New Age: Freelancing in the New World
With the changes in the economy, freelancing as a profession has become more difficult. Lately after looking at the available opportunities for freelancers, I have noticed that the amount of freelance jobs available have increased significantly. I have also noticed the budget for these opportunities getting smaller and smaller as companies tighten their belts. Freelancers now have to do more to survive in the ever changing economy. Here we will explore some simple ways to make the transition into the new world of freelancing.
Most freelancers are aware of the smaller budgets that have hit the world of online freelancing. Along with lowering budgets, alot of companies are only looking to lower costs and are less concerned with quality. This prevents high quality professionals from competing for market rates. To combat this there are a few things a freelancer can do:
- When using an online freelance broker, filter your results for companies the have location restrictions(US, India, etc.) on projects.
- When submitting a proposal for a project, highlight why the company needs the quality work you provide. Companies now more than ever need a reason to spend more money.
- Build relationships with past employers. This gives the employer the reason they need to spend more money, and gives you a reference for future work.
Even though it is becoming harder to be a professional freelancer, there are still ways to find quality work online. By simply building relationships, filtering the projects, and presenting a case for yourself the idea of a professional freelancer can be kept alive. I would like yo hear what professional freelancers think, and if they have any tips for the new age freelancer.