Freelance Blend Podcast

 

CJ’s story is not so different from the many stories of women who turned to freelance after an important milestone in their life: the coming of a child.

Seven years ago, CJ was answering calls and emails in a business process outsourcing (BPO) company when she got the news that she was having her first baby. The excitement and enthusiasm that she felt after giving birth motivated her to find a way to stay at home with her child while at the same time helping her husband make ends meet. This strong desire to balance her motherly duties with earning an income led her to freelance.

Today, CJ Maturino-Cajoles is already a veteran freelancer with over seven years under her belt. She now has three boys, proving all the more that becoming a work-at-home mom is very possible. CJ is also a co-founder of E-commerce Philippines, a community of Filipino e-commerce entrepreneurs. She was featured in ANC’s On the Money program where she talked about the gig economy and drop shipping in the Philippines. Just this year (2018), she also started a local e-commerce business.

ABOUT ONLINE FILIPINO FREELANCERS (OFF)

From all the things that CJ has achieved, perhaps what she is best known for is being the founder of Online Filipino Freelancers (OFF), a Facebook community of over 110,000 members. The community started as a digital hangout for Filipino freelancers back in 2015. It’s a place where Pinoy freelancers would cheer each other up as everyone embarked on what could be a very lonely journey. The community was so successful that it grew from just a handful of members to now a large community being courted by companies who want to promote their brands.

What’s amazing from OFF’s success story is that CJ calls herself an introvert. How did someone so shy become the face of a popular brand? What did she do to create a safe, helpful, and uplifting space for Filipino freelancers? Listen to Freelance Blend Podcast episode 167 and learn CJ’s tips and advice for anyone dreaming to build a successful online community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In this episode you will learn:

* How CJ views the risks entailed in getting out of traditional employment to pursue freelancing

* How CJ started the Online Filipino Freelancers (OFF) group

* Where CJ believes all content should come from

* CJ’s opinion about the only way you will stand out online

* How Facebook helps active Facebook groups standout

* When using sponsored ads to grow a community might be a wise choice

* CJ’s day-to-day strategy in nurturing the OFF community

* How CJ gained the confidence to finally get out of her closet and be the face of a popular brand

* The future of Facebook groups

* Why CJ decided to start an e-commerce business after many years of freelancing

* What drop shipping is and why it is a highly profitable endeavor for Filipinos

Watch the entire interview with CJ Maturino-Cojales below.



QUOTE

“Provide good content for the audience. Make it very relevant to them that they can really relate. And when you put something as a content, put your heart into it, put yourself, put your own personality.”

LINKS

* Have anything to ask CJ? Connect with her via email at [email protected]

* Learn more about the Online Filipino Freelancers (OFF) community by visiting their website at onlinefilipinofreelancers.com

* If you’re ready to take the plunge, join the Online Filipino Freelancers (OFF) Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/ElanceOdeskFreelancersPH/

* The OFF community,

There is probably nothing worse that could happen to a freelancer than not being able to take hold of his or her hard-earned cash. This is especially true in times of emergency. Well, with the Unionbank EON card, getting your money fast should no longer be a problem.

In Freelance Blend Podcast episode 164, you learned how to set up and activate your Unionbank EON Card. In case you missed that episode, you can watch the vlog here.

In this new episode, you are going to learn how to withdraw money from your PayPal account to your Unionbank EON card. As you will see, this process is really quite fast. What will take some time is linking your PayPal account with your Unionbank EON card.

Follow the steps below and you’ll be able to access your funds in no time.

A Step-by-step Guide to Linking Your PayPal Account with Your Unionbank EON Card

* Log in to your PayPal account.

* Go to Balance.

* Click “Add a new card.”

* Using the information in your Unionbank EON card, fill up the form, which asks for your card number, card type (Visa), expiration date, and its security code.

* Type your billing address.

* Then click “Link card.”

* This will lead you to a page which tells you that your Unionbank EON card was successfully linked. On this page, click “Done.”

* Back in your Balance page, you’ll see that your Unionbank EON card is now included under your credit and debit cards. However, you will also notice that PayPal requires you to confirm that your card will be used to receive money from Paypal with no spending or withdrawal limits. To go through this confirmation process, click your Unionbank EON card.

* For confirmation to happen, you will have to request a code from PayPal. When you request a code, PayPal will charge Php 100 to your card. This charge will appear within 5-7 business days and its statement includes the code needed to confirm your card.

* Use the code to confirm your card. Once confirmation is successful, PayPal will refund your Php 100.

Now that you know how to link your PayPal account with your Unionbank EON card, you can go ahead and withdraw your money. To do this, follow these steps.

A Step-by-step Guide to Withdrawing Funds from Your PayPal Account to Your Unionbank EON card

* Log in to your PayPal account.

* Go to Summary.

* Under Balance, click “Withdraw funds.”

* Choose whether to transfer funds from your dollar balance or your peso balance.

* Choose to transfer to your EON Visa card.

* Type the number of funds you will transfer. (Note: PayPal allows its users to withdraw a minimum of $10, or its equivalent in other currencies, per transaction)

* Click “Continue.”

* You will be directed to a Review page where you can check if the details you’ve entered are accurate. If you’ve entered a dollar amount in the previous page, this page will also show you the equivalent peso amount you will receive in your local EON card.

* Click “Transfer.”

* Your withdrawn funds will now appear in your Summary under “Recent activity.”

To check if the fund was credited to your EON account, follow these steps:

* Go to www.eonbankph.com

* Log in to your account using your user ID and password.

* Type the six-digit one-time password (OTP) which EON sends to your mobile number. If you encounter any problems receiving the OTP, just click “Resend OTP.”

* Click “Continue.”

* Upon entering your EON dashboard, you will immediately see a notice that you’ve received the fund you transferred through PayPal.

* You may also check your “Recent Transactions” to further verify this.

This weekend, I hopped on my Facebook profile and our Freelance Blend Facebook Page to talk about this under-the-radar but lucrative side gig that you can start today (but you may not realize you are doing it already).

That topic is actually one of the most popular topics during my free webinar “The 3 Biggest Secrets to Getting Your First Freelance Side Gig” last week.

We had a blast during that webinar and we had more than 100 attendees, even going past the maximum limit of 100 for my webinar software (meaning people were waiting to get in if someone exits the webinar). 🙂

Since a lot of people were not able to join, I decided to go on Facebook Live to share the 2nd secret, that under-the-radar but lucrative gig — CONSULTING.

Here’s the Facebook Live video I did in case you missed it.

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.1'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

Mini Webinar: The Under-The-Radar But Lucrative Freelance Side Gig That You Can Start Now (You May Not Even Realize You Are Doing It) – Part 2

Posted by Freelance Blend on Friday, 31 August 2018

 

Now, if you want to watch the full replay of the 3 Biggest Secrets Webinar, you’re in luck because if you missed it, I am sharing with you that replay for a limited time.

During the webinar I talked about the following:

The 10-minute test to check if there’s a market for your skills in the gig economy

The under-the-radar but high-paying freelance side gig that you can start now (you may not even realize you are doing it!)

The simple 10-3-1 Formula to get freelance side gigs from scratch (even if you have no time)

The $15 ebook that I tell all my friends and clients about and how it helped me earn 6-figure contracts  

Plus a cool gift for live attendees, including bonuses and a special offer

Live Q&A session with Marv – ask me anything about the topic

And a lot more!

I also discussed my newest program for struggling employees and freelancers who want to get profitable side gigs with me as the coach.  Fast forward to the 1 hour and 50-minute mark to learn more about that new program.

Links

* Replay of the 3 Biggest Secrets Webinar to Getting Your First Freelance Side Gig Webinar: www.freelanceblend.com/freewebinarreplay

* Side Gig Revolution: How to Freelance on the Side While Working a Full-Time Job (Create Your PLAN B and Never Get Scared of Losing Your J.O.B.) – www.sidegigrevolution.com

 

 

 

Have you already got your hands on a Unionbank EON card — one of the better payment facilities for us freelancers?

If you don’t have an EON card yet, then please watch the previous episodes where we discussed the benefits of the EON card for freelancers and its unique security features like selfie banking. 

If you already purchased your EON card from Lazada or from a convenience store nearest you like 7-11 or Ministop, watch the video below where I demonstrate how to easily set up and activate your EON account.

Before you proceed, make sure you have the following ready:

EON App (Download EON PH App from App Store or Google Play)

6-digit activation code included in the EON Starter Kit

A valid government ID (eg: PRC, Driver’s License, ACR, Passport)

Once everything is ready, it just takes less than 5 minutes to set up your account and voila! You’re now ready to receive your hard-earned freelancing earnings on your EON card. 

So if you are having trouble setting up and activating your EON card, please watch my video below where I demonstrate step-by-step on how to do just that.

Links

* Why Freelancers Need to Get a Unionbank EON Card

*

Selfie Banking Demo and Other Security Features of the EON card

Sign up for an Unionbank EON account at www.eonbankph.com

Watch more freelancing tips and tricks Freelance Blend TV

Do you want to get more insights from fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com

Do you have questions about setting up your EON card, please post in the Comments section below.



Yesterday, I asked this question from our freelancer community:

“What’s your biggest challenge in starting a freelance side gig?

And here are the common answers that I got:

“How to juggle my 9-hour work shift + 2 hrs travel and raising my 2yr old daughter and 1yr old son. I barely have time left to start a freelancing career.”

“Since I have zero skills, how can I get clients?”

“It might work for others, but I’m not sure if freelancing will work for me.”

Now to help answer all these challenges, I decided to hold a FREE masterclass training called:

The 3 Biggest Secrets to Getting Your First Freelance Side Gig

Date and Time: August 30, 2018 (THU) at 8pm

Venue: Online (watch from your computer or smartphone)

Link to join: www.freelanceblend.com/freewebinar

In this free training, you’ll learn…..

* The 10-minute test to check if there’s a market for your skills in the gig economy

* The under-the-radar but high-paying freelance side gig that you can start now (you may not even realize you are doing it!)

* The simple 10-3-1 Formula to get freelance side gigs from scratch (even if you have no time)

* The $15 ebook that I tell all my friends and clients about and how it helped me earn 6-figure contracts

* Plus a cool gift for live attendees, including bonuses and a special offer

* Live Q&A session with Marv – ask me anything about the topic

* And a lot more!

I will give away amazing bonuses to live viewers only, so make sure to be there!

Meanwhile, you can also watch my announcement on the vlog:

Slots will be limited to the first 100 people, sign up now before you lose your chance.

Click here to join the free web class.

 

Why is EON Card (by Unionbank) one of the most preferred payment facilities for freelancers?

In Freelance Blend Podcast episode 159, I showed you the 3 reasons why you should be using an EON card. Those 3 main benefits are: better security, increased convenience and a wide range of services.  (You can watch the vlog here.)

Now, in this episode, we’ll focus on the first benefit: better security.

With all the phishing, data breach and online scams out there, it is important that you feel secure, especially when you are transacting with your clients online every day.

When EON relaunched their EON card, they made sure that freelancers and online sellers will feel safe and that their hard-earned money won’t get stolen.

So they introduced Selfie Banking – the facial recognition technology that comes with the EON PH app (available on the App Store and Google Play). It is the same facial recognition technology being used by US Homeland Security, so you know its really safe.

What’s more, if you’re an online entrepreneur like me, I’m sure you have dozens, if not, hundreds of passwords for the many online services that you subscribe to.  It can get pretty crazy organizing all those login credentials.  With selfie banking, you won’t need to memorize or jot down your EON password in your notebook.  You just need to take a selfie (snap!) and you’re using the app in seconds.

And also, it will be pretty hard to steal your face…unless you’re Nicolas Cage (remember the movie Face Off), right? Lol!

Now when you fire up the EON PH app, the Selfie Banking screen will instantly appear.  Just make sure that you have plenty of light hitting your face and that your face is inside the circle.  If you are wearing glasses like me, make sure to take it off.

Then wait for the message from the app instructing you to blink.  After you blink, you are inside the EON PH dashboard in a matter of seconds.  It’s that fast!

You can watch my full demonstration of Selfie Banking here on my vlog:

Meanwhile, aside from selfie banking, EON provides users with other options to log in to the app.  There’s Touch ID authentication (if supported by your device), or the traditional username and password login.

Plus, there are other security features that I don’t see from other payment cards in the market.  Inside the app, you can change the card’s PIN, lock the card in case it gets lost, request for a replacement card, or upgrade your account. No need to go to the bank or call customer service – again, it’s all in the app!

Watch the video to see all three login options and other security features in action

What are you waiting for? Get your EON Card from a convenience store near you or get it delivered to your doorstep using Lazada. Once you get your card, download EON PH App from App Store or Google Play now.

Links

Sign up for an EON account at www.

At a time when most teens are focused on exploring the possibilities of adulthood, Gladis Morales went ahead and started her first entrepreneurial venture. Driven by the need to raise funds to support her studies, she turned to tutoring as a way of earning an income. She started when she was in high school.

About Zestagram

Now 23, Gladis is at the helm of Zestagram, a platform that matches employers and students in an Internship-to-Employment Program. When she was overloaded with clients and referrals, she asked if her friends and classmates wanted to earn during their free time. The small group of student freelancers she formed and the clients who were contacting her to get things done became the early version of the platform that is now known as Zestagram.

If you are a solopreneur or a freelancer looking to scale and expand your business, this might be the solution for you. Zestagram prescreens potential interns based on your requirements and recommends a student. As an employer, you don’t only get assistance for selecting the right intern but you will also be helping to kickstart the career of a student.

Listen to FBP 162 and get to know how this young leader learned the ropes in putting up a business, starting from testing ideas, validating with data, and adapting to changes. Gladis also shared how they came up with the name Zestagram and the challenges in putting up a startup company.

Key Takeaways

Finding a vision that we feel strongly about comes at any time and age in our lives and careers. In Gladis’ case, she found hers when she was still a teen. Get to know Gladis and Zestagram as she talks about:

* How it all started with tutoring and online jobs

* How they went from basic landing page with a manual handling to an actual platform

* Challenges of building a platform

* How Zestagram got its name

* Reinventing the platform while still keeping the same vision

* How to sign up as an employer or intern

* What Zestagram has to offer for both employers and students

Quote

On how Zestagram is reinventing the internship hiring experience: “Employers like the idea of trial employment. Instead of just basing it on resumes, they get to see how potential hires work first… For the side of students, it’s a good gauge before signing an employment contract.”

Links

* Visit the website and sign up an employer or an intern at zestagram.co

* For questions and clarifications when posting jobs, get in touch with Gladis at [email protected] or send a message on their Facebook page facebook.com/zestagramph/

Instead of letting a huge obstacle bring him down, our FBP 161 guest took that same obstacle and overcame it, not only for himself but also for people facing the same hurdle. Ryan Gersava was on his way to becoming a medical doctor until he was diagnosed with a serious medical condition.

The realization that he will not be able to achieve a dream caused a momentary setback but Ryan was able to bounce back with a plan to end employment discrimination. He may not have been a doctor as he originally intended, but 2.5 years later, Ryan, together with his team, are saving lives with Virtualahan.

Listen to FBP 161 as Ryan Gersava, visionary, founder, and CEO of Virtualahan shares his life story, his goals and motivations, and the admirable group of people behind the company.

All About Virtualahan

Virtualahan is a tech social enterprise that provides an ecosystem for PWDs, marginalized groups, and those who have been denied of employment due to various medical conditions. The goal is to equip individuals with competencies that will help them get a shot at a decent way of earning, whether as an online/remote worker or as an entrepreneur.

Virtualahan originated from “Virtual Eskwelahan” with the original idea of an online vocational school. Nowadays, Virtualahan equips their graduates with competencies in Data Science, Customer Service, Digital Marketing, and Back-office Support.

Virtualahan’s formula of developing and empowering individuals has been validated by various awards, citations, and sponsorships all over the globe. The data speaks for itself too: as of writing, Virtualahan has trained 162 skilled workers from 53 cities in the PH with 76% employment rate and with an average income 20-30% higher than the minimum wage.

Key Takeaways

Ryan, who turned 25 this year, has made it his life’s mission to help those who may have had the same experiences as him. In FBP 161, get to know about:

Ryan’s beginnings in Sultan Kudarat

His experiences of working online as a way to support himself in college

How Virtualahan started with the help of his siblings

Why a Pay-it-forward concept benefits everyone

Scholarship selection process at Virtualahan

The growth of Virtualahan driven by a great team of experts, inspiring mentors, and a community of students who care about the same cause

Ways to help whether as a business or as a volunteer coach

Quotes

On his beliefs: “.. my parents really did a good job in giving us the value system and the moral compass… whatever you do, do it with excellence.”

On what motivates him: “Just knowing that people believe in the work that you do, you can do so much more before the problem is so big.”

On what keeps him going: “The joy to be able to be a source of people during those times.. That’s what keeps me going and that’s what gives me so much energy… We want to bring people together to fall in love with this vision because the problem is real. It’s doable to solve. We’ve done it in a small-scale but we believe we can do it in a bigger scale. We can contribute to building a future of work where nobody is left behind.”

On the key value of helping: “It is always better to not pay-it-back but to pay-it-forward.”

Links

* Do you want to start working on your digital skills or do you know a potential student? Send us a message on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/virtualahan to learn more or check out the enrolment form at virtualahan.com/train

* Interested to become volunteer coach? Are you a business owner who wants to partner with Virtualahan? Contact Ryan and his team at 

“Work from home ba? Sarap naman! Madali lang yan!”

Raise your hands if you ever heard this line from relatives and friends.

From those who only see us as working from home or a coffee shop, the job may look easy. Little do they know that it took us years before we got to where we are. As you all know, I was in the corporate world for 18 years before I made a life-changing decision.

Our guest for FBP 160, Carlo Mercado, was in the telco industry for 12 years. In 2017, he decided that it was time to leave his comfort zone. Carlo transitioned from a telecommunications engineer to a book author and eventually to a financial advisor in February 2017.

Carlo and I have almost similar experiences. The mindset shift took years before we decided that it was time. As most long-time freelancers would know, this process was not easy and not as picture-perfect as we would like to think it is.

In FBP 160, Carlo shares what motivated him to start a plan B outside of his telco career, how he found his niche, and what inspired him to make the shift to the insurance industry.

His story is proof too that you need to make preparations for the life that you want. Shifting from being a full-time employee to a freelancer does not happen overnight. It takes planning and effort before making the leap. Listen in as Carlo’s story is one of those that inspires. On top of that, Carlo shares valuable investing tips for freelancers!

Key Takeaways

* The journey from being telecommunications engineer to a champion of personal finance

* How joining a freelancing community helped him to transition from a structured day job to a career full of possibilities

* The non-traditional way of client lead generation via Facebook

* Advice to freelancers on how to start a  good investing practice

* How he formed his client acquisition system based on what he learned in the freelancing community

* His strategies to reach out and connect with clients

* His thoughts on the usual misconceptions about life insurance

* Advice on choosing between investment and life insurance (if you really had to choose one…)

* His personal investing strategy and recommended investment vehicles

Quotes

On finding your niche: “Try things out. Trial and error yung naging journey ko.”

On making a life-changing decision: “…(Your) Pay is the means of sustaining the life you choose. The question is is this the life you choose?”

Links

* Carlo Mercados site: carlomercado.net

* Order his book The Black Book on Common Cents from his website http://carlomercado.net/commoncents/

* Follow him on Facebook and Instagram – @mr.common.cents

* Watch more successful freelancer stories on Freelance Blend TV

* Want to hear more inspiring stories from freelancers? Join us on July 19th for the Creatives + Entreps Mixer

* Do you want to get more tips for fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com

Freelancers will all agree when I say that time is money. Imagine the number of times that you were stuck in traffic or in a queue and you just end up wondering about other things that could have been a better and productive use of your time.

So whenever I find more convenient ways of doing things, I’m always very excited to try it out and of course, to share with all of you, Blenders!

The Game Changer

When it comes to hard-earned freelance earnings on time, one of the most convenient ways to receive cash is using Unionbank’s EON Card. In Episode 159, I’ll show you why this card was made specifically for online freelancers and entrepreneurs.

Using an EON Card by Unionbank will give you the following advantages:

1. Better Security

You can lock your card, change your PIN, select trusted online shops, and change your daily withdrawal limits all from your phone. While you can manage your card from your smartphone, the app uses two-factor authentication and even Selfie Banking to ensure a secure login to your account. 

2. Increased Convenience

Absolutely no need to go to the bank to line up to get transactions done. You can purchase your EON Starter Kit from convenience stores like 7-11 and Ministop or right at your doorstep via Lazada (click here to order via Lazada). 

It’s only worth P150 each, and the P50 is automatically loaded inside the card.

Once you get your card, download the EON PH app (App Store or Google Play), and then you can easily set up and link your EON Card to PayPal. You can also upgrade your account from starter kit to other account plans from the app.

Moving money from PayPal to EON is as convenient as the card setup too! Get access to your funds on the same day.

3. Access to a wide range of Services

It’s easy to move money from EON-EON or EON-Unionbank accounts too. If you are working with freelancers and you all get EON cards, sending their payment is as easy as logging in and transferring money from the app.

The card is accepted any establishment with a VISA signage so you can go and buy from your favorite shops or go swipe your card for this week’s grocery run.

Watch The Demo Video on Freelance Blend TV!

So that you get a better understanding of the service, I have created a video walkthrough of the EonBankph.com website on our Freelance Blend TV YouTube channel.

In this video, I will talk about in detail all the great benefits of getting the Eon card — most especially if you are a freelancer like me (or even if you’re an online seller.)

Click the play button below to start watching the video.



Resources

* Eon Card by Unionbank – sign up here at