Facebook recently announced that, following the Covid-19 pandemic, most workers will be allowed to work from home, through the end of 2020, and others even indefinitely. The workers who can provide their services will continue to do so, remotely. It is getting very clear that online work is a reality that cannot be ignored. That is just the beginning as more companies will move to the online space.
Online Work is a get-rich-quick Scheme
While many advertise online work as a way to make thousands of dollars in weeks to a month, this is very far from the truth. The thing with such schemes is that the chances of it turning around into a get-poor-quick scenario are very high. It is unrealistic to expect to be an overnight millionaire, working online. The truth is, getting started in online work is more or less like farming where you have to plant a seed and wait for the harvest.
You put in the initial work which includes learning the skills needed, filling out a profile and bidding for jobs or getting your CV out there for prospective employers to see. You nurture the seed by delivering high-quality work over and over. This will pay off handsomely when you grow your client list. This will result in repeat work and new work from the word of mouth referrals. How quick or slow this process can be, is entirely up to you. The sooner you can get started and offer the best of what you are genius at, the sooner you will see the great results you are looking for.
Online Work Does Not Pay
Truth: You can make as little or as much as you want, depending on a variety of factors.
Your skill
Online work is not a one-size-fits-all gig. Highly skilled freelancers who offer to bring more to the table, have a bigger payday than the staff who do support tasks like filling out surveys, responding to emails, etc. Most of these skills can be acquired through online courses that don’t necessarily cost an arm and a leg. Add another skill to your professional resume and be able to negotiate better pay.
Your database of clients
As a freelancer or independent contractor, there is no limit to the number of people you can serve. As long as you are meeting their deadlines and delivering quality, there’s nothing to stop you from working for multiple people. A rule of thumb I use is that every client should feel like they are the only client you have. This means whenever they send in a task they need to be done, you are quick to respond to their emails, be attentive to their needs. Under-promise and over-deliver. If you promised to be done by Friday morning, send in the work before the close of business, Thursday.
Your hourly rate
Again, depending on the online work you are involved in and the skills you are offering you can get a very high hourly rate. As you continue to work and gain more knowledge about the task, providing even better value, you raise your rate. Also, anytime a client recommends you to their friend or colleague to you, you don’t have to onboard them at the same rate. You have won their trust by the association of the mutual client and can confidently ask for more.
Online Work is a Scam!
This one is very common. And while it’s not entirely false, it is unrealistic to write off online work based on the scammers. Like every industry, there are always people looking for ways to make money through unscrupulous methods. Chances are, you will come across a website whose main activity is to dupe people into paying for work but nothing is forthcoming.
The truth here is, if you do your due diligence you can establish the legit online work from the con. Most scammy sites have multiple links, leading to suspicious sites where on entering your personal details, you can easily get hacked. I am very wary of a site that has numerous links and advertisements that avoid discussing the main reason you are there, to look for online work. They are loaded with download links and dollar signs that are enough to give your eye strain.
Work with trusted companies who will protect your interests. And even while on those sites, pay attention to dubious activities like a client asking you to contact them outside of the platform in a bid to avoid paying the service fee. This could lead you into very big trouble to the extent of getting locked out. In Upwork, for example, when a job is advertised, you can tell at a glance details about the client.
Where they are based, whether or not their payment method is verified, how long they’ve been a member etc. It raises eyebrows for example if a client has been a member for months and their payment method is not yet verified. Or they are yet to hire anyone. This helps you not to dismiss any client whose payment method is not verified if they joined hours or a day ago the approval is probably still pending. You are also able to tell the kind of person they are to help you make a decision as to whether you want to work with them. Feedback and overall rating from other freelancers is gold when making such a decision.
Online Work is Boring and Lonely
This couldn’t be further from the truth. And if you are an introvert, like me, it’s a dream! How boring is it to be able to choose my office for the day? That I can just sit in the park with my laptop, getting work done? That’s not my definition of boring. The truth is, the environment is definitely different from what you may have been used to in the corporate setting. There will be no more coffee runs, idle chatter by the water cooler, no after-work drinks at the pub downstairs with the colleagues.
You make adjustments. You create a schedule of what you are handling that day and when to take necessary breaks. You fit in fun things like pausing to do your workout or even to fix your favorite meal. You can even carve out some time to catch up on a TV series or even call up your friends and family. When you are craving some company, step into your local coffee shop and work from there for a few hours.
Besides, boring and lonely are relative terms. What may be boring to one may be fun and fulfilling to another.
The excitement that comes from working for different people who live in different parts of the world, dealing with different industries and products, speaks volumes. Every day is exciting as you don’t know where the tasks will take you. Working for the same firm, day in day out, doing the same thing from Monday to Friday can quickly get monotonous.
Life is all about perception. Positive versus negative.
Whichever you choose will affect and more than likely reflect your outcomes.
~Sonya Teclai
Online Work Has No Structure
This will only be true if the freelancer does not want to create structure. Remember, you are the boss now and you need to come up with the standards of procedures. With the freedom online work provides, there needs to be an equal measure of discipline. Put in place systems that guide you on how to get clients, what is the first conversation to have with a new client?
How do you intend to work with them, what amount of time do you need to deliver different tasks? Also work out what to ask for as compensation and how to handle rush jobs. Systems make everything run smoother so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time a new client comes on board. Some of the things you can do to create structure include:
- Designate an office area. This could either be a room or even a space on the kitchen table. Just make sure everyone around you understands that is where you do your online work and should be accorded the respect it deserves.
- Carve out office hours, breaks, family time and vacations. This may not be a rigid structure because life happens and could throw us off balance, but it works as a great guideline especially on those days when you need a gentle nudge to get back to work.
- Keep your office area clutter-free. This helps to keep your mind free from clutter as well and you are able to focus. It helps to get out of the pajamas too. I know we pride ourselves in being able to work in our PJs but sometimes the mind follows suit and thinks you are still in sleep mode.
- Have a financial plan in place. Know what is saved towards groceries, how much goes back into the business. And how much is put aside for health insurance and savings/investments.