Still getting an uneasy feeling when thinking about hiring a freelancer?
We get it. In the past, hiring a freelancer could get dicey, and sometimes the uncertainty of the situation wasn’t really worth the money or the expertise.
In this article
- How Digital Platforms Have Pruned the Gig Economy
- What Is the Gig Economy?
- Why You Should Engage the Gig Economy
- Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Hire a Freelancer
- Client Reviews
- Pay Through the Platform
- Attract Top Talent
- Lower Costs
- Top Industries for Hiring Freelance Work in 2024
- Top Jobs for Freelancers in 2024
- The Creative Industry and Freelancing
- Outro
But in this unpredictable world impacted by COVID-19, things have changed. Thanks to the rise of cloud computing and digital freelance platforms, it’s now easier than ever to become a freelancer and create a niche in the thriving gig economy.
And it’s not just workers who are benefitting from these changes. New and emerging gig economy platforms such as Toptal, Guru, and of course, Voices, have made hiring freelance work easier and less time-consuming for businesses.
As a business owner, you may have already heard a lot about why you should be working with freelancers. Still a little hesitant? Not to worry. This article will take you through the details of how digital freelance platforms have paved the way for the gig economy to come to maturity, and why it’s time to jump on the trend.
How Digital Platforms Have Pruned the Gig Economy
Freelancers seem to be everywhere, and you’re not imagining it—roughly 35% of the global workforce identifies as freelance. With such a staggering statistic, it’s important to start thinking about how to harness the immense talent in the gig economy. Depending on your industry, the majority of the talent you need may already be out there waiting for you.
Let’s take a look at how digital platforms have helped the gig economy come into its prime.
What Is the Gig Economy?
First off, let’s establish what we mean by “gig economy.”
The term “gig economy” refers to the ever-growing portion of the workforce choosing independent contractor relationships rather than traditional FTE employment. Also known as a side hustle or a side gig, freelance employment typically focuses on creating a short-term relationship with clients for specialty projects.
Why You Should Engage the Gig Economy
So what does the gig economy have to do with you?
Well, a lot, actually. As the gig economy comes into full bloom, we’re seeing more and more workers leave their full-time jobs and turn to freelance work, especially in certain industries, as illustrated by the 2022 Annual Trends Report.
Freelancing has been around for a long time, of course, but the emergence of innovative freelancing platforms has accelerated the growth of the gig economy significantly. This means that it’s easier and less risky for you as a business owner to search for, find, and contract with top talent.
With a huge chunk of talent leaving the traditional workforce and setting their sights on the world of freelancing, not engaging with freelancers may prevent you from maximizing your business potential.
Good freelancers need to remain competitive to stay in the game, so it’s a great opportunity for you as a business owner to shop for great rates and timelines.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Hire a Freelancer
Gig economy platforms such as Fiverr, Voices, or UpWork have changed to the game when it comes to hiring a freelancer. Here are four reasons why you as a small business owner no longer need to be afraid to hire a freelancer using these platforms.
Client Reviews
One of the most unsure things about hiring a freelancer back in the day was the quality of their work. Sure, they’ll provide samples of past work and all, but…how do you know it was really their own?
Freelancer platforms take a lot of the uncertainty out with the customer review. Just as we all glance at the Amazon rating on a product we’re eyeing, you can read through the customer reviews to see if this freelancer is the real thing.
Pay Through the Platform
The payment was another thing that sometimes got a little tricky. But now you may not need to worry about it—many digital freelance platforms handle the payment transactions for you so that you can rest easy about not getting scammed.
Attract Top Talent
And perhaps the most important reason to hire a freelancer? Because you want someone good who can get the job done. With the gig economy in full swing, much of the available and up-and-coming talent is in the freelance market. That means that if you aren’t engaging, you may not be taking full advantage of the talent out there.
Lower Costs
Who isn’t concerned about their bottom line? Hiring a freelancer can now save you time and money. Thanks to the availability of cloud computing, video chatting, and remote work, contacting and communicating with a freelancer is quick and simple.
You can skip the need entirely to hire a temporary staff member or create a mish-mash job description to handle pet projects. Find the right person to get the job done, and after they finish, you’re off the hook!
Top Industries for Hiring Freelance Work in 2024
It’s important to be aware that certain industries are more prone to freelance work than others. Consulting, for example, has long been ripe for hiring a quality freelancer, whereas you’re a little less likely to come across a freelance elementary school educator.
Top Jobs for Freelancers in 2024
Knowing which platforms to check out is one prong to successfully engaging the gig economy. The other is knowing what industries have most successfully migrated there.
The pros and cons of the gig economy haven’t fallen equally on everyone. While computer and IT workers have long since dominated the freelance market, the creative freelance industry is beginning to blossom too.
The creative industry encompasses such specialties as writing, translation, voicework, audio production, fashion & design, and art & illustration.
The Creative Industry and Freelancing
The creative industry is one of the top industries for freelance work. If you’re looking for any sort of voice-over work, for example, you’d do well to first check out the freelance market.
Working with a third-party company isn’t off the table and does have some benefits, but chances are you can land a better deal with a freelancer without worrying about the middleman fees.
Outro
If you’ve been on the fence about hiring a freelancer, we get it. But it’s now 2024, and it’s time to venture out and give it a try. With digital freelancer platforms mitigating your risk and the gig economy as a whole coming into bloom, you won’t want to pass over all that top talent!
Comments
This is great; anyone can enter the gig economy and become a freelancer these days! And it’s the dedicated ones who really study their craft – their art – and continually get better, and keep up with the industry – who really soar! Thanks for sharing!