10 Best Tips on how to promote online as a freelancer in Dubai

To promote yourself online as a freelancer, an online presence is a must.  Online presence may be on social media or by having your own website.

 How can I promote myself as a freelancer online in Dubai?

1. Be an expert in your field
2. Be active on social media
3. Ask for recommendations/reviews
4. Build a website
5. Use search page optimization
6. Start a blog
7. Email marketing
8. Create free profiles on freelancing websites
9. Networking
10. 10.Forums

1. Be an expert in your field

The best way to outrank your competitors is by providing an exceptionally good service at an appropriate price. Clients don’t hire freelancers because they are cheap; they hire them because they’re experts in their respective fields. To portray yourself as an industry expert, you need to build and demonstrate your authority within your industry.

2. Be active on Social media

Be socially active not only on your personal accounts but also on business accounts on social media. Create a Facebook business page, an Instagram handle, and a linked-in profile. Keep each one updated and promote your freelancing service there. Depending on your field of work, use each one optimally. 

Instagram can be used to share stories, make reels while doing work, share customer reviews, go live to discuss new developments or technologies in your field. 

Facebook communities should be used to find work. There are several communities on Facebook where people post-hiring requirements from photographers to writers and designers and so on. make use of these social media platforms to find more work.

Similarly, Linked-in can be used where you can promote your business by sharing your services via messages on Linked In. Linked in is mainly for professional networking where clients are ought to find a suitable candidate. 

If you are too busy, you can find another freelancer in Dubai who can manage your social media marketing in Dubai at a reasonable price.

3. Ask for recommendations/reviews

A happy customer can be a source of trust for your future clients. They are the ones who can advocate some brand loyalty. Ask your customers to leave you a review for the service you provided. 

This can be achieved by sending them a survey along with an invoice at the end. Mailchimp can be used to make surveys and can also be automated.  google forms can also be used for this. You may have to ask them more than once to achieve a testimonial. 

4. Build a Website

A website is a one-stop shop or your virtual space where clients can find all the information about you.  Whether you are a photographer or a writer you have got to have a website. The website speaks about you and builds trust in the client. The website should have an about us page, portfolio page, contact page, customer reviews among others.

 The language used on the website should be simple and direct. An SSL certificate would be preferred. Use a domain name related to your field.  You can make it yourself or hire a freelance web designer in Dubai to do the same. 

Homepage – This is the landing page which has to be attractive as it may resemble a book of a cover. It is important because it could be the deciding factor whether a client further looks around for more information or closes the website altogether.  The homepage usually consists of the services you provide. You may also have a list of previous clients along with a few testimonials.

Portfolio – The portfolio showcases your work and gives a better understanding of the services you provide to the client. Make sure you put up the best of your work here. 

About us –  The about us page may include a small description of yourself along with experience and work principles dear to you. 

Contact us  –  A contact form may be added here through which a client would contact you. If not, You can directly add your email or phone number. A call to action button should be added. There are several chat services that could be used. 

5. Use Search page optimization 

Creating a website may not be enough. you also need it to rank on the top pages of google to make it visible. For this, you need to do on-page optimization for your website including the correct keywords, title tags, and meta tags, etc. a blog page would definitely help you rank higher. If this sounds too complicated you could hire a freelance SEO specialist in Dubai

6. Start a blog

Blogging is one of the best ways to market yourself by building an online presence. This is also in turn helps you rank your website better on google. Write blogs on topics that you relate to using the right keywords. If you are well established as a freelancer in Dubai you could also outsource blogging to content writers in Dubai who could do it for you. 

7. Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the oldest forms of digital marketing. However, it should be used wisely. You must compile customer data such as email addresses so that you built an email list with time. Send emails of the services you provide along with any new offers or promotions to the client. There are several email templates available online that could be used. 

8. Create free profiles on freelancing websites

There are several freelancing websites where you could showcase your work for free. This gives you an opportunity to work with international clients as well. Bawabba is one of them.  It directly connects freelancers to its potential clients with no hidden costs. 

9. Networking 

Networking can be done in person or via social media as well. Connect with freelancers not only of the same field as yours but also related fields. for instance, if you are a photographer you might as well connect also with videographers, designers, etc so that you could get work through them as well. Attend online networking events through meet-ups.

10. Forums

You can also connect with others through different forums available online. Quora and stack overflow are a couple among them. Here experts usually reply to queries posted by individuals in a particular field. This could also be a source of learning and keeping up with new trends. you may ask questions or answers questions posted by others. 

Conclusion-

Marketing is one task of your freelancing business. You may not be able to implement all the above tips. However, make use of whatever you can to promote yourself online. Freelancers need to focus on multiple tasks which make it challenging Sticking to a schedule is the best way out. 

Frequently asked Questions – 

How can I get freelance work in Dubai?
You can find freelance work in Dubai through multiple freelancing platforms such a Bawabba, word of mouth, networking, and online presence on social media platforms.

How do I pitch myself as a freelancer?
– Keep it simple and brief
– Give you uniques selling proposition or why should it be you?
– Be professional
– Communicate well
– Be aware of the competition

Is it legal to freelance in U.A.E?
You can now apply for a freelance license and visa in the United Arab Emirates to work as a freelancer. Freelancing brings in opportunity of  finding more work.

Do I charge VAT as a freelancer?
You will be required to add value-added tax on top of your charges before invoicing a client. 

from Best Blog For Freelancers https://blog.bawabba.com/freelancers/10-best-tips-on-how-to-promote-online-as-a-freelancer-in-dubai/

Step by step guide on freelance contracts 2021

Here is a detailed guide of everything you to got to know about freelance contracts.  

What is a freelance contract?

Freelance contracts are a type of freelance agreement between freelance contractors and employers. They exist to protect both parties in the freelance relationship. Freelancers need freelance contracts because it sets out the terms of their freelance work, such as payment, project details, deadlines, and more so that everyone is on the same page.

 It also helps freelancers get paid for work completed. On the other hand, it also provides a guarantee to the client that good quality work will get completed on time and that will be worth the client’s time and money.

Types of contract-

There are two types of freelance contracts. 

Formal Contract-A formal contract is signed between the freelancer and the client which is legally binding. Both parties should well understand all the terms and conditions of such a format so there are no issues later. This type of contract is mainly used by big organizations.

Informal Contract-Informal contracts are more like a letter of agreement between the two parties stating the terms of agreements. This form of contract is used by small businesses or individuals requiring a service for personal use. Informal contracts are used more between people who are acquainted or friends. However, there could be loopholes from a legal point of view.

Advantages of a freelance contract-

Freelancers are people who work independently and often take on a number of jobs from different people coming from various walks of life. Freelancers have to manage not only their particular field of work but also learn to manage their finances inclusive of billing and accounts, clients relations, marketing for themselves along with many others. Many of these tasks do not require creativity but are, instead, routine paperwork such as drafting contracts. Drawing up a contract legally protects both the freelancer and client.

A freelance contract will provide the following benefits:

• Ensures clarity – once marked, this formalized understanding outlines what both the consultant and client can anticipate for what cost and quality.
  
• Gives a Reference – Serve as a reference on the off chance that differences emerge, but a contract gives something the freelancer and client can look up to for clarification.
  
• Builds a healthy relationship– a freelance contract benefits everyone involved, which makes the working relationship better.
  
• Increases trust-Build confidence in the client and make sure freelance services are compensated properly.
  
• Commitment – A contract is basically a written commitment that binds both sides together.
• Looks professional – A freelance contract seems more professional
  
• Save time – In case, a conflict arises between the two parties a written contract would save time in resolving the issue.

Tips for Writing a Freelance Contract

Following are some points to keep in mind while drawing a contract

• Unambiguous Language-Do everything you can to avoid ambiguity in your language.
  
• Detailed scope of work-You should state in detail all work you plan to perform, along with quality expectations, timeframes, deadlines, and pricing. The freelancer should know what the client expects from them, and vice versa.
  
• Simple terms-The contract should be written in clear, simple language.
  
• Easily readable-create an easily readable contract by utilizing appropriate headings and subheadings; use bullets and lists to break up complicated sections.

What to Include in a Freelance Contract?

Here are some basic aspects within the contract that are very essential which will help you keep out of trouble

• Recitals – include the project’s 

1. Who – between who is the contract being signed
2. What – what services are to be provided by the freelancers
3. Where – location of both the parties
4. When – period of validity stating a start and an end of the contract and when are the deliverables to be expected by the client.
5. How – how many revision requests will be handled?

   Even if you think both parties know this information, put it in the contract anyway to avoid misunderstandings. Include a “single point of contact” clause to limit your communications with one person so you aren’t bombarded by revision requests from multiple people.
   

• Duration – Getting an estimate of the project’s duration is an important part of the project planning process. You might need to leave some additional time open after a project is completed to help with revisions and media integration.

  Ensure that the time frame is documented in the contract’s terms and conditions to prevent the client from taking advantage of you. Don’t forget to include deadlines in the contract, even if you dislike them.
  

• Timeline – Include time frames regarding when the client must respond with feedback or concerns so you aren’t waiting to hear back. Having a deadline will also allow you to schedule future work.
  
• Deliverables – The client should know the details about the final project and how it will be delivered. Stating delivery details upfront keeps you from having to guess what types of files they can accept and makes sure you’re both on the same page.
  
• Remuneration – Freelancers usually charge by the hour. Payments terms should be clearly mentioned in the contract to avoid any confusion later. If you are planning to charge by the hour expected number of hours should be added along with additional charges in case if time duration increases or there are changes in expected deliverables.
   Some freelancers also charge a certain percentage of the total amount based on milestones delivered. Get rates in writing during the project’s initial stages, and make sure the client agrees with the way they’ll be charged. You may start off by taking a small amount as a deposit.
  
• Cancellation Policy – In some cases, for unexpected reasons, a project might be canceled after you’ve begun work on it. Without a contract, you probably won’t get paid for any of the work you’ve done. Including a cancellation clause in the contract saves you from losing valuable income if the job gets axed. Most freelancers charge a flat percentage from 25 to 50 percent.
  
• General conditions – These may include as per the law of the land, non-disclosure agreement, non-compete agreement, confidentiality, etc. Big organizations usually stress these as they are well aware of the losses they would face if a freelancer does not comply. 

Freelancer contract template

Enter Logo

Enter the name of the service

Example- UI/UX SERVICE AGREEMENT 

This Agreement is made and entered into this enter day, enter the month, enter year by and between: 

Name of the company incorporated under the laws of the name of the country, having its principal place of business at Address of the client, represented in this Agreement by name and position of the client, duly empowered to this effect, hereinafter referred to as name, of the one part, 

AND 

Name of freelancer incorporated under the laws of the name of the Country as Sole Practitioner, having its principal place in the address of freelancer, represented in this Agreement by name and position duly empowered to this effect, hereinafter referred to as the name of the second part, 

Recitals

WHEREAS the name of the client is desirous of engaging for the services of the name of freelancer for a period of Number of months. 

WHEREAS name of freelancer represents to name of the client that he is qualified, experienced and able to perform name of services for the name of client’s requirements during this contract period. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations warranties and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agreed as follows: – 

The recitals set forth above constitute an integral part of this Agreement. 

Period of Validity-

This Agreement will take effect on the Current date, and shall be valid for a period of Number of months. 

1. Name of the freelancer will be responsible for providing services as advised in the quotation. 

2. Name of freelancer will maintain complete secrecy with regard to the work done for and on behalf of the name of client. 

Scope of work-

A detailed scope of work should be mentioned clearly stating each and every deliverable

Deliverables & Milestones-

To be mentioned in detail as per nature of work

PHASE 1  along with the date of delivery

25%

PHASE 2   along with the date of delivery

50%

PHASE 3  along with the date of delivery

75%

PHASE 4  along with the date of delivery

100%

Point of contact-

name of team member/members from the client-side who would communicate.

Remuneration-

Project-based-

1. A total remuneration of the amount along with currency will be payable to the name of the freelancer by name of the client. This fee is inclusive of all services as agreed. 
2. 25% deposit to begin, with the remainder due upon completion of each of the four project phases as per the quotation. 
3. No other charges or deductions will be applicable unless otherwise agreed to in writing by name of client and name of freelancer. 

Per Hour-

1. A total number of hours should be mentioned along with the amount along with currency as per the quotation.
2. This is applicable to only the scope of work required in the quotation. Any additional work would be charged separately. 

General Conditions 

1.This agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of the name of the country. 

2. Once signed by both parties, this agreement is binding and shall be irrevocable. All terms and conditions contained herein shall be fully complied with. 

3. Name of the freelancer agrees that he will be the sole author of the Work, which will be original work by him, free of plagiarism. Name of freelancer agrees to use reasonable care to ensure that all facts and statements in the Work are true and that the Work does not infringe upon any copyright, right of privacy, proprietary right, right of publicity, or any other right of a third party. Name of freelancer will cooperate with the name of the client in editing and otherwise reviewing the Work prior to completion and launch as per the number of revisions agreed. Name of freelancer will cooperate with the name of the client if any complaints, claims, or litigation should arise regarding the Work. 

4. Name of freelancer acknowledges that he may be furnished or may otherwise receive or have access to information which relates to the name of client’s past, present, or future products, vendor lists, creative works, marketing strategies, pending projects and proposals, and other proprietary information which gives the name of the client an opportunity to acquire an advantage over its competitors who do not know or use it (the “Proprietary Information”). The name of the freelancer agrees to preserve and protect the confidentiality of the Proprietary Information and all physical forms thereof, whether disclosed to him before this Agreement is signed or afterward. In addition, the name of the freelancer shall not disclose or disseminate the Proprietary Information to any third party and shall not use the Proprietary.
 

5. Name of freelancer and name of client shall indemnify and save each other, harmless from and against all suits, actions, proceedings, costs, expenses, damages, assessments, claims, demands or levies, whatsoever suffered or incurred by each other, resulting from or arising from or in connection with or in any way related to its duties and obligations under this agreement and in relation to each other’s performance of services under this agreement, except such cost/claims/liabilities which are due to gross negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of the name of freelancer and name of client, its agents, and employees.

Cancellation Policy – as per industry standards

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives on the day and date hereunder mentioned. 

For and on behalf of the name of the client/company 

Name:  Position:   Date : Seal 

For and on behalf of the name of the freelancer 

Name:   Position:  Date: Seal 

Conclusion

A freelance contract is definitely a safe bet rather than entering into a working relationship with someone completely unknown. It gives the clients confidence that work will be delivered on time and also ensures the freelancer that he need not worry about the money. 

You can find many freelancers on Bawabba from various fields.

Frequently asked questions-

What is the meaning of a freelance contract?

A freelance contract clearly states the terms and conditions agreed upon by the employer or client and the freelancer. It provides a basis for a mutually healthy relationship between the two parties. 

Do freelancers need contracts?

A contract is important as an oral agreement would not stand valid in a court. It saves clients and freelancers the trouble of any misunderstanding leading to a conflict. A written contract is always a better option.

How do I get a freelance contract?

A freelance contract is generally provided by the client. However, a freelancer may also draw up a contract if he wishes to. 

How many revisions are generally provided?

A number of revisions can be provided depending on the nature of the work. Some freelancers provide one or two while some may even go up to 5.

Is it legal to freelance?

Freelancing has become legal in many countries. However, you need to check with the country of residence for the same. 

from Best Blog For Freelancers https://blog.bawabba.com/freelancers/step-by-step-guide-on-freelance-contracts-2021/

21 Best Chrome Extension for Freelancers in 2021

Fulfilled productivity is a dream of freelancers in the UAE. But the bigger question is. How do you attain consistency in productivity as a freelancer?

It is not an easy journey. However, to attain the freedom that comes with freelancing, you need extra inputs, including skills, time, freelance tools, and a working environment.

Besides, you can create a better working environment by adding a few working spices that progress your freelancing career, skills and propels productivity.

One fantastic tool that is at the heart of the freelancing world is the chrome browser. But, did you know chrome has additional tools that can assist you to have consistency, save your working hours and improve productivity?

Well, this article seeks to highlight the 21 best chrome extensions for freelancers in 2021 that you can add to your chrome browser. These tools not only boost your productivity but also help you to make better use of your time.

1.      Noisli Chrome Extension

2.      Boomerang for Gmail Chrome Extension

3.      One Tab Chrome Extension

4.      Grammarly Chrome Extension

5.      Google dictionary Extension

6.      Google Translate Chrome Extension

7.      Save to Google Drive Chrome Extension

8.      Taco Chrome Extension

9.      Google Keep Chrome extension

10.  Stay Focused Chrome Extension

11.  Nimbus Chrome Extension

12.  Pocket Chrome Extension

13.  Pushbullet Chrome Extension

14.  ColorZilla Chrome Extension

15.  Web Developer Chrome Extension

16.  Scribe Fire Chrome Extension

17.  Toggl Track Chrome Extension

18.  Ad Block Chrome Extension

19.  Blipshot Chrome Extension

20.  Any.do Chrome Extension

1. Noisli Chrome Extension

Every freelancer knows that the biggest threat to productivity is a distraction. You cannot achieve much when you are in an environment with distractive noises rather than your working environment.

How do you get rid of the environmental distractions? Noisli

It is a fantastic chrome extension that only delivers white noise to your working environment. In addition, the extension comes with features that help you block out unwanted noises and only focus on what is important to you.

That is not all; the Noisli extension comes with unique features that allow you to access different functionalities such as volume control, a timer to schedule your working sessions, and much more.

Interestingly, you can have this extension plugged into your chrome browser for free.

2. Boomerang for Gmail Chrome Extension

What official channel do you use to communicate with your clients? You can agree with me that as a freelancer, distractions from your mailbox can be annoying. But, sure enough, you don’t have to miss that important message or reply to an important client.

But, this keeps taking much of your time.

Boomerang for Gmail is a chrome extension that lets you have peace while working. This extension allows you to schedule your mail, write a mail and program it to be sent later.

You can track your sent email to know if the receiver has read it. The extension also comes with reminder and snooze features to enable you to focus on the work you are doing at the moment.

Get this chrome extension for free and enjoy more features at your disposal as a freelancer.

3. One Tab Chrome Extension

Any successful freelancer has to learn the art of multitasking. While on your computer, you keep juggling between different tabs on your browser.

To some, this is a way to stay focused. But you will realize that many opened tabs slow down your computer speed.

A slow PC is the biggest stumbling block to your work as a freelancer, and it takes much of your time while handling multiple tasks.

But, the One Tab Chrome extension gives you a solution by combining all those opened tabs into one tab, but each with its distinct category. As a result, it saves up to 95% of your computer memory.

4. Grammarly Chrome Extension

Well-crafted messages and information with proper grammar, sentence structures, and punctuation prove to your clients that you are good at what you do.

 However, not every freelancer has mastered the art of writing. Besides, as a freelancer, you need help to horn your writing skills.

Grammarly chrome extension is a fantastic writing tool that you can include as an extension in your chrome browser. Once installed in your browser, it provides quick access to finding grammatical errors and readability mistakes.

Moreover, it has an extended premium version that comes in handy when checking plagiarized statements in your writing. Installing this chrome extension to your browser is free and a must-have tool for you as a content writer.

5. Google dictionary Extension

Google dictionary is a chrome extension created by Google to help content writers with word definitions. Freelancing involves going through heaps of words. But, unfortunately, not all these words are familiar to you.

Instead of putting the words down and searching them in Google, why not install the Google dictionary as an extension to your chrome browser?

Once installed in your browser, the dictionary keeps track of the new words by popping up the meaning and definitions from the internet.

It is a valuable extension to you as a freelancer because it saves you the time to juggle your dictionary and work. Besides, it is a free tool for you.

6. Google Translate Chrome Extension

One advantage of freelancers is the freedom to work in different places. However, this presents a challenge when one faces new clients with diverse languages.

But not to worry because Google translate is to help you when faced with a new client with a specific need for a particular language.

It is a free chrome extension that helps you translate a word or an entire page into over 100 languages. Amazingly, the extension has an automatic option that enables you to translate on the go.

7. Save to Google Drive Chrome Extension

Freelancers have access to tons of information on the internet. Besides creating more content and saving on PC, many use Google drive to save documents, images, HTML5 audios, and videos.

However, it is time-consuming to move between tabs to save your information on Google drive.

Therefore Google drive extension enables you to save your web information to your Google drive directly through a context menu.

 Moreover, the extension has a progress dialog button that allows you to open the files, view the files, rename or edit the files in your google drive directly from your chrome browser.

8. Taco Chrome Extension

Taco chrome extension is a new chrome tab that helps you access over 40 services under one tab on your computer screen.

That means you can retrieve any service you want with a single click. Taco extension is faster, private, and more productive to freelancers.

How about you allow the Taco extension to access all your tasks by deciding the most important task, drag it and drop it on the Taco website.

It is simple, instant, and allows you to have an effortless focus on other tasks.

Nevertheless, you can have the Taco chrome extension directly on your phone, tablet, and computer for free.

9. Google Keep Chrome extension

As a freelancer, future references play a more significant role when creating content. How about having a tool that makes it easier to retrieve the document, images, videos, and audio at a click of a button?

Google keep chrome extension helps you to save that webpage, quote or image easily. Furthermore, you can have all these synchronized across all other platforms such as PC, Web, and phones.

All you need is to create a note, add labels and comments to your helpful web page, and then add it to Google keep with a simple click.

10. Stay Focused Chrome Extension

It is not surprising if you cannot get your eyes off the social media temptation while working.

These include updating your Facebook status, checking the trending person on Twitter, watching videos on YouTube, and much more. Besides, it is a problem we face as freelancers.

All these social media distractions contribute to massive loss of precious time hence lower your productivity.

But, the Stay Focused Chrome extension is a free tool that allows you to stay focused as a freelancer. Besides assigning specific time for certain social media sites, the extension also makes the sites inaccessible during your working hours

Therefore with stay focused chrome extension, you reduce the time that you lose on these time-wasting sites.

11. Nimbus Chrome Extension 

Have you ever wanted to share information with a client as if you are talking to them? It is the most fulfilling experience. Unfortunately, freelancing is a remote industry, in meeting your client almost impossible.

But, with the Nimbus Chrome extension, you can capture the information as a screenshot, or a whole web page, or even your video.

Interestingly, you can easily share all this content with your client through Google drive, dropbox, mail, or even YouTube.

Notably, the nimbus chrome extension is a free tool that allows you to highlight and fix comments on the captured screenshots.

12. Pocket Chrome Extension

That crazy feeling that makes you want to save every valuable information or video is expected while working. However, it can quickly derail your workflow and hamper your productivity.

Pocket Chrome extension works almost the same as Google keep extension. Pocket extension permit you to save a link, video or any other document to your Pocket account for later use with a click of a button.

Moreover, it is a free, straightforward tool that you can install in your chrome browser, then create an account, and you are good to go.

13. Pushbullet Chrome Extension

As Freelancers in UAE, you need to keep everything you need at your fingertips. It involves staying connected at all times.

You are sending, receiving, and replying to your messages from your popular apps, not missing your notifications from your computer or phone, and texting your clients from your phone or computer.

A pushbullet chrome extension is a freelance tool you must have if you want to stay close to your clients.

Besides, it not only allows you to share files, images quickly, and links between devices, but it permits you to add friends and share with them essential content.

14. ColorZilla Chrome Extension

For web graphic designers and developers, colorzilla chrome extension is a fantastic Chrome extension that reads the RGB color formats and works well in interpreting hexadecimal format from any website.

Besides, it has different features such as a color picker, eyedropper, and gradient generator. All these features and much more enable you to pick different colors from flash objects and any color despite the zoom levels with single clicks.

15. Web Developer Chrome Extension

Web developer chrome extension is a simple freelancing tool for web developers who want to get quick fixes while creating content. The chrome extension version of the web developer adds a toolbar tab to the chrome browser while working.

What is more, the toolbar also includes other tools displayed in one place.

It is free, fast, secure, and a responsive freelance extension that enables you to check the resulting layouts, style, and other outline elements.

Interestingly, you also have the freedom to disable all these features with a click of a button.

16. Scribe Fire Chrome Extension

Working for multiple blogs as a freelancer is a fulfilled achievement. However, it comes with its pressure to satisfy all of them.

Scribe Fire is a blog editor extension with a full writing feature that you can incorporate in your chrome browser.

The extension allows you to manage and post your content on all blogs quickly. Whether using a type pad, windows live space, or word press, scribe fire helps you edit and update the existing posts.

Best of all, this chrome extension is free and easy to install in your browser. Simply put, it has a simple user interface that saves the content you are working on for future use.

17. Toggl Track Chrome Extension

Toggl track chrome extension formerly known as Toggl Button is an excellent chrome extension that helps freelancers keep track of their time on any project while working online.

Freelancers use other tools to track their time. However, none is simple like the Toggl Track. Adding this chrome extension to your browser has benefits.

You can increase your productivity by marking the time spent on your work, times spend online, and the period you take on your offline activities.

Significantly, you can add the Toggl Track on your favorite devices, such as your desktop, your web setting, or your android phone.

18. Ad Block Chrome Extension

Ad Block extension works wonders by blocking the unnecessary advertisements that keep popping up all the time. It is a simple and free online tool that you can integrate with your chrome browser.

As a freelancer, this increases your productivity by focusing on the relevant content displayed in your working space.

Notably, you can use the Ad Block extension on your website, desktop, and Android phone.

19. Blipshot Chrome Extension

As freelancers, we hold time as a precious commodity. Therefore, you don’t need to waste time explaining everything to your clients when they need a screenshot.

 Install Blipshot extension on your chrome browser to help you take full-page screenshots and share them with your customers with just a click.

The extension comes with various features such as faster drag and drop, click to save images, and much more. Unfortunately, blipshot only works on specific devices, which are Mac, Linux, and windows.

20. Any.do Chrome Extension

A productive and successful freelancer knows how to manage tasks and projects. Therefore to have a tool that helps you handle almost everything is an answered prayer.

Any.do chrome extension enables you to stay organized by seamlessly synchronizing all your work and projects across all devices.

In addition, it helps to search lists, attach files, share and assign tasks, and add a timer to all recurring reminders.

It turns out; Any.do extension is your diary assistant that is a must-have as a freelancer.

21. keyword Everywhere Chrome Extension

If you want to build a blog that will focus on a specific keyword, consider keywords everywhere

to be your best partner. It is a good course because most established freelancers in the

UAE understands the need to have a well-researched keyword.

It is a free google chrome extension that will help you in keyword finding. Besides its inclusion

in your chrome browser, keyword everywhere has other inbuilt tools meant to help you research.

For example, you can achieve the following by using keywords everywhere.

• Finding and researching the seed keywords
• Finding the trending keywords
• Finding primary and long-tail keywords
• Helps to identify the organic traffic and top keywords.

It is a straightforward tool that you can easily use for free to save on creating content. However,

you can have more features with a paid version.

Features include:

• Search volumes
• CPC and competition data.
• Volume metrics of the keywords.
• Historical keyword searches.

All these features will cost you $9 per year.

Bottom Line

What tools are you using?

Well, boosting your productivity and work efficiency does not involve taking much time away from your browser. Besides, don’t let workload overwhelm you when you can be among the best freelancers in UAE by using these tools.

from Best Blog For Freelancers https://blog.bawabba.com/freelancers/21-best-chrome-extension-for-freelancers-in-2021/

14 Best Automation Tools for a Freelance Digital Marketer

The global change in how entities carry out their businesses has resulted in adopting new methods, strategies, and actions aligned with the change. Besides, the Corona pandemic has not made things easy for most companies.

On the other hand, the pandemic has propelled online marketing to become a highly sought method of how the business reaches their clients.

Therefore, there is an increased need for digital marketing specialists whose mandate involves the digital space and the marketing mix. The responsibilities and roles attached to this position go beyond merely marketing online.

A digital marketer some of them who are freelancers in Dubai work alongside a team of marketers in creating

• Content strategy,
• Develop E-commerce,
• Optimize the marketing content by ensuring proper SEO practices and
• Making social networking fully functional

Besides your qualifications as a digital marketer, you need to heighten your productivity to higher levels by simplifying customer communications with business management.                                

But, how do you align yourself and keep up with your client’s demands, challenges, and expectations?

In this article, the good news is that we highlight the automation tools that you can use as a freelance digital marketer.

1. Hubspot Automated Marketing Tool

How about software that handles all your marketing responsibilities?

Well, Hubspot is one such software. This marketing tool not only takes your career to another level but contributes to your customer’s satisfaction.

First, the package covers several software’s which are: marketing, sales and service software. These are further divided into a marketing hub, sales hub, services hub, CMS hub, and operations hub.

Moreover, by using Hubspot, you get a deeper insight into sales, connect with customers, grow digital marketing traffic and automate all the marketing processes.

But here is the hook, once you subscribe, you can use the tool for free. After that, however, you will only access a limited number of services. Besides, you can have more from HubSpot if you subscribe to the premium version.

 2. Omnisend Automated Marketing Tool

A digital marketer should be present in all marketing and sales information. That involves reducing your workload and pushing your clients’ sales impact.

However, to achieve that, you need a marketing tool that enables you to propel your marketing and sales goals without breaking a sweat. It is a lot easier when using the Omnisend automated marketing tool.

For example, you get to save your time using the omniscient tool because of the customized marketing templates. The templates will handle all your messages and subject lines.

What is interesting?

You can include SMS in your workflow to reach more customers and thus boost how you deliver your work to clients.

Moreover, the omniscient automated marketing tool gives you a chance to link with other e-commerce tools and applications that you use as a freelance digital marketer.

3. Mailchimp Automated Marketing Tool

A successful marketing campaign requires you to put people at the center of all the marketing processes. In fact, you need to send the right messages, build a marketing brand with a custom domain, and combine all your data and marketing channels all in one place.

This is why you need Mailchimp automated marketing tool. It is a tool that will build your brand and enable you to achieve successful online sales. Moreover, you make all your process automated under one roof.

That is not all; you have a closer connection between your clients through successful mailing, thus leading your clients to make a purchase.

The good news is that Mailchimp automated marketing tool allows you to build free 2,000 contacts and 10,000 email links with your clients every month for free. In addition, you will have free Ads included in that package.

It gets better than that when you create an account signup and get started today with Mailchimp.

4. Manychats Automated Marketing Tool

Did you know 50.64% of the total population in the world spends their time on social media?

It is a fact that as a digital marketer, you cannot ignore the impact social media has on your clients and your career. Besides, many organizations have embraced social media as a tool to reach their customers and push their services and boost sales.

How about you automate the way you interact and have conversations on Facebook Messenger, SMS, and Instagram?

Manychats automated tool handles sales and marketing through interactive communications on Instagram and Facebook. It is a digital marketing tool where you capture client’s contacts, book appointments with them, sell products, nurture leads and build relationships.

It is a straightforward marketing tool to build your account faster and connect with other marketing tools you use. Moreover, you connect with a movement of small business owners through the Manychat movement.

Therefore Manychat digital automated marketing tool is a conversation builder trusted by many businesses. That means as a digital marketer, you need Manychats to build a lasting relationship with customers.

 5. Sendinblue Automated marketing tool

It is a relationship marketing tool used by businesses and digital marketers alike. With this tool, you achieve much more, starting from reaching out to the right clients and producing the right content through email marketing, SMS marketing, and social chats.

Digital marketing involves encouraging your customers in their business. You help them by building and keeping track of their details. As a result, you save more time by building an automated marketing system that boosts your performance and increases productivity.

Moreover, with Sendinblue you can focus on a targeted audience and send messages directly to them. You will also be able to turn your visitors into potential customers.

As a digital marketer, you can use the Sendinblue automated tool to engage with your customers and build lasting relationships by having consistent and meaningful communications.

Interestingly, you can sign up with Sendinblue and send over 9,000 free emails every month. Alternatively, you can subscribe to a payable plan where you will be able to send up to 120,000 emails for as low as $66 per month.

6. Sugar market (salesfusion) Automated Marketing Tool 

Sales fusion rebranded to the Sugar market after sugar CRM acquired it in 2019. It is an automated marketing tool for digital marketers to drive traffic in advertisements and social networks.

Therefore, to improve on attracting new clients, engage and nurture them, you need salesfusion. Built on a CRM platform, it is a marketing tool that changes how organizations push their sales online.

Moreover, its integration with other features generates leads through email marketing, web analytics, marketing asset management and tracking, and social media tracking.

Sales fusion offers a 100% solution by bridging gaps in the marketing world through technologically advanced processes. This optimizes the predictable steps of each marketing process resulting in increased revenue.

On the other hand, it is a cost-effective tool that, as a freelance marketer in Dubai, you need to have to scale your productivity.

7. Active Campaign Automated Marketing Tool

Active campaign automated marketing tool is one of the leading marketing automation tools that boost how you reach, engage and grow your customer base.

 How do you do that?

You only pass information that offers a personal touch to each client. Moreover, the messages passed to your clients need to be meaningful, transparent, and accessible.

Therefore Active campaign marketing tool has features that enable you to achieve all that you need. Features such as

• Email marketing,
  
• Contact management
  
• Lead scoring
  
• Engagement tracking
  
• Site tracking
  

A successful digital marketer knows how to manage time effectively. Therefore active Campaign makes it more accessible and straightforward to automate and manage your workflow as you run marketing duties.

There is a free trial version. But you will have to sign up for an account at a manageable price of $9 for every 500 contacts. Moreover, you can install the Active Campaign automated marketing App on your phone to enjoy all the features.

 Unfortunately, there is no app designed to install on your computer.

8. Oracle Eloqua Automated Marketing Tool

Oracle Eloqua is a marketing platform that targets digital marketers dealing in B2B and B2C activities. Therefore it is a tool that enables you to take back control of your marketing campaigns as a seller and focus on campaigns that track customers throughout their purchasing cycle.

Oracle Eloqua allows you to use emails, social media, SMS, and web search channels as avenues you can use to track your customers and businesses.

Several features are available for you as a digital marketer, including:

• Marketing targets and segmentations
  
• Campaign management
  
• Lead management
  
• Sales and marketing alignments
  
• Advanced intelligence(AI)
  

Besides, Oracle Eloqua puts you ahead of others by offering solutions for the integration of business systems, customer relations, and monitoring the marketing tasks.

Moreover, Oracle Eloqua saves you time through adaptive, simplified and faster marketing campaign management and extended data workflows.

On the other hand, you need to subscribe to basic or standard options. The basic option will cost you $2000 per month, while the standard plan costs you $4000 per month.

9. Pardot Automated Marketing Tool

As a digital marketer, understanding your client’s behavior and purchasing patterns enable you to make more informed marketing decisions. Therefore you need a marketing tool that is all-inclusive by creating a meaningful connection with customers.

The tool can engage the buyer in different platforms, close deals with them, and grow relationships with businesses.

Pardot is one such automated tool that is packed with excellent easy to use features. Besides, it helps you to grow and manage your online marketing campaign. By using Pardot, you will have effortless email marketing, personalized connections, and sales alignments that yield returns.

10. GreenRope Automated Marketing Tool

Having successful customer relations management involves having email marketing, social media marketing, sales management, and project management under a single and simple platform.

GreenRope is an automated marketing tool whose mission is to offers a solution in various aspects of marketing. It enables proper contact management for easy email marketing, survey, and calendaring for faster project implementations.

Besides, you can assign tasks and store documents using the GreenRope automated marketing tool.

Moreover, using GreenRope enables easier integration of social media platforms in marketing. What’s more, as a digital marketer using Green robe, you encourage collaboration between your customers, vendors, and your marketing team.

Therefore, if you are a digital marketer dealing with small and medium-sized enterprises, GreenRope makes your work easier by integrating data into your marketing efforts.

You can go ahead and have a taste by trying their free trial, but you will start with a price of $129 per month once you finish the free trial.

11. Marketo Automated Marketing Tool

A marketing tool lets you discover the best marketing practices by engaging and tracking the right clients who make a good fit for your marketing strategy. Besides, building an automated marketing plan enables you to decide the best market channels that impact revenue.

In addition, use this Marketo Automated Marketing Tool by adobe to track, engage and nurture your customers through their purchasing cycle.

Above all, it is an automated marketing platform that helps you to create a database that has;

• profiles,
  
• history of engagements
  
• Latest business state of your customers.
  

This enables you to prioritize content that boosts leads and growing partnerships resulting in achievable goals.

Therefore as a digital marketer, use Marketo to build a marketing channel that they prefer. Start today by getting hold of the free trial. After which, you have four different digital plans (select, prime, ultimate, and enterprise plan) you can explore depending on your business scope. But, you can get in touch with adobe to have a detailed pricing plan.

12. Constant Contact Automated Marketing Tool

Constant Contact Automated Marketing Tool is an email automated marketing tool that a digital marketer can use to engage customers through smart business. Constant contact has integrated a feature that enables you to build a successful marketing campaign.

Moreover, you can scale your sales through customizable email templates. The templates allow you to deliver a more personalized email by using the readily available editing tools.

Therefore with constant contact, you can use social media to do the following:

• To generate more leads to your clients
  
• Create and launch a marketing website
  
• Create an online platform to sell your digital service
  
• Promote the sale of a new service that you offer
  

Besides, with constant contact with automated tools, you don’t need web design knowledge or skills. Use your mobile device to build an optimized website by following the suggestions and content available.

Interestingly, this marketing tool has a one-month free trial. After that, you will have to choose a plan that best suits your business, starting at $20 per month, or email plus, which goes for $45 per month.

Therefore, as a digital marketer, be smart in all you. Create, sell, communicate and share using constant contact.

13. Customer.io Automated Marketing Tool

Customer.io is one of a kind when you are a digital marketer who is tech-savvy. By using this automated tool, you not only convert leads into sales, but you create a strategy that transforms how you engage with your customers by changing ideas into marketing realities.

Consequently, using this platform enables you to learn ideas from your customers, engage more, reach out to boosts purchases and nurture your customers.

That means, with customer .io, you can have your automated messages that trigger a transactional workflow, send automated emails, SMS, push messages and deliver data all in one platform.

Interestingly, you can program your messages and emails to reach the intended customer without delay as you wait for them to take action.

That is not all. As a digital marketer, you have 14 days to use a free trial version. Then a basic plan will cost you$ 150 per month, and a Premium plan will go for $995 per month.

14. Act-on Automated Marketing Tool

A successful digital marketing campaign allows a marketer to

• Create customer awareness
  
• Boost customers demands
  
• Nurture the customer leads
  
• And extend customers purchase cycle
  

How about all these under one roof?

Act-on is a marketing tool that will supercharge your digital marketing pace. It makes your work easier by proper planning, launching, adapting, and optimizing your market trends.

Features integrated into Act-on include:

• Automated journey builder
  
• Customer lifecycle automation tool
  
• Database automation tool
  
• Website visitor tracking tool.
  

Unfortunately, this marketing tool does not have a free trial or a free version for you. Therefore you will have to pay $900 per month for a professional plan and $2000 per month for an enterprise plan.

Bottom line

Try the above-automated marketing tools that can supercharge your career as a top-notch and successful freelance digital marketer in Dubai. It is a competitive but rewarding career that you not only help companies to sell their products physically, but you boost their online presence. Lastly, freelancers in Dubai can make use of these digital tools and stir their career growth.

 

from Best Blog For Freelancers https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-digital-marketing/14-best-automation-tools-for-a-freelance-digital-marketer/

10 Project Management Tools for Freelancers

You have just finished talking to a client whose project you are yet to finish; then, client B sends an email asking you to send an invoice of the work done.

There is a nagging reminder of a revision you need to tackle for client C at the back of your mind. But wait a minute; did you ignore a call from client D, whose project your team member did a poor job on?

 Don’t forget; it is past midnight you need to go to bed and wake up at 4 am.

This is the lifestyle you will have as a freelance in UAE if you do not have a clear path for their work.

Settle down. The following is a list of project management tools for freelancers that you can depend on to have a successful career.

1. Asana

Top on our list is the Asana project management tool that makes your content development straightforward through a clean and straightforward user interface.

As a starting freelancer, don’t be overwhelmed by the number of projects to tackle; Asana perfectly fits you.

Besides, it is ideal for business freelancers because you can handle everything from small projects to complex ones in the easiest way possible.

Asana makes you and your team look organized and connected.

You can

• List, Plan, and assign projects to individual team members. Through Asana, each member can see the project that needs attention.
  
• Stick to a project timeline to ensure timely submission
  
• Customize the job board to indicate each stage of a project. That means you can track a project from the start until you get paid.
  

The job boards also indicate to you the project that needs more attention, which requires more time, and which one you should let go of.

Moreover, you can determine which project suits your working style. The design of the job boards makes them accessible to each member of your team.

2. Trello

Are you a freelancer dealing with creative design and marketing? Trello has your back. It is a freelance project management tool that is easy to use with a straightforward user interface. Using Trello, you will achieve the following.

• manage your project from start to the end,
  
• organize the work of your freelancing team
  
• Set a project board, create, and assign tasks to your team
  
• Built a successful team that has access to your task cards
  
• Using Trello enables you as a freelancer to start a project, communicate, collaborate and coordinate your team at every phase of the project, all in one place.
  

Besides, Trello enables you and your team to enjoy its visual capabilities to understand the project’s perspective and contribute to its success.

 Therefore, an editorial calendar or a whiteboard enables you to have a clear road map that includes templates and drag and drop functionality.

Trello is a free project management tool with a basic structure to accomplish an ideal project with all these features. However, you can have a business plan or the enterprise plan for more advanced features.

3. Wrike

Freelancing needs a goal-oriented tool that is customizable to suit your project needs. Wrike covers a team of one or a freelancing team and takes your project management to the next level.

You can automate your project and tailor it to your client’s needs. Besides, Wrike forms a good platform for communication and collaboration with your team of freelancers. Thus you can act quickly on any project that needs attention.

Here is the Hook. Whether you are a simple user with little experience or a well-experienced freelancer with a bigger team, Wrike has customized features to accommodate both.

With Wrike, your projects fall in line with the set timelines. Because using Wrike enables you to

• Receive notifications from your emails.
  
• Comment and edit emails.
  
• Send feedback in real-time, all in one place.
  
• Respond to multiple clients all at the same time.
  

What is more, all your project updates are easily traceable in real-time, pushing you to complete more.

So, accelerate your freelancing career in Dubai today by unlocking all the possibilities of accomplishing your projects using Wrike.

4. Thrive

To have a perfect project that has a smooth process is the hardest part for a freelancer. But using thrive turns everything around to a better working process that is smoother than you think.

For starters, thrive has features that enable you to manage your time effectively. Using the timesheets included in Thrive, you can

• Set the time for each project you are doing
  
• Determine the hourly rate for each project so that you get paid.
  
• The timesheet reminds you of the project that comes first and which one goes last.
  

Besides, it becomes easier to coordinate and manage projects using thrive because you can keep track of your project from beginning to the end, check and restructure your workload, check the deadlines met and those that require more time and attention.

That is not all. With thrive, you can keep your invoicing procedure at your fingertips. As a result, you ensure accurate, precise, and timely payment of your completed project.

Having all the project details in one place makes it easier for you to use not as much effort and time to fill in your details.

Therefore, using thrive puts you ahead of your projects because you can quickly reduce your operating cost by setting and monitoring your recurring expenses.

5. Podio

Are you tired of the endless meetings and sending status reports to your clients? Don’t worry.

Podio is a project management tool for freelancers like you. With Podio, you can achieve much because it puts you ahead of the project by ensuring you remain focused.

This tool puts all your project files, communications with your clients, and project deadlines in one folder for easy accessibility.

How does it work?

Podio is an entirely customizable project tool because

• You can add all your files, project briefs, and project data in one folder.
  
• If you have a freelancing team, you can assign a task to your team and manage the entire task on one workspace dashboard.
  
• using the dashboard on Podio, you can keep track of your project and determine which is lugging behind for a quick review and action
  
• using Podio helps you to highlight any updates from your clients concerning the project
  
• For future references, use Podio to store all the information of the completed projects and the client’s data.
  

In addition, you can integrate Podio with other essential services you use in your projects. Services like Dropbox or Google drive.

That is not all; you can use this tool on the go by downloading the app directly to your mobile phone.

6. Redbooth

It is a project management tool formerly known as Team box. It is one platform that offers project content, files, history, and project feature all in one place.

Therefore if you are a freelancer looking for a platform that will ensure you have a well-communicated, coordinated, and collaborated project result.

Consider Redbooth because you can do the following

• Start or assign a project using to a team of freelancers using Redbooth
  
• Manage the tasks.
  
• Communicate with the team to stay organized and keep track of the project to ensure timely submission.
  
• Share files with the team, have discussions to increase team performance and thus higher productivity.
  

How much does it cost?

Interestingly, you can sign up with Redbooth and use the platform for free if you are a starting freelancer. But, we have Redbooth pro, which will cost you $9 per month, and Redbooth business will cost you $15 per month.

Above all, it is a tool that has a simple user interface to fit on your mobile device. Therefore, you can download this tool from the goggle store for your android device or from the app store for your iPhone or Apple TV.

7. nTask

The simplicity of the nTask project management tool makes it falls among the top 10 platforms used by freelancers in Dubai.

With this tool, you can do much more within the shortest time. It helps you to lay down a simple plan for your project by:

• Cutting down on project resources
  
• Reduce task dependencies.’
  
• Having a proper budgeting and financial discipline
  
• Also, you can allocate resources for each project using the nTask platform.
  
• You can focus on a project that best suits your working style
  
• Using nTask helps you track your project from the start to the end
  
• Managing each project separately at every level.
  

Besides, if you are a freelancer with a team that handles your projects, nTask best suits your plan. You can

• nTask has ways that help you communicate with your team to ensure they concentrate on their assigned tasks
  
• assign and track the time that each member spends on a project
  
• organize team meetings through the features available on nTask
  

On the other hand, you can integrate nTask with other freelance tools to get more done in the easiest way possible.

Cost

Unfortunately, the nTask platform will cost you $2.99 per feature every month. Meaning the platform does not offer free versions. However, to have a taste of their features, they have a free trial version that you can take advantage of once you sign up with them.

8. Taskboard

How about using a project management tool that can handle all your Google tasks? Starting from a to-do list, doing and done tasks. Using Taskboard makes your work more accessible as a freelancer because

• You can list and organize all your work on the mainboard displayed on your screen.
  
• You can share your project’s progress with your clients using a single link generated by Taskboard. Again, all this happens in real-time.
  
• Whether you are using Gmail, Google Sheets, and Google Drive, you can integrate Taskboard in all your services.
  
• Moreover, Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Gmail are available on mobile. Therefore using Tasksboard makes it easier for you to synchronize your work in real-time with your phone.
  

Interestingly, Taskboard allows you to access your projects while offline because it stores all the project files, data, emails, and communications on your device.

What is the cost of using tasksboard?

On signing up with Tasksboard, you have access to a free plan limited to several features. However, there are premium plans tailor-made for you but at a fee. Using premium plans offers you more features compared to the free plan.

We have a monthly plan that goes for $5.99 per month. While the yearly license will cost you $39.99

9. Monday.com

Consider Monday.com for visual support of any project. It enables in dealing with a client that requires detailed and complex content. Or a simple project that needs effortless commitment.

Using this tool enables you to bring all your clients and your team together on a single platform. This brings flexibility to your project by eliminating communication breakdown and aligns everybody with your project.

Besides, you can track all the stages of the project from the start to the payment. Remember, the best freelancers are good managers of time and resources. Thus, Monday.com makes you more creative and productive with your work.

Nonetheless, Monday.com has features that will help you to plan, analyze and execute your workflow.

Like other project management tools, you can integrate Monday.com with other exciting tools in seconds.

Cost of Monday.com

Monday.com offers a 14-day free trial plan. After that, it will cost you $24 per month for three users. However, this changes as your team of freelancers increases.

10.  Kanban Tool for Project Management

Planning to take your freelancing career to a higher level will include building a team that ensures you stay ahead in project delivery.

If that is your dream, then the Kanban tool should be your assistant. This tool allows you to improve team performance;

• Kanban helps in Tracking and managing time spent on a project using the Kanban board.
  
• Kanban board also ensures real-time planning, coordination, and collaboration of your team. Besides, using Kanban enhances communication by sharing tasks and information of the project in real-time.
  
• Using the kanban tool will also enable you to analyze the workflow of your team. Furthermore, you can limit or increase your teams’ work and handle any challenge during work. That is possible because the kanban tool has features such as analytics and metrics.
  

Cost of Kanban tool

Kanban tool takes care of every freelancer. First, you have a free trial plan that you can use for 14 days. After that, you will have to select a plan that best suits your budget and team.

The team plan will cost you $5 per month for every user, while the enterprise plan will cost you $9 per month for each team member.

Finally, there is a free plan that will cost you $0 every month. However, you will have limited access to the features.

Bottom-line 

The importance of project management tools to any freelancer in UAE goes beyond productivity. Using these tools will help you look organized, be efficient in resource utilization, and become more effective.

Moreover, accomplished freelancers use these tools to define the workflow and have clear objectives while executing the projects.

The question is, what project management tools are you using to be the best freelancer in UAE?

from Best Blog For Freelancers https://blog.bawabba.com/freelancers/10-project-management-tools-for-freelancers/

20+ best tools for freelancers in 2021

Are you getting into the freelancing industry? Get yourself to the top by having these must-have freelancer tools in 2021.

If you are among the millions of freelancers in the UAE or among those that wish to quit their full-time jobs to become freelancers, it is no brainer that you have been anxious at some point about the best tools to help propel your career further.

The freelancing industry is quite vast, with a plethora of focus points depending on one’s expertise, training, and passion.

Many people also get into freelancing for many other reasons, more so due to the freedom that comes with it:

• The freedom to do what you love and are good at
• The freedom to choose the clients that you want to work with
• The freedom to choose your ideal time and pace.

However, as much as this sounds like paradise, it is not always all smiles and fun. At times, freelancing can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you are not well-prepared. As a freelancer, you’ll have to take up all the functions of an entire organization: this means you’re in charge of marketing yourself (and your services), you are the worker, you take control of your taxes, etc.

Sounds like a lot of work, huh?

Well, there are many freelancers in Dubai that have made a killing from the trade, but if you were to ask them how they did it, the response would most certainly be the same: proper planning.

But how do you get started? How do you ensure that your work as a freelancer runs smoothly? Since you’re all alone in this, it would be prudent to have a helper, and in most cases, this would entail having with you certain tools and software.

There are many freelancing jobs that you can do without much investment, meaning you can actually get to use several free tools.

In this post, we’ll go through a list of 20+ best tools for freelancers in 2021. 

Best communication tools for freelancers

As a freelancer, the first thing you should note is that you’ll be working with different clients that have different needs. This usually starts with how you communicate with them. To get you started, here are some of the must-have communication tools for every freelancer:

1. Hunter.io

Hunter.io would comfortably fit into the list of the best prospecting tools, but it is a communication tool at the end of the day.

It is one of the best communication tools you should have as a freelancer, as it will help connect you to key decision-makers within an organization that you’d like to pitch to. Simply put in the URL of the organization, and it will display a number of email addresses attached to that company (or website domain).

Sounds great, right?

With this tool, you can get many more new clients with just a click of a button.

2. Skype

If you’ve been in the online space for long, then you must have heard about Skype. This is one of the best virtual communication tools used by freelancers from all industries. With Skype, you can chat, have an audio call, video call, and even create groups where clients and freelancers can send messages to many people at once.

3. Zoom

While Skype has been one of the leading virtual communication tools for long, the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic made another competitor: Zoom, much more popular.

With this app, one is able to have both audio and video conversations with others. The good thing about this is that it is best for hosting meetings that many people attend. This is also one of the best tools to host webinars, conferences, etc.

4. Microsoft Teams

If you have a Microsoft account, having Teams would be ideal. This is yet another popular communication that’s most preferred by many corporates.

It has a user-friendly interface, and what’s more, you can link it to your Microsoft suite and have access to all other tools, such as email, calendar, and much more.

5. Boomerang

You need to stay on top of email communications as a freelancer. To help out with that, Boomerang would be an ideal addition to your tool list.

Its main claim to fame would be its ability to schedule emails to be sent at the best possible moments. You may want to respond or send out an email to a client at times, but you do not wish to do so during ‘ungodly’ times or send it out during your free moments. This is when Boomerang comes into play, and you can schedule the emails to be sent during your regular working hours.

Best cloud storage tools for freelancers

It is a no-brainer that local storage solutions, such as hard drives, are prone to various issues. They can easily get broken, lost, and in most cases, they can be exposed to viruses.

As a freelancer, you will become highly disadvantaged by this as you’ll always need to have somewhere to store your work, which may come in handy in the future ‒ most likely when you need to refer to previous projects or when creating your portfolio.

So, what are some of the best cloud storage tools for freelancers in 2021?

1. Google Drive

Almost everyone has a Google account, but not everyone knows of all the free tools that you can use with this account. One of the top tools freelancers in the UAE use in their daily operations is Google Drive.

This tool helps store all your files in the cloud, and what’s more, you can easily choose the types of files to be uploaded and on what conditions. There’s a free version with limited storage, but you can always upgrade to get more storage space.

2. Dropbox

Dropbox is yet another cloud storage tool that most freelancers use to store their important files securely. Just like Google Drive, it also comes with limited storage with the option to upgrade.

With dropbox, you can automatically sync your computer with the app so that you do not have to upload specified files to your cloud storage manually. Furthermore, it is easy to share files with colleagues, as well as being able to access your files across various devices.

3. Spinbackup

Spinbackup is a great tool for freelancers that are heavy users of Google products. The tool helps you to seamlessly backup all your documents and files from the Google Suite.

The main selling point for this product is its ability to make redundant backups possible.

It comes in handy in case your Google account got hijacked or compromised. This way, you can easily retrieve all your files, including images, emails, photos, documents, etc. Furthermore, if you prefer to work online on a document, Spinbackup allows for incremental backups. This makes it possible to save the changes made, paving the way for a super clean and cheap backup.

Calendar tools

One of the best (or probably the worst) things about being a freelancer is that no single day is the same. Since you handle different clients, you are also likely to handle different tasks with varying requirements.

But how do you keep track of all these tasks? How will you monitor your progress to steer clear of deadlines?

With this in mind, a good calendar tool would come in handy.

Furthermore, calendar tools aren’t only for keeping tabs on your progress but also used for scheduling purposes. In case you wish to plan for a meeting with a client, you just have to input their details, the date, and time on such tools, and you’ll be notified of the meeting in case you forgot.

The key calendar tools to consider are:

1. Google calendar

Google calendar is free for anyone with a Google account. It is a great calendar tool that helps you keep track of your work progress, monitor deadlines, schedule meetings, and get you alerts prior to your appointment (you choose how long before and how many times you get notified).

The other great thing about Google calendar is that it enables the user to input other relevant details to their scheduled meetings, such as location. It also comes with rich formatting that makes it possible to hyperlink and share notes before a meeting or presentation.

2. Calendly

If you are looking for more than just a tool to keep track of your deadlines and work, calendly is the next option to consider.

Do you detest the back and forth emails between you and a client when looking for the ideal time to schedule a meeting?

With calendly, you get rid of all that hassle, and you can easily send the other party a link. They’ll then see your availability and be able to choose a time that works for both of you. Calendly is easily integrated with other tools such as Google, Office 365, Outlook, etc.

Project management tools

According to statistics, a tenth of what’s invested in a business gets wasted due to underperformance. Being a freelancer in Dubai means you must be ready to take on the fast-paced world and be able to keep track of all your projects based on the client, nature of the work, deadline, among other requirements.

However, even though project management tools aren’t entirely necessary on an individual level, it may be essential to have a good mastery of them, as you may use them when employed by clients that handle work from other freelancers.

1. ClickUp

Although ClickUp might not really be on most lists of the best project management tools, it supersedes many others in terms of ease of use and reliability. One of the main reasons behind it missing out from the majority of such lists is that it is a pretty new company that has taken all the downsides of the other tools and made them an opportunity.

With ClickUp, you can easily add various users, lists, folders, categories, etc., where different tasks are put. You can easily assign other people tasks (if having workers under you, or working together as a team). It also makes following up on the progress of tasks easier, making this one of the best project management tools in the market.

2. Trello

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Trello, a project management tool best used by those who appreciate visuals and graphs.

On Trello, you can easily create boards and cards to represent various tasks that have been assigned to you or that you need to do. The tool is very flexible and can be used for almost anything, from personal task management to corporate management.

3. Basecamp

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use project management tool with a simplistic dashboard, then basecamp is for you. It includes the functionality that includes to-do lists and message boards. Furthermore, you need not worry about your data getting lost along the way as the tool supports cloud storage.

Proposal tools

A freelancer, it is also your sole task to get more leads and clients that would be interested in your services. Besides having the technical knowledge of how to do the work, you should also add ‘business development’ to one of your roles.

Getting extra clients isn’t all about applying for jobs whenever they’re advertised. This actually reduces the chances of you getting the job as the competition is high while the pay may be a lot lower.

To survive in the industry, you must be able to know how to send proposals to prospective clients. Here are a few tools that can help you curate a killer proposal:

1. Proposify

Proposify is one of the best tools out there to help you create proposals in much less time than usual. The tool offers a wide selection of templates and lets you control the typography and layouts. Furthermore, it is easy to save your customized snippets for future use.

2. Prospero

Besides being a great tool that can help you to send out the proposals of what you can do, Prospero helps you further as you can price out each item or service within your proposal.

Prospero is ideal for new freelancers in the UAE as it helps them create a user-friendly proposal. Furthermore, it assists users in filling out all the important details by asking them questions such as the name of the project, your rates, the total cost, the duration you’d take to complete the work, etc.

3. Draftsend

If your freelance services are pretty straightforward, you can use Draftsend to take your prospects through proposals. What’s more, you can easily record audio alongside the pdf, making it easier for the client to understand your proposal.

Contracting and legal paperwork

One of the biggest lessons you’ll learn in your freelancing career is never getting into an agreement without a legal document in place. This can be anything from a set of rules of engagement and a contract that spells out the roles of each party.

Put simply; the contract doesn’t have to be too sophisticated or filled with too much legal jargon. All you need is to put out the nature of the work you’ll be doing, your role, how much you will be paid for the said tasks, and when you should be paid.

There are lots of tools that you can use to create a good legal document, but there are only a few that would be ideal for beginner freelancers in Dubai. They include:

1. Bonsai

Bonsai is a pretty straightforward, easy-to-use contract creation tool that makes it easy for the freelancer to develop a document and revise it per your agreed-upon terms. Once created, both parties can legally e-sign the document, which comes out as a legally binding document.

This tool is great for beginner freelancers with its super intuitive templates where you only need to fill in the details, making the process a whole lot simpler.

Bonsai also comes with an invoicing system which allows the freelancer to send out invoices to their clients. What’s more, there are different payment methods integrated with the tool, such as Stripe and PayPal.

2. AND CO.

Since being acquired by Fiverr, one of the best freelancing platforms in the world, AND CO. has been rated one of the best all-in-one tools for freelancers. One of its best users is the contract creation ability, which, like Bonsai, is pretty easy to use.

Besides that, AND CO. also offers many other cool features such as invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and more.

3. HelloSign

If you’re not looking for anything beyond a simple contract document that both parties can sign, then HelloSign might be ideal for you. With lots of templates to choose from, this is a straightforward tool for online legal paperwork.

Writing tools

Our last category to look at is definitely not the least important. Almost every job in the freelance industry entails coming up with a write-up, no matter how simple or short it is.

To this end, it would be prudent to stand out as a professional, shown by your expertise in writing. While we may not all be the best in writing, there are a few tools that could be of help to you. Some of them include:

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is hands-down one of the best grammar checking tools out there. It is hard to think of any freelancer that wouldn’t benefit from this tool, even if you are not a writer. This is because the tool helps to increase your confidence in all that you write: whether in your emails, personal websites, portfolios, etc.

Grammarly points out grammar errors in relation to spellings, punctuations, correct word usage, etc. It is a crucial addition to any freelancer’s arsenal.

2. Evernote

The human brain is made to store lots of data and remember a lot of things. However, it might be pretty risky not to put your thoughts and important ideas in writing. This is because your mind is always here and there, and the moment you want to recall something, the thought completely evades you.

You can use a tool like Evernote to get what’s on your mind into writing (an actionable and searchable note format). You can easily organize your notes based on the clients, topic, niche, type of thoughts, etc.

Final thoughts

Becoming a freelancer is one of the most satisfying career choices one can ever make. However, it is not always a bed of roses when trying to make it to the top. Besides having the right knowledge on how the field you’re interested in operates, it would also be prudent to know the right tools that will help you get the job done.

Although there are many other useful tools that could add to your arsenal, the ones mentioned on this list will undoubtedly propel your career to becoming one of the best freelancers in Dubai.

Do you agree with our list? What other tools do you think are a must-have for freelancers? Do let us know in the comments section below.

from Best Blog For Freelancers https://blog.bawabba.com/freelancers/20-best-tools-for-freelancers-in-2021/