13 Things About Freelancing You May Not Have Known Before

Freelancing has been on the rise due to the flexibility it offers to workers. The invention of platforms like Zoom, Google meet, Windows Teams, Slack makes it much simpler. Globally, studies show an increase of an average of 3.7% of workers turning to work from home. Here are several things you may not have known about the freelance industry.

1. Freelancing offers an opportunity to earn more

A freelancer can work on as many projects as they like. Furthermore, when working online, one has the freedom to choose their payment rates.  Also no constraints are imposed on number of clients they can work in parallel. This opens up limitless earning potential which is only limited to ones’ own skills and time availability.

2. Skills and expertise are crucial in excelling in Freelancing

To succeed as a freelancer, focus on improving your skills. Companies are on the lookout for professionals and are willing to pay more for quality work. Also companies of any organization will not tolerate any learning curves any more as there are skilled workers in abundance; if one is failing there are dozens looking for work. Therefore your skills and expertise matters the most in surviving and then thriving   as a Freelancer.

3. Millennials dominate the industry

Millennials are better educated than the other generations. They know more about new trends in tech. In addition, most opt to work from home as they are not willing to commit to permanent employment.

4. Freelancing is flexible

Work from home jobs offers freedom as people can choose the type of work they want and the time to do it. Decision-making is personal, unlike in formal employment. Also it creates a higher degree of worker motivation compared to traditional employment.

5. More companies now hire online 

According to Upwork’s 2020 Future Report, approximately 47% of human resource managers seek to outsource in the future. The reduced routine costs such as office space, transportation, food, electricity, connectivity costs are pushing more and more companies the opt for remote working.

6. Online jobs are currently more than ever before 

Hiring online is on the rise as more companies look for a more productive ways to complete projects. The Covid – 19 Pandemic rendered most people jobless, forcing a large percentage to turn on work from home jobs for survival. 

7. Freelance can be done full time

It is still possible to cater to all bills while working online. Working as a freelancer requires more time and commitment hence works best when done full-time.  Though there are certain risks of engaging in Freelancing full time such as no guaranteed Monthly or Weekly remuneration, there is potential to excel faster and earn a greater income even in an ad-hoc manner compared to traditional which Jobs justifies doing Freelancing full-time.

8. Freelance websites contribute to the workforce numbers

About half of the workforce in the USA and UK are freelancers. With the pandemic, there are also an increased number of online workers globally. Freelance websites such as Upwork, Freelancer and Projects2Bid are providing great platforms for Freelancers to showcase their talents and find work.

9. You can make Freelancing your side-hustle

Those in permanent employment can venture into online working to make that extra coin. Most startups and businesses seek to hire specialists such as online graphic designers, Video designers, Mobile App developers and Web developers to complete simple tasks for them. Also Freelancing can offer a greater degree of motivation compared to traditional employment. This drives workers in traditional employment to always look out for Freelance work more often.

10. New technologies make working online easier

The invention of new platforms such as Zoom, Google meet, Microsoft Teams and Slack ease communication for people in distant places. Businesses can now conduct interviews online and choose candidates they can hire.  Also popular project management tools such as Asana, Trello and Discord makes managing remote work much easier by streamlining ad-hoc tasks in to organized projects.

11. Multitasking is key

You must be good at multitasking to succeed as a freelancer. In most cases, you will have multiple projects to complete for you to make a good income.

12. Legal freelancers are the highest paid

Online legal services charge the highest rate compared to finance, sales, marketing, IT, and engineering.

13. Landing jobs can be challenging for beginners

Most starters spend their first few months without landing even a single job. It is advisable to learn every aspect of the industry before you can start working.  

Final Remarks

Freelancing is the next big thing in the future of work. The numbers are increasing more and more each day. Consider going through the tips discussed in this article to discover more information you previously never knew, before you can start working as a freelancer.