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Honeybook vs Dubsado – Which One Is Right For You?

Are you a small business owner or a freelancer looking for the perfect Client Management System? If so, you have come to the right place. As a business owner, you to wear many things and keep track of a lot of things, such as sending invoices, booking appointments, submitting proposals, and drafting contracts and other documents. It can be challenging to keep everything organized, and some important things may be forgotten. The market currently has various project management tools designed to assist small business owners and freelancers manage their businesses quickly and more effectively.

Examples of such tools include Kosmo, Dubsado, and Honeybook. In this article, we are going to discuss Honeybook vs Dubsado. The two project management tools are great options but have some differences. We will compare their features and discuss their benefits and challenges to determine the best solution for the needs of your business. Let us have a closer look at each platform.

What is Honeybook?

Honeybook is a Client Management Software (CMS) that assists freelancers and small business owners in managing their clients, estimates, and invoices. It is perfect for companies that deal with client management and billing tasks. Honeybook was launched in 2013. It is lightweight and has an easy-to-use program that lets you know the progress of your client’s sale process as long as you have all their information.

Honeybook has a comprehensive package, however, some of its features are limiting in terms of simplicity to learn. It is mainly suited for medium-sized and small businesses with many client management and invoicing responsibilities. The system is user-friendly, meaning it has fundamental features for anyone.

What is Dubsado?

Dubsado is also a Client Management Software that assists business owners, and freelancers run their clients, invoices, and estimates. Its main aim is to supervise time; therefore suitable for people working on contracts or freelancing jobs. Dubsado consists of automation, invoicing, tasks, scheduling, lead captures, and workflows. It is among the best solutions for firms with many customer management and billing responsibilities.

The program is newer than Honeybook, as it was launched in 2014. It is also light and easy to use, like the Honeybook, and its biggest draw is the customizable options that allow for flexibility in running your business. Dubsado is used primarily for companies that require flexibility, hence the custom options. It is also suitable for contractors and freelancers to help control the time when working on individual ventures.

Honeybook Features

Online invoicing – Honeybook allows you to create imnvoices for your clients. You can add the pricing information and the goods and service you offer to the invoice. After creating the invoice, you can print it or send it to your client electronically.
Proposals – Honeybook allows you to provide your clients with proposal ideas. You can add price information, goods, and services provided to the proposal and send them to your client electronically or print it out for them.
Scheduling – Honeybook enables you to create precise and efficient scheduling for your customers. You can add the price details, products, and services to the schedule and send them once you are done.
Online payments – Honeybook has a payment medium where clients get to make payments through the program. This feature makes the process fast and straightforward.
Online contracts – Honeybook allows you to design, sign and send contracts with your customers virtually. This feature allows for a smoother and quicker process and saves paper.
Automation – Honeybook has various options that enable you to design custom automation depending on your specific needs. You can schedule the program to send notifications like automated reminders, offer automatic emails, and make triggers based on a client’s behavior or other bases. Client follow-ups can also be set to operate automatically. Automation is a good feature as it allows the business to save time and work efficiently.

Dubsado Features

Forms – Dubsado has several different forms that can be customized. You can design your own or use the already existing templates in the program. The forms can be used for various reasons, such as creating questionnaires, proposals, or quotes with an e-signature space that makes it legally binding. You can customize the forms with your company’s brand and use the software’s automation to prompt clients to finish filling incomplete forms.
Templates – Dubsado has many different templates that can be customized for their forms. You can design a new one or use the already existing ones. The templates can be used to create contracts or proposals.
Invoicing – Dubsado, like Honeybook, allows its users to make and send invoices to their customers containing the services, products, and pricing details. The program enables one to make fast and straightforward payments by providing payment mediums such as PayPal, Stripe, or Square. It also allows the user to set the currency they prefer to use. Dubsado will enable you to develop tailored payment plans for specific customers, send them reminders automatically if their payment is overdue, send recurring invoices, and even give your customers the option to tip.
Automation – Dubsado provides its user with several personalized automation options, just like Honeybook. You can send invoices, automated emails, and forms using automation workflows. The program also enhances productivity by providing automatic to-do reminders, responses, and templates that keep you and your team on the right track.
Client management – Dubsado also provides its users with powerful client management abilities. You can write comments or notes about your customers, and track their contact info. The tool allows you to easily create projects for customers and handle all approaching deadlines, jobs, and forms. You can also check the progress of their projects and track the amount of time spent on a particular project. Dubsado has a portal where you can easily access your customer’s communication records, data, and history.
Reporting – Dubsado enables its users to generate reports on several criteria, such as time tracking, payments, invoices, contracts, and many others. For instance, you can develop your company’s financial report using a profit breakdown and monthly economic history. You can as well set monthly or yearly financial goals, view records of profits and losses, record expenses and incomes, view outstanding invoices, and get an overall view of all transactions.
Scheduling – Dubsado allows users to create effective schedules for their clients where they can add information like pricing, products, and services. This feature is excellent since clients do not have to constantly call you when they can easily book an appointment through a portal.

The scheduling tool can be used to set a booking limit for the day to ensure you are not overwhelmed, send appointment reminders automatically, and allow customers to reschedule or cancel their appointments easily. The feature can also be embedded into your Calendar or conferencing tools like Zoom to help you conveniently plan for all your meetings, physically or virtually.

Honeybook vs. Dubsado Main Differences

Just as these client management tools are similar in their functions and features, there are also differences. Below are some of the Dubsado vs Honeybook main differences

-Integrations – Honeybook integrates with several third-party apps such as Zapier, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, and Gmail. These applications allow the user to custom-build the administration of your business as required. For instance, Zapier allows you to use it to quickly integrate Honeybook with several other tools you might already be using.

On the other hand, Dubsado is compatible with a broader selection of third-party apps. These applications include Outlook, iCloud, Office 365, and Gmail. It is also compatible with payment providers like PayPal and Stripe and video conferencing tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. In addition, to create a trigger to other tools you are using, it can connect to Cloudspot, Zapier, Xero, and QuickBooks.

Templating – Honeybook offers a wide choice of templates to pick from, some predesigned and other than can be tailored to meet specific needs. However, Dubsado, as much as they offer the same features and capabilities as Honeybook, gives more flexibility when branding in its templates compared to any other tool. Users can include personalized photos in forms, file uploads, and CSS code styling.

Pricing – Honeybook provides you with a free trial for seven days. The price is thirty-nine dollars per month with all features and unlimited support. The last one is an annual plan with the same features as the second plan, only that you are bound to a year’s contract and save 17%.

The total cost sums up to $390 per year or $32.5 per month. Dubsado, on the other hand, offers a free trial that is unlimited for a maximum of three clients. Their paid plan is $20 or $50 per month, which gives you unlimited support, clients, projects, features, and custom branding.

Honeybook Pros

It has an easy-to-use interface
It has multiple and affordable payment plans.
It offers customer support through calls, which removes the burden of figuring out a solution quickly.

Honeybook Cons

Features offered in other tools, e.g., marketing automation, are not available on Honeybook
The user interface does not have a modern look compared to other tools.

Dubsado Pros

It has an unlimited free trial that allows users to test the tool before committing to a payment plan.
It offers a personalized platform allowing you to tailor features according to your requirements.
It provides a wide range of tools, including automated invoicing and payment.

Dubsado Cons

Their customer support only responds to email.
Its price is higher than most tools.

What is Kosmo?

Kosmo is a project management tool that is used by creators and freelancers to automate their business. It helps in managing projects and clients, tracking time, sending invoices, creating and signing contracts, and receiving payments. The program is easy to use and reduces the amount of time spent on administrative duties. Kosmo was established in 2021 with aim of providing a simple invoicing and project management tool for freelancers.

Conclusion

If you are running a business, you need a Client Management System regardless of the brand. Honeybook and Dubsado offer their users great features that help a business to run smoothly and efficiently. So, the Honeybook vs. Dubsado discussion comes down to specific user requirements and their current setup.

For a business that handles many clients and needs a great organizational tool, Honeybook is the best option. It is an excellent tool for you if you work on the move frequently through your phone or use G-Suite. Dubsado is the best option if you are looking for good automation, reasonable pricing, or a free trial.

Get Organized & Win More Clients

Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on September 8, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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How To Ask For Referrals From Previous Clients

Growth Networking

Referrals are one of the most potent forms of marketing. To grow your client base, you must ask for referrals. But you need to be aware of a couple of things to do this the right way and get the best results possible. Confident freelancers understand that the best way to get new work is to build relationships with people who have already used your services. The problem is that it can be hard to make those connections when you don’t have a list of past clients on hand. That’s where asking for referrals comes in. Here we’ll talk about successful and innovative ways to ask for referrals from previous clients and leave them with nothing but a positive impression.

14 Tips on How To Ask For Referrals

1. Be humble

In life, you are not going to win every battle. You need to accept that and still always give 100% in your interactions. You cannot simply assume that all your past clients will automatically refer you to anyone they know or will be compelled to leave a positive review for your business. You need to accept that. Treating people with respect and dignity is the best way to earn trust and find support.

2. Don’t be pushy

Here is the worst way to ask for referrals: “I need another client. It looks like you guys are my best bet for getting one. Can you help me out?” No, no, and no again! You need to engage them in a conversation and find out if they have anyone you can contact. You may not even need a referral from your past clients. Sometimes it’s enough to get them to spread the word about your exceptional service on their own. Don’t be pushy when asking for referrals. That will only turn people off, and you may completely ruin your chances of getting any referrals in the future.

3. Timing

It would be best to wait until you have a good relationship with your client before asking for anything. Round up your past clients, so you have an easily accessible list of people. You need to work on building a relationship first with your clients and make them feel comfortable. It’s not hard to do and quite beneficial in the long run. This is how you’ll find out if they are interested in referring you, willing to give you a testimonial, or simply happy with your service.

4. Don’t ask for referrals too early

Asking for referrals too soon is a big mistake. It would help if you waited until the client was entirely sure they were happy with your work. Asking for a referral when the client thinks you haven’t done a good job will only make them defensive. This is not how you want to start your relationship with a potential new customer.

5. Have a conversation

Get to know your clients. Talk about their businesses, about yours, about the industry in general. Get on their good side and understand their perspective so you can approach them with an intelligent proposition and suggestions that they might find helpful. It would be best if you were transparent regarding your intentions and motivations. Don’t try to manipulate them in any way. Being transparent will help you build trust, and once they trust you, they will consider giving you a referral.

6. Ask via Email

Via Email is a great way to get referrals from your client. You can set up your Email and include a link where you will automatically send them to your referral form and message their clients about the service or product you provide. The client will be very grateful for this, as they know you care about providing a quality service. And if they value your work, they will likely refer someone else to you too.

Template: How To Ask For Referrals via Email

Hi [Name],

I hope things are going well.

I wanted to let you know that it was a pleasure working with you during the [Service]. I appreciate your business. If you know of someone who could use my help, would you be so kind and forward my contact information?

Again, thank you for choosing to work with me.
Sincerely,

(Your Name)

7. Ask politely

It would help if you always were polite when asking for referrals from your past clients. The best way is to let them know how highly you value their opinion and how grateful you are that they used your services in the first place. Then ask if they could refer someone else, leave a review, or give a testimonial about your services. Let them know that you value their opinion and will always try to work hard for them to make them happy.

8. Become a Social Media Star

Social media isn’t just for communicating with other people in the digital age anymore. It’s also a great place to reach out to people who may be interested in your services and products. Set up Facebook and Twitter accounts and ensure you use them properly. Participate in conversations, comment on topics of interest, and share links to other social media sites that provide value. Be an active participant in your accounts daily.

9. Be grateful

After you get a new client from a referral, do not forget to send your gratitude to the person that referred you. If possible, give them a little gift or surprise them somehow. Sending a thank you or a gift can help demonstrate how grateful you are for the referral and that you want to keep building trust with that client and their network.

10. Be prepared

One of the most important tips is to be prepared for every situation. This means having all your contact information on hand and available. Include a quick note of gratitude in your message, especially if it was hard to get a referral in the first place, so your client knows you have done what you could to make it happen.

11. Provide value first

You will be far more likely to get referrals from your clients if you provide value first. This cannot always be accomplished promptly, so don’t stress too much. Provide excellent service and products, invest time into understanding them and their needs, learn everything you can about their industry to suit their needs better, and offer the best possible solutions to their problems.

12. Offer incentives

Offering incentives for referrals is a great way to keep your clients happy. It’s a great motivator. You can offer anything from discounts to special services.

13. Create Referral Marketing Materials

You should create some promotional materials that you can send to your clients and customers. If you have a brochure or other marketing material, include a note about your referral program. Also, include a small card with your contact information and website address that the client can easily toss into their wallet or purse. This way, all they have to do is give it to someone they know who may need your services.

14. Provide Referral Discounts

If your business is a service or product-based business, offering referral discounts is another great way to get more clients. Make sure that any discounts you provide are significant enough to reward the client for their efforts.

Referral Business Communication Recommend

The best way to request a referral from a client and to keep building trust with current customers is to treat them well from day one. Be always polite and professional. Be attentive and invested in their needs as well as their business. This can be accomplished by sending a quick thank you note via Email when the referral comes through. Make sure that your clients know that you value referrals.

Get Organized & Win More Clients

Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on September 7, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

Learn More

Dubsado Alternatives To Streamline Your Workflow

Alternatives

Dubsado is a powerful business manager that helps you manage all your daily business activities, including project planning, task tracking, time tracking, invoicing, payment processing, and more. It’s best suited to freelancers, agencies, and service providers who work with multiple clients on different projects simultaneously. Freelancers can use it for their projects as well. Dubsado has a built-in scheduler which makes managing your tasks easy.

Dubsado Alternatives

While Dubsado can be a great option, it’s not perfect for everyone. Here are some alternatives:

1.Bitrix24

Bitrix24 is a collaboration and CRM platform designed that can be used by freelancers. It offers a variety of features, including project management, invoicing, client relationship management, and many others. You can use it as a standalone tool or integrate it with your existing tools like Basecamp and Trello. If you are looking for a Dubsado alternative to help you grow your business, then Bitrix24 is worth checking out. However, the most significant benefit of using Bitrix24 is its ability to connect all your different apps. For example, you can create projects within Bitrix24 and link them to your Trello boards. This way, you can easily see everything related to each project from one place. In addition, you can set up automatic reminders for yourself and your clients through email, SMS, and other notifications. This makes sure that you always stay on top of things. Another feature that makes Bitrix24 stand out is its integration with Zapier. With Zapier, you can automate tasks between different apps. For instance, you could automatically send invoices to clients when they make changes to their projects. Or you could automatically add new contacts to your database when someone sends you an email. This allows you to save time and focus on growing your business instead of spending time managing your workflow.

2. Bonsai

Bonsai is a one-stop shop for freelancers who want to get paid faster and easier than ever before. It’s also a great Dubsado alternative for those who prefer to work remotely. We even created an own post that compares Dubsado and Hello Bonsai. Bonsai is a cloud-based software that connects freelancers with businesses. For some freelancers Bonsai could be too expensive and it makes sense to checkout their pricing first. The platform helps freelancers manage their projects, communicate with clients, and even track payments. It also lets you organize your files and share them with clients. One thing that sets Bonsai apart from other platforms is its ability to connect with your favorite apps. For example, you could sync your calendar with Google Calendar, so you never miss an appointment again. You can also import data from Dropbox, Evernote, and Slack into Bonsai. You don’t need to worry about losing any vital information.

3.17hats

17Hats is a business tool designed specifically for solo entrepreneurs and common among business owners. It’s a simple yet powerful app that helps you run your business efficiently. 17Hats is a mobile application that allows you to take notes, keep track of expenses, and manage your schedule. It’s available on both iOS and Android devices. 17Hats is perfect for freelancers who want a simple solution to manage their entire life. It’s an excellent option for anyone who wants to build a successful business without having to spend hours every day doing paperwork. However, there are some downsides to using 17Hats, and not all freelancers will like it. One downside is that 17Hats doesn’t support multiple currencies. Another downside is that 17hats pricing might be too high for some freelancers. So if you plan to accept payment in different countries, you might have to switch between currencies when sending invoices.

4. Plutio

Dedicated to freelancers everywhere, Plutio offers a variety of tools to help you grow your freelance career. From project management to time tracking, Plutio makes it easy to stay organized and efficient (Dubsado vs Plutio). It also gives you access to a community of fellow freelancers willing to help you succeed. There are plenty of groups where you can discuss marketing strategies, client communication, and much more. However, a few things make Plutio stand out from other Dubsado alternatives:

a. It’s entirely web-based.
b. It doesn’t require you to download anything.
c. Plutio is compatible with most major browsers.

5. Salesmate

Salesmate is another sales automation tool that focuses on helping small businesses sell online. Salesmate is a cloud-based system that automates many aspects of selling online. It does this by connecting sellers with buyers through various channels. This makes it an excellent choice for freelancers looking for reliable sales software. All you need to do is sign up for an account and use the app. Once you get started, you’ll be able to connect with potential clients and set up appointments. Salesmate is also a great way to network with other freelancers.

6. Freshsales

Freshsales is the sales CRM of Freshworks. With Freshsales, you can easily organize leads, follow up with prospects, and automate repetitive tasks. Freshsales integrates seamlessly with Freshworks so you can focus on growing your business instead of spending time managing your sales pipeline. According to freelancers who use Freshsales, it’s an excellent tool for building customer relationships. It lets you see what kind of content your audience likes and provides insights into how they interact with your brand.

7. Studio Ninja

Studio Ninja is another platform with a narrow focus. It’s designed specifically for photographers. Studio Ninja helps you manage projects, track expenses, and create invoices. Studio Ninja users say it’s one of the most accessible platforms. It’s simple enough for beginners but powerful enough for advanced users. Another reason why Studio Ninja stands out from other Dubsados’ pricing models is. Studio Ninja doesn’t charge monthly fees, unlike other platforms on our list. Instead, it charges per project or user. For example, if you have ten different accounts, each of those accounts will cost $9/month. If you only have one account, you’ll only pay $1/month. Studio Ninja is also an excellent option for freelancers who want to build their websites. It allows you to customize everything from the homepage to the navigation bar.

8. Bloom

Bloom is a CRM solution designed especially for creative businesses. Bloom helps you manage clients, projects, and payments. You can even set up automated reminders to ensure deadlines are met. The best part about Bloom is that it has an intuitive interface. There are no complicated menus or confusing settings. All you need to do is sign up and start using it. According to Bloom users, it’s an excellent platform for small businesses. It’s perfect for freelancers who work remotely. It makes it easier to stay organized and communicate with clients.

9. Kosmo

Kosmo is a simple yet powerful project management tool for creating professional invoices, contracts and proposals in minutes. Just fill out some vital information and have your docs signed digitally. This software is great for any freelancer like designers, developers, photographers, writers, bloggers, artists, and more. Kosmo is the easiest way to manage your day-to-day freelancing business. g. SEO optimized.

Dubsado Alternatives

If you’re looking for other options than Dubsado to organize and streamline your work, these ten tools can be a great alternative. In the end, it depends on what you need to effectively manage your business without spending unnecessary time on learning features that you won’t really use anyways.

Get Organized & Win More Clients

Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on September 6, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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How to Write an Invoice – Tips and Tricks

Finance Invoicing

Why do you need to know how to write an invoice, you might ask? An invoice is one of the most important documents for a freelancer. Without it, you might not end up getting paid properly. As a freelancer, you need to handle the “financial” part of your business and this means writing up invoices and sending them to your clients. Although not all clients may require an invoice, on your part as a freelancer, it can be very beneficial to use it.

What’s an Invoice?

First things first, what is an invoice? You certainly can’t learn how to write an invoice without knowing what it is. To make things simple, an invoice is a bill that you give to your client. It is a document that has an itemized list of all the products or services that you had done that will be paid for by your client. Think of it as a professional way of saying: These are all the things that I have done, please pay up.

Drawing of one hand giving an invoice and the other hand giving money in return

What Should Be in an Invoice?

When it comes to writing invoices, you need to be as detailed as possible. But at the same time, you should only include important information that is vital to the invoice. Here are some of the details that should be in an invoice:

Your name, title, business name (if applicable), and address
Your client’s name, business name (if applicable), and address
Invoice date issuance
Invoice date due
Invoice number
Amount due
Currency
Payment method

Generally, a good invoice template can help you with all of these.

When Should an Invoice Be Sent?

Sending out invoices will depend on you or the agreement that you made with a client. If you have a retainer agreement, then you need to follow what is indicated in the contract. It is fairly common to send an invoice after a project or if you have finished a portion of the project.

There may also be an agreement when a client will pay you weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly—this can be the basis for your invoice payment schedules. Whatever the case, you should send the invoice a day before or on the actual day when the payment is due. This can also serve as a reminder for your client so that you can get your payment on time.

Why Do You Even Need an Invoice?

Okay, invoices may seem like extra work but they are actually very helpful. Below are just some of the ways that you can benefit from invoices:

Professionally Remind Your Clients of Payment

It’s kind of awkward to simply message your client, hey, can I get my payment for this and that? Yes, it can definitely be weird even. The proper way to politely tell your clients that they need to pay up is to send an invoice. This is the norm in the world of freelancing, much like getting your phone or electric bills.

Track Your Clients and Services

Once your freelancing business takes off, you are going to thank yourself that you invoice your clients. Because while you are doing your actual freelance work, you are also filing everything you have ever done. Imagine if you have 5 simultaneous projects going on, you’ll know which client is which.

Analyze Your Business

There comes a time in a freelancer’s career when they have to cut back on something. Sometimes, there are just too many clients and projects to handle all at once, which one do you cut loose? You can check your invoices to find out which client to prioritize and which one to let go of.

Another way keeping track of invoices can help is if you can’t seem to find work. Maybe it’s time to find your niche. Check out your invoices and see which products or services are the most profitable or sought-after. You can then focus on those instead of having a full-on roster of products and services that you might not be able to keep up with.

Payment Tracking

Freelancing can be very tough as you don’t really have regular payments. It’s not like corporate work and you know you’re getting your salary at the end of the month. With invoices, you can easily track the payments that have yet to be paid and are already paid for by clients. It also helps if a client suddenly asks you about a specific project payment and you just look through your invoices to answer.

Tips and Tricks on How to Write an Invoice

Now, you might be more convinced about the importance of invoices, however, you might be worrying about how to invoice someone as a freelancer. It can be very awkward at first, especially if you are just starting out. How do you exactly tell someone to pay up? Not to worry, below are some tips and tricks to help you out:

Always Double- (or Triple-) Check your Invoice

Never send an invoice to your client without reading it. A nifty trick is to send a test invoice to yourself first. That way you can catch if there are any errors on the invoice. Having an error, especially a spelling mistake on your client’s name (yikes!) is a big no-no. Although some might brush it off, it can be a tell-tale sign that you do not double-check your actual work.

Even if an invoice is “technically” not part of the service or work that you do for your client, it is a reflection of yourself and your business. It is part of your “attention to detail,” which is a must for any type of worker, especially freelancers.

Setup Payment Methods Ahead of Time

Whether your freelance work is mainly virtual or you actually meet up with your clients in person, setting up a convenient payment method is important. Today, you don’t really get cash payments, like actual bills. It’s best to set up payment methods that are available in many countries, such as PayPal. Not only will this be more convenient for you and your client but it can also open you up to other opportunities. What’s more, with online payment methods, it will be easier to keep track of invoices.

You don’t want to have your client waiting on you. Once you get a job, you work on it, send your invoice, and that should be that. A smoother invoicing and payment process can register you as easy to work with.

Use a Tool or Software

It’s definitely important to learn how to write an invoice but if you want to save yourself some time, use Kosmo. One of the best features of this freelancing software is its invoicing tool, which already has blanks for all of the important details you may need. All you have to do is to fill them out.

For the actual invoicing part, Kosmo has a handy time tracker, which can directly add the time you have allotted for a client. At the same time, you can also add invoicing items manually. When you fill out the quantity, unit, and rate it will automatically multiply and add the subtotal for you.

If you have PayPal, Stripe, or other online payment methods, this can also be linked to your invoice. Once you are done with your invoice, this can be previewed so you can spot-check for any errors. Just send it to your client once everything is good to go.

Customize Your Invoice

Now, here is a nice trick that not everyone does—customization. There are many freelancers out there, you might even be surprised that you are competing not just with millennials or Gen Z but rather with older freelancers. So, you need to stand out in any way you can. (Tip: Invoice customization is available on Kosmo)

When you customize your invoice, it’s not just about making things cute. It’s actually about making things memorable. Your invoice, like any other document that you send out to clients, is a part of you and your business, it’s a part of your branding. It will be easier to recall you when you have solid branding, always use your logo on your invoices and other documents, even your email signature. Don’t just learn how to write an invoice, learn how to customize it, too.

Do Leave a Note

Make a lasting impression by leaving a note or comment on your invoice. It can be as simple as ‘Thank you for trusting me’ or ‘Looking forward to the next project.’ (Tip: Use the conditions and notes section to write your message to your client on Kosmo’s invoicing.)

Conclusion

How to write an invoice can be fairly tricky at first but once you get the hang of it, there shouldn’t be a problem invoicing your clients in the future. This document is a necessity but it’s a good thing there are now freelance tools and online software that can help you create a professional one to send out to your clients without worry.

Get Organized & Win More Clients

Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on September 5, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

Learn More

What Are the Correct Billing Time Increments for My Business?

Finance Invoicing

The popular saying “time is money” has never been more true than when you’re a freelancer trying to figure out your billing time increments. If you are just shifting from being an employee, then you are probably going to find this concept overwhelming, and a little bit confusing—and that’s normal. When you are a 9-to-5 kind of worker, you just usually have one boss to answer to and a task list that you have to stick to. Whereas if you are a freelancer, it’s a whole other world of responsibilities and clients.

What Are Time Increments for Billing?

For those who are relatively new to freelancing, you might be wondering what are billing time increments in the first place. Let’s break it down, increment is the amount of something that changes, such as a minute increase. Time increments are the set amount of time that will be used for accounting for something, like time entries. Billing time increments then pertain to the set amount of time you work that you can bill or charge your clients.

In freelancing your fee will depend on what is agreed upon with a client. They may pay you once you finish a project, however, others would prefer to pay you for the time that you actually spent on said project. Time increments for billing can be a fair solution for both you and your client.

For example, if you use 1-minute time increments meaning you get paid for every minute that you work for your client, it can be very time-consuming and hard to keep track of.

Why Charge Based on Time?

If you just started out, you might feel like charging dependent on a project might be the best idea. However, there are actually quite some benefits to charging your client based on time increments. Here are a few:

Keeps you focused on work

As a freelancer, it is sometimes hard to keep track of what you are doing, mainly because you have so much going on. But, if you work using time increments, you will have an easier time sticking to a specific task and a specific schedule. If you have hourly increments, you’ll know that 12 PM to 1 PM is for client #1 and 2 PM to 3 PM is for client #2, and so on.

Protects you from freebies

One of the main drawbacks with working per project is, that sometimes it is unclear where revisions lie. For example, if you are a scriptwriter, you have already completed the script and that’s that. But then, the client wants a “little” tweak on page 3, okay, that’s fine it’s just one edit. However, you find that the client has “a few more” tweaks here and there, and now you’re pretty much rewriting an entire scene or act—all for free! Whereas if you use time increments, these small changes sent to you one at a time will be billed to your client individually too.

Gives your time value

As much as you value your clients, there are some that might contact you beyond working hours. Or worse, call you pretty much every hour or so. Now, if you have time increments of 10 minutes, your client might think twice before they call you for every little idea or final note that may pop up in their head.

With time increments for billing, even if the client only chats with you for 3 minutes, this will still count as a 10-minute fee. Clients will know that your time has a lot of value, time that should be spent on the actual project, and should then discourage interruptions to your work day.

Factors that Affect Billing Time Increments

Now that you have a clearer understanding of billing time increments, it’s time to find out which is the right one for your business. How do you even go about it? Well, it would really help to decide using these 5 factors:

1. Industry Standards

First things first, what is your business? Because the industry you are in might actually have a standard when it comes to billing time increments. For example, some lawyers follow a 6-minute time increment. You can’t really create or set a new time increment if there is already a standard to be followed for your industry. A good idea is to join online communities for freelancers like yourself, and ask around if they follow a specific time increment billing. If there aren’t any, you can check out the other factors below.

2. Business Credibility

What is your business like? Is it new? How many years have you been operating? Do people know about your freelance business? Do you have a success rate? The time increments you will use will depend on the business you are currently running. If your business is virtually unknown it may be harder to set your own pace. Now, if you have a rather successful business where clients are the ones going after you, then you have a better chance of setting the time increment to something you prefer.

3. Holidays or Peak Seasons

Realize that the value of your time is also dependent on supply and demand. For example, if you are a digital artist that specializes in custom Christmas cards, just imagine how many orders you might get during December. You have to adjust the time increments accordingly or you’ll get your hands full and not be able to deliver on time. Not to mention, you might get burnt out and feel like your rate is not worth it.

Think how long it takes you to create a draft, and how long it takes you to finish a custom artwork. You may also want to compute the amount of money that you will need to keep your business running in the future.

4. Client

There are clients who have a contract ready with an offer and all of your tasks listed plus they may already have time increments set. On the one hand, that’s a good deal since you don’t have to work out the math anymore. But on the other hand, you have to speak up if you think the time increments are not fair to you.

5. You

Now, if all of the other factors are not available, the only way to decide the billing time increments is on you. Of course, not everyone will know from the get-go and there may be some trial and error along the way—but that’s okay. There’s a reason why the first word of a freelancer is free, you have the freedom to do your own thing. But, you must remember that everything you do has a consequence whether it be good or bad. The least you can do is to learn, that way, you’ll get the correct billing time increments that will be best for your business.

Conclusion

So, how do you actually know when the billing time is correct? There’s really no one way to find out. All you can do is check in with past and current clients and get feedback from them. Another way to know if the billing time increments for your business is correct is if your business stays afloat or is actually thriving—you’re definitely doing something right!

Now, if your business isn’t doing too well, and you find yourself pretty burnout with the amount of work you are doing, then it might be time to make an adjustment. Create the billing time increment that will work for you and will be sustainable for your business.

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Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on August 26, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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Fiverr Level 1 vs Fiverr Level 2 – What’s The Difference?

Getting Started

Fiverr aims to streamline hiring or getting hired as a freelancer by different parties. This has aided small and large corporations in cutting costs incurred in hiring middlemen to look for freelancers. Also, freelancers can sell their work to anyone without limitations.

Some gigs a freelancer can sell on the platform include logo designs, WordPress designs, and copywriting. As a freelancer, you can set the price for your services. If you are the one marketing your services, you are considered a seller.

Different Seller Levels of Fiverr

As a seller on Fiverr, you need to begin somewhere in the freelancing game to go up different Fiverr seller levels. You achieve this by marketing your gigs, ensuring your clients are happy, delivering on time, maintaining high-quality services, and getting good reviews.

It takes some time before you advance to the next level, which can be disappointing for beginners. You should know that Fiverr will improve your account if your services are original and reliable. You receive rating stars for different reviews at each upgraded level. This makes it easy for buyers to find your services.

Here Are The Different Fiverr Levels And Their Differences.

New Seller

Your journey as a new seller begins after you create your first gig on the fiverr platform (pricing explained here). You are encouraged to give your best work to get promoted to the next level at this point. Positive ratings, completing a predetermined number of orders on time without cancellations, and avoiding account warnings are required to get to the next level.

As a new seller, you can do the following.

Create a max of 7 active gigs. Both published and unpublished gigs are considered.
You can add a maximum of 2 extra services per gig.
Create Custom offers costing up to $20000 each.
After 14 days of service delivery, you are eligible to withdraw your earnings.

Level one Seller

The process of achieving different levels is automatic. Your work as a new seller is reviewed after 60 days, and if you are eligible enough, you get to level one seller. To get to this level, you need to have achieved the following in the previous level.

You have at least 60 days of active selling experience.
Finished at least ten orders.
Made at least $400.
Maintained a 4.7-star rating for over 60 days.
Your on-time order completion rate is at 90% over the past 60 days.
Your response rate is at 90% over the past 60 days.
Have no warnings for over 30 days.

As a level one seller, you get to do the following.

Create a max of 10 gigs. Both unpublished and published gigs are considered.
Add up to four extra services per gig, each of which can cost up to $40.
Make personalized offers up to $20,000 apiece.
Withdrawal of earnings after 14 days

Level Two Seller

What is Fiverr level 2 seller? This is a seller who has been upgraded from level one. You must achieve the following to be considered a level two seller.

Being a seller for at least 120 days.
Finishing at least 50 orders since you started as a new seller.
Income of at least $2,000.
Keeping your rating at 4.7 for more than 60 days.
60 days of delivering a 90% response rate score.
Over 60 days, reach a 90% order completion rate.
60 days with an on-time delivery score of 90%.
Avoid getting any warnings beyond 30 days.

Being a level two seller, you get to enjoy the following benefits.

Creating up to 20 active gigs, which are inclusive of both published and unpublished gigs.
Adding up to five extra services per gg for a maximum of $50 each.
Create Custom Offers worth up to $20,000 each.
Benefit from priority customer service.
14 days after earning money your money, you can withdraw it.

Choosing a Level Two seller is a wise choice if you are a buyer with a project that must be high-quality and is time sensitive. You lessen your need to request modifications and increase your likelihood of getting a prompt reply from your service provider.

How it works Create A Gig Deliver Great Work Get Paid Fiverr

Fiverr Level 1 vs Level 2

Level 1 sellers are limited to a certain degree while Level 2 sellers have no limitations on the number of orders they can receive.
Being at level 2, you get paid higher compared to level one sellers.

Both buyers and sellers need to understand how they can mutually benefit from each other and what level is the best fit for the job.

Top Rated Seller

This is the last level, and the highest status Fiverr offers sellers. The Top Rated level includes a select group of knowledgeable sellers. This rank must be earned manually, unlike the other ranks, which are attained automatically.

When the editorial team at Fiverr has manually reviewed your performance over the last 60 days and you have achieved the following qualifications, you get the rank.

You have at least 180 days of active selling experience.
You’ve successfully finished at least 100 orders.
You make more than $20,000 annually.
60 days have passed with you maintaining a 4.7-star rating.
Over the past 60 days, your response rate has garnered a 90% rating.
Over the past 60 days, your order completion rate has gotten a 90% rating.
Over 60 days, your on-time delivery score has gotten a score of 90%.
Over 30 days, you have not received any warnings.

As a Top-Rated merchant, you get to enjoy the following benefits.

Creating up to 30 active gigs. Both published and unpublished gigs are considered.
Adding up to six extras serves per gig, each costing a maximum of $100.
You can create personalized offers of up to $20,000.
Enjoy Customer Support with Priority.
Take your money out after seven days.

As a buyer, if you want to enjoy the services of a top-rated seller, you should be ready to pay higher fees than for the other levels. The good thing is that your money will be worth the services delivered.

How To Be Successful On Fiverr

Regardless of your seller level on Fiverr, you want to ensure that you are providing the best service possible. There are a couple of things you should keep in mind when starting your next gig.

Ask The Right Questions

You should enquire about the buyer’s needs if it’s not clear. This knowledge will assist you in providing exactly the work that is needed to satisfy the buyer’s needs.
You always have the option to say “no” to a task if you believe you cannot complete it because of its complexity.

Keep Transactions On The Fiverr Platform

If a buyer approaches you as a seller and requests services outside of Fiverr.com, they are violating the platform’s Terms of Service and putting you at risk of fraud.

The platform can only protect buyers and sellers if transaction activity is happening on their platform. The submission of any message, gig, or page that contains payment information is subjected to review for compliance with the Terms and Services. This brings delays in orders, issue warnings, and the suspension of your Fiverr account.

Transparency

By making sure your user profile is clear about who you are and the kind of work you perform, you can reflect the quality and transparency you demand from a buyer.

This is possible if you.

Clearly define your skills. Describe why you feel you are the best choice for that category.
Show your true face. This creates professionalism since buyers will know they are working with a real person.
Being straight to the point. Don’t provide off-topic profile information. Immediately a buyer lands on your profile, they should take the shortest time possible to consider your services or not.

Work Closely With Customer Care

Having a Fiverr account does not guarantee that you will be aware of everything happening around you, especially as a beginner. If you have difficulty navigating the platform, you can always contact the Customer Support Team to help you out. You can always review the Terms and Services if you feel that your services may be illegitimate.

Summary

Fiverr has made many freelancers achieve their dreams of doing what they love most and getting paid for it. With a clear understanding of Fiverr level 1 vs level 2 differences and other rankings on Fiverr, you can easily choose which one suits your needs.

As a seller, you must be committed and adhere to all Fiverr terms and conditions to get ranked higher. Remember that the higher you get ranked, the better the benefits you enjoy.

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Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on August 26, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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Asana vs Monday – Pros And Cons For Both

Comparison

Every freelancer needs a good project management application or tool. A project management tool can help create a more streamlined and efficient workflow while encouraging productivity, and time management.

One of the most important questions to ask when deciding which application is right for you is: What would you use it for? A good project management tool must be easy to use and intuitive and have the features required to handle projects of any size or complexity.

Various options are available to help you stay on top of your goals and deadlines, but two leaders in the field are Asana and Monday.

In this article, we will compare the two cloud-based work management platforms – Asana vs. Monday – to find out what features set them apart. We will also compare the pros and cons of each platform and see which platform may be right for you.

Asana vs Monday: Comparison

What is Asana?

Asana is a high-performance project management tool. It is built on a flexible, easy-to-use interface that makes it an excellent choice for handling projects and tasks. It is suitable for companies and freelancers and can be used to manage multiple projects at once.

Asana offers tools to manage teams and projects, track information about tasks and projects according to deadlines, status updates, conversations with team members, etc. It allows you to quickly break down big projects into smaller tasks and set up teams for each project. It also provides a wide range of integrations with other services like Google Apps, Slack, Dropbox, and others.

Asana offers its users a free plan as well as paid plans. Free users get access to most features, but the number of active projects they can manage is limited.

What Are Its Pros?

1. They have a great free plan allowing up to 15 users

Asana’s basic plan is great for startups, freelancers, and those looking to test their platform. The free plan allows up to 15 users and can be used forever. Each user gets a private dashboard to access tasks, conversations, and project details which will help increase productivity.

Its free plan includes unlimited tasks, projects, messaging features, activity log, and an unlimited storage system with up to 100MB shared per file. Its free plan is best for small teams of freelancers or businesses just starting.

2. It’s a simple, clean interface

Asana is one of the most intuitive project management tools on the market. Its features are easy to use and straightforward, with a great design that keeps all information accessible within the tool. The intuitive interface makes managing projects simple, making it easier than other solutions on the market.

3. Extensive integration with other apps

Asana integrates easily with over a dozen different services, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Zoom, and more. This allows the users to manage projects and tasks across multiple platforms.

They have a great video tutorials section that walks users through many of their features. Their customer support is also very responsive and helpful in answering any questions.

4. Offers multiple ways to view work

Asana’s project views will allow users to see projects, tasks, and conversations. Freelancers working together can share files and documents across all platforms, assign tasks, distribute files, update progress on lists, etc. The user can also create reports that show how much time is left until a deadline or if a task is complete.

5. Customer Support

Asana offers user-friendly, regularly updated tutorials, FAQs, and live chat support available 24/7. They have a large community of users that can answer any questions the user may have.

6. Mobile friendly

They have a native mobile app available for Android and iOS users. The mobile app is excellent for viewing projects, tasks, and your coworkers’ activity updates. It offers an uncluttered layout to allow you to keep track of your progress while on the go.

Cons

1. Difficult to use for new users

Asana is highly intuitive and easy to use, but it still needs some time training for people unfamiliar with the system to learn how to navigate it. Its interface is straightforward but requires learning how to use it properly.

2. Best features only available to paying customers

Features that enable you to set timelines, milestones, and other important features, are only available to paying customers. This forces the free plan to be used for simple tasks and basic features.

3. Projects can get complex

This is probably because Asana is designed for organizing big and complex projects by nature.

What is Monday?

Monday is a project management software that helps you to keep your business organized and running smoothly. With Monday, you can easily manage projects, tasks, and schedules while keeping track of who is doing what and when they will complete it. You do this by defining each task or project’s who, what, when, and where. So, if you are working with other freelancers and want to define who will handle each task or when a task should be completed, Monday gives you the tools to do so.

It also integrates deeply and extensively with other apps and business tools. This means that you can use your Monday account to manage tasks and projects in various other services like Google Drive, GitHub, Dropbox, Asana, Outlook, etc.

Like Asana, Monday also offers its users free and paid plans. Free users get access to most of the features, but the best features are reserved for premium and standard members.

What Are Its Pros?

1. Users get access to a project dashboard and task lists

Freelancers can use Monday to keep track of a variety of tasks. This means that they will be able to track their progress daily and know exactly what they are responsible for at any given time.

Users can also create project dashboards to see all the details of what each project entails. This can be very helpful if you want to keep track of the client’s budget or work schedule or know who holds which task. This will also allow you to understand your client’s needs better.

2. It has a colorful easy to use interface

Monday’s interface is friendly and colorful, making it easy for users to navigate and complete tasks. It also offers a drag-and-drop feature that allows users to move tasks around when they are done. The drag-and-drop feature makes it easy to prioritize or give importance to specific projects or tasks.

3. Has a clean and organized look

Monday’s design is clean, modern, consistent, and well laid out. You can easily find the feature you want, and everything is organized in a way that helps you manage projects and tasks. Its color scheme is great for many reasons. It’s nice to look at, easy to read, and stands out from other apps in its category.

4. Has an excellent customer service

Monday has a user-friendly, responsive, and helpful support team available 24/7 via email, phone, or live chat. Its customer support team is well trained and will be able to answer any questions that you may have regarding the software. The team also keeps the users up to date with various helpful tips, tutorials, and resources they can access through the website itself.

5. Has a huge list of integrations

Monday has a list of integrations with many different services and apps you can use to manage your projects and tasks. This allows you to access your data in one location and easily view your projects, tasks, and calendars in one place. You can also sync the data with Outlook, Google Calendar, and Google Drive to manage it further.

6. Offers project management features

Monday gives freelancers access to some of the best project management tools. It allows users to create projects with a finite beginning and end, as well as some of the most critical features for project managers such as Gantt charts, time tracking, etc.

7. Able to automate tasks

Monday gives you the ability to automate tasks that are repetitive, time-sensitive, and tasks that need to be done quickly. This makes it easy for you to review tasks, complete them and move on with the rest of the day.

Cons

1. Important features are only available for premium and standard members

The scope of projects and tasks is limited to free members. It allows only up to 2 users, and the storage space is also limited. Time tracking features and charts are only available to higher plans.

2. Recurring automated tasks limited to premium users only

Tasks that need to be repeated daily, weekly, and monthly are not available to free users. You will have to upgrade your plan to automate important tasks. If you do not need these features, then the free plan is otherwise functional enough for primary use.

Asana versus Monday: Their Key Differences

1. Free plan

Asana has a free plan that gives you access to unlimited basic features like storage and tasks and allows up to 15 users to access the project. It also allows you to create projects and makes it easy to collaborate with your team.

Monday has a free plan that only allows 2 users per team and has a limited storage space of 500MB. It has some basic features, such as tasks and project visibility.

2. Features

Asana has a vast list of features that allow users to plan and manage projects and tasks efficiently. Its features offer the ability to integrate with many different services like Google Drive, Outlook, and Calendar.

Monday also has task management features that allow you to organize your tasks, assign them to users and keep track of their progress. It also features a project task management system that allows you to create a Gantt chart and create tasks in a timeline.

The key difference here is that Monday offers features to track time spent on each task, while for Asana, you would need to use another application to keep track.

3. Industries

Asana is suitable for almost any freelancer and any industry. It has excellent features to manage projects and tasks, and it’s backed by a responsive and helpful support team that improves your experience with Asana. Its free plan and the ability to upgrade your plan at a reasonable price make it highly affordable for small and large companies.

Monday is also suitable for most people, but it’s more suitable for project managers that need a task management system to organize their work and keep up to date with projects, tasks, and deadlines. It has great features for organizing tasks daily and gives you a better overview of your progress in one place.

4. Automated tasks

Monday offers the best automation tools to set recurring tasks unavailable in Asana. These include daily and weekly tasks that need to be carried out regularly.

With Monday, you can set what-if-then statements to trigger a reaction when a particular event occurs. This makes it easier for you to enter a task and set a date for its completion. For example, if you are working on a report that’s going to be submitted at the end of the week, then you can set the statement: “If it’s Wednesday, then create tasks titled ‘write sales report’ and assign it to team members Lemi and Miles.” This feature is unique to Monday only.

Before we draw a conclusion, let’s take a moment to consider another popular project management tool you might want to look at.

One of the most popular options is Kosmo. It has an intuitive interface made especially for the needs of freelancers and creators. If you are in the freelancing business, this tool is going to be your ultimate partner. You can manage different clients and projects with ease, you can create invoices, and receive payments from different services like PayPal, Stripe, and Credit Card all in one platform. It comes with features that help you keep track of your tasks and assign priority.

Kosmo also helps in your marketing campaign by generating proposals, turning the leads into clients, and creating digital contracts. They also provide great support and assistance with their help desk in case of any questions.

In Conclusion

In the end, both Asana and Monday are great examples of task management systems (also take a look at Asana vs Dubsado). Both have a lot of great features and their strengths and weaknesses. It comes down to the kind of experience you are looking for. With Asana, you can integrate with other platforms and build your workflow, while Monday is better suited to task management. It’s important to note that you cannot compare Asana vs Monday without comparing them against other task management software like Kosmo.

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Post written by:

kosmo on August 25, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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Best Client Management Software For Web Designers

Client Management Growth

For most business owners it can be difficult to manage all their clients effectively. This is one of the key reasons why many turn to software that helps manage their relationships with their clients.

CRM software has many benefits for businesses and helps streamline, processes and automate certain aspects of their businesses. It’s also recommended because it can help businesses become more efficient at marketing, sales, and customer data analysis. CRM (Customer relationship management) helps organize and automate leads and established clients.

A client management software for web designers will help them keep their clients happy, generating more business and monitoring trends easily.

What do Web Designers do?

A web designer designs websites and develops web pages. They create and maintain websites using languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.

Web designers use these programming languages to design web layouts that would capture the user’s attention. With a web designer, the customer is always in mind; they provide a website that is easily navigable. They understand their client’s business and create an appropriate design that would appeal to the client’s target audience.

Web designers are also responsible for ensuring that their client’s websites meet the latest web design and development standards. This includes ensuring the sites are compatible with different browsers, operating systems, and platforms like tablets and smartphones.

Macbook Pro Displaying Website Version 2 on Table

Client Management Software For Web Designers

When juggling several clients, it is not easy for web designers to keep track of the client’s order processes, billing details, and other information. This can be a big distraction for the designer who has no time to manage these details since they have deadlines to meet. An efficient CRM tool will help the web designer maintain an organized and accurate record of their client’s information.

The software will also help web designers maintain relationships with their clients. The communication features of a CRM tool can be used to keep the client up to date about the progress of their project or even send them an email regarding some critical information. The software can also help in conducting surveys about customer satisfaction and feedback.

The Benefits Of A CRM For Web Designers

The CRM tool is essential for every business, especially if it handles many customers with different needs and requirements. The tool’s advanced features will allow the web designer to execute key business operations such as customer relationship management, lead generation, support, and sales.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM software) running on a laptop, office desk workstation productivity

CRM software offers a lot of benefits.

1. A better understanding of customer behavior

Knowing who your target audience is and the kind of services they are looking for is an essential part of any marketing strategy. The CRM tool will allow the web designer to understand this better.

2. Efficient management of clients’ requests

With different projects, the web designer will have to respond to a lot of clients’ requests. With a CRM tool, the web designer will have an organized record of all these requests from the clients. You can also mark any client’s request as a priority to ensure that you give it proper attention.

3. Easy communication with customers

With a CRM tool, you can communicate with your client by sending emails containing important information they may require regarding your services. You can also send reminder emails about specific deadlines to inform them when you need their payments or cooperation.

CRM platforms are integrated with services like Gmail, Zoom, etc., that help effectively communicate with your clients so that you don’t miss any chance to keep up with your appointments and deadlines.

4. More accurate tracking and billing of clients’ payments

The CRM tool will allow you to track every transaction that clients make with your company. You will also be able to enter different details about the services you provide to reduce any confusion or miscommunication.

A good CRM tool is integrated with the different paying platforms to receive payments from your clients. This will allow you to bill them for their services and keep track of your payments under one platform. All your payments will be automatically calculated and entered into the system. This means that you won’t need to enter amounts manually, saving time and avoiding any possible mistakes that may occur during the process.

5. Market research

A CRM software helps market research by providing statistics of important information about the customers, such as how many are lost, gained, or are still active. The software also provides reports on the number of contacts and business relationships the company has established in a specific period. It helps in conducting surveys and polls giving you more accurate results on your client’s needs.

6. Team management

A tool like CRM offers you a great way of managing your team. It will help you keep track of your team members and their performance with your projects. You can send notifications to all the team members, so they know what to do about specific issues or deadlines.

7. Increases accountability

The CRM software is integrated with your company’s checkbook. This means you can see the exact amount of money you have spent on a specific project. You will also be able to see if any invoices are pending or if any outstanding payments may have gone unpaid.

You will also know what goals or milestones you have achieved along the way. This way, you will have a better understanding of your progress and know whether you need to take more action to improve it.

When used as part of the in-house web design team, CRM software can offer its users a wide variety of benefits by helping them manage projects more effectively and efficiently.

How To Choose The Best Client Management Software For Web Designers

CRM customer relationship management tools

There are many CRM tools in the market; you need to know how to filter through all these to find the most suitable for your needs. You could start by comparing their pricing structure and features offered under different plans. You don’t want to pay for a tool and then find out your most needed features require you to upgrade.

You can also evaluate the different CRM tools by checking their reviews on the market. A company’s reputation is essential. You don’t want to be working with a company that will treat you unfairly or carelessly. Evaluating their reviews will give you an idea of how they treat their clients and their customer support team.

There are many things to consider when selecting your CRM tool. A good CRM tool should include the following functionalities:

1. Well-designed User Interface

A good interface should be intuitive and require no special training.

2. Functional and feature-packed

It should be able to help you cover all the aspects of your business.

3. Easy to integrate with other programs

A good CRM tool should be integrated with other business processes and services such as Gmail so that it can work effectively in your business workflow.

4. Easy-to-use dashboard

You need a CRM tool that will not overwhelm you with too many features and data but one that allows you to get just the correct information you need.

5. Real-time collaboration

You should be able to work on a project and then share it with a client in real-time so that you will not have to wait for the changes or feedback.

6. Cloud-based tools

You want a cloud-based tool accessible from anywhere and does not require installation on every device. This means that you can access your CRM anytime, anywhere you want.

3 Best Client Management Tools For Web Designers

1. Kosmo

Kosmo offers a simple management tool for freelancers and creators. It is the best client management software for graphic designers and web designers that will make their entire workflow efficient and effective.

You have all the possible information at hand when you access the dashboard. It is easy to create, manage and track all the metrics of each project. It has a good customer support team on standby 24/7 to assist you with any issues or questions.
Kosmo’s pricing plans are affordable and better than most CRM tools.

With Kosmo, you can create invoices and receive payment via PayPal, Stripe, or even a credit card. You can keep track of your tasks and create reminders for them. It also provides timely updates on your progress and gives you a full dashboard of insights.

Easy to install and use, there’s no need to download any additional software. You can access it via the browser or mobile or tablet device.

Established and new clients play a vital role in generating leads for a website designer. Kosmo helps you generate proposals and contracts. It’s an efficient way to manage your leads and generate more sales. You can also get every detail of your client or customer.

Kosmo is an effective tool for web designers looking for a complete package for managing their clients and customers. You can also send out email reminders to your clients, which requires no effort.

2. Hubspot

A cloud-based user interface, easy to use and navigate the dashboard, offers a wide variety of features and functionalities. It has good integration with other programs and services such as Google analytics. Its dashboard will not overwhelm you with too much data but just the right information you need in each mode and each case.

HubSpot offers social media integration enabling you to manage all your accounts on one platform and keep you updated on possible clients that have liked your content. If you are looking for a tool to manage your online activity, keep track of how your marketing plans are performing, and show where to improve, then this is a tool you need to consider.

It will allow you to manage your leads and convert them to clients so they can be followed up on up until they are converted. A good CRM tool needs to provide users with the necessary analytics needed to make decisions for them in order not to waste time, money, and effort. This tool will help you make these vital decisions.

3. Pipedrive

This is another excellent tool designed by developers to make the process of using a CRM easier and more efficient. It will help you keep track of your contacts, manage your invoices and sales pipeline, and schedule meetings.

Pipedrive helps you keep track of possible customers from start to success, provides advanced reporting and forecasting, and creates an effective marketing plan to help you generate more leads and sales.

It’s also integrated with different payment services like Stripe and PayPal, making managing your payments easy. However, there are some limitations when it comes to Pipedrive. You cannot have multiple users with different roles and permissions, so you can only have one admin. You must also buy the premium plan to access specific features and customer support.

Conclusion

Different CRM tools have their limitations and problems. Review and look for client management software for web designers that will suit your needs, and ensure that you are not spending more time searching for valuable information and slow down your actual day-to-day business.

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Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on August 24, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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Tips on How to Win Work as a Consultant

Growth Marketing

Starting out can be scary, if you want to learn how to win work as a consultant, read on. The world of freelance is very different and can be overwhelming, especially if you got used to a comfortable corporate job with a safety net. If you want to venture out into the world of consultancy, you’ll need to get work by yourself. There’s no boss or superior out here who will assign you tasks.

As a consultant, you must be an expert in your field or industry. (If you need help starting out, here’s a consulting business checklist to help you out). However, you need to know there are other consultants like you. So, you have to start thinking about how can you possibly get work or win clients. Not to worry, below are some very helpful tips to get you started:

Put Yourself Out There

One of the most important things to do to be able to win work as a consultant is to actually show potential and future clients that you are available. How do you go about doing that? You definitely need to market yourself, below are 3 ways that you can do it:

1. Set up Professional Accounts/Pages/Site

There are billions of people on social media. And unlike when it first started out, it was simply for entertainment or making friends. But now, social media sites have become an avenue for businesses, companies, freelancers, and more. When clients do a background check on consultants they plan on working with or hiring, they always include social media. This can include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. So, it’s very important to have a professional page or account pertaining to your consultancy work.

Depending on the industry you are in, you can also branch out into other social media sites. For example, if you are an organization consultant, Pinterest could be an effective place for potential clients to come upon your work. Now, if you are a consultant for web designing or development, it may make more sense to actually have an official website of your own.

It depends on you and your industry to learn which professional accounts or pages to set up. You don’t have to make one for all social media, just the relevant ones. If you really need a boost, you might even look into doing ads if you have the budget for it.

Now, what you put on your professional accounts should highlight what you can do or offer. This is not time to be humble, show off awards if you have them, post certifications, and relevant work experiences.

2. Try & Try

If you don’t like the approach wherein you draw in clients, another way to market yourself is to try approaching them yourself. You can check out freelance job sites and check out consultancy postings. The key here is to just try and try. Keep applying so you get more chances for potential clients to reply to you.

However, make sure that the job consultancy posts you are applying for are relevant to your work. You need to meet the requirements or criteria—you don’t want to waste your or someone else’s time. Also, don’t feel too bad if no one replies to your proposal or application, again just try and try.

Two women working together or collaborating

3. Expand Your Network

If you are stuck in just one group, you’ll never be able to grow. Always grab the opportunity to meet new people. It doesn’t even matter if they work in the same industry as you. Who knows, they might actually know someone who will need your services.

a. Other Consultants

Of course, you are looking for a client but chances are you won’t land work by simply bumping into one. There are times when you get work through other consultants like yourself. If that consultant is working in the same field as you, they can ask for your help. If their schedule is too full, they may pass on a client to you. Or, if the workload is too much, they can also partner up with you. Don’t think of them as simply competition because freelancers do have a community where they help each other out.

b. Clients for Experience

Not everyone gets to be so lucky to work with “perfect” clients. You know, someone who shares the same viewpoints as you and pays really well. But just because a client is not perfect does not mean you should accept the work. Aside from getting paid, always remember that you will be getting experience. As a consultant, you always have to have your skills sharpened. One way to do that is to simply keep working.

If a client finds your work satisfactory, they can always refer you to other people. Also, if you gain a good reputation in your industry, chances are clients will be running after you. The only problem you’ll have is to pick which job to take.

Work on Yourself

There are a lot of freelance consultants out there that’s why it is important to work on yourself. You need an edge for clients to choose you over others. Here are 3 things you can do to work on yourself and your consultancy business as well:

Woman using laptop and drawing on tablet

1. Update your Portfolio

If you want to impress would-be clients, a portfolio is one of the things you can show them your work. That’s why it is important to have the contents of your portfolio be fresh or up-to-date. This shows that you are being hired regularly and you stay on top of your consultancy work.

2. Attend Training or Webinars

Most consultants need to have certifications to be able to work. For example, if you are a networking consulting engineer, be sure all of your Cisco certifications have not yet expired. And since this industry is fast-paced and ever-changing, you need to keep attending training or seminars (webinars) so you are aware of the latest technology.

This is all about working on yourself so that you can show potential clients that you have many things to offer. Attending seminars or training can also be an excellent way to spend your time meaningfully in case you have a client dry spell. So, if your future client asks you what you have been doing, you can simply and truthfully answer that you’ve been undergoing training or boot camps to improve your work capabilities.

3. Be Prepared and Organized

To be able to win work (or anything for that matter), you can’t rely on luck alone. There is a ton of preparation and organization ahead of you. It’s a good thing there’s freelancing software that can help you keep everything on track—Kosmo.

Just imagine a project management app where you can have an organized client list and project list. Where you can also track your work time, and create and send contracts and invoices with ease. Kosmo can do all that and more. This will make your life easier once you win one job after the other. You can focus more on your actual consultancy work instead of organizing invoices and other freelancing documents.

A potential client will not be impressed if you don’t know how to make invoices or if you don’t even have a payment method setup. You’ll be able to land clients if they know that you can do the work and if you are prepared on how to do freelance documentation, such as proposals and contracts.

Other General Tips on How to Win Work as a Consultant

You’ve come to the last phase of winning work as a consultant and that is sealing the deal. Because you might have the right connections and the right credentials, however, you won’t land the job if after a call or meeting with the client the conversation was lackluster. Here are a few more tips to help you out when actually talking to a potential client:

Be Confident

You can easily stand out by simply being confident. When you go into a meeting, you can’t focus solely on how to win work as a consultant. Clients will know if you are simply after a job, they would prefer someone who actually cares about their business or their project. You need to project to the people you will meet that you are confident in yourself. Showing you know what you can do and you know what you can offer can make or break a deal.

Show Personality

Again, there are many consultants out there. They may have the same certifications and work experience as you. So, how can you set yourself apart from the competition? The best way to do this is to be yourself, you have to let your personality shine through. Don’t act like someone you aren’t. If you are a serious person, there’s no need to act all jolly just to get the job. The right client will appreciate your seriousness and might actually prefer it for their business.

Remain Professional,

Although you are being confident and showing your personality, never forget to remain professional. You can be friendly with would-be clients and fellow consultants but remember that this is a work environment. Stick to appropriate topics, don’t act like they’re your BFFs. These people are looking for consultants for their business and they would want someone professional.

Conclusion

It can be frustrating to be a freelance consultant but rejections are as much a part of it as landing clients. Now that you know how to win work as a consultant, understand that it’s all about patience and putting in the work.

Get Organized & Win More Clients

Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on August 24, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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How To Overcome Freelance Writer Imposter Syndrome.

Mental Health Self-Care

As a writer, many circumstances could have made you think you are not good enough and your skills are inadequate. Each time you introduce yourself as a writer, you cringe because someone else in the room makes you feel small and undeserving.

That briefly explains imposter syndrome. Unfortunately, many writers suffer from it and are affected by it.

How To Deal With Imposter Syndrome.

1. Identify and acknowledge the emotions.

The emotional imposter syndrome can make you feel like a fraud, exposing you to thoughts that could affect your work and mental stability. It’s self-subscribed and built on the apparent doubt of your knowledge, skills, praise, or critics. If you have ever experienced this, you are not alone, and imposter syndrome is not fatal. At least not physical… but to your career indeed

A chicken egg with a drawn emotional egg expressing horror and frustration

2. Self-reflection and forging change.

You can’t convince others of your worth unless you can convince yourself. So instead of calling yourself an aspiring writer, write and convince yourself otherwise. Don’t ignore the feeling, as this might worsen the experience. It’s a matter of acknowledging that imposter syndrome is a part of you, and you are willing to create ways to change the perspective. However, note that there is a difference between struggling with writing and experiencing imposter syndrome. Talk to other writers; they can point you on the right path, and you may gain some perspective.

3. Track and measure your progress.

Before downplaying your capabilities, reflect on the possibility of almost everyone becoming an imposter. Cure the imposter syndrome with spite and embrace it. Instead of killing your self-confidence and the possibility of never becoming, pick up what’s left, and realize that you deserve everything in life.

4. Practice and execute routine.

Practice and convince yourself to take up new challenging tasks and help you discover that anything can be completed, instead of listening to the loud voices trying to be in control because sometimes imposter syndrome gets the most of us. Take your time to celebrate your success and relish your job satisfaction. Remind yourself how hard you have worked to get there, and you will not doubt the validity of your achievements. You deserve it and belong right there.

5. Embrace the flow and be open to learning.

There is no need to be perfected; just keep writing. Perfection will leave you overwhelmed, overworked, and far from satisfied. This can lead to self-sabotage and the inability to protect self from the weight of expectations. Instead, review your progress by listening to feedback and the attitude of how you approach it. Establish strengths and abilities by carefully examining them to constructively use them to improve your writing.

Conclusion

Get out of your head and be kinder to yourself. Stop feeling and thinking like an imposter. Learn to separate facts from feelings by owning up to your failures, wins, and external validation. Stop comparing yourself to others; accept reality as it is. Not everyone will love your work, so you have to reassure yourself and create room for improvement. Shift the perspective and focus on what you have and are in control of. Imposter syndrome can be gotten rid of the same way built. Don’t give up and take those small steps.

Get Organized & Win More Clients

Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

Post written by:

kosmo on August 23, 2022

Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.

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