Freelance Blend Podcast

It’s tax season once again, and if you’re a freelancer, business owner or even an employee earning from freelance gigs, you may be wondering:



“How do I file my Annual Income Tax Return (ITR) with the BIR?”



I actually have the same question, especially since I became an employee again last year (while at the same time earning on the side from my “rackets”).







And so I asked for help from my friends at Taxumo — the online platform where Pinoy taxpayers can file and pay their taxes easily (most especially during this pandemic).



(Use my code FLBLEND to get your first 3 months for only P300! This is for any Taxumo subscription plan. You save as much as P7,500+. Get this now at Taxumo.com)



I invited Liej Alas, Growth Manager of Taxumo, on the Freelance Blend Podcast to answer our top questions about income taxes as well as to demo to us how we can file our Annual ITRs safely at home through Taxumo.







Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 195



Links & Resources



* Sign up at Taxumo.com – use my code FLBLEND to get your first 3 months for only P300! This is for any Taxumo subscription plan. You save as much as P7,500+. Get this now at Taxumo.com.* Apple Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/itunes* Spotify: http://www.freelanceblend.com/spotify* YouTube: http://www.freelanceblend.com/youtube* Google Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/googleplay

Want to know the easy-to-follow steps to become a Lazada seller? Learn more from MJ Gaan, top seller and certified trainer at Lazada.com, as she teaches us her 5 steps to become a Lazada seller.



Online shopping is definitely booming this covid-19 season. I, myself, had been spending a lot ordering online because we’ve been locked down in our house since March, voluntarily self-quarantining to avoid catching the virus.







Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 194



I’m sure like me, you buy everything online now. From groceries to raw meat, gadgets, household items, home repair, toys, books, etc. Like most Pinoys, my #1 e-marketplace of choice is, Lazada.







Why? Because almost everything that we need to get is there.



Now for enterpreneurial Pinoys like me, we know that if we want to sell something online, Lazada would be the first most logical option.



Who better to teach us the basics of starting a Lazada store is MJ Gaan, one of the top sellers of Lazada.



She was kind and generous enough to accept my invitation to be interviewed on the show and share with us her 5 steps to become a Lazada seller – the same steps she teaches on her paid course.



Who is MJ Gaan?



MJ Gaan is one of the top sellers and certified trainers of Lazada. Her Lazada stores BDI and FranetaMall, have earned millions of pesos through selling various products and digital services.



Her company BDI, Inc. is also the Pioneer Accredited Service Provider of Lazada Philippines — helping thousands of Lazada Sellers set up, manage and grow their online stores.



Awarded by the 37th People’s Choice Award as the Outstanding Young Lady Entrepreneur, MJ is committed to hard work. At 18 years old, she had to work while studying to support herself and her family and is now she is a self-made entrepreneur because of online selling and e-commerce.





The 5 Steps to Become a Lazada Seller



1. Select and Source Your Product



The first step is to know what product to sell and where to source that product.



Are you making it on your own and you want to explore selling it online on Lazada?



Are you an existing business already? Maybe you have your own brick-and-mortar store and because of covid, you’re forced to sell your stuff online.



Then, just breeze through step 1 and go to the next step.



But what if you don’t have a product or don’t know what to sell?



Ms. MJ Gaan suggests to become a reseller first.



What is reselling?



With product resellership or distributorship, you find a company who makes products (called manufacturers) and you resell or distribute the products for them.

In this episode of the Freelance Blend Podcast, I share with you the top productivity apps that I personally use to work from home this 2020 (a.k.a. The Year of the Pandemic).







Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 193



From being a freelancer for 5 years then going back to corporate and working from home during this pandemic, I want to share with you the apps that I still use (you can listen to this episode where I share my top 12 desktop tools in 2018) and the new apps that I discovered and love this 2020.



The Top Productivity Apps That I Use to Work From Home in 2020



* Chrome – the best browser out there* Workplace Chat – Slack competitor by Facebook* Franz – combines Messenger, Watsapp, Skype, Telegram and Slack in one app (no need to open each app one by one). Viber is not included, which brings me to…* Viber – the desktop version of one of the top messaging apps* Trello – my favorite project management tool* Zoom.us – the popular video conferencing tool of this pandemic* Google Meet – Google’s Zoom competitor* Evernote Premium – my favorite note-taking and organization app (signup here to get one month free of Evernote Premium)* Copied – automatically keeps a history of your clipboard (every time you Control-C) in one app* Chrome Extensions* LastPass – my password management tool of choice* Evernote Web Clipper – this is how I bookmark...

I was fortunate to have been invited to this webinar called Qlitan by QBO Innovation Hub with the topic “Empowering the Gig Economy”.







Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 192



In the first few 9:30 minutes of this episode, you will hear from Marella Ricketts of QBO who will talk about how QBO helps the startup community here in the Philippines. You’ll also get a chance to hear welcome remarks from QBO’s President himself, Butch Meily.



Panelists







Atty. Fatima Panontongan – Chief of Staff of Senator Sonny Angara of the Senate of the Philippines



Jeff Sarmiento – Head of Business at Last Mile Inc, a digital logistics innovation company



Marv de Leon – Freelance Blend, a platform that champions the Pinoy freelancer



Joy Garingo – The Company Cebu (Moderator), a startup-friendly co-working space



What We Discussed: The Gig Economy



* What are the panelists’ respective roles in the gig economy* The benefits of the new bill for freelancers — The National Digital Careers Act by Senator Sonny Angara (Senate Bill 1469), which aims to promote the development of digital careers in the country and equip Filipinos with the skills needed to avail of these jobs* What are the vulnerabilities affecting freelancers* Why should freelancers pay taxes* What are the other ways that the bill can be improved to effectively empower the freelancers* The Freelancers Protection Act by Senator Villanueva* The first law that will be mentioning freelancers* How freelancers can protect themselves from non-payment by a client* Do we have a law or bill for non-tech freelancers?* What’s the future of employment once the lockdown ease







Links and Resources



* QBO Innovation Hub: https://www.qbo.com.ph/* Last Mile Inc: https://www.lastmile.ph/* The Company Cebu: https://thecompany.ph/* Apple Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/itunes* Spotify: http://www.freelanceblend.com/spotify* YouTube: http://www.freelanceblend.

In the previous episode — The 30 Fast-Rising Freelance Gigs in The New Normal (FBP 190) — I talked about the freelance gigs that have emerged during this covid-19 pandemic.







Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 191







However, I realized that I wasn’t able to tell you HOW to get those gigs, now that the game has changed. You don’t want to be putting salt on the wounds of those businesses that have gone bankrupt by pitching your freelance service to them.



The 10 tips I share below will help you identify those businesses AND teach you how to connect to those business without being insensitive and annoying to them (I give more context in the podcast so please listen here).



10 Tips on How to Get Freelance Gigs in the New Normal



* Go to your newsfeed and notice the businesses that are popping up doing Facebook ads. You will know if it shows “Sponsored” on top.* Study their website, marketing or ordering and payment process* Send them a message, ask about their product or service first to get them to reply to you* If you can purchase their product, do so, so they become indebted to you. (Extra points)* Based on your research, give them a short tip or two on how to improve their business  * Form a relationship with the person responding to you – even if not the person in charge (make sure you are not a bot ? )* Ask to be connected to the person-in-charge — (BTW, I’m Marv de Leon and I help _____)* Schedule a call or Zoom meeting with that person-in-charge* Track your leads then follow up* Repeat the process



Bonus Tip ?: When you email the person-in-charge, in the Subject Line, include the Order Number or Product Number of the product you just ordered from them and then mention your service. Example, “Re: Order #12345 – About my order and digital marketing help for Acme Company”.



LINKS & RESOURCES



* Apple Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/itunes* Spotify: http://www.freelanceblend.com/spotify* YouTube: http://www.freelanceblend.com/youtube* 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



Do you have other tips on how to get freelance gigs in the new normal that you want to add to my list? Feel free to share your thoughts below??

It’s already been about 4 months since the whole world has been hit by the covid-19 pandemic and it has not only been a health crisis, but an economic crisis as well. Businesses have been closing left and right, resulting in a scarcity of freelancing gigs available in the market. This is what we all now know as the new normal (sorry for using this already overused term).







Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 190







But it is not the end of the world. Money did not just disappear because of this stupid virus. It just stopped flowing – in certain areas, industries and channels.



Consumers too are spending way less than before. Our first priority in this pandemic is to meet our needs to survive — food, water, healthcare, facemasks, etc.



Now that we are slowly easing into the General Community Quarantine or GCQ, people — especially to those who are lucky to still have a job during this crisis — are slowly starting to spend on a few luxury items like gadgets, gourmet food delivery, alchohol and beauty-related stuff — just to escape the boredom of staring at the ceilings of their homes or after running out of things to watch on Netflix.



Meanwhile, businesses are the same too. Those who continue to operate and unaffected by the lockdowns have started to adapt by allocating their budgets to operations and activities that are in tune with the new normal — transforming their old school, offline practices into digital or online. This is what you call digital transformation, a term that you will keep hearing more of in the coming months and years.



In my observation, one popular example is the proliferation of webinars and Facebook Live streams that you see from business owners or companies who’ve never done this sort of thing before.



Companies, even the traditional ones, are now jumping on the digital bandwagon. (I’m sure you notice that in your newsfeeds too.)



And…good news, this is where we freelancers come in. 🙂



Digital, virtual, online – whatever you want to call it, is so natural to us freelancers. And that’s why if you’re still struggling to find that freelancing gig, or you’ve lost a client today, maybe you should consider these fast-rising freelance gigs that have sprung in this new normal.



I list them down below and talk in more detail on the podcast.



The 30 Fast-Rising Freelance Gigs in The New Normal



* Virtual Events Speaker or Host* Virtual Events Trainer* Virtual Events Manager* Online Event Promoter (Company meetings, happy hours, etc.)* Virtual Summit Producer* Virtual Concert Producer/Architect * Social Media or Digital Marketing Trainer * Zoom Expert * Digital Transformation Coaches* Ecommerce Transition Consultant * Ecommerce Developers * Shopify Experts * Remote Work Consultants/Recruiters/ Virtual Teams Consultant * Home Office Setu...

How are entrepreneurs, especially those with multiple business (a.k.a. serial entrepreneurs), are coping during this covid-19 pandemic?







For this episode of Freelance Blend Podcast and Covid Break, we asked two of the most successful serial entrepreneurs I know talk about their current struggles and how they plan to bounce back — even if this pandemic is not yet over.



(Watch out also for a special guest who “bombed” our Facebook Live!)











Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 189















SERIAL ENTREPRENEURS



Ktin Gutierrez of PUSH: Purposeful Sidehustling For Working Women



Business owner at NWorld (distribution of skincare and network marketing), Jade Logistics and The Wellness Hub (an online store selling UVC lamps and sanitation devices), founder of PUSH: Purposeful Sidehustling For Working Women



Ginger Arboleda of Taxumo and MommyGinger.com



COO of Taxumo and CEO of Manila Workshops and blogger at MommyGinger.com



OUR CO-HOSTS



* Herlene Somook – Co-founder and Marketing Director for Creative Labs* Dennis “Shoden” Abad – Guide and Video Strategist at DennisAbad.com



LINKS & RESOURCES



* Taxumo: www.taxumo.com* MommyGinger.com* Ktin Gutierrez* Manila Workshops: www.manilaworkshops.com* Shoden Abad: www.dennisabad.com* Creative Labs: http://creativelabsph.com* Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://www.freelanceblend.com/itunes* Subscribe on Spotify: http://www.freelanceblend.com/spotify* Subscribe on YouTube: 

With the world still in a standstill, employee-driven customer service channels are unavailable and queries unanswered. But it seems there are quite several marketing and sales teams that are effective and successful with their chatbot strategies.



However, we still see a lot of hesitation from a lot of brands; they are asking the same question, “ Can I entrust my customer communications to a computer?”. Leave your worries and join us at our Tutorial this June 26 as we take a deep dive into the world of messenger bots.







In this event we will answer your questions on the importance of chatbot marketing in light of this pandemic, and provide you with best practices for a nearly human chatbot experience that will close the gap with your customers.



Questions we will answer will include:



* How will I connect with my customers through a chatbot?* Will the FAQs I use with my customer service team suffice? Or do I need to recreate a new set?* Can I build a chatbot by myself, or do I need to hire a team?* Is there a cost-effective way to implement this?* Which platforms are available out there for chatbot marketing?* How do I track the effectiveness of my chatbot?









Event Details:



[LIVE WEBINAR]



Chatbot Marketing: How to Create Your First Chatbot For Your Business



Friday, 26 June 2020



1:00 – 3:00 P.M.



Ticket Price: P250 only

We are all aware that schools are one of the hardest-hit industries by the covid-19 crisis and that’s why in this session of Covid Break inside the Samahan Group, we discuss how to pandemic-proof these institutions and invited representatives from Metro Manila-based preschools — Little Archers Learning Center and Mano Amiga Academy.











Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 188











Our Guests



Marianne dela Cruz of Mano Amiga Academy



Marianne is a teacher for almost 20 years. Currently the Academic Systems and Operations Manager for a not-for-profit school called Mano Amiga Academy in Paranaque. She’s in charge of marketing, collections, and overall facilities of the school. She’s also a business consultant for online sellers on Instagram and copywriter.



Noni Odulio of Little Archers Learning Center



Noni is a father of three and has been the Program Director of Little Archers Learning Center for 14 years with branches in Multinational Village in Paranaque, Mall of Asia in Pasay City and Pasay Road, Makati.







Our Co-Hosts



* Herlene Somook – Co-founder and Marketing Director for Creative Labs* Daise Virtudazo –  Founder and Creator of Systems and VA Mentorship Program



Links & Resources



* Little Archers Learning Center: http://www.littlearchers.com * Mano Amiga Academy: https://www.manoamigaph.org* Daise Virtudazo: https://www.facebook.com/daisevirtudazo* Creative Labs: http://creativelabsph.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* 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 o...

Our guest for this episode is Mr. Jason dela Rosa, founder of the growing Facebook community called Bounce Back PH. As the founder of this fledgling group composed of business owners (from MSMEs to large corporations), NGOs, government units, media, professionals, freelancers, OFWs, employees and basically everyone affected by this Covid-19 pandemic, Jason’s shares with us his insights on how everyone can bounce back and thrive in the new normal.











Or listen to the episode here (CLICK this link) >> Freelance Blend Podcast Ep. 187















Jason just started the group in early March, a few days after the quarantine in Metro Manila started.



The goal was to form a think tank of business leaders — to discuss and formulate ways to overcome this unprecedented event.



Jason was only expecting a few hundred people to join the group. But because of the timeliness of this idea, the group grew in the thousands and tens of thousands.



To date the main Bounce Back PH group has 40k members, while the other Bounce Back sub groups (Real Estate, Tech, Tourism, Events, Education, Freelancers, UAE, ASEAN), number in the thousands as well.



WHAT WE DISCUSSED (HOW BUSINESSES CAN BOUNCE BACK FROM COVID)



* How a random idea led to the creation of Bounce Back PH * Heart, Head and Hands – concerns of the small business owners during this crisis* The different Bounce Back clusters or subgroups (links below)* The steps for entrepreneurs to get help and also the steps for organizations to help* And a lot more…



OUR CO-HOSTS



* Dennis “Shoden” Abad – Guide and Video Strategist at DennisAbad.com* Rona Lallana – Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Sine De Oro Productions* Herlene Somook – Co-founder and Marketing Director for Creative Labs* Daise Virtudazo –  Founder and Creator of Systems and VA Mentorship Program



LINKS AND RESOURCES



* Bounce Back PH Official: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BounceBackPH/* Bounce Back Education: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bouncebackpheducation/* Bounce Back Freelancers & Professionals: https://www.facebook.com/groups/233110504572182/* Bounce Back ASEAN: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2546565642138915/* Bounce Back Tech, Startups & Digital PH: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1387143408150830/* Bounce Back UAE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/177510870031605* Bounce Back Restaurants: https://facebook.com/groups/905887259816702* Bounce Back Retail:

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...

When I was given the book “Shoe Dog,” an autobiography written by Nike’s founder Phil Knight, as a Christmas gift, I knew I had to read it. Nike is one of my favorite brands and I love sports, especially basketball. So, I read the book in two months and it is the only book that made me cry—if you want to know why, read on and watch the video.



In this episode, I will be sharing with you
my key takeaways from this great book. Phil Knight’s success story is a
must-read, especially for freelancers and entrepreneurs like us who navigate
uncertainty and creative ideas every single day of our lives.



KEY
TAKEAWAYS



Here are my favorite stories and key points
from “Shoe Dog”:



* What “shoe dog” means* How Phil Knight, a runner
himself, came up with the crazy idea that was Nike* Japanese society in the 1960s,
just a decade after the Second World War* Phil Knight’s adventures in
pursuit of his idea of importing shoes from Japan to the United States* Why Phil Knight had to return
to Manila Hotel * Where the name “Nike” came from
(and why your favorite shoe brand was almost named “Dimension 6”)* How Nike pioneered “influencer
marketing” by working with athletes* How Nike became one of the
first American companies to open factories in China* How Nike responded to criticism
and bad publicity concerning the working conditions of one of its factories* The $35-logo misconception* The tragedy that Phil Knight,
already a billionaire at that time, had to go through







QUOTE



“I’d tell men and women in their midtwenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.” – Phil Knight



“So that morning in 1962 I told myself: Let everyone else call your idea crazy . . . just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where “there” is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.” – Phil Knight



SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT



Our community will be having a Freelancers
& Entrepreneurs Meetup on March 2, 2019. The meetup will run from 4:00 PM
to 6:00 PM at the Ground Up Business Solutions space located at Werco Arcade,
Lot 18, Dr. A. Santos Ave. (or Sucat Ave.), Paranaque City. While we
freelancers work for ourselves, we don’t have to do it all alone. If you are
looking for support and new friends, we would love to have you join us. For more
info about the meetup, please visit: www.freelanceblend.com/meetupmar2019



LINKS



* Grab a copy of the awesome book “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight using this link: http://amzn.to/2EbAvqX* In case you missed it, here’s that link again on our upcoming Freelancers & Entrepreneurs Meetup: www.freelanceblend.com/meetupmar2019* 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,

While working as the Head of B2B Sales and Growth at STORM, a Philippine tech startup, Cindy Burdette noticed a huge pain point experienced by the contractors and freelancers hired by these large multinational companies that she worked with at STORM.



The problem: They didn’t have health insurance.



“We would see people who were basically doing similar tasks, but one would have benefits and one would not.”



Thus, began a new chapter in Cindy Burdette’s already accomplished career. To gain a better understanding of this problem, she and her team ran an even more extensive research on the subject — which they then considered a “side project”.



Eventually, they realized that the concept of freelancing is not small anymore. And that this problem being experienced by a growing number of freelancers will soon become bigger…until they do something about it.



And so, that so-called side project eventually turned into what is now a new startup called ALLCARE.



ABOUT
ALLCARE



AllCare serves and promotes the interests of freelancers, contract workers, and self-employed individuals by providing the same benefits that traditional employees in the corporate world enjoy. Benefits like healthcare (HMO), life and accident insurance, plus other perks like Grab credits and free Coffee Bean Swirl card.



AllCare is a benefits platform that you can access online and is not only affordable but the process to become a member is so simple and easy (watch the video demo).



KEY
TAKEAWAYS



In this Freelance Blend Podcast episode, we bring in Cindy to talk about the importance of health insurance particularly for freelancers who tend to forget about it.



Cindy discusses the process of becoming a member of AllCare and the benefits that freelancers will get from the membership. Tune in until the end of this episode to learn more about a special promo for Freelance Blend followers we’re running with AllCare so that you can get yourself insured as soon as possible.



In this episode, we talk about:



* The important (and interesting) findings about freelancers and healthcare, which Cindy’s team discovered while researching for AllCare* Why healthcare tends to be neglected by Pinoy freelancers and what they can do about it* How an AllCare membership works and what benefits it offers* What the HMO health insurance model is and what its advantages are over other health insurance models* What health conditions are covered and are not covered by AllCare* Cindy’s advice for people who want to use AllCare for dialysis, chemotherapy, or other major diseases* AllCare’s future plans (like family packages)* Activating your AllCare insurance benefits* The exciting perks of an AllCare membership* The requirements to prepare when applying for an AllCare membership and the application process itself* A walkthrough of AllCare’s very user-friendly online dashboard* Why AllCare works well with PhilHealth











As a gift for all our listeners, AllCare is providing a special code valid until February 28, 2019. Visit www.allcare.io/register and register now t get an extra P500 discount using the code BLENDERSJAN2019.



QUOTE



“Even if the products are not expensive (they’re affordable), people actually don’t buy insurance because it’s not a priority. So,

Delayed na naman ba ang pag-transfer ng freelance payments mo?



Hanap ka ulit ng encasher?‍ 



You may not know this, but there IS a FASTER way for you to withdraw your funds!



‍‍Did you know that with EON, you can get your payments in real time?



‍‍No need to wait for DAYS just to get your shopping money.



PLUS, if you sign up starting today until January 31, 2019, you get FREE P100 EON credits.



Simply download the EON PH app in the App Store or Google Play to get started.



Learn more about getting your free P100 credit by checking the promo mechanics below:







How to join the promo:



1.  To be able to open an EON Virtual Account, accountholders should download the EON App.
2.  Accountholders who are able to successfully open an EON Virtual Account from January 25 – 31, 2019 will get FREE P100 EON CREDITS.
3.  Upon successful registration to the EON App, the accountholder must:
a.  Email heretohelp@eonbankph.com with the following details:
     i.      Name
    ii.      Email Address
   iii.      EON Virtual Account Number
4.  All accountholders must meet be first time registrants to qualify for the FREE P100 EON CREDITS.
5.  The P100 incentive will be credited to the EON account of the accountholder upon successful verification by EON.
6.  Deadline for emailing EON is on January 31, 2019 at 11:59pm.
7.  Crediting of the FREE P100 EON CREDITS will be done on February 11, 2019 and all verified accountholders will be notified via SMS from EON.
8.  The free P100 EON Credits are not convertible to cash and may not be exchanged with any other product.


‍‍‍‍(EON is a brand partner of Freelance Blend)

Sometime ago, 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 online masterclass training called:



The 3 Biggest Secrets to Getting Your First Freelance Side Gig (Even If You Have a Full-Time Job)











Date and Time: January 17, 2019 (THU) at 8:30 pm



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 be giving away amazing bonuses to live viewers only, so make sure to be there!



Click the button below to register…







P.S. Since we already have more than 100 people register, to participate, it will no be on a first come, first served basis. (Sorry in advance if you can’t get in.)



P.P.S. I also recently went on Facebook Live to talk about Why You Should Think About Consulting as a Side Gig. Watch the video below.

When I was starting, I was aware that I knew very little about online marketing. On top of that, I felt like what I did in my previous job didn’t relate that much with what I wanted to do online. But what I did have was courage and a lot of drive for learning. And that was enough to propel me to move forward.
Today, aside from what I do here in Freelance Blend, I am also consulting with several clients to improve their digital presence online. I help them design their sales funnels and rebrand the websites. I have learned a lot of skills and knowledge about digital marketing and the journey has been truly rewarding. In this episode, I want to share with you how I got from zero to being a digital marketer. I want to show you specific actions you can take right now to put you in the right direction for success in digital marketing. 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Starting was never easy for me, but after a few years of doing my thing online, I have gone through a lot of very instructive experiences. In this episode, I share what I learned in all those years including the following:

* How I transferred the skills and experiences I had from my corporate job at sales to online entrepreneurship and digital marketing
* How reading Rich Dad Poor Dad drove me to buy a rental property and inspired me to read more business books
* How discovering podcasts accelerated my learning of business and marketing ideas
* How treating myself as my own client encouraged me to experiment courageously without being afraid to commit mistakes
* How I discovered the power of community from the first meetup I organized, which I thought would fail but didn’t!
* How I became a consultant and how you can become one too

Learn these and more in the Facebook Live recording below where I also answer audience questions about the best mic recommendations, for those thinking about starting a podcast, the best social media platforms for different businesses, and some tips and tricks on doing Facebook advertising.

LINKS

* Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
* Tribes by Seth Godin
* Million Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss
* To watch other useful Facebook Live replays please visit our Facebook page at 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 freelanceblenders.com

Elbert Guintivano was a Field Service Engineer managing his employer’s operations at the Southern California region when he came into close contact with remote work. Aside from experiencing it firsthand, transitioning from an office-based to a home-based/on-the-road arrangement, he was also serving people in the startup industry who were working remotely. When he was sent to the Southeast Asian region to expand his company’s operations, he was excited of the potential for personal growth.
In Singapore, he worked closely with freelancers who were building careers outside normal offices and office hours. Going back to the Philippines and scratching a relentless entrepreneurial itch, Elbert decided to open a co-working space to serve the freelancing community in his home country. Ground Up was born.
ABOUT GROUND UP
Ground Up Coworking Spaces is part of the many services that Elbert Guintivano and his team at Ground Up Business Solutions offer to freelancers, startups, and anyone working outside offices. Located at the Sucat Area in Paranaque, Ground Up Coworking Spaces is open from Monday to Friday at 9:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. But because freelancers work in different schedules, Elbert and his team are flexible in their operating hours.Their rates range from a hundred pesos an hour to P450 a day with options to buy monthly subscriptions that save their customers a lot of money.
Working at Ground Up comes with unlimited coffee, strong wifi, options to work in private spaces, and lots of business-related services—like accounting, HR, marketing, legal, and secretarial services—all in one space.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
In this Freelance Blend Podcast episode, I chat with Elbert Guintivano on a Facebook Live video to talk about his journey from traditional employment to entrepreneurship. Of course, Elbert talks about Ground Up and all the awesome services they bring to the Pinoy freelance community. Watch or listen to this episode to learn about:

* Elbert’s reflection on the freelancing industry in Singapore and the differences and similarities he noticed compared with the Philippines
* Elbert’s take on the edge that Filipinos have in the international freelance industry
* Why Elbert got back to the Philippines
* How self-reflection led Elbert to dip his foot into entrepreneurship and why doing so was a courageous move
* Why Elbert chose to start a co-working space and the process he took to set it up
* Elbert’s thoughts on taking calculated risks as an entrepreneur and making sure that family members are involved in the decision-making process
* The benefits of working in a co-working space for a freelancer versus working at home
* Things you can do in a co-working space which you can’t do in a coffee shop
* Ground Up’s rates and services
* Elbert’s plans for the future—like establishing partnerships with restaurants to bring the Ground Up experience nearer to you


QUOTE
“As we were conceptualizing in building the space, there were always opportunities that came over to me to go back to corporate. However, when I weighed the heart—actually the mind makes decisions but the heart helps you make that emotional connection—the heart was telling me that entrepreneurship is where I want to go.”
LINKS

* To learn more about Ground Up Coworking Spaces and other services that Elbert Guintivano and his team are offering, visit their website at groundup.ph
* Like Ground Up Business Solutions’ Facebook page at facebook.com/GroundUpBusinessSolutions
* Having something to ask Elbert himself?

The Unionbank EON card is like a swiss army knife for freelancers. There’s just a lot of financial tasks you as a freelancer can accomplish by using it. You can get paid through the card then withdraw your cash from any ATM using EON.
But did you know that you can also use the card itself to make transactions in physical stores?
In this episode, I will walk you through the steps you need to take to begin using your card when you buy your groceries or eat out in your favorite restaurant with your family. If you don’t want to bring a lot of cash, for security reasons or just for convenience, then watch the video below where I teach you how to use your Unionbank EON card to shop at stores.

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO USING YOUR EON CARD TO SHOT AT YOUR FAVORITE STORES

* Before using it to pay for your transactions at physical stores, be sure to load your card with enough money. Remember, it isn’t a credit card.
* Go to stores that accept Visa cards. Usually, these stores will put up a Visa logo somewhere in their store to let customers know they are accepting payments through Visa. If you’re not sure, you can always ask.
* Upon giving your card to the cashier, she or he would ask you whether your card is a credit or savings account. Tell the cashier that it is a savings account.
* Key in your pin code and that’s it. You have just transacted in a physical store using your Unionbank EON card.

Before using your Unionbank EON card at physical stores, you might want to explore all its features first. Good thing we have an entire series here in Freelanceblend dedicated to helping you get familiar with your EON card:

* To learn why you need to get a Unionbank EON card if you are a freelancer, watch FBP 159.
* To learn about the security features of the Unionbank EON card, especially how to set your pin code, watch FBP 163.
* To learn how to set up and activate your Unionbank EON card, watch FBP 164.
* To learn how to link your EON card to PayPal, watch FBP 166.
* To learn how to upgrade your EON Starter card to EON Lite and withdraw money from an ATM, watch FBP 169.

LINKS

* Get your EON Bank Starter Kit now! Learn more at eonbankph.com
* To watch other useful Facebook Live replays please visit our Facebook page at 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 freelanceblenders.com

Full disclosure: this episode is being supported by EON.

“Nung high school pa lang nagtitinda na’ko ng mga snacks. So ako si, ano tawag dito, si ‘bayong girl’,” Melissa laughed as she started talking about the beginnings of her entrepreneurial journey. “Alam mo yung parang ano, printed na bayong na malaki na tinitinda sa palengke? Yun, dalawang ganon lagi ang dala ko,” she continued her story smiling.
Her guidance counselor, later on, found out about what she was doing and ordered her to stop. This happened, she said while still smiling, before she could ever expand her tiny business and start selling lunch.
No one would have thought that Melissa Profeta, now the co-founder of a unique startup that offers social media training to over 700 students and counting, not to mention a thriving PR firm that brings brands into the spotlight of popular publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur, was humble ‘bayong girl’ when she was a teenager.
Since those days when she carried bayongs full of snacks to school, Melissa has grown into an entrepreneur with nine years of experience in sales and marketing both as a traditional employee and a freelancer. Today, she is also a columnist and active contributor to websites like Influencive, Thrive Global, Good Men Project, and Buzzfeed.
ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA ACADEMY
Social Media Academy, a startup which Melissa co-founded with Nix Eniego, is one of the leading social media marketing schools on the internet today. The online training platform boasts over 2,000 students and 700 alumni, all of which have made millions of collective revenue as social media managers for top brands in the Philippines and abroad. Inside the school, Nix, Melissa, and their team teach students how to dominate Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn and leverage these platforms to create an engaged following of buyers.
If you are a solopreneur who is thinking about using social media effectively or are a freelancer who wants to up his game by offering social media managing services, you might want to watch this interview and see how you might benefit. Plus, at the end of this episode, we’re sharing with you a special bonus when you enroll today.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Melissa Profeta’s young life is a roller coaster ride with so much wisdom for you to learn from. And she isn’t holding back. Throughout our conversation, Melissa remained open about her past struggles and because she isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, this interview has a lot of gems in it. Listen now to hear Melissa share:

* Her “fast and slow” principle. In her own words: “For me, it doesn’t matter kung gaano ka katagal na magpa-practice sa kung anong industry na ‘yon. What matters to me is ‘ano yung gagawin ko during the practicing period’.”
* The power of giving yourself deadlines
* How childhood struggles motivated her to become who she is today
* How she transformed from being a shy girl to being a confident entrepreneur
* How she juggled school with working—one time, as a graveyard shift clerk for 25 pesos per hour!
* How discovering multilevel marketing propelled her to hit her first million at age 19!
* Why she decided to drop out of school and how she directed her own business education
* How having her first child at age 21 changed her young entrepreneurial life and drove her to work in a BPO company for three years
* How her child’s communication difficulties pushed her to quit her BPO job and start a small business with her partner
* Her second lowest point in her life and how this led her to freelance
* How leveraging your skills could land you your first high-paying client outside usual freelance marketplaces and build a thriving client base
* Her journey back to entrepreneurship

Learn all of these and more when you watch my entire interview with Melissa P...

Here in the Freelance Blend Podcast, we’ve talked a lot about the Union Bank EON card. In past episodes, we learned about the different security features of the card, how to set up and activate it, and how to link it with PayPal for withdrawal. There’s just so much good that this card offers so I really believe every Pinoy freelancer needs to have one.
If you still don’t have a Union Bank EON card, do yourself a favor and get one. Visit www.eonbankph.com to get started today.
While the Union Bank EON Starter card is a gem by itself, there are tons of reasons why you might want to upgrade to Lite. For one, the EON Starter card can only be used to purchase in establishments that accept a Visa card. What if you want to withdraw your money as cash? Is there a way for EON to do that? Yes, there is! But you have to upgrade your card to Lite. Once your card is upgraded to Lite, you may start using your card to withdraw cash from ATMs in the Philippines and around the world.
To upgrade your EON Starter card to EON Lite follow along with my video. Then check a step-by-step guide of the process I prepared below.

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO UPGRADING YOUR UNION BANK EON CARD FROM STARTER TO LITE

* Open your EON mobile app. If you haven’t installed it yet, download the app through these links: Android / iOS.
* In the app, log in your EON account.
* On the homepage, you will see a red icon with a text on its right which says “EON Starter.” This simply means that your account is yet to be upgraded. Click on this text.
* This will lead you to a dashboard which shows you the details of your EON Starter account. From here, click on the red icon beside your “Account Level.”
* A pop-up message will appear asking you if you are sure you want to upgrade from EON Starter to EON Lite. Just click “OK.”
* After doing this, a confirmation message will appear informing you that your request will be approved before a certain date. The waiting period is around 3 to 5 days.
* You will receive an email once your account has been approved. You may also check your app from time to time to see if your Account Level has changed to EON Lite.

And that’s it! Upgrading your EON Card from Starter to Lite is really this easy. You can now use your card to withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide. Enjoy!
LINKS

* Learn more about the benefits of owning a Union Bank EON card and the different plans you can choose from at eonbankph.com/experience
* Get your EON Bank Starter Kit now! Learn more at eonbankph.com
* To watch other useful Facebook Live replays please visit our Facebook page at 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

Working in the digital space can be as challenging as working in any traditional jobs. That is why the right tools can really help make our everyday life as freelancers a lot easier.
Recently, I talked with my tribe on a Facebook Live call where I shared the top 12 desktop tools that I use every day as a freelancer. Many fellow Pinoy freelancers found this 30-minute call really helpful and I want you to benefit from it as well.
So today, I’m sharing with you the video replay of the Facebook Live call. After watching, you may want to check the list below this post where I give more details about the apps. I also included download links so you can start using these great apps in the operating system you are using.
If you find the replay helpful, please share it with your freelancer friends or anyone who might find it useful.
Watch the video below and start learning about my top 12 desktop tools.

 
My 12 Favorite Desktop Tools

* Google Chrome – Chrome is the primary app I use every day. What makes it the best internet browser, in my opinion, is that it integrates with a large number of extensions. Many of the apps in this list are actually extensions that are housed within my Chrome browser.
* Franz – Franz is a chat aggregator app. It is an app which allows you to open all your favorite messaging apps in one place. I personally use it to open Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
* Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder – Nimbus is a Chrome extension which allows you to capture screenshots and videos playing on your screen. This is particularly useful when clients need to see the progress of your work. I find that Nimbus’ features really help a lot in saving time in this process.
* Clipboard History 2 – Clipboard History 2 is another chrome extension that has proven valuable for me in my work. It saves all the things I have copied in a drop-down archive which I can always access in Chrome. Because working online means doing a lot of copying and pasting, this is a tool you will be using all the time.
* Asana – There is a lot of software out there to help you manage your tasks but Asana is the project management software of my choice. I use it every day when working with my clients and my team.
* LastPass – LastPass is another Chrome extension that I love to use. It saves and protects all my passwords in one place. It also makes it very easy to access passwords making it very helpful for freelancers who use a lot of apps, and therefore, a lot of passwords.
* Evernote / Evernote Web Clipper – Evernote is a virtual notebook where I put all my ideas. It is free, with an option to pay for more space. Evernote also comes with a web clipper which you can install as an extension in Chrome. The clipper allows you to copy anything from websites which you can the save in Evernote.
* Slack – Slack is the messaging app I use to communicate with my team and my clients.

 

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 cj@onlinefilipinofreelancers.com
* 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.

 

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 gladis@zestagram.co 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

You took a lot of courses already, you are aware of different ways to be a successful freelancer or work-at-home professional, you have monetized your online business but somehow, you are still at lost which path to take. Does that sound familiar?
Most of us have been through the same dilemma of finding a niche that you can flourish in. In FBP 158, Blender Jorel asks about finding a freelancing career in a maze of all possible choices.
Passion vs. Curiosity
Much has been said about following your passion these days. While this is true, the advice does not apply to everyone, especially for practical reasons. For example, my passion is basketball. I enjoy playing and watching games but there is no way now that I can monetize that passion (maybe I will one day!)
It’s not really “follow your passion” but follow your curiosity.
That is always my advice.
Four years ago, I was interested in freelancing not because I was a freelancer but because I was a graphic design hobbyist. It started not as a passion but as an area that I was curious about.
Now how do you find your natural inclinations? Listen to the podcast to know my tried-and-tested ways on how to find out your interests. My wife did this too and this is how we found out what niche she would be most effective in.
In the end, it is a matter of trying out what you are interested in. There’s no guarantee of success but even if you fail, the most important thing is to learn from it. Then pick yourself back up and try the next one.
Got a freelancing or online business question? Send it through our Facebook page or email me at marv@freelanceblend.com.
Join our Facebook group chat too at www.freelanceblenders.com to get access to more advice from other freelancers.

Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the trade.
I will make your life easier by handing you more than 30 of the latest and greatest applications, software and websites that I, and even some of the most amazing freelancers, use on a day-to-day basis to become a more productive freedom entrepreneur. 
Get “The Most Awesome Apps, Tools & Resources” Ebook Now!

We’re on a streak! Since I haven’t answered questions in a while, here’s another recording of AskMarv. You’ve got online work questions, I’ve got answers!
In this episode, Blenders Renee, Jeane, and Patrick posted their questions:

* How can I secure employers and how long will it take for me to have freelance projects?
* How can I make it big in this industry and make a difference as well?
* I would ask how you started and ask for some tips and advice on how to improve my business and to increase my value.

Gaining Peace of Mind
No one wants to be always wondering if he/she will still have clients next month.
One way to get peace of mind as a freelancer is to secure a selected few long-term clients instead of always being on the lookout for new ones. To achieve this, present options on a client call. Prepare proposals for a project-based approach and for a retainer arrangement.
Explain how a retainer contract can be a win-win for both sides: knowing that an expert will be on-hand and that monthly bills will be paid on-time can make both client and freelancer sleep better at night.
Making A Difference in The Freelancing Industry
Your community responds to what you give. One proven way to make a difference is to choose a niche and share what you know. Be an expert at what you do and help others out.
Take for example Neil Reichl. He worked on his skill set and then started helping freelancers to learn how chatbots work. The result? He is now who is now the go-to ChatBot guru in freelancing circles (see FBP 151 for our interview).
Increasing Your Value
Don’t be complacent with the skills that you have now. Remember that there will always someone better than you. So if you want to increase your value, never stop learning. If you continue to upgrade your skills, you’ll always stay relevant in your industry.
Do you have questions? Message us on Facebook or email me directly at marv@freelanceblend.com.
Better yet, join our Facebook group at www.freelanceblenders.com so you can get access to more freelancer wisdom!
 

Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the trade.
I will make your life easier by handing you more than 30 of the latest and greatest applications, software and websites that I, and even some of the most amazing freelancers, use on a day-to-day basis to become a more productive freedom entrepreneur. 
Get “The Most Awesome Apps, Tools & Resources” Ebook Now!

It has been ages since we featured the last Ask Marv version but this time, we’re back with a list of questions. In answering these questions, I share my own freelancing journey starting from building a freelancing group, learning from experts I got to know in the industry, and then eventually becoming a freelancer.

Listen in and get to know my answers to these questions:

How can I get clients without going on Upwork?
How to approach clients?
What questions should I ask clients on the first hop-on call and are their scripts I can use?
How much was your initial investment in your first online business?
When do you call it quits with your day job to embrace freelancing full time? How long did it take for you to earn enough income from freelancing that made you finally quit your day job?

Got any freelancing-related questions? Feel free to send me your inquiries via http://www.freelanceblend.com/ask-marv/ or join the Freelance Blend Facebook group.
Better yet, come and meet similar minded people at our next Creative + Entreps Meetup! Join us on May 31st at Work/With at Bonifacio Global City. Visit this link to sign up: www.freelanceblend.com/meetupmay2018
Links

* Watch this episode on Youtube
* Listen to us the Freelance Blend Podcast, now on Spotify.  Follow us at www.freelanceblend.com/spotify!
* Do you want to get more tips for fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com

 

Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the trade.
I will make your life easier by handing you more than 30 of the latest and greatest applications, software and websites that I, and even some of the most amazing freelancers, use on a day-to-day basis to become a more productive freedom entrepreneur. 
Get “The Most Awesome Apps, Tools & Resources” Ebook Now!

Multiple studies show that video gets the most user engagement on Facebook, with 10 times more engagement than any other type of content. This translates to 49% faster growth if your business has video content on Facebook. However, not all videos are created equal. Some fail to reach their target audience and some, while they reach their views count goal, do not convert to sales. This is the sales conversion gap that our FBP 155 guest foresaw as an opportunity.
How it all started
When it comes to video marketing, all Blenders know that the number one person to go to is Dennis “Shoden San” Abad. (You have to listen to this episode to know how he got his Japanese-sounding nickname). But this video guru and co-founder of Shoot Practical Videographer School didn’t start with video marketing, he started with his first love from way back in high school: telling stories through videos.
When Shoden saw the need to connect compelling storytelling with actual sales data based on his own experience with client videos not selling well, he started learning digital marketing. The rest as we say is history. He applied the strategies he learned to put the content in front of the right audience considering their buying journey or what marketers call the sales funnel. It made sense to create engaging videos for clients and then help them get their content seen.
In this episode, listen as we discuss the lessons we learned from our corporate industry experience, how to become a video marketer, and how to incorporate video into your own personal brand. If you’re thinking of switching your career to producing and making videos for clients or if you are a business owner exploring the benefits of video, then this is the right episode for you!
Key Highlights
Listen to FBP 155 as Shoden and I discussed:

* How his interest in video started
* The benefits of working in a corporate world before going as a full-time freelancer
* What made him decide to quit his office job and be a full-time freelancer
* His experience working with international clients for VSLs (video sales letter)
* Classes they offer at Shoot Practical Videography school
* 3 types of videos that a Business Owner can use for his brand
* How he built his network through referrals

Quotes

* On why he keeps learning and improving his skills: “Video marketing does not exist in a bubble. It’s not the only thing that can help you to grow your business exclusively”
* On video as the future of content: “… Video has a strong capacity to help people change their perspective.”
* On why freelancers should consider video marketing: “Since video is starting to become mainstream, it’s very easy to include it in social media marketing. It’s part of the ecosystem.”

Links

* Watch this episode on Facebook Live
* Shoot Practical Videography School – Learn the basics of video making and video editing. Don’t forget to watch out for their Video Marketing course offering available in the next couple of months.
* Listen to us the Freelance Blend Podcast, now on Spotify.  Follow us at www.freelanceblend.com/spotify!
* Do you want to get more tips for fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com

It has been said that Filipinos are one of the most hardworking people in the world. This is also the same observation that our guest for FBP 154, Brianna Carney, has come up with after staying in Asia for a year to gain more insights into the booming BPO industry.
With a business development background herself, Brianna understands the pain points experienced by businesses in building their customer-facing teams. In the US, finding top performers with the dedication and expertise means paying for higher rates which a startup company may not have sufficient funds for.
The Beginnings of CrewBloom
In her quest for bridging the gap between the demand for dedicated customer service professionals and the pool of resources available within the scope of a startup budget, Brianna found herself exploring the outsourcing industry, particularly in India and in the Philippines. From her extensive research and immersion, CrewBloom was born.
CrewBloom is a company that connects top Filipino BPO professionals with US businesses for long-term and full-time remote work. Unlike other freelancing platforms, CrewBloom has an intensive hiring and interview procedure designed to maintain the quality of service provided to their clients. The company vets every contractor, ensuring that they are highly competent and backed with the right experience in the BPO industry. As CrewBloom says, they aim to get the top 2%, nothing but the best from the BPO industry.
In our discussion, Brianna recounts the early days of CrewBloom, how she built the company, and how she found her Filipino co-founder, Kate Ringcodan. She also tells the story of learning Filipino ways of working and how they are building a company culture centered on people who love what they do. If you are a BPO professional looking to avoid long commutes and spending time at an office, it might be high time to explore and transition to working remotely.
Key Highlights
Catch FBP 154 and share this new opportunity with family and friends in the BPO industry. Listen to the podcast as we discuss:

The vision for Crewbloom
How Brianna met Filipino Crewbloom co-founder, Kate
Client Screening process
What you need to do if you want to apply as a Crewbloomer
Interview process for Contractors
Future improvements on Crewbloom as a platform

If you have inquiries on the hiring process or anything startup-related, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Brianna or Kate. See their emails on the Links sections.
Watch the Interview on Freelance Blend TV

Quotes
On traveling and self-development: “The more we know, the more courage we have, the more we seek to learn and understand, the better we’ll be.”
On comparing Pinoy workforce with other emerging markets: “..Filipino workforce is being the most sophisticated and capable in the world today”
Links

* http://crewbloom.com/ – Connecting the best Filipino BPO professionals with US-based startups
* Contact brianna@crewbloom.com or kate@crewbloom.com for inquiries
* Listen to us the Freelance Blend Podcast, now on Spotify.  Follow us at www.freelanceblend.com/spotify!
* Do you want to get more tips for fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com

Special shoutout to Blenders who followed us on Spotify!

* Glady Serrano-Unsay
* Enteng Nabablit
* Regie Bariuan

Sometimes life throws a curveball and forces us to change our game plan. From being a hotel reservations team supervisor to a food listing website owner, our FBP 153 guest just kept on opening doors of opportunities until he finally found what works. By 2018, Julian Canita is now the go-to person for Facebook Advertising in our freelancing community.
Julian and I teamed up last year for a Facebook Ads workshop and realized that we enjoy working with fellow Pinoy freelancers. Most of us have experienced this: client hires you for service X and during the course of time, asks you if you can provide service Y too. As the client proves that they can trust you, the more they would like to work with you regardless if the field is not your expertise. While most of us will accept the responsibility and learn about the task along the way, in FBP 153, we encourage you to refer an expert friend instead.
Aside from tips on how to work with other freelancers, we’re also giving you a sample pricing proposal guide when working on big projects involving multiple freelancers. And since we are talking about collaborating with others and helping out the freelancing community, here’s a bonus: Julian is giving a 20% discount to his Facebook Ads Basics workshop on May 5th at Warehouse Eight Coworking Space in Makati. This Blenders special will only be available within two days from the time the podcast is published. Hurry and book your tickets via bit.ly/JCBlenders to get the discount.
Key Highlights
For FBP 153, I recommend watching the video as we will share a sample pricing proposal for a collaborative project. Aside from the sample, you’ll get to know about:

Julian’s journey to becoming a Facebook Ads expert
How a community can help you grow
Why being laser focused in your field is an advantage
Sample pricing strategies for big projects
The many different ways of how you can price your Facebook Ads services

What do you think about the pricing strategies we shared? Leave a comment and let us know!
Watch the Interview on Freelance Blend TV
 
Quotes
On why you should get an expert to do the task: “You are able to provide a better service to your client… they know that you are looking out for them and their business.”
On why collaboration is key in communities: “Being part of a collaborative community, we are still able to provide the service as well as help out other freelancers…”
Links

* bit.ly/JCBlenders – Use this link to sign up for Julian’s Facebook Ads Basics workshop to get 20% off! If you know someone who can benefit from this workshop, tell them to sign up via this link too. The goal is to get your first Facebook ad running during the workshop itself. Participants will walk away with new knowledge that they can immediately apply in their business.



* Listen to us the Freelance Blend Podcast, now on Spotify.  Follow us at www.freelanceblend.com/spotify!
* Do you want to get more tips for fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com
* Learn social media marketing basics and hacks in Marv’s Social Media Marketing for Small Business workshop on May 19.  Get an additional 20% if you sign up using the promo code BLEN...

My first few interactions with our FBP 152 guest was online via freelancing Facebook groups. Those interactions turned into in-person meet-ups, collaborations, and workshops.  He is the founder of Arrive Media, co-founder of Social Media Academy Philippines, and Head of Marketing at Sprout Solutions. He’s a growth hacker, a social media marketer, a keynote speaker, and a consultant for multiple brands and personalities.
Even with a full schedule, he still makes the time to help the freelancing community. It’s no surprise that one and a half year after he decided to share his prowess,  this digital marketing genius is now one of the well-known individuals in freelancing circles. Ask anyone from the Blenders group and they know the name Nix Eniego by heart.
An expert on the use of social media for marketing, Nix gives invaluable social media marketing advice in FBP 152. Nix never fails to bring substance to our sessions. If you’re a member of the Blenders group, you’ll know Nix also provides key insights on the group chat. And remember that time when he shared three forms of digital marketing that anyone can do for as low as P100 a day on FBP 137? That’s Nix for you. Passionate, encouraging, and generous in sharing his knowledge.
Key Takeaways
FBP 152 is a 2-hour session filled with actionable information that you can immediately apply to your social media marketing practice. Here are some of the points that Nix discussed:

How Facebook is the new form of word of mouth marketing
Rethinking your use of Social Media accounts
How to make good use of Facebook Groups (without creating one!)
See success stories using the strategies Nix shared
How Nix built 95% of his network through Social Media
His 3x3x30 strategy
* The Social Media Academy Course and what’s in store for students

The SMA Batch 3 registration ended on March 28th. Visit the site to get real-time updates when a new course opens up. You’ll hear both Nix and I sharing bonuses for the Social Media Academy course. Although we would like to extend these bonuses to everyone, these packages are only available for live viewers. That’s all the more reason to catch us live next time! 
Quotes
On getting clients: “Start by asking people what you can do for them.”
On how Facebook can bring leads: “I built connections the right. I built and showed up and gave value every day.”
Links and Resources

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

 
 

Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the trade.
I will make your life easier by handing you more than 30 of the latest and greatest applications, software and websites that I, and even some of the most amazing freelancers, use on a day-to-day basis to become a more productive freedom entrepreneur. 

A combination of relentless drive and plenty of hard work turned unfortunate events into opportunities for our FBP 151 guest. This guy with an easy demeanor and bright outlook has also proved himself to be resilient and a fast learner. In 3 years, Neil Reichl has turned from a pharmaceutical sales rep to a ChatBot marketing expert. All the long drives that he made while listening to podcasts when he was still a sales rep turned out to be the training ground for his digital marketing and freelancing career.
Why ChatBot Marketing?
An early adopter of ChatBot marketing, Neil recognized the need for a more effective way of getting leads and engaging with old both old and potential customers. With an even tougher competition now as all types of media are clamoring for a person’s already short attention span, how does a business get their voice heard loud and clear?
With email marketing effectivity slowly dropping (25% open rate, 3% CTR), Neil saw how more people, regardless of age or status, are now more likely to use Facebook Messenger as their main means of communication. It is not surprising that statistics for Facebook Messenger Marketing campaigns show an 89% open rate with a 50-60% CTR. For instance, the reach can be greater too as people who may not follow or “like” your page can still send you a message and contact you on Facebook.

Are you as interested as I am now? I too believe that ChatBot marketing is the next big thing so I signed up for Neil’s ChatBot marketing premium course to learn more about it. If you want to see a ChatBot in action, watch the FBP 151 video to see a demo of how a ChatBot can bring in more leads and convert fans into paying customers.
Key Highlights
FBP 151 comes with loads of useful tips from Neil. Also, you will get the chance to see us in our formal wear!

Neils’ journey from a pharmaceutical sales rep to a ChatBot marketing expert
The difference between Email Marketing and ChatBot Marketing
Reasons why Neil thinks ChatBots are the next big thing in digital marketing
How ChatBot Marketing can be used in different kinds of businesses
Skills needed for a ChatBot marketer
How the data from ChatBots can be used to build your list and direct them to your website
How Neil honed his skills and expanded his community as a freelancer
Tips for both new and experienced freelancers on how they can offer ChatBot marketing services
Steps to sign up manychat.com and test your own bot on a free Manychat account
Demo of how ChatBots can work for your page

At the time of posting, all the workshops mentioned in the video have already been completed. Join us on www.freelanceblenders.com so you can get up-to-date information on upcoming workshops and courses.
Quotes
Neil on how to effectively use ChatBots: “Courtesy should always be your first step”
Marv on taking new challenges from clients: “Say yes and learn it.”
Neil on avoiding analysis paralysis: “Take action!”
Links

* See a ChatBot in action here: http://bit.ly/chatbotMarv
* ManyChat, the app for setting up ChatBots
* Do you want to get more tips for fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com

 

Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the tr...

I grew up in awe of my father.
As a kid, I am especially fond of memories of flying in a plane with him as the pilot. There’s a special kind of delight that comes from knowing that my father is bringing us and everyone aboard to our destination, all safe and sound.
Two weeks from when I made this recording, my father passed away due to an unexpected massive heart attack. He was 73. While it came us a shock to all of us, we accept and know that his destination is God’s hands now where he is safe and sound.
I’m sharing the eulogy I wrote for his funeral mass to let everyone know how proud I am of my dad. If you are listening or reading this, all I ask is for you to please say a little prayer for him.
A Tribute to Capt. Percy de Leon‍‍‍
I stand before you today as the representative of a family still in shock and in grief.
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Capitan Percy was a truly remarkable human being…
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Husband to Mercy, father to Ayen, Bamm-bamm, Che-che and Dimples, son to Jose and Marciana, brother to Denty and Nimfa, grandfather to Jake, Kyla, Colin, Nadine and Caleb, friend and inspiration to many many people.
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Like most sons to their fathers, I have always looked up to him and was (and always will be) very, very proud of him and his accomplishments.
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This was especially true while I was growing up.
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I would always find myself telling my classmates, friends and anyone I knew that my dad is a pilot.
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In fact, I still do that today.
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I relish that reaction from people when I tell them…
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”My dad is an airline pilot and he is a captain at Philippine Airlines.”
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And they say, “Wow, your Dad is a Pilot!”
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍
“You’re so lucky!”
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I remember the many happy times we spent with him, Daddy bringing us with him to his trips abroad.
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We’d spend our summer breaks in Honolulu, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and I once even spent Christmas with him, just the two of us, in Chicago.
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And during those times, with Dad as the Captain, I saw how everyone — the crew, the passengers and the people around him — loved, respected and admired him.
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I saw how everyone’s eyes lit up whenever they see him.
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And I always told myself:
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“When I grow up, I want to be just like Daddy.”
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I wanted to have many, many friends too and gain the respect and recognition of my peers.
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I wanted their eyes to light up when they see me.
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I wanted to be just like Daddy.
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During those flights, my most awaited part is when a few minutes after take off, Daddy spoke on the intercom…
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“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking….”
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I wanted to shout out loud to the top of my lungs:
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍
“That’s my Daddy! That’s my Daddy!”
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Years later I will find out that Daddy was actually a shy person and shunned the limelight.
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It must have been a big undertaking for him to speak to hundreds of passengers.
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And then my favorite part, especially during those long haul flights, was when he would come out from the cockpit to check on me.
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He had to put on a coat to cover his pilot’s uniform and take off his hat, so that passengers would not panic, thinking that nobody was flying the aircraft (it was on autopilot, of course).
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Then, he will take me by the hand and bring me inside the cockpit and have me sit behind him while he lands the aircraft in the most perfect and safest landings you...

 

FBP 149 does not only mark the start of the year but also the fourth year of Freelance Blend! It’s been four year, Blenders! I look back at the years and all I feel is  an overwhelming gratitude for the Freelance Blend community. Thank you for listening for the past 4 years as we all continue to grow and achieve our goals as freelancers. Thank you to all of you who have been listening since day 1. I am committed to serving all of you with more amazing, valuable, and insightful content for more years to come.
New Year, New Perspective
The start of the year is always the best time for introspection. It’s the moment when we look back to the year that was and when we envision what we hope the new year will be.
As for me, I will always remember 2017 as the year when I focused on freelancing. I spent the previous years building and growing Freelance Blend and attending to my speaking engagements. Finally, in 2017, I put all of my learnings into action and I was able to prove that I can earn well as a freelancer. 
But what about 2018?
On our Facebook group chat early this year, Ginger Arboleda suggested a most timely topic: “What is your one word for the year?” (If you’re not a part of our group chat, join us on Telegram! See link below)
Ginger’s question is a good one as this allows us to focus on a direction that we want to take for the year. 
Listen to FBP 149 as I explain my word of the year: GROWTH. Along with this word that I plan to stick to for the year, I also shared the Planning Spreadsheet that I used for 2017. It worked for me and immensely helped in achieving my goals so I’m sharing the sheet with you (plus a video of how to use it) on the Links and Resources section below.
What’s your one word for the year? Share them on the comments section!
Links and Resources

* Rock Your 2018 Video – Part 1: www.facebook.com/freelanceblend/videos/2048583695361721
* Rock Your 2018 Video – Part 2: www.facebook.com/freelanceblend/videos/2048587548694669
* Download my FREE “Rock Your 2018″ Planning Spreadsheet
* Join our community in Facebook at www.freelanceblenders.com
* Join our bigger, better chat group on Telegram app
* Side Gig Revolution – my new group coaching program for employees to become freelancers.  Unfortunately, it is now closed but you can join the wait list here

 

“How do I start freelancing?” is the most common question that I get from aspiring freelancers.
“The only way to start is to start”, that’s what our FBP 148 guest, PJ Aguilar, has to say about the topic. There can’t be any truer answer than that.
PJ started out with her offline yoga business as a side project while she was still working on her corporate job. She then started to work with a freelance VA to help her manage the growing business. From her offline business success, business owners from the same industry started asking her for coaching.
PJ is the Strategy and Vision Designer Simplicity Business Support, helping passionate solopreneurs with web presence, online marketing, and tech support. She has over 14 years experience in marketing, communications, business development and administration.
What started as business coaching turned into a business support project. PJ identified the pain points that her coaching clients were experiencing and then presented a solution for them. PJ is now leading Simplicity Business Support based in Australia, employing a team of 7 VAs focusing on web design and social marketing.
So how did PJ start? By slowly testing out the waters until she started being comfortable in her skillset and knew the type of clients and niche that she wanted to work in. That’s how one starts with freelancing.
Interested to know more? Listen to FBP 148 as PJ and I talked about our freelancing journeys, her tips for aspiring VAs, and her thoughts as a VA client.
Key Takeaways
Aside from PJ’s transition from the corporate world to being a full-time online business owner, we also talked about the following:

Her thoughts on part-time freelancing
Her reasons for starting businesses outside of her corporate job
On how a freelancer can transform into a coach
How she is marketing her coaching and business support services
Her perspective as a VA and as a VA client
What makes a good VA?

Key Valuable Traits of a Fantastic VA

The right Skills. Make sure that you know your skill set. And as PJ puts it, “Don’t advertise yourself in something that you absolutely hate to do.”
A good Attitude. You don’t need to be the expert but you need to care to get the job done. Be realistic about your capacity.
Clear Communication. Be patient with your clients especially when they’re new. Be proactive. Always seek clarification.

Quotes
On starting out as a coach:
“If someone asks you ‘Can you help me?’, the first step is to say ‘Yes.’”
On knowing your client’s pain points:
“Give things a go. You meet people and find out what they need.”
How to find a skill that you can freelance in:
“Translate the skills you had in the corporate world into a freelance skill.”
Links

* Visit their website at www.SimplicityBusiness.com.au
* Or check out their Facebook page www.facebook.com/simplicitybusinesssupport
* Email PJ at hello@simplicitybusinss.com.au
* Do you want to get more tips for fellow freelancers? Join us on Facebook and connect with hundreds of Filipino freelancers! www.freelanceblenders.com

 

Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the trade.

Back in the days when the Internet was just starting to boom, Internet-savvy and mostly young people started to share their stories online as a form of personal expression. This came to be known as blogging, coming from the word weblog. Fast forward to 2017, blogging has now become an essential and influential platform to reach out to consumers and potential clients.
Here in the Philippines, we have a huge community of bloggers spanning different industries and niches. In the midst of it all is Blogapalooza, an annual event that brings together bloggers from all over the country. Blogapalooza started in 2011 under the wing of When in Manila founders Vince Golangco, Francis Simisim, and Anton Diaz.
In 2016, Blogapalooza, under the leadership of Ace Gapuz as the CEO, has repositioned into a comprehensive influencer marketing company with more than 6000 bloggers, social media influencers, and content creators.
In this episode, Freelance Blend is extremely fortunate to interview Ace Gapuz, CEO/Blogamomma of Blogapalooza. Listen to this episode as Ace talks about her own journey as a blogger and the exciting things Blogapalooza offers for both businesses and bloggers.
Key Highlights

Aside from tips for aspiring bloggers, Ace also touched on other topics such as:

How she started as a blogger
The corporate world, freelancing, and being an entrepreneur
How blogging has evolved throughout the years
Advice for those who want to take on blogging as a full-time career
Ways to earn from your blog
The Blogapalooza Community
Buzzin as the way to bridge brands and influencers
Her advice for freelancers who want to be successful in the blogosphere

Ace’s Top 3 Tips for new bloggers
Are you thinking about blogging? Be guided by Ace’s top 3 advice:

Just do it. Find a platform that works for you and make a blog site.
Have a story to tell and be authentic. Stick to something that you know best and that can give a value to people.
Be consistent in blogging.

How to start monetizing your blog
Once your blog is out and you are creating content on a regular basis, you can then think of ways to earn from it. Here are some ways that can get you started:

Associate yourself with a community of like-minded people
Be active in community activities. Make an effort to be noticed. Be active and make sure your inputs are valuable.
Sign up with https://letsbuzzin.com/. Makes it easier to collaborate and work with brands that you like.

Quotes
On travel as a form of rest for an entrepreneur:
“The job of an entrepreneur is very difficult. It’s a battle everyday. You need that kind of rest and time for yourself.”
On earning from blogging:
“..it doesn’t come as easy as people think it is. It requires professionalism and experience acquired over the years.”
Links

* Catch Ace on Twitter @acegapuz – twitter.com/AceGapuz

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

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Are You Ready to Become a Freelancer?
If you are really serious about becoming a freelancer, you should first start with the tools of the trade.
I will make your life easier by handing you more than 30 of the latest and greatest applications,