The tech industry has always been a lucrative one to break into. Which is why it has also become increasingly competitive in recent years. Many of the more advanced jobs are still in high demand. But the entry level positions are becoming difficult to come by.

Which is why a lot of people are turning to tech freelancing. We have seen a sharp uptake in the number of companies employing the services of freelancers. On the whole it is a mutually beneficial situation. Companies can get effective and focused work done at a cheaper rate than providing a complete salary. And freelancers maintain their independence, work remotely, and focus on the areas that interest them.

So how does one get started in tech freelancing? It is a very rewarding career path but a difficult one to break into. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication. This guide is designed to help you build a solid foundation from which to launch your freelancing business.

Building A Digital Presence

Being a freelancer requires you to maintain a more active presence on different social media platforms than normal. You can’t rely solely on your CV and experience to get ahead in this game. You need social media to highlight your skillset and to help you network with potential clients.

LinkedIn and Instagram are two of the best platforms for tech freelancers to use. LinkedIn is where you will do most of your networking. It is a great place to meet potential clients or find new and interesting companies to work with. You should use Instagram as a soft portfolio. Highlighting your tech prowess and specific skillset. Instagram is also a great place to connect with smaller businesses and startups.

You will also want to create your own business website that is actively linked on all of your social media platforms. You need to ensure that your website is professionally designed. It should be clear, concise, and easy to navigate. It should clearly show off your skillsets and have all your contact information presented in a way that ensures any potential clients can see it.

Set Up Passive Income Streams

It can take quite a while for your freelancing business to get off the ground. So it is prudent to establish a few passive income streams to help support you while you connect with clients. There are a few different routes you can take here. Setting up a passive income stream does require a financial investment and a fair bit of setup. But it is entirely worth it.

IPTV reselling has become increasingly popular in recent years. With many people becoming dissatisfied with modern streaming services they are now turning towards IPTV providers. Becoming an IPTV reseller is surprisingly easy. You simply need to rent an IPTV panel from a supplier. From there you can sell access to whoever you want. My advice for those looking for IPTV reseller panels is to visit companies like Techrux or WishIPTV.

Crypto is another potentially lucrative passive income stream. You will have to spend some time building a diverse investment portfolio. This is a pivotal step to ensure that you don’t lose any money from a sudden crash in a single coin. Having a diverse crypto portfolio is also a great asset as a tech freelancer. There are numerous crypto startups appearing every year. And they often employ the services of freelancers. If you can prove you are active within that world you stand a better chance of securing work with them.

Establish Your Rates

This is one of the most crucial steps towards success. Too many freelancers fail to do adequate research and end up undercutting themselves. You need to have a clear set of rates and stick to them as much as possible.

But how do you establish your rates? The first step is to conduct research into what the standard going rate is for other freelancers working in your specific niche. You also need to stack up your skillset against these people to establish how much you should be charging. Naturally, if you have a more specialized skillset then you can afford to charge more.

You should also set up a lower boundary rate as well to be used in negotiation. There will be times where it is advantageous to offer a potential client a discount. Perhaps in the interest of securing business in the future. Or to secure the work as a good addition to your portfolio. But you need to be clear on what your lower boundary is in regards to pricing. This is to ensure that you don’t end up getting pressured into undercutting yourself too heavily. You will encounter a lot of clients trying to get you to lower your prices. Negotiation is a natural part of the process. So you need to remain firm and be ready to counter back any offers.

It seems like only yesterday the internet was created. Yet it is now almost impossible to imagine life without it. The advent of the digital age has changed the business landscape forever. Primarily for the better. But sometimes for the worse. Running an independent business in the digital age has become increasingly challenging. Having to compete with monolithic companies like Amazon and Google. Which is why we are here to offer you 8 tips for success.

Utilize Social Media

Social media is the most powerful marketing tool in your arsenal. You need to have an active profile for your business on as many platforms as possible. And you should endeavor to maintain a regular upload schedule where possible.

It is important to ensure any information posted on your social media platforms, such as opening times or special deals, are up to date and accurate. Social media is the ideal place, not just to highlight what your business has to offer, but also to connect with your customers on a more personal level.

Hire A Web Designer

This is the most important step in ensuring the success of your business. Web design is so pivotally important. That is why you should outsource it to a web design company. You need to ensure the company that you end up choosing is reliable and has a proven track record for creating successful business websites.

We know that the process of choosing a web design company is often a long and arduous one. But it is absolutely essential that you give it the time it deserves. Nothing will turn customers away faster than a poorly designed website that is difficult to navigate.

Delegate Where You Can

One of the main mistakes independent business owners make is taking on too much themselves. You need to learn how to delegate. Even if you only have a couple of people working under you. You need to trust in their abilities and allow them to lighten your load.

The first step is to rank jobs by order of importance. Naturally you will want to tackle the most important tasks. While delegating the less important tasks to your team.

Customer Service Is Key

As an independent business you can’t afford to run the risk of losing out on potential customers. And one of the key elements to bringing in new customers, and retaining them, is good customer service.

You should prioritize your customer interactions as much as possible. This ties into delegation. Having someone whose job is solely to handle customer relations is a huge advantage for your business. The person you hire for this job should have experience working in a customer facing role. They should be friendly, motivated, and be able to keep their cool. As we all know, the general public can be infuriated sometimes. So you need to ensure the person dealing with your customers is able to maintain a level head at all times.

Streamline Your Workflow

Staying organized is one of the pillars to success for any business. And one of the biggest advantages of the digital age is the wealth of websites and programs that can help streamline your company’s workflow. Airtable, Trello, Tines. These are all great examples of systems that will allow your business to operate more efficiently.

Optimize With AI

AI is another innovation of the digital age that is slowly becoming indispensable to independent businesses. AI can help optimize a lot of the smaller day to day tasks of your business. Organising emails, generating reports and invoices, handling complex database issues, and so much more.

Always Be Networking

Networking should become a critical part of your working life if you want to succeed. Networking is about more than just finding potential clients. It is also about building relationships with other business owners. No matter what industry you are working in, there is always more you can learn. And networking with people in your industry is the best way to go about furthering your knowledge.

Look After Yourself

Too often I see people’s businesses fail because they burn themselves out. We are only human after all. Our bodies and minds can only deal with so much before they crash. So this is the most important tip we have to offer. Look after yourself.

Make sure you are giving yourself enough downtime in a day. And giving yourself days off too. Ensure you are maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. You also need to ensure you aren’t being too hard on yourself. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Give yourself some grace and believe that with time and perseverance you will see the results you want.

If you are looking for a better way to take medical cannabis or you are trying to quit smoking, the best tool for that is a vaporizer. Vapes are designed to deliver efficiency and a safer way to take your dry herbs.

We have compiled a list of the best vapes in the market. Each of the vapes on this list was carefully picked and is guaranteed to suit your vaping needs.

1 – Venty

Venty is one of the vapes with the highest price in the market, but it is worth it. If there is a category for the overall best vape, Venty would be the winner. Venty is a highly functional hybrid heating session-style vape. It is user-friendly, easy to maintain, and most importantly, has a long-lasting battery life.

2 – Mighty Plus

Mighty Plus has been argued to be the best vape rather than Venty, but that doesn’t come as a surprise since they are both products of the same manufacturers. Storz and Bickel stand out as the best vape manufacturers. Mighty Plus is a hybrid heating session-style vape with an excellent battery life. It provides a smooth vapour and precise temperature control.

3 – Volcano Hybrid

This is the best vapourizer for group vaping. Volcano Hybrid is pricey, but it is cost-effective. This vape offers excellent vapour quality, and it is easy to control. The best thing about this product is that it has 2 delivery methods. You can either use a balloon or a whip.

4 – Crafty Plus

Crafty Plus is a product of Storz and Bickel, and based on their reputation, you can already tell that this vape is an excellent product. Crafty produces one of the best vapour qualities and tastes. It has a reliable battery life, and it is very easy to use. This is the best vape for consuming medical cannabis as it is very efficient and discreet. Taking medical cannabis in the UK is legal, but there is nothing wrong with being discreet about it, especially if you have kids around.

5 – Arizer Air Max

The Arizer Air Max is very portable. It has a unique loading system, it is easy to maintain, it produces quality vapour, and it has a replaceable battery. You will enjoy using this product.

6 – XMax Starry 4

XMax is one of the most affordable vapes, and it is very efficient. You may not get the vapour quality that matches any of the other vapes on this list, but it produces a good one.

7 – Dynavap M Plus

If you need a very portable vaping device, this dry herb vape pen is a great option for you. Dynavap M Plus is highly efficient, durable, and portable. The only downside about this vape is that it requires an external heat source. You need a lighter and an induction heater to power it.

There are various dry herb vapes you can easily get but you have to consider some factors to help you decide on the best option for you. Read on to learn about the things to look out for when choosing a vaporizer.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Dry Herb Vape

• Size

The size of the vape matters a lot especially if you plan on carrying it about. There are different sizes of vapes, and while they are mostly small they can be classified into 3 classes. There are the very portable, the portable, and the little above-portable vapes. Some of them can be carried in your pocket and some can’t. If you will be using your vape outdoors, the very portable or portable ones will be the best option for you.

• Battery life

Of course, everyone prefers a device with a long battery life. So, while choosing a vape, ensure that you read through the features carefully to get the one with a longer battery life. Some of them even come with an extra rechargeable battery.

• The use

How do you intend to use your vape, will it be used by just you, or mostly for group vaping? If the latter is the case, you need to go for vapes that are designed for group vaping. Sharing a vape with different people is not hygienic hence the need for a group vaping-enabled vape.

• cost

Your budget matters a lot when buying a vape. There are various prizes of vapes and while those with higher prizes have better features, you can also find affordable ones with high quality. Go for what you can afford.

Conclusion

If you are new to vaping, one thing you should not do is buy a vape without considering your preferences. You should always consider what you like and what works for you.