Freelancing has become much more socially acceptable than it used to be a few years ago. There were many misconceptions surrounding the industry from it not paying well to freelancers not having any work ethic. However, the post-pandemic world seems to be much more accepting of the freelancing industry as many people were forced to work from home or freelance work after being laid off.
According to data, as of 2022, 70.4 million freelancers are contributing to the US workforce. It is a dynamic and evolving industry that allows you to be your boss and pursue your passion on your terms. However, leaving behind a full-time job can be intimidating. Let us help with it!
Here is your complete guide to becoming a freelancer in 2022.
Most Popular Freelancing Jobs
There are a vast number of freelancing jobs, which are available in the current market because freelancing has several detailed niches in it. Here is a list of the most popular freelancing jobs right now.
Social Media Manager
A social media manager’s job is to develop creative ways to help businesses promote their services and products. That too to their targeted audience. Social media managers assist in improving the generation of leads and marketing strategies.
A freelance social media manager has incredibly flexible hours. It is because these managers can work with multiple brands simultaneously. It allows them to improve their method of communication because they have to deal with numerous clients at once. So if you choose the job of a freelance social media manager, then you’ll need to convince your client that you can bring elements of efficiency and work ethic to the table.
Copywriting
In today’s freelance market, copywriters are having the time of their lives. For freelancers, copywriting is the job that brings the most income. So what exactly does a copywriter do?
A copywriter’s job is to make the customer generate clicks. These are clicks that will benefit the owner of the business. Besides this, freelance copywriters also write newsletters, e-books, articles, and, most importantly, advertising copy. Advertising copy is the niche that generates the most money in this field.
On freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, copywriters can earn between $40 to $50 per hour.
Teacher
Teaching has become very successful under the umbrella of freelancing. It has helped a single teacher reach out to thousands of children just from the comfort of their desktops.
Freelance teachers have adopted the method of creating content and uploading it to their website or blog, which students can access. On the other hand, if students require one-to-one sessions, the teacher can communicate with them via video call.
A freelance teacher does not need to give live classes all the time because their lectures are uploaded for students to see at any time. It does not restrict teachers to a single place at once. Freelance for teachers allows them to avail the option of giving online and in-person lessons.
Video Editor
Video editors have been massively in demand ever since the pandemic because it was during this time that thousands of people started their YouTube channels. Right now, the demand for video editors is greater than ever!
Freelance video editors who are earning good money are usually the ones that are working with multiple channels at once. As much as the story, lighting, and sound of a YouTube video matter, good video editing can make any video stand out from the rest.
Translator
Social media is helping people worldwide connect, and although the language barrier is a significant drawback, translators are helping to break this barrier.
If you cannot understand a language, you will need a translator to translate the words into the language you know. That is why people who speak multiple languages can genuinely opt for a career as a freelance translator.
Knowing multiple languages is an incredible skill today, and translators can make some serious money while freelancing. Some areas where freelance translators can excel are in voiceovers and dubbing of shows and films.
Photographer
If you are great behind the lens of your camera or your phone, then why are you wasting your talent? Given that this niche is saturated, that does not mean you shouldn’t try it.
Freelance photography is something anyone can do if they are good at clicking pictures because several companies and clients hire freelance photographers. You can also choose a niche where you can photograph animals, food, cars, furniture, or anything you can think of, and start selling your work for a fortune.
Tips to Becoming a Successful Freelancer
Do not let the flexible work routines fool you! Freelancing is not easy. It requires immense dedication and hard work to become a successful freelancer. Here are a few tips you can follow to make sure you have a successful freelancing career.
Finding Your Niche
If you are brand new to the idea of freelancing and it intrigues you, pay attention to the skillset you have to find your niche. The marketplace is saturated as there are tons of people offering their services and knowing what your strengths are and how your unique skill set can help set you apart from the competition. Ask yourself these questions:
- What is your best skill?
- Do you have any additional skills that you market?
- What is your target audience and marketplace?
Let us say your best skill is writing and you want to freelance as a copywriter. However, if you also have an additional skill such as SEO, editing, or web development you can market it as a selling point. It makes you more valuable than the average writer as you bring additional talent to the table like an understanding of SEO, which makes a writer more valuable for digital marketing.
Setting up a Home Office
If you plan to work from home as a freelancer, having a little organization and decorum will help you separate your work and personal life. Do not just sit on your bed with a laptop and start working. Your workspace affects your productivity. Working from your bed might make you feel lethargic and unproductive because that is typically a place your brain associates with sleep and relaxation.
Therefore, invest in creating a simple home office. Your workspace does not need bells and whistles it just needs to be practical. Just make sure your workspace is well-lit and separated from distractions so you can focus on your projects.
Having a Good Internet Connection
A good internet connection is a necessity for freelancers as it is the backbone of your operation. You do not want to be stuck with a network that keeps buffering and lagging, or you will never be able to complete your work on time. Depending on where you live, get the best internet plan you can for your internet usage.
A fiber internet connection would be ideal as it ensures low latency and excellent internet speeds. Furthermore, it offers symmetric speeds and a reliable connection that does not get affected by weather conditions. However, fiber internet is not widely available in the US. The next best options are cable and DSL internet depending on where you live.
https://www.windstreambundledeals.com/offer a hybrid internet connection that has a fiber-based backbone. Windstream Servicio al cliente en Espanol ensures minimum latency and high-speed internet performance. Furthermore, there are no annual contracts or data caps to worry you. Place your order now via Windstream customer service.
Consistency and Hard Work
Making a mark in the freelancing industry is tough. There are tons of people offering the same services as you. There is no limitation on where people can apply for a gig on freelancing platforms so you are up against the best of the best from around the world. The only way you can be a successful freelancer is by being consistent and giving your best.
Keep putting your work out there and work hard. Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it. You will have more choices in gigs and projects as you become a professional at it. However, while you are just starting it is okay to work for a little less for experience and learning.
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
When you are working nine to five, nobody is pushing you to learn and improve your skillset. For this reason, many people start feeling bored with their jobs as the monotony sets in. Do not let this be the case with your freelancing journey. Branch out and experiment with the different facets of your skillset.
Try out different jobs and roles to keep learning and improving. Work with different types of clients on different kinds of projects to diversify your experience. This might require you to step out of your comfort zone, but it is worth it.
Benefits of Freelancing
We understand how challenging it can be to leave a stable office job and switch to a freelancing career. If you are still on the fence about it, here are a few benefits freelancing has over a conventional office job that one should consider.
Flexibility
The first benefit that freelancing offers is that it brings incredible flexibility. Freelancers can set hours as per their schedule. They can work whenever they like and rest whenever they feel like it. There are no restrictions on giving fixed hours to a job because the more you freelance, the more you earn.
On the other hand, if you ever feel like taking a break from freelancing, you can rest as long as your schedule allows you to. Get into the freelancing bubble and assign hours to yourself!
Diversified Source of Income
Freelancing brings you multiple and diversified sources of income. If you are freelancing in numerous niches, you’ll get paid differently as per the agreement with the client and the money you get isn’t fixed.
Usually, freelance payments are carried out according to the number of hours or on a particular milestone. For example, if you are a freelance photographer, you might get paid for meeting the goal of a specific number of photos.
Creative Control
When you freelance, you are the master of your creativity because nobody gets to instruct you on how to do your work. When your client assigns you to work, you can agree on the terms with them and demand creative control. If they don’t want you to do their work in a particular style, then you can insert your elements to deliver the best possible job you can.
Better Work-Life Balance
Freelancing brings about a better work-life balance for workers because, as mentioned earlier, the flexibility that comes with it is fantastic. There is no limit to the number of hours you can work, and it isn’t like a job where you will need to do overtime because nobody likes that, right? With freelancing, you get to work how much you want so you can give your loved ones the time and attention, they need from you.
Spending time with your family and friends is much more essential than work, but as long as you have the right balance alongside your freelance career, you have nothing to worry about.
Enhanced Skill Set
If you are good at a particular skill, then freelance can help you polish that skill. Alternatively, something even better is that if you think you have mastered a skill, you can start learning another skill and add that to your freelancing portfolio.
There is no limit to the number of freelancing skills you can learn. It comes down to how much time you are willing to put in and how much you are willing to learn.
Drawbacks of Freelancing
Although freelancing has some cons, they need to be known so that people who wish to start in this field also learn about them.
No Employee Benefits
Of course, since you work alone, freelancing does not come with any team member benefits. Even if you plan to set up your own freelancing company and hire other people, let them know that offering those benefits won’t be possible. Freelancers are not eligible for any health insurance or retirement policies through their work. This usually has many people stay away from freelancing.
No Fixed Income
As a freelancer, be ready to have a fluctuating income. Your regular clients might not always have the same amount of work for you. If you are stepping into the world of freelancing, be ready to accept that some days you will earn pretty well, while others will be super dry. As long as you are mentally prepared with this thought in your mind, you will pull through.
Bottom Line
Freelancing is not everybody’s cup of tea because not everyone has the patience to deal with a fluctuating income and seasonal work. On the other hand, freelancing also has many benefits, which is why many people turn to it.
Our digital age is seeing the transition of people from office work to freelance, and most of them, if not all, have great things to say about freelancing. If you think, you’re up for it, then why not have a go at freelancing? Who knows how high your ceiling is with THAT one skill you are good at?
