If you are looking for career advice regarding how to become an online freelancer, you might need to take some notes now. 😉
- How to build the foundation for your freelance career:
In my parents’ generation, an individual only had 1 job in their life. Someone like my 48-year-old cousin would have four jobs in her lifetime.
It is believed that somebody from Gen Z will probably have four jobs at the same time – this is the gig economy. I would argue that the gig economy was definitely a myth in 2001; however, in 2021 this is so real: a lot of individuals have already become freelancers and officially joined the gig economy now.
It is said that within 6 years, more than 50% of the total workforce in the US will be freelancers. It means 86.5 million people in the US will be freelancing soon.
Yet are you sure you can build a nest egg as a freelancer?
From my experience, I can confirm that it’s totally possible to build up a nest egg as a freelancer because I have been a freelancer for many years.
As a freelancer, I have the flexibility to travel the world and I’ve done that already.
- Here are some helpful tips for you:
At the very beginning of your freelance career, you should say yes to everything.
When I started my freelance career, I literally built three different websites – I was teaching English, selling eBooks and writing content for online magazines. I used three websites to promote my products and services.
Frankly, I already knew that what I really wanted to do is to write content for online magazines because I always wanted to have Carrie Bradshaw’s job. But at that time, I was an English teacher and did that for a very long time, so I had a lot to offer in the education industry.
I think due to Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), I started too many things, but there is no regret. Now let me explain.
Because I had a website teaching English and another website selling eBooks about English education, I tried my best – those eBooks are still selling well right now as the demand in the market is real and solid.
If I never tried teaching English and selling eBooks about English education, I may wonder what would happen if did that. Since I’ve done it, I know it was an okay idea, but it was not a great idea. Also, it doesn’t speak to my heart.
What really sparks joy is writing content for online magazines, so my authentic passion has made my 3rd website very successful.
Now at least 95% of my freelance work comes from this niche. Clearly, authenticity/passion always sells.
In other words, what I love doing is also what I’m good at; the genuine interest in writing content for online magazines has made my freelance career unstoppable in spite of the pandemic, because of the pandemic.
“Freelancers have the time to travel internationally and most freelancers only need a laptop in order to get their work done.”
