How to Use Tech and Freelancers to Grow Your Business as a Soloprenuer

As a solopreneur, you probably like doing things yourself. You may have a product or service you believe in so much that the idea of bringing others on is a little hard to swallow. But the truth is, even if you can do everything yourself, eventually the time will come when you need others involved so that your company can grow.

Here’s the good news: Hiring full-time employees on-site is not your only option. In fact, using technology and working with freelancers on specific projects and tasks is becoming more and more popular, because businesses are realizing how it can make their operations more efficient and help the bottom line.

If you’re a solopreneur ready to go the next level, consider these tips for incorporating tech and freelancers to grow your business:

Get a new phone.

There are many reasons why having a capable and reliable smartphone is essential for solopreneurs. From emailing to capturing and posting photos online to returning phone calls from clients, having a top-notch smartphone and data plan is one of the best ways to boost productivity.

Apple fans should consider the newly released iPhone 11 Pro Max. Apple claims that it offers superior battery life, along with a triple-camera system and loads of other features. Android fans also have some top-of-the-line devices to choose from, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, which comes in an impressive size and offers a stylus with Bluetooth functionality. 

Use project management tools. 

These tools are some of the most useful tech for small businesses available on the market today. Project management software like Asana and Trello can help you to achieve a lot of tasks more efficiently than if you were to continue doing them yourself. This includes everything from analyzing data and predicting when a project will be completed, to keeping track of deliverables and communicating with team members and stakeholders. 

Budget online.

Unless you make more money than you spend, your company won’t be successful. As simple as that principle is, it’s much more difficult to abide by. That’s where online budgeting tools come in. Accounting software like FreshBooks and Xero can help you manage your money so that you can focus on other aspects of the business. 

Keep your team connected.

If you plan on hiring freelancers for certain projects, you will want to make sure you can communicate with them effectively. For instance, conducting virtual meetings is a great way to keep everyone on the same page. Also, if you have several team members collaborating on projects, you may want to use a messaging tool like Chanty or Zulip.

Hire freelancers.

Along with implementing technology in your operations, there are several tasks that can be handled best by professional freelancers who specialize in that specific field. Here are a few types of freelancers almost every company can use:

• Virtual Assistant. From a remote location, a virtual assistant can fulfill various tasks that otherwise would distract you from the more important parts of running your business. This can include things like scheduling appointments, returning phone calls, running errands and writing checks.

• Web Designer. A good web designer can get you a powerful and attractive website up and running. They can also set it up so that you can easily make modifications and updates yourself.

• Content Writer. Offering your audience a blog is important in this day and age, as it helps to build credibility for your brand and improve SEO results. Hiring a freelance writer to produce articles on industry-related material is a worthwhile investment.

If you want your company to reach new heights, you can only do everything yourself for so long. Make sure you have a good smartphone, and incorporate tech like project management tools, online budgeting and collaboration software. Also, consider the areas where you most need the help of freelancers. Embracing tech and freelancers can help your business thrive without the need for full-time employees. 

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Tools That Make Managing a Remote Workforce a Breeze

Many business owners choose to forgo a remote workforce for fear of logistical complications. While this may have been a legitimate issue a decade ago, advancements in technology coupled with the realization of substantial cost savings have made remote and freelance working conditions a reality for millions of Americans. If you are considering establishing off-site employees, keep reading for how to find the right people for remote work, as well as tools that can help you manage everyone no matter how far apart you may be.

Attracting the talent

There are many benefits to placing remote workers into key positions. Perhaps most importantly, you are not limited to your local talent pool, and this makes it easier to find individuals with skills scarce in your area. You can even broaden your search by searching for candidates worldwide.

Start by drafting an accurate description of your expectations. This narrative should include daily responsibilities as well as any other requirements, such as checking in once per week, that would not be expected of an employee in your physical location. If you have never written a job description before, Betterteam has many free downloadable job description templates to help you get started.

In addition to all of the standard places you post a job – newspapers, online job boards, etc. – you may also consider seeking out freelance employees before hiring someone full time, so that you can get a better feel for how the process works.

Keeping it together

One of the most prevalent challenges of managing a remote workforce is communication. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to have your team available for conference calls or other “face-to-face” interactions. A few ways to ensure everyone stays on the same page is to screen-record videos, if training or instructions are necessary, and to provide transcripts of meetings. 

Video transcription used to require a dedicated individual to listen and/or watch and rewatch videos. Today, you can find speech-to-text transcription apps and services for about $.10 per minute. Automated transcription offers almost complete accuracy (provided you’re using high-quality audio) and is a cost-effective way to receive your meeting notes in minutes. 

When you have more than one freelance or remote worker in place, workflow management software is an absolute must. This is a program that helps to facilitate workflow organization. A workflow management program can essentially give you a birds-eye view of what’s happening, when, and by whom. Some workflow solutions charge as little as $14 per month for each individual user, which is a small price to pay when you compare the cost of a brick-and-mortar location.

Another essential tool for a non-site team is a chat program. Slack is a popular option that provides not only pop-up messaging but also videoconferencing and team audio calls. Microsoft Teams is another useful product and works particularly well for businesses that utilize Skype and Microsoft-focused products, such as Office. Having the ability to instant message is a non-intrusive way to get answers to questions that don’t warrant a full email – most programs even provide group chat setting so that everyone can be a part of the conversation.

When it comes time to put together your “away team,” start by ensuring that your job description is accurate so that there is no question of their responsibilities. Once assembled, manage your employees or freelance workers by utilizing the many tech tools available to you. Having these processes and software programs in place will give you true remote control, which is crucial when you can’t collaborate in person with the people who support your business.

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