Have a pricing guide to present to your clients that showcases all of your services and payment terms.

Running your own marketing business can be a gratifying way to earn a living on your terms doing something you love, but it can be pretty stressful at times, especially when you are struggling to get a client to pay you on time.

There is nothing worse than when a client will not settle their invoice. You spend too much time chasing them and stressing about what you will do if the money does not come through. The good news is there are several things you can do to ensure your marketing business gets paid on time.

01

Send prompt invoices

Using software to send payment invoices automatically when a job is complete is an excellent way to get paid on time because the sooner you send the invoice, the sooner it is likely to be actioned by the client. It does not always work out that way, but as a good first step, immediately sending out your invoices is helpful, and it is simple to do with an automated system.

02

Create clear terms and conditions

Right from the start, when working with a client, no matter who it is, you should ensure that you have a written contract with transparent terms and conditions around every aspect of your time working together, including payment timescales.

By creating a detailed contract, you will ensure that both parties know what is expected of them, and you can ask for payment at a specific time. You can also create a clause that lays out the fees you will charge for late payments and what will happen if a payment is not forthcoming so that you have legal recourse should the worst happen and the client refuses to pay despite you holding up your end of the bargain.

Have a company profile to present o your clients. It includes a pricing guide so that all bases are covered prior to you working together.

03

Track payments

One thing you should always do as a small marketing business is to track the payment patterns of your regular clients. Doing this is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of your company not being paid on time or, even worse, not being paid at all.

If you track payment patterns and you find, for example, that X company always pays a month late or that you have to endlessly chase Y company to pay at all, then you can make decisions about firming up their contracts so that they settle their debt in a more timely manner. You could also opt to refuse to continue business with them at all if it is too time-consuming and stressful to chase them. This will put your business in a much better position from now on and reduce the odds of you losing money in the future.

04

Offer incentives

If you are struggling to get paid on time, then take a leaf out of the marketing playbook and offer your clients incentives to pay just like you would create incentives for customers to buy products from your clients.

If you offer, say, a 10 percent discount for early payers or a freebie for clients who pay on time when it comes to them making their next order, you will find those slow payers suddenly become prompt at paying off their invoices., and everyone wins. Of course, only do this if you can afford to do so, and it is built into your business plan, but if it is viable for you, it can be very effective indeed.

05

Offer more payment options

Something else that can help your marketing business to get paid on time is offering multiple payment options--from Paypal to credit cards to bank transfers. By providing a wide range of options, you are making it easier for your clients to complete the transaction, which means they are less likely to hold off on doing so until they can find a convenient time in their window.

It has never been easier to set up numerous payment options, so there is no reason not to do this if you want to get paid on time and have an easier time planning your company's cash flow in the future.

Not getting paid on time sucks, but you can vastly reduce your chances of having it happen to you by simply incorporating some or, even better, all of the strategies above into your business model going forward. If you want to be paid promptly, these changes will help.

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Social media marketing is a fast-paced and ever-changing field. To stay competitive, you must keep up with the latest trends and understand how to use new technologies to your advantage. The question is, do you need a degree to become a social media marketer?

In this article, learn the key skills you need, explore social media marketing opportunities from Get Plus Followers Review, gain inspiration for Instagram feed themes, designs, and styles; and gain tips for acquiring social media marketing skills without a degree.

@dolce_masha

What Skills and Knowledge Do I Need To Start Social Media Marketing?

As with any business field, there are specific skills and knowledge that you will need in order to be successful in a career in social media marketing.

A few skills that are essential include:

1. Creativity and strong writing skills

2. Understanding of social media algorithms and best practices

3. Knowledge of graphic design and visual content creation

4. Familiarity with analytics and metrics

5. Understanding of SEO

@hellolovelyliving

How Can I Acquire Social Media Marketing Skills Without A Degree?

While it is true that a degree in marketing or communications will give you a leg up when it comes to career opportunities and earning potential, there are other ways to gain the skills and knowledge needed for social media marketing. Here are a few ways to achieve this:

@tularosalabel

01

Join social networking sites and connect with marketing experts

Joining social networking sites and connecting with social media marketing experts via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram is a way to cut down on the learning curve. Connecting with others within the field allows you to gain industry knowledge and build your skills in the process. You can learn from them simply by following their feeds, commenting on their posts, and asking questions about their work.

@shopaunaturelco

02

Build your personal brand and manage social media channels

Start by creating a website where you can share your accomplishments and credentials with potential employers, then use social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to build an audience for yourself. Make sure that all of your profiles include links back to your website or blog.

@sisterfigure.co

03

Gain hands-on experience through internships or on-the-job training

If you have access to an internship or become an intern at a company where you want to work full-time, ask if it would be possible to shadow someone in their department who is doing the type of job that most closely resembles the position you desire.

@amandakhamkaew

takeaways

Overall, it is important to note that while having a degree in social media marketing can be beneficial, it is not necessarily a requirement to be successful in the field. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to determine the best path for them in order to succeed in the field of social media marketing.

If you are a business needing help with your social media marketing, get in touch with us!

We offer services such as designing your Instagram feed theme and style, content creation, and ongoing support.