Working From Home

The Trend, Getting Started, Mistakes to Avoid

An increasing number of people are considering careers that better fit their lifestyle. They are choosing to work from home when it fits their schedule. Have you thought about making the switch to flexible work?  Read on to learn how.

The Trend Towards Flexible Work
Getting Started
Common Mistakes to Avoid

The Trend Towards Flexible Work

The trend is here. While large and small companies have cut back on staffing to control costs and gain flexibility, the work still must be done.  This has created a wide variety of freelance opportunities, especially for people looking for part-time jobs they can perform at home - or wherever they want - when they want.

And best of all, flexible work and working from home could be the perfect solution to your work-life balance dilemma or a way for you to supplement your existing income.  Here are a few more reasons why you should consider freelance opportunities as an option for you to work from home:

Startup costs are low
You'll need a phone, a computer, an internet connection, and a willingness to work hard. Aside from having the flexibility to set your own schedule, dipping your toe into flexible work waters lets you supplement your current income, build a client base, improve your current skills - and even more importantly gain new skills - and create a portfolio of outstanding work.

Variety of available work
For all of your specific skills, check out the Elance category corresponding to your skillset - and with dozens of categories ranging from voice over talent to web programming to data entry, there is sure to be a service category that fits your current range of skills.

In addition to specific skills, there are also a variety of administrative tasks that you may be skilled to accomplish. This type of work can involve data entry and word processing, or even serving as an administrative 'virtual' assistant to a busy executive, where you create documents and presentations, handling e-mail, making phone calls, arranging travel plans.

If you have the time, experience and professional demeanor, administrative assistant projects might be a good fit for you.  And with each completed project, you are helping establish your business connections, improve your skills, and enhance your professional credibility.

Or check out the Writing & Translation category; while you may not consider yourself an author, many projects are posted seeking people to update blogs, create basic web articles on an incredible variety of subjects (you may get paid to learn and write about something new!), or simply proofread someone else's writing.

Just starting is more than half the battle
Just remember the freelance marketplace can be competitive. Unless you have extensive credentials in your field, you may need to start by accepting small projects so you can build a client base and a solid feedback history. As your professional reputation grows you'll be able to win larger projects and increase your rates.

And remember building a part-time, work-from-home work pipeline requires the same skills and focus necessary to build any business:  Disciplined, motivation, and organization. Focus on doing a great job, meeting deadlines, building a working relationship with each customer, and getting great feedback, and over time your business will grow… all while you enjoy the flexibility of working from home, on your schedule.

Getting Started

No matter what service you provide, there are some basics steps every freelancer should consider. Let’s take a look:

Create an Elance profile
If you already have a membership, great! If not, sign up for an Elance Membership. The process is easy – we’ll guide you step-by-step. For detailed information about creating your profile and portfolio, along with other helpful tips, visit Elance University.

Establish a place to work
While some jobs allow you to work anywhere – a coffee shop, restaurant, library, you name it – many freelancers choose to work from home. You don’t need an office or a dedicated room; you can set up a home ‘office’ at one end of the dining-room table, or put a desk in your bedroom and work there. Just pick a place that’s ‘yours’ so you can stay organized and efficient. Remember, your time is your money.

Establish a boundary between your business and personal life
No business or job can be kept completely isolated from personal or family affairs, and that’s especially true when you work from home. Even so, to succeed you’ll need to make every effort to keep the two as separate as possible. If you have a family, your home-based business will affect it in some way. Establish a routine and make your schedule known to family, friends, and neighbors – otherwise they’ll be quick to assume you’re not really working.

Create a basic bookkeeping system
As a freelancer you’ll need to keep track of your business income and expenses. Start with a basic system that will be easy to manage. You can use a simple spreadsheet that logs your income and your business-related expenses. Keep all your business-related receipts. And consider spending an hour or so with an accountant to get basic advice; unless you’re already a financial professional, an accountant can help ensure you take advantage of all the benefits of self-employment. A quick consultation may turn out to be a great investment.

Establish a few simple processes
Any task you perform that doesn’t generate revenue takes away time you could spend earning income. As your business grows, constantly search for ways to streamline clerical or administrative tasks. Set up a simple filing system and keep all your materials and supplies organized. And while you’re at it, consider ways you can differentiate yourself with your processes – especially those processes that customers will notice and appreciate. For example, you may decide that when you win a project from a new buyer that you’ll send a PMB that includes all your contact info. Or you may decide to send thank you notes, along with suggestions for other work you can perform, to each client once a job is completed. Constantly evaluate your processes and look for ways to streamline them – any time you save is time you can devote to earning more income.

Manage your time – time is your product
Freelancing from home automatically saves time – after all, the commute is pretty short. Leverage your advantage and manage your time wisely:

Set goals
Start by eliminating your personal time-wasters. Decide not to take personal phone calls while you’re working. Or decide that you’ll only check personal e-mail after you’ve called it a day.

Use time management tools
Whether it’s a written schedule planner or an Outlook calendar, the first step to managing your time is to know what you need to do, and when. You can set reminders and alerts, and even share your calendar with key clients if necessary.

Prioritize – ruthlessly
End each day planning the next day. List what you need to get done so you can hit the ground running. Also be realistic: If you have 20 tasks for a given day, how many of them do you really need to accomplish?

Establish routines as much as possible
While crises will pop up, you’ll be more productive if you can follow routines.

Don’t waste time waiting
It’s almost impossible to avoid waiting for someone or something. But you don’t need to just sit and twiddle your thumbs. Jump to the next item on your priority list. If you’re not great at multi-tasking or jumping back and forth between projects, don’t worry – you will be.

Do the worst things first
If there are things on your to-do list you don’t enjoy, or wish you didn’t have to do… do those things first. The first items on your to-do list should be the things you least like to do or are the hardest for you to do. Tackle them right away – you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and relief when they’re finished and you can move on to more enjoyable things.

Start with the projects you know you can deliver
Build your business from there. Thousands of projects are available but competition for those jobs can be stiff. If you have limited or no feedback and don’t have amazing credentials, that’s okay – just keep in mind you may have to amend your proposal strategy in order to win the job. As you complete your first few projects and get great feedback, you’ll likely be able to raise your rates to reflect your enhanced standing in the virtual outsourcing community. Many freelancers feel they are only as good as their last project – make sure you work hard to meet your commitments and deadlines. As your confidence grows you can bid on more complex and involved projects – and a great feedback history can help you win those projects.

Continue to build your reputation
Virtual outsourcing lets you connect with buyers around the world, but again, those buyers don’t know you - yet. Your profile and feedback history helps you establish credibility with new buyers. Many successful providers tell us they spent significant time working on their Elance profiles, and they continually update those profiles and their portfolios to reflect new skills, qualifications, and areas of expertise. Visit Elance University for tips on perfecting your profile.

Stay the course
Starting a business isn’t easy. You’ll face a few setbacks along the way, and you may need to adapt and change your approach as business conditions and technologies evolve. But if you work hard, learn from your mistakes, try hard to overcome obstacles, and focus on satisfying the needs of your customers, one day you’ll pause for a moment and, almost without noticing how it happened, realize, “Wow – I made it!”