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Independents Across America tells the real stories of real independent professionals and microbusiness owners and offers insight into the motivations and passions of the nation's 64.6 million independent workers
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Insights
Access a wide range of tips, research, and tools designed to support the growth and innovation
of the independent workforce and enterprises who engage independent professionals
Manage a Small Business |
8 Ways to Get Client Referrals
Word-of-mouth can be a powerful marketing tool for independent contractors. When potential clients hear about your qualifications directly from people they know and trust, it lends credibility to your reputation. However, there’s an art to asking for and receiving referrals. Follow these eight tips to get client referrals and recommendations in the right way. 1….
Grow a Small Business |
9 Growth Strategies for Your Small Business
Owning a small business means your day is filled with a seemingly endless number of tasks. From maintaining a pipeline of projects, running your back office, and drafting proposals, to holding client meetings and managing finances, the life of an independent professional is both busy and exciting. The continued growth and development of your business…
Grow a Small Business |
These Attributes Make a Successful Open Innovation Solver
The world of open innovation is ready for more solvers to join in. If you have wondered if this is a world where you can be successful, here are some of the attributes that can lead to wins. With input directly from some of the top solvers in open innovation, they break into two categories:…
Manage a Small Business |
How to Plan a Successful Client Meeting: 5 Pro Tips
Client meetings can be stressful, uncomfortable, or intimidating. But leading a successful client meeting can help you build credibility and trust while landing a new project. Rather than approaching meetings with a sense of dread, think of them as an opportunity to brainstorm, collaborate, and progress your business. Find your motivation with these five tips…
Grow a Small Business |
3 Back Office Management Tips for Consultants
Whether you’re just starting your small business or you’re a seasoned veteran, you’ll quickly learn that there’s a lot of planning involved. Initially, this planning will focus on choosing the services you will offer, finding and securing clients, and deciding where and how you will run your business. These are all important first steps and…
Grow a Small Business |
8 Essential Elements of a Professional Website
A professional website is a great way to spread brand awareness, boost your credibility, promote your services, and generate new client leads. As a small business owner, most of your competition is likely bigger businesses that have the marketing capital to advertise and reach out to more people. But a professional website can help even…
Grow a Small Business |
The Role of Patrons in the Creator Economy
Content creators, one of the fastest-growing independent work segments in the US, monetize their knowledge and skills by creating and publishing online digital content. They are writers, artists, entertainers, videographers, social media influencers, educators, pundits, and thought leaders who publish across a range of online channels. Because digital content creation tools and distribution platforms are…
Grow a Small Business |
Education Options to Grow Your Skills and Your Business
Continuous learning is important for any professional. For an independent professional operating a solo business, it’s a must. In addition to continuing to hone skills in your area of expertise, and even expand that area, you must understand how to operate a company, including how to market, how to budget, and how to manage finances….
Start a Small Business |
10 Legal Requirements for Starting a Small Business
Make sure your small business operates legally with all of the required licenses and permits.
Grow a Small Business |
6 Tips for Open Innovation Solver Success
As an independent professional, being an open innovation solver can be fulfilling. It helps create a new revenue stream and the satisfaction of contributing to a company’s strategic direction. You know how to write a winning proposal and you understand the importance of cultivating a good relationship with a client or prospect. This means…
Grow a Small Business |
8 Tips to Make Your Small Business Stand Out
As a small business owner, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd—especially if you are just starting out. Giving an identity and voice to your company is the first step to land those initial clients and build your reputation. As your small business grows, so can your efforts to build a visible…
Manage a Small Business |
Client Loyalty vs Client Retention: Tips to Improve Both
Client retention and client loyalty are an important part of running a small business. As an independent professional, you’ll quickly learn that a key to sustained business growth is retaining a pool of reliable, loyal clients. But finding and acquiring new clients is often a big investment of time and energy. Instead, if you can…
Grow a Small Business |
7 Best Practices for Becoming a Successful Consultant
Whether you’re a new member of the independent professional workforce or a seasoned veteran, operating a successful solo business can be an ongoing challenge. In the beginning the challenge might be securing clients and generating revenues, while later down the line it might be adjusting your services to meet market changes, and, of course, securing…
Workforce Trends |
5 Things to Know About Independent Digital Content Creators
Independent creators are a fast-growing group of self-employed professionals who monetize their knowledge and skills by creating digital content online. The trend towards this type of work stems from a broader shift to independent work which was accelerated during the pandemic. Independent creators can pursue work they are creatively interested in while maintaining flexibility and…
Direct Sourcing |
Addressing Unconscious Bias in Your Direct Sourcing Program
A total talent strategy focused on workforce optimization is designed to include a specific percentage of independent professionals with high-value skills. Success relies on creating a direct sourcing program that curates an independent talent pool of vetted workers. Hiring managers can tap this pool to fill project and team roles with proven workers who have…
Workforce Management |
Before You Make a Job Offer: 4 Things to Know about Independent Professionals
As independent professionals become more centered in the economy and take more strategic roles in their client companies, it would be unusual if managers didn’t consider offering full-time employment to valued independents on their teams. “Locking in” such key talent can be important to employers and might be seen by them as a win-win proposition….
Workforce Management |
Hiring Soft Skills for Future Success: Entrepreneurship
This is the fourth in a five-part series discussing skills critical for future success. Other articles cover critical thinking, creativity, and communication. As digital and AI technologies continue to transform the world of work, the future workforce will need to be nimble, adaptable, and comfortable with continuous change. These attributes and the soft skills we’ve…
Misclassification & Compliance |
Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News May 2023
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. 1. Wisconsin Finds Amazon Delivery Drivers Were Employees…
Direct Sourcing |
How to Plan Your Direct Sourcing Program Journey
In previous direct sourcing articles, we’ve looked at using a skills assessment to build a program business case, three areas to improve understanding, and the company functions that comprise your direct sourcing dream team. The initiative is greenlit, leadership understands the value, and your dream team, comprised of the company functions that need to be…
Direct Sourcing |
Giving Bonuses and Incentives to Your Independent Talent
Often, when an independent professional has a choice for projects between two of their clients, they will consider their experience working for each. Is it a positive work environment? Are there reasonable processes and procedures that facilitate productivity? Are there learning and skill-building opportunities? These examples often determine a Client of Choice and can contribute…
Direct Sourcing |
How to Build a Flourishing Independent Talent Community
A successful direct sourcing program includes an active and vibrant independent talent community. Independents gravitate toward such a community when there are additional advantages to them and their businesses besides project work. They ask, “What’s in it for me?” to determine if spending time and energy on a given opportunity is worthwhile. Answering that question…
Direct Sourcing |
Your Talent Community: Start Tuning in to WIIFM
In any situation requiring a decision, people generally first consider the impacts on them personally. This is true for consumers buying a product or service, job seekers deciding on an offer of employment, and independent professionals selecting clients they will work with. “What’s in It for Me?” This question, acronymed to WIIFM, is important to…
Direct Sourcing |
Best Practices for Building an Independent Talent Community in Your Direct Sourcing Program
There are several reasons “why” to curate an independent talent community as part of your direct sourcing program. The relationships formed between company managers and employees and community members, and between community members themselves, support a high-performing worker population that can make a significant contribution to business growth. Establish your community by leveraging touchpoints of…
Workforce Management |
5 Things to Look for When Hiring Independent Talent
Hiring independent talent as an addition to a full-time workforce is a growing strategy among companies today. With 64.6 million people working independently, there’s a lot of talent to choose from. But finding the right person who has the skillset you need and aligns with your company culture or working style can be a challenge….
Direct Sourcing |
When Direct Sourcing, Organizations Must Go From ‘Independent Talent Network’ to ‘Independent Talent Community’
In today’s talent market, in part because of the Great Realization, top independent professionals have a lot of choices in their client base. Offering skillsets that are in high demand, they look beyond pay rate to the quality of working environments and benefits that can help them grow their businesses. Being a Client of Choice…
Misclassification & Compliance |
When to Classify a Worker as an Independent Contractor
Today’s workforce includes full-time employees, temporary workers to fill seasonal or short-term needs, and contingent workers such as freelancers, independent contractors, or consultants. Businesses benefit from this diversity of workers. Workforce diversity gives companies have more workforce flexibility, access to specialized skills on-demand, and the ability to form ready-made teams when a project need arises….
Workforce Management |
Hiring Soft Skills for Future Success: Communication
This is the fourth in a five-part series discussing skills critical for future success. Other articles cover critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship. While communication skills have always been important in the workplace, the advent of AI makes them even more significant. While some forms of communication can be taught to AI tools, others are uniquely…
Misclassification & Compliance |
Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News April 2023
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. 1. Seattle Ordinance Expands Paid Time Off for…
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