7 Tools You Need to Bring Your Freelance Career into the 21st-Century - CareerMetis.com

7 Tools You Need to Bring Your Freelance Career into the 21st-Century Source â€" Pexels.comA 2017 studypredicted that within ten yearsâ€"or soonerâ€"the majority of the US workforce will perform freelance work. The pool of freelancers is steadily increasing as perceptions of freelance work become more positive and as it becomes easier to find work online.Undoubtedly the rise of the internet as well as other technologies and tools have helped to remove obstacles that previously kept workers from taking the leap into the freelance world.In fact, this digital era has turned out to be somewhat of a golden age for freelancers, who now have many tools at their fingertips to streamline once tedious or difficult processes.evalBut if you have already been freelancing for many years, you might not be aware of some of these newer tools.And on the other hand, new freelancers who are just diving into their freelance career could be unaware of the possibilities that exist.Whichever group you fall into, take a look at this list of tools you should try out to bring yo ur freelance career into the modern digital era:1) Reliable internetevalThis may seem like a given to younger or more tech-savvy freelancers, but just like any other job, freelance work used to be accomplished offline, the analog way.Now, between finding gigs online, emailing clients, and performing other tasks, it is absolutely critical that you have access to a reliable connection.Some freelancers may choose to rent part of a co-working space or camp out in a neighborhood cafe, but the safest way to ensure consistent internet access is to pay for a good connection at home.You can find a provider that meets all your most important needs by using a comparison siteto check how each option stacks up.2) A job board websiteevalThe same studymentioned earlier found that 71% of freelancers experienced an uptick in the amount of work they found online between 2016 and 2017. This is likely due in large part to the number of websites offering virtual job boards.No longer do you have to resor t to Craigslist and other classifieds to advertise your servicesâ€"now websites like Thumbtackand Fiverrprovide a mediated place for job seekers to quickly connect with new clients.3) A contract creation or signing toolFreelance work can feel risky, especially when you are just getting to know a new client and you may be unsure of their trustworthiness. Will they try to change your project scope days before the deadline? Will you have to hunt them down for payment?Whereas you may have struggled in the past to scrape together a respectable contract, or you might have even had to consult with a legal professional to put one together, now you can do all of that online.evalYou can also share contracts with clients a thousand miles away and get their signature minutes after sending them the documentâ€"without having to mail or fax anything.4) A project management systemFreelancers can struggle with motivation and productivity: when you are your own boss, or you’re not reporting directl y to a manager every day, you might feel less pressure to hit important deadlines.Instead of floundering aimlessly, turn to a resource like Trellothat will help you establish and maintain an intuitive workflow. Even just using Google Calendar to track your schedule and block off important dates can boost your productivity.eval5) Time trackersDifferent kinds of time trackers can serve different purposes. If you charge clients by the hour, you can use a time tracking appthat helps you log actual hours spent on one specific project, even when you switch frequently between projects.You no longer need to manually record when you started and stopped work for one client because that information will be automatically logged.Yet even freelancers who charge an overall project fee And for freelancers who frequently meet clients face-to-face and would like to accept card payments, nowadays there are a number of mobile card readersavailable.7) Collaboration platformFreelance writers may opt for Google Docs as a free word processor that allows multiple users to edit and comment on a document. Yet designers and other freelance professionals will need another way to share their working projects with clients and ask for feedback in a convenient, easy-to-use platform, and also review oursuggestions for collaboration software that will provide you with a transparent place to communicate with and update your clients.Of course, a tool is worth very little unless it’s being wielded by a skilled craftsman.You cannot become a successful freelancer based solely on your use of some handy software or apps, but with all these essential tools in your arsenal, you will be better equipped to streamline your freelance process and to optimize your timeâ€"making room for even more clients, projects, and, ultimately, income.