How to Thrive As A Freelancer in 2022

Do you have skills in the creative and/or service sector? Have you been offering services on a part-time basis to different clients or firms? Is the job you are doing pay you depending on the tasks per short-term? Do you work for different people at a different time – not employed by a single firm?

If the job you are doing answers any of these questions, then you are a freelancer.

A freelancer is a person who works and earns money based on the task completed within a period of time – usually short-term. This is a person who is not employed by any firm and can concurrently work for different companies or individuals.

A freelancer has the liberty to work from any workspace and has a flexible work schedule – to meet the needs of different clients.

Freelance Jobs

Freelancers can do different freelance jobs at their convenience time. Sometimes, full-time employees of a company can work as freelancers during their free time.

There are various freelance jobs available in sectors like art, design, film, editing, copywriting, proofreading, media, marketing, music, acting.

Other jobs include journalism, video editing, and production, illustration, tourism, consulting, website development, computer programming, event planning, photography, language translation, tutoring, catering, among others.

The labour market in Kenya has many freelance jobs you can undertake depending on your skills. For example, if you are an electrician you can work as a freelancer, connecting different homes, or firms with electricity.

If you have plumbing skills, you can work as a freelancer for different firms, or homes. Those with technical and technological skills have a higher chance of working as freelancers.

Freelance jobs pay an agreed amount based on the time and efforts required to complete a task. The amount can be flat, paid per hour, per day or per-project/task completed.

For instance, a data entry freelancer will pocket up to Ksh.500 per hour according to Glassdoor.

Statistics show that freelance jobs are gaining traction in the post-pandemic economy. According to the 2022 Annual Trends Report, most companies are opting to offer freelancers an opportunity to keep their businesses running during uncertainties.

The report shows that freelancers are out for it due to improved work-life balance, increased control over their schedules, and reliability and stability in the face of uncertainty.

So, as the new year approaches you should set your goals to align with these market trends and stand out among the best freelancers in 2022.

What to Expect As A Freelancer in 2022

There is growth in the freelance market as the pandemic continues to affect the economy. As the new variant of Covid-19 continues to spread, following new measures and restrictions people and companies will want to hold a little bit longer to remote work and freelance services.

The number of freelancers in the market is growing and there will be a need to showcase one’s skills and stand out. As a freelancer, you will need to market yourself – more skilled people, hungry for work have joined the market – you need what they don’t have to stand out.

Remote work will be refined in 2022, therefore you need to equip yourself with the soft skills associated with – like punctuality. Flexibility will also rule the freelance market – are you able to easily juggle different tasks from different clients? Taking a week to answer emails will hurt your job opportunities.

There is a shift to freelance jobs in fields such as construction, Web design, and SEO. Most companies in these sectors will be looking for freelancers.

Having these trends in mind, you need to iron your freelance job skills and stand out among the best freelancers to thrive in 2022.

Keep reading to learn about the ways/strategies you can master to keep your freelance job thriving

Ways to Thrive As A Freelancer in 2022

To stand out among the best freelancers in 2022, you’ll need to competitively grow your professional skills and add more to win and retain clients. This can be possible should you follow these key factors;

1. Define your target market

Identify your niche –the target market and service you are offering to them. You first need to know what is best at doing; your skills and expertise. Know who requires the services you are best at offering (target market) and what is their exact need; expectations.

When you have the target market, identify the problems they face, the cause, and if the problem occurs regularly. The regular problem will allow you to service the client. Lastly, define the service you will offer to offer a solution to the problem.

2. Define your skills

Best freelancers know what they are best at delivering. This refers to the skills they possess. Ensure that you identify the skills that will have considerable demand in 2022, like digital marketing, graphic design, programming, Accounting, photography, etc, and maximize on them.

You should be perfect in at least two to three skills which will be able to solve the clients’ problems. Improve on complementary skills to the main skill that you are offering. For instance, digital marketers should also work on their graphic design and writing skills.

3. Define objectives

Before becoming a freelancer, you need to set goals that guide your journey to freelancing. Your objectives will give you direction on what freelance job you should take, and why.

Your objectives should tell why you want to become a freelancer; to grow your income, to supplement your earnings, to work on a full-time or part-time basis among others.

4. Commit to what you do best

As a freelancer, you’ll need to work to the best and offer outstanding services than your competition would. You need to keenly handle each project or task as if it’s your full-time job. This will help meet the needs and expectations of your clients, thus earning their trust and maintaining them for future projects.

A freelance job is moving from free-willed to a sacrifice job. You will need to take some of your weekends, holiday, or some of your free time to complete tasks assigned so as you can be able to earn client trust in flexibility and reliability.

Have the right mindset and plan for the unexpected; this will earn you more money as a freelancer.

5. Create a plan

To succeed as a freelancer, you need a business plan. This will give you direction on the number of businesses you are serving, which tools do you require, and the pricing procedure that will best pay you.

If you are serving more than two clients, you need a timetable and a calendar to keep the projects/tasks on track and monitor their performance and delivery. You will also need to check and come up with the best tools to run your business; like winning proposals, computers, smartphones, analytical tools among others.

The plan should also define the pricing and mode of payment to your service. The best structure to earn your money is the value-for-money, where clients will pay you concerning Return On Investment (ROI). The best ROI will earn you money and maintain customer relations for future projects.

Also define other pricing structures like hourly price, task price, or value-based price.

Taking note of these key success factors differentiates a successful freelancer from a serious freelancer. You will be able to make money, supplement your income or grow your current earnings come 2022 as a freelancer.

Wrapping Up

Working as a freelancer has always been considered a part-time job. However, trends in workplaces resulting from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will see these norm change. People are prospecting to earn more, make money and become financially stable – and freelancing may just unlock the lock.