A Quick Look At Freelance
This month we connected with various freelance professionals and small businesses to find out more about the view of freelance in this space. While freelance or contract work has become more popular the last 12 months, there is still a large amount of people confused about freelance and what it is. This article will sum up the basics of freelance from the perspective of freelance professionals and from a small business owner in our community!
Freelance is Contract Work
The term “freelance” first made an appearance in the English language as early as the 1800’s. It references warrior mercenaries who fought for the nation that paid the most. Most exclusively this term was used in reference to soldiers or fighting.
In today’s modern work world, there is no one size fits all for freelance. Freelance professionals are those who source work and book clients to complete services for from multiple sources. It’s also those who own small agencies or businesses, working as a solo-preneur to source work and complete projects. Additionally, it’s the professionals who use platforms, such as this one, to source leads and complete work.
The most common freelance work is writing and graphic design. Businesses outsource writing for evergreen content, blog posts, editorials, ebooks, etc. They also outsource tasks such as logo designs, print work, animations, and more.
Other independent working categories include programming, multi-media skills in video, audio, and photo, and business tasks such as administrative work, accounting, data entry, and coaching.
Freelance For All
There is no scarcity of work needing to be done, and there’s no scarcity of professionals to complete the work. With several platforms launching and growing – freelance work is expected to rise to 90 million professionals by 2028. As of 2020 there were an estimated 50 million professionals completing freelance tasks.
If you have a skill, you can monetize it. This is the great opportunity that Capitalistic societies can gain rewards from.
Learn how to “Monetize Your Skills” here with a free eBook download from Freelance US.
Perspective Matters – From a Small Business Owner
How the freelance industry is viewed varies depending on the viewer. Small business owners prefer freelance professional work to save money and time when completing tedious taskings. Bigger businesses and corporations prefer the traditional salaried employee.
James Anderson, the owner of GiftASoldier shared his insight with us about the importance of freelance and its relevance for small business owners.
Q: “How do you think a U.S. freelance platform may contribute to small business growth in the U.S.?”
A: “I think TRUST is the most important factor these days when it comes to outsourcing freelance work. While you can receive cheap work from overseas, they often lack the cultural insights a pure U.S. based freelance platform will provide. Another issue is QUALITY, which is much better with U.S. based freelancers. TRUST + QUALITY is a winning formula for any small business growth.”
Q: “How has the freelance industry contributed to your growth?”
A: “My business lives and breathes CONTENT. From ideation to outlining to the creation and then finally publication, each step is to be process driven. Unfortunately, I’m not very good in content writing part but thrive in Ideation instead. I’ve hired a few writers and they’ve delivered stellar content. This has definitely brought in more traffic and consequently, more sales.”
Q: “Please share with us, any relevant information you would like to add about small business ownership and/or the freelance industry.”
A: “Small business owners and freelancers are made for each other. A match made in heaven, if you will. No one can grow alone, one always needs the other. The idea is that frameworks ensuring fair wages (for freelancers) and quality work (for business owners) need to be implemented. What I see is the exploitation of one by the other all over the place. A platform where both QUALITY and WAGES are respected will THRIVE.“
Perspective Matters – From Freelance Professionals
We also connected with Freelance Blogger Christina Kimbrough, who shared her insight as a freelance professional. She currently runs an active blog site spreading awareness and sharing her story!
Q: “What advice do you have for someone looking to start a freelance career?”
A: “Build your online presence through social media and a blog. Write a blog post weekly, and if possible send out a newsletter. Use social media to connect with outlets you’d like to write for. Follow them and engage with their content in an authentic way.“
Wendi Iacobello, the owner of Strength4Spouses Blog had this to say, “I have been a freelance professional for four years. It has offered me the flexibility I have needed as a military spouse and mom. Growth in your niche takes time, so be patient with yourself.”
The Best Way to Start – Is To Start
We recently shared the ABC’s of starting a freelance career on social media.
- Ask for Help
- Build a Mock Portfolio
- Create a Website
Make sure you protect yourself during tax season by consulting with a CPA and lawyer in this space. Take a look at our last blog article, “Tax Benefits of Freelance.”
