articles

If you’re employed by a company but feel unfulfilled, the dream of working for yourself can seem very attractive. Freelancers can pick and choose their clients and projects, work when they feel like it and keep all the money they make, rather than lining someone else’s pockets. Sounds perfect. In reality, freelance life is unpredictable. You’re walking away from a …

At Dinghy, we believe everyone has a responsibility to look after the planet. We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce our impact on the environment, both as individuals and as a business. Many small businesses think that only large corporations can make a difference, but that’s not the case. There are lots of things small companies can …

Starting your own business can seem like a daunting process, but it’s actually relatively easy to do. In fact, some people start businesses almost by accident. The hard part isn’t starting a business; the hard part is running it successfully. Freelance life is unpredictable, and quite often, your business can take a completely different route to the one you expected. …

Back in July of this year, we announced the launch of our proof-of-policy pages, which is a fantastic tool to prove to your clients in realtime that your business is insured. But did you know that this page also functions as a referral page from which can earn you vouchers to spend either at Amazon* or John Lewis / Waitrose†? …

In our article about how freelancers can compete with agencies, we mentioned the benefits of having trusted partners. Being able to recommend good suppliers or co-ordinate a team of specialists will help you win bigger projects and deliver the full-service that clients get from an agency. Rather than waiting until a client asks, it’s a good idea to be proactive …

No matter how good you are at what you do, you won’t make any money unless you have clients. To win clients, you need to market yourself. Different marketing techniques work for different people, but networking can be a brilliant way of getting yourself known and building the right connections. If the thought of being stuck in a room full …

In the competitive world of freelancing, it’s not enough to just say you are better than the competition; you need to show why you are better. What makes you different? What is your unique selling proposition, your USP? Are you faster, cheaper, more reliable? Is your product bigger, healthier, easier to use, higher-quality, better for the environment, longer lasting? Having …

The world of freelancing seems so alluring; work when you want, where you want, for who you want, doing what you want. Social media feeds are full of entrepreneurs talking about how to make millions working just three hours a week or become an overnight success from the comfort of a sun lounger. It’s no wonder so many people quit …

Many freelancers work alone, and they like it that way. They know everything that goes on in their business, they don’t have to manage a team and they control every piece of work that goes out. The only problem is that competing with big agencies can be tough, especially when they are well-established with an impressive portfolio of clients. Big …

You’ve won a fantastic new client, agreed on a price and spent hours working on the project. You raise the invoice and wait. The payment due date passes but there’s no sign of your money. You send a polite email and get no response. You start to feel a little concerned. You need that money to come in soon or …