Tag: success

Networking to Make Your Freelance Businesses Successful

Posted on by Feedni Admin

With the lifestyle possibilities, the freedom of working hours, and no longer being considered a side-hustle, the freelance route is more popular than ever before, but the unpredictability of the market, not to mention the recent disturbances, makes freelancer life challenging, some months having a surplus of customers, to suddenly having non and not knowing when you will receive your next payment.

If you are amongst the collective, offering services such as graphic design, marketing, blogging, or PR to name a few, you may be sitting on all the skills required but without a consistent stream of bookings, you may find yourself in a dilemma to remain financially comfortable. As a freelancer, acquiring customers is one of the biggest challenges you will face, your greatest means for generating customers is to network, network, network!

Networking

Although a great amount of work is available through various platforms and websites, there are also a plethora of freelancers ready to pounce immediately, therefore, you need to be proactive and find alternative sources.

With the reduced reach and budgets of freelance businesses, networking is your biggest customer-generator in addition to word-of-mouth referrals, this is where you can capitalise on networking possibilities designed to connect like-minded individuals in your geographic location, forming business relationships with those who can book your service, refer you to their peers, put your name out there amongst their networks, or mutually create business opportunities and ventures.

Freelancers can connect potential customers through various websites for example InterNations, the largest online expat community.

Another valuable gateway to a diverse range of potential customers is to attend business and even social networking events, it could be as simple as a local sports group or the community service clubs, where you can make connections with individuals based in your locality, building a pipeline of contacts in various organisations, who may not require your service immediately, but may do the following month, or know somebody else who does.

Networking can be made even easier if you have companions with you, acting as an icebreaker, consider taking along other freelancers who can also benefit from networking for their specialist fields, making the entire process more enjoyable and rewarding for all, they, in turn, would invite you to other events you may not have otherwise known of.

Benefits of Networking

Customer acquisition is the primary objective, however, networking provides much more than just your revenue stream, it is an opportunity to get a feel for what others are doing and to learn how to adapt the knowledge into your own business, including:

– Discovery of gaps you may have in your business. Taking the newfound knowledge and incorporating it into your own business to fill spaces you were not aware of.

– Understand how your approach is unique to others, taking this information and emphasising your contrasting stance to others in your field.

– Learn new trends in the market from the real world and in real-time, so you can act upon them simultaneously as others, rather than reacting to them afterwards.

– Identify best practices to align your service accordingly.

– Gaining credibility in the market by meeting and discussing topics with people, sharing your valuable insight.

– Grow your social network and enjoy the reason you became a freelancer in the first place, to give yourself an improved work/life balance.

Conclusion

For any business, one of the biggest concerns stems from a lack of customers, this is increased for freelancers who have no retail space for organic foot flow, but as discussed in this article, your ability to generate customers simply takes a different form, the power of networking. Yes, there are social media channels and various digital marketing tools, but never underestimate the power of networking for business growth, making genuine connections, without a torrent of similar freelancers standing in your way.

You may already be doing great, which is wonderful, but hopefully, you may have picked up a few additional points in this article to assist you further on your journey.

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

Credits: https://www.internations.org

2020, The Year Interrupted by the Unexpected. What Lessons Did We Learn Which Can Prepare our Business for Future Disruptions?

Posted on by Feedni Admin
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What an unexacted year, full of uncertainty and a real wake-up call for us all.


Starting like any other, easing into the highly anticipated year of Expo 2020, Euro 2020, and the Tokyo Olympics. Then it happened… the Coronavirus outbreak. Who could have known it was going to become the largest global pandemic since the Spanish Flu Pandemic 100 years before? 

There was continuing uncertainty unfolding about our health, business, and future.

As the days turned to weeks, the realisation was clear, we are all in this for the long run, we need to re-evaluate the way we work in this unfamiliar territory forced upon. Then before we knew it, we were in 2021! So let us look at ways to potentially future proof ourselves for future turmoil.

Actions to incorporate

The hybrid business model has shown great promise for businesses returning to regular routines, working flexibly between home and office, emerging back into office life with adjustments for improved health and safety procedures such as lower capacity offices. 

Hybrid business models have also given rise to dynamic roles as opposed to traditional single-focused positions. The new working life demands adaptable and fluid positions to pick up the slack caused by disruptions, whether it is somebody away sick, reduced staff due to financial cutbacks, or simply expanding responsibilities of existing employees, to step up when required. 

Embrace digital technology because there is no avoiding it in today’s market, the expanding functionality of digital devices and resources, requires businesses to conform to these advances if they plan to remain competitive. Appoint digital marketing as your primary communication tool, it is your safest option to remain active regardless of external influences. 

Migrating to cloud-based servers or offering online services through video calling software both bypass the need for a physical presence, so take advantage of such tools to support the flexibility of conducting your business.

Create a systematic structure to maintain operational workflow, buffering against any external influences which would ordinarily create an unbalance to productivity. This comes down to self-management from each employee, but it must be initiated as a collective workforce, so individuals are aligned to the expected structure. 

Management plays a pivotal part in the preparation, both line management and personal management. If you are efficiently trained by motivated by supervisory management, you gain the knowledge and skillset required to execute your role. Personal management is just as important, being accountable for your workload and remaining composed during unstable times. 

Become innovative, thinking outside the box and identifying alternative solutions. When most were put on the spot during the pandemic, it took a long time to find solutions because they were not prepared. It is best to put innovative thinking into practice in everyday situations, training this skill just as any other.

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Conclusion

The world is unpredictable, so take action to prepare for further unexpected disruptions. Make sure you establish a secure footing, geared towards the forward progressions discussed. A structured workflow, coupled with an opportune outlook will provide the mental and physical grounding required to overcome potential unrest. 

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

The Service Industry Challenges when Transitioning to Digital

Posted on by Feedni Admin

Although there are a plethora of digital possibilities now available at our fingertips, it is not always an easy passage to transition from your existing process, especially when faced with technical language, unfamiliar practices, and potentially costly expenditure. 

Going digital in simple terms is the journey of recreating your business model, using digital technology to aid your everyday tasks, streamlining, and improving various aspects of your business, including: 

  • Productivity
  • Sustainability
  • Profitability
  • Future adaptability
  • Customer satisfaction/retention

Let us examine some of the major challenges involved in the transformation process and how to overcome these obstacles…

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Basic I.T. capabilities

We are currently living in the computer age, the fortunate ones who were schooled in Information Technology are now fairly tech-savvy, those who were educated pre-I.T class are more likely to possess only basic computer skills, making the transition of your business from paper-based to digital much more complicated. 

Outsourcing becomes the go-to option in most cases, however, to become holistically digital requires a full digital vision and plan, it would be a grave mistake to assign the task to an external or even internal I.T. department alone and expect the business to just work. 

The ideal solution to overcome this obstacle is to implement software catered to your computer skill range, additionally, something which is primarily autonomous and reduces human interaction to prevent becoming overwhelmed. If budget allows, you can consider hiring digital specialists or outsource to consultants to support your in-house team. 

Lacking a digital vision/plan

As they say, failing to plan is planning to fail, and planning is a major challenge when trying to transition into an unknown capacity such as a digital business when your limited knowledge continuously creates hesitation. It is not uncommon for businesses to generate an idea, settle on a rough timeframe, and then poorly execute the partially-formed plan without a clear vision of their destination such as using their existing organisational structure which is aligned to the present workflow, eventually realising that it does not function the same way.

Your organisational structure and workflows will all require an overhaul to account for the differences digital advances will provide. It is recommended to consult a specialist in the field who has experience handling your business niche. 

Neglecting risk assessment

The process of change produces countless barriers throughout the process, many of which are overlooked or worse, disregarded. Throughout the planning stage of a business reorganisation, it is common to only account for the typical risks known for the existing process, not the proposed digital model. 

Your digital plan should include a risk assessment to a digital organisation, which account for relevant dangers when transitioning to a digital formation you are not mindful of. The expertise of external risk consultants are worth investing in, it can potentially save you vast amounts of time and resources.

Narrow mindset

A big drawback during times of change is maintaining a fixed mindset, shutting down fresh ideas and suggestions. Tenacious leadership and a problematic stance will cause a hindrance to progression, especially when dealing with a field you have little experience in. 

For the sake of succeeding in your endeavor, you must be open and flexible, with a clear vision of the goal to create the least resistance possible throughout the shift.

Change of management

The sudden arrival of the recent pandemic made it evidently apparent, and unfortunate, that the existing management was far too rigid in times of necessary change. It is never an easy change to replace staff, especially in smaller businesses considering the service and dedication given over the years, however, a conversion from analogue to digital requires a drastic shakeup, so you need to eliminate barriers who may stubbornly be set in their ways and are not supportive in the transition for long-term success. 

A similar notion applies to employees who present the human factor of reluctance, possible due to the threat of redundancy. 

The ideal solution, for both small and large organisations, would be to show your loyalty by providing training and support for those who are keen and committed to the prosperity of the business, to secure their employment within the company. 

Volumes of physical documents to process 

Capturing customer data on paper was standard procedure for a very long time, but with the industry progressing around you with electronic data capture and cloud-based storage, you are now disadvantaged in your stagnant position. Now facing the monumental task of trying to convert your paper records into digital information. 

For businesses with large volumes of hand-written data, unique organisations such as Ant.Works can digitise your documents, using cognitive machine reading to support your shift to a digital future, opening the possibility of cloud-based storage with zero physical space required and remote accessibility. 

Budgetary constraints

Especially a concern for smaller businesses, financial limitations cause a hindrance when trying to go digital, escalating into greater concerns when poor planning causes miscalculation and misallocation of funds. 

The best approach to allocating funds is extensive research and alignment to your digitisation plan. Understanding exactly what tools and technology you intend to have, based on your individual tactics to fulfil your customer’s requirements. This action plan will identify long-term objectives to structure your transition, allowing a clear alignment of your financials.

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Conclusion

Putting aside the daunting prospect of change, the benefits of discarding your existing legacy systems, to unlock potential advantages through an updated model relevant for today’s market warrants the journey to a digital transition. The possibilities and capabilities will expand exponentially, even if you transition at a steady pace at your comfort level. So, take some time to develop a digital plan, address the hurdles discuss, and transform your business into a competitive force for the market.   

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

Credits: 

https://www.ant.works/brochure/cognitive-machine-reading-plus

How to Distinguish Yourself from Other Service Providers

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Most than likely, your business is overlapping multiple providers within your sector, this is nothing new or disconcerting, it is a part of every business and must be tackled head-on, with the correct measures in place, you can give yourself a competitive edge.

Since you and your rivals compete over a common target audience, your marketing challenge is to set yourself apart, to win over the customers attention by playing on your strengths and unique advantages over your competitors. With countless approaches to distinguish yourself, below are some stand-out options which you can incorporate into your business today!

Branding Tone & Voice

Start internally and align your branding tone and voice to speak directly to your target audience. With appropriate alignment, upholding a consistent tone and voice across your marketing and media channels, allows your brand to embody a character so your communication will reside with your target audience effortlessly. Offering value by creating a persona, your customers can form a bonding relationship, improving the likelihood of capturing their attention. Trying to connect with incorrect tone & voice is like speaking another language, they might decode the message with difficulty, but they are more likely to lose interest.

Appeal to your customer needs

Aimlessly pitching your service will not draw in customers, you must fulfil their needs, so try to understand from their point of view, to offer a solution. This involves extensive research and development, to tweak your service over time, in line with changing demands. When you thoroughly understand your customer, you will be able to offer solutions before they even realise, enabling you to react before competitors, giving you the advantage. 

Focus on your uniqueness

Avoid futile battles promoting your service the same way as competitors, you are more likely to lose customers, instead, skip the obvious points and focus on what sets you apart, for example, all cleaning companies clean, but highlighting child/pet-friendly chemical-free solutions will stand out. Don’t be being lured into the false promise of level competition, every company has a unique approach they can apply, so find your one focus point and push this service feature.

Give added value, not just the service

Your customers can receive the same service from many providers, so entice them by adding something to sweeten the deal. It could be aftercare, or an upsell if you have expertise in a related field. Offering additional value will create gratification, receiving something more than they were expecting.

Loyalty and Perks

A loyalty reward arrangement will help you stand out, with the customer openly aware that there is an incentive after a predetermined duration, attracting customers and importantly encourages long-term relationships. Perks work similarly, but with more immediate rewards, such as a one-day-only promotion.

Customer Service

The nature of a service provider is to sell a service as their product, this places great importance on customer service, making it essential to distinguish themselves. Listen to your customer’s feedback, understand what they identify as your strengths and weaknesses, then use this information to help your customers choose you, by highlighting your strengths and improving your weaknesses to dominate through quality, this will result in organic referrals, emphasising your dedication over competitors.  

Conclusion

To sum it up, distinguishing yourself from competitors comes down to your unique attributes, effectively highlighting them is the key to entice customers. The smart way is to approach differentiating yourself is to develop your brand’s persona to promote your unique features, to resonate with your target audience. 

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

The Biggest Obstacle for Photographers RIGHT NOW

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With the easy gateway to learning and becoming a photographer, the market is saturated with trigger-happy photographers ready to take a snap. The recent downtime during the lockdown has provided professional photographers time to reinvest in their business, honing their skills, creating home studios, and learning new techniques, this window of opportunity also created many budding new entrants into the market, so there is far from a shortage of providers for this trade.

But what is the biggest obstacle facing all these photographers right now? Well, this can include many things, such as reduced social events, social distancing, reduced gatherings, and the spiralling cost of equipment, however, the biggest obstacle remains the lack of genuine customers.

A snapshot of the obstacle 

In a bid to flatten the covid-19 infection curve, covenantal photoshoots were withdrawn practically overnight resulting from implemented restrictions, impacting the demand for photographers. The only saving grace for this industry is the low-overhead costs, so they were primarily affected by their lack of revenue from photoshoots.

With the recent advances in reinstating events, the photography demand has once again been on the rise with a re-found need to capture your special moment, but these photographers are struggling to find work due to the dated method of capturing customers through word of mouth and with so many competitors in the market, it is difficult to stand out amongst the crowd.

The fortunate photographers, aligned with niches including wildlife and product photography were blessed with the restrictions put in place, a greater presence of natural wildlife and the freedom to photograph products from home-studios, but they also faced the same downfall of customers, in this instance, due to budget restrictions or regular customers going out of business.

A heart-warming story that emerged from the pandemic was reported by Reuters, which identified a unique approach taken by a Dubai photographer, when her wedding photography business was impacted, she turned to capturing family portraits of families who were leaving Dubai due to unemployment. 

Developing the findings

One of the biggest game-changers for photographers in recent years has been social media, this offered photographers a platform to showcase work and attract new customers. Just as many others during the lockdown, photographers began to document and spread awareness of the pandemic through social channels, expanding their outreach and priming their audience for when things pick up again. 

The downside to social media, however, is the oversaturation of photographers and the lack of authenticity, are the images simply ‘lucky shots’ by hobbyists, trying to enter the industry, or are they experienced professionals who can consistently deliver the same quality? Granted, some individuals possessing natural talent are given a platform to shine, but in most cases, professionals are mixed amongst the part-timers or chancers, and lose the customer engagement they require for their primary profession to survive.  

The output

Despite the drawbacks mentioned, social media channels are still currently one of the most impactful methods to reach customers, so unfortunately photographers are currently without many options except to continue using this method until the next game-changer enters the market that is. Through consistent quality and persistence, photographers can only rise in line with the returning industry demands. 

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

Credits: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-emirates-jobs-idUSKBN24120T 

The Rise & Demand for Freelancers within the Region

Posted on by Feedni Admin

Of late, the employment front has noticeably shifted towards the fitting gig economy, supported by businesses’ reluctance towards permanent contracts following the pandemic disruption.

This has spawned the growth of independents, offering diverse skills such as business development, consultation, and coaching. The Global Innovation Index identifies the UAE, for the 5th time, as the leading environment for innovation in the Arab World, it is no coincidence a freelancer demand grows alongside this accolade.

Where did all the freelancers come from?

Covid saw many businesses in Dubai downsize, shift to hotdesking or working from home, ultimately requiring fewer contracted employees who were often older, more experienced candidates. With fewer secure opportunities and increased disposable time, entrepreneurs took advantage of the situation. Backed by technological capabilities, coinciding with the requirement for innovation, these empowered individuals possessing the desired skills, backed by available resources (sometimes simply a laptop), gained control and began offering their services, with a greater work/life balance and the freedom to choose for passion or finance. 

Why the demand? 

As the UAE’s journey towards their “vision of the future”, the necessity for skilled individuals such as architects, engineers, and teachers has never been greater. 

Traditionally, SMEs faced extensive and costly employee training, with an uncertainty of commitment. Nowadays, availability and negotiable fees make the most viable option, with skilled workers accessible for fixed duration and cost.

What about long-term employees?

Freelancers are often considered financially driven, offering a one-size-fits-all product. By contrast, employees with sick/holiday pay and pension plan benefits hold a vested interest in the business, delivering with long-term business goal alignment. It can however be argued that motivation fluctuates in long-term employees, and constant ‘bonuses’ are required to maintain commitment, questioning the integrity of their effort.

Freelance or not…

The potential for freelancers is vast, not to mention a convenient tool to utilise, although not without their limitations to your core business values. Could the freelance-driven approach be the best way forward? A hand-picked talent for each project based on the required skillsets. Or will the dedication and insights of contracted employees trump their ‘convenient’ counterpart? 

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

Credit: https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/gii-2020-report#