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January 9, 2023

4 Tips to Market Yourself as a Freelancer on Instagram

Are you a freelancer looking for new clients? You may have heard that Instagram is one of the most effective ways to market yourself and find potential customers. But how can you use Instagram to make yourself stand out from the competition? It can be difficult to know how to market yourself effectively on social media. Fortunately, with the right approach and strategies, you can make Instagram a powerful tool to showcase your skills and attract new clients; with these strategies, you’ll be able to boost your visibility and attract more customers to your services.

1) Find Your Niche

If you want to be successful in marketing yourself as a freelancer on Instagram, you need to find your niche. A niche is a specific topic or skill that sets you apart from the competition and allows you to stand out. It can be anything from photography to graphic design to web development. Figure out what it is that makes you unique and focus on honing in on that.

Once you’ve found your niche, start creating content that focuses on that skill or topic. You should also post regularly about related topics and other topics that are relevant to your industry. This will help you build an audience of potential clients who are interested in the skills and services that you offer.

You can also use Instagram stories to introduce yourself and showcase your work. Stories are a great way to show off your personality and give potential clients a glimpse into your world. Also, consider using highlights to categorize your content and make it easier for potential clients to find your work.  Finally, be sure to engage with other users by liking and commenting on their posts. This will help increase visibility and boost your credibility as an expert in your field. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful freelancer on Instagram!

2) Use Keywords and Hashtags

Using the right keywords and hashtags can help you to be seen by more potential clients, as well as create an overall theme for your profile that resonates with your target audience. When selecting keywords and hashtags, consider what type of work you do, who your ideal clients are, and the topics they’re interested in. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you might use hashtags like #graphicdesign, #branding, #creative, and #logodesign. You can also include other relevant topics such as #marketing or #socialmediamarketing.

In addition to using hashtags, you should also include keywords throughout your captions. This will help Instagram’s search engine to recognize your profile and increase your visibility. Some examples of useful keywords could be freelance designer, logo design services, or freelance marketing services. Using the right keywords and hashtags can be a great way to market yourself on Instagram and reach more potential clients. Try out different combinations to find what works best for your business and use them consistently to maximize your visibility!

You can use third party services to see what’s trending, or you can go into the search feature on Insta and type in hashtags and keywords to see what’s the most popular so that you can use that too! Your hashtags should be a combination of some very specific hashtags (such as #newyorkgraphicdesigner) and some very broad hashtags (such as #design).

3) Use Relevant Images

When choosing images to share, keep in mind that they should be visually appealing and on-brand. Showcase your skills, showcase projects you’ve worked on, or feature other professionals in your field who you admire and respect. To make sure your photos are eye-catching, try using a combination of bright colors, interesting angles, and sharp focus. If you don’t have access to professional photography equipment, consider using free stock photos or apps like Canva to edit and create visuals. By sharing relevant images, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and draw attention to your services. When it comes to marketing yourself as a freelancer on Instagram, visuals can be a powerful tool.

If you like to post a lot about your personal life on Instagram, then we recommend having two profiles: one for business and one for fun! That will help companies find you easier and keep your brand separate from your free time.

4) Create and Share Videos

Social media platforms are pushing videos farther than static pictures, which means videos get more views! Don’t be afraid to jump in and share some videos of your own. Make sure to post to Reels (which is basically like sharing a static photo to your profile page, but it’s a video, of course!) as well as to stories (these disappear after 24 hours, so these are perfect for really current updates like projects you’re working on right at that moment). Look into using trending sounds on your videos for them to go even further, and keep in mind that you do not have to share videos of yourself if you are camera shy! You can always just feature your work to keep the focus on what you can do, and try to post on a regular schedule that works for you.

What tips do you have for using Instagram to market yourself as a freelancer? Let us know!

 

 

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January 2, 2023

1099 vs. W-2 Employees: How to Choose for Your Business

Every business owner is responsible for deciding which category of employees to hire: W-2, or 1099 contractors. In order to find the right person for the job, however, you need to understand what each designation means and how it will impact your business and the person you’re hiring. In this post, we’ll take an in-depth look at 1099 vs. W-2 employees and help you determine which designation is best suited to your needs so that you can start bringing on new employees or contractors with confidence!

The Difference

W-2 employees are employees who work full time and receive a paycheck from the company they work for — there are cases where people work part-time as well, and their taxes, social security, and other benefits are taken care of by their employer. Employees also have access to things like health insurance and vacation time while 1099 contractors do not. Independent contractors are simply hired on to complete specific tasks or projects. Another key difference is that you can deduct expenses related to providing a service (such as software used) from your income when you work with an employee but not when you use a contractor — which means that if your business has high operating costs, it might be beneficial to consider hiring someone as an employee instead of using 1099 contractors because of the tax benefit.

The Pros and Cons

W-2 employees have a set salary and are typically eligible for benefits, such as health insurance, 401k and life insurance. A 1099 contractor can be paid by the hour or on a project basis, which means they’re responsible for their own taxes and don’t get benefits. Some businesses prefer to use 1099 contractors because they’re more flexible and can be terminated at any time without notice, while others may want the stability of a full-time employee. The decision comes down to what you need in your business at this point in time and how much work you want to put into managing payroll taxes and benefits packages.

How to Choose

When choosing between a 1099 contractor and a W-2 employee, there are many factors to consider. It’s important to know the difference between the two because you need to make sure that you follow all IRS regulations about classifying someone as either an independent contractor or an employee — failing to do so could result in heavy penalties down the road. You can find more details on the IRS website HERE that will help you learn how to classify the different types of employees.

Another factor to consider is whether you have the resources and ability to offer benefits such as medical insurance, paid time off, and retirement contributions on your own. If you don’t, then it would be more beneficial (and less costly) to hire an independent contractor who may be covered under their spouse’s plan or who can provide their own benefits. 

An additional factor to consider when deciding between a 1099 contractor and a W-2 employee is what type of work they’ll be doing. If the job includes constant work that is repeated regularly, an employee is a good choice for this position because they are less likely to turn over and will be able to complete the job as scheduled. If the job includes more one-off projects, that is where a contractor can be very beneficial. 

What to Include in Your Job Descriptions

Here at HireMyMom, we often see some confusion surrounding W-2 and contractor positions when listings are posted by companies. More often than not, companies forget to mention which kind of employee they are looking for, and then extra time is spent interviewing candidates that quickly realize they do not want the job because they were looking for a W-2 position OR a contractor position. We recommend mentioning up front in your job listing what you are looking for, which includes if you want someone to start as a contractor that you hope to convert to a W-2 position in the future.

Sometimes candidates are applying to multiple positions or they just miss that you mentioned that in your job description (it’s happened to all of us!). When you reach out to a potential candidate make sure to disclose again what you are looking for with regards to hours and type of position. It’s also best practice to again mention this in the interview just to make sure everyone is on the same page.

 

Disclaimer. The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

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December 9, 2022

How to Convert Your Side-Hustle into a Full-Time Career

The most fulfilling jobs allow you to do what you love. And if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. If you’re passionate about your hobby, whether it’s knitting hats or visual arts, the thought of turning it into a full-time career can be thrilling, especially if you’re burnt out.

With that said, turning your hobby into a worthwhile venture requires a long list of steps and a great remote work-specific resume (if you’re applying as an employee). Even so, it’s still very possible to pursue a high-earning career with your hobby if you plan ahead and take it slow.

What Side-Hustles Can Earn You Money?

Virtually any hobby in any industry could earn you money, but some careers are harder to pursue than others. Take streaming on Twitch, for example. A recent Twitch hack showed that 25% of the top 10,000 highest paid streamed don’t make minimum wage through subscriptions. 

While streaming video games isn’t fruitful, writing, for example, can be if you’re in the right industry. Content writers can make $50,000 or more per year, whereas authors have to write between 1 to 15 books to make the same amount per year, and only if they’re lucky. 

You should also consider hobbies that could lead to other opportunities in your current industry. A journalist could shoot an aerial drone video to improve their articles or news-related media.

Here are a few side-hustles that could be turned into well-paying careers:

  • Illustration and Design
  • Photography or Videography
  • Teaching or Writing Music
  • Cooking or Opening a Restaurant
  • Selling Indoor Plants or Gardening
  • DIY Crafts or Creating Journals
  • Writing Comedy Skits on Youtube
  • Brewing Beer or Coffee
  • Walking Doors or Pet Sitting
  • Visual Arts or Dancing on TikTok

Typically, a person who pursues a hobby as a career will start as a freelancer or remote worker, but that isn’t always the case. For example, you could get hired as a dog sitter for a vets office, as a line cook for a local restaurant, or as a beer brewer in an established craft brewery.

How to Turn Your Side-Hustle Into a Career 

Many fields rely on your hobby of choice; you just need to stay vigilant when applying for work or building your business. 

Here are the 5 steps you should take to turn your hobby into a career.

1. Research Your Career Path and Make a Plan

Spend time researching your hobby, the barrier of entry to each career choice, and average salaries and employment rates. Consider speaking to another career professional for advice about getting into your field. If you’re lucky, your industry may benefit from your chosen hobby. 

If they don’t come up with an exit strategy. If you want to leave your current career in a year, list out a set of tasks that get you there, such as training, building a website, and/or networking. 

2. Iron Out the Details (and Consider Your Options)

After setting up a game plan, be sure to iron out the details. If you want to be a police drone pilot and you’re already an officer, ask yourself who you need to talk to or what certification you’ll need to move into that role. If you aren’t an officer yet, you may want to consider other options.

If becoming a police drone pilot is your dream, nothing should stop you, but it’ll take a long time to get there. However, you can be a drone journalist without a degree and perform a similar role. 

 

Cristina Par is a content specialist with a passion for writing articles that bridge the gap between brands and their audiences. She believes that high-quality content plus the right link-building strategies

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November 28, 2022

The Top Five Ways to Avoid Making a Bad Hire

At some point, many companies hire someone they later regret. It happens more than you may think. But that doesn’t mean you should let it happen to your business, and there are a few key things you can do to avoid the bad hires. Hiring the wrong person can be costly, not only in terms of the money you spend but also in terms of the time and energy you expend trying to train them or fill their shoes with someone better suited for the role. While there’s no guaranteed way to find the perfect hire every time, these five strategies will help minimize your chances of making a bad hire.

Set Clear Expectations

Define exactly what you expect of a person in their job role. Be clear about the tasks you want them to perform and your expectations for their performance. Write down these expectations so there is no ambiguity. Remember, you cannot control how someone does their job so focus on what they should do as opposed to how they do it.

Show Appreciation

No matter how much you may be in need of someone, do not hire them without first showing that you value and need them. This is especially important when hiring remote employees. Keep in mind that the best way to show appreciation is not by talking about what they can do for you, but rather by letting them know how they will make your company better. When it comes to remote jobs, even small things like sending a quick email or text message or giving them an unexpected high-five through Skype can go a long way in demonstrating that you care about their work and want them around for the long haul.

Define Goals

Start by asking the candidate to define what their goals are for the job. You should be able to tell quickly whether or not someone is qualified based on their goals, and this will also give you an idea of what qualities they’re looking for in their next position. Ask questions that will help you figure out how well they’ll work within your environment: What would you like to accomplish if you are hired for this position?  How do you define success? What were some of your previous jobs, and why did you leave them? After hearing the answers to these questions, ask yourself if you can meet their expectations. If so, then there’s a good chance that this person is worth pursuing further, and it will let you know if they are a cultural workplace fit.

Understand Work-Life Balance

As an employer — especially one who is hiring remotely — it is important to understand a job candidate’s work-life balance. If they are stay at home moms, working around their schedules will be very important. During an interview, ask the job seeker what sort of schedule they are looking for/need when it comes to their work day. They may have different hours during the week and weekends. Discussing these needs beforehand can help create a better work-life balance and avoid any misunderstandings down the line.

Pay Attention to Red Flags

Any red flag you notice in an interview is most likely a reflection of the kind of work that person will perform for your company. For example, if someone shows up late to an interview, that could mean they are not taking the hiring process seriously, and they may be late for company meetings and deadlines. There are other similar red flags to pay attention to: 

  • Is the person constantly distracted by what’s going on in their home rather than focusing on the interview? This shows they may not be able to concentrate on their work.
  • Is the person unable to give specific, detailed examples of past work history? This could mean they exaggerated their job seeking materials and may not have the experience needed.
  • Does the person make remarks that make you uncomfortable or seem overly negative? This could escalate and cause issues down the line.

These are just a few examples of red flags, so we always advise you to trust your instincts. Remember, you don’t want to hire a candidate too quickly, you want the right and experienced candidate that will grow with your company!

What are ways you avoid making bad hires for your company? Let us know! If you’re an employer that’s nervous about the hiring process and about potentially making the wrong decision, check out our Concierge Services! Our experts will complete the entire hiring process for you. With years of experience, they can point out red flags you might miss as well as amazing attributes.

 

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November 21, 2022

Thanksgiving: Why Being Grateful is Good for You, Your Family and Your Career

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? It’s a time to get together with family, eat plenty of good food, and reflect on what we’re thankful for in our lives. But why exactly are we encouraged to have this attitude of gratitude? Most people would answer that it’s just something nice to do — to feel grateful and express it somehow — but few people can explain why gratitude can actually benefit your career, mental state, and overall happiness. That’s where this blog post comes in; it will explain the importance of gratitude and how showing gratitude can make you feel better both professionally and personally.

How Gratitude Affects Health

Do you ever feel stressed or down on life? A lot of us do, especially during the holidays. But there are ways to combat these feelings with gratitude. It’s been shown that gratitude can boost your mood, make you healthier, and improve your relationships with others. In fact, studies have found that people who practice daily gratitude exercises are more likely to report being happier than those who don’t. There are many ways to get into this habit – here are a few suggestions: first, start by writing down three things you’re thankful for at the end of each day. Then go one step further and write a thank-you note to someone in your life (family member, coworker). And finally, try having conversations about what people are thankful for rather than what they’re not.

How Gratitude Affects Positive Thinking

When you’re feeling thankful, it’s easier to see the good in your life. This means that when things go wrong, you’ll have a better perspective on how to handle the situation. Plus, when you take note of all the things you’re grateful for, you’ll stop focusing on what’s missing from your life or what isn’t going well. This will then lead to a more positive mindset overall. It can also help you decrease your stress and anxiety, or at least help you feel better equipped to manage those anxious emotions moving forward through the curve balls life throws.

How Gratitude Affects Relationships

A study done by Dr. Suzanne Segerstrom at the University of Kentucky found that people who were more grateful in their relationships tended to be less depressed, less anxious, and had lower levels of stress. This is because when we focus on what we have instead of what we don’t have, our moods tend to improve. When you are more grateful in your relationships, you are more likely to show gratitude in other aspects of your life as well — like being thankful for your job, your family or for the food on your table. This leads to a better mood overall which can help you with some aspects of productivity.

How Gratitude At Work Can Lead To Greater Success

Research has shown that gratitude can have a positive effect on how we perform in the workplace: people who are grateful are more likely to be more productive, focus better, and even sleep better. Grateful employees also tend to be happier than those who aren’t. Being thankful at work can lead to greater success because it helps us feel happy, which makes us more productive in our day-to-day tasks. Gratitude can also help lower stress levels, which not only makes you happier but it also lowers your blood pressure. All of these things mean that you’ll be able to work for longer periods of time without feeling tired or stressed out about anything.

The Importance Of Gratitude

Gratitude is overall good for your health, no matter which area of your life you apply it to: work, home, and fun! It’s the season of thankfulness, so we wanted to share with you how that can help your life, and we wanted to let you know just how thankful we are for Y-O-U! We appreciate all the support our HireMyMom community offers, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our family.

What are some ways you remind yourself to be thankful? Share them with us!

 

 

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October 31, 2022

The Perks of Hiring People with No Experience

Hiring new talent can be an exciting and frustrating experience, especially if it’s your first time hiring employees. There are so many things to consider, like how much to pay, what benefits to offer and how to keep your new hires from leaving once you get them on board! But, how do you decide which candidate is right for your organization? Someone with years of experience, or someone with no experience? That greatly depends on which position you’re hiring for, but let’s explore the benefits of hiring someone who has no experience — this strategy can save you money and help you foster trust within your organization as you build your employee’s experience.

Finding the Right Fit

When you’re in need of someone to fill a position, be sure to think about what skills they will have that can be utilized at your company. There are many benefits to hiring people with no experience such as being able to train them and mold them into the perfect fit for your company. Plus, there is a lot less pressure on you when it comes time to make a decision because you don’t have any preconceived notions about who they are as an employee which can lead to better decisions. When considering hiring someone who has no experience, make sure they have skills that can be useful at your company and once hired, then take the time to train and coach them so they can grow into the perfect person for the position. 

These skills don’t have to come from direct experience in your industry; for example, if you run a marketing company, a potential candidate could put on their résumé that they have experience working with customers to persuade them to purchase a product from working the floor in retail — they just don’t have direct marketing experience. This is still a skill that can be put to good use at your company! In fact, in this example, this gives that job candidate a unique perspective into what consumers want that may have been previously missing at your business.

They Are an Investment

One of the biggest perks of hiring someone without experience is that they are an investment. A person without experience can be a great asset to a company because it takes time for them to learn and grow. When hiring people with no experience, you invest in them and their future because they become more valuable over time. Plus, there is less turnover when you hire people who have no experience because you build trust and loyalty by showing candidates you are willing to work with them and allow them to move up in your company.

They Are Eager to Learn

Hiring someone without any experience can be a risky move. There is always the chance that they will not be able to keep up, or worse, quit after a week. However, there are plenty of reasons why it might be worth the risk. For starters, you can find people who are eager to learn and will be happy to go above and beyond what is required in order to make themselves valuable. This can lead to your company having an influx of motivated employees who have the potential for growth and education. 

They Bring Fresh Ideas

Hiring people without experience can be intimidating because you don’t know what they’re capable of. But, it also offers many benefits that inexperienced managers might not think about. One major perk is fresh ideas. If you hire someone without experience, they’ll bring a new perspective to the company and help you find new ways to improve processes and increase your creativity. For example, if you have an employee who has been working for years on a particular project or product, they may not see other solutions that could help make the work process smoother and more efficient. In some cases, having an outsider’s perspective on things can be valuable because it’s likely they won’t be tainted by old habits or assumptions that others may be stuck in.

As mentioned before, hiring someone with experience versus no experience comes down to your company culture and the position you’re hiring for. There are benefits to both, but focusing specifically on those with no experience, they can be a great investment for your company! What has been your company’s experience hiring someone who has not worked in your industry? Let us know!

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October 10, 2022

The Person in the Mirror, NOT the Person on Social Media

Recently, I was working with a mompreneur on her business plan. Her business has been around for a couple of years, and she wanted to lay out better, comprehensive career goals. She confessed to me that she wasn’t sure where to start. Soon after that, she reconnected with an old friend from high school on social media, and just by doing that, she had been thrown for a loop. A mom to two small babies, she was amazed to see her old high school friend running a very successful working mommy blog with three angelic children prominently featured. Her friend appeared to have everything she wanted, but she had not taken the same path to get there. This lovely mom-preneur felt unsure of herself and unsure of how to set goals for her own business. After all, her journey didn’t look the same as that nicely polished blog.

You know the kind of blog, I’m sure. Everything is picture-perfect. The kids are always dressed in their best, looking clean, happy, and like they jumped straight out of a catalog. Every room in the house is spotless, decorated and arranged as though people don’t actually live in it. No one fights or cries or screams. No one is sleep deprived. Work, kids, family, and personal time are all perfectly balanced.

The mom-preneur I was chatting with expressed her dismay. Her life looked nothing like those photos! She actually read through her friend’s blog from start to finish in just a few, frantic hours. In the blog, this particular mom never encountered any troubles or problems. Her kids were always well-behaved, everything at work went according to plan and her family split tasks with her equally to give her free time.

Again, all of that was nothing like this mom-preneur’s life. She told me how horrible seeing all that made her feel. She felt like a failure. Her two small kids are loved and cared for, but both of them are under the age of three so there are tantrums, yelling, and more often than not they are running around the house, shedding their clothes — there are no “picture-perfect moments” there. She works more than the average 9-5 daily, and things do not always go according to plan. She has a wonderful, loving spouse, but he too has a job leaving them both trying to juggle schedules. Basically, nothing is perfect. So, how did her friend seem to have it all together?

I reminded her that she should not compare herself to others — especially on social media! We had a long heart-to-heart about how it can seem so easy to see those quick snap shots and feel inadequate, but we don’t actually know what’s going on in the entire picture of someone’s life; it’s easy to tell the internet everything is going great when in reality nothing is. In this conversation, I realized that I needed to share this quick reminder along with some tips on how to measure your own progress based on what you do, and not what others are doing.

 

Self-Compassion Matters

Take a moment to think about the times you’ve been hard on yourself. Maybe you didn’t get that promotion at work, or you had a fight with your partner. Maybe you’re struggling to lose weight, or you feel like you’re not doing enough for your kids. Whatever it is, we’ve all been there. And when we’re in those moments, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others and think that we’re falling short. But the truth is, we are all on our own journey. And comparing ourselves to others only leads to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. So instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on being compassionate with yourself. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, and remember that everyone is doing the best they can.

Be Grateful

It’s easy to get caught up in what we don’t have, but if we take a moment to list out everything in our lives we are grateful for, we can begin to change our perspective. I am grateful for my health, my family, my friends, my job, and my home. I am also grateful for the air I breathe and the food I eat. When we focus on what we are grateful for, we begin to see how much we actually have.

Set Realistic Expectations

You’re not going to be able to do it all. You’re not going to be able to have a perfect house, a perfect body, a perfect job, and perfect kids. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to have days (or weeks) where you feel like you’re failing. And that’s okay! Because you’re human. And so is everyone else. So cut yourself some slack and give yourself a break. We all need it. It’s important to set realistic expectations and then appreciate what we’ve done rather than focusing on what we haven’t done yet. There will always be someone doing better than us or someone who has more money or a nicer car or whatever it may be. It doesn’t matter because they are just telling their story; yours might look different but that doesn’t mean either one of them is wrong. No one can compare with your story so don’t compare yourself to anyone else — take care of you and your family as best as you can by setting realistic expectations for yourself which includes being happy for other people too!

Mindfulness Leads to Progress

Moms are under a lot of pressure these days. With social media, we are constantly bombarded with images and messages about how we should be living our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and feeling like we’re falling short. But here’s the thing: we are each on our own journey. And comparing ourselves to others only leads to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement. So instead of comparing, let’s focus on being mindful of our own progress. When we take the time to notice how far we’ve come, it’s empowering and motivating. So the next time you find yourself comparing yourself to someone else on social media, remember: you are not them and they are not you.

 

 

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August 1, 2022

5 Ways to Get Your Team to Engage in Group Projects When Working Remotely

Working remotely on group projects can be challenging. There are fewer opportunities to connect with the rest of your team, so it can feel like you’re going it alone — which can make it harder to stay motivated and accountable to your goals. While working remotely doesn’t have to be lonely, there are ways to get your team to engage in group projects when working remotely — like these five tips!

1) Set up a collaborative platform

Before anything else, you need to set up a platform where your team can easily collaborate on projects. This could be something as simple as setting up a Google Doc or creating a Slack channel. Once you have a platform set up, make sure everyone knows how to use it and that they have access to it. To create an even more collaborative atmosphere, break up tasks so that different people are responsible for different parts of the project. If someone has questions about their part of the project, they should speak with the person who is assigned to their task instead of contacting someone who might not be working on their task at all. You may also want to designate some time for weekly meetings so people can discuss what’s been done since the last meeting and provide feedback if necessary.

2) Ask questions

Asking questions is a great way to get your team to engage in group projects. By doing this, you can get a better understanding of what your team members are thinking and feeling, and you can also get them to share their own ideas and thoughts. Additionally, connecting with your team in this way can help build rapport and trust within your team. As a leader, following up with your team will show that you are cultivating an open, accepting work space, and you can use it to find out where you can delegate tasks to make projects run smoother.

3) Create an easy way to share ideas

Brainstorming is a key part of any project, but it can be difficult to do when team members are working remotely. One way to make it easier is to create a shared document where everyone can contribute ideas. This could be a Google Doc, an online whiteboard, or even just a shared email thread. The point is that people can work on their own and then share what they’ve come up with with the rest of the group in a place where ideas are easy to reference.

4) Encourage honest feedback

One way to get your team to engage in group projects is by encouraging honest feedback. This way, team members will feel comfortable communicating with each other and won’t be afraid to voice their opinions. Furthermore, honest feedback will help the team identify areas that need improvement. For example, if someone on the team notices a teammate struggling with deadlines or something else related to work, they can offer assistance without feeling like they’re going out of their way. 

Once people are more confident in giving criticism, it will become easier for them to open up about things that are bothering them without being worried about seeming unhelpful or negative. After all, these things should be addressed so as not to have an impact on productivity!

5) Make it personal

Get to know your team on a personal level. What are their hobbies? What do they like to do for fun? Getting to know your team will help you find ways to encourage them to interact. Here at HireMyMom we have each of our team members fill out a fun survey so we can learn more about them; we ask them about their hobbies, favorite holidays, and even favorite foods!

What are ways you keep your remote team engaged? Contact us to let us know!

 

 

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July 25, 2022

5 Tips to Maintain a Work-Life Balance and Turn Screens Off After Work

If you’re like many of us, you’re probably using all the new technology to do more work in less time, while still trying to be present with your family and friends. The good news is that you can do both with the right mix of self-discipline and organization, as well as some good old-fashioned tech tools that keep you connected to the important people in your life without being distracted by the rest of the world. Here are 5 tips on how to maintain a work-life balance and turn screens off after work so you can spend quality time with your loved ones!

1) Respect Your Evening Routine

Some of us operate on an evening schedule, while others of us operate on an early schedule. One way or another, most people take time to wind down before bed and do things like meditate, journal, stretch, read or whatever else is important for them at that time. Don’t let your evening routine be replaced by stress or anxiety when you get home from work: stop looking at your phone after hours. If it’s not something urgent — and even if it is — give yourself some space so you can focus on other things. Nothing kills creativity faster than being constantly distracted. It’s best to turn off notifications completely during downtime; that way, there are no surprises when it comes time for bed.

2) Learn To Say No

Being overloaded at work can be stressful, but it is easy to avoid if you learn how to say no. As an entrepreneur, there will always be more work that needs doing. But if you learn how to stop saying yes when you should be saying no, your life will become much easier. Take time out for yourself after work and cut down on screen time before bed; your productivity will improve and you’ll sleep better! Getting enough sleep is vital for maintaining health so try setting alarms on your phone to limit screen time. If any tasks are left over from your day job then set these aside until the morning so that they don’t hold you back from getting enough rest at night. Take this and learn to delegate too! Don’t be afraid to ask for help and spread tasks around evenly instead of you taking all of them on by yourself.

3) Unplug From Technology During Dinner

It’s time to put down your phones and chat with each other. Even in your own home, it can be hard to completely unplug from technology. Many parents have reported that children are more attentive during meals when they aren’t on their devices. In fact, studies have shown that those who eat with their families five times or fewer per week are 1.4 times more likely to feel lonely than those who eat together six or seven times a week. It also increases happiness: A meal is one of life’s few activities where you get an instant boost just by doing it! Make family dinners as pleasurable as possible by making an effort to turn off technology at least once or twice each week during dinner.

4) Silence Your Phone at the Movies

Let’s face it, we all spend too much time staring at screens. The stress of worrying about our friends’ status updates or business emails is enough to interfere with our productivity. Next time you head out for dinner and a movie, try leaving your phone in your bag or purse. You’ll enjoy your time with family or friends more and you’ll also remember what life was like before we became so reliant on technology.

5) Have Dedicated Family Times

For many, a work-life balance is about having dedicated family times. You might find that your job interferes with time you want to spend with your spouse, kids or parents. If you have young children, it’s easy for them to feel like their needs are overlooked in favor of getting projects completed at work. To regain that healthy balance, reserve specific times during your week for quality time with your family —just as you would do if you had been out of town for business travel. Remember: If it doesn’t get scheduled on a calendar or planner, it won’t happen! You can even schedule these times onto your work calendar so people always know that time is reserved for your family.

How do you stay off your phone after hours? Let us know so we can share your tips with the HireMyMom family! In the meantime, check out some other suggestions on how to find that perfect work-life balance!

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July 4, 2022

10 Services You Can Offer As A Virtual Assistant

If you’re looking to become a virtual assistant, or if you’re just wondering what services you can offer companies, this list will help you out. A virtual assistant is an employee who works remotely and provides administrative, creative, and other types of support to clients on an as-needed basis. Being a virtual assistant lets you work from home, on your own schedule, but it does require considerable organization and self-motivation. Keep reading to learn what skills make a good virtual assistant and what services you can offer companies as a result!

1) Customer Service/Support

Being a virtual assistant means that you are a vital part of any business! Whether it’s answering customer questions, setting up meetings, or making travel arrangements for your team, a VA’s customer service can either make or break a business. Being great at customer service is an essential part of being a successful VA, and you can put that to work for other companies by specifically handling customer inquiries.

2) Bookkeeping

One of the first things you can offer as a virtual assistant is bookkeeping services. This will allow businesses to outsource bookkeeping to you and save time and money. If your clients are small businesses, it’s likely they don’t have much of a budget for hiring a full-time employee to handle their books.

3) Website Work

Any business will likely have a website, and most websites need some sort of maintenance or improvement every now and then. If you’re comfortable with HTML and other web-building tools, you can offer your services to help fix up a site.

4) Writing & Proofreading

If you’re a writer, someone in your circle of friends is bound to ask you for a writing or proofreading job at some point. In fact, according to recent stats, employment of writers is going to grow by 9% over the next few years! That’s because everyone needs something written at some point — anything from a blog to an annual report. If you’re good with words and already have an idea of what’s involved in being a writer, then working as a virtual assistant will be a breeze!

5) Administrative Support

Administrators are in high demand. Most important for this type of VA is your ability to multitask and use your problem-solving skills to solve any problem that comes your way. As an admin support VA, you will schedule meetings, coordinate schedules, and more.

6) Digital Marketing

Marketers are turning to virtual assistants for tasks ranging from running pay-per-click campaigns and managing social media accounts to creating sales copy and performing keyword research.  If you have experience with SEO, PPC advertising, content marketing, or anything else digital marketers do, you can offer your services as a VA to local businesses or online companies. If you’re already working as a VA, why not add digital marketing to your skill set? The more services you offer clients, the higher your hourly rate will be — and you might even be able to charge by project instead of per hour if you offer enough value.

7) Event Planning

If you have an eye for detail and are willing to work with a flexible schedule, event planning might be a great service option for clients looking for help with conferences, trade shows, or even weddings. 

8) Advertising

If you have experience in social media, search engine optimization, or email marketing, then it might be a good idea to offer ad-related services as a virtual assistant. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all frequently hire freelancers to help them advertise their platform by posting updates, writing descriptions for ads and banner ads that appear on their social media pages, and writing copy for email campaigns. Virtual assistants are also often hired to help with SEM (search engine marketing) and SEO (search engine optimization) campaigns.

9) Market Research

When you’re a virtual assistant, your research could range from market research to competitor analysis, to social media and digital marketing analytics. You may conduct site audits or content audits for clients as part of your research. There are a number of tools available for conducting market research online, such as Google Analytics and Kissmetrics, that can help you with various aspects of doing market research as a VA.

10) Fundraising & Donation Management

Fundraising is an ongoing necessity for non-profit organizations. Being able to track donations, process receipts, and generate donor acknowledgements is key to any fundraising campaign’s success. Because of its importance in non-profit fundraising, using a virtual assistant who can take care of these processes effectively and efficiently will help an organization’s bottom line.

These, of course, are just a few of the services you can offer as a virtual assistant, and with lots of tools out there, you can offer more services than those listed here! Is there a service you offer that you want to share with the HireMyMom community? Reach out and tell us about it!

 

 

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