Stephanie Whalley

Total Post: 148

Serial snacker, compulsive cocktail sipper and full time wordsmith with a penchant for alliteration, all things marketing and pineapple on pizza.

About the Author

We know what it’s like to be a freelancer, so here at Freelancer News we love keeping you up to date with all the latest news, tips and advice for freelancers. We cover tips on how to get work as a freelancer, economic news which may affect the way you work and the best way to handle your accounts and finance.

To make sure you’re always getting the latest news, we’ve gathered a team of writers with specific expertise and industry knowledge. That way you know that our writers can handle any aspect of freelancer life that you might need help with. Below are the latest articles from Stephanie.

Will Digital Content Help My Freelance Business?

Will Digital Content Help My Freelance Business?

Valuable, accurate and original content can be critical to your success when freelancing. Digital content (content you create to share online) can help you connect with your existing customers, as well as reach new audiences who will hopefully also become paying clients. So what can you do? We go over some of the different types of digital content to consider for your freelance business.

 

Professional or portfolio website


Pitching for (and securing) work can be tricky, so having a professional website or some other platform to show off your skills and reviews is a good one to tick off your digital content to-do list.

If you feel a website will help (although it’s not always essential for every business) there are a few costs involved in getting started, like web hosting, a domain, design work and maybe some technical software expertise.

That said, investing time, energy and money into your website will pay dividends (literally, hopefully) as it is such a versatile and practical tool. It’s also worth mentioning that you might be able to offset your costs as a business expense, helping to reduce your tax bill!

A professional website can be a way to carve out your own space in the digital landscape. It fulfils a whole host of vital functions, including:

  • A place for potential clients to find out more about what you do
  • A means by which people can contact you with enquiries
  • Somewhere to show what services you offer, as well as pricing information if applicable
  • A foundation on which you can build other digital content, such as blogs and videos

 

The perfect place to put your portfolio

A business website is also where you can house a portfolio of your work. This doesn’t have to be every single project you’ve ever worked on, which could be overwhelming and tricky to browse for visitors.

Instead, showcase your best work and update this regularly with the projects you’re most proud of. Show off the diversity of your skillset and support this with some client case studies and testimonials to show the value you bring to your customers.

If you’re not ready for a website of your own, there are lots of portfolio sharing platforms out there which are worth a look.

 

Social media content for freelancers

In the modern world, it’s safe to say that most businesses need a social media presence if they’re going to succeed. Think of social media as your digital soapbox and your way to share thoughts, resources, blog posts, videos, images, and more with your target demographic.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter are all super powerful communication and digital marketing tools. They enable you to reach people near and far, including existing customers, potential customers, peers, mentors and even the competitors you want to keep a close eye on.

Share engaging organic content that adds value, interact with your audience and invest in paid media advertising to reach a wider audience if your cash flow permits.

Make sure the content you’re creating is native to each of the different platforms so you’re appealing to the users on there. This is an important part of forming a strong social media strategy that generates business – something some freelancers with wiggle room in their budget prefer to outsource.

Even if the content you share is minimal, lots of people will make word-of-mouth recommendations through social media groups, so it’s a good thing to keep an eye on.

 

Written content for freelance marketing

Create articles that showcase your skills, offer tips and focus on common client pain points or struggles to show them how your services are their ideal solution. A blog for your freelance business will help establish you as a credible thought leader and can even help pull organic traffic to your website.

Written content also includes text-based resources such as white papers, guides, reports and eBooks. Again, fill these with expert advice and rich knowledge that your audience will want to get their hands on. It shows that you’re a pro in your field.

Resources like this can either be free to download from your website if you’re feeling generous, or you can gate them behind a lead generation landing page or paid social ad. The latter requires somebody to fill in their details in order to access your content – a tried and tested data capture tactic.

 

Video and audio content

Video and audio are increasingly popular as forms of digital content when it comes to what audiences now want to consume. That’s why we’d recommend adding things like social media video content (Instagram reels, TikTok videos, etc) YouTube videos and podcasts into your content plans.

The nature of your video content could include things like tutorials, explainer videos or even client testimonials.

 

Email marketing

Email is one the most effective ways to keep customers informed about your services, and for you to share valuable content and offer exclusive promotions.

Although email marketing could become one of the most vital parts of your comms and marketing strategy, it’s also usually one of the most inexpensive. Email campaigns are also far easier to track in terms of performance than things like social media content and blogs.

Send out regular newsletters and updates to make sure the people on your mailing list keep you in mind. Make sure you’re only sending valuable, informative emails, though, otherwise you run the risk of annoying recipients and pushing them towards the dreaded ‘Unsubscribe’ button. Include a link back to your website or contact form in all your emails!

 

Guest content

The freelance life is a busy one, we get it – but if you can find some spare time in your schedule to dip your toes into guest content, it will provide you with invaluable exposure. You might even be able to produce guest content in exchange for a fee and make some extra cash at the same time.

Guest content includes things like:

  • Authoring blogs or articles on somebody else’s website or publication
  • Appearing as a guest on podcasts or video series
  • Creating content that is shared on other social media platforms

To reap the true rewards of guest content, you should make sure the platforms you’re featuring on are relevant to your industry. Doing so means you can reach people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say or share.

You can also invite people to create guest content for your own digital platforms. Not only will this help flesh out your content marketing plan, but it’s also a great way to go about online networking and relationship building.
 
Find more advice and guidance for freelancers in our info hub!

Why Do I Need a UTR Number?
Can Freelancers Claim the Employment and Support Allowance?

Can Freelancers Claim the Employment and Support Allowance?

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a type of financial benefit that might be available if you have ‘limited capacity to work’, such as a health condition or disability which inhibits your ability to work.

The allowance is designed to provide some financial security whilst you are unable to generate income. It’s particularly useful if you’re a self-employed freelancer and don’t have an employer to pay Statutory Sick Pay when you need time off sick.
 

What is the new-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?

Most people who claim ESA now get what is called ‘new style ESA’, which replaced the previous income-based and contribution-based allowances.

It’s a contributory benefit, which means that you must have made sufficient National Insurance contributions or NI credits in last few years to receive it.

Although there are still some people receiving the old types of ESA, any new claims will now receive the new style Employment and Support Allowance which provides:

  • Financial support towards your living costs
  • Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can support your State Pension and other benefits.
  • Professional support if you’re able to return to work.

 

How much can I claim with the Employment and Support Allowance?

A new claim for the ESA can take several weeks, or even months, to be assessed, so you’ll normally be entitled to an ‘assessment rate’ of ESA until a decision has been made. The assessment rates of new style ESA are currently:

  • £67.20 per week for anybody under 25
  • £84.80 per week for anybody 25 and over

If you are deemed eligible following assessment, any money owed from the assessment period will be backdated.

Assessment categorises those who are eligible for ESA into two groups: ‘work-related’ (those who will likely be able to work again) and ‘support’ (those who aren’t likely to work in the future).

The new style ESA rates for these groups are currently:

  • Work-related: up to £84.80
  • Support: up to £128.85

Note: a private pension of more than £85 per week may impact how much you can receive in ESA.
 

Who is eligible for new style ESA?

Employment and Support Allowance is available to those who are employed, unemployed, or self-employed, although you will need to meet the criteria in order to qualify.

To be eligible to receive ESA, you must:

  • Have a disability or health condition that directly limits your capacity to work
  • Have worked as an employee or been self-employed
  • Be aged 16 or over
  • Be under the State Pension age (you can find out more about this on the GOV.UK website)
  • Live in England, Wales, or Scotland
  • Have paid sufficient National Insurance (NI) for the last 2-3 tax years (this also includes National Insurance credits)

Note: Even if you aren’t eligible for new style ESA right now, you may still be able to get National Insurance credits if you are unable to work. These NI credits could then help you qualify for ESA further down the line.

 

Can a freelancer claim Employment and Support Allowance?

Yes, freelancers are allowed to claim ESA providing you also meet the other conditions. It’s worth noting that if you have a full-time job as well as a self-employed side hustle (i.e., you freelance to supplement your PAYE salary), you can claim ESA but only for one type of income. You won’t be able to claim ESA on both employment and self-employment income at the same time.
 

How do I apply for ESA?

If you think you qualify for ESA and need support while you’re unable to work, you can apply via the GOV.UK website.

Make sure you’ve got the following to hand:

  • National Insurance number
  • Bank or building society account number and sort code (yours or somebody else’s if you don’t have your own)
  • Your doctor’s name, address and contact details
  • A note from your doctor (i.e., a ‘sick note’, ‘fit note’ or a ‘statement of fitness for work’)
  • Date your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is due to end (if applicable)

Once your application has been submitted, you will then be contacted by phone with next steps.
 

Can I still work whilst claiming ESA?

You can still work if you are claiming Employment and Support Allowance but only if you:

  • Work fewer than 16 hours per week.
  • Aren’t earning more than £167 a week.

Any hours you do work will need to be recorded with Jobcentre Plus.
 

Can you get ESA alongside other benefits?

You may be able to claim some benefits whilst claiming the Employment and Support Allowance, but others will not be available during the claim period.

In most cases, you are able to claim Personal Independent Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit at the same time as new style ESA.

Some people choose to get ESA instead of Universal Credit because the payments are more frequent (every 2 weeks rather than monthly), while others choose to claim both.

If you do choose to claim ESA and Universal Credit simultaneously (and are eligible to do so), your Universal Credit allowance will be reduced by whatever you receive through ESA.

You cannot normally claim ESA alongside Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Income Support or Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Of course, SSP only applies to freelancers that are also in employment and paid through the PAYE system.

If you are a freelancer who is also in employment, it’s worth noting that you can apply for new style ESA up to 3 months before your SSP is due to finish. ESA will simply replace your Statutory Sick Pay once that comes to an end.
 

What else can I do?

Being off sick is never easy, especially if your only source of income is the money you make working for yourself. The way that ESA is structured can mean that it’s not that useful for shorter absences, so lots of self-employed freelancers build potential absences into their pricing structure.

Consider what time off you might need over the year for much-needed holidays or for short-term sickness, and factor this in to your fees so that there’s more of a buffer if anything does happen.

Some freelancers also look at self-employed income insurance, to protect them in the event of longer-term issues.
 
Find more advice and guidance for freelancers in our info hub.

What is a Freelancer?
Do Freelancers Need to Register for CIS?
Can I Be An Influencer?

Can I Be An Influencer?

Ten years ago the term ‘influencer’ wasn’t a phrase many of us were very familiar with. Little did we know it would soon become a common word in most vocabularies, as well as a whole new category of self-employment, income stream, digital content medium, and marketing channel.

For those who still aren’t entirely familiar, an influencer is somebody with a large (and loyal) online following who has the power to influence sales of products and services—hence the name.

You’ll typically find influencers on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok but ‘influencing’ also extends beyond the most popular platforms into more niche parts of the digital world too.

 

Is being an influencer a ‘real’ job?


Yes, absolutely. In fact, according to a recent study by Adobe, UK social media content creators are now earning an average of £137,000 a year.

This is significantly more than other average salaries shared by the UK Government’s National Careers Service:

  • Solicitor – £100,000
  • Software developer – £70,000
  • Accountant – £65,000
  • Train driver – £65,000
  • School teacher – £42,000
  • Firefighter – £32,000
  • Nurse – £32,000

Although some traditionalists might snub the idea of ‘influencing’ being a real career, the potential earnings mean it’s fair to say that it’s an extremely valid and lucrative way of earning a living.

Plus, while it might look easy and glamorous at times, producing the kind of digital content that engages an online audience so effectively that you can turn it into an income stream takes a great deal of time and skill.

 

The growing appetite for influencer marketing


Not only does influencing have the potential to be an extremely profitable income stream for the content creators themselves, but it can also have a powerful impact on the success of the brands and businesses they’re affiliated with.

According to research published by The Social Shepherd, 93% of marketers said they had incorporated influencer marketing as part of their overall strategy. This means almost all of those surveyed had worked with influencers and content creators to:

  • Raise brand awareness (86%)
  • Reach new or targeted audiences (74%)
  • Improve brand advocacy (69%)
  • Increase sales conversions (46%)

The same study found that 61% of consumers say they trust influencers’ recommendations. With a statistic like that, it’s clear to see why so many brands and businesses rely on influencers to help grow their digital presence and boost the bottom line.

 

What do you need to be an influencer?


Technically, anybody can become an influencer. Due to the fact influencers can run their business anywhere in the world with an internet connection, it’s actually a super inclusive and accessible way to make money.

Plus, with free access to social media platforms and advanced smartphone technology, great potential really is at our fingertips these days.

This applies whether somebody is a full-time influencer or if they influence on the side to supplement an employment salary. It also applies whether somebody is an influencer with hundreds, thousands, or even millions of followers, or if they are what is known as a ‘micro-influencer’, somebody with 1,000-10,000 followers.

Unlike many jobs, you don’t need any specific qualifications to be an influencer and the nature of the role is extremely diverse and expansive. Age, experience, and location are some major factors that often determine access to ‘regular jobs’, whereas influencing is open to anybody who wants to give it a go.

That said, there are some areas which might be worthy of consideration becoming an influencer as a way to generate income, including:

  • Have a niche area that you specialise in and build your content around that
  • As well as having a niche, have a target audience that you want to reach and engage
  • Stay on top of your social media skills and the latest trends so that your content stays current
  • Make sure you have time to post regularly and interact with your audience, as well as liaise with the brands you work with
  • Be consistent—sporadic posts aren’t the way forward if you’re going to make a successful business from your online content
  • Analyse how your content performs closely so that you can do more of what works and less of what doesn’t. This requires some knowledge of analytics platforms, most of which are now integrated into the digital platforms themselves.

 

The pros and cons of being an influencer


Below are some of the advantages of the role, as well as some things to consider. It’s important to remember that influencing isn’t just about getting nice things for free and editing Instagram reels in your PJs.

 

The benefits of being an influencer

  • You have complete flexibility and autonomy over your own time
  • As with all self-employment income streams, any post-tax profit you make is all yours to keep
  • For people who are passionate about this line of work, it can be a whole lot of fun
  • You have the chance to positively influence a large audience and make a real difference
  • You get to try products, visit places, attend events, meet new people, and have experiences that you might not otherwise be exposed to
  • Start-up and overhead costs can be super minimal. All you really need to get started is the smartphone that’s probably already in your hand right now.

 

Some things to consider

  • Just like with any form of self-employment, you are responsible for generating your own income
  • Similarly, you are also responsible for reporting and paying your own tax
  • As influencing is so inclusive, this means that the competition is high too
  • There isn’t necessarily as much job security as with salaried employment
  • Even though it’s a lucrative industry right now, nobody knows the future of influencer marketing
  • You may well need to share a part of your life with the world online, and sacrifice some of the privacy and anonymity regular employees or self-employed people have

 
Think a career as an influencer might be for you? There’s only one way to find out! Head over to our hub to find more information and support for freelancers.

Places You Can Work Remotely from for Free
Do Freelancers Get Paid More than Employees?
What Freelance Jobs Can I Do?

What Freelance Jobs Can I Do?

There are currently more than 2 million freelancers in the UK, contributing approximately £125 billion to the economy. It goes to show just how significantly freelancing has grown in popularity over the years, appealing to people across sectors, specialisms, and levels of seniority.

There are lots of reasons why someone might choose to go freelance, such as redundancy, a desire to gain professional independence and ‘be your own boss’, or simply to earn extra income to supplement an employment salary

Perhaps you’ve got your own personal reasons for wanting to explore the world of freelancing. Either way, it’s essential to find the right freelance job for you if you’re going to succeed.

For some people, the freelance route they choose to pursue is an obvious choice. If somebody has been working in content marketing for a number of years, for example, then freelance copywriting is a natural extension.

But for others, their freelancing direction is not quite so clear, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have options.
 

What are common examples of freelance jobs?

Freelancing work isn’t restricted to any particular sector, but some are more popular than others, particularly in service-type industries.

  • Independent journalist
  • Copywriter/content writer
  • Social media manager
  • Influencer
  • Videographer/video editor
  • Photographer
  • Web developer
  • Graphic designer
  • Marketing
  • Public relations
  • Data
  • Software
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Editing and proofreading

That’s not to say your freelancing work has to fit into any of those common categories. There are plenty of professions which translate well into a freelance capacity, with some lending themselves more naturally than others. Even things like customer service, sales, and interior design, which are more typically in-house roles, can be carried out on a freelance basis.

You might have your own specialism or skillset that you’re looking to put to good use. In fact, the more niche your offering is, the less competition you’ll have to face. Although that said, you might find there’s less demand for something more specialist.

 

What are the most in-demand freelance jobs in the UK?

Micro Biz Mag conducted research to find out which were the most in-demand freelance jobs in the UK in 2022. The findings were based on data from Google’s Keyword Planner, which shows how much (or little) people are searching for specific terms on Google.

The report revealed that the top 10 search queries with the highest average number of searches per month were for “Freelance…

  • Graphic designer
  • Writing
  • Copywriter
  • Web designer
  • Web developer
  • Photographer
  • Designer
  • Accountant
  • SEO consultant
  • Social media manager

That said, those are the findings of one study and are not completely representative of the full picture. So, if your skills and expertise don’t fall under any of the categories above, don’t lose motivation!

Demand for specific roles can shift depending on other factors too, such as season, budgets, and the wider economy. Do your own research to establish whether or not there’s appetite for what you have to offer.
 

What are the best paid freelance jobs in the UK?

Freelance management platform YunoJuno published its most recent Freelancer Rates Report in August 2022. The research compared average freelancer rates across 16 different categories within marketing, tech and the creative industries.

Overall, the average day rate came out at £368 but this varied significantly across different sectors and industries. The highest average day rates were in market research (£512), strategy (£492) and data (£486), while the lowest were in marketing (£318), social media (£307) and studio (£281).

Other areas that sat somewhere in the middle in terms of average pay included:

  • UX (£468)
  • Project management (£382)
  • Film and motion (£370)
  • Photography (£362)
  • Client services (£340)
  • Design (£436)
  • PR (£326)

While market rates are naturally going to be a factor for consideration, don’t forget to factor in your skills and experience when setting your freelance rate. Think about where you add value for clients, because this is what they’ll be looking for.

In YunoJuno’s report, for example, market research roles were shown to have the highest average pay. However, this sector also demonstrated the biggest gap between highest (£1,479) and lowest (£155) day rates. This proves that pay is highly dependent on a freelancer’s skills, knowledge and experience.
 

Can I freelance while working full-time?

If you’re already in employment and not looking to take the leap into full-time freelancing yet, you might consider setting up a side hustle. This is a secondary source of income outside your current employment that allows you to explore self-employment with the security of a PAYE salary behind you.

Unless your employment contract states that you aren’t allowed to work for anybody else while you’re in that job, freelancing on the side is perfectly fine. In fact, Henley Business School found that 1 in 4 UK adults have a side hustle on top of full-time or part-time employment.

Of course, if you do have an existing job to consider, this might limit what sorts of freelance work you’ll be able to do. Your full-time (or part-time) role will dictate what spare time you have to dedicate to a side hustle, so be sure to consider all factors carefully before you get started.

Another important thing to remember with side hustles are the added obligations around reporting and paying tax on your self-employment earnings. We’d recommend speaking to a qualified accountant who will be able to take any unnecessary stress and complication out of your bookkeeping and accounting.
 
Looking for more freelancing advice? We’ve got a whole hub of handy guides designed to help!

Can I Freelance on the Side?

Can I Freelance on the Side?

According to research published by Henley Business School, 1 in 4 UK adults have some sort of ‘side hustle’ – an additional job or secondary income on top of regular employment. It seems like more and more people are looking into freelancing as a way of making extra cash on the side.

Before you hit the freelancing jobs boards though, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of freelancing on the side, as well as what to look out for.
 

When you might NOT be able to freelance on the side

Before we delve into more exciting stuff like the benefits of freelancing and how to kickstart your new venture, let’s rule out any scenarios in which it might not be a viable option for you.

The biggest stumbling block you could potentially face is your employment contract. If you’re already employed, there could be something in your contract that legally prevents you from working for somebody else or having a freelance side hustle.

This might be particularly relevant if you’re looking to freelance within the same industry or for a competitor of your employer. For you, this might make total sense as your skills are easily transferable. However, in your employer’s eyes, this could be considered a conflict of interest.

It might be tempting to go ahead and hope you can keep your freelance work under the radar but breaching an employment contract you have already signed is risky business. Be sure to do due diligence before you steam ahead – or your side hustle might become your only source of income!

Before embarking on any side-hustle, it’s also worth pausing to think about whether or not you actually have the time. If you’re already super busy or have other commitments, could freelancing do more harm than good? Make sure you have the time and mental capacity for your new venture before getting started.
 

The benefits of freelancing alongside employment

Assuming your employer is happy for you to start a freelance venture on the side (or that it won’t be a disaster if they found out), and presuming you’re confident you’ve got time, there are some great reasons to get going. For instance, you could:

  • Earn extra income to supplement your salary
  • Explore an existing skill or passion that you’re keen to develop or put to good use
  • Develop and practice new skills at a pace and level that suits you
  • Get to experience the benefits of being your own boss and having professional autonomy over your work without the risks of full-time business ownership
  • Expand your professional network and build relationships in your chosen field
  • Do all the above, whilst protected by the relative security of your PAYE income

 

How to kickstart your freelancing venture

You’ve considered all the pros and cons, and given yourself the green light start your foray into freelancing on the side. There are some important steps you need to take next.
 

1. Decide how you want to structure your business

If the income you earn from self-employment is more than the tax-free trading allowance, you’ll need to register with HMRC as self-employed. For most freelancers this means registering as a sole trader, because it’s more straightforward, but you might instead decide to set up a limited company. There are pros and cons to each.

The main difference is that sole traders are not legally separate to their business, which means your personal finances and assets are connected to your business’s finances and assets. This can have consequences if your business owes debts that it cannot pay, because your personal assets will be at risk.

Limited companies, on the other hand, are separate from the owner, meaning any financial liability that the business has is also independent. However, setting up as a sole trader and paying tax is usually simpler.

Learn more about registering as a sole trader versus setting up a limited company.
 

2. Decide on your pricing structure

Working out how much you want to change for your services can be one of the trickiest parts of freelancing. In practice, it might be something you review and adjust over time. It’s important to strike the balance between earning enough for the value of your expertise whilst not getting carried away to the extent that you over-price yourself.

A general rule when it comes to calculating a day rate, for example, is to have an ideal annual freelance income in mind and divide backwards. Once you’ve got that figure, you can go from there. Use this as a starting point and then be as flexible (or inflexible) as you like with clients when they’re communicating their budgets with you.
 

3. Work out how and/or where you’re going to get work

How are you going to find work? Are you going to set up a website? Are you going to rely heavily on social media? Are you going to attend regular networking events to meet potential clients face-to-face and encourage word-of-mouth recommendations? It’s time to put a plan of action in place.
 

Tips to effectively manage your side hustle

Adding freelancing to your existing commitments is an exciting move but when it’s in addition to other employment, it’s vital that you manage it well. Below are some top tips to help you.

  • Maintain professionalism in your PAYE job and a good relationship with your employer
  • Establish and maintain strong relationships with your freelance clients too
  • Avoid burnout and still leave time to enjoy life (it can’t all be about work!)
  • Ensure all your finances and accounts are up to date and accurate

 
Be open, honest, and transparent with your clients
Let your freelance clients know you also have existing commitments so that you can manage expectations effectively and honestly. If a client isn’t willing to work with you because you have another job, it’s better to get that out in the open from the beginning.
 
Open a separate business bank account
Keep your personal and business finances separate to make things like budget management, spending and tax returns easier and more clear-cut.
 
Take strict measures to avoid burnout
Don’t cram your schedule with meetings and deadlines because you’ll only end up spreading yourself too thinly and, subsequently, underperforming. It’s important to take time to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy the things you love too.
 
Work with a qualified accountant
With multiple streams of income and the added tax liability of self-employment, your bookkeeping and accounting naturally become a bit more complex. To save yourself time, trouble, and error, do some research about who might be able to help you.
 
It’s time to go out there and explore the opportunities freelancing has to offer!