What is the essence of this long lock-down holiday without becoming better and more empowered? So many are complaining within this period, others are whiling away time on social media, but we should be different, this is the time to get that skill, read that book(s), get that training, that will boost your career, business and increase your income.
In this article I’m going to be sharing some skills I think you should get during this lock-down period. You don’t want to come out of this period like every other person out there, and I tell you what, after this period, the competition will be fierce cos everybody wants to hit the road fast. Businesses want to make sales, get that contract, save cost, make that deal; employees want to get the best hands-on-deck that will increase productivity and so much more. Your ability to learn one or more skills will empower you to beating this feat and standing out, becoming the best choice.
In view of this, let’s get on with these 5 skills you should empower yourself with during this lock-down period and what is even better, you can get to be a pro with any of these skills in less than 2 weeks if you’re determined and focused.
1. Graphics Design Skill
This can not be over-emphasized. As a small business owner, you want to empower yourself on how to design your business graphics often without having to pay someone each and every time. Whether you like it or not, you have to be coming up with graphic content regularly as a business owner; graphic content for social media and for brand communication and this have to be consistent. You don’t have to go learning how to use complex design tools like the Photoshop and fireworks. You can use simple tool like Canva, even if you don’t know jack about design, you can come out with professional designs for your business. Click HERE to see how you can start using canva to design your business graphics content from today.
2. Copywriting Skill
This is the king of marketing. Copywriting is the act of writing a CONVINCING message to arouse the interest of your prospective customer/client to make a decision, and most time the decision would include, making a purchase or subscribing to an offer/newsletter. Copywriting is wide and a full blown course on its own. If you can master the art of writing a bad-ass copy for your business/product, you’re more than half way to making massive sales.
One of the best copywriters of all time is the almighty Gary Halbert of blessed memory. Gary Halbert was so good at writing copies for BIG businesses and charges as much as $1 million to write just a copy. In commemoration of his existence, several of his copies were packaged as The Gary Halbert Letter online for free access. So many people have improved on their copy writing skills by just going through some of his copies. You can also check them out HERE. You can read as many as possible to build your copy-writing skills. As a matter of fact, I made it a norm to read at least ONE of Garys letters each day.
You can also Google online and enroll on Copywriting courses.
You can earn big with this skill once you’re good and you master the art very well. Brands and companies pay premium for this service.
3. Bookkeeping Skill
Bookkeeping involves the recording, on a daily basis, of a business’s financial transactions. With proper bookkeeping, businesses are able to track all information on its books to make key operating, investing, and financing decisions.
As a bookkeeper, you tend to manage all financial data for businesses/companies. Without bookkeepers, companies would not be aware of their current financial position, as well as the transactions that occur within the company, which might result in loop holes for great losses for these companies. You stand to bridge this gap for businesses and help them to save more and make better decisions.
Bookkeeping is one skill you want to develop in this times of covid-19 holidays. There are several courses on this online. You can check out udemy.com also.
4. Content Writing Skill
Content writing is all about writing articles for websites, blogs or companies. Content writers are professional writers who design engaging content that is used in various online activities.
They’re Internet-savvy individuals who make blogs, articles, captions, website content and other types of written Web materials.
A good content writer must have some skills like Excellent written communication skills, Research proficiency, A knack for storytelling, Knowledge of his/her target reader, Proofreading and editing abilities, Adaptability, Social media know-how, A grasp of basic search engine optimization (SEO) and Time management skills
This job can easily be done from home and making use of your time. You just have to make researches and organize your own working hours. Fixing the work rates all depend on you, you’re also free to ask for the financial independence from your employer.
If you’re really interested in writing, get a course that can brush you on this skill and once you’re done and you’re good at it, create a profile on freelance sites like Upwork.com, Fiverr.com, Freelancer.com, Guru.com, and Elance.com.
5. Facebook Advertising Skill
A colleague I know charges N350,000 monthly to run Facebook advertisement for businesses.
Facebook Advertising skill is something you want to learn and master on your own, trust me. There’s nothing as great as running your ads (the right and professional way) yourself and commanding great sales and results. I tell you what, as a business owner, if you are not advertising on Facebook like a pro, you are missing out on a whole lot of sales/income.
Once you’re good with this skill, you can as well sell it to businesses out there and make great income for yourself.
But as a business owner, make it a compulsory feat to master this art, very important. You can start Here – How to x10 your sales with Facebook ads like a Pro.
Bonus Skill:
Mobile/Phone Photography:
Before the days of smartphones — if you can remember such a time — taking a great photo was a labor-intensive process. You’d have to buy a fancy camera and editing software for your desktop computer, and invest some serious time and energy into learning how to use them.
But, thanks to our mobile devices and the editing apps that come with them, we can now take high-quality photos and edit them without too many bells and whistles — all from the same device that we use to make calls.
This skill is fast becoming in great demand by small businesses who can’t afford expensive photo-shoot cost. Click Here to see several courses you can choose from to lean this skill
Abbey there you go again,
Your list is a master craft, product of real expertise I must say.
Dwelling on point number "4,"
I love every bit of content writing except working on or with "Content mills." Like the ones listed.
To me, it doesn't make sense working with brokers, though a handful of colleagues claim they earn decent income and all that, never been my thing.
Bidding $5 for a 1,500 word length content to me feels like enslaving a freelance writer.
They aren't beggars or slaves asking for a favor, they make sales, engagement and returns on businesses happen with their writing skills.
they deserve better offer and some respect.
Not contradicting your idea though, but personally I'd advice content writers to work on creating their own platforms/writing blog, this way they will command and work on their own rates.
You're right Raphael, but I tell you what, on those same brokers where some persons list their services for $5, there are some that have same service for $50, $100 & $200. So, as it is not a bad idea to harness different sources for business deals, you should take it a step after another by building your confidence on these brokers to earn better reviews first before increasing your fee and that's probably why some might have to offer the service as cheap as that for a start. This is exceptional for those that are just desperate to make money tho.
Thanks for your contribution.