If the meaning of previously hyphenated words is clear without the hyphen, whip it out. A third-grade teacher is still clearly a third grade teacher without the hyphen. Likewise, a chocolate chip cookie remains unambiguous without a hyphen.

The Stylebook also removes hyphens used to fill the gap between anyone who identifies with one or more cultural or ethnic origins.  There is no need to hyphenate Americans of dual heritage whether African American, Hispanic American, Chinese American or Japanese American. Likewise American Indians and Native Americans. These two, however, are only to be used in general terms. When referring to individual people or groups, reference specific tribal affiliations.
 
The Terms Racism and Racist
 
The guide introduces new guidance on how to stay neutral and unbiased when it comes to reporting or writing about anything related to race. Thoughtful writing showing consideration and understanding of diversity is recommended. There is guidance on avoiding euphemisms such as “racially charged” or “racially motivated.”  Only use racial identifiers when relevant.
 
It also takes a stand on calling out and naming racism for what it is. A new entry on racism states: “The terms racism and racist can be used in broad references or in quotations to describe the hatred of a race or assertion of the superiority of one race over others.”
 
The AP Style Guide and Its Impact
 
The Associated Press Stylebook has been in use by journalists and writers of all kinds for decades. First released to media journalists in the 1950s, it’s been available for the public to purchase since the 1970s.
 
The AP Stylebook isn’t just a guide to grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The publication aims to help writers and editors produce accurate, neutral, and ethically written content. The overall guidance also informs writers on how to produce writing in a consistent style so that different audiences can readily digest and understand the content.
 
It doesn’t matter which topic you’re writing about, chances are the compilers of the AP Stylebook have considered it. The Stylebook gives in-depth guidance on how to write across social, economic, and political aspects within many topics. Want to know what legalised marijuana dispensary employees should be called? (It's budtenders).
 
The AP Stylebook is available in hardcopy and electronic versions for phones, computers, and tablets. If you want to go a step further, there's the StyleGuard app to check if you've applied the principles and parameters.
 
To help keep your text in order, check out the options for the updated 2019 AP Stylebook in hardcopy or the electronic version. Or, if you’d like to keep your eyes on the bigger picture and let others worry about hyphens, infinitives, and other niggly grammatical concerns, get in touch with us today.  

by Samuel Gitukui

Every one of us especially in the corporate world receives a sheer number of emails every day. It is a common way of communication and may people will spend a considerable amount of their time in the office reading and replying to emails.

But the high number of emails that require your attention has caused many to lack a good understanding of how to make proper replies. It’s absolutely paramount that you use a professional tone when replaying to emails.

Here are some of the email etiquette rules to always follow when writing your emails.

1.      Use the right subject line

The subject line is the first thing people look at when they get your email and it follows then that it should be clear, concise and direct. For example, if you are changing the date for a meeting, you can write, “Changed Meeting Date”.
In fact, people will decide whether to read the email based on the subject line alone.

2.      Make sure that your email address is professional

One of the things that you need to ensure is that your email address appears professional. If you are working for a particular company then you need to use the company’s email address.

On the other hand, if you are self-employed, you can use your email address but always make sure it is professional. You don’t want to be sending emails with an address that looks like beerlover@, or babyboy@...

3.      Salutations should be professional

Many people often use the wrong salutations when writing business emails. It is certainly not correct thing to do to use salutations such a “Yo”, “Hey you guys” or “what’s up guys”. Instead use more professional salutations such as Hi or Hello.

Another thing to always keep in mind is to never shorten the name of the recipient. For example, if you are sending an email to Michael, it’s improper to say, “hi Mike”.

4.      Don’t over use exclamation marks

Yet another thing to always note is when using exclamation marks. Some people may want to express their level of excitement and use a number of exclamation marks after a sentence to display their high excitement.

However, this takes away the professional feel and tone of the email. Just one exclamation mark is enough.

5.      Try and avoid humor

When writing professional emails, you want to avoid adding humor to your text as this could be interpreted the wrong way by the recipient.

And in cases where you know the recipient well, ensure that you are not doubtful as to how they will receive the humor. If you are in doubt, avoid humor even if you know the recipient well.

6.      Take note of the recipient’s background and culture

The same message can be interpreted differently by people from different cultures as the communication is always different. When writing a professional email, always ensure that you are aware of the recipients’ culture and background to make sure that they do not end up being offended and that they receive the email well.

by Archu Dhamija

Benefits of Using Local Language Translation Services for Businesses

In order to grow further, businesses need to tap new markets in various parts of the world. But to attract customers in these new markets towards their products and services and to engage them, businesses need to communicate with them in their own language. By translating their company documentation, website and various other online and offline marketing materials into the language of their target audience, local language translation services can enable businesses to better communicate with their clients and customers. Thus they can influence the clients to do business with them and motivate customers to purchase their products or services. This will help to boost their profits, grow their business and take their success to the next level.

​1. Provides high quality, accurate and relevant translation

A local language translation service has got knowledgeable and skilled language experts who are well versed in the language of the local population. They have knowledge about the grammar, words, metaphors, presuppositions, slangs, phrases, idioms and other elements of the language. So they will correctly translate a business’s marketing materials like website, flyers, brochures, etc. originally written in English into the local language which will appeal to the customers. So they will be able to relate with the business and will be eager to purchase its products or hire its services.

Also, the service’s language experts will accurately translate a business’s legal documents in English into the language of the target audience. Without correct translation of its legal documents, the business may get caught up in legal issues which may take a toll on its finances and damage its reputation among its customers and clients.

2. Delivers fast and efficient translation services

Businesses not only need to get their documents and marketing materials translated correctly, but they also want them to be translated in a fast and timely manner. A professional language translation service has got dedicated language experts. They are punctual in meeting deadlines and will deliver the translated documents to businesses on time. So businesses can timely share them with their local clients for their further action.

3. Meets bulk translation requirements

After their entry into a new market, businesses will work to capture customers’ attention in a particular city or area. After attaining success in this objective of theirs, businesses will try to attract customers in the nearby cities or areas. For this,  businesses need to get translated an increased number of online marketing materials like blogs, landing pages, newsletters as well as offline marketing materials like letterheads, postcards, banners, etc. So their translation requirements will increase manifold. A translation service has got enough resources to meet their increased and bulk translation requirements. If the service operates on a smaller scale, it can network with other translation services and their translation experts to meet increased translation demands of businesses.

4. Maintains consistent language style and tone

While getting its various marketing materials like blogs, brochures, banners, etc. translated into the local language, a business needs to ensure that all its translated materials have a consistent style and tone of its voice. So the local audience does not get confused and they can understand that the message in these materials is being propagated by the same business.

5. Makes customers emotionally connect with a business

Translating business documents and marketing materials from English to local language is not just about translating them correctly. Also, the language of the translation has to be such that it makes the customers feel that a given business is not an inanimate thing, but is a human just like them. Such a language will make the customers emotionally connect with the business which is so important for its success. Language experts of a professional local language translation service have the ability to translate a business’s message into this kind of language. This will help the business in gaining acceptance among the local customers. Also, the customers can better relate with the business.

6. Enables businesses to provide improved customer support

When a business is offering its products or services to customers in a new market, it needs to provide better and fast customer support for addressing issues and problems faced by the customers as they use its products or services. Translation services help businesses clearly understand concerns and issues faced by their customers and let businesses provide fast necessary instructions and guidance to their customers in their own language. So they are able to win the customers’ trust and retain their loyalty.

7. Makes a business’s message reach a wider audience

Though English is the most commonly spoken language over the world, but there is still a huge population which does not speak English. Local language translation services help businesses take their message to a large non-English speaking population of the world by translating their business documents and marketing materials into the local language. Their translation expertise enables businesses to reach a wider global audience and lets them influence the audience to become their followers and customers. This in turn helps to improve their profitability and ROI.

8. Helps businesses in getting ranked higher in local search engine result pages

While translating a business’s website content, blogs, articles and its other online marketing content pieces, translation experts of a professional translation service will exactly use those keywords in the content which local customers type on the internet for finding products or services they need. The presence of these keywords in its content will make the business get ranked higher among the local search engine results. So local customers will be able to find the business on the internet when they surf for the products they need. This will make them believe in its credibility and influence them to purchase its products.

9. Provides tailored services

Every business has got different needs and requirements. A professional language translation service provides businesses tailor made services in accordance to their specific needs and requirements.

10. Meets technical translation requirements of different kinds of businesses

As a language translation service has to translate technical content for Information Technology, healthcare, law and other kinds of businesses, it needs to acquire knowledge about technical terms used in the respective business fields. To gain knowledge about these terms, the service’s language specialists will not only consult the internet and books, but will also meet IT experts, doctors, lawyers and other experts, so as to ensure the accuracy and quality of the translation done by them. So businesses hiring a professional translation service for translation of their documents and marketing materials can feel assured about the accuracy and quality of the translated content provided by the service.

11. Follows latest technological trends and changes in language conventions and cultural contexts

The expert translators of a language translation service keep themselves updated with the latest technological trends and any changes occurring in the language conventions and cultural contexts. They will cover these trends and changes when translating a business’s content from English to the local language if these are relevant to the content. Moreover, its translators will keep on working for their professional development which will reflect in the quality of their work.

12. Enables businesses to focus on their core tasks

Local language translation services save businesses from devoting their precious time and resources towards translating their business documents and marketing materials. As a language translation service will take care of translating its documents and marketing materials, the business need not bother about translating them itself. So it will become free to devote its attention, energy and resources towards growing its business and generating more income and revenue.

13. Promotes business expansion

Businesses who want to expand their base into new markets will be greatly benefitted by utilizing expertise of local language translation services. By translating its business documents and online and offline marketing materials into the local language, a language translation service will enable a business to better connect with the local audience. The business can better engage them and capture their attention towards its products or services and motivate them to purchase the products. With an increased number of local customers buying its products will enable the business to boost its growth and profits. It will be able to beat its competitors. Thus, the business will be able to achieve its specific goals and take it success to the next level.
​
In view of the various above stated benefits, businesses keen to expand into new markets should avail services of local language translation companies. These will ultimately help to improve their profitability and ROI. Witinall is a leading and trustworthy German to English translation service. By performing accurate and efficient translation of your business’s documents and its online and offline marketing materials written in English into the German language, the service will help you better communicate and connect with the German audience and influence them to become your customers. Thus the service will play a crucial role in your business’s profitability, growth and success. 

by Samuel Gitukui

Business is reinventing thanks to the concept of the gig economy. There is more and more automation owing to technological advancements which means companies now require fewer workers. Because of this, people need to find a way of making a living.

Some people may find it easier to find new jobs but others will turn into freelancers working for multiple companies. Millennials have embraced the gig economy saying that they prefer to be their own boss.

Granted, the gig economy tends to render the traditional job roles obsolete in some sectors but there is benefit to this. Some companies have actually embraced the gig economy allowing them to make use of workers with highly specialized skills sets.

Freelancers are offering companies the best way to compete. One of the main benefits is that companies have is that they are able to choose the perfect person for a particular task and make use of their services at the required time.

After all, why would you pay someone to sit at a desk all day waiting for the opportunity to prove themselves while you can get qualified professional for the task?

Some freelancers and contractors are not permanent, companies can only spend their resources as of when needed.
And if you want another reason to make full use of the gig economy think of increased productivity and efficiency. Companies pay on per hour basis which means that very little of their resources goes to waste. Also, in a company is not satisfied with the productivity of a worker, they can cut short the contract and get another more suitable freelancer for the task.

Even better is that there is very little training required. Freelancers already have the skillset needed to perform a task.
Now the gig economy doesn’t mean that companies will shut down. It only means that in the coming years we are going to see more companies take on outsourcing. This has already started to happen in large companies such as FedEx where over 20% of the workers are outsourced.

Once workers realize that they stand to gain more from freelancing than in their full-time jobs, the traditional roles are more likely going to change.

Businesses should not see this as a perilous change but rather as a shifting from the old ways and an opportunity to grow the business even bigger.

Setting the business up for the gig economy

As an entrepreneur you may have been considering the idea of hiring freelancers as a great way to stay competitive and remain efficient. However, perhaps it is now time for you to fully embrace the concept.
And this is how!

1.      Breaking down tasks

The first thing you will need to do is to break down tasks into much smaller tasks. This makes it easier to find a good skill set for each individual task.

It is much more effective to find a freelance worker for a smaller task than one who can perform all tasks. The specialization of skills means that the end result is of far higher quality.

Let’s say for example a pharmacist wants a blog post on a complex and technical area. The best writer would be one that has the right skill set with a back ground in health. However, finding such a writer could prove difficult.

You can keep accepting proposals until you find the best writer or you could get material from a health specialist and then get a high-quality writer to put it down into an easy to read blog post.

It will all come down to understanding the task and what the business needs are. If you break down the task and remain flexible, you can get the project completed fairly easily.

2.      Create virtual and open lines of communication with your freelancers

Communication is one of the most important factors when it comes to freelance workers. Without free-flowing communication, projects may not run as expected.

One of the best ways to ensure enhanced communication is by using technology. The technology could include video conferencing or just be about email.

Phone is great but you want to have an audit trail of previous conversations so as to reference in case of any misunderstandings or if you want to clarify something.

3.      Leverage the expertise of freelancers

Part of having a healthy workforce is ensuring that everyone is engaged in the development of the company. Research shows high number of workers feel disengaged and if you want to reverse this, then you could integrate both freelance and full-time employees so that they work together for a common goal.

Freelancers have picked up plenty of skills as they work for multiple companies so leverage this and give them credit when something positive happens as a result of their skillset or when you take their ideas and put them into action.

4.      Go to marketplaces that are best suited for your needs

The quickest way to find the right freelancers for the job involves searching in freelance market places. Companies can find a gig worker for the task in a matter of hours and freelancers can find jobs in as fast as 24 hours.

The trick is to find a freelancer market place that you can trust. Plenty of the platforms available are not vetting their freelancers which means you are going to have to go through rating left by other clients.

This however is not a highly reliable way for finding freelancers as the ratings may be left by companies who specialize in a different business to yours.

A single market platform may not provide you with solutions for all your tasks needs so it’s a good idea to register with multiple freelancer platforms. Even better is to find marketplaces that specialize in your individual company needs.

The business environment is changing and businesses need to get on board the gig economy train. Over a century ago, the industrial revolution came and changed how things were done. Eventually everyone had to conform to the new way of doing things.

Now the gig economy is here and it is expected to shape the business environment for the better.

Some stereotypes about freelance workers

For some businesses freelancer workers still haven’t appealed to their better nature. They still conform to the old ways. If you are the manager of a company and are stuck in this old thinking, they there is a chance that you may have fallen prey to some of the most common freelancer misconceptions.

The influence of freelancers and todays gig economy cannot be denied. It accounts for a significant portion of the workforce. Freelancers are nothing new, even with the old ways of doing businesses there were still contractors hired to perform certain tasks.

Then there was the recession and many people got laid off. Advancements in internet technology also happened at a fast rate. When western economies dropped more people found themselves in serious need for cash and there was mass embracing of contractor jobs.

Corporations were busy firing workers and freelancers were busy making ends meet. Then the millennials who never wanted to experience the pain of losing their jobs took over from their parents. Today over half the millennials population are freelancers.

Freelancers enjoy setting rates for their skills and being in control of their lives. What’s even better is that they make enough to live a comfortable life and go on holidays.

On the other hand, companies welcome the idea of not having to rent extra office space, pay benefits or even pay for training.

The relationship could never be more mutually beneficial. However, there are still some stereotypes that get in the way of businesses embracing the gig economy.

1.      Freelancers cannot perform complex tasks

Some people tend to think that it’s hard to find a highly qualified freelancer for the task at hand. The truth is that it is actually possible and quite simple to get the right freelancer.

More than half of all freelancers come with associate degrees. This means you can access workers who have just about any type of skill that you are interested in allowing you to easily fil gaps in your organization.

If one of your IT guys quit his job, all you need is to find an IT specialist who has some of all of the skills needed for the task and the business continues to run as normal.

It’s important to note that freelancers themselves will create their own niches. This allows them to specialize and become great at their work. As the old saying goes, jack of all master of none!

This means that if you get a freelancer that specializes in a section if the tasks, they will be able to provide you with high quality work.

2.      Freelancers want short term contracts

This is yet another myth that needs to be dispelled. Many entrepreneurs think that freelancers are here today and will be gone in a few days. Granted freelancers are not for a full-time employment but they also believe in longer term contracts.

Freelancers are more than willing to continue with the contract for as long as the business relationship is ideal. As long as the terms are met by both sides, then you could have a freelancer work for you for months and sometimes even years.

3.      Freelancers are not loyal

It’s very true that freelancers do not have bosses that are always on their case but what is also true is that freelancers can be very loyal to their clients. When it comes down to it, it is the clients that the freelancer depends on to make income.

Freelancing is more like having multiple supervisors instead of the usual one at the permanent job. While they aim for more flexibility, they are not willing to lose a valuable source of income and this is why they can be incredibly loyal.
They are fully aware of the fact that if the freelancer does not perform their job to the best standards, they will be replaced by someone who will.

Thus, the high-quality freelancers are always maintaining good lines of communication with their clients and put them first.

So, when you have a position that needs to be filled, instead of going through the usual recruitment process, why not give a freelancer the task? You may end up spending less and getting more quality work such that you become a big fan of the gig economy. You may even decide to make the majority of your workers freelancers.

How to Get top value form your freelancer

Having a freelancer work for you is not only cost effective for your business but also allows you to scale as the business grows and to easily cut ties when the task has been completed. However, you can only make the most of the relationship by upholding a few main factors.

Tips to thriving in the gig economy for a gig worker

Many freelancers will agree that ten years ago, they would not have been able to make as much as they do now. The combination of the internet and companies that embrace the concept of the on-demand workers, the gig economy is now a thriving place for anyone who has skills.

Freelancers attest to how the gig economy can completely change people’s lifestyles. Some freelancers double what they used to earn in their full-time jobs by working fewer hours. There is more personal time available by being able to set their schedule and they enjoy having more control over their jobs.

What to consider

There are plenty of advantages to the gig economy but there are also many issues and factors that need to be considered if you are going to work as a freelancer. The first thing that anyone interested needs to understand is that future revenue is uncertain.

While it is possible to get a long-term client that offers you plenty of work, this is not always the case. For the average freelancer, you will need to hustle in order to ensure a steady flow of clients.

Another thing to consider is that you will not get any benefits as is the case with the traditional jobs. Because of this it is up to the freelancers to find their own health insurance or retirement savings, as well as vacation time.

Even with the whole idea of independent working the reality is no one is completely independent and you will be accountable to someone. While this could be simple and straightforward, plenty of people think of freelancing and automatically their mind thinks of freedom. Remaining realistic is crucial.

However, that said there is really a lot of freedom as you get to choose your work hours and as you balance this with our private and personal time. But this is where you need to be careful. The last thing you want is to have overdue work and your client sees you posting photos of your lasts surfing adventures on social media.

This goes without saying will create some tension. Keep your personal life private and always complete work ahead of time.

When freelancing its important to work like you are on vacation. But what doesn’t this mean? Minimizing distractions, prioritizing your work, and remaining open for anything.

It is easy to overestimate or underestimate the quantity of work that you can get done in a day. Most freelancers do this. However, after you’ve gained experience, you will be able to judge just how much on average you are capable of competing in a day and plan your schedule around this. Things get complicated when you promise a client that you will have completed their work after a couple of days only for it to take a week.

A way to get around this is to always under promise and over deliver. For example, if you think that work could take a couple of days, you can promise to deliver within a week. If you do manage to finish within a few days you can then send work in earlier. The client will always be delighted that you always deliver ahead of time.

As much as freelancing is about short-term contracts, repeat business is always a good thing as it spares you the time and effort needed to send proposals and come to agreement with a client. Always deliver quality work ahead of time so your current clients ensure repeat business.  

This needs special planning.

The gig economy isn’t just for the young

Many people might think that the future is for the young and we have all seen how technology has influenced how work is done. The gig economy is now seeing more adaptability and flexibility in careers.

And this is not just with the millennials but with the older generation as well. In fact, you could argue that it is also very well suited for the boomers. They can boost their income before getting to retirement.

We can see this in the taxi industry where some drivers as old as 74 are still making ends meets as uber drivers.

by Samuel Gitukui

For many organizations, talent management is a top priority. In order to bridge an existing talent gap, companies are making use of the crowd, either through open innovation platforms and sometimes through the gig economy.

However even while companies use these open innovation platforms there is a problem. Its success rate is hindered due to a lack of talent within the company. With this in mind, its now easy to understand why the simpler option for many organizations is to turn to the gig economy.

Some companies have reverted to creating platforms that are designed to help them source the best freelancers for the job. Some of these platforms not only allow managers to get into contact with the best freelance clients but also ensures that they jump on board to start work quickly which also allows them to make an impact much faster.

For companies wanting to set up a work force that is modern and for the future business its important to first appreciate that the relationship between the employer and the employee is changing. Workers now seek more flexibility and the number of contractor workers continues to rise.

Companies are now having strategies to recruit short term employees and freelancers when the need for them in the company arises. This allows them to have a flexible and agile workforce and since there are no geographical barriers, the business is able to gain access to global talent.

In order to attract the right freelancers, companies are going as far as allowing contractors use the same material and platforms that the more permanent workers use for job training.

One of the greatest assets for any organization is its work force and the best talent will allow it to thrive. Most of the time, some of the best talent comes in the form of freelancers. That said, organizations are realizing the need to provide support to its workers to allow them to adapt in an everchanging business world.

Millennials are perhaps the biggest proportion of the gig economy. What is starting to pop up is the question of job security and compensation and whether there is any regulatory body.

The companies, organizations and government will need to start looking at work in a whole new way instead of trying to amend the current in place job regulations.

Something to keep in mind however is that the gig economy is not all roses and sunshine. Some freelancers may have to work overly long hours and still make little money depending on how you set up your business of course.

There are different types of gig workers within the economy from plumbers to writers to vets. However, they have a few similarities.

There is no guarantee of future work and workers are called as when needed. They are also paid as after completing the gig. Often workers will not be paid per hour but as par a specific job.

As for the capital required to perform the tasks it is up to the workers to supply it.  

by Samuel Gitukui

Around 10 years ago, people realized how difficult it had become to secure a full-time job. Many started to do temporary jobs just to get by. Soon they realized that in order to have consistent income, they needed to work for more than a single company.

And the idea of flexible work began and quickly took hold. Now working as a freelancer is something to be desired. You get to earn more than you would in a full-time job and you are flexible which means more time to do what you love.

But freelancers are not the only ones benefiting from this gig economy. Companies are beginning to realize as well that flexible workers are the answer to most of the company woes and have their eyes set on an ever growing and diverse talent base.

The role of freelancers in company culture

The majority of companies employ a number of workers when business is good only to lay them off when a major client moves off to another company.

It is a regular cycle that has a big impact on the morale of the company and its remaining workers. They tend to feel unstable which in turn makes the remaining employees feel insecure in their jobs.

Freelance workers eliminate this feeling. The whole nature of freelance working agrees with the set up so when the contract ends, the freelancer will walk away happy knowing that they played their part. The rest of the employees should be informed of the set up and this allows them to feel more secure at their jobs.

Now its important not to treat the freelancer as a temporary worker even if they are. Include them in team building, parties and other company functions. In this way, the permanent workers will view them as part of the company even if its for the time being.

Focus on the task

Another way of getting rid of the unconventional mindset that other more permanent workers may have on freelance workers is to focus more on the task being accomplished in the company and of the time spent in the company.

This way everybody in the organization is more likely to view freelance workers as a valuable addition to the company all working towards the same goals of the company.

Understand why freelancers choose to freelance

In order to create a mutually beneficial relationship with a short-term worker it’s important for the company to understand why they choose to do freelancing rather than full time employment in the first place.

A worker may value flexible working hours because it allows them to attend class. Another would do this to have enough time to still take care of her kids at home.

Freelancing has also allowed people to gain a sense of freedom to engage in other contracts and treat their freelancing as a business. It provides them with more flexibility.

By knowing this, the company is able to use freelancers to maintain its culture and create a more stable working environment for everyone.

by Samuel Gitukui

In the early days, people who worked as freelancers were viewed as being just a level away from being completely unemployed. Now in this modern age more and more people have turned to this cool and lucrative way of making a living.

Working as a freelancer certainly has its perks. Finding gigs allows you to work around your own time and to remain flexible.

However, if you think that gigs are up for grabs then think again. There are also hundreds of people who are aiming to get that gig that you have your eyes set on. In other words, the world of freelancing is full of competition.
This is how to remain competitive

Market your skills

Freelance working is all about offering skills to companies on short term basis which them means you should aim to put yourself in front of companies that are searching for these skills.

One great way to allow you to be seen and to market your skills is to register with multiple freelance sites.  Create a profile where need be and always ensure that you keep it updated with things that keep you ahead of your competition.

Do your research

Even while gigs are not going to be long term, employees will still expect top notch quality work. Do your homework and show a high level of understanding of the companies’ values and expectations and include this in your proposal.
Once the employer sees that you care about the company and its development, they are going to be more likely to offer you a job.

Offer excellent work

When you finally do get a job, you want to use it as a platform to get rehired. This is how to succeed in the gig economy. Companies do not enjoy constantly looking for someone to fill a position every so often so if you can offer the best quality work, you stand a chance to be rehired.

In fact, the majority of companies would like to have a person they always contact when they need their particular services. Go over and above what normal freelancers would do and set yourself apart.

Start off by getting to work earlier than most. When you have a deadline, always submit work before the deadline.
Be readily available and respond to messages and emails immediately. When the managers request something, always be willing to say yes. This puts you across as being reliable.

Ensure that you deliver on what you promise, and perform exceptionally. Perhaps one of the most important points to consider is, if you feel like you do not have the skills or time for a job, do not apply for it in the first place.

Don’t take things personal

Of course, you are not going to land every gig that you apply to. Sometimes you may get a response telling you that your application was denied. That’s part of being a freelancer. Always remain positive and keep applying for jobs and soon you will land the ideal one for your skill set.

by Samuel Gitukui

There is no denying that the gig economy is growing and it covers every aspect of independent work from accounting, to writing to home repairs. While freelancing was considered as something many people would do between jobs, the reality is that people are now freelance full time and are thriving.

Research into the gig economy reveals why this many people are opting to do freelance work.

1.      It is both viable and sustainable

In a certain study, 5 out of 6 freelancers were shown to reach their income goals within two years. More than 42% of freelancers will actually do so in a year. And the driving force behind these numbers is that when you realize that you are growing as a freelancer, you will be more likely to pursue your goals.

And it doesn’t top there, for those who think freelancers don’t secure their future, the truth is that majority are saving for their future and many of have taken insurance policies.

Many companies are welcoming the idea of freelance workers and the gig economy continues to grow.

2.      Freelancers work toward growth

Freelancers are not here on a temporary basis and in fact plan on pursuing their goals for the long term. Research in fact shows that the majority of them have no intention of being employed full time.

Freelancers are also marketing their skills regularly spending considerable amounts every month on marketing alone.
While not all freelancers are marketing their skills, those that are spending money on marketing initiatives every month are receiving more gigs and earn considerably more.

3.      Freelancers are happy at their gigs

Granted millennials may have been the first to use social media to launch and grow their businesses, but they are not the first people to start freelancing.

Freelancers that are over 35 years plan on never going back to being fully employed and are content with the life work balance that is as a result of the gig economy.

Many freelancers are not referring to themselves simply as “freelancers”. They are instead calling themselves small business owners, self-employed and entrepreneurs. This proves that they consider their work more as a business.

The gig economy is here for everyone

As the months and years pass, the gig economy continues to grow which sees freelancers grow their income and turn their gigs into lucrative businesses. To put things into perspective over $3.2 million freelancers in the US are earning more than $100,000 a year.

There are still those who think that the gig economy is not sustainable but more and more people are embracing freelance work due to the many benefits that come with it.  One of the great motivators is not just the opportunity to have more income but the flexible work life balance involved.

Companies are looking to become more flexible as well and one of the ways they can do this is by hiring freelance workers.

The talk is that the gig economy is here to stay and as the months go by, we will see more and more people joining the freelance world.

by Samuel Gitukui

One thing that is certainly true is that the gig economy isn’t going anywhere. Whether your company has temporary or permanent workers, consumer habits have changed and they have now become used to getting what they need and want delivered straight at their doorstep.

The gig economy has impacted business in three main ways…

1.      Workers are demanding more flexibility

May freelancers welcome the idea of autonomous working and being able to create their own work schedules. Even while your workers may take a while to leave their jobs and become full time gig workers, it is quite obvious that the flexible working hours have become a major attraction.

Even so, many companies simply can’t match up to the flexible working schedules that freelancers get. That’s said, more and more thriving companies are ditching the traditional strict working schedules.

In fact, it has become a competitive factor in the job market so if your company isn’t offering flexible working hours, your competitors might have an edge over you if they are offering flexible working hours.

In order to reduce employee turnover and attract some of the best employees, the company should come up with methods on how to provide flexible working hours to employees. This makes the employees feel more loyal and as a result will become more productive.

2.      Consumers now expect more

The gig economy has shown customers that they are able to get what they want and when they want it. Companies that are smart know how to leverage this by including an on-demand strategy to their business model. This gives them an edge over their competition.

If you have your own business, then you could be wondering if there is a way that that you could take advantage of the gig economy. In truth there is always a market for any skill that you have that could earn you some money. Chances are there is an opportunity for your business too.

People are willing to pay extra to have their items or orders delivered to them and this can give you an edge if you know how to take advantage of this.

And if you are still looking for ways to take advantage of the gig economy, you can read through the feedback of customers starting with when they were searching for products until they make their purchase.

3.      There are plenty of resources at your disposal

One of the main advantages of the gig economy is that it allows businesses to provide an enhanced customer experience all while putting less strain on your business.

Look at it this way, it is expensive to hire permanent workers, add in the fact that they are full time and will also require you to pay benefits.

The great thing is that there are plenty of people who are looking for short term gigs. They will have the right qualifications, will need less training and will help your business accomplish its goals.

by Samuel Gitukui

Initially it was the more permanent employees that received social recognition. Having a stable job that you were going to keep throughout your career showed you had what it takes to survive.

Secondly there was the career path. Lawyers, doctors and the like received way more social recognition than say the plumber or electrician.

Now with the gig economy freelance workers are starting to receive their fair share of recognition.

The driving force behind worker status

It was not uncommon in the earlier days for someone to spend their entire career life working for a single employer as they slowly rise up the ranks over the years.

Then with the young jobseekers coming in at an influx, there was competition for less available job opportunities. And it only got worse. Employees had to shift to short term contacts to make ends meet. Soon they realized that this could actually be the only way to earn a decent living and maintain a healthy work life balance.

With the gig economy the flexibility of workers means that people can to be selective on who and what they want to work on. This is not a luxury that permanent employees get to enjoy and this is what has driven up the social recognition for freelancers.

Smart businesses have also realized that in order to remain competitive, they will also need to embrace the concept of the gig economy. Freelancing may have initially been a risky venture but now, its benefits are apparent to everyone.

Freelancers are highly skilled individuals

There has always been this misconception that people working in permanent jobs are highly skilled and that if you are not in a permanent job however, then you lack some essential and highly important skills.

Things couldn’t be further from the truth. Freelancers often come with a myriad of skills and what’s even better is that they can apply these skills in a number of different areas in the company. And as if that is not enough, they are plug and play individuals which means that less time is wasted in training.

How to boost people’s attitude of temporary workers even more

It’s clear that people’s attitude of temporary workers is changing but there is still something that can be done to improve people’s attitude.

For one, companies can give some temporary jobs to their permanent workers. This provides them with a feel of what freelance work is like and allows them to judge for themselves if the gig economy is actually a better concept than the more traditional job roles.

Secondly, it’s important for both parties to be clear with one another. Employees need to state what exactly they require and the skill sets that are seeking for the task. On the other end of the spectrum, temporary workers need to show exactly which skills they have and what they can offer.
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Both parties will then agree on the payment terms as well as the time allowed to complete the task. This creates an official vibe to the job and shows that there is still an employee, employer relationship here.