1. Exercise While Working From Home
2. Eat Healthily When Working From Home
3. Money and Health Tips
4. Stay Mentally Healthy While Working From Home
5. Working From Home Routine

Exercise while working from home

Something as simple as getting out for a walk or run everyday will improve your mood and keep you healthy. The best thing about this is it’s outside, so you can get some fresh air and maybe even some sunshine at the same time. Cycling is also a good option if you prefer it.

There’s also no shortage of online workouts you can do from home. YouTube has a wide range of workout videos for free that will suit all abilities. Whether a 20 minute lunchtime HIIT session is your thing or a pre-bed yoga routine is more your style, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

Eat healthily when working from home

Endless takeaways seem like the easy option and the temptation to regularly order in is strong, especially as you aren’t walking past any shops on your way home from the office to pick up fresh groceries after work!

If you can, keep takeaways to the minimum or cook your own healthy alternatives to your favourite classics.

Keeping to regular meals can also help. It’s very easy to mindlessly snack while working from home – hands up if you’ve polished off a whole packet of biscuits in a day before!

Sticking to regular, nutritious meals will help prevent this as you should feel full and satisfied for longer after eating.

Don’t forget to drink water too. It’s very easy to find yourself on your fourth of fifth coffee without realising it, but don’t forget coffee is actually dehydrating. Make sure to balance it out with regular glasses of water. This is also a good way to keep you moving as you have to get up every hour or so to fill up your glass.

Money and health tips

Working from home can help you save money and improve your financial health. For starters, you don’t have the cost of the commute or the allure of after work drinks!

But, there are expenses to working from home and the costs could rack up quickly if you don’t watch out.

Electricity will be a big cost when you’re at home all the time. To keep your electricity costs down, turn your power switches off at the wall when you’re not using them. You could also consider switching providers. Many offer a referral bonus if you can convince a friend to switch, too.

Heating is another big expense, especially in the colder months. Try and wear extra socks and jumpers rather than heading to the thermostat as soon as you get a bit chilly.

Where possible try and avoid ordering lunch each day, however tempting it might be. Although cooking endless meals can get tiring, it will help you save a lot of money, so your bank balance will thank you in the long run.

If you’re finding you’re not spending as much money – whether it’s from not commuting or buying lunch each day – try and avoid leaving it sitting in your current account. This will just increase the temptation to spend it when the opportunity presents itself again.

Instead, consider opening a savings account. Out of site, out of mind really does work. Your money will be protected and ready for you to spend when you really need it.

Stay mentally healthy while working from home

Being isolated working from home alone (or just with your partner and family around) can take its toll on your mental health.

A good starting point is to stay connected with your friends. Arrange catch ups over coffee or even call your bestie on your lunch break. If you’re both freelancers, consider setting a regular ‘work date’ where you spend time together while working.

Take some time each day to relax and switch off. A lot of people find mindfulness helpful for this. You can find out more about mindfulness here.

If you find yourself struggling more than usual, it could be worth seeking individual therapy. Talking through your problems and getting specific help and guidance can be very helpful.

Of course, if your feelings are seriously worrying you do speak to your GP or a medical professional.

Set a routine

A routine is crucial to staying healthy while working from home.

It may seem tempting – particularly without the commute hanging over you – to keep snoozing your alarm, but try and avoid this.

Instead, get up each morning and follow the same pattern. Whether it’s having a coffee, a shower, or cooking yourself a nice breakfast, the important thing is to stick to a routine and avoid lying in bed with your laptop all morning.

It’s also really important to take breaks and get away from endless screens regularly. A quick stand up and stretch every hour, will help avoid aches and pains while giving your mind a much-needed break.

Where you can, take a proper break in the day and get some fresh air. Getting out in daylight will make a big difference if your working hours allow it. Schedule this into your day to stop yourself from putting it off because it’s a bit too cold or raining.

If you’re struggling with productivity, or social media scrolling is distracting you too much, try scheduling in fun activities as rewards. This could be anything from a break to watch an episode of your favourite TV show after you’ve met a deadline or even a bubble bath.

It’s a good idea to mark the end of the working day too. Try to avoid checking your emails well into the evening and working anti-social hours. Instead, shut your laptop down and put it away until the morning once you’ve finished for the day.

The post Working from Home – Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Enjoy showing your affection by smothering friends and family in hugs? Ever thought of converting your tactile generosity to cash by becoming a professional cuddler?

Probably not.

Well, we’re here to tell you that this is indeed a job description and one that may be worth investigating.

Let’s take a look.

• What is a cuddler?
• Why the rise in cuddling?
• Ways to become a professional cuddler
• How much you can make
• Case study

What is a professional cuddler?

Exactly as the name suggests, a professional cuddler is someone who offers their cuddling/hugging/snuggling services to clients in return for money.

Purely platonic

While it probably sounds somewhat salacious, the first and most important rule of being a professional cuddler is that things remain purely platonic at all times.

The rules are clear – no nudity, no touching the cuddler in places covered by underwear, no unsavoury advances.

In other words, it’s not about giving clients a racy experience, rather a comforting one.

And this goes for every aspect of your business. For instance, your go-to workwear will be a pair of super soft and cosy pyjamas. Your office? The comfiest couch, bed and/or mattress you can find. Your sales pitch? The wholesome goodness of a loving embrace.

You’ll be surprised how many people will pay really good money for something that may seem pretty mundane to you!

Why the rise in professional cuddling?

The plain fact of the matter is that we live in an era where loneliness is one of our most lethal epidemics.

With the global move away from a rural subsistence existence to one driven by economic opportunities in urban environments, we seem to have sacrificed our ability to connect with those closest to us. Long hours at the office, exhausting commutes and a focus on survival has moved ‘getting to know the neighbours’ close to last on our priority list.

If you have a partner, spouse, housemate or live-in family, this disconnection may not be altogether terrible. For those who live alone, however, it often means having several weeks go by without enjoying a meaningful conversation or the comfort of a gentle touch.

While the former is bad enough, it’s not entirely impossible to remedy – if you’re desperate enough, you could always chew off the ear of the barman at your local pub, the waiter at your favourite coffee shop or even the doorman at your apartment.

However, ‘skin hunger’ (the term used for being deprived of touch) poses a bigger challenge, as most people probably wouldn’t take too kindly to being hugged – out of nowhere – by a desperate stranger.

Benefits of touch

Be that as it may, one can’t get away from the fact that being able to share some form of physical touch is absolutely critical to our wellbeing as a species.

Here are just a few scientifically-proven benefits of human touch:

• Lower heart rate
• Decreases feelings of loneliness
• It’s a natural stress reliever
• Increases trust

Touch as commodity

What this all comes down to, is the fact that there are more people than ever before who are suffering emotionally, physically and psychologically due to a simple lack of touch.

Hence the rise of a newfangled type of therapist called the cuddler.

As with any other form of therapy, cuddling starts with a consultation, where the cuddler establishes what type of therapy the cuddled is after.

Some people may just want a lengthy hug, while others crave being the ‘little spoon’ while napping. Some cuddlers even offer the option of snuggling while watching a movie of the cuddlers choice.

The options are really endless!

Ways to operate as a professional cuddler

So, if you are the physically affectionate type, becoming a professional cuddler may seem like a dream profession for you.

However, before you go advertising your services on Gumtree, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Do some thorough research about the cuddling industry and see if it’s really for you
• Sign up for the Cuddle Professionals International Accredited Course to become a qualified cuddler and equip yourself with the skills needed
• Decide how you’d like to operate your business. You might wish to join an agency, a directory, or create your own limited company.

Open a cuddle cafe

If you have a passion for hospitality, why not combine it with your cuddling capabilities? The concept of the ‘cuddle cafe’ started in Japan – where customers can order a certain type of cuddle off the menu, ranging from the likes of a 20-minute power nap to a full night’s rest in the arms of a comforting stranger. Apart from the hefty cover charge, customers would be billed according to the length of time they spent at the cafe.

So far, it doesn’t seem like anything similar exists in the UK, so why not be a pioneer?

Work independently

Finally, you could go your own way entirely and set up a cuddling business from home:

• Designate a special room/area for cuddles and make it as cosy as possible
• Work out a ‘menu’ of cuddles you are able to offer and how long each would take
• Set up a website people can make bookings through
• Advertise your services – if you’re nervous about putting yourself out there on something like Gumtree, try spreading the word through friends and family first.

Just be sure to have a very strict screening process for clients – perhaps you could arrange a coffee meeting in a public place beforehand and also have another person around the house whenever you have a client. Safety first!

How much you can make

A minimum rate of £50 an hour is suggested, with many experienced cuddlers earning over £100 an hour – some up to £150 an hour. You can vary your rate depending on options, such as if you will go to visit people or they come to you, and if you need to hire space for your cuddle session.

Make sure you include public liability insurance in your business plans. You should also make sure you have a clear screening process, and some professional cuddlers choose to hire an assistant for additional security (the assistant does not need to participate, but should attend appointments).

Case study: Kitty Mansfield

Kitty Mansfield

Holistic therapist and founder of BeCuddled, Kitty Mansfield is, without a doubt, the pioneer of cuddling as therapy in the UK.

Starting out as a massage therapist, she often felt that while clients’ aches and pains were being alleviated, some emotional piece of the puzzle was still missing.

Eventually, she realised that this could be alleviated by prolonged touch, so she set up BeSnuggled.co.uk to sell her services and explain her concept.

Although it took a while to gain momentum, she soon found herself stretched to capacity and decided to expand by taking extra cuddlers on board and established BeCuddled.Today, Europe’s very first professional cuddle agency.

To ensure that everyone is as comfortable as possible, they offer cuddlers and those to be cuddled the option of male, female or LGBTQ partners for sessions. While some people don’t have much of a preference, others crave a specific type of touch.

Part of Mansfield’s success can undoubtedly be ascribed to the strict rules and regulations underpinning her business, making all involved feel safe, cosy and secure.

Does this opportunity interest you? If so, you might also be interested in making money being a friend.

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The post How to make money by being a cuddler appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

If you’re the sort of person who likes to take some reading material into the bathroom with you, then why not try to make money on the toilet instead?

Here are 10 things you can try:

1. Do an online survey – or three
2. Check Free Postcode Lottery for a chance to win money every day
3. Slogan competitions
4. Save money by switching your gas and electricity
5. Earn while you surf
6. Save money by switching your car insurance
7. Save money by your home insurance
8. Come up with a killer business idea
9. Come up with a new TV game show format
10. Sell your toilet roll tubes
11. Play Games

Do an online survey – or three

Online surveys are a quick and easy way to make money on the toilet. They can be quick or long, depending on which one you do.

We like Inbox Pounds. It’s easy to sign up simple to use wherever you are. Including the bathroom.

In fact they give you £1 just for signing up, so you’ll be making money even If it’s a very quick visit.

Take a look at our article on how to make money with online surveys to see even more survey sites that will can be used to make money on the toilet!

Check the Postcode Lottery for a chance to win money every day

Now this really is a quick and easy one.

Check the Free Postcode Lottery for an opportunity to win money every day. On some days they have over two thousand pounds to give away if it’s been a roll-over.

All you need to do is sign up with your email address and postcode. Then you check the site each day to see if your postcode is the winning one. It’s that easy. Read our article about it here.

They also have other ways to win such as an Emoji Lottery and a Video Lottery. So if you happen to be someone who takes a little while on the toilet, then this may be worth a try.

Check it out and sign up for free here.

Come up with slogans for competitions

We love competitions at MoneyMagpie. In fact, we often tell you about upcoming contests in our newsletter (sign up here to get them sent to your inbox).

As you can see in our article on how to get money and freebies through competitions, some companies run slogan competitions, here you have to come up with a clever little phrase about their product to win the prize.

Save money switching gas and electricity

If you’re reading this on your smartphone right now, you could be saving yourself a tidy sum just by switching your gas and electricity provider. You don’t even need your bills to see how much you could save. Just put your postcode into the box here and see which companies are offering you a cheaper deal.

It’s likely that it will be one of the smaller suppliers. They are doing their best to get into the market and compete with the larger providers who dominating it.

Check it out now and make some money!

Earn while you surf

You could win up to £250 a month just for surfing the net with this competition site called Neilsen.

They have been known to give up to £30,000 away every year.

 Save money switching your car insurance

Again, while you have your mobile phone on you consider switching your car insurance. Your car insurance premium may have gone up since you last checked, but you can save yourself money by switching to a cheaper deal than you have now.

Take this time do explore the different options that are available.

Switch to a better car insurance deal here.

 Save Money switching your home insurance

According to Which? Magazine you should be able to save money by switching your home insurance. While sitting on the throne you may have some time to kill. Why not try this?

Do it here. Switch to a better home insurance deal.

Come up with a killer business idea

Is visiting the loo the only time you get some peace and quiet and time to think? It is for some people, if so then spend a bit of extra time to ponder a killer business idea.

You probably already have one rattling around your mind. Use this time to work out how to do it, what you will need to start and how to make a profit.

We have plenty of ideas for you, as well as lots of help and advice to hey you started here on our small business section. For example, take a look at this article with twenty tips for setting up your own business.

Come up with a new TV game show format

Feeling creative? Being on the toilet can be a good time to come up with story ideas for a novel or other creative pursuit.

But have you ever considered creating a TV game show idea?

Game shows can be hugely lucrative if you can come up with an original concept it right. People make hundreds of thousands from a successful idea they came up with which was then sold to production companies all over the world.

See our article here on how to come up with a winning TV game show format.

Sell your toilet roll tubes

It’s possible to sell the cardboard insides of your toilet rolls on eBay. There really are people who need them for craft projects and will buy them off you. Sell them for about £7 per 50. If you have a family you will probably get through a lot and will be able to gather 50 rather quickly.

It’s not a major income by any means, but it’s simple enough to do.

Play Games

For all the gamers, help to improve game development by getting paid for testing games. Find out how here.

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The post Ten ways to make money, while on the toilet! appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

What Is Sensitivity Reading?

Who Can Do It?

Create a Sensitivity Reading CV

Sensitivity Reading for Authors

Story Consulting for TV and Film Companies

Setting Boundaries

What is Sensitivity Reading?

We’re living in a far more connected, more aware world these days. And people want to see that diversity reflected in the content they consume. More than that, many writers will create storylines outside of their lived experience – so they want to make sure they are representing people fairly and accurately, without leaning into dangerous tropes.

A sensitivity reader comes on board a project to read the manuscript, pitch document, or other documents to ensure that areas within their speciality are fairly represented. They may have input into challenging dangerous representations or tropey stereotypes, to make sure a character or storyline portrayal is realistic.

The reader will look over documents or manuscripts in detail, and outline where the storyline or character representation is either accurate or could use improvement. This means you will need to have an analytical mind and be able to present the information in a clear and concise way in your report.

Who Can Do It?

Almost anyone can be a sensitivity reader if they have critical thinking skills and are good at communicating. They need to be able to explain why something is an unfair representation, too – so they need to be aware of cultural and political nuances, and be able to discuss how one person might seek offence at a portrayal where another of the same community would not.

Sensitivity readers are there to ensure characters and storylines are three-dimensional representations of people, rather than ones that focus on the trope or stereotype. They recognise that some stereotypes exist for a reason – and that using them as a basis can be useful, if done with awareness.

Lived experience is the key term when it comes to what makes you a sensitivity reader. This could be living as a person of colour in a predominantly white environment, or living with a disability or as a carer to a disabled person, or being in the LGBTQIA+ community. Sensitivity readers are also sometimes called authenticity readers.

Being Freelance

Sensitivity readers are freelance. This makes it an ideal side hustle to run alongside your day job, especially when you’re starting out. Just make sure you’re realistic about how long it will take you to read and write up a report on each project.

Being freelance isn’t for everyone, but it is ideal for flexible hours that you set yourself, and sensitivity reading is done from home so it’s a great remote option. It is not likely to bring you a full-time income for a while as you get started and build up a regular client base, so make sure you factor that into your finances and career decisions.

Create a Sensitivity Reading CV

This is an unusual document compared to a normal CV, as your other work experience might not be relevant to the role. What you should do is look for examples of sensitivity reading reports online to get an idea of how they are written, and pick a few books, films and/or TV shows to write up a sample report on. This will form your portfolio.

For your CV, your work experience is relevant if it is related to either the subject matter of your area of expertise, or within communication skills. For example, if you studied an English degree, that is useful to list. Or, if you work with underrepresented voices in your day job industry, list that. Make sure you think about more than your work experience, too.

Your personal lived experience is what is important when it comes to sensitivity reading. Describe the areas you would be a reader for – such as LGBTQIA+ topics, disability representation (even better if you can be specific about the type), being working class (both publishing and the screen industries have a class issue), being a parent, living in different countries or cultures, or being neurodivergent.

Understanding the nuances of these topics is really important. While your personal experience is very relevant as a sensitivity reader, it’s important to understand and represent alternative viewpoints of others in similar experiences. For example, a common phrase when it comes to autism inclusion is ‘when you’ve met an autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person’ – meaning, every autistic person’s experiences are different, so they cannot all be painted with the same brush.

Sensitivity Reading in Publishing

Publishers are the most common companies that hire sensitivity readers. This is because books are often filled with many characters and it could be impossible for the author to have a realistic understanding of every single background of each of them. It’s particularly important if a main character is not the same as the author’s lived experience.

Reach out to publishers to offer your services. There are tons of small presses who would be a good place to start, as the Big Five publishers will opt for established and experienced readers. Gain your experience with small publishers first.

You can also reach out to independent authors who are self publishing their book. In fact, this is a big and growing market, and it can be easier to connect directly with authors on platforms like Threads and Instagram to find clients. Indie authors won’t have a huge budget, but they are a solid community who will provide regular work through word of mouth for those who prove themselves to be great sensitivity readers.

It can help to have a website if you can afford one. If not, make your social media profiles public and update your bio to include your lived experiences, as well as post regularly about being a sensitivity reader. Create a profile on platforms such as Fiverr to help publishing companies and indie authors find you, too.

Story Consulting for TV and Film

Production companies use sensitivity readers – also called story consultants – in a similar way to publishers. They are often brought in fairly early into the development process, to ensure a pitch is fairly representing all communities and characters. They may also be brought in on long-running dramas like soaps such as Emmerdale, Eastenders, and Coronation Street, when a character has a storyline related to a particular subject. With this in mind, they will often reach out to charities to support the development of a storyline, so having a good relationship with charities linked to your area of expertise can help open these doors for you.

Approach production companies with a short email detailing your experience and interest in supporting their work. You might not hear back from anyone for months on end, but when a relevant project comes up they will get in touch. This can pay very well, into the thousands per script, but it’s hard work to come by so you need to be persistent.

Keeping Sensitivity Reading and Your Personal Life Separate

When you’re a sensitivity reader, it can be easy to overshare. You want to explain why you’ve made certain comments about a character or storyline because of how it relates to your personal experience.

While this might seem useful, it can be a huge emotional labour on yourself. You will need to set boundaries, and that includes being able to recognise that you have the right to not share your personal, specific, experiences with anybody you don’t want to.

In addition, sharing some more personal experiences that are not directly related to the manuscript can cause difficulty for the other person you share with. You may accidentally trigger someone’s fears, worries, or own experiences in a way that can cause harm. This is why it’s important to stick to the provided material (which they are expecting to discuss) and provide your report based on the broader knowledge you have about your communities and experiences, rather than your own specific details.

The post Make Money as a Sensitivity Reader appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Going it alone as a freelancer is a brilliant feeling… until the work seems to dry up or get repetitive. Staying motivated as a freelancer is essential for your business success – but it can take a bit of tough love and discipline to keep going!

Use these strategies to stay motivated and keep pushing your business forward, even when you’re in a bit of a slump. You’ll feel productive even on days without client work AND you’ll get out of the doldrums, too!

• Join a Virtual Networking Group
• Diarise Your Day
• Set Goals
• Change Your Workspace
• Exercise Daily
• Get Dressed
• Make an Appointment Every Day
• Take Regular Breaks
• Use Apps to Improve Your Focus
• Arrange Social Engagements
• More Freelance Tips

Join a Virtual Networking Group

One of the most effective ways to find work is through your network. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been freelancing for years or you’re just starting out! Finding an industry group to join will make a difference to your work.

Not only will you earn referrals and hear of job opportunities through your group, but you’ll benefit from ‘shop talk’ with a wide range of people. Freelancers aren’t as competitive with each other as you may initially believe. In fact, they’re a supportive group of people who champion others who’ve taken the freelance leap!

Look for Slack communities, Facebook groups, or LinkedIn groups to start with. Look at your local Chamber of Commerce to find out what they’re doing in terms of virtual meetings. They’re a great way to meet other local business people AND promote your work without being too salesy.

Some groups run webinars, others like a Zoom meeting. Some are continuous chat channels like Slack, that you can dip in and out of depending on how much time you’ve got. Keep regular contact and answer questions as well as asking them. Giving back to the community makes others more receptive to helping you out, too.

When you go to industry events and start to see familiar faces, it’s also worth asking if there are any word-of-mouth freelance groups you could join. A great example of how this can be successful is with The Messy Collective, a community that started out as a small group for women, non-binary and trans writers – and is currently over 3000-people strong. The Whatsapp community is full of group chats dedicated to elements of being a writer, while the Substack provides regular information, and the monthly networking events (known as parties!) help real-life connections.

Diarise Your Day

Even if your books are bare and there’s no work coming in, spend time planning your day or week in a diary. Stick to your appointments!

Block out times for research, cold pitching, or training webinars. Use the time you’ve got spare to learn more about your industry or how to run your business. These skills come in handy later on, so it all counts as business-related activity even if you feel it’s not earning you money right this moment.

When you’ve got a lot of clients on your plate and you’re juggling tasks, a diary plan helps to break your workload into manageable chunks. Set out blocks of time – say every 60 minutes – and write a schedule for your work. Include time for social media and emails, too! Often, block-checking emails then ignoring them for an hour or two is a great way to improve focus and productivity.

Set Goals

As part of your diary planning, or a larger project, make a list of goals. These could be short-term business goals for the week or month, or longer goals such as what you want to achieve by the end of your first year freelancing.

Having something to focus on and work towards keeps you focused on work and reminds you why you went freelance in the first place. When work is slow, these goals help you decide what you need to do next to get where you want to be – such as taking extra training courses or increasing the number of cold pitches you do each week.

Change Your Workspace

Working as a freelancer at home means you can go a little la-la from staring at the same four walls.

If you’re stuck in a rut, change your workspace. This could mean any number of things: rearrange the furniture in your home office, or move from the sofa to the kitchen table. Perhaps you can take your laptop to the local park for an afternoon of work in the sunshine, or maybe you can visit a friend to work together at their place.

Regular freelancers who don’t have a home office, or like the differentiation of work/home space, find co-working spaces revive their motivation. You get the benefits of going to an office, but for your own business. Look for local workspaces in your area – you can often rent a hotdesk space by the day or week, and some offer free trials to get you started.

And remember one of the best, free, places to work: your local library. Many now have cafes too, and lots of useful resources – even things like business networking events sometimes – so make sure you check out your local library. It’s warm and dry, friendly, quiet, and FREE. Sounds perfect to us!

Exercise Daily

There’ll be days when you feel like you’re too busy to get some exercise, and other days when your motivation for doing anything except watch Netflix is nil. Don’t let it get to you!

Take time for at least 15 minutes of exercise – even on the days you don’t feel like it. Not only does it get you away from your desk/bed/sofa, but exercise also stimulates mental ability and can help you find inspiration. It also staves off depression – and is something you can do with a friend, to boost your social interactions, too.

Try the NHS quick workouts, pop to the gym to lift some weights, or get out for a brisk walk around the block. Alternatively, start your day with a yoga routine to feel invigorated, or arrange to meet a friend for some tennis or a kickabout in the evening after work.

Exercise doesn’t have to cost you a penny, but it’s essential for keeping you motivated as a freelancer. It helps you find mental clarity, boosts your health so you’re not at risk of taking (unpaid) sick days, and helps relieve strains from poor posture sat at a desk all day.

Get Dressed

Your pyjamas might be the comfiest clothes you own – but it’s not going to put you in a work state of mind!

Every day, get up and get dressed. Even if you’re changing from ‘sleeping PJs’ into what’s officially known as ‘lounge wear’, that act of getting changed into something different helps change your mindset into work mode.

Some people find the simple act of putting shoes on is all it takes to give them confidence for that all-important client call! It can help you feel like you’re a professional at the office (which you are, just at home), and resets your thinking into a business-like attitude.

At the end of the working day, change back into your PJs! This helps signify the end of your work time and start of your wind down evening time.

Make an Appointment Every Day

Treat your working week as if you’re going to the office. Even if you’re a part-time freelancer, use your working days as efficiently as possible.

Avoid losing focus by making sure each work day has at least one appointment in it. This might be calling a potential new client, catching up with an existing one, or attending a training webinar. Just pick something that forces you to get your business head on!

It’s also a good way of making sure you’re moving towards the goals you set. An appointment doesn’t have to be with a client or potential customer. It can be an appointment with yourself! Promise yourself you’ll spend one hour reading about a topic, or that you’ll spend two hours developing your business plan. It puts your business at the forefront of your daily routine – and helps you stay motivated as a freelancer.

Take Regular Breaks

On the flip side, don’t stuff your day with back-to-back calls if you can avoid it! The likelihood is, you chose freelancing to get away from the 9-5 grind and find a flexible way of working that suits you.

The trouble with that – plus the knowledge that you’re responsible for every penny that goes into (or out of) your pocket – it it’s easy to get carried away. You’ll realise you’ve been sat in the same position for hours on end, trying to finish your latest project or sending off ‘just one more pitch’.

Set a timer on your phone to go off every hour. Get up, stretch, make a cup of tea. Spend at least five minutes away from screens in each hour and revive yourself! Take a lunch break, too. Going full force all day long is the guaranteed route to burnout – and no freelancer stayed motivated when that happens!

Use Apps to Improve Your Focus

Sometimes, you can do everything right and yet still find it hard to stay motivated as a freelancer. The world in 2020 is a particularly big challenge: there are many, MANY distractions going on around us and it’s easy to get sucked into a mental wormhole about it all.

If you struggle to stay focused on your work during the day, consider using apps to help. For example, if you know that social media drains your time AND energy, use a blocking app on your computer. Apps like AppBlock let you set the times you are – and aren’t – allowed to access other apps on your phone or desktop.

It means that, even if you’re tempted to check Facebook instead of write that proposal, you physically can’t! You can go one step further with similar apps for things like writing, too: Cold Turkey Writer blocks EVERYTHING until you reach a set goal!

Many freelancers struggle with their focus overall. Staying motivated as a freelancer involves an ability to cut out the distractions – which are often caused by a busy mind and that leads to a lack of sleep! Try apps like Flipd or Calm to help you learn techniques for coping with a busy head. Meditation strategies and even the sound of a crackling fire to lull you to sleep at night can all help you manage your mental focus.

Arrange Social Engagements

Don’t forget to have a life, too! Staying motivated as a freelancer is nigh on impossible if you’re all work and no play. It’s so easy to keep cancelling plans because you want to work on your next pitch, or you’ve got client work you really want to get finished (even if the deadline isn’t until later in the week).

Taking time for yourself to have social interaction is vital to maintaining your motivation during your working day. Set time aside to spend time with your family, and make sure you have at least one full day off every week to do things with your friends, family, or even just some ‘me-time’ that’s away from your desk.

Social interaction is important for your mental health and maintaining your relationships. However, it can also boost your enthusiasm for your freelance work. Taking time away from your computer to do something entirely different gives your brain time to percolate ideas in the background. You’ll return to work revived! Going out to do things, like taking a walk with your family or watching a film with friends, also brings inspiration from other places that you can introduce to your work.

The post 10 Ways to Stay Motivated as a Freelancer appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

We’ve come up with lots of ways to make money on the side in easy and unexpected ways, even if you’re not very mobile. (Keep an eye out for a new series coming soon that will cover other types of invisible disabilities and mental health conditions.)

Here’s a list of just some of the many ways people with physical disabilities can make extra money, without loads of hassle.

Many of them are not only handy for bringing in the cash, they’re also fun to do!

• • How to make money if you’re not mobile
  • Make money if you’re semi-mobile
  • How to make money if you’re mobile with other disabilities
  • Top 5 tips for disabled people looking to find work 

How to make money if you’re not mobile

If you you’re not mobile or have a fluctuating condition that impacts your daily mobility, you might be tempted to think there are no money-making opportunities for you. But you’d be wrong!

There are loads of ways you can make some money from home – from online surveys to setting up a blog.

Here are some great money makers especially for you:

Make money with online surveys

Online surveys are great ways to make some extra cash, with very little effort required. Simply sign up to a safe, secure online survey site and you’ll be paid cash for filling out their surveys.

They don’t require a special commitment – you can fill them in during the ads of your favourite TV shows or whenever you have a spare half an hour.

Online surveys can make you up to an additional £50 a month.

At MoneyMagpie we like Nielsen Computer Panel UK. It’s great: all you have to do is download their app onto your computer and mobile devices and you’re automatically entered into prize draws.

Nielsen researches internet users’ behaviour and randomly selects users for monthly prize draws, as well as larger yearly draws. As long as you’re comfortable with the setup, Nielsen doesn’t require any active participation on your part. All you need to do is register, answer a few questions about your internet use and then you get rewarded for using them!

Check out the following of top survey sites:

• Swagbucks
• Nielsen Online Panel
  
• InboxPounds
• Toluna
• LifePoints

See our article on MoneyMagpie-approved survey sites and start making money today.

Some sites let you swap your earned points for cash or great vouchers such as Amazon gift cards.

Just remember, never pay to sign up to an online survey site.

Make money writing to magazines

Magazines are often looking for true life stories from ordinary people – you can make a lot of money from telling yours.

Very few people actually write in to magazines with their true life stories, so there’s plenty of opportunity to contact features teams and sell yours.

You can make up to around £2,000 depending on how sensational or interesting the story is – in fact one MoneyMagpie reader earned £2,200 for her life story.

Stories can vary and you can talk about anything – magazines look for stories of tragedy, hope, inspiration or humour.

How to sell your story to magazines

The process is simple. Phone up or email a journalist (or contact the features team via email) and briefly outline the story you’re interested in selling. You can get your money in as little as two weeks!

Take a Break magazine offers up to £2,000 for true stories, and other magazines and newspapers offer between £200 and £2,000 depending on how good the story is.

You can make even more by including a relevant photo, which helps make your story more interesting!

If you have a life story you’d like to sell, target the magazines you know your story will be relevant to.

For example, a story of dramatic weight loss would be ideal for a magazine like Woman’s Weekly, but may not be great for Total Film!

Keep an eye out for magazine competitions too. You could win big prizes for doing very little.

Some magazines even reward cash for tips, recipes and star letters too. Check your favourites and see what they offer.

Have a sharp eye for detail? Make money reading…

If you can spot grammatical errors from a mile off then proofreading is the perfect career for you.

To be a proofreader you must have an excellent standard of English and strong attention to detail, so you can spot all the errors in documents and manuscripts.

There are no set entry requirements for becoming a proofreader, but relevant experience is a bonus (and if you’ve got a degree in English, that won’t hurt either!). Proofreaders spot mistakes in texts and make changes.

Proof reading pays surprisingly well, with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) reporting that the minimum hourly rate for experienced and qualified proofreaders is £29.85.

For those with less experience, don’t fret. A talented newbie proofreader can still earn up to £15-20 per hour. Not bad for a flexible job.

Another great thing about freelance proofreading is that you usually work flexible hours. You can plan your working day around deadlines and how long the manuscripts will take.

Once you’ve finished your work, you’re done for the day. So, if you’re a fast and diligent worker, you could be earning a decent wage that fits around your social life.

Make a name for yourself online and make extra cash – or freebies!

Do you have something you want to share with the world?

Have you got opinions people need to hear?

Consider setting up a blog.

Blogs can be about absolutely anything. They can be personal, like a kind of diary blog, or you could simply write about a subject you find interesting.

If you have something unique to say, write it. It’s very therapeutic and you can make good money on the side from blogging if it becomes successful.

Here are some useful tips on how to make your blog more popular:

Firstly, write about something you’re passionate about. It’s important you find it fun to do or you won’t be motivated, and people will find it less interesting to read. You have to ooze enthusiasm.

Publish your blog on a popular site like WordPress. The free version comes with lots of tutorials to help you learn more about running your website.

Remember to focus on promoting your blog in various ways. Word of mouth, telling your friends and family, and using social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) are great ways to get your content noticed!

Finally, you could use your blog to sell things or advertise your own services.

See our article on how to make money blogging.

(Keep an eye out for a new article April 2025: Making money writing with subscriptions – how to use Substack and Patreon to make money!)

Make £15-£25 an hour as a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistant positions are a great opportunity to make money if you’re skilled on the computer but not very mobile.

To be a virtual assistant you must be computer literate and confident with major software packages. You can adapt your workstation with things like speech-to-text software if you have limited mobility in your hands, too.

There’s high demand for virtual assistants from small businesses who can’t afford full-time admin support. Some larger companies also employ virtual assistants to work from home: much secretarial work can be completely remote.

As a virtual assistant you’ll answer calls in a professional manner, reply to emails, and manage diary bookings. You’ll have to be proactive and work to meet deadlines, and you may be tested to see if you’re performing to a high standard.

While some businesses use chatbots to handle basic administrative queries, they often struggle with emotional intelligence, complex problem solving, and personalised communication. These are areas where human virtual assistants truly excel. This makes VAs especially valuable for companies needing flexibility and empathy in client interactions. That’s why many still choose people over automation when chatbots fail to meet real-world business demands.

You can find work as a virtual assistant by signing up to a decent free agency, and can earn up to £27 per hour.  Try Virtual Office Temps or the Society of Virtual Assistants has more information and lots of tips on how to get started.

How exciting would it be to work with clients across the globe and liaise with people from different countries?

Read more about becoming a virtual assistant here.

Make money calling companies

If you’re not mobile, there are loads of phone-based mystery shopper jobs. You call a given company and ask a list of questions. All you have to do is report their response.

Mystery shoppers are also needed in the online world. Your role will be to contact and send specific enquiries to websites. You’ll monitor the speed and contact of the response. Again, you’ll probably provide your feedback through a straightforward and simple questionnaire.

You’ll then be paid when you’ve reported your findings. Once you’ve done your bit, you will sometimes be paid within 24 hours of your assignment.

Pay rates differ for different agencies and companies. You can expect to earn £5-£25 per task plus expenses. However, for phone calling mystery shopper jobs the pay is much lower – £1-£5 for phone work.

This obviously won’t pay the bills, but it’s a fun way to earn a bit of extra cash. If you’re interested in taking part in mystery shopping, see our article for the best and safest mystery shopper agencies.

Never pay to join a mystery shopping agency. You are being paid for your service.

Make money chatting to people

If you have a friendly, customer-focused attitude and excellent, professional telephone manner, working as a phone agent could be the ideal job for you.

There’s loads of home based call centre work for individuals who aren’t mobile. All you need is a computer, the internet and a phone, and your job is to simply answer customer service calls and deliver excellent service.

Customer service is increasingly branching out. Clients are contacting companies and making their queries via email, social media and online chats, so there’s more technical support work for those who aren’t very mobile.

Additionally, social media is all around us and dominating the internet. Many companies recruit individuals to be responsible for the social media of their company. It’s now crucial for promoting products or companies.

Keep an eye out for virtual social media roles on job sites as you can gain some excellent transferable skills.

Find out how you can make money from answering the phone here.

How to make money if you’re semi mobile

If you’re okay getting around, but can only put so much strain on yourself, try one of these ways to make extra cash…

Make money tasting food and watching adverts

Focus groups are a particularly fun and interesting way to make money on the side.

Register with companies such as Take Part in Research and you can earn up to £250 for sharing your opinion.

Focus groups vary from filling out paid surveys for a couple of weeks to going in and reviewing and assessing various products and even TV ads before their release!

It’s an exciting opportunity to make some good cash and meet people from all walks of life. It’s great for individuals who love testing products and talking to people. You’ll also get to share your thoughts on innovative products and services.

Sometimes, you’ll hit the jackpot and test foods. To find out more about how you can become a grub tester, read our article on getting paid to test food…yes, even chocolate.

If you aren’t able to get to a focus group then you can take part in online focus groups or even do an interview over the phone.

Make money with a punchy pun

Feeling creative?

Write messages for greeting cards for a bit of extra cash!

Although this is a very competitive market, a lot of money can be made from writing witty lines, and it’s an exciting industry to work in. A punchy pun could earn you up to £150!

The most popular cards are funny, likeable and witty puns. Who doesn’t like a clever joke that puts a smile on our faces?

However, other greeting card types include sentimental messages and traditional cards that use rhyming poetry.

The first step to getting your message published is research galore. Decide which type of message you’d like to write in greeting cards, and find out who publishes these types of messages.

It’s worth visiting a high street card shop such as Clintons. Spend time viewing the cards and note the relevant publishers that you want to contact. You can find the publisher on the back of each card.

Keep an eye out for niche shops that sell greeting cards, e.g. book stores, garden centres, craft shops and gift shops.

Also, visit greeting card trade fairs where you can gain publisher contacts and do some networking. You could even pitch to them and show them your example greeting card messages.

Golden Rules:

• NEVER submit your work without reading the submission guidelines. Find them on the publisher’s website.
• If you submit work and haven’t followed these guidelines, your work won’t get read.
• If you can’t find their guidelines, write to the publisher to request them.
• When you receive a response regarding your greeting card message, keep track of your contacts.

It may take a while to get going, but many people make good careers from greeting card writing, and it’s a very creative, interesting industry to work in. Check out the Greeting Card Association site for freelance work.

If you’re interested in making money on the side from fun greeting card writing see our more detailed article.

Make money selling your old stuff

Have you got piles of used books, DVDs, games, CDs, and clothes cluttering up your room?

Sell them and make extra cash!

As they say: tidy house, tidy mind and you’ll be a good bit richer.

Sell on sites like Ziffit, Amazon and eBay. On Ziffit you can simply type in the barcode and find out how much cash you can get.

Visit our Clear Your Clutter section to find out more about getting paid for your old stuff. 

Make money if you’re mobile but have other disabilities

If mobility isn’t a problem but you have other health issues which may hinder your ability to find employment, here are some great money makers to try.

Earn £60 an hour dog walking

If you’re mobile and enjoy being out and about in the fresh air, dog walking could be for you.

Dog walking is an enjoyable, lively job that pays surprisingly well. You can make up to £50 an hour if you’re brave enough to walk four dogs at the same time. Some people can take even more, so it can be a lucrative business idea.

If you want a slightly easier dog walking experience, you can earn up to £10-12.50 an hour walking one furry friend at a time. This is the perfect job for animal lovers.

You can go about dog walking by joining an agency such as Tailster for immediate work. Tailster is free to join and advertises you to hundreds of people in need of a dog walker.

Of course, the advantage of working with an agency is that they do the hard work of getting the jobs in. The disadvantage is that they take a cut of the money.

As an alternative, register with Petpals as a dog walking company and apply for jobs on there. You can also simply put an ad out in your local area – on noticeboards, through people’s doors, on local websites – advertising your services. Quite often you can also find new clients while you’re out walking the dogs. Make sure you take a stack of business cards while you’re out.

For more details on how you can get work as a dog walker see our article.

Top 5 tips for disabled people looking to find work

• Look for the Disability Confident symbol, which can be found on job descriptions online. It indicates that the employer is committed to employing disabled people.
• If you’re a young disabled person looking for work after school look at the apprenticeship scheme run by the Government.
• Go to your local job centre and find your disability employment advisor. They will assist you in your job search and tell you about relevant courses you can do to improve your experience and skills. They can also teach you interview skills.
• The Work and Health Programme is another fantastic government-funded scheme that helps disabled people find employment and stay in work through free courses.
• Access to Work offers grants for current workers and those about to enter employment. They can pay for specialised equipment and even offer help travelling to and from work. Both employees and self-employed people with disabilities can apply to the scheme.

Sign Up – Newsletter

The post Make money if you have a physical disability appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Best Platforms to Sell Cassette Tapes

1. eBay

Best For: Rare, collectible, and vintage tapes

eBay remains one of the top platforms for selling second-hand tapes due to its global reach. Listings can be auction-style or “Buy It Now,” giving sellers flexibility in pricing.

Case Study: A seller listed a rare Metallica cassette from the ’80s and started bidding at £10. Due to its limited edition status, the price soared to £300 in a week!

Tips:

• Take high-quality photos from multiple angles.
• Mention the condition (sealed, used, etc.).
• Offer international shipping to attract collectors worldwide.

More selling tips on MoneyMagpie

2. Discogs

Best For: Music enthusiasts and collectors

Discogs is a music marketplace where collectors and audiophiles search for specific releases. Unlike eBay, it is tailored specifically for music sales, making it an ideal platform for selling tapes.

Example: A seller listed a rare Nirvana “Bleach” cassette and sold it for £150 within days due to Discogs’ active music collector community.

Tips:

• Provide detailed metadata (year, edition, label).
• Grade your cassette and case condition accurately.
• Engage with buyers through messages for better conversions.

3. Facebook Marketplace & Groups

selling old casettes

Best For: Local sales and bulk deals

Selling on Facebook Marketplace is a great way to offload common or bulk cassette collections quickly without shipping hassles.

Case Study: A collector in Manchester sold a box of 100 second-hand tapes for £250 by targeting local vinyl and cassette collector groups.

Tips:

• Join niche groups like “Cassette Tape Collectors” or “80s & 90s Music Fans.”
• Use high-quality images and be transparent about tape conditions.
• Offer bundle deals for faster sales.

4. Etsy

Best For: Vintage and artistic collections

Etsy is a hotspot for vintage and handmade items, making it ideal for selling cassette tapes with unique appeal.

Example: A seller packaged 80s rock mixtapes in retro-designed cases and successfully sold them as gifts, making £1,000 in a month.

Tips:

• Add creative descriptions and artistic images.
• Offer custom-made cassette bundles for niche buyers.

5. Reddit’s r/cassetteculture & Other Forums

Best For: Engaging with serious collectors

Reddit has a thriving cassette collector community. Posting tapes for sale on r/cassetteculture can yield fast sales without marketplace fees.

Example: A user posted a rare punk rock tape and received multiple offers within hours, selling it for £75 directly via PayPal.

Tips:

• Follow forum rules before posting.
• Be active in discussions to build credibility.

6. Local Record Shops & Car Boot Sales

Best For: Quick cash sales

Many independent record shops buy used tapes, especially in urban areas where vintage music culture is strong.

Case Study: A seller in London visited a local vinyl shop and sold 30 used tapes for £5 each, making a quick £150.

Tips:

• Call shops ahead to check if they buy cassettes.
• Bring rare or niche genres for better offers.

7. Gumtree & Preloved

Best For: No-fee, local sales

Gumtree and Preloved allow you to sell directly to local buyers without fees or commissions.

Example: A user in Birmingham sold a collection of 50 classic rock tapes for £200 within a week by meeting buyers in person.

Tips:

• Be clear about pickup locations.
• Accept cash only to avoid scams.

Explore more selling options on MoneyMagpie

How to Maximise Profits When Selling Cassette Tapes

1. Identify Valuable Tapes

Not all tapes are equal. Limited editions, first pressings, and sealed tapes can fetch high prices. Research on platforms like Discogs to check market value.

2. Bundle Sales

Selling tapes in themed bundles (e.g., “80s Rock Collection”) attracts more buyers and increases profits.

3. Clean and Test Tapes

Clean your tapes and test playback quality before listing. A working tape commands a higher price.

4. Optimise Your Listings

Use targeted keywords like “sell cassette,” “selling tapes,” and “second-hand tapes” in your descriptions to attract more buyers via search engines.

5. Engage with Buyers

Prompt responses and good customer service can lead to repeat sales and positive reviews.

Conclusion

Selling cassette tapes can be a lucrative venture if you use the right platforms and strategies. Whether you choose eBay for rare finds, Discogs for music collectors, or local shops for quick cash, there’s a market for your tapes. Follow the best practices outlined above, and you’ll turn your old cassettes into profit in no time!

Looking to sell your cassette tapes? Start listing today on these platforms and tap into the growing retro music market!

Find more money-making ideas on MoneyMagpie

The post Where to Sell Cassette Tapes: Best Platforms and Strategies for Maximum Profit appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

The Influencer Marketing Hub is a very useful tool for anyone who monetises their social media. Their 2025 Benchmark Report proved just how big social media marketing is. According to the report, the influencer marketing industry is projected to reach a value of over $33bn by the end of the year. More than 60% of companies use influencers as part of their marketing strategy, and that number is set to rise. So, now is a great time to learn how to make the most of becoming an online influencer.

• Sell your own products and services
• Make money from affiliate links
• Use promo codes
• How to approach brands
• Tips on building a following (and selling to them)
• Rules for making money on social media

Sell your own products and services

A recent survey revealed that online shopping has risen – with 32% more sales through social media than in 2022. That’s across all age demographics, with social media users buying an average of four times each month through a platform.

There are plenty of helpful tools out there, like Hootsuite, to help manage selling on social channels. Through their service you can track, manage, and schedule your social channels all in one place. They help you see what type of content, and on which platforms, your audience engage with most. The more you know about your audience demographic and their tastes, the easier it becomes to sell to them.

Bear in mind that most of these tools are paid-for services, although you can usually get a 30-day free trial to test them out first.

If you’re thinking about setting up an online shop, check out our article here for tips on getting started.

Key considerations for selling online

• Matching your social strategy to your audience. Who is your main customer? A teenager or working professional? Who your demographic is will largely determine how you market and sell your products and services.
• Create the right content, at the right time. Statistics show that across all social media platforms, posts that include visuals consistently perform better and see more engagement than those without. However, posting too frequently, or even not enough, is damaging and will drive customers away.
• Connect everything back to your business. A relationship with your audience is essential – sales rarely occur on first contact, but normally several times later. Your audience need to trust you and you need to listen to them. When you do this, you’ll be in a better position to provide your audience with what they need, and when they need it.

Make money from affiliate links

Affiliate links are a popular way to make a bit of passive income. They’re cheap and easy too, as you don’t need to create and sell a product yourself. You just need to establish a connection between the buyer and seller, and then take a commission when a sale is made.

There are a few different ways you can set up affiliate links – one is through the Amazon Associate Programme. With this, you can earn up to 15% of all purchases made during the buyer’s shopping session. So even if someone clicks on your link, doesn’t buy that specific item, but ends up purchasing something else during that same ‘session’, then you’re still entitled to 15% of that.

ClickBank is another site with it’s own affiliate marketplace. They allow you to promote already best-selling products and earn commissions as high as 90% on some products. You have the option to pair with brands in various areas including arts and entertainment, e-business, and parenting and families.

How to promote affiliate links

Any promoting and selling on social media should come across as natural. No audience wants to feel like they’re constantly being sold to.

Reviewing a product is a legitimate way to link it into a post or blog. Summarise the pros and cons, giving a balanced opinion of it. You want your audience to trust you and selling them naff products is only going to damage your credentials.

Choose your affiliate links carefully and post them sparingly. Inundating your followers with affiliate links is counter-productive, they’ll more likely be put off and unfollow you instead. Promote a select few that you genuinely believe are worthwhile purchases and fit with your brand image, whether that’s fashion and beauty, or the latest gadgets.

Use promo codes

Plenty of influencers use discount and promo codes to make money. They work similarly to affiliate links where a commission is earned on the number of sales made with their code.

Almost anyone can get promo codes for brands, although you’ll probably have more luck the larger your following. When appealing for promo codes, make sure the brand is relevant to you, your content and your audience. Chances are they’ll be happy to offer you a code, as it comes at no cost to them. Put simply, if they don’t make any sales from you, they don’t have to pay you any commission and they haven’t lost out.

How to approach brands

Brands are a big source of social media income and anyone with a following of 2,000+ is considered a micro-influencer. Plenty of brands want to work with influencers now as it’s much more effective and cost-efficient for them than traditional forms of marketing, like magazines and TV ads.

However, knowing how to approach brands is key.

Steps on how to approach a brand

• Do your research. Thoroughly research the brand, their mission statement, and any products you’re interested in. It comes across very poorly if you’re asking a brand for sponsorship but don’t know anything about them.
• Check your social media. If you really want to be able to monetise your social channels, make sure you keep it on-brand and professional. Posts in the public eye need to be free of anything incriminating or potentially offensive. If brands spot any risky content they’ll be sure to steer clear.
• Pitch yourself. You need to be able to offer the brand something in return. Think about what your USPs are. What’s different about your content, or your audience, that makes this a worthwhile opportunity for them that they won’t find elsewhere?
• Illustrate affiliation with the brand. Don’t send out a blanket email to every brand you get in touch with but demonstrate your knowledge and create a unique pitch every time.

Questions to answer when you pitch to brands

• How relevant is your blog or social channels to the campaign subject matter?
• How big is your following? What is the size of the potential audience the content will reach?
• How regularly do you post on social media?
• How engaged is your audience?

Another consideration for reaching out to brands is through agencies. There are actually several UK influencer marketing agencies that you can sign up for including Disrupt, Goat Agency, and Socially Powerful.

Tips on building a following (and selling to them)

Unfortunately, there’s no quick way to instantly increase your following. There are plenty of false advertisements for this and whilst your follower count will increase, it’ll be made up of bots who won’t actually engage with your content or brand, completely defeating the purpose.

One way to build your network is to create daily, weekly, and monthly goals so from the outset you’re committed to a pace of engagement that will steadily grow.

TikTok

TikTok has been the latest social media trend and is rapidly growing with over one billion logins every month. TikTok users can generate money either through direct sales, TikTok shop (in the US), or posting affiliate links.

Users can also receive gifts from their audiences via TikTok Live videos. Hootsuite also has a super helpful guide on all the ways you can make money through TikTok. You can read it here.

Instagram

Instagram is a huge contributor to people making money on social media, with over 90% of influencer marketing campaigns involving the app.

Business profile

Instagram has the ability to change your personal page into a business profile. When you do this you get to view insights into engagement with your posts and stories, and also get the ability to set up an Instagram shop.

Instagram’s shoppable features allow businesses to tag products that are available for sale and allows customers to purchase them directly within the app.

On an Instagram business profile you need to include:

• A photo or brand logo that’s recognisable and consistent across all your social platforms.
• A well-thought-out bio. This is a chance to give customers a brief insight into you, your brand, and your business.
• Link to your website. Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t allow direct links in posts so the URL section of the bio is the only clickable link in your profile. Use Linktree to set up lots of different links, such as to your Amazon Shop and Affiliate Links to specific products.

Run ads

The easiest way to run ads is by promoting posts you’ve already shared on Instagram. Simply select the post you want to boost and hit ‘promote’.

You have the option to create the audience you want the post to be shown to (choose across genders, age range, etc.) or you can leave it to Instagram who will automatically share it with a similar audience.

Ads also don’t have to cost a lot – they can start from as little as a couple of pounds. Initially, you can just run an ad for a few days to test how well it performs. However, keep in mind that it takes a little work to get it right so if your first attempt doesn’t bring in tons of business, keep trying. Ideally, having a simple call-to-action button like ‘Shop Now’ makes it easy for someone to make a purchase. Overcomplicating it will put people off.

Rules for making money on social media

New legislation states that if you’re making money, you need to declare it on the post.

1. Disclose any and all affiliate relationships. All you need to do is include a simple sentence along the lines of: “Disclosure: The link below is an affiliate link. Which means that, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through that link I’ll earn a commission.”
2. If you’re working directly with a brand who’s paid you to post something, then include a simple hashtag or comment along the lines of #sponsored #ad.
3. If a brand or PR company requests that you don’t tag something as ‘sponsored’ or ‘ad’ it’s actually illegal and you need to refuse to do so.
4. You need to make it clear when you’re posting about your own products and services, too.

What counts as an ad?

• Paid-for space
• Own advertising
• Affiliate marketing
• Advertorial
• Paid reviews of products
• Paid product placement in your content

Gifted content can cause confusion, but basically if the brand asks for something in return – for you to post it on social media, or provide some form of editorial content – then it’s an ad and should be tagged as such.

The post How to make money on social media appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Setting up a freelance business might seem daunting – but you could be finding your first clients within the next week! In these unstable times, having a side hustle or going full-time freelance is an appealing career option for many of us.

A freelance business can cover all sorts of things, from writing and graphic design, to cleaning, to trades like woodwork and plumbing. Some may take longer to really get going – but there’s nothing stopping you from setting up your freelance business in one week flat! Once it’s created, you’ve got a solid grounding to start building your business on and start finding those all-important clients. Here’s how to do it on limited funds AND in a short period of time.

• Decide on Your Business Type
• Research Your Competitors
• Choose Your Business Name
• Register with HMRC
• Create a Website
• Draw Up a Business Plan
• Set Up a Business Bank Account
• Seek Funding and Mentorship
• Identify Your Marketing Channels
• More Freelance Tips

Day One: Decide on Your Business Type

So, you want to run a freelance business. Doing what? Perhaps you want to take the knowledge and skills from your day job to start out on your own. Great! Many freelance businesses, such as marketing agencies, virtual assistants, graphic designers, and even customer service consultants start out in that way.

Perhaps you want to do something totally different. Tired of answering complaints calls every day, but have a knack for baking? A freelance business as a special occasion baker is something you can run alongside your main job – or turn into a fully-fledged job altogether!

Think about your skills, interests, hobbies, and passions. Consider the things you love about your current or previous jobs – and what you’d avoid doing ever again. Use this to help you shape your business idea.

Research Your Competitors

When you know what type of business you want to run, look at the competition. Consider the competition on a local and national level, too. Even take a look at international competitors – especially if they can’t encroach on your patch (such as if you’re a dog walker!) – as they could have some cool marketing ideas or strategies you could use.  If you’re thinking of starting a business abroad, there are companies that will help you with set-up, tax and bookkeeping services.

Spend a day (yes, a whole day of your precious week-long setup target!) to look at competitors. Branch out a bit, too: look at related companies that would target the same customers as you. It might give you inspiration for a niche opportunity to bridge the gap, or help you develop ideas for extra services to offer clients.

Make a list of the pros and cons of each competitor. What do they offer? What’s lacking? How could you challenge their place in the market? This will help you decide your specific business angle, and that helps with the next steps of a business plan and marketing.

Day Two: Register with HMRC

Even if you’re setting up your freelance business as a side earner, you need to register with HMRC as a sole trader. You could become a Ltd company, too – but that takes a little extra time and cost. You can always switch over to being a Ltd company when you’re more established. When you’re starting out, it’s usually beneficial to stay a sole trader.

Even if you’re not expecting to earn enough this tax year to pay anything, you’re still going to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions if your profits are above £6725 in the 2024/5 tax year. So, it’s really important to register as self-employed with HMRC as soon as you start creating your business.

Choose your business name before you register. It makes the whole process much easier – and helps you when it’s time to start your marketing, too. Use a business name generator tool if you’re stuck for ideas – and check Companies House to make sure no one else has the same business name, too.

Draw Up a Business Plan

Your business plan helps you work out how to get started – and then how to maintain growth in your first year. For example, you’ll need to decide what products or services you’re going to offer customers from the outset. How much will they cost to provide? What profit margin do you need on them?

Work out the cost of your overheads, too. This gives you a financial target to aim for in your first year – and helps price your services or products. You’ll need to think about rent, bills, business rates (if you’re renting a premises), insurance, inventory, and so on. Remember, too, that your first year means investing in assets like computers or other equipment.

Use a business plan template to make sure you’ve got everything covered. This will help you to decide if your freelance business will be viable as a profit maker. Your first year (or two) may not turn profit if you need to invest in a lot of equipment or inventory, so don’t be disheartened! However, the plan will help you see the costs you need to cover (including your own living costs) – and this helps you to know where to turn for funding.

Day Three: Create a Website

You don’t need to be an internet whizz to set up a website. These days, it’s really easy to create one! Most of the popular website hosts, like Wix, WordPress, and Squarespace, have drag-and-drop editors and simple to use admin panels. It’s really important, however, that you have even a basic site so that potential customers can find you.

Your website doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy when you start out, either. Remember: you can always expand your functionality and services as your business grows. You need to include basic information, such as:

• What product or service you offer
• How the product or service benefits your client
• A price list
• Contact information
• An ‘about you’ page – people like to know who they’re buying from!

You should also claim your social media handles, too. It’s often best to focus on just one or two platforms (especially at first) – but it’s a good idea to claim the handle on each one. This stops people impersonating you online – and also means you can keep the same name across all platforms if you want to expand. A really good site to try is Namecheckr – it’ll tell you which platforms have your chosen handle available. Try to choose one that reflects your website and business name, that you can claim on as many platforms as possible.

Day Four: Set Up a Business Bank Account

As a sole trader, you don’t legally need a separate business bank account. However, it’s always a good idea to set one up to keep your own finances separate from that of the business.

Starting out, you don’t need to pay for a proper business bank account, either. You can set up a basic current account in your own name – just keep it for business income and expenses only. This really helps when it comes to doing your annual tax return, too!

There are specialist business accounts such as at Tide and Starling Bank which are designed for small business sole traders, while most high street banks will offer a business current account. Check the fees as these are different than a consumer current account – for example, you might need to pay every time you transfer or receive money.

Many business bank accounts come with a membership or access to accounting software. In the past, it wasn’t an essential part of setting up a business – but as Making Tax Digital seeks to roll out fully in the next few years, it’s important to be ready for it. This will be a shakeup in tax reporting for all self employed businesses (eventually), where you submit quarterly tax through the accounting software instead of your annual return – it’s supposed to make it easier to do your accounting and avoid falling into tax debt.

Seek Funding and Mentorship

There is a TON of help out there for new business owners – you just need to know where to look.

If you’re currently unemployed and receiving Universal Credit, ask your job coach about the removal of the Minimum Income Floor for your first startup year. This can help keep your full UC entitlement without penalty while you build your business. The MIF works out what you ought to bring home minimum each month, so is the amount you have to earn before claiming UC when you’re a claimant in work – so removing it gives you a year of breathing space.

For those not in receipt of benefits, there are still lots of ways to fund your new startup. First, speak to your local library, council, and job centre. They may all have different schemes or be able to recommend local services that offer free business advice or help for new freelancers.

And remember, we’ve got some articles covering funding and benefits for the self-employed, as well as sources to find funding for your startup.

Why look for mentorship?

Your local job centre or council is likely to run schemes for new business owners. It’s important to seek advice from experienced business professionals, and if you can get free advice, that’s even better! Without guidance from a business mentor, you could fall into the common traps new freelancers make – such as not budgeting for no-income months – and end up without any profit.

Talk to your local Chamber of Commerce or the Federation of Small Businesses, and look for ‘digital hubs’ in your area, too. There are often free workshops and sometimes even reduced-fee or free workspaces for new businesses if you do some research. Wrexham Enterprise Hub, for example, is free – and gives you somewhere to work, have meetings, and also runs free training workshops.

Day Five: Identify Your Marketing Channels

When you’re starting out, you’re on a tight budget. So, marketing to all and sundry isn’t the most cost-effective way to spend your pennies!

You DO, however, have to spend SOME money on marketing to draw those first clients in. Once you’ve got them, they’ll offer reviews or word-of-mouth recommendations, which is free marketing that generates much stronger customer relationships, too.

Think about who you want as an ideal customer. What do they read? Which websites do they visit? Where do they go in your local community? Mix some online and offline marketing to get the best results. Try flyers in your local area, and digital adverts on social media platforms that are targeted at your ideal demographic.

The post How to Set Up Your Freelance Business in Under One Week appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

But how do you find your freelance niche? Fear not – we’ve put together this guide to help you make a decision on whether you should niche, and if so, which one is right for you.

• • Should I Niche?
  • The Pros of a Freelance Niche
  • Cons to Consider
  • The Middle Ground
  • How to Decide on Your Freelance Niche

Should I Niche?

Especially if you are new to the world of freelance work, you may be wondering if carving out a niche immediately is the best choice. It’s not always a clear-cut decision! Sometimes, it can be better to cast a wide net first in order to find your true niche.

You should also consider what you enjoy doing. Some niches may not mean you can earn more cash than being a broad-scope freelancer, but if you enjoy the subject matter it’s a worthy work-life balance to think about taking on.

The Pros of a Freelance Niche

Firstly, marketing your niche is very cost-effective. Because you’re providing a specific service, it’s easier to target your marketing towards prospective clients, and you’ll reach a larger percentage of people who are likely to require your services. This means that your marketing budget will go a lot further!

Once you find your freelance niche, there will also be less competition, as you’ll be operating in a smaller market.

You’ll also likely be able to charge more for your services. Freelance marketers, for example, can charge twice as much if they specialise in SEO or Pay Per Click advertising, as these are particularly skilled areas of digital marketing. Also, the longer you spend in your niche, the more specialist skills and knowledge you’ll develop, meaning you’ll be able to raise your prices over time.

Cons to Consider

However, committing to a niche is not always easy.

You may find yourself entering into a competitive, saturated market, which may be difficult to break into and you’ll need to go above and beyond to stand out from the crowd. If you don’t already have expertise in your niche, this may be a challenge you face.

Additionally, if you specialise too intensively in a single niche, there is a risk that your work dries up if demand for your service goes down.

Starting Broad and Then Specialising

For many, especially those who are just starting out, there is a sensible middle ground.

Rather than devoting all your energy to a single niche, it’s often advisable to start with a broader scope, in order to build up a loyal client base and to get a feel for which niche is right for you. If you’re a web developer, you could start out with three niches, such as HMTL, CSS and JavaScript, and narrow your focus over time. Having this first-hand experience in multiple different niches is a great way to help you make a decision on which suits you best.

You may also begin to see patterns in the demographic of your clientele, which will be crucial in deciding on your niche. Similarities between your existing clients can offer a great insight into specialist areas where you can shine!

Deciding On Your Niche

If you’ve decided you want to specialise, you’ll need to commit to a specific niche in your chosen industry. This can seem like a daunting prospect, but it’s a simple decision if you break it down. Deciding on your niche can be seen as a balancing act between the following three key factors.

1. Follow Your Passions

While this point may seem obvious, it’s arguably the most important thing to get right! It’s crucial that you have a genuine passion for your niche: working on projects will be more enjoyable, and this is guaranteed to have a positive effect on the work that you do.

Have a think about your biggest hobbies and interests, and then try and incorporate these into your niche. Perhaps you’re interested in fashion – you can use this as a source of inspiration! Try channelling your energy into logo design, fashion journalism, or be a consultant for a clothing retailer. It’ll make freelancing that much more fulfilling!

2. Use Your Expertise

Conveniently, this tends to go hand-in-hand with step 1. If you are particularly knowledgeable about your niche, and have developed skills that the average person doesn’t have, it’ll make you a much more attractive candidate for potential clients.

Expertise in your chosen niche will be particularly important in creating a unique selling proposition (USP), which will critically help you stand out against the competition.

Your specialist knowledge will also allow you to charge more for your services. This is why a handyman typically earns £20-30 per hour, whereas a plumber earns £40-60. Emphasise what makes you unique: you’ll earn more, and outshine your competitors!

3. Play the Market Right

Finally, it’s vitally important that your niche is a profitable one. A great way to understand more about which niches are in-demand is to assess your chosen industry on popular freelancing platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. Even if you don’t intend to sell your services on these platforms, they’re really useful to get an idea of the wide range of niches you could enter into, and how popular and profitable those services are. Generally, the more results you get when you search for a certain niche, the more viable it is.

It’s also a good idea to look at the typical income for different niches. For example, if you’re looking to become a freelance writer, it’s worth knowing that the most profitable sectors include finance, travel and long-form content. At the end of the day, the niche that you choose needs to pay the bills!

The post How to Find Your Freelance Niche appeared first on MoneyMagpie.