Category: Freelancing

Why Personal Time Tracking is Important

stafftimer effective blog

Personal time tracking is an important part of our lives. Its importance can be perceived by the fact that once you master it, you’ll immediately improve the quality of your life. 

A scary thing about time is that once it’s lost, you’ll never get it back. But there is also light at the end of the tunnel. You can organize and track your time to get ahead in life. 

If you revolve your day around to-do lists then unmet deadlines will inevitably pile up. That will lead to a fear of failure as well. This will end up paralyzing your professional life. Just imagine working long hours at the office, only to achieve nothing in the end and compromising your personal life in the whole process. 

Only by implementing personal time tracking in your life can you change your fate. 

Time is one of our most valuable assets. So much so that the great Benjamin Franklin used to say, “Time is money”. And personal time is known to be the equivalent of happiness, harmony, and quality. These qualities are the foundation of work-life balance and satisfaction. 

In this article, we’re going to discuss personal time tracking and why it’s so important in our lives. So without any further ado, let’s just jump into it. 

What is a personal time tracking?

As the name suggests, personal time tracking means keeping an eye on your personal tasks, projects, activities, and routine. 

When we talk about personal time tracking, we don’t necessarily mean tracking only household chores. Time tracking can also extend to your work life as well. In fact, it’s not outlandish to consider time tracking as the main key to professional success. 

How to track time

Nowadays, you can easily track your time through time tracking apps like Staff Timer. But that was not always the case. 

People have been tracking time through different methods since ancient times. Our forefathers used to observe the sun and the stars. They even invented peculiar devices like sundials. Today, we’ve come a long way since then and now use all types of time tracking software to efficiently keep track of time.

Before the introduction of modern devices, employees had to physically clock in and out of a time clock machine. This machine was invented in the late 1880s by Willard Le Grand Bundy. When the patent for his time recorder (the precursor to modern time tracking apps) was approved, Bundy started a company that developed employee attendance machines.

Bundy’s company later merged with other organizations to form the International Time Recorder Company (ITR). Fun fact: this particular company was the actual predecessor to IBM. 

Time tracking software

Time tracking software allows users to effectively track their time.  

Efficient time management can help meet tight deadlines, avoid stress, improve productivity, and above all else, make extra time for themselves. It can also help maintain a work-life balance by keeping track of the time.

Employee time tracking software 

Nowadays, time tracking software can be found in almost every industry. Workplaces that require the use of computers or mobile devices are quickly embracing these apps. Many companies have also started using employee monitoring software to watch over their employees’ work activities. 

See Also: Best Time Clock Apps for Multiple Employees

Time Tracking: Advantages

Time tracking apps in the workplace are popular for a reason. Some pros include:

  • Exposing sensitive problems like harassment.
  • Reducing/preventing theft.
  • Discovering which workload may need to be redistributed.
  • Helping monitor and ensure safe practices.
  • Reducing instances of employees wasting company time.
  • Highlighting bottlenecks or areas where employees spend more time than necessary, letting employers review the process and improve upon it.
  • Allowing employers to monitor their employees’ work activities and ensure that they’re being productive and following the rules.
  • Tracking hours worked on specific tasks, leading to an increase in accuracy for invoicing.
  • Helping with recordkeeping, such as tracking employee time, projects, tasks, etc.
  • Monitoring customer interactions to ensure policies are being adhered to and customers are being treated well.

Time Tracking: Disadvantages

Every rose comes with a thorn. Time tracking apps provide a lot of downsides in the workplace as well. Some drawbacks include:

  • Employees feeling as if their privacy has been violated.
  • Increase in employee turnover rate if tracking becomes very intrusive.
  • Time tracking being perceived as a sign of mistrust; breeding resentment and reducing employee morale and productivity.
  • The line between work and home getting blurred; most people often use the same device for both.
  • Important data getting misused by the higher-ups. 
  • Legal issues to contend with, ensuring employers remain within their legal rights while also respecting their employees’ privacy rights. 
  • Tracking programs only being useful if they are carefully scrutinized, requiring lots of time and money.
  • Modern time tracking becoming a great risk by creating a false sense of security.

Key Takeaways

Personal time tracking is only useful in the right hands. If you want to be someone of importance then you have to start tracking your time. Otherwise, the sands of time will quickly blow past you. 

Instead of using traditional methods like pen and paper, use time tracking apps to keep an eye on your activities. They are fast, reliable, and secure. To read about some of the best time management apps for 2020, click here. 

If you found this article helpful, do share it with your circle. Good luck and stay productive!

Cheapest Ways to Send Money to India

India has a large pool of talented freelancers and thus people are always looking to find the cheapest way to send money to India from USA. You might wonder why people would want to hire a workforce from another country. The reason is simple. An increasing number of businesses are looking to hire remote employees to save money on workplace costs. And this trend is only going to grow bigger as more and more companies become aware of its positive effects. 

But every rose has its thorn. There are numerous difficulties with remote employees as well. One of the major ones is choosing the best payment option. This article is going to outline some of the best ways to send money to India. 

Things Are Now Easier

It’s now very easy to send money to India. There are so many options out there that it becomes difficult to choose the best one for your needs. All these different options have their own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to do thorough research first before coming to a final decision. When sending money to India, here’s what you should look for:

    • Speed. How quickly do you want the money to be sent? The rates will differ depending on how fast or slow you want your transactions to be.
    • Exchange rate. Keep your finger on the pulse of exchange rates. Be sure to get the best possible rates of yourself.
    • Fees. If you send money from bank-to-bank then it shouldn’t add fees. Don’t pay more than you should and avoid using cards.
    • Convenience. It might appear as a luxury but you still have to take convenience into account. If there’s an app that makes things easier then take advantage of its features.

Best Way to Send Money to India from USA

There are no absolutes when talking about payment processing. Some of the best ways to send money to India include:

ACH Transfer

An Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer might just be the cheapest way to send money to India from the US. You just need to send money from your bank using an ACH transfer. The recipient should get it within 4 working days. There are no additional fees or trips to the bank involved, saving you lots of time and money.

According to this article, “The most common uses of ACH are online bill payment, mortgage and loan repayment, and direct deposit of payroll. ACH payments are an efficient and cost-reducing alternative to paper checks and credit cards.
On the Internet, ACH is primarily used for person-to-person (P2P), business-to-customer (B2C), and business-to-business (B2B) payments.”

 

Pros:

    • Brings an element of convenience because of the one-time process.
    • Usually free at some banks or money transfer services while only incurring small fees at others.

Cons:

    • Not the ideal option if you require a fast transfer.

TransferWise

TransferWise offers a cheap way to transfer money from the US to over 70 Countries, India included. Its exchange rates are some of the best you’ll find. But like many other transfer services, TransferWise isn’t the best option if speed is a priority. 

According to this Telegraph article, “If your business transfers money overseas regularly, TransferWise can help save you money by giving you access to the real mid-market rate of exchange, and charging only a small, fixed fee for the transfer. You can get a TransferWise multi-currency borderless account for business, which holds balances in more than 40 currencies, to send and receive payments all over the world.”

Pros:

    • Relatively cheap because of the mid-market exchange rates. For example, to send $1000 to India, you’ll incur $8.94 in fees.
    • It has an app and website that makes this convenient.
    • The minimum transaction amount is £2.

Cons:

    • Takes about 3 working days to transfer money from NA to India
    • Unexpected delays in transfers 
    • Additional documents required for some transactions

Money Orders

Money orders are paper documents, like checks, that are used for payments. They are prepaid and only available when after a buyer pays for the money order with cash or some other form of guaranteed funds.

Many banks offer this service and charge very small rates. To cash the checks, some form of ID is required. If lost, the full amount can be easily recovered. 

Money orders are ideal for situations where using cash, check, or digital app isn’t viable. 

Pros:

    • A safer option than cash
    • Won’t bounce like checks for insufficient funds

Cons:

    • You’ll have to go in-person to your bank or dealer
    • Mobile deposits aren’t allowed by all banks

Wire Transfer

Wire Transfer is one of the oldest transaction methods out there, existing for over 50 years. If you chose this method then you’ll have to go over to your bank or some other agency in order to complete the transaction. 

When you completely provide all the necessary information about the recipient to your bank, they’ll initiate the transfer. 

Most banks have a wire transfer service but you’ll still have to check with your bank to get accurate information on the whole process. Plus, services like Western Union also offer “wire transfers”. 

Pros:

    • It offers quick service, mostly within 24 hours. 

Cons:

    • You’ll have to pay for a fee for the quick service, usually within $10-35 USD. 
    • Not very secure as once payments are sent, they can’t be stopped.

MoneyGram

You might have heard of MoneyGram already. It’s a pretty big player in the international money and remittance market. Every day, hundreds of thousands of customers use MoneyGram to transfer their funds.

Its popularity is due to its fast and secure transactions. However, these transactions incur a slightly higher fee than some other transfer services. 

When the time comes to hand over or collect actual cash, transfer services like MoneyGram is at the forefront of people’s minds. 

Pros:

    • Very quick service that allows recipients to get the money within 24 hours.
    • It has at least 347,000 local agents in over 200 countries.
    • It is well-known for its security and reliability. 

Cons:

    • It has higher fees than other transfer services.
    • Hidden currency conversion can cost around $10.
    • Different countries have different required documents.

Western Union

Western Union is so popular that it is practically a household name now. This transfer service’s popularity is mainly due to its dependability, convenience, and ease-of-use.

You’ll find a Western Union branch in almost every country, even offering a local withdrawal option. But where there is light, there is darkness. Transfers through Western Union may take varying amounts of time, some transfers may even take a week. 

Western Union is best used for one-off transactions, money orders, and selling online. 

Pros:

    • The app is convenient and easy-to-use.
    • For pickup, over 125,000 in India alone.

Cons:

    • Slow transfer but can be increased with additional fees
    • Not viable for small transactions

PayPal

PayPal is one of the biggest names in payment processing. The reason why you’re able to transfer money without the use of a credit card or bank account is all thanks to PayPal.

With PayPal, the sender doesn’t incur any fees but the recipient may have to cover a small fee. The service is mobile-friendly, making money transfers easier. 

Pros:

    • Its sign-up process is free and easy.
    • Can be integrated with several third-party solution providers
    • Supports multiple currencies, including the Indian Rupee.  
    • The process is very secure thanks to online encryption.

Cons:

    • It is not entirely free as there is a fee for each transaction.
    • Not suitable for large sales as there is an increase in fees along with an increase in transactions. 
    • Countless stories of account freezing in which customers couldn’t access their account and money after being flagged down as risky or involved in fraudulent activities. 
    • You’ll have to pay extra charges for complete features and benefits.

Personal Checks

Personal checks might not be as popular as some of the other aforementioned options but they do represent one of the safest options. Why? Well, the check cannot be cashed by a random person because the recipient has to show his/her ID. Plus, checks that don’t reach their destinations can be easily canceled. 

Checks might be old-school but they still have some use in today’s world. Some small businesses, landlords and real estate people still accept checks. 

Pros:

    • It provides security as the checks are written and verified.
    • It can be easily canceled at any time. 

Cons:

    • Foreign checks might not be accepted by some banks
    • Exchange rates might need to be paid by the recipient

Key Takeaways

You’ll most likely find the best and cheapest way to send money to India from our list of transfer services. But what is best for some may not be ideal for others so take your circumstances into account before making a final decision. 

Do share the article with others if you personally found it helpful. Best of luck!

How to Use Trello for Project Management

Managing a team has always been a very tricky job. However, there are some things that you can do to get the most out of your staff. Today we’re going to learn how to use Trello for project management. This tool can help us manage all kinds of job responsibilities and tasks, regardless of how many employees are a part of your team.

Now when we’re talking about responsibilities, we’re not talking about a daily to-do list. We’re talking about job roles or the type of things that you might find on a job description. So without any further ado, let’s get into it. 

What is Trello?

In Trello’s own words:

“It’s a collaboration tool that gives you a visual overview of what is being worked on, who is working on it, and how far they’ve gotten.”

It’s essentially an online corkboard. It is used to organize “cards” into lists – these cards can be tasks, notes, projects, shared files, or anything else that can help you and your team collaborate better. The idea behind Trello is simple: effective team management needs full transparency over important tasks and flexibility to change or rearrange them if necessary. 

Trello will provide you with more:

    • Organization
    • Cohesion
    • Accountability
    • Sanity
    • Visualization

With Trello board at your disposal, you’ll be able to create order in your work by organizing it into a list of cards. You can quickly rearrange them if the situation asks for it. This makes it a great tool for team management, both in-house and remote. 

Trello will solve the problem of:

    • Long email threads
    • Unproductive meetings
    • Project clarification
    • Transparency
    • Absent-mindedness

If you’re using email or chat for task-based communication, Trello will prove to be a great replacement. Team members can learn all about a task just from reading a card. Plus, all discussions about a project can also take place right there. With all the information in one place, it becomes easier to:

    • Keep everything on track
    • Observe what is being done
    • See previous chats

Anatomy of Trello

Trello consists of three main things:

    • Boards: A Trello board is a big black space used to organize a project or process i.e. monthly tasks, department responsibilities, campaign launch plans
    • Lists: Trello lists are items that make up a project i.e. to-do list, completed tasks 
    • Cards: Trello cards make up a list and contain further details about a specific item

How to use Trello for project management

The not-so-well-hidden secret behind Trello’s massive success is how quickly it allows its users to customize it according to their needs. However, this open secret is exactly why Trello can be a tad bit intimidating at first. 

A blank Trello board can fill you with the exact same trepidation experienced when seeing a blank Word document. But where there is darkness, there is light. 

We’ll teach you some of the best Trello practices out there. Soon you’ll be a Trello expert in no time, allowing you to effectively manage your in-house and remote teams.

Upload a Unique Background to Your Board

Don’t let that this simple practice deceive you into thinking that its just style with no substance. 

Customizing your board is a productivity technique. How you may ask? Let us explain. 

How many tabs do you open in your browser? We bet that you open a lot. 

Simultaneously opening lots of tabs leads to inefficiency. These tabs are so small that you will need to open each one to remember what’s inside them. This is where custom Trello backgrounds come into play. 

Even when the tabs are small, you’ll still be able to recognize the Trello boards as the app’s website icon will look like the design of a board’s custom background.  

Be Clear About the Use of Your Boards

Before you make a board, be clear about its use. Don’t go crazy creating cards without creating a list first. 

Also, be clear about the point of your board. Is it being used to store information or track progress? 

A board consisting of information should have lists organized by topics. 

But if you’re creating a board to track some process or someone’s progress, it’s better to define each list as a different stage in the cycle. As Trello reads from left to right, you should place the first stage list on the left and go from there. 

Assign Big Projects Their Own Boards 

Don’t cram multiple projects inside one board. That’s a recipe for disaster. It will inevitably overwhelm your team members result in bottlenecks, lack of accountability and slower projects. 

To avoid cramming, create boards based on short-term projects and goals. An archive that project once it reaches its eventual conclusion. This will make it disappear from existence and you can concentrate on your next project. 

Each Board’s Workflow Should Be Clear

Plan your board in advance. You should know:

    • Where a card should go
    • When a card is ready to be switched
    • When a card is supposed to be archived

The workflow will not be smooth if your project isn’t planned in advance. To make things difficult, each team member will probably use the board in their own way. 

So how can everyone stay on the same page? Well, you can make the first list of every board an “About Board”. 

Don’t Forget to Use Trello with Another Tool

Trello is a great tool but there is no app in this world that can do everything. You need to use Trello with other tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word. 

For example, if a card represents an article that is completed, attach that article so that other members can easily view it. 

Key Takeaways

Trello is a very powerful tool that can help you complete and collaborate on projects. It may look a little daunting at first but once you get a handle on the different functionalities, the app will make your life easier. 

If you found this article helpful, feel free to share it with people who may not know about Trello and its amazing features!

Additional Business and Data Privacy Trends Resources:

Want to learn more about Business and Productivity trends,

Employee Monitoring Software: How it Benefits Data Privacy

Learn effective strategies regarding data privacy include. Companies need to use encryption in every bit of data, end to end.

How does stripe work:

Stripe is an excellent credit card processor for online-only businesses. If you have experience as a developer then it’s very fast and easy to implement.

4 Strategies to Improve Your Productivity as a Freelancer

There is no denying that the freelance market is appealing to many professionals all over the world. According to a 2019 study on a US-based independent workforce, the freelance market generates nearly $1 trillion in income. That’s almost 5% of the US GDP.

A 2018 Entrepreneur article reports that there are over 57 million Americans working as freelance professionals as of 2017. Considering the numerous advantages freelance employment brings to the table. That number will definitely rise in the future.

However, even the most hardworking and diligent freelance workers are not immune to procrastination and distractions. Poor productivity is a constant issue for many business organizations that employ freelance workers, mostly remote teams from all over the world. Missed deadlines and late submissions from your freelance workforce can set you back and even cost your business its precious clients and projects.

The good news is that productivity issues are easy to fix. With the following productivity strategies, you can expect your freelance workforce to deliver high-quality output at a productive rate.

Use Time Trackers

Time Tracking Software and apps are not new. However, they are still highly effective tools to keep productivity up in the workplace. The same can be said for professional freelancers and remote teams.

Many companies require their independent workers to install a time tracker on their devices. Many solutions provide a customizable freelance time tracking template that managers can configure so it tracks or records specific information such as hours worked, time spent on breaks, and averages.

Workers log in before their designated work schedule or project-related tasks. They then log out after their shift or once their tasks are accomplished.

Many time trackers are built to document not just hours but record the time spent on work down to the last second or minute. This is an effective productivity strategy especially if your organization bill your workers by the hour.

Activate Random Screen Capture

You can’t monitor your freelance worker’s progress all the time. Yet you want to make sure he or she is spending working hours on actual work. That’s understandable. Your company doesn’t want to pay for unproductive hours.

One way of ensuring your freelance employees are indeed working during their supposed working hours is to capture images of their screens at random times. It helps identify who is working and who is spending their hours doing something else. Such a feature empowers your workers to devote all their billable time to work, driving productivity up.

You may settle for a free time tracking software for freelancers. However, if you want this feature, you may have to invest in premium productivity and time tracking suite.

Give Your Best Tasks and Projects to Top Performing Freelancers

You can create and cultivate a productive environment for your independent workers if you include a gamification element to your approach. Instead of just assigning tasks and projects to the next available worker, you can send your most critical and high-paying jobs to your best freelancers.

Publishing their names as well as their earnings on a leaderboard will definitely entice your freelance employees to perform better and turn in great results to rise up the ladder. Aside from boosting their performance and productivity, your freelance workers become more engaged and dynamic.

By adding an element of competition, you can empower your freelance workforce to prove their worth, which then translates to better results and improved productivity.

Limit or Block Access to Certain Sites and Social Media

There are numerous productivity apps for PC and mobile devices that can track time and capture screenshots at random moments. On top of that, you also want your productivity apps to limit or block your freelance workers’ access to specific websites and social media sites that cause distraction and fuel procrastination.

Such capability is quite useful, especially when social media sites have proven to take much from a worker’s productivity. That said, not all social media is bad for work. Some employees spend their break watching funny cat videos. Others use social media and other sites for research, communication, and collaboration purposes.

Companies should establish guidelines on social media usage by their freelance workers. Many of today’s work processes are built on online connectivity and access to the Internet. That means the complete banning of social media is not a viable option. While social media can be detrimental to a worker’s efficiency and productivity, it can also be a huge asset when utilized properly.

Automation, Collaboration, and Communication are Key

If you want to have a highly effective and productive team of freelancers, you need to put them in an environment that fosters effortless and painless automation, communication, and collaboration.

Your freelance employees don’t want to spend time typing their credentials whenever they open devices and log in to their respective accounts. Many productivity apps automate the logging in of multiple systems and different credentials.

Communication between and among your freelance employees should be instant and smooth. Instead of relying on lengthy email threads, replace them with real-time communication tools and task management platforms for faster and more effective communication, instruction, and deployment.

By centralizing tasks, information, contacts, and more, you can maximize your freelancers’ capabilities and talents, optimize processes, and deliver desired results.

Future of Freelancing and Challenges Associated With It

With the rise of tech trends, limitations and challenges associated with 9 to 5 jobs, and a shortage of required skills have triggered the growth of remote work opportunities.

However as soon as the demand is growing, competition is growing as well. Coupled with competition, there are certain challenges and handicaps associated with the future of freelancing work.

Human resources are finding it hard to hire an appropriate workforce

No doubt there is an abundance of workforce available in the market but that doesn’t imply they are worthy of getting hired. There is a constant and rapid technological growth that demands a variety of skills that might not be readily available. Therefore finding a remote workforce remains as an only option. 

But the challenge is…

This increasing requirement for a technically advanced workforce has made life hard for basic tech users available for freelancing. Things are not rosy for them anymore. Simple content writing with no SEO knowledge is not worth it.

More and more graphic designers, software developers, web developers/designers, photoshop editors, and similar skills are in demand. So basic tech skills are failing to take their place or get entertained. 

Regardless of that freelance is in vogue

According to the Harvard business review report, 96 companies were surveyed with 18,000 employees but at least 70% were working freelance once in a week. The reasons are obvious. More and more time spent at the workplace and demands of the corporate sector has affected the work/life balance of employees.

 

 

Nobody wants to miss the event at their child’s school, or not being able to spend quality time with family. Before there was a misconception that its only women who feel under pressure of full-time jobs. Even though men feel similarly trapped. More and more companies according to the report of upwork offering flex options. This clearly indicates that the future belongs to freelance. 

What other limitations, does full-time work impose?

Other than lack of work/life balance, long hours in commute and pressures of meeting deadlines have added to the misery. Some people feel put off from politics at the workplace, lack of appreciation or unrealistic expectations. Freelance offers an escape from all of these.

Remote work put one in control of their own work pace. And lack of control is one of the biggest grievances a worker. Freelancing comes with liberation. An Earth trotter who feels restricted in one place can now travel and still work.

But nothing gives you an entire universe

Everything, every pleasure comes with its own drawbacks and challenges. Life is a struggle be it personal or professional. And humans don’t feel gratitude for whatever the blessing they have. First, they seek freedom of work then they crave for social life. One of the biggest complaints freelancers make is loneliness.

 

 

They are at home and with family but still perplexed. Now the concern is, ‘’we miss having lunches with coworkers’’, ‘’we miss getting feedback from seniors’’. And the list is endless. This has cultivated a feeling of severe loneliness that can potentially lead to depression.  And depression, as we all know, can hinder our activity in the worst form. 

How to cure the sense of alienation that comes with remote work

There is an emerging trend of coworking spaces where freelancers can come and work together. However, this option is mostly available in developed cities in progressive countries.

A freelancer in some remote rural area of a third world country won’t have access to it. An option is to work in public space that can be available in form of small coffee shops even in villages. Other than that there is a solution to get connected with the rest of the team members across the globe.

Even though most viable solution can be to keep a   job with flex option of few weekdays. That can provide both a fulfilling work life and quality time to spend with friends and family.

Data security at the disposal of freelancers

One sensitive issue is companies are putting security of their data in peril by letting their remote employees access it from unsecured networks. A private internet connection at home is secure, but freelancers connecting through public wifi are adding to risk.

 

 

Therefore only responsible remote workers should be hired with better reviews. Even though those reviews are work related not indicating how that person maintained privacy. But it definitely demonstrates responsibility and a dutiful employee shall keep the trust of their employer/client intact. 

Conclusion

Regardless of all the limitations and challenges, freelancing shall take over future markets with the majority of the workforce employed remotely in the coming decades. Besides, technology has made things easier that is adding towards the demands of flex work.

Employers or clients can now monitor their remote workers though staff time tracking software, thus knowing their productivity levels. Also ensuring if the decided number of hours was utilized or project took the mentioned time to be completed. Therefore employers don’t need to worry about the lack of micromanagement of their employees. 

Infographic: Emerging Challenges and Future of Freelance Work

In recent years, freelancing has become a desirable mode of work for skilled workers at an unprecedented level. There are a variety of reasons involved, some are working mothers, some are students struggling with debt and financial challenges. The future of freelance work will provide opportunities for different kinds of workers worldwide.

Not everybody could opt for part-time jobs due to various handicaps in their personal lives. Full-time jobs came with their own limitations and downsides. 

Many started to find their desktop jobs as boring and monotonous. Not only that long hours in commute added to the misery. Work/life balance was the primary sacrifice. Remote work gave an outlet out of this restrictive environment. Not only that absence of job security, workplace politics, or lack of appreciation were other factors involved.

Moreover, some skills were short in the market and freelancers with an advanced skill set took complete advantage of their potential and started earning more than full-time workers. Even though this income wasn’t stable and many risk factors were clearly ignored by remote workers.

With a rising trend of flex work. There are certain challenges, and risks associated with it. Here are some of the most pressing concerns occurring for future freelancers.

 

 

It’s very natural that every beneficial trend brings in its own disadvantages as well. Best of both worlds isn’t possible to get. Sense of isolation took its toll on the mental health of many freelancers.

However, there are many possible solutions to it. Coworking spaces are on the rise in larger cities of the world. Even though for developing countries it can be difficult to find such spaces. But in any case, it depends upon individuals.

Some want the freedom of freelance work but the perks of a full-time job. And that is not feasible. One can develop a vibrant social life if they have the resources. 

Either one can be in control of their work lives or they must compromise with full-time job requirements. Some companies offer both modes of work but they are not in abundance.

Likewise, its a challenge for employers as well to maintain data security with flex workers. This too can be fixed with proper training, precautions taken and careful management. There is no lock that doesn’t have a key, every problem has a solution ultimately.

Getting Too Comfortable? 5 biggest mistakes new freelancers make


Hey Newbies! Are you working hard to successfully set up your career in the field of freelancing? Then you have come to the right place!

You have probably heard, maybe from your friends, that you should sell your ideas or your skills. Suppose you have a talent, we find  9 out of 10 people telling us ‘hey why don’t you make a living out of it’. Who doesn’t want to be a millionaire? Right!

As good as that sounds, we end up making silly mistakes just for the sake of it. Often it leads newbie freelancers to success but sometimes, straight into the pitfall. There is no denying the fact that mistakes are a part of the learning curve and it makes you enjoy your success even more! You look back and realize that you have come a long way and it feels good, undoubtedly.  

As fancy as ‘freelancing’ may sound, but it is not an easy job, it’s not just about cashing your skills but polishing them as you grow! We have seen many freelancers making a career out of it, but some are not getting the desired results, even when they are working their head off!

Are you one of them? If yes. Learn about the biggest mistakes new freelancers make and how to avoid them. So, let’s get started.

Thinking that Freelancing is ‘Chill’. Uh, No?

The notion is flawed. Freelancing is not ‘chill’. We usually think about it in terms of ‘working from home’. Yes. It is basically that but it doesn’t make it any easier. You have to establish it like any new business by putting in a lot of effort, so taking it lightly means failure. Full-time job or not, you are still responsible for your work more than ever and also, delivering it on time.

Many a time, freelance was considered something you do on the side to make some extra cash. But things don’t work like that anymore. For some, it’s just extra cash but for the rest, freelancing is a career, a 24/7 job. So, it’s not ‘doing nothing’, it’s doing the work you love from anywhere you want.

Charging Random rates, because it feels right?

The dreaded money talks. No one likes it! We get it. But picking a random number because you think it feels right is a no-no. At the beginning of your career, it may be tempting to take what you can get and it may also help you land some gigs but in reality, you are undervaluing your talents.

So, rather than just setting random rates, high or low, have a proper pricing strategy and a structured approach. Now the question is, How much should you charge?  Do some research, ask your peers who are already working in this field, or why don’t you just simply google it.

A piece of advice: charge ethically!

Work will not find you, you find work!

Now, this is one of the most common mistakes, we see new freelancers making often. After landing a few projects and some money in our bank accounts. We tend to take it easy and assume that work will find us since we have built a good reputation. But, no it doesn’t always work that way.

You have to establish your own online presence. It’s crucial that you take some time out and set aside a few hours to actively market yourself in order to secure some clients.

Being too greedy to say ‘NO’

We see money, we go crazy. In short, money drives people insane! But as a new freelancer, you should learn to say, NO and try not to pile up your plate with accepting more than you can handle. You want to challenge yourself, fair enough! But be realistic in your approach and maintain a manageable workload.

In order to save yourself from losing valuable clients, only take projects you think you can do, deliver high-quality work and on-time. Say No, if you can not deliver the expectations, no matter how good it may sound. It will save your potential client sometime. Do less but better and try not to be too greedy about it.

 ‘I got carried away and overspent’

It seems really fancy when you start a new job and get paid for the first time! You have a complete list of things you might wanna buy or do. Maybe it’s a movie you have been planning to go see for some time or want to buy a cardigan you like so much, followed by a long list. It’s easier to get carried away and exceed your usual budget. And it does make sense since you have worked hard for it!

We won’t stop you from doing that, but before you do that. Just have a retirement plan and save a small chunk every month. Freelancing comes with uncertainties. You can never be sure how much you’ll make every month or how many projects will you get. So be sure to have some savings to get you through rainy days.

The bottom line is…

There are many mistakes you will make when you’ll kick start your freelancing career and that’s normal. But you learn from your mistakes, once you do that, you will be off to a good start and more! Good luck.

Top 3 Time Tracking Apps for Remote Workers

Many people around the world have welcomed the trend of Remote Work. It is exciting, it is diverse and it is a great experience. Thanks to the innovative tools that were born out of the recent technological advancements that this new trend persisted.

Tools like Online Project Management Software and Time Tracking Apps have helped people connect, collaborate and work together no matter how far they are located physically.

A quick Google search reveals a plethora of Time Tracking tools. We have used the following 3 applications extensively and analysed them to find out their strengths and weaknesses.

The List | Top 3

The following applications are extensively used by Freelancers and Remote Workers all around the world. They all have many great features and solve many problems for the distributed teams. Here, we have covered these applications and mentioned the Pros and Cons for the users to decide which application sounds best for them.

 

FreshBooks-All-In-One Small Business Invoicing and Accounting Solution

Freshbooks is a cool tool for remote employers. Its features range from Time Tracking to Online Invoicing.

Pros

  • It is a simple employee monitoring app that requires the users to log hours manually or with the help of a timer.
  • It presents a simple and yet elaborate invoicing system. The users can bill directly after tracking the time. Since this software provides integrated time tracking and invoicing, the clients do not need to use multiple applications for tracking their time and Invoicing.
  • Freshbooks has a major focus on Invoicing. Hence, it provides a lot of payment options for users. This feature comes in handy especially when your remote team belongs to different regions of the world and have different banking preferences.

Cons

  • The application requires manual clearance of all the invoices paid through various payment gateways.
  • Freshbooks gives a lot of leverage to the Employers and not so much to the employees. It gives employers the option of declaring an invoice ‘disputed’. In some cases, this resulted in payment fraud.

Staff Timer App – The time tracking solution for remote workers

Staff Timer App is the perfect time tracker app for remote workers. It has a lot of features that have been designed keeping in mind the growing trend of remote work.

Pros

  • The application is completely automated and it uses Screenshots to calculate the time spent by the user on all the activities done during the work hours. The employer gets an estimate for the time spent on work-related and non-work related activities.
  • The application is very simple to use. It is a minimum viable product so there are no unnecessary frills. Just the features that are absolutely important!
  • The remote monitoring features like Instant Screen Capture and Real-Time Screen monitoring are vital for a remote manager.
  • The low price is a very strong point for StaffTimerApp. At $2.99/user, it provides a lot of useful features and services.

Cons

  • The application is in the development phase and the design needs some improvements.
  • The Snapshot that is acquired through instant screen capture is not saved and accessible for later use.

Hubstaff

Hubstaff is one of the most widely used Time Trackers in the market. And it truly deserves the top spot.

Pros

  • The interface of Hubstaff is very appealing. It is simple to use and the UX is pretty self-explanatory.
  • The application captures the screenshots of the employees randomly. These screenshots are very important for Remote Employees.
  • You can view the Time with respect to projects, team members, and tasks. You can see the breakdown very clearly. This feature gives a lot of clarity to employers with extremely detailed reports. They can view the number of hours spent on each task.
  • Hubstaff offers a flexible payment system. It lets the employer choose individual payment plans for all the team members. The employers can choose from a vast array of payment gateways.

Cons

  • It is a mix of Time Tracking, Time Management, and Invoicing Software.
  • The customer service of Hubstaff is not its finest quality. The CSRs take a lot of time to reply and more often than not the replies are useless.
  • The activity level statistics can be misleading. For optimum activity level, the user needs to log keystrokes all the time. We know that in the real world, it is a very bad indication for calculating productivity.

Conclusion

All these applications have some amazing features and all of them have some loopholes as well. It is really important to pick the right time Tracking Software that is fit for your needs. The right choice can greatly enhance the productivity of your teams and generate better profits!
Do you have any tools in your mind that we can add to our list? Don’t forget to share it!

Like what you read? We have more, for you:

 

Increase Your Productivity at work | 5 effective ways to make big changes:

There are a number of automated tools available in the market either for communication or collaboration or employee task monitoring. But before we move on, let’s define employee productivity.

Best Employee Time Tracking Apps for Mac and Windows: 

Employee time tracking app for Mac and Windows are becoming a necessity throughout the business world. But is time management that important? Everybody gets the same number of hours to work every day i.e. 24 hours. Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Mahatma Gandhi, Julius Caesar– all these great men only had 24 hours as well.