You don't have to choose between family and finances
I am giving away the best tips for virtual assistants to start a business from home and give the best ways to attract clients TODAY!!
It’s time for you to start your business and these virtual assistant tips to learn how to optimize your social media, how to stand out in a competitive market, and how to get clients fast.
Stop asking yourself, “How do I stand out?” and watch this video!
Stop asking yourself, “How do I stand out?” and watch this video!
I have been giving away the best tips for virtual assistants and the best email management tips for a while now!
If you are looking for virtual assistant tips and email management you have come to the right place, you are going to see some of the best practices at work in this Best of the Best Free Mama TV episode!
These tips will guide you to be a top-notch virtual assistant and you’ll be able to start working from home today!
I am going to give you a great inbox management system and you’ll learn all of the email management tips and tricks. Knowing these tools is part of virtual assistant best practices and you’re going to get it in this virtual assistant training FREE!
I am giving you the best of the best of her social media manager training with a few tips!
Social media management and social media marketing freelancing have been trending upward for years! Learn a few social media management tools in this social media manager tutorial, if you are looking to become a freelance social media manager!
Entrepreneurs are looking for more freelance social media consultants to outsource their work. So, if the idea of freelance social media work appeals to you, look no further than this Best of the Best video!
Wondering how to start your virtual assistant business?
You’re in the perfect place because today, I am taking my best videos on this topic and putting all of the highlights into one video just for YOU!
Whether you are looking for ways to make money as a stay at home mom, looking into starting a virtual assistant business on a budget, or trying to figure out how to become a virtual assistant with NO EXPERIENCE, you are sure to get all of the answers you have been searching for right here!
A quick question: Have you ever wondered how to find clients?
If you answered yes, then you’re like 99.9% of other business owners in the entire world!
Some more good news is that clients are EVERYWHERE! Let’s drill down and talk about how to find them using something you’re probably quite familiar with already.
Do you use social media?
Well, great! In this week’s episode of Free Mama TV, I’ll give you my best advice on how to leverage the power of social media to connect with potential clients — including some hands-on tricks to help you work smarter.
Do you enjoy getting paid for the work you do?
I thought so.
So then, what happens if you’ve sent an invoice to your client, and…crickets? You provide a service in exchange for payment. It’s kind of the whole point of business.
Plenty of people are really uncomfortable talking about money.
But in business, there are times when it’s a must. One of those times is when you have a client who is late paying you. At best, it’s an annoyance…and sometimes it can be a major inconvenience or lead to financial struggle for you as a freelancer.
Let’s do everything we can to avoid that and get you paid on time, every time!
Check out this week’s episode of Free Mama TV below and don’t forget to subscribe to Free Mama TV on Youtube so you never miss an episode!
I was going through my business strategy, and I realized that I haven’t blogged in MONTHS.
#whoops
So, consider this your super-official, with tons of fanfare, I am SO excited to back on my OG Free Mama website blog post.
If you’re new here, I’m Lauren, and my passion is to get YOU out of your 9-5 and back home with your beautiful family, making a great income from home.
Also, I’m really not a big fan of network marketing (to put it mildly), so I will never, ever ask you to sell anything to your friends and family.
Here’s what I WILL do. I’ll show up weekly with tips and information you can use to build your freelancing business.
I’ll talk about what works — and what doesn’t. (Because WHY waste your time on stuff that doesn’t work?)
I don’t know if you’ve glanced at a calendar lately, but I was kind of stunned to realize that, UM, TIME HAS PASSED. How the heck did that happen?
This time of year is FULL of good things, and I have a couple of very cool surprises in store for you.
This time of year is also full of swim team, which my daughter just joined. And that’s great — she clearly inherited my competitive streak — except for the part where swim team is EVERY SINGLE DAY after school.
The thing is, I also have these OTHER two kids, and they are NOT going to be on the swim team, and they will be with me, on the bleachers, while we cheer for Daphne and think about how awesome it will be to travel to the Olympics with her in a few years.
Having two kids NEAR the water when they are not supposed to be IN the water? HOLY ANXIETY, mama.
Also, this means I’m going to be spending a fair amount of time NOT at my desk doing my work.
Which means that I need to get even MORE organized with my planning and scheduling so that I don’t find myself scrambling to meet deadlines or delivering less-than-amazing work to my clients.
I assign different blocks of time to specific tasks so that I always know exactly what I need to work on when I’m at my desk.
If you want to supercharge your productivity, you can actually combine time blocking with one of my very favorite productivity tools — The Daily Five. Check out this video for more info on The Daily Five and why it rocks.
[Note: you’ll need to join The Free Mama Movement FB Group to watch this video!]
Prioritize your top five tasks for yourself AND create and prioritize SEPARATE Daily Five lists for EACH of your clients. That way, whenever you sit down to work, you will know what MUST get done for the day to be a success.
What’s your biggest scheduling struggle, Mama?
Let me know, because we are totally in this together!
The other day I was at the park with my oldest daughter Daphne, who is 5 (and a half…if you were to ask her).
A bunch of kids had brought their bikes, but Daphne doesn’t really ride hers much these days.
She used to love riding her bike and would always do laps around the playground, giggling and super confident.
She still uses training wheels, and a lot of her Kindergarten peers are starting to ride without them.
I can see it’s starting to knock her confidence a bit. And now, she hardly wants to ride at all.
As I was watching her that day at the park, bike-less, I wondered what my husband and I could do to get her to learn to ride the bike without the training wheels?
We could totally do all of those things, but realistically I know she’s going to have to actually get on the training wheel free bike and practice.
Easier said than done, I know.
We’ve taken her around the cul-de-sac by our house and up and down the driveway to practice before without the training wheels, and it pretty much always goes the same.
“I can’t do it.”
“It’s too hard.”
“I’m never going to be able to figure this out.”
Wow!
That’s when it clicked: this had nothing to do with Daphne’s capability at all.
The funny thing is, I see this over and over again with the mamas who are considering a freelancing business.
You see the other mamas doing it, and it looks fun and amazing and like an amazing path towards financial freedom and flexibility (it is).
And yet, you tell yourself that you can’t do it.
You watch videos about freelancing.
You may even invest in a course about freelancing.
But you never actually take what you’ve learned and get on the bike, so to speak.
You cannot learn how to ride a bike without actually riding, and you cannot become a freelancer without actually freelancing.
The last time Daphne told me she couldn’t ride her bike, I told her “you’re right. If you keep telling yourself that you can’t ride the bike without training wheels you’re right, you won’t be able to.”
One of my favorite quotes of all time is from Henry Ford. He said, “whether you think you can, or think you cannot, you’re right.”
We’ve been working on Daphne’s mindset about riding a bike. We talk about what the worst thing that could happen is (possibly falling and ending up with a band-aid-worthy scrape).
You have a reason why you are starting to freelance, whether it’s because you want to quit your job or help financially to ease pressure off your spouse or find professional fulfillment.
Let me tell you – nothing is holding you back, but you!
What is the worst thing that could happen if you took the plunge?
You go back to a 9-5? You’re probably already there!
If you tried to get a client?
They say no? That’s not the end of the world.
If you tell a less-than-supportive family member?
Now…if you took your training wheels off and really launched your freelancing business…what’s the best that could happen?
Are you going to continue to tell yourself you can’t do it.
A few weeks ago I did something totally wild in The Free Mama community.
(If you’re new to freelancing, you’re going to want to listen up.)
I asked what you mamas wanted to know about freelancing…
What if I don’t know what I’m good at?
How do I find clients?
How much do I charge them when I do get them?!
And then…
I answered your questions live….while holding a baby.
Told you it was wild.
In case you missed all of the excitement and awesomeness, or if you just want to see how I respond under pressure, here’s your link to the replay.
If you’re reading this while nursing or just need to keep the noise down (ya know, so your boss doesn’t know you’re planning your sweet escape into a work from home life you love) than read on, mama.
You asked, I answered.
New to freelancing? Here’s what you need to know.
Should you choose a niche as a freelancer?
YES, you should decide on a niche! It’s just plain smart. Here’s why: many of entrepreneurs and businesses in the same industry will utilize a lot of the same software and speak the same lingo. What does that mean for you? Fewer systems to adopt and a shorter learning curve. (Side note: choosing a niche does not mean you shouldn’t continue to learn new skills!)
How you decide on a niche is a little trickier. I really didn’t have a niche when I started freelancing, which was a BIG mistake. A great place to start is by looking into what you are passionate about or what you have experience in. This could include things like Health, Nutrition, Education, Real Estate, Accounting…etc. By choosing something that you are passionate about or interested in, you are going to be much more excited about the work that you get to do – promise.
Alright, I’m giving it all away. If I had to suggest a niche/industry that NEEDS your help and WANTS to pay you to solve their problems, it’s the world of coaches, course makers and solopreneurs. This industry is growing because anyone that is getting successful by working for themselves is getting too busy and need help because they can’t do everything by themselves.
Find out where they HANG OUT! This is one of those obvious/not-so-obvious answers. Once you have decided on your niche and industry that you want to pursue, start by doing some market research and then find out where you can find them. This could include everything from local conventions in person to specific Facebook groups (There is a Facebook group for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING). LinkedIn is another great resource that is overlooked so often. The first step in getting clients is to build relationships. LinkedIn is a great platform for creating these relationships.
You do NOT need to have experience in marketing or business to be successful at freelancing. Skills such as organizing, scheduling, and basic administrative tasks are perfect for clients who are looking for an extra hand in getting everyday tasks done. If you are still struggling to find out what skills you are best at, I urge you to reach out to your network. Turn to your friends, family, co-workers or even past employers and ask them: What skills am I good at? If I could show or teach you something what would it be? What do I do that I am good at? Sometimes it’s hard to see these things in ourselves but is seen easily by the people closest to us.
How much you make depends on how much time you are willing to invest. There is a module in my program where I will give you a formula that will help you figure out what your rate should be. I also encourage going with project based pricing vs hourly rate. Your value and the problems that you solve are worth more than what you can accomplish in 60 minutes.
When setting your pay rate there are a few questions you should ask yourself:
In my opinion, trying to find a smaller number of long-term clients is more beneficial. If you are only serving clients once or twice and then moving on, you will have to spend a lot more time marketing yourself and finding more clients. By making yourself part of your client’s team, you create a relationship with them so that they will WANT to continue paying you over and over.
YES, you are absolutely good enough! You can start honing your skills now. Start by working on things that you ARE naturally good at and work on becoming an expert in them. If emails are your jam, start researching email management systems such as MailChimp or Constant Contact for example. The most important part is get started! To keep building your confidence, continue learning and while finding small successes quickly.
As overwhelming as it may sound, the program covers EVERYTHING. I literally cover all the software that I currently use for all my clients. While it is comprehensive, there is a balance of hitting the high points to cover everything in the 12 weeks. For example: One module will touch on Social Media, but will not go through full tutorials on how to become a full-time social media manager and strategist. My program does cover all areas for how to set up your freelancing business from a logistical and organizational standpoint. Furthermore, I also teach you how to apply these skills to your client’s businesses as well.
During the program, I will cover a home-based tax tracker that will help you take a percentage of your dedicated work space so that you benefit from that on your taxes. As far as expenses, this is up to you on how much you want to invest in items such as software, hardware, supplies. Computer and Internet are really the ONLY necessities that you need to get started as a freelancer. Another great tool that I will introduce is Quickbooks Self-Employed. This will assist you with your taxes and help you to do them properly. This software is inexpensive and helps to manage both income and expenses and connects easily with my bank account, credit card and PayPal. When freelancing you have two options, you can become a sole proprietor or an LLC. I chose to create an LLC to help protect myself and my family from being sued. I have never been nor plan on being sued, this is just what I was most comfortable with.
Do you have any other questions about what it takes to start your freelancing career so that you can quit your 9-5 and spend more time doing what you enjoy with clients you choose and your babies? Head over to the FB group and maybe I’ll just pop in to answer it Live!
It’s almost impossible to believe that it’s been a whole year since my family loaded up in the Yukon and drove the 12 hours south to our new home in Texas.
I was in my first trimester, super sick and exhausted. My husband had already made the move the month before and started his new job, and my mom drove with me and our two kiddos.
I still remember the relief I felt when climbing out of the car and being reunited with my husband.
The guilt as my mom unpacked boxes and watched the kids as I lay nauseated on the couch.
I remember how much I appreciated my dad driving down by himself to deliver our pets and help hang pictures and turn our house into a home.
I can feel the angst in my stomach that I felt as my mom and dad drove away and left us in an unfamiliar place, no longer surrounded by friends and family.
One thought kept circulating back to the front of my mind…
The summer of 2016 was one of the hardest times in my entire life.
My pregnant body was fatigued and barely functioning in the Houston heat.
There was no down time between finding new doctors, new schools and new clients for my business.
The cross country move left us with credit card debt for the first time in our marriage. Home and car repairs added insult to injury.
I locked my keys in the car on more than one occasion. The AAA service man knew our address.
Most days, my mind struggled to reconcile hormonal stresses with real life ones as I sat alone in my office while the kids were at preschool.
Even with the hardships we faced, this is a happy story.
Our kids have flourished over the past year. They’ve learned to swim! They’ve grown so big they needed new bicycles to ride to the neighborhood park.
Daphne will enter Kindergarten with basic reading, writing and mathematics skills, a memorized address, an eagerness to learn, and loads of confidence.
Henry is finally potty trained and enjoys showing off his days of the week and months of the year songs, usually accompanied with a silly dance.
Our sweet Audrey, our only “true” Texan, was born in this new home of ours and has brought a fresh burst of happiness to fill our lives in ways we didn’t know we needed.
Justin is around more than he ever was able to be before. He has flexibility, hobbies, home projects and time for exercise that all got stuck on pause as a hustling entrepreneur managing various stores and employees in Kansas City.
My business has been growing steadily and transformed in natural ways that highlight what I love and what I’m good at. I am excited about every project I’m working on and the women entrepreneurs I get to work with.
I have friends I cannot imagine my life without – people I’d never met if we didn’t make the move.
Not everyday is roses, believe me. But at this moment, a year after our move, I am perfectly fulfilled.
It certainly wasn’t a walk in the park, but moving with small children, an ambitious husband and a new business taught me a lot about what we’re capable of as a family. Here are my big takeaways a year after moving my family cross country.
No one said it’s easy to put yourself out there. In fact, even when you’re an extrovert like I am it can be pretty awkward to show up somewhere unfamiliar and insert yourself in a conversation. However, if you sit at home waiting for a dozen new friends to show up at your door you will be sorely disappointed. I knew I’d need socialization immediately, so I joined a mom’s group, chatted it up with other parents at the pool and participated in a professional women’s organization. Also, I figured the quicker I learn my way around, the less unfamiliar this new place would feel. I looked at maps online, spent weekends exploring parks with the family and drove around memorizing street names to get acquainted with the city.
I have to confess something that may sound silly now: when we first moved here I had nightmares that by the time my kids’ birthdays rolled around we wouldn’t have any friends to invite to their birthday party! I laugh now, because the outpouring of genuine friendship toward my family over the last year was abundant. Friends from my moms’ group would text me randomly or swing by unexpectedly {with gifts!} to see how I was adjusting. When I was on bedrest, neighbors would offer to have the kids over for a playdate. After the baby was born, we had food for weeks. And yes, even my kids had plenty of friends to help them celebrate turning a year older. We are eternally grateful for all of the kindness people showed us this past year.
Not many couples with young children decide to move away from family. Truth be told, I wouldn’t really recommend it unless you have a phenomenal reason. We left more than just my parents, cousins, aunt and uncles, and friends when we left Kansas City. We left a support system, built in babysitters and emergency contacts. While we’ve built relationships with neighbors and friends who can fill some of these gaps, there are still many {many!} times I wish my parents were just down the street.
I knew that my family’s happiness rested greatly on my shoulders. It was a pressure that oftentimes felt like a burden when I was feeling anything but happy. Overwhelmed? Yes. Frustrated? At times. Lonely? You bet ya. Yet I was always keenly aware that our children would look to me to see how I was adjusting, before coming to their own conclusions about this new community. I did this quite imperfectly, but even if I had I think our children would have struggled a bit. Our kids’ behavior was pretty rough the first few months after the move until they settled into a new routine at school. I’m sure the news of the new baby didn’t help. Kids are resilient, but they are also people who deserve time and space and a little bit of grace to adjust to change.
I think the number one reason we’ve embraced our new home is because we came in to this new chapter with a positive attitude. No body forced my husband to accept the job opportunity. There were times when it was extremely stressful, lonely, and even scary. But when we decided to move we also decided to make it a fun adventure. For the most part we’ve really stuck to that, and when we waiver it’s a good reminder to set our perspective straight again.
We went back to Kansas City last month for a whole week. Our family of 5 stayed with my aunt and uncle and their family of 7. Every night was a slumber party! It was so great to spend quality time with family, our old neighbors, and friends. We got asked by almost everyone when we’d be moving back. It’s funny, because when we left, we always said we could always just move back if we weren’t happy. So it was almost hard to break it to them that we weren’t. Not anytime soon anyway. Texas may end up being just one chapter in our lives or a few, or maybe it will finish the whole book. Either way, we know it will turn out great.