Networking to Make Your Freelance Businesses Successful

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?

A picture containing text, sky, outdoor, sign

Description automatically generated

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.

A person working on a computer

Description automatically generated with low confidence

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

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…

A close up of a keyboard

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

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.

Text

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

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

Dubai’s Service Market, Spoiled for Choice or Still Room for More?

With Dubai’s surge in freelancers and SME’s, the city is booming with service-orientated companies, offering a plethora of service’s ranging from coaching, photography, even pet-grooming. So, is Dubai’s service market already maxed out, or are there still opportunities for new entrants into the market?

Spoiled for choice…

Whether you have a simple food craving, or suddenly remember you need to send flowers for your anniversary, you can be assured that somebody can accommodate your needs if you have the persistence to browse through, what sometimes feels like endless service providers for the same product, this is where things become a mini-adventure.

Now, options are great, providing the ability to compare, haggle, or even try alternatives, but does Dubai have too many choices? 

It is safe to say, Dubai’s demand for service providers is immense, catering for a melting-pot of diverse cultures and trying to satisfy countless preferences. Whilst some enlist services for their household chores such as maids, others will outsource their dry-cleaning, these two services alone, combined with the volume of demand, justifies the endless companies in Dubai offering these services. 

With so many providers in the market, competition intensifies, playing directly into the hands of the consumers, benefiting from favourable prices and alternative options. However, competition can also be the downfall of service providers, sometimes to the extent of closing down, this is naturally followed by new players entering the market, and this cycle goes on.

Love it or hate it, there are a lot of service options available, but is that really a bad thing? It gives us the reassurance that we are never short of choices at our disposal to meet our requirements… now we just need a way to filter them more efficiently. 

Room for more…

As mentioned, Dubai is home to such diversity, with constantly shifting demands, this month’s sought-after services may not be the same as the next, so there will always be a window of opportunity for new entrants into the market. 

The service market, just as any other, constantly evolves, with technological and innovative advances, making services more efficient, cheaper, environmentally friendly, or simply improves the user experience.

The great thing about Dubai is the inclusion of influences from around the world and the forward-think stance to bring fresh and exciting new services to the city, continuously launching new additions to the service market, you never know what’s around the corner.

Somewhere in-between

So, to put it simply, yes, we are spoiled for choice in Dubai, but it is absolutely justifiable. With so many individual needs, there can never be a generic service catering for all, everybody exercises their demand for a tailored service, and if there is a profit to be had, then service providers are sure to accommodate that need.

Feedni has heard your frustrations over browsing endlessly through service providers, we have understood your dilemma, and we have taken action to simplify your service needs. We are already underway in developing the next-generation service market platform, we will overcome existing obstacles and take the sting out of lengthy provider lists, offering only the best providers, with full transparency through genuine customer reviews, and an innovative CRM to manage your services. 

Not long to wait now, in the meantime, you can browse our market insight articles and follow us on Instagram @feedni_app for updates and news on our upcoming platform. 

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

How to do our bit for the environment

More than 70% of Earth is covered in water, producing more than 50% of our Oxygen, and absorbing around 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans (UN) from burning fossil fuels.

Yesterday’s World Environment Day, and World Oceans Day later in the week, draw attention to the impact we are all having on our Earth, so we need to be mindful of our actions and how we can try to help. 

Major contributors affecting our planet

From Dubai’s pearl-diving heritage through to today’s fishing industry, the UAE has a close bond with the water. Our demand from the oceans is vast, from providing the oxygen we breathe, food and water we consume, jobs for our fishermen, and the renewable energy to fuel our daily lives. 

Today, the majority of UAE’s drinking water comes from the desalination of seawater according to Tappwater, a process that consumes considerable amounts of energy. The UAE’s further demand for large quantities of water is to fuel air-conditioners, to combat extreme temperatures faced in the Emirates. 

The oceans support global warming by absorbing human-produced carbon dioxide, which raises acidity levels, severely impacting the marina-life and corals as a result of the continuous increase in CO2 being produced.

Sea levels are rising… you would have heard the statement many times before, the reason behind this is the unique function the oceans play in regulating earth’s temperature, absorbing excess heat to cool the earth resulting in water expansion, this coupled with the melting polar ice caps are raising sea levels. This sacrifice by the ocean again comes at the cost of marine life and corals.

Excessive plastic usage. Plasticoceans identified that each year 50% of all plastics produced are single-use, as much as 10 million tons end up in our oceans, leaching toxic chemicals into the water, and as many as 1 million animals are killed because of plastic pollution. 

Do your bit in 5 simple steps

Simple steps, even small ones, will make a huge difference in the bigger picture, the joint effect of individuals working towards the same goal will have a profound global impact. Here are a few starting points which you can apply right away:

1) Conserve energy – Set thermostat to 24°C and switch to auto (every degree higher consumes 5% lower AC consumption, DEWA).

2) Conserve water and prevent waste runoff – Don’t leave taps running, try drip-watering house and garden plants, and you really don’t need to wash your car 3 times a week!

3) Use fewer, or ideally no single-use plastics (use re-usable where possible). Treat yourself to a thermos and have your barista fill your daily coffee into that, this will bypass the plastic-lined disposable cups. 

4) Reduce your carbon footprint (use public transport when possible). The UAE has a fantastic infrastructure in place, so take advantage of the metro, tram or taxi service.

Additionally, shopping locally reduces the carbon footprint and air pollution created from goods shipped from afar. Local produce is fresher and supports the economy!

5) The fun one… go scuba diving! Get submerged and experience the world below first-hand, to understand the precious resource we are harming. You can support one of the many organisations operating ocean clean-up drives, collecting plastics and other man-made rubbish which ends up in the sea and harms marine life, such as disposable the face masks which fish are becoming caught in. 

To sum up

If we collectively make smarter choices in our everyday routines, we can each contribute our part in creating a favourable future. Basic considerations such as reducing single-use plastics, adjusting thermostats and being considerate with water consumption all help. 

If we can, as a minimum, understand the cause and effects discussed in this article, it creates a starting step in understanding the problem and beginning the journey to take the required action to support our planet. 

For further educational insights, tune in to the presentation on World Ocean Day (8th June) which will be held by unworldoceansday.

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

Credits:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day
https://tappwater.co/en/tap-water-dubai-uae-best-filter
https://plasticoceans.org/the-facts
https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/sustainability/lets-make-this-summer-green/set-your-ac-to-24
https://unworldoceansday.org

3 Tools for Service Providers to Improve Efficiency

The arsenal of tools at our disposal determines the output deliverable to customers, without whom we have no purpose. Service providers are faced with countless tools such as A.I. technology, automation, and cloud-based networks, but which tools are simply fads, and which genuinely improve efficiency?

Unlike product orientated businesses which require tools for manufacturing and testing, service providers are orientated around intangible products, facilitating their network by delivering a trade, ranging from knowledge through to solutions, delivered by the likes of teachers, cleaners, or I.T. technicians to name a few.
A lack of physical product creates the challenge of tracking and managing a service, this is where the tools come into play.

Recommended tools

1) Customer Relation Management software (CRM)
A fundamental tool for improving efficiency is a solid customer relationship management tool. CRM software such as ‘Monday’, enables capturing and organisation of contacts, to build and nurture relationships through features including data tracking, remote connectivity, and automation, creating a deeper understanding to better serve their needs.

2) Project Management software
Digital task management is without a doubt, incomparable to traditional paperwork, save yourself time and money by tracking your business and employee’s data electronically.
With a plethora of management tools available online such as ‘Evernote’ and ‘Trello’, you are sure to find one suited to your needs, however basic or complex, whether free or expensive. So set yourself reminders, automate mundane tasks, analyse data for improvements, and assign tasks to individuals.

3) Social Media Scheduling software
Once your project tasks have been managed, you can divert your attention to social media and build your customer base, and as with project management software, automation can be applied through to social media scheduling tools such as ‘Mailchimp’ and ‘Hootsuite’.
A healthy social media presence won’t go unnoticed, with every post published, you are improving your odds of staying top of mind, if you’re not present, your absent, simple.
Social media interaction is a sure-fire way of converting your platform into an active discussion hub, your network collectively communicating will reveal insightful knowledge which can be used to improve customer service.

Other possibilities…

Smartphone Applications (if applicable)
Our smartphones dependency makes expansion into apps a great opportunity to improve efficiency. Apps, can establish a direct channel to customers, improve communication, and track real-time services. Based upon the complexity of the app, it can be basic, used simply to share information/promotions and create bookings, or it can be advanced, offering integrated tracking functions and management control. The added benefit of this tool is effective customer retention.

Web-Based Administration Portal
Service providers are required to juggle numerous customers at any given time, a tool to improve efficiency would be a portal to manage multiple unrelated services in real-time, with the ability to modify and reallocate tasks within a single dashboard.

To round up

The tools identified each play a considerable role in improving efficiency for service provider’s, so I suggest implementing these tools if not already in place.
There are plentiful tools out there, some serving specialist purposes, others catering to a buffet of tasks. There is no ‘best’ tool for the job, it is based on your requirements, but even then, it’s each to their own taste, so make use of free trials, that’s what they are there for.

It would be great to hear back from you on which software options you chose, how effective they were in improving your efficiency and would you suggest any additional tools not mentioned, so feel free to share your experiences.

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

Credits:
https://monday.com/crm
https://evernote.com
https://trello.com/en
https://mailchimp.com
https://www.hootsuite.com

The Service Market: Not Quite a Level Playing Field

The service market plays a large role in the economy, Dubai Statistics Center identified services contributed a healthy portion of UAE’s GDP in the first quarter of 2020, before the pandemic hit us. Since then, the service market has faced challenges just like other industries, some were prepared, but others not so much… 

Pockets of the tertiary industry have implemented radical game-changing developments in the past 3 years, some entities moved paperless for efficiency, accuracy, and environmental sustainability, whilst some FinTech and Telecoms forewent retail branches so no more standing in line, thank you Liv. by Emirates NBD and Virgin Mobile, what a result!

But, despite all the AI and automation advances, many niches face service-level challenges and stay stagnant, will they remain relevant and competitive post-crisis? 

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

In part, outdated tools are the cause, many businesses remain in their comfort zone, using traditional processes, which now are ineffective, often require additional ‘workarounds’, consuming time and money, lacking real-time operations, and unable to handle multiple moving parts. Then you have the age-old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach, which yes, maybe the system works, but could be drastically revolutionised to remain viable in this age. 

Since the basic Excel CRMs days, cutting-edge tech has innovated the process tenfold, reducing time, improving UX, and consolidating tasks to meet end-to-end experiences. We are beyond the juncture where the traditional remains effective, nowadays competitive means progressive adaption.

One such severely affected service niches was photography. Whilst photography equipment constantly developed, the client sourcing method remains as it did 20 years ago, through word-of-mouth, recently supported somewhat by social media. Those lenses don’t come cheap, so finding quality clientele is critical for this market. 

A blue and white brick wall

Description automatically generated with low confidence

On the other end of the spectrum, Apple in the I.T. sector is storming ahead, reimagining the way technology is used, always staying ahead of the curve, and setting new benchmarks. This has been achieved through ingenuity and forward-thinking, creating a solution that customers want, through elaborate consumer insights. 

Now, the service market consists of many functions and trades, so cannot conform to a definite benchmark, but regardless of your business goals, some points remain consistent for all service market niches to step up their game which includes:

  • As fitness fanatics say, “Core is king”, and rightly so, a solid foundation stabilises a stronger frame, so if your existing CRM is not up to scratch, replace it!
  • There is a plethora of automation tech available, capable of heavily reducing many manual tasks, use this efficiency to improve workflow and fulfil demands.
  • Cloud-based platforms have revolutionised the accessibility of data, so incorporate this breakthrough with accurate, real-time functionality on smartphone devices.
  • Exploit consumer insights, analytics work so make it count, period! Understand their real needs and values to fully deliver the quality service they want.
Text

Description automatically generated

To sum it up

For the suffering service market segments, radical rejuvenation and industry ‘catch-up’ are fundamental for survival. The stragglers in question require the incorporation of readily available tech of CRM and cloud platforms to remain competitive, sustainable, and profitable, otherwise, risk becoming obsolete. Exploit the digital tools at your disposal, provide intelligent and evolving solutions.

Do you believe the future will steer into another direction? Perhaps something which already exists but nobody has considered yet? I will gladly discuss your insights on the topic, just reach out with your thoughts. 

An article by Gautam Gajjar.

Credits: https://www.dsc.gov.ae/Report/Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20at%20Constant%20Price%20Q1%202020.pdf

The Rise & Demand for Freelancers within the Region

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 contrastemployees 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#