How to Freelance in the Era of Covid-19
Even before Covid-19 threw the planet into a tailspin, freelance work had been a staple of the world economy. In the Asia Pacific region, 84% of hiring managers have reported outsourcing work to freelancers, with 79% saying a more flexible workforce gives industries a competitive advantage.
Now that the global pandemic has grounded everyone at home, people are flocking to the gig economy in droves. Competition has made this type of business even more complicated.
If you’re a new freelancer attempting to navigate this way of working, here are three steps to help give you an edge.
- Accept that it’s going to be tough
Even at the best of times, freelancing isn’t easy. Part of your job is finding and keeping clients. You also have to ensure you get paid on time, have your own insurance, and file your own paperwork.
With the pandemic, it’s even tougher for current freelancers to find work as their regular clients may no longer be able to pay them. Moreover, quarantine measures have ensured that the freelancer market is currently bursting at the seams with new workers.
Being a freelancer at this time means going on a continual hunt for the next job, hoping that this is the one that will last you more than a couple of weeks. This means an adjustment and buffing up your mental fortitude. Accept that things won’t get easier over time; you just get used to it.
As such, when getting into freelancing, level your expectations. You won’t turn into an instant success overnight. You need to build up your name and your career—and for some, it may be from the ground up.
Given all this, what can a new freelancer do?
- Assess Your Skills, Select your Niche
Take time to review your skills thoroughly in order to answer this question. Some answers may surprise you. For example, you may find your niche in teaching your skills remotely to others. Whether educating children in music or mentoring new digital marketers, this can be a viable source of employment. On the other hand, you can act as a consultant for businesses in your particular industry. Both of those avenues only require an Internet connection and your expertise to get started.
Some freelancers may not have skills that are easily adaptable to work-from-home. If you’re committed to freelancing, you will need to take the chance and learn new skills that you CAN apply. And the best source of that will be other freelancers who have skills they want to share.
- Put Yourself Out There
There is no going around it—you need to market yourself. Set up your portfolio, then: advertise, network, ASK. With the enormous influx of new freelancers, you can be sure that clients won’t come to you; you will have to go to them and make sure you stand out.
One quick thing to try: contact old clients and ask if they need your services. After all, you already have a relationship, and it’s far easier to maintain current clients than to look for new ones. Even if they can’t provide you with work now, they may recommend you to others who can.
You can also try email marketing, creating your own website to advertise your skills, and building up a social media presence. And you can always turn to friends and family to refer you to would-be clients.
Another viable avenue is to sign up with freelancing websites such as Upwork, Freelance.ph, and Fiverr. These online platforms provide freelancers with worldwide access to potential employers, a webpage to showcase your portfolio and experience, and a payment system. However, they charge hefty fees for this service, so keep that in mind before signing on.
- Remember to Rest
It’s easy to lose track of time in the freelancing business, so slow down now and then to take care of your mental and emotional state. Job hunting and completing projects are taxing and stressful, so carve out some time from your schedule to take breaks and do things that make you happy. Remember, you won’t be any good to anyone (yourself included) if you’re burned out.
Do you have your own tips for new freelancers? Sound out in the comments below.