Fear not, though, as there are a number of things you can do to survive – and even thrive – during this so-called ‘summer slowdown’.
 

Run an expense forecast

Being financially prepared for an income drop is key.

Start by making a list of all the business and household expenses you will need to cover over the summer months. Your financial data from previous months and years can help, providing insights into your typical spending habits.

The next step is using this information to try and plan how you will pay your summer expenses if your income does slow down. It will also help you consider (or reconsider) any major purchases you might be planning.
 

Think about your summer schedule

If you know there’s a certain period (e.g. mid-August) that tends to be particularly slow for you in terms of work coming in, then why not align your own summer getaway with this?

You’ll get to enjoy some much-needed time off without worrying over an empty inbox. You also won’t technically be missing out on any income if you choose to go away during this time, as you don’t normally earn while on holiday.

Rest and relaxation are also vitally important, so there’s that, too.
 

Be clear about the time you’re taking off

Basically, just communicate your holiday plans consistently and often. If you don’t, you might receive work requests while you’re away, especially if you’re in a direct working relationship with a particular company.

Make sure to touch base upon your return, though, letting them know you’re back and available for new projects. (This also just gives you an excuse to reach out.)
 

Take the opportunity to market yourself

If, however, you’d rather keep working over the summer, you should start reaching out to your clients as early as possible and let them know about your continued availability. This will be very much appreciated by project managers in larger agencies, who will be glad to know they can reach out to you when many regular providers are out of the office.

You could also spend the time dedicated to building your online presence, in addition to generating leads. Now is the time to tinker and experiment with new services that complement your current ones. For example, if you’re a blog writer, you could consider offering a content calendar or SEO research.

There’s room for variability, too, as these new services can be add-ons or standalones; just play around and see what works.

They may bring in new clients (which is obviously the aim), but even if they fall short of that for whatever reason, they’ll still add value for existing ones and ultimately generate more revenue for your business.

So it’s kind of a no-brainer.
 

Consider seasonal work

While you may not have considered it, seasonal work can be a great option, affording you the opportunity to earn additional income during dry spells throughout the year – e.g. during summer.

The main selling point is that the work is on a temporary basis, meaning there’s no long-term commitment and you can try new jobs to see if you enjoy them without having to dive in headfirst.

It’s also a chance to upskill in something different and gain valuable experience which can be referenced on your CV, depending on what sort of seasonal work you pick up!

Seasonal employment also allows you to fill in any unemployment or missing income gaps you might have. This might be particularly useful if you’re worried about gaps in your National Insurance record affecting your entitlement to the State Pension in the future.

More broadly, though, you can forge connections within a new company – or even a new industry – and these can lead to future recommendations or job tips. (If you’re asked to do freelance work for an employer, just make sure you don’t fall inside IR35.)

Of course, there’s always the possibility of you being offered a full-time position after your seasonal contract ends.

 
Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post How to Survive the Summer Slowdown as a Freelancer appeared first on Freelancer News.

The first thing you need to do if you want to protect your IP, is get to grips with what Intellectual Property is. When you know what you’re dealing with, you’re in a better position to make the right moves for your business.

What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual Property is something that has been created in the human mind, for example an invention you’ve come up with or a story you’ve written.

When something qualifies as IP, it means it has been protected by law against unauthorised use by anybody other than the person who owns it.

If the person who owns the IP wants to make money by allowing other people to use it, this legal protection makes commercialising it a whole lot easier and far more secure.

What counts as Intellectual Property as a Freelancer?

Based on popular freelance services, these are the kinds of things freelancers can register as their Intellectual Property.

• Designs (e.g. logos, graphics, symbols, prints and websites)
• Photography
• Video content
• Artwork
• Written content like blog posts, guides and video scripts
• Code for things like games, apps and software
• Processes (e.g. templates and workflows)
• Inventions, machines, mechanisms, hardware
• Names (e.g. product names and brand names)

Different types of Intellectual Property

There are different types of IP that something can be registered as and protected under. The main ones being:

• Patent
• Copyright
• Trademark

You can get some types of protection automatically, but others you’ll need to apply for.

Patent

Patents are designed to protect IP related to inventions. In the UK, a patent allows you to take legal action against anyone that uses your invention without permission.

If you’re a freelance developer, for example, and you’ve created new photo editing software, you can patent this process and/or technology so only you can use it.

Copyright

Copyright is specifically targeted at protecting IP related to literature, art, music and dramatic work. So, things like books, songs, films, paintings, textiles and sculptures can be copyrighted, for example.

Copyrighting is also often used to protect software IP, including things like databases, programmes and technical drawings.

Let’s say you’re a freelance interior designer, and you generate a 3D render of a design scheme you have created. You’ll be able to register this as IP and protect it by copyright.

This stops anybody else using your 3D drawings, or the 3D files, technical drawings and models used to create them.

Trademark

Trademarks are used to protect things like business names, product names, logos, sounds, designs and symbols that distinguish one brand from another. This type of IP protection actually dates back centuries to when artisans would put their “mark” on their products to distinguish them from others.

One of the most common ways a freelancer might use a trademark is to protect their brand identity (name, logo, colours, design, etc.) from being used by any other business.

What other types of Intellectual Property are there?

There are other types of Intellectual Property you may not have come across yet. We haven’t detailed them above but they’re still just as important, so we’ll give a brief overview below.

Trade secret

This type of IP protection covers confidential company information relating to something that competitors don’t have, such as formulas or specific processes. McDonald’s Big Mac sauce, the formula of WD-40 and KFC’s recipes are all examples of trade secrets registered as IP.

Industrial design

This type of IP protects a visual design element of something, such as its shape, colour or pattern. The Volkswagen Beetle, the iPhone and the Coca-Cola bottle are all examples of industrial designs covered by IP rights.

Geographical indication

This type of IP protects something from a specific place and which has some form of distinguishable factors related to that location. Champagne from France, Darjeeling tea from India, Swiss watches and Scotch whisky are all examples of GIs protected by IP rights.

Who owns Intellectual Property?

In short, you own intellectual property if you’ve created or invented something, and it meets the necessary requirements for copyright, a patent or design. You can also buy intellectual property rights and sell or transfer your own if you wish.

Unfortunately, if you’re employed, your employer owns the IP of anything you’ve created or invented within their business.

As a freelancer, you own the rights to your own creations, for example things like your logo etc. But, if you’re asked to create or invent something for a client, it’s important to put a contract in place to understand who has the legal rights.

How can I transfer intellectual property rights?

If you want to transfer intellectual property rights, it must be done through a legal process, but which one depends on the circumstances.

The most common ways IP is transferred are:

Purchase

If a business is sold or liquidated, ownership of IP is often reassigned as part of this process. IP can also be sold to a new owner even if the whole business isn’t being sold.

Licensing

Licensing enables the original owner to permit others to use their IP within agreed legal terms. It means they retain ownership but can still commercialise all or part of the creation or invention they own.

Licensing can be exclusive, whereby only specific people are allowed to use the IP, or it can be non-exclusive so the IP is available publicly.

Assignment

This is where all or some IP is reassigned from the original owner to a new one through a legal written document. It’s a permanent change and normally needs to be made official by registering the new ownership with the specific IP authority (e.g. copyright, trademark, etc.).

Mergers and acquisitions

If two companies merge or one acquires the other, ownership of IP will typically be transferred in this process unless otherwise stated in a written agreement.

Inheritance

If the person who owns the IP dies, they may leave it as part of their estate to a beneficiary. In this scenario, the transfer of IP ownership happens through inheritance.

Top IP protection tips

Before you go, here are three top tips to keep your Intellectual Property safe and sound:

• Use watermarks on your work – If you’re sharing things like photos, videos or design previews, add a branded watermark on top so nobody can use the original versions.
• Always use written contracts – As we covered earlier, contracts are super important when dealing with IP protection, so make sure you’re using them. Make sure you’re both in agreement about who owns what in advance and have it documented in writing.
• Consult an IP expert – There are dedicated legal professionals who specialise in Intellectual Property, so speaking to one of those will help ensure everything is watertight.

Looking for more freelancing advice? Head to our hub, where we’ve got a whole host of resources waiting for you.

The post How Do I Protect My Intellectual Property as a Freelancer? appeared first on Freelancer News.

Being your own boss as a freelancer doesn’t mean you have to go it alone all the time. Joining forces with other like-minded professionals has the potential to boost your income, expand your connections and open new doors for your business.

Reasons to collaborate with other freelancers

Although being a freelancer is innately solitary, sometimes strength really does come in numbers. Below are some of the key benefits you could take advantage of when teaming up with fellow freelancers.

Taking on bigger projects

You want to take on a project but it’s just not feasible with the time you have available. There are only so many hours in the day, but that doesn’t mean you have to bypass opportunities.

Rather than miss out on the work and client connection entirely, you could split the project with another freelancer in your field. That way, you still generate some income, and you get to add the client and finished project to your portfolio.

By collaborating with other freelancers, you could also start taking on projects with a wider scope that call for other skill sets or specialisms alongside your own to deliver the brief.

If you work in digital content creation but specialise in video, for example, you could collaborate with a copywriter who can write scripts and campaign copy, and a graphic designer for static imagery. That way, you could offer clients a more comprehensive, full-spec service.

When you choose who you collaborate with, you get to keep more control of the project and give the client a smoother experience.

Strengthening your own business

Collaborating with other freelancers doesn’t always have to mean servicing clients together. You could also enlist the expertise of a freelancer if you require their services to improve your own business in some way.

If you make and sell pottery online, for example, you might want to collaborate with a freelance photographer to help showcase your products in the most polished way possible.

You might even consider looking for a freelance assistant if you’re schedule starts to get particularly hectic.

Making new connections

Not only does making new connections expand your reach, but it also provides you with a network of people you can trust and call on if you need client cover.

If you’re a wedding photographer who is unavailable on a specific date, for example, you can draft in another freelance wedding photographer as a subcontractor or a replacement. That way, the client still has a positive experience of your service.

This works the other way around too; if a freelancer can’t take on a job, they can call you to take it instead.

Learning new skills

If you collaborate with a freelancer who does the same thing as you, you have an opportunity to develop your skills and deepen your knowledge. They may be able to show you some tricks of the trade you didn’t know! It’s experience you might otherwise miss out on without having colleagues or a team around you.

Even if their freelance discipline is very different, it’s still an excellent opportunity to learn more about their industry and how it works in practice.

Unlocking new ideas

When flying solo as a freelancer, it’s easy to get comfortable in an echo chamber of your own thoughts and stuck in your tried-and-tested ways of working.

Collaborating with others is a great way to experience new ideas, fresh perspectives and different ways of doing things. Opening your eyes and mind to this is often the best way to take your business to new heights.

Helping to combat loneliness

Freelancing can get pretty lonely at times, especially if you tend to work from home a lot.

Collaborating with other freelancers, whether in a co-working space or on-site with a client, can burst the solo bubble for a while, which can have a positive impact on your wellbeing and productivity.

Things to consider when working with other freelancers

Hopefully we’ve managed to convince you that there are many benefits to collaborating with other freelancers. Below are some important things to consider helping you ensure any co-working relationship runs smoothly and in the best interest of your business.

Contractual agreements

When working with other freelancers, it’s advisable to each sign a contract to protect your work, your Intellectual Property (IP) and your confidential information – and to prevent your clients from being poached.

Ideally, you’ll only ever collaborate with people you trust, but it still can’t hurt to take protective precautionary measures.

Transparent communication with clients

You don’t have to tell your clients all the ins and outs of your working relationships but there might come a point when it would be considerate to let a client know if there is someone else involved in a project of theirs – if they aren’t already aware. Client communications are important!

Common courtesy is one reason but there may also be legal reasons why the client should know. If they’re working on a project that hasn’t been launched yet, they may require everybody involved to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Be selective about who you collaborate with

Even when you collaborate with somebody on a project or piece of work, you’re still putting your name to it. This means you need to make sure any freelancer you team up with is going to uphold the standards you want clients to associate you with.

Who you work with can have a positive or negative impact on your reputation as a freelancer in your industry. The onus is on you to ensure you’ve done sufficient background research before embarking on any kind of collaborative working relationship!

Head over to our freelancer information hub for more guides, tips, and advice.

The post Why Your Freelance Business Could Benefit From Collaborating With Other Freelancers appeared first on Freelancer News.

If you’re keeping an eye on the budget, we have a separate blog which explains some of the best places to work from for free.

In this article we explore the benefits of co-working spaces for those who prefer not to work from home, or just want to get out of the house from time to time.

We also share advice on how to find co-working spaces in Manchester and spotlight seven co-workspaces in the city to steer you in the right direction.

The benefits of co-working spaces

Whether you choose to work in a co-working space full-time, part-time or just on an ad hoc basis, there are so many benefits this brings to the table, including:

• A better work-life balance
• Improved focus, concentration and productivity
• Networking opportunities and the chance to meet new clients and like-minded professionals
• A sense of belonging to a community
• Giving your business a stronger reputation and impressing clients
• Reducing your own at-home utility expenditure
• The chance to work in a diverse range of different spaces and places — even around the world

Where can I find a co-working space in Manchester?

There are now thought to be more than 6,000 co-working spaces across the UK – a number that continues to rise all the time. So, as you can imagine, when it comes to finding a co-workspace in Manchester city centre and beyond, you’re spoilt for choice.

Google search, social media platforms and requesting word-of-mouth recommendations from peers are some of the best ways to find the co-working space(s) that will tick your boxes. You can tap into honest opinions from real-life co-workers and use these to help you navigate your options.

Some of the best co-workspaces in Manchester

To get you started, here are seven co-working spaces in Manchester for you to check out next time you’re looking to host a meeting with a client or simply take a break from working at your kitchen table.

Use.Space

Where? UseSpace, Paddock Street M12 6PN
When? Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm
Membership cost? From £89pm
Day passes available? Yes (£25 full day, £15 half day)
Dog-friendly? Yes

This independent co-working space in Ardwick is nestled in a historic building in one of the most up-and-coming parts of the city. It’s only a 10-minute walk away from Piccadilly train station but being slightly outside the very centre of Manchester means you can benefit from spacious on-site parking.

With its botanical decor, bustling co-working cafe, indoor greenhouse and flexible combination of hot desks, private offices and meeting rooms, Use.Space is a popular spot for solo workers and small businesses alike.

WeWork (Manchester)

Where? Multiple locations
When? Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm
Membership cost? From £149 per month
Day passes available? Yes
Dog-friendly? Yes

WeWork is one of the most globally recognised co-working brands around the world, so if you travel a lot, this one is a good option for somewhere that will feel familiar wherever you are.

WeWork offers private offices, dedicated desks in a shared office, open-plan hot desks and meeting room hire, so whether you’re a solo freelancer or working with a team, there’s sure to be something to suit.

Beehive Lofts

Where? Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Ancoats M4 6JG
When? Open 24 hours
Membership cost? From £185 per month
Day passes available? No
Dog-friendly? Yes

Dubbing itself ‘Manchester’s most luxurious co-working space’, Beehive Lofts features quirky interior design, eclectic furniture and a diverse array of different types of work settings.

It offers ‘the productivity of an office with the comforts of home’, complete with hammocks, pool tables and lounges alongside the key necessities like meeting rooms, desk space, breakout areas, etc.

People buzz about Beehive lofts for its affordable prices and 24/7 access – as a freelancer, you often work around the clock so having somewhere with 100% flexibility is a huge bonus.

Flagship Spaces (Manchester)

Where? 27 Turner Street M4 1DG
When? Monday-Friday, 8:30 am–5 pm
Membership cost? Enquire for details
Day passes available? Yes from £15 per day
Dog-friendly? Only in larger contained offices, not small offices or communal areas.

The Flagship group offers ‘a thoughtful collection of flexible workspaces and co-working offices, designed with the agile modern business in mind’, with other locations in Bristol and LA.

The Manchester base is nestled in the Northern Quarter, which is one of the city’s trendiest hot spots where you’ll be surrounded by some of the north west’s most dynamic creative brands and businesses.

Spaces include private offices, dedicated desks, open shared workspaces, breakout areas, an eight-seater meeting room and quiet spaces designed for focus and privacy. Plus, state-of-the-art Herman Miller furniture made with ergonomics in mind.

Colony

Where? Multiple locations
When? Monday-Friday, 8:45 am–5:30 pm
Membership cost? From £200 per month
Day passes available? Yes
Dog-friendly? Yes

Colony has a network of co-working spaces across the city so wherever you need to be in Manchester, there’ll be one pretty close by.

What’s on offer? Furnished private workspaces that you can customise to suit you, whether you’re working solo or as part of a large team, desking in a shared workspace, and 20 meeting rooms around the city.

Flexible contracts and access to any Colony site are perfect for freelancers who need something that can adapt to their schedule.

Huckletree (Manchester)

Where? The Express Building, 9 Great Ancoats Street M4 5AD
When? Monday-Friday, 8.30am-6pm
Membership cost? From £175 per month
Day passes available? Yes
Dog-friendly? For members only

As well as the key amenities like meeting rooms, desks and private offices, other things you can benefit from at Huckletree are:

• A custom-built podcast recording booth
• Privacy phone booths and focus booths
• Flexible membership options
• Modern design and tech facilities
• Wellness event and open mic nights
• Bike parking
• On-site shower facilities

One of the things people love most about Huckletree co-working spaces are the purpose-built event spaces. So, if you’re planning something for your event calendar like a networking event, presentation or client workshop, this is an option worth exploring.

Clockwise (Manchester)

Where? Linley House, Dickinson Street M1 4LF
When? Open 24 hours
Membership cost? From £115 per month
Day passes available? Yes, £20 per day
Dog-friendly? For private offices only

Clockwise co-working spaces all pride themselves on delivering four key things in equal measure: functionality, flexibility, service and connectivity.

Based in a former electricity station that once powered the whole of Manchester, this beautiful building is steeped in history but the interior is fresh and modern with a welcoming community vibe. Services at Clockwise include:

• Meeting rooms
• Desking
• Private offices
• A podcast recording studio
• Breakout areas
• Club Lounges
• On-site cafe
• Event spaces
• Collaborative technology
• Bike storage
• 24/7 access

What to look for in a co-working space

Co-working spaces come at a cost, so it’s important to get your money’s worth by choosing the ones that meet as many of your needs as possible.

Of course, this will be personal to you but there are some key general factors that might affect your selection when scoping out your options, such as:

• A fast, reliable internet connection
• Good public transport links
• On-site car parking
• Perks like free tea, coffee and snacks (not 100% necessary but always nice)

Some other important things to consider when selecting a co-working space are:

Flexible opening hours

The life of freelancer very rarely fits neatly within the confines of a traditional 9-5. This freedom is one of the best things about freelancing but it also means you need a co-working space that offers flexible access and working hours that suit your schedule.

Community events

As well as assessing the facilities and amenities a co-working space has to offer, check its website and social media profiles out to get a feel for the culture.

This might also help you get an idea of what (if any) types of community events they offer to visitors and members and see if they float your boat.

Shared community events are a brilliant way to get to know other freelancers, meet new people and make contact with other professionals who could even become your next clients.

Childcare facilities on site

Some co-working spaces offer on-site childcare services and facilities, giving you the opportunity to focus on your work or deliver that presentation, whilst knowing your kids are being well looked after and in the same building.

Dog-friendly

Most co-working spaces in Manchester are dog-friendly or offer specific dog-friendly hours where you can bring your pooch along.

Check out our freelancer information hub for even more guides, news, and advice.

The post What are the Best Co-Working Spaces in Manchester? appeared first on Freelancer News.

The trouble is, there are three things that can be pretty tricky to come by if you’re a freelance seller: time, money, and physical space to hold stock.

Fortunately, you don’t always need all of these, thanks to the increasing popularity of the dropshipping business model.

What is dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a type of business model, or ‘order fulfilment method’, where the retailer sells products to customers without actually owning or managing any tangible stock.

In its fullest sense, dropshipping allows online sellers to sell, and make a profit from, products that have been produced, stored and often, shipped by a third party.

For example, you list an item for sale on Amazon, and when the order comes through, you notify a third party, who then ships the item to the customer. The shipper takes a cut of the sale price, leaving you with what’s left (and the platform fees).

The dropship business model is most commonly used by online retailers who sell products to their customers via their own website and/or other external ecommerce platform(s). Online retailers who operate through the dropship process don’t actually own or hold any of the items they sell as inventory.

You won’t waste money on over-ordering stock

The nature of the dropship business model means you don’t have to order or hold inventory, which means you reduce, and even mitigate, the risk of purchasing too much stock and not being able to sell it.

With dropshipping, you simply wait for a customer to order and then use your third-party supplier to fulfil. Nothing is wasted. This protects your cash flow and also makes for more accurate forecasting and budgeting.

No storage facility overheads

When you dropship the products you sell, you don’t need to worry about the hassle or the cost of securing and managing storage space. Not only does this reduce the upfront costs of starting your business, but it also keeps ongoing overheads down.

More flexibility

The dropship model makes it easy to scale and evolve your offering. It’s far easier to switch up the products you sell when you aren’t having to purchase and store inventory.

Plus, dropshipping also allows for more lifestyle flexibility as you aren’t tethered to stock that is stored at a specific location. Technically, you could run your online dropship business from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

How does the dropship business model work?

You might set up your own website, or you might set up a store on an online marketplace such as Etsy or Amazon.

• Research what customers want: Take the time to see what others are doing, and what items sell well using the dropshipping method.
• Source your suppliers: Research suppliers or wholesalers who will dropship the items you want to sell.
• Import product listings: Once you’ve secured your suppliers you can import product listings and descriptions into your online store. You can normally set your own prices and branding at this point.
• Marketing and promotion: Unless you’re selling private label or produce-on-demand goods, the chances are there are other sellers who are promoting the same products. Put a creative marketing plan together to make sure you stand out in the marketplace.
• Wait for the customer to place an order: This one needs no explanation, right? Now, it’s time to wait!
• The supplier fulfils shipment: The supplier picks, packs, and ships the order directly to the customer on your behalf, you don’t even have to lift a finger. However, the package often includes your branding and contact information, so the customer will assume it has come directly from you.
• Order is delivered to the customer: The customer receives their product and is (hopefully) happy and satisfied with their order.

Research what dropshipping products work particularly well

Picking the right products is crucial to retail success – this is true of any business model, whether it’s dropship or anything else.

Home in on your target customer base and find out what they’re really looking for and then meet this demand with products that will turn their heads and keep them coming back.

Granted, you won’t be left with unsold stock on your hands if the products you’re trying to promote don’t rouse any interest from your target audience, but it won’t exactly drive sustained business growth.

If your business is new, it might take a bit of trial and error to find the best suppliers and figure out what products your customers are looking to purchase. Be patient, and conduct thorough analysis as you go.

Source your dropshipping suppliers

One of the main things to be wary of if you do decide to work from a dropship model is that your business will only succeed if you have quality, reliable suppliers.

You need your dropshippers to be reputable suppliers that will provide consistently good products and be able to fulfil orders on time.

At the end of the day, if a product you sell is unsatisfactory or if there are problems with order fulfilment or delivery, the customer will be complaining about you and your brand, not the supplier.

Do some thorough research to protect the reputation of your brand and your all-important customer experience.

Find even more advice and guidance for freelancers in our handy info hub!

The post The Freelancer’s Guide to Dropshipping appeared first on Freelancer News.

In fact, research published by IPSE (The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) revealed that most (87%) of those self-employed have worked remotely in the past year.

Not only are more and more people working remotely, but they’re also working in an increasingly nomadic way. IPSE’s study also found that only a quarter (26%) of those self-employed always work in one place.

There are many positives about remote working but one of the main stumbling blocks can be the associated costs. Hot desks and internet cafes, for example, can be pretty expensive if you use them on a regular basis, cutting into your precious profits.

The benefits of changing your work setting regularly

You might now be wondering why so many people switch up where they work on a regular basis when they could simply set up and stay right where they are. Well, there are actually a number of benefits that come of having a change of scenery from time to time, including:

• Meeting new people and having conversations you might not otherwise have
• Making new connections, which potentially leads to new clients
• Stimulation for all of the senses
• Tapping into new sources of inspiration
• A healthy separation between where you work and where you relax, which can be difficult to strike when you work from home permanently
• Chance to see new places, whether they’re local to you or a journey away

Where can a freelancer work for free?

With all of the above in mind, here are a whole host of different places you can work free (or nearly free), so you can go about your freelance business without breaking the bank.

Your very own home office

Okay, so this location isn’t technically free because you have to pay to kit it out. Plus, it’s your name on the utility bills when it comes to things like gas, electricity, and internet connection.

However, setting up a home-based workspace is a great way to avoid the hefty costs of co-working space contracts and private office rentals. Rolling out of bed straight to your desk (via the kettle) also means you can snip commute costs completely.

As a self-employed taxpayer, you are also able to claim tax relief against some of your costs and allowable expenses, which helps reduce your outgoings too.

Your local cafe (or even a coffee shop further afield)

That’s the beauty of remote working, you really can be anywhere in the world. Whether you’re around the corner from where you live or somewhere much further away, cafes are great places freelancers can go and work for free.

You can sit down, plug in, and crack on. The only things you’ll need to spend any money on are the lattes and pastries you’ll inevitably find irresistible.

Top tip: Make sure to eat well around your sessions working at cafes so that you don’t end up spending more than you’re earning.

Co-working spaces (they don’t always have to cost a lot)

Freelancer life hack: do some research and find co-working spaces near you that offer free trial days or even free trial periods. This will allow you to reap all the rewards of co-working life without having to foot any of the cost.

Your client’s office

IPSE’s research revealed that 57% of those self-employed work from their client’s premises at least occasionally, with a third doing so for a majority of the time.

Working from a client’s office is a great way to save yourself some cash, as well as being a brilliant way to build strong client relationships.

Just be careful with this though. If you’re working full-time at your client’s office, are you basically an employee in all but name? There are strict rules around this, which have implications for paying tax.

A library near or far

Whether you’re near home or travelling further afield, libraries are the perfect place to rock up with your laptop and tackle your to-do list free of charge. The added bonus is that there are normally other facilities such as printers and photocopiers on-site, too.

Plus, the peace and quiet is often a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of life outside the library walls.

The airport lounge (or a less-glamorous train station)

Does your freelance work take you on your travels a lot? Use the time waiting around in places like airports and train stations wisely by finding a quiet spot with a plug socket and getting on with some work.

Almost a quarter (24%) of IPSE’s self-employed respondents say their remote work happens whilst travelling.

Get down to work after a workout at the gym

A lot of gyms will have seating areas or even on-site cafes where you can work comfortably for a few hours completely free of charge.

Not only does this help you spend less money, but it also encourages you to get more physical activity during the working day – something many super-busy self-employed people could certainly benefit from in terms of health and wellbeing.

Wherever you choose to pitch up, just make sure you’ve got access to everything you need, including a fast and reliable broadband connection – the most important tool for most people (78%), according to the same study.

Your favourite museum (or one you’ve never visited before)

Museums are one of the lesser-known remote working spots but a real hidden gem when it comes to finding somewhere to work for free as a thrifty freelancer.

Choose one you love or even venture to a museum you’ve never been to before to catch a new exhibition while you’re there—a fantastic way to break up the working day.

Top tip: Although you’re looking to save cash, it’s always a nice touch if you can spare some loose change to donate to any museum you work in. A little goes a long way in supporting the projects they run and the incredible buildings they upkeep.

Get more advice and catch up on all the latest news over on our Freelancer Hub!

The post Places You Can Work Remotely from for Free appeared first on Freelancer News.

What is a phishing attack?

A phishing attack is a specific category of cyber attack. They aim to manipulate victims into opening an email, text message or even an instant message sent by an attacker pretending to be a trusted sender.

Typically, it involves the recipient receiving a link to click. They’re usually then encouraged to provide sensitive data, such as credit card details or log in information.

This might sound like something you would never fall for but freelancer, trust us. These sophisticated attackers can be extremely convincing.

The facts and figures of phishing attacks

According to recent research published by cyber security experts, Centrify, the majority of UK business decision-makers are bracing themselves for a sharp spike in COVID-related phishing attacks.

The survey includes large and medium enterprises across the country, with 64% anticipating an increase in attacks.

The same set of findings also reveals that 52% expect to see a hike in cyber attacks following lockdowns across the UK.

A lack of cyber preparation

Despite concerns, Centrify found a significant 37% have no plans to train employees on the cyber security risks businesses are facing. Nor do they have any current data management policies.

Even more worryingly, a further 37% admitted having inadequate systems to verify the identities of employees accessing company data.

According to Chief Revenue Officer at Centrify, Howard Greenfield, COVID-themed email, SMS and web-based phishing attacks have not been uncommon over the last year.

“So far we’ve seen cyber attack campaigns using the guise of charity, government financial aid initiatives, and business support schemes already lure thousands of victims into leaking sensitive information, such as log-in credentials and payment details.”

He went on to add how important it is that companies adopt a zero trust approach to protecting their data. Greenfield urges businesses to ensure that leaked log-in credentials do not necessarily translate to a breach of data.

Does it affect freelancers?

As a freelancer, you may read this and feel that these kinds of issues only really impact larger businesses.

You would be right in assuming that the risk is certainly higher for companies over freelance professionals. In reality, when it comes to cyber attacks, nobody is completely safe.

With that in mind, we’ve put together some advice on how you can protect yourself against online scams and cyber attacks.

Our top cyber security tips for freelancers in 2021

The International Data Corporation (IDC) expects the worldwide security spend to surpass $174 by 2024. This would be a compound annual growth rate of more than 8% between 2020-2024 (Forbes).

If you don’t have a huge budget to allocate to cyber security there are still a few simple things to help you protect your business.

Ensure all passwords are strong

Many websites, systems and software now prompt you to create a password that is a unique combination of upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers and symbols.

Browsers such as Chrome have a feature to suggest strong passwords. It’ll even store it in a password manager for you.

Change passwords regularly

Changing your passwords on a regular basis is a great way to bolster your online protection. Experts recommend doing this every three months, so set a reminder so you never forget to do it.

Where it’s an option, it’s also worth taking advantage of two-factor authentication. This digital tools allows you to implement an additional layer of security.

Your initial login will trigger a request for further credentials, such as texting you a code to provide.

Invest in antivirus software

Some people make the mistake of thinking that a firewall provides sufficient cyber protection but quite often, this isn’t true.

Boost your defences by investing in an antivirus programme that will assess things like websites, emails and downloads for any potential risk.

Keep all of your devices and software up-to-date

Ensure that you stay on top of system updates and software updates on all of your devices. Doing so helps them remain effective against current threats as they evolve.

Failing to do so might leave you vulnerable to attack, despite other security measures in place.

Always work from a place with a secure connection

One of the most appealing things about being a freelancer is the ability to remain flexible when choosing where you work from.

Sometimes it might be from the comfort of your own sofa. Other times it’s from a local cafe, or a hotel lobby on the other side of the world.

The consequence of this is that you’re often changing the network you’re working from and not all of these networks will offer a secure connection.

To defend yourself from cybercrime more effectively, ensure you’re using a secure connection, if you can.

Your online presence and data is extremely precious so it’s important to stay vigilant out there, freelancer!

Still thinking about freelancing? Check out our articles and guides about starting out as a freelancer.

The post Protect Against a Rise in Phishing and Cyber Attacks Against Businesses appeared first on Freelancer News.

While this may not be the most exciting part about being a freelancer, it is certainly one of the most important.

You can book as many jobs with as many clients as you can, but if you are not organised you will find yourself strapped for cash, missing important deadlines and damaging your relationship with clients.

So here are some more tips to help you get your business organised and on track.

1. Organise your contacts

While some of us still fondly remember the days of a paper address book, today’s online world simply demands more.

An online contact system will allow you to search easily across multiple categories, and organise your contacts into useful groupings.

It’s definitely worth keeping notes on each contact, about their needs and past projects you worked on.

This gives you a list of people you could contact again for new work and also helps if they contact you. The notes will be a good way to remind yourself of previous projects.

2. Set up Google alerts for your area of expertise

Staying abreast of the relevant news in your industry is non-negotiable. If you want to stay on the top of your game and learn about new industry developments, trends and breakthroughs, it pays to read the industry news.

Rather than scrolling through your social media accounts to find these articles or navigating to specific websites or blogs, simply set up a Google alert. This will deliver relevant news stories directly to your inbox based on the keywords that you choose.

If you have a blog or social media accounts (if not then you probably should) you can use these news stories to share with people in your network. This helps to give you more authority and also becomes a reason for people to interact with you through these channels.

3. Make sure you take time off!

This one may not sound like much of a ‘hack’ or a tip, but you would be surprised at how many freelancers neglect to take a reasonable amount of time off.

While they might feel like they are ‘buckling down’ and displaying a solid work ethic, they are actually in the process of burning themselves out. If you do not take a reasonable amount of time off per week to focus on yourself, your friends and family, your work will ultimately suffer.

How do you stay organised? Do you take enough time off for yourself? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

The post 3 More Ways Freelancers Can Get Organised appeared first on Freelancer News.

Like folding paper.

Crowdsourcing Solutions

NASA has again teamed up with Freelancer.com, the world’s largest crowdsourcing and freelancing marketplace, to crowdsource solutions for three new challenges.

In the past, NASA and Freelancer.com have collaborated on 29 contests, attracting over 6,800 contest entries from freelancers from 123 countries.

The projects have included creating 3D models to train the image recognition system of the Robonaut R2 robotic astronaut on the International Space Station; the design and programming of a smartwatch interface for use by astronauts and a robotic arm design for the Astrobee, the next generation of free flying robot on the International Space Station.

Now, Freelancer.com and NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI) have released their latest challenges. NASA has called on professionals worldwide to submit entries for three challenges:

• A contest to create an animation storyboard for a two-minute video or animation for the REALM (RFID-Enabled Autonomous Logistics Management) to describe the experiments to more accurately track items in space habitats for a non-technical audience.
• A challenge to use origami folding concepts to pack and deploy radiation shielding for a Mars transfer vehicle that will take humans into deep space. The shielding will protect against galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and the human travellers against cancer risk – a huge challenge for space exploration.
• A mission patch design contest for NASA’s In Space Manufacturing Refabricator project. In 2015, the NASA’s In Space Manufacturing (ISM) project made history by sending the first 3D printer to the International Space Station (ISS) and manufacturing the first parts ever in space. Now the “Refabricator” effort looks to take that process further by recycling plastic in space to reuse as other 3D printed parts. The product should graphically convey the key theme of space exploration, recycling of materials, and on-demand manufacturing. The graphic will be used in multiple ways including in presentations, on team items (mugs, shirts, etc) and in materials developed for education and public outreach.

NASA’s says all the challenges “are aimed at people who are passionate about NASA and space exploration and have a talent for creative ideas and design.”

The Power of Human Ingenuity

Freelancer.com CEO Matt Barrie said, “We’re calling upon our 24 million users to imagine how robots can automatically prepare the space environment for human arrival, making life easier and more secure for the incoming astronauts.

NASA represents some of the very best ideas that our planet has to offer and I’m sure our community will once again show the power of human ingenuity.”

Fancy having a go – and telling everyone you freelance for NASA?!

You can find out more about the challenges here and learn about the experiment in detail on the NASA website:

• RFID-Enabled Autonomous Logistics Management (​REALM)
• Space Radiation Program Element
• In Space Manufacturing

The post Fancy Freelancing For… NASA? appeared first on Freelancer News.

Lacking virtual courtesy

When someone shares your post or mentions you, it’s always great practise to just thank them. If someone has taken the time to share something that you’ve done out of all the things on the internet at their disposal, that’s a huge compliment and it’s also doing your marketing a favour. So just thank them, and they’ll be more likely to do it again in future.

That being said, if you do have an incredibly popular social media account and you’re getting this a 100 times a day, you’re not expected to speak to every single one. Throwing a thank you here and there is just a great way to show appreciation and also gives you a spike in engagement and therefore reach.

Also, if whoever has shared your post has something that your audience could also find useful, don’t be afraid to show a little reciprocation and share their content too.

Not making connections

The clue is in the name social media, so actually be sociable. Sometimes people forget this and simply post without engaging with people. You’ll find that most people are quite happy to talk about stuff all over social media platforms. You’re all there for the same reason, so get involved.

You don’t have to bombard people with overly formal business and marketing proposals. This is more about connecting casually and making yourself visible. Then should you want to approach someone from a business point of view, the conversation can go a lot smoother if they are already aware of you.

Some people, freelancers and larger businesses seem to think that by following someone, unfollowing them and then following them again is a good way to get attention and therefore sales. Well, it’s just not. You’re more likely to just irritate people and put them off from ever giving you their business.

Bombarding everyone with ads

While the main reason you might be on social media is to advertise your services, the key thing to remember is that people don’t like being sold to. Do you? Don’t your eyes just glaze over when you see someone selling something on Twitter? Do you ever follow accounts that spout out tweet after tweet about how amazing their services are? No of course not.

Nowadays especially, with all the other businesses flooding social media, you have to stand out. The way to do this is to provide an incentive for people. Give them something and they might just give you something, their time.

Posting too much or too little

Don’t bombard your audience but also don’t lose their attention. If you’re tweeting every five minutes, expect to lose a few followers. On the other hand, if you’re only doing it once a week, you simply won’t be getting the engagement you need to make conversions.

There is no simple answer to how much you should post. You will probably have to experiment a bit and pay attention to the results. You will also be able to work out what days and times of day are best for engagement and then you can create a more streamlined approach to your social media marketing.

Sticking to the same things over and over again

Social media is not a static thing. Something that has worked in the past might not work in the future. Things change and you need to keep on top of this. You need to see what other people are doing on social media, including your competitors.

Keeping on top of current affairs and trending topics is always important so you can be as relevant as possible. Keep your accounts fresh, try new things and see where they get you. Check out new hashtags or Twitter chats and connect with likeminded people to always be on the lookout for that new audience.

Not standing out

People tend to prefer visual information so pictures, graphics and videos are all popular ways of standing out in the social media market. Think about creating infographics, which tend to have high engagement rates and people are more likely to share them with others.

Self-promotion doesn’t come naturally to many people so it can be difficult to market yourself effectively over social media if you’re a freelancer working alone. You might not want to make waves, when that’s exactly what you should be doing.

Have you got anything to add or have you ever made any of these mistakes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Freelancers, are you making any of these common social media mistakes? appeared first on Freelancer News.