The freelance world is full of various news that we can find across several websites and freelance platforms. Do you know that not all these facts will interest everyone, even a freelancer? That is why we bring you a selection of exciting information from September. These are trending topics from the best freelance websites we can find around.
Freelance Marketplaces, Are You Ready To be Disrupted?
Source: Forbes
Here is the first news from Forbes that caught my attention. I know the moment you see freelance marketplaces getting disrupted, you will be confused the same way I was. The question that popped into my head was, weren’t they the real disruptors? The possibility of disruption will sound strange to explorers of the freelance revolution, a workforce that is upending the staffing marketplace and has only recently entered its second decade.
How does it even sound to you, that the internal organization workforce will soon be vigorously competing with open talent workforce? Yes, that is true. If entrepreneurs that are freelancers do nothing, proprietary marketplaces will control the market, challenge pricing, take share, and prove to be fierce competitors.
What Does the Future of Freelancing Look like?
Source: Millo
I would like to share this expository article I found on the Millo website. This piece talks about the future of freelancing industry. The industry is now worth a whole lot of dollars amounting to billion and is predicted to continue expanding in the years to come. People who work as independent workers will continue to grow in number as more businesses realize the advantages of doing so.
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In case you don’t know, more people are realizing that freelancing is the future of work as the scope of the workplace continues to change. In my own opinion, the future of freelancing looks promising with the rise of the gig economy and the augmentation of digital platforms that connect professionals with businesses.
The Hybrid Teams Model
The Hybrid Teams Model which forms a collaboration between freelancers and full-time workers will improve organizational structure and encourage more businesses to hire freelancers. With the adaptability and cost-effectiveness of freelancers and the commitment and focus of full-time employees, I believe, this approach offers the best of both worlds.
In light of the current status of the world economy, many businesses are looking for methods to reduce expenses. Companies can accomplish this while maintaining high standards of quality and productivity by using the hybrid teams model.
The Future of Freelancing
- Expansion into other Industries
Freelancers are not restricted to make engagement in only one area of expertise, they are also finding innovative ways to demonstrate their skills and expertise in other industries. With that, they will keep their skills sharp and in demand resulting in relevance and increased earnings.
- Advanced Ecosystem Support
Several institutional bodies are adapting to meet the needs of freelancers which include financial management, health insurance, dental and vision insurance
- Technology Advancement
The Impact of AI and Automation in many areas of freelancing has been felt and we can expect more sophisticated technologies that will help improve contract management, negotiation and bring opportunities to you and me as freelancers.
How to Handle Rejection as a Freelance Writer
Source: Medium
In their new article, Medium writes about how we can handle rejection as a freelancer. Everyone hates rejection, but if you want to work as a freelance writer, you’ll need to learn how to handle it. It can be quite challenging to accept rejection at times, but it is a necessary component of the writing game.
I still log on to my personal computer each day to look for writing jobs, despite getting rejection emails. Although, you may have a standout portfolio, excellent writing samples, and 5-star remarks to show off, don’t be too excited, because that still doesn’t give assurance of acceptance.
Request for Feedback
Try to ask for some feedback from the client or editor if you do wind up receiving a rejection. It’s not appealing to hear that your work isn’t good enough, whether it’s from a client who chooses to go in a different route or an editor who has a different perspective on what you are writing about.
I would say back and forth is part of the writing process, so it’s crucial to keep that in mind. Even the most renowned authors have at one time had their fair share of rejections. The secret is to not take rejection personally and to take advantage of it as a chance to improve as a writer.
Take Some Time for Yourself
In particular, if it’s your first time, rejection could hurt a little. After all, even though you’ve put your all into it, your work has consistently been rejected. It is easy to feel unworthy and unqualified to succeed as a writer.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that being rejected is not a reflection of your value as a person. Sometimes ago as a newbie in the game, I remember whenever I have to deal with this, I’d give myself some time, take a stroll, or simply unwind and let my mind be free so I can recover quickly from the heartbreak.
Never Stop Submitting
If you believe in yourself, then keep sending it out. You will at some point come across the person who will appreciate the worth of your work. Therefore, instead of letting rejection emails depress you and stop you from continuing on your writing adventure, take inspiration from them.
Not My Circus – How to Stay in Your Lane as a Freelancer
Source: Freelancers Union
This time, the website FreelanceUnioin talks about the amazing topic that speaks directly on how to maintain your lane as a freelancer. By definition, a freelancer is a part-time employee who works on a specific project or set of tasks. Working part-time means that your contribution to the client’s business consists of a minor piece of a larger puzzle. Your fractional contribution might not have the same impact as it would have if everything were working properly if there are broken or misses
You and I know that the overall success of a project is something all freelancers naturally care about. We take great pleasure in finding solutions to issues, delivering top-notch work, and accomplishing projects that otherwise would not have been feasible. Freelancers will always have to figure out how their fractional contributions fit into the overall picture because no business is perfect. Here are some tips for staying in your lane and maintaining your sanity.
Assess Your Client
With an efficient client screening process, many of the problems that freelancers face can be identified early. I have a set of questions I ask each client right away that makes it easy for me to identify nightmare clients right away.
- Ask them how they intend to implement the project once you’ve finished and how it fits into their overall objectives.
- Find out about their hiring and onboarding procedures.
- Inquire about their overall brand and messaging.
- Also, ask about the client’s familiarity with effective freelancer collaboration.
Focus on Your Area of Control
It can be difficult to avoid worrying about the external factors that will affect the success of your work when you are concerned about the success of your clients and your reputation. There will also be instances in which you do your thing, knock it out, and the client experiences no change at all. I have created countless projects and products for clients who never use them due to some reasons.
Recommend Other Freelancers
Having a pool of talents within your reach as a freelancer will help you stay in your lane and still meet the needs of your clients. If your client screening procedure reveals that your client isn’t ready to meet your requirements, being able to suggest other freelancers is a huge value-add.
How to Get Your Freelance Portfolio in Front of More Prospective Clients and Agencies
Source: The Freelance Informer
Freelancers from around the world have various means through which they secure jobs. FreelanceInformer analyzed the role your portfolio has to play in getting more clients and agencies to work with. I believe you know that there are freelancers who solely rely on companies like recruitment agencies to bag contract jobs or fixed projects. Going with this, you may want to step up your game and make your portfolio more accessible to potential clients.
Compile Your Samples in a Digital Form
There are times you may want to quickly send your portfolio to a prospective client in a matter of moments using an access link. Create a slide show or pdf in which you compile three to four samples of your work or a few case studies. You could accomplish this by creating a pdf of your work’s slides, which can be downloaded in a new window and includes images, text, case studies, and client testimonials.
Add a Video to Personalize Your Portfolio
If you really want to add some personality to your video portfolio, take it a step further through video services like “Tella”. You can add a professional video to go with samples of your work. At the conclusion of the video, including some takeaways outlining what you can do for a client and anything else that is exceptional. Alternatively, you could create a video with stock images, music, and your contact information at the end that indicates what you have to offer. You can also upload these videos to your websites, LinkedIn profile, and social media accounts.
Make Yourself Known in The Press
Most people get cold just thinking about speaking to the press. However, a unique public relation service for freelancers and small business owners has created an avenue to get their messages and knowledge heard by the mainstream press and the entire freelancing community. A good example is “NewsPage” which enables a freelancer to respond to media requests. This portal will even edit your responses without losing context to make them look more appealing to the media.
