Freelancing Has Changed But That Doesn’t Mean It’s Bad 

Freelancers are often their own bosses. They decide when they want to work and how much they want to work. 

But the freelance economy has some serious downsides or at least, it can feel that way at first. Here’s what you need to know about being a freelancer, especially if you’re just starting out.

Takeaways
1. Embrace Change: Freelancing is an evolving landscape, and adapting to new trends and technologies is essential for success.
2. Positive Perspective: While freelancing may have changed, it doesn’t mean it’s a negative career choice. Look for the opportunities it presents and make the most of them.
3. Flexibility and Autonomy: Freelancing offers the freedom to work on your terms, allowing you to find a work-life balance that suits you best.
4. Resilience Matters: Freelancers need to be resilient in the face of challenges and uncertainties that come with the dynamic nature of freelancing.
5. Continuous Learning: Stay updated with industry trends and enhance your skills to stay competitive in the ever-changing freelance market.

1. The Freelance Economy Isn’t Always Fun

The freelance economy isn’t always fun. When you’re a freelancer, you have to be the one who handles the tedious tasks like billing and taxes. 

You also have to make sure your clients pay on time and that they provide feedback on your work in a timely fashion. 

And if they don’t? Well, then it’s up to you to take care of it and that might mean emailing them or messaging them on social media until they respond!

The freelance economy is not all rainbows and unicorns. Yes, there are some awesome perks about being a freelancer: 

You can work from anywhere in the world; set your hours; decide how much money you want to earn each month (or year). 

But there are also plenty of downsides: making sure clients pay on time, finding new clients when old ones don’t deliver their end of the bargain…these things aren’t exactly fun!

The freelance economy is not all fun and games. One thing I didn’t realize when I started freelancing was just how difficult it would sometimes be to manage my time between multiple jobs at once. 

While also trying find new opportunities for myself to ensure long-term success as an independent contractor working remotely with other companies across different industries throughout North America. 

As well as overseas parts of Asia such as Singapore itself which has become popular among ex-pats looking for ways outside their home country due its proximity relative distance compared most nations nearby. 

But still far enough away where people feel safe living without fear crime rate rising significantly due to poor governance practices such as corruption widespread throughout government officials’ offices leading officers down the slippery slope into a dark abyss filled with greed power-hunger temptation temptation temptation temptation temptations.

Freelancing has revolutionized the way we work, offering flexibility and autonomy like never before. If you’re curious about the positive impact of freelancing on modern work, check out our article on Freelancing: The Best Thing to Happen to Work in a Long Time and discover how this trend is shaping the future of work.

2. You Might Have To Hustle Harder After That Last Full-Time Job

You might have to hustle harder after that last full-time job. In a sense, freelancing is just like any other job search: 

You will need to apply for jobs and interviews, network with potential clients and colleagues, and do your best to stand out from the crowd. 

But there are some additional challenges you may encounter as a freelancer compared with being an employee at a company or organization. 

For example, if you ever worked in an office environment before (even as an intern), then you probably know how hard it can be sometimes just get someone’s attention on your first day of work. 

And that’s only when they’re not running into the elevator while juggling coffee mugs!

But because so many people are now working remotely from home offices or coworking spaces across the country thanks to technology such as Slack and Google Hangouts. 

These days it seems like everyone else has more time on their hands than ever before and this means that competition for jobs has never been higher either! 

This means if you want any chance at landing one of those coveted freelance gigs online today then make sure yours stands out above all others

3. Some Agency Or Corporation Will Likely Take Someone Lower On The Food Chain’s Word Over Yours

The most important thing to remember is that you will be treated like a contractor, not an employee. 

You will not receive any benefits and you will likely be paid less than full-time salaried employees at the same company. 

This fact may seem unfair, but freelancers have to come to terms with it early on or they’ll have a hard time setting up their business. It’s just the way things are in our economy right now.

People often ask me why my company treats its contractors like contractors rather than part of the team. 

The answer is simple: it’s because we need to pay them more for them to want what we offer (flexibility) over full-time employment with benefits at another firm that offers more stability and financial security than we do as an independent agency working out of our homes! 

But don’t worry about this too much it’s unlikely that anyone will complain about how much money you make unless they’re trying very hard because most people don’t know how much money other people make anyway!

Taking care of your mental health while freelancing is crucial, especially for freelance writers facing unique challenges. Learn how the art of writing can actually contribute to your well-being in our piece on How Freelance Writing Helps Your Mental Health.

4. You’ll Need To Be Okay With Not Getting An Apology When Something Goes Wrong

In a world that’s constantly telling you to be nice and say sorry, it can be overwhelming when you’re expected to just accept things as they are. 

The problem is that the freelancing world doesn’t have time for apologies and if something goes wrong, there’s not anything you can do about it.

No one wants to hear “I’m sorry.” As a freelancer, I’ve found myself saying those two words countless times in the last few years but only once or twice with sincerity (and even then, only because I didn’t want my client mad at me). 

And while most companies want their employees or contractors to feel like part of the team through constant communication and feedback, freelancers often find themselves working in isolation from both customers and coworkers.

For example, You may be working with someone who does something wrong but doesn’t tell you about it until after your project has been completed; 

Maybe they thought it would take longer than expected and didn’t have time for a call back; maybe they were busy with other projects; maybe they forgot; etc. 

The point here is that some companies will offer an apology when things go wrong on their end (like if someone is sick). 

Most freelance clients don’t care enough about how their mistakes negatively affect us as workers which means we need to develop our coping strategies instead of expecting them from others around us!

5. You’ll Be Treated Like A Contractor, Not An Employee, Because That’s What You Are

You’ll be treated like a contractor, not an employee because that’s what you are. If someone is treating you as anything else then they have confused their legal responsibilities and are operating outside of the law.

For example: if your client refuses to pay your invoice and/or ignores requests to pay it, they can’t just fire you or force you out of the project. 

That would be unlawful termination without cause (which is different from firing someone for poor performance). 

They have no right to do this because they don’t have control over how much money comes into their business or which accounts payable checks go out those are things that affect only the owner(s) of the company.

Freelancing may not be a walk in the park, but it’s worth it! Our article on Why Freelancing Isn’t Easy sheds light on the hurdles freelancers face and the resilience needed to thrive in this evolving landscape.

6. Yes, You’re Responsible For Your Own Health Insurance

If you are self-employed, the health insurance company will not cover any of your healthcare costs. 

This means that if you get sick or injured and need to visit the doctor, pay for prescriptions or vaccinations, or have any other medical procedures done (surgery, physical therapy, etc.), YOU will be responsible for paying all of these expenses out of pocket.

You may also choose to purchase supplemental insurance to help with these costs. 

However, this is not required by law in most states and therefore not something that someone starting their freelance career should feel pressured into doing right away.

7. Freelancers Are Typically Paid Less Than Full-Time Salaried Employees For Doing The Same Thing When The Cost Of Benefits Is Thrown Back In

Salaried employees are often paid more than freelancers for the same work because they have benefits. 

The cost of these benefits is not included in their salary, so when you add it all up, what ends up happening is that freelancers are paid less than salaried employees for doing the same thing. 

Even if you’re working just as much or long hours as a full-time employee, it’s still likely that you’ll be getting paid less than them and this difference could be significant! 

Because employers pay for their own employees’ health insurance premiums and other benefits (rather than having them covered by the employee), freelancers end up making less money overall because they don’t get any of those perks.

8. You’re Going To Deal With Much More Rejection

The sooner you learn to embrace rejection as part of the freelancing game, the better.

There are two types of freelance rejections: those that are expected and those that catch you off-guard. 

The former can be dealt with easily if you’ve planned for them, while the latter often sting more because they come out of nowhere. 

If there’s anything I have learned about freelancing, it is this: learning how to handle rejection will make your working life (and personal life) much easier in the long run.

In my own experience, I’ve found that getting rejected can be frustrating at first but ultimately rewarding once you get used to receiving “no”s as part of your daily routine. 

And while some may say that being rejected is a sign that something needs fixing before moving forward with an idea or proposal (and they would be right). 

It’s also important not to take rejection personally when it happens because sometimes people just aren’t ready for what we’re offering them at any given time or place (and again: right).

Calling all Generation Z and Millennial freelancers! If you’re part of these dynamic generations and considering freelancing, check out our guide on Freelancing for Generation Z and Millennials for valuable insights and tips tailored to your needs.

9. There’s A Good Chance You’ll Make Less Money As A Writer, Especially At A Certain Stage Of Your Career (One Focused On Building Up Clips)

As a freelancer, you don’t get paid for the time it takes to write the story. You don’t get paid for the time it takes to find the story. 

You don’t get paid for the time it takes to research the story, or even pitch and negotiates it which can be a lengthy process in itself.

If, say, an editor asks you if you have any ideas for her next feature (which is one of those things that happens more often than not), here’s what she’s saying: 

“I’m going to make myself look good by asking someone who might have an idea instead of just pitching mine.”

Then there are all those other little tasks we freelance writers have to do: formatting and copy-editing each article; getting pictures from our photo editor or doing our photography; 

Running ads on Facebook; promoting ourselves on social media and across blog platforms like Medium; communicating with sources over email or phone calls…

10. It’s Easy To Feel Isolated While Working At Home Or In A Coffee Shop By Yourself All Day Long

As a freelancer, you’ll have to be self-motivated, able to focus on your work, and manage your time effectively. 

You also need to be able to manage your stress levels and energy levels so that you can get the most out of each day. 

You may even find that working from home or in a coffee shop by yourself all day long can make it feel like there is no one else out there but you. 

It’s easy for this feeling of isolation to lead some freelancers into depression or anxiety if they are not careful.

11. It Can Get Hard To Stay Focused And Motivated When There’s No One Watching Over Your Shoulder

When you’re working in an office, it’s easy to keep yourself on task. If you have a meeting or deadline coming up, there are people higher up who check in on you and make sure that your work is getting done on time. 

But when you’re freelancing, everything falls onto your shoulders and it’s easy for things outside of work (like news articles or social media) to distract you from the task at hand. 

There are going to be times when you’ll want nothing more than the freedom of a mental break from whatever project is occupying your mind at the moment but resist!

12. You Won’t Get Paid On Vacation Days

In the traditional workplace, you get paid vacation days. But with freelancing, you don’t get paid those days. You’ll have to take them yourself.

It’s important to remember that if you don’t take your vacation days, they will go away. If this happens and then something comes up and you need time off work unexpectedly in the future.

There may be nothing left for it and then who knows when or if your next day off will come? Instead of losing those precious moments with friends and family while they’re still young enough to enjoy them (or spending them alone). 

Make sure that every once in a while when things are calm on the home front or work front you plan for some time off so it doesn’t slip through your fingers like sand through an hourglass!

Ready to embark on a freelance writing journey in the business industry? Look no further! Our article on How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Business Industry provides step-by-step guidance to help you navigate this exciting career path.

13. Your Income Will Fluctuate

You’re going to have good months and bad months, but you can still stay afloat. The key is learning how to manage your finances, time, stress levels, and health.

Here are some tips for each of these areas:

Finances – Make sure you start saving money for retirement early on. This will help ensure that when you’re 65 years old and freelancing full-time it won’t be too stressful on your body or mind.

Time management – If you want to increase the amount of work that comes through the door (and thus increase your income), then make sure not only to do two jobs at once but also to learn how one job takes up more time than another. 

For example, writing articles takes me 2 hours while writing blog posts takes me 4 hours since I need research materials and images/video clips, etc.

Conclusion

How is freelancing different today? There are a few things that have changed since the days when I first started freelancing. 

The good news is, that there are many more opportunities for freelancers than there were back then. One thing that has stayed consistent over time is how hard you have to work at it. 

You need to be willing to hustle and sometimes go without income when your clients aren’t paying you anymore (or they just don’t care). 

It can be a struggle to stay focused on projects while being at home all day long with little human contact other than people coming in and out of your coffee shop workspace every few hours. 

Some may find this amount of flexibility too much pressure; others might thrive under these circumstances because they’re independent thinkers who crave autonomy in their work-life without any outside distractions or expectations from colleagues or bosses.”

Further Reading

Pros and Cons of Freelancing: Discover the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing in this comprehensive blog post.

The Pros and Cons of Freelance Jobs: Learn about the pros and cons of pursuing freelance opportunities and how it can impact your career.

Don’t Become a Freelancer If You Want Freedom: This thought-provoking article explores the concept of freedom in freelancing and offers valuable insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is the act of working for yourself and finding clients online to do work for them. This can be as simple as writing an essay or as complicated as designing a website.

How Do I Get Started Freelancing?

You can start by making a profile on Upwork or Fiverr and getting some reviews under your belt before you start taking projects seriously. 

Once you have experience and a good reputation, you can start charging higher rates and attracting higher-paying clients.3. Why should I freelance instead of working for someone else?

There are many reasons why you should freelance instead of working for someone else:

You are your boss, so if you don’t like something about your job, nothing is stopping you from changing it!

You have more freedom to take time off when needed (or when not needed). 

You’re not limited by company policies, and if something comes up in your personal life that requires extra attention or time away from work, it’s easy enough to make adjustments with your clients (and they’ll understand).

Freelancing gives you more control over your

How Do I Get Clients?

When you’re starting, it’s best to focus on building your portfolio by doing free work for friends or family members. 

Just make sure that what you’re doing is valuable to them don’t just do it for free because they asked you (unless they’re paying). 

Once your portfolio is built up, you can start researching potential clients and pitching them ideas. Make sure that the work is something you want to do, and that you’re excited about it!

Do I Need A Website?

Yes! You should have a professional-looking website that shows off your skills and experience. You can also use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to market yourself as well as connect with potential clients.

What Happens If My Client Doesn’t Pay Me?

If this happens to you, try contacting your client directly and ask them why they haven’t paid yet, then try offering them a discount or a way to pay in installments if need be.