Pregnancy is exciting but it also means that there’s a lot to get done before the baby arrives. You’ll want to refresh your skills and save as much money as possible so you can afford all those diapers, bottles, and expensive organic foods.
Being on maternity leave can be a huge financial challenge, but with a little work, you can make it through this time period without any stress. Here are some helpful tips on how to freelance while on maternity leave:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelancing during maternity leave offers flexibility and financial independence. |
| 2. Proper planning and communication with clients are essential for a smooth transition. |
| 3. Research and understand the legal rights and protections for freelancers regarding maternity leave. |
| 4. Financial preparation, including budgeting and saving, is crucial before going on maternity leave. |
| 5. Managing the transition back to freelancing after maternity leave requires careful planning and support. |
Make Money From Your Blog
The first step is to get your blog noticed. It’s not easy for a new blog to make money, but you can increase the chances of making money by writing consistently and networking with other bloggers.
The first thing to do is write regularly. You want to put out at least one post per week, ideally, more than that if you have time. This shows people that you are committed, and so they will be more likely to follow your work and visit again next week when you publish another post!
Then you need to network with other bloggers in your niche who may be interested in featuring content from their websites on yours (this is called an “advertisement” or “sponsored post”).
If a website has thousands or millions of page views per month then it’s worth paying them money because this means there will be thousands of potential customers reading what they publish on their site every day!
Building a successful freelance writing career in the agricultural industry requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. Check out our comprehensive guide on how to become a freelance writer in the agricultural industry to learn the strategies and techniques for thriving in this specialized field.
Get Sponsored Posts On Your Blog
When negotiating a sponsored post, it’s important to be clear about the terms of the agreement. You should know what you’re getting paid for, who owns the rights to your content and how long you are required to promote it (if at all).
It’s also important that you feel comfortable with both the brand and its audience. Only do this if it feels right!
You can usually find sponsors by reaching out directly (via email), but sometimes they’ll come looking for you if they like your content. If that happens, respond immediately so they don’t go looking elsewhere!
Sell Your Photos
One of the easiest and most profitable ways to make money from freelance photography is by selling your images through stock photo sites.
This is a great way to build up an income while you are on maternity leave, since the more pictures you take, the more likely they will be purchased by an interested buyer. You can use these sites to sell your photos as part of a collection or individually.
You may also want to try creating photo books out of some of your best shots! This can be a great way to sell prints with more personal meaning than just pictures posted online (and often for higher prices).
If this interests you, check out our guide here: How To Make A Photo Book On Blurb.
Another option is selling images directly to clients who need them for editorial or commercial purposes such as posters or billboards;
Many photographers find success doing this after building up their portfolios on stock photo websites for several years first so that buyers know what kind of quality they’re getting when commissioning work directly from them.
Instead of those same places (which have been criticized heavily lately because many users do not pay royalties).
Freelancing as an architect and design consultant can be a rewarding career path, even in a challenging economy. Discover the insights and experiences of a successful freelancer in our article on how I became a freelance architect and design consultant in a down economy and gain valuable tips for navigating the industry.
Host An Online Webinar Course
If you have a topic that is in demand and you have the right equipment to record, hosting an online webinar can be extremely lucrative. The trick is to make sure your marketing strategy is in place before you start selling the course. Here are some tips for hosting successful webinars:
Have a good online presence. You want potential students to be able to find you easily and get comfortable with your brand before they buy into it.
Make sure your website looks professional and has lots of contact information, contact forms, and regular updates so it doesn’t look like anyone’s paying attention anymore!
If possible, include testimonials from past participants as well as other professionals within the same industry or niche who may benefit from knowing about what services/products are available through this platform (iTunes podcasts).
This helps build credibility which makes people feel more comfortable buying into something they know will deliver results because they’ve “heard” how others were helped by using similar techniques or ideas first hand.”
Become An Illustrator
If you’re interested in becoming an illustrator, there are many ways to make it happen. The most common way is to freelance for yourself and/or others. You can work from home or anywhere in the world as long as you have access to the internet.
You may choose to start your career as an illustrator by working for a large corporation, but if you’re independently minded and want full control over your work and schedule.
Being self-employed is a great option for creative freelancers who want flexibility over where they work and how much they earn each month.
Be A Transcriptionist
If you’re looking for a job that’s easy to do from home, transcription is for you. According to Upwork’s statistics, there are currently more than 3 million people working as transcriptionists in the United States. If that still doesn’t sound impressive enough, consider this:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the U.S. will need 635K new jobs by 2026 and they think most of them will be in this field!
So what do these jobs entail exactly? Essentially, transcribing involves listening to audio files (usually on phone calls) and typing out what was said in real-time or afterward based on what you hear.
You can work remotely and make your schedule; all you need is a computer and good typing skills (you don’t necessarily have to have any previous experience).
You’ll also need some free software like Express Scribe if you want high-quality audio files keep in mind that while some companies pay upfront for this service, others may charge their fees after the fact if needed (or sometimes even require it).
Balancing freelancing and maternity leave can be a unique challenge for new parents. Learn how to make the most of your professional skills during this important period with our guide on freelancing when you’re on maternity leave, providing practical advice and insights from experienced freelancers who have been through it.
Be A Virtual Assistant
You know that feeling when you’re on maternity leave, and suddenly, your brain goes into overdrive? You want to work but need to do something different than what you would normally do.
Virtual assistant positions seem like the perfect way to combine these two needs. A virtual assistant will typically be responsible for things such as:
- Managing appointments and travel arrangements for clients
- Organizing schedules and calendars (and making sure they stay organized)
- Creating presentations or other documents in a client’s voice.
So if they are writing a blog post on the topic of “how to become a freelance writer” then the VA would write it in their own words (about how much money they made from freelancing), not just copy-paste what was written previously by someone else
Do Some Freelance Writing For Others
There are a lot of ways to do this. You can write for websites, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and other online publications.
You can write e-books and books (self-published or traditionally published). You can also write newsletters for businesses or individuals. Many companies need writers who specialize in specific topics such as health care or marketing.
As an example: ABC News needs an experienced science writer who can produce stories about climate change with regularity.
The company hires freelancers regularly because they’re not able to pay them full-time salaries due to budget restrictions but they still want access to quality content!
So if you have experience reporting on science and technology topics like climate change research papers published by government agencies around the world then this could be a great opportunity for you!
Write For Trading Card Games, Role-Playing Games, Etc
Trading card games (TCGs) and role-playing games (RPGs) are two of the more popular types of games that are played online. These titles require you to be able to write content for them, such as character bios and storylines.
If you have experience with these types of games then this could be your opportunity to make some money while staying home with your new baby. Here’s how:
- Find a site that hires writers who specialize in TCGs and RPGs — there are many out there! You can also try searching on job boards like Craigslist or Monster if you want something more legitimate.
- Be sure that they’re willing to pay per article written because getting paid per hour will not work when you don’t know how much time it will take you to complete an article!
Work As An Academic Writer Of Essays/Thesis/Dissertations/Research Papers (Or Other Academic Material)
Write for academic journals. Review papers and write summaries that are published on the website, or even write original papers on topics you’re interested in.
While this can be a full-time job, it’s not necessarily as lucrative as other types of freelance writing employment (unless you get published in journals with high circulation).
But if you enjoy research and writing about your favorite subjects, this is an excellent way to supplement your income while working from home.
Write for academic books. If there’s a book that needs an introduction or conclusion written, contact the author directly about doing.
So at an hourly rate, you’ll have more control over what kind of payment structure you’ll use than if they hired someone through a publishing company instead!
Write for academic magazines. Magazines like The New Yorker have started accepting pitches from freelancers who work remotely via email instead of having them come into their offices;
Some magazines even have guidelines stating they prefer writers who work remotely due to flexibility concerns regarding family life schedules!
Are you considering freelancing while on paternity leave? Discover how one freelancer managed to start their design work during this special time in our article on how I started freelance design work while on paternity leave, and explore the strategies and considerations for maintaining a freelance career alongside parenting responsibilities.
Become A Pinterest Manager
Pinterest is a social media platform that allows users to create and follow visual collections, called “boards.” These boards can be anything you want from food to fashion to travel. You can follow other people’s boards and get ideas for your boards.
If you have a lot of followers on Pinterest, you could potentially make money from it by becoming an influencer. As the name suggests, being a Pinterest manager means managing the content of others’ Pinterest accounts and helping them grow their audience.
Why would someone want to hire someone like me?
- You don’t have time to manage your account because you’re busy doing other things (like taking care of newborns)
- Your current manager is not doing well at growing your audience or attracting new followers
Do Some Freelance Editing And Proofreading Work
Editing is the process of reviewing, revising, and rewriting text to improve its accuracy and clarity.
Proofreading is a type of editing that involves checking for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and formatting. It’s important to note that editors and proofreaders don’t produce original content – they only make changes to existing content.
If you have good writing skills but little experience in publishing or editing work (and even if you don’t), this task can be easy to find online as some people may be looking for help with their projects.
You may also find work through freelancing job boards like Upwork or Fiverr where many companies post regular jobs seeking editors or proofreaders at all skill levels.
There are many different types of editing jobs available so it’s important to research what each requires before signing up for anything too quickly!
Keep in mind that most clients will expect changes made by an editor/proofreader should be able to stand on their own without any further review by anyone else so having strong knowledge about grammar rules is essential here too!
Take Part In Focus Groups On Products And Services
Focus groups are usually conducted online, but that doesn’t mean you can’t participate from home.
Online focus groups allow you to work around your schedule and make a little money on the side. If you have a laptop or smartphone, you’re good to go!
Just sign up for the ones that look interesting, then follow the instructions for when to log in and answer questions about products or services that are being tested by an organization or company.
Sometimes these companies will pay you directly through PayPal (or another payment method), which is nice because it increases their profits while giving them some valuable demographic data they can use later on.
Other times they’ll give away free samples of products in exchange for feedback from consumers.
But even if there aren’t any financial benefits here, participating in these kinds of activities can keep your mind occupied while also providing useful information to companies who need it most.”
Manage Social Media Accounts For Companies And Organizations That Need Extra Help With It. But Be Very Picky With Who You Work With
If you want to freelance while on maternity leave, you should consider managing social media accounts for other companies or organizations. But be very picky with who you work with.
First of all, make sure the company has a good reputation and seems like they treat their employees well. You don’t want to work for a company that treats its employees poorly!
Second of all, make sure the company has a good reputation and seems like they treat their customers well too! If they’re not going out of their way to treat people right (and especially if they’re mistreating people), then why would you want to bother them?
Finally – and this may sound obvious but it’s worth saying anyway: make sure that the company can pay what was promised when it was promised.
Freelancing during maternity leave can provide flexibility and financial independence, but it also comes with its own set of challenges and lessons. Read about one freelancer’s experience and valuable insights in our article on what I learned from freelancing while on maternity leave to gain practical tips and inspiration for navigating the freelance world during this important life stage.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you’re feeling inspired to make the most of your maternity leave. With these tips and resources, you can find a work situation that works for you one that’s tailored to your unique needs and interests.
If you want more detailed advice about freelancing while on maternity leave, we recommend checking out our guide here.
And if you have any other questions about how this process might look for you, feel free to reach out! We’re here to help and we wish you all the best in this exciting new chapter of your life.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the topic of freelancing and maternity leave:
IPSE: Guide to Freelance Maternity Leave: IPSE provides a comprehensive guide to navigating maternity leave as a freelancer, including legal considerations, financial support, and practical tips for managing your freelance business.
Doing It For The Kids: Planning Maternity Leave as a Freelancer: This resource offers practical advice and personal stories from freelancers who have gone through the process of planning and managing maternity leave while running their own businesses.
The Guardian: Maternity Leave Advice for Freelancers and the Self-Employed: The Guardian provides insights and tips specifically tailored to freelancers and self-employed individuals regarding maternity leave, including legal rights, financial considerations, and practical suggestions for preparing your freelance business.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about freelancing and maternity leave:
Q: What are the legal rights and protections for freelancers regarding maternity leave?
A: Freelancers may have different legal rights and protections depending on their country or jurisdiction. It is important to research and understand the specific laws and regulations in your location to determine the entitlements and benefits available to you.
Q: How can I financially prepare for maternity leave as a freelancer?
A: Financial planning is crucial for freelancers anticipating maternity leave. It is advisable to create a budget, save money in advance, explore insurance options, and consider client retention strategies to help maintain income during your leave.
Q: How do I communicate with clients about my maternity leave?
A: Open and transparent communication with clients is essential. It is recommended to inform clients well in advance about your upcoming maternity leave, discuss project timelines and expectations, and offer alternatives such as subcontracting or referring them to trusted colleagues.
Q: Can I continue freelancing during maternity leave?
A: Whether you can continue freelancing during maternity leave depends on personal circumstances, the nature of your work, and your own physical and mental well-being. Some freelancers may choose to take a complete break, while others may opt for reduced workloads or flexible arrangements.
Q: How do I manage the transition back to freelancing after maternity leave?
A: Returning to freelancing after maternity leave requires careful planning and adjustment. It is important to gradually ease back into work, consider childcare arrangements, reevaluate pricing and services, and seek support from networks and resources specifically designed for freelancing parents.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.