A lot has happened in the past few years, and almost everyone’s life has been turned upside down. One of the most eye-catching changes has happened in our work culture, mostly due to the pandemic outbreak of 2019. This has brought on the need for an optimized working culture that can adapt to these unconventional circumstances.
Next to new open positions in jobs, you can do from home, new and improved opportunities are emerging, trying to normalize this shift in our lives.
Freelance in 2021
Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has served as a catalyst for most of these changes, however, they’ve been at our door for a long time. Freelancing is not something new, and for a lot of people, it was a source of their full income. Therefore, people have been looking to optimize the culture of freelance for a long time.
The pandemic outbreak served as a catalyst, because only now do outsiders see the meaning and importance of freelance, and because remote work has become the new norm, new software and other innovations are supporting the needs of freelancers as well.
Additionally, freelancers are accustomed to the flexibility that is needed by all companies due to the sudden lockdowns, and remote work accompanied by changing working hours and project-based employment is not something they need to learn. It’s already their profession.
And now that freelancers can enjoy being at the top of their game, more people are joining in, searching for ways they can take advantage of the benefits of this work style. One of the most important things to do when working or starting out as a freelancer is pinpointing your skills and learning new ones on the way, becoming the best on the market.
Thankfully, with the new technological advancements and innovations of this decade, more and more opportunities are emerging, and what’s considered to be the most lucrative skills shift and change periodically, making way for new ways to improve yourself and add to your repertoire.
Programming & Software Development
Software and mobile app development, next to any kind of programming are the most high-paying gigs for freelancers. This is mainly because any of these skills are very hard to master, and there aren’t many reliable programmers on the market. This means that the demand is high, and if you’re reliable, the pay is even higher.
Because this is such a highly sought-after skill, you’ll need to invest in your training before marketing yourself. Free online training will only teach you the basics, therefore you’ll need to look for something more concrete than that.
After some time, training, and a few clients, you’ll gain some sort of reputation, and earn the trust of more prestigious clients. With good referrals and solid skills, you can start charging around $150 per hour, or more.
Web Design & Development
PHP development and web design are some of the most in-demand skills as a freelancer. But because of the demand, a lot of people are learning basic web design, making the market overcrowded.
Basic coding and basic design are easy to learn, in fact, most people do it for themselves. This is why it’s wise to pair any of these with something more concrete to raise your value. Have a precise niche, and deep knowledge of one thing, and market that. If you do that, this area can certainly be the source of all your income.
Content Writing
Thanks to online marketing and the evolution of social media platforms, content writing, and content marketing are considered to be one of the hottest areas for freelancers. By finding the right clients, you can find full-time employment, and won’t have to chase gigs. It’s also a great source of income if someone does it full-time.
The only negative side to writing gigs is that it relies on the foundation of God-given talent, and is not a skill that’s easy to learn. Additionally, you need to practice a lot, read a lot, and there’s a ton of research. But if you have the talent, and if you love writing, this is a promising field for freelancers everywhere.
Translation
If you’re a writer who also happens to be bilingual or multilingual, translation can be something to consider. You have to pick a niche and a specialty, for example, some people translate CVs, while others focus on legal documents and blogs sites. The more specialized you are, the better gigs you’ll receive.
But being bilingual is not enough. Some people have a degree in a language or translation, but even if you don’t have that, you need some sort of knowledge of translation techniques, especially if you want to specialize in something specific and intricate. It’s also very important to understand the nuances of how different languages and therefore different cultures interact.
Editing & Proofreading
A common misconception is that if someone can write, they can edit as well. This, however, is not true. Just as some of the best editors can’t write, most writers can’t edit. Therefore, editing and proofreading is a separate niche and field for freelancers.
This is yet another field that serves you best if you specialize in something unique and precise. It also has many layers from proofreading, copyediting, line editing, all the way to developmental editing, which all require different sets of skills. But if you have a good foundation, it can be a highly lucrative job.
Graphic Design
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Graphic design, after programming, is the second most in-demand skill for freelancers according to most lists. Most design freelancers earn up to $85 per hour with the right set of skills.
Furthermore, infographic design has a higher demand, meaning that there’s a larger market for designers specializing in logo design, icon design, and illustrations. Because of the rise in demand, clients are willing to pay more than in the past years. But, like in writing and editing, you’ll need the right training and a talent for design.
Video Editing
Freelance video editors in the United States earn between $72,000 and $120,000 per year, making this yet another very beneficial field for freelancers with the right training. With the evolution of YouTube, and the new video content services of Facebook and Instagram, the demand for video editors has reached an all-time high in the past years.
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With a small investment into the right training and reliable software, anyone can start their journey as a video editor. And because these trends will most likely not go out of style in the near future, this skill is also a great investment in the long run.
Social Media Marketing
People underestimate their knowledge of social media. Because half of the world’s population was born with a phone in their hand, a lot of people are born with deep knowledge of the most influential channel of our lifetime: social media.
If you have a knack for gaining followers and encouraging engagement, and if the handling of social media is second nature for you, you probably should be getting paid for it. There are a lot of companies looking for people with the right skills to master the platforms of social media, and because it’s a highly sought-after skill, it can be very high-paying as well.
Data Science
Today, when everything is happening online through data, and all important information is in the cloud, data science has become more important than ever. And because professionals are hard to come by, it has become one of the most in-demand skills today.
While there are a lot of user-friendly software applications people can use to collect data, it doesn’t mean that businesses know what to do with that information, and how to track and report it in a profitable and useful way. This is where you come in, as a data science specialist to help companies secure, analyze, and most importantly, understand the data they hold. Here are the Data Science Interview Guidelines for reference.
SEO
SEO can be paired with almost everything from writing to coding, and it makes any skill more profitable, but can also stand on its own. Having knowledge of SEO is a major advantage for any freelancer.
SEO means Search Engine Optimization, without which companies can’t manage any sort of online presence these days. An SEO specialist analyses websites, and finds solutions to make the website rank higher on any search engine, mainly Google. This is why it can also be paired well with other fields as well. It’s one of the most trending fields today.
Finding the perfect specialization as a freelancer in a sea of opportunities and new trends can be very daunting. The best thing to do is find the thing you’re best at, and complete it with other skills that add to the value of your chosen field. This can be programming, SEO, design, etc. By creating a well-rounded and specialized portfolio, you’ll be the best in the market.
