The COVID-19 pandemic witnessed a large number of individuals freelance at the onset. According to a report, 59 million US workers undertook a freelance gig in 2020, which was an increase of 2 million year over year.
Not only that but 96 million new freelancers stated that they will take up more freelancing gigs in the future and 58 percent of employees who had to work remotely due to the pandemic were reported to be considering a future in freelancing.
So, what is it about freelancing that makes it so lucrative that more and more people are leaving their secure and cozy jobs to do freelance? If a report is to be believed, the majority of the workforce in the US will be freelancers by the year 2027. So, what gives?
Freelancing is extremely flexible in terms of working hours as it has convenient deadlines. Also, if you have the desired skills, you can earn a lot more, and we mean a lot more than you did at your 9-5 job.
However, the key is to know what are the most desired skills in the freelancing industry and which freelancing jobs are paying the highest. With the right skills and right gig, you can earn as much as $1,000 per hour like James Knight who left his job at Google to become a freelance developer. Here are the top best-paying freelancing jobs.
The global pandemic and the resulting lockdown kicked off a shift in trend towards a digital-first world. There was an obvious boom in the online marketing trends and the popularity of inbound marketing. Since online marketing and the internet as a whole is all about content. Therefore, content writing is among one of the hottest freelancing fields these days.
If you already have some experience behind you, you can earn a good sum every month by blog writing for businesses and content marketing. In case you’re a fresher straight off college, you can take up homework or assignment writing freelancing gigs.
Sweetstudy’s homework help is one such website that enlists the help of experts to answer students’ questions and help with assignments and homework. A myriad of subjects available means anyone can join the platform as well.
Software Development and Programming
Needless to say, software and mobile development is a tough skill to master and there are not many skilled coders as well. Therefore, the demand for good coders is very high and if you have the skills required, you can be assured that it’ll pay off very well. Exhibit A is James Knight mentioned before, who earns $1,000 by the hour.
However, to get to Knight’s level, you will have to develop proper coding skills and build a clientele that will testify to your skills and reputation. With solid expertise in programming languages, a freelance coder can charge a minimum of $150 an hour.
Social Video Content Marketing
It’s common knowledge by now that video is the future of content marketing and thousands of articles have been written about the same. The reason is that videos are highly versatile, boost SEO, build brand awareness, drive conversation, increase social reach, and have viral potential.
Given the rise of video content marketing, it’s no surprise that social video content marketing skill is in extreme demand these days. Moreover, short video format platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube are likely to keep the skill in demand for many more years to come.
If you have the skills to create video content, optimize them for SEO, have creative ideas, and are familiar with marketing strategies, you’ll have a steady flow of freelance gigs coming your way.
While it’s pretty crowded, the web designing industry has a lot of demand for freelancers. Since web designing is easy to learn, the competition is ferocious in this industry. The reason according to many websites is that PHP development is one of the most in-demand skills and with every new business requiring a website, jobs are plentiful.
To beat the competition, freelancers need to find a niche in the web design field. To illustrate, WordPress website development and custom themes are one of the most popular niches right now. It’s best to figure out what kind of services clients are looking for and then provide the same.
Social Media has always been a powerful medium but in the last couple of years, it has emerged as an important part of brand marketing strategies. From a local cafe to a Fortune 500 company, all of them are now leveraging the social network for promoting their brand and products.
This phenomenon has opened up new avenues for freelancers with brands looking for skilled social media professionals who can manage their handles for them. If you’re good at social media strategies and driving growth, you can rest assured that a well-paying gig is there for you.
However, the bottom line here is that don’t choose a career path because it pays well. To freelance successfully and build a steady income train, pick a field that you’re passionate about. If the work excites you and challenges you, it will drive you to be better and improve your skills, which will open avenues for more income down the line.
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