If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching your nine to five job for a career that offers more freedom and control, you’re in luck. Right now, more than any other point in history, talented freelancers are in hot demand.
From software development to graphic design, here are ten freelancing skills that could easily become your new career.
Conclusion
If you’re ready to say goodbye to your traditional job and hello to a career that offers you the freedom to set your own hours and work from wherever you please, you’ve got plenty of great options available. With freelancers now making up 35% of the workforce in the US (source: Forbes), freelancing is now a more popular career option than ever before. It’s a growing trend that doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon.
From software development to graphic design, here are ten freelancing skills that could easily become your new career.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Statistics show that a whopping 71% of people will only visit websites that show up on the first page of their search results. If businesses want their content seen, it’s imperative that they figure out a way to get their website on that all-important first page. With this being the case, many businesses are willing to shell out a lot of cash to a freelance SEO professional who is able to optimize their website to show up higher in the search rankings.Copywriting
In the digital age, marketing has gone through an interesting evolution. By and large, people have grown weary of seeing constant ads. Today, quality content that offers real value and markets their products/services in a way that is less obvious is king. In order to keep their audience interested and to keep their website relevant in the eyes of Google, businesses need to publish large amounts of engaging, well-written content. To get the job done, many businesses are turning to freelance copywriters as their go-to source of quality content.Digital Photography
An astounding 46,700 photographs are uploaded to Instagram every minute, and many of these photographs come from businesses using the medium to market their products and services. As more and more emphasis is placed on visual content, businesses need talented freelance photographers who are able to provide them with photos that are eye-catching and professional. Working as a freelance photographer may require you to appear on-location more than many other freelancing careers, however, it’s still an in-demand profession that is well worth considering if you happen to live in a location that puts you nearby a number of potential clients.Software Development
Today, software has infiltrated almost every product and every aspect of how we go about our day-to-day lives. To keep up the innovation, though, companies rely on talented software developers – and right now the supply isn’t meeting the demand. In fact, the need for software developers is expected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow “much faster” than the average of all other professions. Since the job of a software developer can most often be done remotely, businesses frequently rely on freelance software developers to fill the role, making this a great, in-demand freelance profession to pursue.Web Development
Web development is closely related to software development, but there are some key differences. Rather than coding software applications, web developers are responsible for coding and designing attractive, functional websites. Since 55% of users spend less than 15 seconds on a website, it is essential that businesses design websites that are interesting and engaging enough to cut through the noise and encourage a visitor to stick around. To accomplish this task, many businesses rely on talented freelance web developers who have experience creating stellar websites for a range of clients.Graphic Design
With businesses placing increasing importance on their digital presence, the need for them to commission quality digital art is growing as well. Freelance graphic designers work to help businesses create logos, graphics for their website, graphics for their ads, and more. Since many businesses do not need enough graphics to warrant hiring a full-time graphic designer, this is a field where freelancers are especially desirable.Video Editing
Video marketing is just now reaching its peak, as more and more businesses are taking advantage of explainer videos published on YouTube and other social media sites to market their brand. As with graphic design, most businesses do not produce enough videos to justify hiring an in-house video editor and instead turn to freelance video editors to complete the task on an as-needed basis. As video marketing continues to grow, you can expect the demand for talented freelance video editors to grow along with it.Social Media Management
Social media is a gold mine for modern businesses. Rather than having to convince customers to come to them, maintaining an active social media presence allows businesses to go where the customers are. To manage their various social media accounts, businesses often rely on freelance social media managers. These professionals are responsible for posting updates, engaging with followers, and overseeing how the business brands itself using social media.Compliance Management
Businesses who do not have in-house lawyers often rely on freelance compliance managers in order to ensure that they stay on the right side of the law as their business grows and expands. Of course, to work as a freelance compliance manager you’re going to need to have the right legal experience and credentials. If you’ve got what it takes, though, you can carve out a nice freelance career within the legal field working as a compliance manager.Computer Aided Design
Few products are manufactured without first having a digital rendering of the product created using computer aided design (CAD) software. One part engineer and one part graphic designer, successful freelance CAD professionals often have well-developed artistic and technical skills, and they are paid well for their services. Hiring a freelance CAD professional is an especially popular option among startup businesses that are developing a new product and do not yet have an in-house engineer to help them through the process.Conclusion
If you’re ready to say goodbye to your traditional job and hello to a career that offers you the freedom to set your own hours and work from wherever you please, you’ve got plenty of great options available. With freelancers now making up 35% of the workforce in the US (source: Forbes), freelancing is now a more popular career option than ever before. It’s a growing trend that doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon.
