Latest news with #freelancing
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
5 Reasons Why Every Freelancer Should Be Using LinkedIn
Woman works online on her laptop getty LinkedIn usage and engagement are heating up, and for good reason. It can be a goldmine for finding new freelance clients, building your personal brand, and growing your business. In fact, 44% of marketers say LinkedIn is the most important social media platform for B2B (business-to-business) marketing. Attracting leads and growing our pipeline is important to growing a sustainable and future-proof business. Here are five reasons why a LinkedIn profile is a freelancer's best way to do this. LinkedIn may have started as a networking platform and an 'online CV', but it has well and truly evolved since then. It's now a comprehensive marketing tool that freelancers can use to build their brand and source new clients. LinkedIn offers many different options for posting content, such as articles, carousels, videos, and even newsletters. You can use their newsletter function to build a loyal subscriber base and nurture leads, rather than using an entirely separate email platform. Business owners, CEOs, executives, and founders (or anyone who decides to hire you as a freelancer) are all active on LinkedIn. It offers the opportunity to build your personal brand right in front of them by strategically posting consistent and value-first content. Unlike Facebook, where users usually only add people they know personally, it's a regular part of LinkedIn culture to connect with people you do not know. You can send invitations to connect with your ideal clients, send a personalized InMail, and implement a value-first strategy to start conversations with them. Hot tip: 86% of people are more likely to read your InMail if you view their LinkedIn profile first. Thanks to a few special features, LinkedIn can be used as a highly curated and personalized resume with undeniable social proof. These features can help you stand out to ideal clients and build trust when they view your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn allows colleagues and clients to leave a recommendation on your profile, which is a powerful testimonial to potential clients. If you add skills (make sure they're relevant to your freelance services) to your profile, anyone on LinkedIn can endorse you for these skills. Again, ask your colleagues and clients (past or present) to do so, as these skill endorsements are powerful social proof. Despite the ever-present argument that organic reach is dying on social media, LinkedIn has stood the test of time. Freelancers have an exciting opportunity to utilize their personal profiles to get visible and earn reach they may not be able to on other social media platforms. The best news is you don't need a large following to earn significant reach on LinkedIn. If you post high-quality, value-first content, share your expertise, and participate in meaningful conversations, you can create large waves of influence in your industry, regardless of your follower count. People who use LinkedIn are professionals looking to collaborate, network, learn, and invest in themselves. This platform isn't where you unsupportive aunties or friends with no ambitions hang out! Your regular users of LinkedIn know that it's a hub for B2B marketing and business transactions, so their mindset is more primed and open to seeing businesses promoting themselves. This mindset makes it much easier for freelancers to sell their services. As long as you're also offering value to others and engaging in meaningful ways, you'll never be out of place. Every freelancer should add LinkedIn to their marketing strategy. Consistent and strategic use of LinkedIn could be the secret weapon that helps grow your personal brand and client base to new heights.
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Here's how to spot 4 common investment scams
Recently, I was telling a friend about a marketing pitch I'd received that ended with a hard sell. I mentioned to my friend that I was still thinking about the pitch, which promised to generate leads for my freelancing business. 'How do you know it's not a scam?' she asked me. That stopped me in my tracks. I'd recognized the hard sell as soon as it started—and had even anticipated it. I scheduled the call before another appointment so I'd have a good reason to hang up. But I'd still been tempted. After a moment's thought, I was able to articulate how I knew I wasn't being scammed. This company is offering to do something real that I could certainly do myself—identify and contact potential clients. The company isn't scamming me; they're just using high-pressure sales techniques. But my friend's question was an excellent reminder of how easy it is to fall victim to investment scams, whether you're investing in your business or your nest egg. That's why it's so important to understand what investment scams look like and how to recognize them. Nothing new under the sun While the methods scammers use to reach their targets are constantly changing and evolving, the actual scams have remained basically the same since the first prehistoric cave dweller received an email from a deposed Nigerian prince. Even 'new' investment scams, like Sam Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency fraud and whatever the hell NFTs claimed to do, prey on reliable human frailties that don't change—like assuming we don't need to understand an investment to profit from it. That's why most investment fraud is just repackaged versions of the same old scams. These might include: Ponzi schemes A century ago, Boston con artist Charles Ponzi promised investors a 50% return within 45 days on an investment in international mail coupons. At the heart of every Ponzi scheme is the promise of high returns with little to no risk. Of course, there wasn't really an investment. Instead, Ponzi continued to gather new investors, using their money to pay the 'returns' to the original investors. This is the other hallmark of a Ponzi scheme—the scammer must constantly bring on new investors to satisfy the older investors. Ponzi's international mail coupon scheme fell apart when postal inspectors grew suspicious and his investors cashed out in large numbers. Ponzi schemes are inherently unstable and will inevitably disintegrate, either when investors cash out or when the scammer can no longer bring in new investors. But they continue to crop up, as Bernie Madoff reminded the world in 2008. You can generally recognize a Ponzi scheme when it seems too good to be true, when the returns are too consistent, and when those returns arrive nearly overnight. Those all feel great, which is how Ponzi schemes override your logic. This is why it's always a good idea to embrace your financial paranoia. Pump-and-dump schemes The aim of a pump-and-dump scheme is to manipulate the price of a stock in order to profit. Under this scheme, scammers purchase shares of a company at a low price, then start aggressively promoting the stock—pumping it—to encourage investors to buy in. This inflates the price of the stock. At that point, the scammers sell off their shares—dumping the stock—profiting off the unnaturally high price. This leaves the investors holding stocks they paid too much money for. Typically, pump-and-dump schemes work with penny stocks on little-known exchanges and the scammers engage in high-pressure tactics to get you to invest now. If you've never heard of the stock or the exchange it's traded on, and the sales pitch veers from buttering you up ('A smart person like you wouldn't leave this opportunity behind!') to a hostage negotiation ('Come on, do the right thing!'), then you may be facing a pump-and-dump scheme. Even if you have to do the Zoom-call equivalent of locking yourself in the bathroom and escaping out the window, get out of that meeting. Pre-IPO investment scams We all like to imagine where our bank account would be if we'd been one of the initial investors in Apple, which is why it's easy to fall victim to a pre-IPO investment scam. These fraudulent offers give you the opportunity to purchase a stake in an emerging company before its initial public offering, or IPO, and they will often compare this startup to an established company so you'll get dollar signs in your eyes. Who wouldn't want to get in on the ground floor of the next Amazon? Like pump-and-dump schemes, pre-IPO scams commonly include high-pressure sales tactics. The fraudsters want your money as quickly as possible and they don't want you to have time to think more deeply about their offer. The other red flag for pre-IPO scams is how you are contacted. These scammers often rely on cold-calling potential investors and social media solicitations (because that's really how the biggest companies in the world raised their capital, right?). Taking a moment to think through the weirdness of getting contacted out of the blue for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! can help you resist the temptation to invest. Affinity scams Scammers know that you're likely to lower your guard among your community, so the bastards exploit that. Affinity scams target members of affiliated groups, such as religious communities, military members, or other tight-knit circles. The fraudster either is a member of the group or poses as one. By earning the trust of a respected leader, who spreads the word about the investment scheme, the scammer is able to convince the group to invest. These scams can be some of the most difficult to identify, since the scammer is exploiting the group's social capital for their own gain, especially if they have hoodwinked a well-regarded leader. The best way to fight affinity scams is to ask a lot of questions. Legitimate investment professionals are happy to field questions and help you understand where your money is going. Scammers will pressure you to shut up—and will use group dynamics to enforce your silence. And that faux-friendly insistence on silence after you've asked questions is the best indicator of an affinity scam. Know the signs of a scam Knowing what scams exist doesn't make you immune to them. Madoff's victim list included a number of brilliant minds and tough cookies —which just proves that fraud can happen to anyone. Understanding the specific psychological tools scammers use can help you give yourself enough room to think before you act. Urgency: There is no legitimate investment that can't wait 24 hours. You can feel confident about walking away from anyone who pressures you to make an immediate investment decision. Ambiguity: Even if you are an investment noob, you need to understand what your money will be used for. If you're more confused after getting a string of smart-sounding gobbledygook or if you've been told not to worry your pretty little head, don't invest. Guarantees: There are no guarantees in investing. Give the hairy eyeball to anyone who tells you differently. Reaching out to you: Cold-calling is the last refuge of the desperate. (So says the writer who sometimes needs to find people to interview.) If someone is reaching out to you with an exciting opportunity, you need to wonder why. Not today, scammer Remembering that scamming techniques don't really change over time can help you protect yourself. That's because all scams, from Ponzi schemes to pump-and-dumps to pre-IPO investments to affinity scams, aim to get your emotion to override your logic. Of course, it can be difficult to recognize when your lizard brain is driving. That's why you can train yourself to look for the classic signs of an investment scam, including urgency, ambiguity, guarantees, and cold-calling. Before you sign on to any investment, do some basic research, starting with a simple Google search of the opportunity. The Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission provide information on common and emerging trends in investment scams, and scam victims will often share details of their experiences online. Just searching online for the investment may be enough to identify it as a scam. If you're still not sure, consider whether you're feeling pressured to invest. Take at least 24 hours (but consider taking longer) to do more digging into the investment and talking with knowledgeable friends and colleagues before deciding.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citi Raises Fiverr (FVRR) Price Target, Keeps Buy Rating
On Friday, May 23, Citi analysts increased the price target on Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) from $39 to $40 and kept a 'Buy' rating. This decision came after the company's Q1 2025 results, which showed signs of demand stabilization despite ongoing economic challenges that affect the growth of Active Buyers. A freelancer typing at a laptop, coffee in hand, at an outdoor cafe with a view of the city skyline. Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) is focused on higher-value projects and this strategy seems to be working. The company signed multiple contracts worth more than $100,000 through Fiverr Pro. Additionally, the company reported an increase of 9% year-over-year in Spend per Buyer. The company has seen promising results from its recent launch of Fiverr Go, especially with the Personal Assistant feature. In just 2 months, this feature has helped increase 14-day conversion rates by 10% compared to past averages. Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) can expand into new categories and attract more sellers to use the feature, boosting revenue from Seller Services. Citi analysts also praised the company for effectively managing its finances, including the execution of a $100 million buyback program. Fiverr International Ltd.'s (NYSE:FVRR) growing margins were also highlighted as a positive indicator of financial health. According to Citi, the company's strategic steps and new services like Fiverr Go will continue to support its growth trajectory and contribute to its success in the competitive online marketplace sector. Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) is an Israeli multinational company that operates an online platform for freelance services, connecting freelancers to people or businesses looking for services. While we acknowledge the potential of FVRR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than FVRR and that has a 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Stocks That Will Bounce Back According To Analysts and 11 Best Stocks Under $15 to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citi Raises Fiverr (FVRR) Price Target, Keeps Buy Rating
On Friday, May 23, Citi analysts increased the price target on Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) from $39 to $40 and kept a 'Buy' rating. This decision came after the company's Q1 2025 results, which showed signs of demand stabilization despite ongoing economic challenges that affect the growth of Active Buyers. A freelancer typing at a laptop, coffee in hand, at an outdoor cafe with a view of the city skyline. Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) is focused on higher-value projects and this strategy seems to be working. The company signed multiple contracts worth more than $100,000 through Fiverr Pro. Additionally, the company reported an increase of 9% year-over-year in Spend per Buyer. The company has seen promising results from its recent launch of Fiverr Go, especially with the Personal Assistant feature. In just 2 months, this feature has helped increase 14-day conversion rates by 10% compared to past averages. Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) can expand into new categories and attract more sellers to use the feature, boosting revenue from Seller Services. Citi analysts also praised the company for effectively managing its finances, including the execution of a $100 million buyback program. Fiverr International Ltd.'s (NYSE:FVRR) growing margins were also highlighted as a positive indicator of financial health. According to Citi, the company's strategic steps and new services like Fiverr Go will continue to support its growth trajectory and contribute to its success in the competitive online marketplace sector. Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE:FVRR) is an Israeli multinational company that operates an online platform for freelance services, connecting freelancers to people or businesses looking for services. While we acknowledge the potential of FVRR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than FVRR and that has a 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Stocks That Will Bounce Back According To Analysts and 11 Best Stocks Under $15 to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
20 Side Gigs That Rival Full-Time Wages, Earning Up To $4K Monthly
Experts are advising that side gigs are not a luxury anymore. American workers worry daily about losing their jobs as the economy tightens and technological advances cause massive layoffs. If you're a full-time employee, side gigs are becoming a necessity for extra income to make ends meet and as an insurance policy in case your job ends unexpectedly. The American workforce has learned they can call their own shots, have more flexibility and make more money working online with quick cash side gigs. Side gigs are becoming the new normal because workers are tired of the stress and uncertainty of their jobs. They're seeking the autonomy of being in charge of their own fate, instead of leaving that to corporate America that they can no longer trust to have their interests at heart. There are all types of side gigs that you can choose from. You can work from home online for some that do not require experience. Others take you into the community. Some are supplements for full-time workers, while other side gigs can be full-time pursuits that rival full-time wages like some of the ones listed below. Many gig jobs are those that AI can't handle like spotting bias, checking content or giving feedback. One platform behind this trend, Sapien, has 800,000 users across 100+ countries. They've completed over 75 million tasks for clients like Lenovo, Alibaba, MidJourney, and the UN. According to Rowan Stone, Sapien's CEO, 'If we can find a way to tap into that knowledge and reward people fairly for it, gig work won't just improve; it'll fundamentally change how we think about work, technology and value creation.' Stone explains that Sapiens is not your typical gig working platform. They do things differently; we use token-ized incentives and an on-chain reputation system to enure the highest possible data quality,' Stone explains. 'Contributors stake both tokens and reputation as collateral against the quality of their work, which means everyone is incentive aligned to deliver great data. More rep = more responsibility, and importantly, higher income potential via both advanced tasks and peer-QC (users validating the work of other users). Ensuring everyone has real skin in the game has been the single biggest unlock for Sapien since we launched 1.5 years ago.' The researchers at Topture calculated the hourly rate and estimated monthly income of 22 of the most popular side gigs. They researched the typical lowest and highest hourly rates using publicly available sources such as job boards, freelancer platforms and market rate reports. These values were used to establish a realistic earning range for each job. They assumed a consistent workload of 20 hours per week to reflect part-time engagement alongside full-time employment. Using this rate and workload, they projected monthly income estimates by multiplying the average hourly rate by 20 hours per week and then by 4.33 (average weeks per month). Average hourly rate was calculated as the midpoint between the high and low estimates. They used Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner to analyze public interest in each side hustle. Each data point is divided by the total number of searches within the US to measure relative popularity. This ensures that more populous states don't automatically rank higher due to higher total search volume. The resulting values are then scaled from 0 to 100, based on the keyword's proportion to all searches in the US. Note: identical interest scores across states do not indicate equal search volume, but rather similar relative interest. They used this normalized state-level data to identify the top three states with the highest interest in each side hustle. The same approach was used to calculate the overall Side Hustle Popularity Ranking. Most of these gig jobs rival full-time incomes, bring in thousands of dollars monthly, require little to no formal education--just a practical skill and a few focused hours each week--and have the flexibility to be done remotely at home. Here are 20 of the most popular side hustles with average monthly/yearly salaries and brief job descriptions. 1. Voiceover work ($4,500/$54,000). A voiceover side hustler provides voice recordings for a variety of media. 2. Selling Digital Products ($3,100/$37,200). This side gig involves creating and selling items like templates or e-books online. 3. E-Commerce Seller ($2,050/$24,600). E-commerce side jobs include selling handmade or vintage items online through platforms like Etsy. 4. Handyman Services ($1,750/$21,000). This side gig allows you to perform minor repairs and maintenance tasks. 5. Photography ($1,400/$16,800). In this gig job, you're paid to capture images for events, portraits or commercial use. 6. Freelance Copyrighting ($1,270/$15,240). Copyright freelancers write marketing materials, articles or website content for customers on the side. 7. Graphic Design ($1,000/$12,000). In a graphic designer side hustle, you would create visual content for businesses like logos and marketing materials. 8. Lawn Care ($950/$11,400). Side hustles of this type would involve you mowing lawns and maintaining gardens. 9. Online Tutoring ($690/$8,280). Online tutors who side hustle help students with subjects like reading or math, some online and some face-to-face. 10. Social Media Management ($650/$7,800). In a social media manager side hustle, you would manage and grow social media presence for clients. Work ($650/$7,800). This gig job involves completing various tasks such as furniture assembly or moving help. 12. Proofreading ($610/$7,320). Proofreader side hustlers are in the business of reviewing and correcting written content for errors. 13. Car Sharing ($540/$6,480). As a gig job car sharer, you must have a valid driver's license which allows you to rent out your personal vehicle. 14. Bookkeeping ($460/$5,500). Bookkeeper side hustlers must have accounting knowledge to manage financial records usually for small businesses. 15. Virtual Assistant ($450/$5,400). Virtual assistant side hustlers provide administrative support remotely, which can include technological aid such as email management. 16. Rideshare Driver ($450/$5,400). Ridesharers have a side gig that uses their personal vehicles to provide transportation services to clients. 17. Delivery Driver ($400/$4,800). Delivery drivers have side gigs in which they make deliveries to customers such as restaurant food or groceries. 18. Notary Public ($400/$4,800). To side hustle as a notary public, you must have a state certification that allows you to witness and authenticate legal documents. 19. Pet Sitting/Dog Walking ($350/$4,200). This side hustle requires a love for animals and involves taking care of pets while the owners are away. 20. Online Surveys ($160/$1,920). As a side job responding to online surveys, you need no experience, just the willingness to participate in online market research surveys. 'Some of these side hustles can rival full-time wages," Benny Rehwald, founder of Topture, points out. 'Voiceover work or digital product sales can bring in thousands a month once the skills are in place. What stands out is how many of them require little to no formal education, just a practical skill and a few focused hours each week.' Rehwald says the fact that many can be done entirely from home makes them even more accessible, especially for people balancing full-time work, family or health. 'Income from side gigs has become more than just a backup plan,' he concludes. "For many, it's a key part of long-term financial strategy.
