We recently asked leaders across the creative and marketing space about their pain points, preferences, and everything in between. Here’s what they said about it all! 

Content, Trends, and More! 

Here’s what they said about content preferences. Even when not actively hiring, managers are invested in keeping on top of trends.

  • 51% percent of hiring managers engage with content about industry-specific hiring trends
  • 31% keep up with interview and retention tips
  • 29% focus on their local market’s data
  • 26% keep tabs on newly available talent

Takeaway: Managers stay current on the latest hiring trends in the creative industry to be prepared when a hiring need arises. 

 

Hiring is Hard (Is Outsourcing The Solution?)

Here’s what they said about their team’s biggest hiring, talent, and resourcing obstacles. Creative and marketing teams are understaffed — 67% of respondents agreed that their team has too much work to do given their current headcount.

  • 46% of creative and marketing teams need to outsource some work to an external agency in order to keep their team afloat.
  • 25% are considering building an in-house creative team to have more control over the process (and because of the price tag — 21% admit they can’t afford high agency costs).

These are the instances in which leaders turn to recruitment or staffing partners to find new folks:

  • 59% partner with staffing agencies to support planned, budgeted projects
  • 27% need help with emergency, unbudgeted projects
  • 21% want to replace existing contract resources
  • 17% need staffing help when full-time employees are on extended leave
  • 13% partner to find contract resources during a hiring freeze

Takeaway: Creative teams are carrying the weight of a heavy workload — without the necessary staff to handle it. Managers are exploring options to help lighten their team’s load. These teams work with staffing partners for a variety of hiring needs but primarily when tackling the large projects on their docket. Freelancers, gig workers, and contingent labor are in a good position to capitalize on these labor trends! 

 

 

Where Do Managers Look for Service Partners?

Here’s what they said about conducting vendor searches. How do marketing and creative leaders find new service partners? In a lot of ways, it turns out.

  • 24% visit the company’s website
  • 19% ask a friend or colleague for a referral
  • 16% rely on one-to-one email outreach from sales reps
  • 11% look to marketing emails
  • 11% search their social media feeds
  • 2% attend webinars or other informational events

Takeaway: There’s no wrong way to find a new service partner. Above all else, leaders want a clear, concise message and a low barrier to entry.

 

How Do Managers Even Find Freelancers?!?

Here’s how and who helps makes the decisions about sourcing contractors. When not working with recruitment agencies, hiring managers turn to…

  • Their professional or personal networks (67%)
  • Job sites (think Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn) (40%)
  • Their internal HR department (38%)
  • Cloud labor sites (think Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal) (17%)
  • A web search for local contractors (14%)

When there is a vacancy on the creative or marketing team, this is who industry influencers say most impacts their hiring decisions:

  • The team’s director or manager (50%). They focus on defining the job requisite and evaluating potential hires.
  • The team’s senior leadership, from VP up to the C-suite (15%). They help their managers define the requirements and are critical to the final selection.
  • The company’s owner or partner (12%). They come in when it’s time to make a decision.
  • Other staff, including the new hire’s peers (8%). They play a part from start to finish.

Takeaway: Beyond partnering with staffing agencies, when seeking new contractors, nothing beats the assurance industry leaders receive from personal and professional connections. The bottom line for freelancers: your network matters.

 

Want to Learn More?

For the full breakdown of this year’s hiring trends, download the full report here.

August marks National Black Business Month, a celebration that commemorates and supports Black-owned businesses and visionary entrepreneurs throughout the United States. For generations, black businesses have been at the forefront of driving innovations in commerce. So, we asked Black Women of Creative Circle, a Creative Circle Employee Resource Group (ERG), to share a list of businesses that they love supporting year-round! Our list is meant to celebrate the Black businesses and entrepreneurs that help share their passions, innovations, and infinite creativity with the larger community. We invite you to support the Black-owned businesses in your communities and check out the organizations below that should be celebrated all year long!

Beauty

Nourished by Latonza

In 2020, Latonza Strickland founded Curated by Latonza, which features essential collections of cuticle oil pens. This all-natural cuticle oil strengthens nails and softens cuticles through a hydrating, gentle-smelling cuticle oil. Latonza’s approach to self-care and nutrition is deeply personal and she aims to provide products that are sustainable and locally sourced.

Mielle

In 2014, Monique Rodriguez created MIELLE after going viral for her healthy tail-bone length hair care routine. MIELLE started with the Advanced Hair Formula and has expanded to 10 collections of products for skin, hair, and kids. These products can be found in over 100,000 US stores like Sally Beauty, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, JC Penny, and Walmart.

Kaleidoscope

In 2014, New Orleans native Jesseca “Judy” Dupart launched her line Kaleidoscope Hair Products. Jesseca’s vision for her brand is to grow and expand the brand and the ways in which she uses God’s gifts to help others on their health growth journey and in life period.” Today Kaleidoscope can be purchased across the country at Target, Walmart, and Sally Beauty.

Organic Bath Co.

Founders Giane and Jay created Organic Bath Co. inspired by Gianne’s childhood travels and the home remedies used by her Belizean mother. Organic Bath Co. focuses on simple self-care: “Mindful moments, peaceful thoughts, and nurturing your skin from the outside in”. After discovering the marketing of toxic personal care products disproportionately targeted women of color, Giane and Jay developed a unisex natural bath and body line.

IxoraBB

IxoraBB is a botanical Skincare designed to soothe chronic skin conditions like eczema + psoriasis. Their product offerings are gentle enough for all ages to use.

Clothing

Fear of God Essentials

Founded in 2013, Jerry Lorenzo created Fear of God, an independent American luxury fashion label. The brand focuses on crafting timeless, wearable garments,  with “the brand’s distinct interpretation of the American expression has become an emblem of contemporary culture”. With a thoughtful and refined blend of high-grade materials and impeccable craftsmanship, this pays homage to its distinctive heritage, creating a sophisticated fusion that celebrates its unique legacy.

Music Sermon

In 2017, Naima Cochrane created Twitter series called #MusicSermon, telling stories about under-appreciated R&B and hip hop. Since then, Naima created an apparel brand to match the uniqueness of #MusicSermon.The Sermon Shop’s mission is to create “merch that reps the culture as hard as you do”. Through the celebration and honor of the foundations and inspirations of the culture,

Jewelry

Jnct.co

Created in 2017, creative Jonnell Chavez started Junction as a brand as an intersection of beautiful art and design. At the heart of Junction lies not only artistic expression but also a profound dedication to empowering women. Chavez passionately advocates for women to embrace their true selves and celebrate their uniqueness. This empowering essence is intricately woven into every piece, forming a compelling theme of strength and self-confidence that deeply resonates with the modern woman.

 

Check out #BlackBusinessMonth and explore more Black businesses to uplift and support throughout this month.

The pope wore Balenciaga, and Biggie Smalls returned from the dead to sing a Nas song. Or did they?

Generative AI has created startlingly lifelike, otherworldly images, showcasing the immense power of this emerging technology. Companies worldwide are now wondering how (or if) to integrate AI into their operations. Can humans and machines enhance each other’s strengths? Are some projects better suited for humans and others for AI? Here are some ways to gain clarity on how businesses can approach this emerging tech.

AI is becoming adept at many “human” jobs, from providing customer service, writing emails, and diagnosing diseases to translating languages—improving at breakneck speed—understandably raising reasonable fears that AI will come to replace human workers across industries. But according to Harvard Business Review, “that’s not the inevitable, or even most likely, outcome… While AI will radically alter how work gets done and who does it, the technology’s larger impact will be in complementing and augmenting human capabilities, not replacing them.” Many companies are leaning into AI to automate processes, but according to HBR, “those that deploy it mainly to displace employees will see only short-term productivity gains.”

HBR researched 1,500 companies and found that the organizations achieved the most significant performance improvements when collaboration reigned and humans and machines worked together. The collaborative intelligence of humans and AI work synergistically, enhancing each other’s complementary strengths. For humans, creativity, leadership, teamwork, and social skills—and AI, speed, quantitative capabilities, and scalability. What comes easily for humans can be hard for machines—like writing a joke, and what’s simple for machines can be impossible for humans (like analyzing gigabytes of statistical data). Companies that leverage the power of the humans working for them and emerging AI come out on top.

Say hello to “cobots”—robots moving from potentially dangerous and “dumb” industrial machines to become smart, context-aware cobots working in tandem with humans, not apart. For example, a cobot arm in an automotive factory may handle challenging repetitive actions that require heavy lifting. In contrast, the person handles more nuanced tasks that demand dexterity and human judgment, like putting together a gear motor.

In the more creative sphere, AI can uplevel creative efforts. Autodesk’s Dreamcatcher AI can augment the imagination of even the most maverick of designers. Say, for example, that a furniture designer provides Dreamcatcher with information about a design concept, like a bench that should:

  • Seat at least three people
  • Support 500 lbs.
  • 24” high
  • Made of ecologically sustainable materials
  • Cost less than $125

The designer can input additional information, like other benches, that they find inspiring. Dreamcatcher then concepts thousands of designs that match the criteria, often sparking ideas that the designer might have yet to consider or dream up. The designer can then guide the software by winnowing down which benches they like or don’t like, leading to a new round of concept designs. Through each conceptual iteration, Dreamcatcher calculates all needed to ensure that each proposed bench design meets the specified criteria, freeing the designer to focus on uniquely human strengths like aesthetic sensibilities and professional judgment.

 

In short, here is when AI is smart to use and when it’s not.

Use AI for:

Automation

By automating routine tasks using AI, you can free up human resources to focus their energies on more creative and complex work, like in the Dreamcatcher bench concept example.

Detailed Data Analysis

Large amounts of complex data can be analyzed with AI to glean deep insights. Doctors and research facilities use this technology to refine disease diagnosis, and economists leverage AI to understand macroeconomic trends better.

Predictive Analytics

Future outcomes can be predicted using historical data. AI can extrapolate trends that can be predictive, which can be incredibly useful for sales and marketing, financial projections, and more.

Personalized recommendations

A hallmark feature of AI is its ability to personalize content and services for individuals using their preferences and insights from past behavior. For example, AI can recommend products based on someone’s browsing and purchase history, crafting a unique user experience that feels more bespoke.

 

Don’t use AI for:

Human expertise needed:

AI cannot replace human expertise in many fields; while great at automated tasks, AI does not possess human intuition or emotional history, which figures into all creative fields. Screenwriting requires a person to draw from lived experience to craft resonant stories, something innately human.

Professional judgment:

Understanding the context of a situation and how it relates to a project or work is best left to humans, who have the emotional and psychosocial background to ascribe meaning and value to different circumstances. For example, McDonald’s has tailored its menu offerings for all the countries it operates in, considering taste variance and other cultural nuances.

Work that is sensitive to bias:

AI systems can perpetuate bias and discrimination. If there are ethical concerns around using AI—don’t. There is demonstrated bias against people of color and the accuracy of certain types of insights; for example, facial recognition algorithms are often trained to recognize a white person more easily than a black person, which can negatively impact people, hindering equal opportunity and stoking oppression.

 

__________________________________________________

 

Takeaway

AI has the potential to transform whole industries in the same way that personal computers and the internet previously revolutionized how we live and work. It is a powerful tool—but only when used responsibly.

Business leaders who want their companies to thrive technologically must use their workers and machines intelligently. Let machines do what they do best: sift through immense amounts of data and recommend courses of action. And let humans do what they do best: utilize good judgment and intuition to select the best options from available choices. And to keep top of mind that combined forms of intelligence lead to superior outcomes than when separated.

 

About the author.

An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist—Karina writes, produces, and edits compelling content across multiple platforms—including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Yahoo News, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties and has spanned insight pieces on psychedelic toad medicine to forecasting the future of work to why sustainability needs to become more sustainable.

Nothing makes you realize just how much your shopping habits change quite like going to a mall. I recently went to a mall in my hometown I hadn’t been to in nearly a decade, and found myself in a strange liminal space of nostalgia and acute stress. As a teen, I loved being a mall rat, roaming, sitting in massage chairs at the Sharper Image, and mostly window shopping after I blew my $20 on arcade games, lip gloss, and cheap earrings that made my ears itch.

Perhaps it’s because I have less time to kill in general or maybe it’s because I prefer to see every possible option of a shirt I’m looking for before buying, but the nature of shopping has changed so much and so quickly over the years—and it will continue to change. Retailers have been forced to pivot to suit consumer needs, but there are still some things that remain the same.

A recent study by Klarna, the “buy now, pay later” fintech company, set out to understand the future of retail, and what exactly today’s consumers are expecting from their retail experiences going forward. (Coincidentally Klarna just announced the launch of a virtual shopping tool for online retailers). While technology, virtual experiences, and AI will certainly continue to shape retail, there are some things that will probably always stay the same.

In-Store is still in style

While online retail has fundamentally changed how people shop, consumers still want that in-person, in-store experience. In fact, Klarna’s study found that 69% of consumers still prefer going to a physical store over shopping in virtual reality and 58% believed they’d still prefer the store in 2041. There’s something about the social aspect of shopping IRL that keeps us coming back; and not just because strolling through aisles is much easier on the eyes than endlessly scrolling.

People want their in-person experiences in stores to be “worth” the trip. 56% of respondents wanted the overall shopping experience to be more personalized, and that includes in-person shopping. Consumers want unique experiences, not “bland, generic shopping experiences,” as the study put it. And this will require more than having an Instagrammable wall or mirror in the store.

Bridging the URL and the IRL

One way to create a unique in-store experience, that keeps consumers in the space while providing that personal experience is to leverage the power of augmented reality, or AR. According to a Deloitte study, 88% of medium-sized businesses have already used or are testing the use of AR in some capacity. Sephora uses AR to allow customers to virtually try on makeup. Warby Parker uses AR so people can see what they look like in various pairs of glasses without actually having to put them on. Nike Fit uses AR to improve show sizing accuracy. Coach used an “AR mirror” in their Tabby campaign, allowing customers passing by the storefront to see how they looked with a model of their Tabby bag. The experience also let the customers adorn themselves with other virtual accessories, including designs and even butterfly wings—while this didn’t necessarily sell a product, it added another level to the experience and made for the kinds of visuals people want to post on Instagram.

Understanding how your brand can utilize AR to create a hybrid experience that makes online shopping feel a bit closer to in-store shopping and also makes in-store shopping that much more engaging is how to create lasting relationships with shoppers. But tech can go too far; consumers are not ready to go all in on robots being part of the retail picture. Per the study, “When offered the option of a robot to help with measurement, 31% said they’d leave the store, 33% were still on the fence and unsure, whilst 37% were ready and looking forward to it!”

Incorporating tech is not about having the most cutting-edge gadgets to impress your clients and customers. It’s about meeting your clients where they’re at and giving them a special experience that they can’t get at home. The Klarna study points out that the most important thing to consumers has probably been the most important thing since the dawn of retail: fit. Consumers just want their clothes to feel comfortable and fit perfectly. Having a personalized measurement system and making sure that the measurements online and the measurements in-person line up are small but powerful ways to keep customers coming back.

Buying on a budget

Unfortunately, the eternal threat of a recession is still looming, living costs continue to increase, and the US personal savings rate has been historically low (it was at 4.6% in February, having risen from a 15-year low of 2.7% last year). We are still feeling the ripples of the pandemic, which has hugely impacted our shopping tendencies.

According to the National Retail Federation’s Snapshot of Consumer Shopping Habits in 2023, more and more consumers are heading to discount stores to help stay within budget. Other budget-friendly strategies include: going for store brand products, shopping for sales more often, and even taking fewer shopping trips, opting to do more comparative shopping online. The study also found that women were most likely to use these strategies to be more price conscious, which tracks, considering the gender pay gap is still taking a toll on women as are caregiving responsibilities, which disproportionately impact women.

While being able to meet customers where they’re at (online) is crucial, creating more special and personalized in-person shopping experiences can help customers feel like they’re getting more bang for their buck. Further, while customers want to save some money, they also want to save the world by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Overall, the Klarna respondents were invested in eco-friendly clothing. A third hoped that more stores might offer a buyback program and just under a third of respondents expressed desire for rental options, a great way to cut down space and waste.

Conclusion

The era of spending a day at the mall might be behind us but the in-person shopping experience is as relevant to consumers as ever. Using tools like AR to create a personalized shopping experience that is unique to your brand and most importantly helps customers find the perfect fit can be a game changer for retail.

 

About the author.
Sam Mani writes about work, creativity, wellness, and equity — when she’s not cooking, binging television, or annoying her cat.

By now, most of us have heard about generative AI and have witnessed the tsunami of fascination (and concern) surrounding this new, game-changing tech. People across industries are captivated by how they might leverage its powerful capabilities to revolutionize their organizations, retail industry leaders included. In this dawning age of AI-powered retail, here are some ways to keep your current customers while successfully expanding to include new ones.

Retail industry leaders are now looking to see how they can leverage generative AI’s powerful and flexible capabilities to revolutionize shopping. Cooked into the tech is the ability to optimize tasks, manage and analyze data, automate processes, craft deeper insights, connect and communicate with customers, and offer more bespoke experiences. Let’s look at a few of the ways AI may come to infuse retail.

Brand new ways to engage and support customers

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, is effective at talking, answering questions, and summarizing information in a natural, conversation-like manner, making it easy to see how this tech could revolutionize retail customer support. Think product recommendations and explanations, information about ingredients, and more. Just like medical doctors carry their mobile devices to write prescriptions and take notes, it’s easy to see how retail staff may one day it may be the norm to have an “AI co-pilot.” Some onerous tasks will be offloaded to the AI, while new ones will emerge centered on managing these new systems. Businesses that invest in training their employees to work in concert with generative AI will likely have significant advantages in the retail world to come.

Large retail juggernauts are already getting in on the game; Macy’s, for example, is now using AI-powered shopping assistants to ramp up customer experience by letting shoppers have their questions about product location and availability answered on the spot.

Hyper-relevant recommendations in a snap

Retailers have traditionally found it difficult to coalesce the disparate data they gleaned about their customers into coherent insights. Generative AI can be the key that unlocks the ability to divine hyper-relevant retail recommendations at the moment.

Uplevel product design

Generative AI can be used to fine-tune existing designs, which means retailers can instantly craft on-brand and on-trend iterations of their best-selling products. And the tech opens up a brave new world of customer customization on demand!

Revolutionize demand forecasting and inventory management

Summarizing insights from a comprehensive set of unstructured data points is something that generative AI excels at doing, making this emerging tech ideally suited to demand forecasting and inventory management. Disparate sources like market trends, weather conditions, historical sales data, social media temperature, and more can be used to get a more accurate picture of upcoming demand, allowing retailers to take a more finely tuned approach to inventory production, reducing excess and improving overall operational efficiency.

Enhancing the IRL store experience

Retail has been focused on seamlessly melting physical and digital experiences in their stores in recent years, which can be taken to the next level with generative AI. For example, by analyzing historical sales and customer preferences, along with product materials and attributes, this tech can suggest highly optimized store layouts and product placements while providing bespoke wayfinding experiences to shoppers based on their preferences.

A brand-customized generative AI app can guide you around the store, proactively recommending products and services based on your unique profile and particular in-the-moment needs. Summer garden wedding in Oaxaca? NP. Girls’ trip to the Ice Hotel in the Arctic Circle? Retail records based on generative AI will have you covered.

Virtual try-on will be exponentially improved

Generative AI can produce incredibly lifelike images on demand, which means that apparel and beauty product retailers will be able to provide “magic mirror” experiences to their customers that show how different styles, products, and colors would fit their clients—and may even be able to predict how clothing fit may change over time.

Warby Parker, the digital eyewear company, helped make a name for itself by creating a well-crafted virtual try-on using augmented reality, which can be kicked into higher gear using generative AI. Imagine the boon for lingerie e-commerce retailers, high-end cosmetics purveyors, and more.

Tracking “dwell” and “gaze” time

AI can track a customer’s “dwell” time—the time a person spends standing in front of a product—and “gaze” time—the time a person spends looking at an item. Tracking “dwell” and “gaze” time lets retailers better understand what their customers want, allowing them to increase meaningful engagement and conversion rates. Using this data, retailers can inspire customers to add more products to their carts tailored to their particular wants, needs, and desires. High-end global retailers like O2 already use video analytics and AI tech to measure these key metrics. And as we all know, the higher the sales, the higher the store’s profits.

Better-planned planograms and on-floor availability

Generative AI can significantly improve day-to-day retail operational processes, like planogram compliance. Relying on traditional methods and human assessment in forecasting demand and crafting optimal shelf-layouts for products is less advantageous than using generative AI to help design the best possible displays. AI software can alert staff members when planogram compliance and on-floor availability dip below par. And get this; AI can even identify empty shelves.

The power of personalization

The power to improve customer engagement and personalization can set the stage for deeper and more trustworthy relationships between retailers and their customers. By divining more intuitive insights from customer data, strategies allowing for a more personalized experience can be crafted, boosting online and IRL sales.

Bottom Line

Strong generative AI capabilities will soon become a baseline necessity for retailers that want to keep pace with their peers, so it’s wise for retail leaders to explore what aspects of this emerging technology will have the most impact on their businesses.

Now is the time to indulge in a test-and-learn mentality as more generative AI-integrated tools arise for retail stores in the coming years; explore how AI can transform operational processes and allow for a better customer experience. Given how efficient, intuitive, and accurate AI can be, it’s just a matter of time before the retail landscape is infused with it.

We are at the beginning of the generative AI tech revolution, which is advancing at breakneck speed. We have yet to learn all the ramifications of this burgeoning tech, which is why generative AI must be used responsibly. Setting guardrails for how data is acquired, used, and deployed is crucial—as is ramping up cybersecurity infrastructure. By incorporating good corporate stewardship of this new technology, you can ensure that you are moving into the future with responsibility baked in by design.

 

About the author.

An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist—Karina writes, produces, and edits compelling content across multiple platforms—including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Yahoo News, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties and has spanned insight pieces on psychedelic toad medicine to forecasting the future of work to why sustainability needs to become more sustainable.

As we start to think about summer, it’s a good time to look ahead to the rest of the year to set yourself up for financial success now and in the months to come. As freelancers, independent contractors, and digital nomads, being in charge of our time, money, and ability to work from anywhere we want requires a measure of fiscal responsibility that many of us fake till we make it.  

When you work for yourself, you’re in charge of every penny you make and as we all know, some months are busier than others.  A great rule of thumb is to live by the 50/30/20 rule—charting out a realistic plan for your needs, wants, and savings. While that’s an excellent rubric, the good news is that there are now many apps and tools that can help you budget your money—and many are free!  

These tools help you track spending habits, budget your income, check your credit score, and make the task of budgeting simpler so you can make the most of your money and time. There are tons of apps for freelancers, but finding the best ones can be a bit overwhelming and can take time, so we compiled a list of the best budgeting and finance apps to set you up for success this summer and moving forward. 

1. YNAB (You Need a Budget)

If you want to become a serious budgeter, this is the app for you. Instead of using traditional budgeting buckets, you allocate every dollar you earn to something. Every buck you make is assigned to a “job,” whether that means it goes towards savings, bills, or investments.

YNAB connects to your bank account and can actually help you nix bad money habits and encourage you to adopt good ones. If you stick with YNAB you will be highly discouraged to overspend or take on additional debt. YNAB’s mission? To help you gain control of your money and stop living hand to mouth by making it easy to see and manage your finances in real time. You can see your financial data in graph form and lets you track investment accounts. While this is a subscription-based service, they offer a free trial month, and joining comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.

2. EveryDollar

Like YNAB, EveryDollar tracks spending, savings, and debt. It’s straightforward and simple to use for newly budget-minded freelancers who want to get a handle on their finances. There is a free version and a gratis trial for the paid version, which comes with more bells and whistles. You can connect your bank account if you use the upgraded version, though there is no bill pay feature, the app does provide additional help by giving you access to financial experts and does not bombard you with ads.

3. Goodbudget

Have you ever heard of the ‘cash envelope’ system for budgeting? The concept is simple—take several envelopes, write a specific expense category on each, like rent, credit cards, groceries, or student loans—and then put the money you plan to spend on those things into the envelopes. Goodbudget does this in tech fashion, allowing you to create digital envelopes for each of your budgeting categories to help prevent overspending and slipping into debt. If you overspend in an envelope, it allows you to transfer money. While there is a free version, the subscription offers more robust budgeting tools. While it doesn’t track investments, it does provide reports on your income and spending trends.

4. QuickBooks Self-Employed 

Say hello to the gold standard for independent contractors. This tool helps you separate personal expenses from business ones, making your quarterly and year-end tax times simple and easy.

QuickBooks Self-Employed has numerous smart features designed to make tracking your business expenditures a breeze. A great example is that the app can track your mileage automatically based on how fast your smartphone moves through space. It can also make your phone a defacto receipt scanner, perhaps less exciting but infinitely helpful, and more, once you categorize your transactions, the app can find tax deductions for you. QuickBooks Self-Employed can help you file taxes every quarter using TurboTax, taking a lot of the worry and working out what can be a major drag for many freelancers.

5. Bonsai

This subscription-based app was designed with independent contractors and freelancers in mind. Bonsai has a time tracker, which integrates with all your clients and ongoing projects—and once you’ve tracked your time, you can easily add them to a new invoice for billing. The app lets you track expenses by taking photos of receipts to bill to specific projects and you can add these to invoices along with your timesheets.

Takeaway

While budgeting may seem daunting, it can actually provide great peace of mind. Allowing you to live a more calibrated existence as a freelancer. Knowledge is power and understanding your finances more deeply can give you more freedom to live how you want to live.

Finding the sweet spot between valuing your work and striking a fair salary deal is a total game-changer for both job seekers and employers. Whether you’re a candidate aiming to earn what you’re truly worth or an employer seeking to optimize compensation and attract top talent, understanding the value of work is paramount. Here are our tips on how to secure a competitive salary that’s a win-win for both clients and candidates!

Step 1: Conduct Thorough Research

Before engaging in any salary negotiation, conducting thorough research is crucial. Explore industry-specific salary ranges, job market trends, and local economic factors. Resources like Creative Circle’s Salary Guide offer valuable insights tailored to the unique needs of both candidates and employers via a fully digital experience. This knowledge equips candidates with a clear understanding of their worth and helps employers make informed compensation decisions.

Step 2: Assess Your Unique Value Proposition

Candidates should assess their unique value proposition, considering their accomplishments, experience, and skills. By recognizing their strengths and the value they bring to the table, candidates can confidently articulate their worth during salary discussions. Employers, too, should assess the value candidates can add to their organization and ensure that their compensation decisions align with that value.

Step 3: Define an Equitable Salary Range

We all know that salary transparency is key to building trust between employers and their employees. Based on thorough research and self-assessment, candidates should determine a realistic salary range that reflects their value and aligns with their financial goals. This step is about assessing the value added by both candidates and employers, with the aim of establishing a fair compensation structure that recognizes a candidate’s worthwhile understanding of the employer’s budgetary considerations.

Step 4: Navigate Negotiations Confidently

Approach salary negotiations with confidence, understanding the importance of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. Clearly articulate your skills, experience, and contributions, highlighting how they can benefit both candidates and employers. By engaging in open and constructive discussions, both parties can work towards a positive outcome that aligns with their respective goals and interests. Remember to stay focused on effectively communicating your value and advocating for what you believe is fair.

Mastering the art of valuing work and optimizing compensation benefits both candidates and employers alike. By following these steps, candidates can increase their chances of earning what they’re worth, while employers can attract top talent and make informed compensation decisions.

Remember, for candidates seeking to maximize their earning potential and employers aiming to optimize compensation decisions, Creative Circle’s Salary Guide offers valuable insights tailored to the unique needs of both candidates and employers. Gain hiring and career insights tailored to your role and unlock your full potential.

 

Explore the Salary Guide here.