How can you stand out as a freelancer in an increasingly packed job market?
T he US had 64 million freelance workers in 2023, according to online data-gathering platform Statista. That number has increased every year since 2018, when there were more than 56 million people doing freelance work.
"The rise in freelancers is a great indication of the many workers pursuing their careers with greater autonomy, independence, and flexibility," says Toni Frana, lead career expert at FlexJobs. "And fortunately, as our latest report has shown, there are remote freelance opportunities across a wide range of industries that afford people the freedom to define when, where, and how they work."
Statista also predicts that 86.5 million US workers will be freelancing by 2027, which will comprise more than half the US workforce.
With more people projected to opt for the freedom and flexibility of doing freelance work, FlexJobs offers tips to help people find freelance opportunities.
Leverage professional networks. You may have contacts for freelance work without even knowing it. Reach out to family, friends, and former colleagues to build a stable foundation.
Use social media. Recruiters and hiring managers often use social media to research talent, so take advantage of that. Use social media sites such as LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Facebook to promote yourself and your work properly.
Embrace cold pitching. Cold pitching means sending messages to potential freelance clients to offer your services. Do your due diligence to make sure you're sending the right messages to the right people.
Build a personal website. Like social media, use your personal site to promote your work and showcase your skills and accomplishments. That can be as simple as creating a single-page website that acts as your portfolio.
Ask for referrals. Don't assume your clients know you welcome their referrals. Clients often forget, so make sure you ask for feedback and make it easy for them to submit it. Positive word of mouth can go a long way.