LinkedIn; the Future of Freelancing

In a time when unemployment rates remain stagnant and job security is scarcer than ever, many people have turned to freelance as a viable source of income. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the number of taxpayers reporting earnings from self-employment increased by 25 percent between 2014 and 2015 alone. As this trend continues, LinkedIn has named the future of freelancing. In response to this rise in independent workers, companies like Upwork and Fiverr have emerged as the go-to digital marketplaces for services like writing, coding, designing, or accounting. In other words, LinkedIn users have spoken; they are ready to freelance. However, there’s much more to joining the future of freelancing than simply creating a profile on one of these sites.

You’re probably familiar with LinkedIn as a professional networking site. But did you know it’s also a great resource for freelancers? That’s right, the LinkedIn platform is home to over 70 million of the world’s most talented and qualified professionals who are looking to find freelance jobs. This social media site is perfect for connecting with like-minded people, getting expert advice on niche topics, and building your network. It makes sense then that freelancing has exploded in recent years as more people turn to independent work and as new tools have emerged to help freelancers manage their projects and facilitate connections with potential clients. With this blog article, I want you to explore how LinkedIn is changing the freelance world from how freelancers can use it to find work, key trends impacting freelancers today, and what lies ahead for those in the freelance sector. Here are some tips for anyone interested in becoming a successful freelancer — and that includes you!

Build Your Network

Building relationships with other successful freelancers can help you find jobs, build your professional network, and make more money. One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a future as a successful freelancer is to get in touch with people who are already freelancing. You can do this in several ways. Get involved in online communities, join meetups, and follow other freelancers on social media. Additionally, you can also try reaching out to your previous employers to see if they have any knowledge of other businesses that might be looking for someone like you. Be sure to emphasize your value as a freelance professional and ask them to pass your information on to anyone who might need your services.

Find Your Niche

Choosing a niche will help you narrow down the type of work you want to do, while also making it easier to find work. You can do this by asking yourself a few questions to determine where your skills and interests lie. For example, what do you enjoy doing? With what kinds of things are you particularly skilled? What skills do you possess? What are your current interests? Once you’ve answered these questions, you can start thinking about niches. For example, let’s say you enjoy writing and are good at grammar. You also have a lot of experience editing academic papers. You might consider niches like writing for students, editing papers, or proofreading academic papers.

Don’t Forget About Marketing

Freelancers who want to thrive in the future of freelancing must also focus on growing their brand. This means coming up with a name for yourself, creating a logo, and choosing a color scheme. That’s right, you can’t forget about branding yourself as a freelancer. You’re not just offering a service, you’re also forming a personal brand. Since you won’t have an employer to do it for you, you have to take matters into your own hands. Don’t know where to start? Educate yourself on what personal branding is and how it applies to freelancers like you. Then, create a marketing plan for how you’ll spread the word about who you are as a freelancer.

Don’t Just Be a Freelancer, Be a Marketer Too

As I’ve discussed, you can’t just sit back and wait for work to come to you. You also can’t solely rely on online marketplaces to bring you, clients. Instead, you should be thinking about finding your clients. Start by creating a list of businesses that you think could benefit from using your services. Then, reach out to these businesses and ask if they’re interested in hiring you. Don’t know where to start?Inquire of your family and acquaintances whether they know of someone who might use your services. You can also try reaching out to businesses in your area, cold emailing businesses you like, emailing professors to see if they know students who need help with their papers, or reaching out to companies that use your services.

Summing up

Freelancing is a great way for people to make money on their terms, but it does come with certain challenges. One of the biggest challenges is finding steady work and marketing yourself to find that work. Luckily, LinkedIn has named the future of freelancing, and these tips can help you succeed in this increasingly popular line of work. It facilitates the users by providing the opportunity to showcase their profiles, connections, recommendations, and expertise. LinkedIn helps job seekers to land their dream job. Therefore, all young and dynamic professionals need to upkeep LinkedIn.