Whether you’ve freelanced for years or are contemplating a late-career switch to becoming a self-employed freelancer, there are a few ways to boost your chances of success. According to data from the recently released report, Freelancing in America: 2019, from Freelancers Union and the online freelance platform Upwork, nearly a third of U.S. workers over 50 freelance either part time or full time. (Next Avenue published an earlier article with detailed findings from the freelancers survey.) Most 50+ freelancers do so by choice. That was the case for 60% of people ages 50 to 64 surveyed who freelance and 73% of those age 65 and older. Here are four ways to maximize your freelance earning potential by taking advantage of current freelance trends: 1. Use your existing skills The most common type of work done by freelancers of all ages, according to the survey, is providing skilled services — things such as consulting, marketing or programming. And skilled freelance work pays more than unskilled freelance work. The survey found freelancers providing skilled services earn an average of $28 an hour, compared with $20 an hour for unskilled work. Some skilled freelancers make a lot more. Some of the highest-paid work on Upwork, for example, is in accounting and finance. People with experience in corporate restructuring, bitcoin or international accounting bill more than $200 an hour. So, if you spent a career honing your skills in a specific field, it’s worth considering using them as a springboard to freelancing. 2. Network, network, network There’s another reason to do what you know when you’re a freelancer. The Freelancing in America report noted that personal networks are the top source of assignments for freelancers who do skilled work. Personal networks include previous freelance clients, friends and family, and professional contacts. Older freelancers have a leg up here, since they’ve been in the workforce longer than people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Meeting and working with more people over a longer span of time creates a larger network, and those connections can pay off, said Upwork CEO Stephane Kasriel. Social networks like Facebook FB, -0.05% , Twitter TWTR, -0.70% and LinkedIn are the second most important sources of freelance work. But it’s not enough just to have an account, especially on LinkedIn, which is focused on business. “There’s a big difference between being on LinkedIn and knowing how to master it. You have to be in the groups and communities” pertaining to your field, said Jeri Sedlar, author of “Don’t Retire, Rewire.” Freelance websites are another source of work. If you’re consider creating profiles on freelance platforms to put the word out that you’re available, try generalist sites like Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, and Freelancer.com. But don’t overlook freelance sites for a specific industry, such as Axiom, for the legal profession, or sites run by staffing company TrueBlue for people seeking on-demand, temporary or freelance work in manufacturing, construction, transportation, hospitality and other industries. 3. Invest in training It’s especially important for older […]
Click here to view original web page at www.marketwatch.com
from Freelancing Buzz https://freelancingbuzz.com/how-to-be-a-successful-freelancer-4-strategies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-be-a-successful-freelancer-4-strategies
via https://freelancingbuzz.com
No comments:
Post a Comment