Freelance Blend Podcast

In this episode of Covid Break – an online discussion with entrepreneurs and freelancers on how to survive and thrive in the time of COVID — we talk about email marketing for small business owners.

Or listen to the episode here (text link) >> http://traffic.libsyn.com/freelanceblend/Marketing_in_the_Time_of_COVID_-_Email_Marketing_Edition_FBP_186.mp3

Our guest, my friend and the country’s top email marketing expert — Allan Ngo of Digital Solopreneur — discusses the importance to small business owners of building their own email list.

He also shares with us his tips and strategies on how entrepreneurs, even those who have yet to collect email addresses, can build their email lists and communicate directly with their customers, most especially during this pandemic.

WHAT WE DISCUSSED (Email Marketing for Small Business Owners)

* How Allan Ngo started as an email marketer* How to start creating your email list* Allan’s real-life story about the one thing that an owner wanted to save from her store that was about to get burned down. (Guess what it is?)* How to make sure that your emails reach your prospects’ inbox and not land in the promotions or spam box* The step-by-step on how to build your list* The email marketing software to use and why you should go with the reputable ones* What’s a lead magnet and the types of lead magnet that you should create* In relation to email marketing, what’s the first thing that a small business owner should do during this lockdown after watching the show* Why your lead magnet should attract and at the same time REPEL people * How titas can get help with email marketing* How to write your emails properly to get your readers to respond* Listen or watch Allan breakdown Rona’s email copy* How to help our front liners and claim Allan’s FREE gift

OUR CO-HOSTS

Shoden Abad – Guide and Video Strategist dennisabad.com.

Rona Lallana – Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Sine De Oro Productions

Ditas Antenor – Founder of HomeSarap Facebook groups.

IMPORTANT LINKS AND RESOURCES

* Allan Ngo’s website: www.digitalsolopreneur.com* 199 Jobs: www.199jobs.com* Fiverr: www.fiverr.com* Upwork: www.upwork.com* Copy Hacker: www.copyhacker.com* Sine De Oro: https://www.sinedeoro.com/* Shoden Abad: www.dennisabad.com* Daise Virtudazo: https://www.facebook.com/daisevirtudazo* Creative Labs: http://creativelabsph.

In this episode of Covid Break, we talk all about marketing for service-based businesses during the time of Covid-19.

It is important for small business owners to remove the fear that they have during these times and start taking action!

In this session, Marv de Leon talks about the different stages that entrepreneurs (and even freelancers) have to go through to attack the current situation and spot opportunities amidst the crisis.

Marv also shares various case studies of small businesses in the service industry that have adapted to the current situation and are thriving.

Meanwhile, co-host Rona Lallana shares amazing tips on video content marketing for service-based businesses during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Rona draws from her vast experience as an executive producer at her own video production house, Sine de Oro. These same tips, you could apply to your own marketing videos — whether on YouTube, Facebook, IG TV or even Tik Tok.

What We Discussed

* A big company that survived during the time of SARS* Service-based businesses hit by the coronavirus crisis* Why you need to move from the Fear Zone to the Growth Zone* The 4 stages to attack the current situation: Awareness, Learn, Relevance, Adapt* Plenty of case studies of service-based businesses that have adapted — Zouk, MindCare Club, Yoga Furie, Real Living Real Estate, Pause Beauty, etc.* What video content marketing is* What does your brand stand for in the Covid context* An effective video content journey* Plus many tips from the Covid Break samahan ?

Guests

* Rona Lallana – Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Sine De Oro Productions, a video production house specializing in digital commercials, brand documentary/films and international productions* Herlene Somook – Co-founder and Marketing Director for Creative Labs, Blogger, and Domestic Diva* Daise Virtudazo – OBM Agency owner, Founder and Creator of Systems and VA Mentorship Program, Flowers and Gift Shop owner

Links and Resources

* Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/itunes* Subscribe on Spotify: http://www.freelanceblend.com/spotify* Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.freelanceblend.com/youtube* Sine De Oro: https://www.sinedeoro.com/* Daise Virtudazo: https://www.facebook.com/daisevirtudazo* Creative Labs: http://creativelabsph.com* Join our FREE webinar – “3 Biggest Secrets to Getting Your First Freelance Side Gig”: http://www.freelanceblend.com/freewebinar* Join our small business support group on Facebook: http://www.samahangroup.org

This is the 2nd episode of COVID Break, a new show that we started to help small business owners affected by the lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Thousands and thousand of businesses across the world have been forced to shutdown, not only stressing out many entrepreneurs — but their employees too.

And that’s why I decided to create these online discussions — with both freelancers and small business owners — so that together, we can support each other as we go through this crisis.

Co-hosting this show with me is Dennis “Shoden” Abad – Guide and Video Strategist at DennisAbad.com.

GUESTS

* Fitz Villafuerte (ReadyToBeRich.com) – founder of personal finance, business, and investment website, Ready To Be Rich. Managing director of financial consultancy firm, Wealth Arki – co-founder of the freelancing marketplace, 199Jobs.com * Ditas Antenor – Food Stylist and Founder of HomeSarap Facebook Groups – the premier FB group focused on home-cooked food in the BF, Merville, MetroEast, Antipolo, Pasig, Makati/BGC areas * Herlene Somook – Co-founder and Marketing Director for Creative Labs, Blogger, and Domestic Diva * Rona Lallana – Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Sine De Oro Productions, a video production house specializing in digital commercials, brand documentary/films and international productions

TOPICS DISCUSSED

* Why you need to figure out what sets you apart from your competition.* Case studies of businesses that have adjusted to the new normal — yoga teacher, props man, ballet dancer (Lisa Macuja), photographer (Raymund Isaac), chef (Igi Boy Mulach), and many more.* Why you need to be in touch with your community during this Covid-19 lockdown.* Why it’s better to spend on advertising during this coronavirus pandemic crisis.* How to convert a tutorial center into online tutoring.* Is it okay to charge customers for online courses?* How business owners can diversify their investments.* Why it’s important to plan and do some analysis during these times.

WATCH THE VIDEO

LINKS AND RESOURCES

* Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/itunes* Subscribe on Spotify: http://www.freelanceblend.com/spotify* Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.freelanceblend.com/youtube* Dennis Shoden Abad: http://DennisAbad.com* Sine De Oro: https://www.sinedeoro.com/* Fitz Villafuerte: ReadyToBeRich.com* Merville HomeSarap: https://www.facebook.com/groups/409324973116917/* Join our FREE webinar – “3 Biggest Secrets to Getting Your First Freelance Side Gig”:

In this round-up discussion, we call COVID Break, an online conversion with people from various industries, we take a break from all the stressful COVID news and focus on how we can thrive as business owners during this lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Co-hosting this show with me is Dennis “Shoden” Abad – Guide and Video Strategist at DennisAbad.com.

OUR GUESTS

* Herlene Somook – Co-founder and Marketing Director for Creative Labs, Blogger, and Domestic Diva* Tata Dioso – Founder and head consultant of Dabster Consulting* Rona Lallana – Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Sine De Oro Productions, a video production house specializing in digital commercials, brand documentary/films and international productions* Daise Virtudazo – OBM Agency owner, Founder and Creator Systems and VA Mentorship Program, Flowers and Gift Shop owner, Homeschooling Mom of 5

TOPICS DISCUSSED

* The effect of COVID on their respective businesses* How to improve my online presence especially that my business is offline* What are the best platforms for teaching online* How to promote shamelessly during this crisis* How to approach clients without being PREDATORY (our word for the day)* and a lot more…

WATCH THE VIDEO

LINKS AND RESOURCES

* CreativeLive: https://www.creativelive.com * Thinkific: https://www.thinkific.com* Teachable: https://www.teachable.com* Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/itunes* Subscribe on Spotify: http://www.freelanceblend.com/spotify* Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.freelanceblend.com/youtube * Dennis Shoden Abad: http://DennisAbad.com* Sine De Oro: https://www.sinedeoro.com/ * Daise Virtudazo: https://www.facebook.com/daisevirtudazo* Creative Labs: http://creativelabsph.com* Sine De Oro: https://www.sinedeoro.com/* Join our FREE webinar – “3 Biggest Secrets to Getting Your First Freelance Side Gig”: http://www.freelanceblend.com/freewebinar* Join our small business support group on Facebook: http://www.samahangroup.org

In this episode of the Freelance Blend Podcast, Marv de Leon shares his 13 tips for first-time remote workers, particularly employees who are being asked by their companies to work from home because of the spread of the coronavirus, forcing the government to impose the enhanced community quarantine (a.k.a lockdown).

The lockdown has caused thousands (maybe even tens of thousands) of Filipinos to adjust to this “new normal”. Employees, who are used to the office environment, are now having a difficult time balancing both office work with household chores (especially since the kids are also at home).

Marv, having worked for almost 5 years as an online freelancer, shares practical tips that first-time remote workers could use immediately, so that they don’t burn out and affect the quality of their work.

13 Tips for First-Time Remote Workers

* A separate (not a dedicated), quiet space for work * Exercise (take care of your body)* Establish a routine* Make sure you have the proper posture when working* Inform family and friends of your working hours* Be prepared for other people to bother you* Be prepared to be judged that you work from home* Eliminate all distractions* Don’t forget to take breaks* Be present for your family * Take care of yourself mentally* Set aside time to learn new things* Thrive vs Survive – set aside time to think about what will be the “new normal”

Watch the Video

Links and Resources

Here are the links and resources mentioned by Marv in the video:

✅ Slack – https://slack.com

✅ Zoom – https://zoom.us

✅ Tandem – https://tandem.chat

✅ NexStand Laptop Stand – https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/nexstand-k2-laptop-stand-height-adjustable-portable-lightweight-360-ventilation-i127668273-s136300427.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.2.29412e6bXlhADO&search=1

✅ Franz – https://meetfranz.com

✅ TRX – https://www.trxtraining.com

✅ Air Stair Stepper – https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/air-stair-climber-stepper-exercise-machine-aerobic-fitness-durable-equipment-blackblue-i211067471-s269390292.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.6.1cea61eaRTNLju&search=1

✅ Stoic –

It’s a common story.

Day One: You get paid.

Day Two: All your money is gone due to payments made for bills and debt.

It’s a problem for both employees and freelancers. We all can’t seem to save, let alone enjoy, the fruits of our labor. This creates even more stress to the freelancer whose income is already irregular and fluctuating.

Is there a better way? Serial entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz says, there is, and it involves a behavioral shift. He said that instead of following the conventional accounting formula of “Sales – Expenses = Profi,” we need to adopt a different formula: “Sales – Profit = Expenses.”

In this episode of the Freelance Blend Podcast, I explain in detail Mike Michalowicz’s “Profit First” system and how I applied it in my own life as a freelancer and business owner.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In this episode, we talk about:

* Why it’s more challenging to protect your money (from yourself!) when you’re a freelancer* Why you need to fix profit first before growth* The new accounting formula: Sales – Profit = Expenses* How dieting is similar to budgeting* Why online banking is ideal for the “Profit First” system

THREE STEPS ON HOW TO APPLY THE PROFIT FIRST SYSTEM

1.     Set up at least five accounts: Income, Profit (1%), Operating Expenses (70%), (Tax 3%) and Owner’s Pay (26%)

2.     Make your first distribution (once or twice a month).

3.     Transfer to Tax and Profit to Hold accounts.

QUOTE FROM THE BOOK

“Profit must be baked into your business. Every day, every transaction, every moment. Profit is not an event. Profit is a habit.”

LINKS

* Profit First by Mike Michalowitz* To watch other useful Facebook Live replays please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/freelanceblend. To be notified when I do another Facebook Live call, don’t forget to like the page.* Watch more freelancing tips and tricks at Freelance Blend TV·      Connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers and learn more insights at www.freelanceblenders.com

Do you have things you barely use lying around your house? Perhaps an old pair of rubber shoes your son outgrew or a brand-new bike you didn’t get to use because you just got a lot busy. If you have this unpleasant feeling of regret and waste when you see these items, fear not. There is a way to make cash out of your trash.

Enter Facebook Marketplace. In this episode of the Freelance Blend podcast, I’ll be talking about how you can sell your old or barely-used stuff on Facebook’s very own buy and sell platform within just a few hours this weekend.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Listen and learn:

* Why Facebook Marketplace trumps other online selling platforms* What items sell fast in Facebook Marketplace* Why some sellers fail to sell their items in Facebook Marketplace* A step-by-step guide to selling your item in Facebook Marketplace fast

Follow along with the guide I prepared for you below while you listen to the podcast episode.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SELLING ANY ITEM IN FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE IN JUST A FEW HOURS

* Look for any old stuff you would like to sell: books, gadgets, or shoes.* Go to Facebook Marketplace. If you are on your desktop, look for it on the left sidebar of Facebook. If you are using the mobile app, click the store icon below.* Determine the price. Search for how your item is usually priced in the market and determine a competitive price for what you are selling. Make sure not to put “P1” or “Free” to bait people. Also, put a buffer on your price, because people will haggle.* Take good photos showing all angles of the product including any glaring issues.* Write an accurate and helpful description of your product. You can find comprehensive details about your item when you do a Google search.* Determine your delivery method. Will you ship or meetup? Indicate this in your description. If shipping, you may use Grab or Lalamove.* Determine your payment method. Give as many options as possible to accomodate all kinds of buyers (Gcash, PayPal, Cebuana, bank transfer, etc.).* Never ship until you receive payment.* Ship immediately after receiving payment.* Be ready to get tons of messages immediately after posting your item. Try your best to reply to these messages promptly.* Be mindful of your privacy. Remember, people can see your public profile when selling on Facebook Marketplace. So, hide photos or posts you only want your friends to see.* Take care of your ratings so that you will get better rankings next time.* Leave a review of your buyer.* Remember: Most people on Facebook are good people.

That’s it! Fourteen easy steps you can take to be a successful seller on Facebook Marketplace. Good luck with selling your stuff!

LINKS

* Subscribe to Freelance Blend through any of these links: www.freelanceblend.com/itunes, www.freelanceblend.com/spotify, www.freelanceblend.com/googleplay* To watch other useful Facebook Live replays please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/freelanceblend. To be notified when I do another Facebook Live call, don’t forget to like the page.* Watch more freelancing tips and tricks at Freelance Blend TV* Connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers and learn more insights at

Five years ago, I started this podcast.

Today, as I publish its 179th episode, a lot of things have already happened. In the past few months, avid listeners of the show may have noticed a decline in the episodes I published. So, many are asking, “What happened?”

The reason behind my short hiatus is this: I became part of the online tax-filing service company, Taxumo, two months ago as an independent consultant. Those who learned about this recent change in my career asked a second question: “Are you still a freelancer, Marv?”

This episode is my answer to this question.

If you are a freelancer who has already decided or may still be considering being part of a team, thus shedding your “solopreneur” lifestyle, then I hope you find this episode useful, if not consoling.

Your peers may not immediately understand your move. They may judge you or see your decision as a step back to traditional employment. In this episode, I detail my main reasons for my decision to be part of Taxumo. In the process, I tackled challenges that many—if not all—freelancers face daily and point out how being part of a startup could solve these challenges.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In this episode, we talk about:

*  Why I joined a local startup company* How I met Ginger and the beginnings of Taxumo* How I was introduced to the local startup scene* The future of startups in the Philippines and why joining Taxumo is a very smart move* Freelancing and loneliness* The benefits of being part of something big* Why FREE is the most important part of “freelancing”* What’s next with Freelance Blend* How working with Taxumo will benefit Freelance Blend

QUOTE

“If you believe you have the freedom—free to work with the company you choose to work with, you can work with one, you can work with many—then you’re still a freelancer.”

LINKS

* Here’s the link to my conversation with Jojy Azurin where I was first introduced to startups: FBP 037: How to Turn Your Idea Into a Startup Business with Jojy Azurin of Freelancer.com* Here’s the link to my conversation with Ginger Arboleda about Taxumo, the local company I am now a part of: FBP 142: Super Easy Filin and Payment of Taxes for Freelancers with Ginger Arboleda of Taxumo* To watch other useful Facebook Live replays please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/freelanceblend. To be notified when I do another Facebook Live call, don’t forget to like the page.* Watch more freelancing tips and tricks at Freelance Blend TV* Connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers and learn more insights at www.freelanceblenders.com

A large chunk of clients served by Filipino freelancers is coming from the United States. In fact, according to a 2018 survey conducted by Paypal in 2018, 60% of their clients come from the U.S.

For us Pinoy freelancers, the main advantage of working with American clients is financial — the US dollar exchange rate is quite competitive compared to that of other currencies.

However, with this advantage comes a challenging tradeoff.

And the tradeoff is our most valuable resource: TIME.

Many Filipino freelancers working for US-based clients have to adjust to the Western hemisphere’s time zone, which could entail working from the late evenings up to the wee hours of the morning — a time when freelancers could be spending with their families or getting their much needed sleep.

Now if you are a call center agent who is trying to escape the ungodly hours associated with call center life by testing the waters of freelancing, there may not be much of a difference for you.

You are still working the same hours, hampering the work-life balance you are striving for.

Eunice Arpet Punzalan, Social Media Manager of PayStaff and the Working Remote Conference, says there’s a way to navigate the challenges of working those odd hours with clients from the West.

And it’s simple: Work with Australian clients instead.

In this new episode of the Freelance Blend Podcast, we introduce you to a market, which you may have never considered before—a pool of clients that just might give you a better working schedule, which means better sleep, better health, and more time with your family.

Listen as Eunice and I talk about this and other diverse topics related to freelancing. If you are someone who is seriously considering transitioning from your corporate job to working for yourself, or if you are a total beginner to freelancing, then this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways

In this episode, we talk about:

* How Eunice started freelancing by just applying at an agency she found at JobStreet* How climbing the corporate ladder forestalled Eunice from entering to the freelance world* What made Eunice question the corporate lifestyle (hint: long commutes and office politics!)* The challenges Eunice faced during the first few weeks of freelancing* How Eunice finally got a big break in her freelancing* How Eunice helped start a community of Filipino freelancers who work for Australian clients (with 15,000 members just a year after it was started)* Eunice’s tips on looking for freelance jobs through JobStreet* What the “Filipino Freelancers with Australian Clients” Facebook group is all about* The advantages of working with Australian clients* What PayStaff is all about and how it can help yo...

A high-paying job, a beautiful house, and a wonderful family — Ricky Shetty had all of these.

He was living the “suburban dream” in Vancouver, Canada with his wife and three kids. His was a life that many people around the world would envy. But he was missing one thing, the most important thing: happiness.

“Figure out your purpose, your vision, your values, and then figure out if your life is fitting that. If it’s not, time for change.”

These are Ricky’s words, and he lived them. After a careful yet brave reflection, Ricky’s family sold everything and began their journey towards being the first family to visit every country in the world.

Ricky transitioned from being a corporate worker to teaching English as a second language in different countries. Along the way, he discovered blogging and other ways of making money by serving people online.

Today, Ricky Shetty is the owner and the operator of RickyShetty.com, DaddyBlogger.com, and DigitalNomadMastery.com. He is also an ordained pastor, a professional speaker, a business coach, an internet marketer, a five-time Amazon Best Selling Author, and an internet conference producer.

Perhaps, more importantly, Ricky Shetty has found happiness in traveling 81 countries on six continents with his wife and three children.

In this episode of the Freelance Blend podcast, we bring in Ricky Shetty to talk about his family’s amazing journey in pursuing freedom and happiness through a digital nomad lifestyle.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In this episode, Ricky and I talk about:

·      How Ricky started out online, including what he saw on the internet which inspired him to take the leap and support his family through it

·      The importance of knowing your values and understanding what parts of your life should take precedence over others

·      Why considering the values of your partner and your children is critical in making a digital nomad lifestyle work for your family

·      The struggles and challenges of living a digital nomad lifestyle

·      How Ricky and his wife approached the education of their children while living in different countries

·      The importance of trying out the digital nomad lifestyle for a short period of time before making a complete commitment (to see how it affects each individual family member and the family as a whole)

·      The three steps to being a digital nomad

·      The different models of making money (and saving money) while traveling

·      Practical strategies on how to make traveling more affordable

·      The importance of frugality and selling stuff that you don’t really need

·      The joys of volunteering in local causes while traveling the world

·      Why you should start a side hustle while you are still working in your day job

·      Why you should read books and what books to read

·      The best countries to visit as...