How Freelancing Has Changed In The Last Decade And Where It's Going

The last decade has brought a lot of changes to the world of freelancing some good, some bad. There may not have been quite as many innovations in freelance life as there were in, say, smartphone technology, but it’s still an interesting time to be a self-employed worker.

However, if you’re looking for a career change and interested in freelancing, it’s important to understand how much things have changed since the start of 2010 and the factors that will shape your work experience going forward. So let’s jump in!

Highs & Lows of Freelancing (an honest update)

Takeaways
1. Evolution of Freelancing
2. Emerging Trends
3. Impact on the Workforce
4. Technology’s Role
5. Opportunities and Challenges

Table of Contents

It’s Much Easier To Find Freelance Work Online

The internet has completely revolutionized how freelancers find work, and the number of websites available for freelancers has exploded. The rise of sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer has changed the way we look for jobs and make money.

These platforms make it much easier to connect with clients and manage multiple projects at once. There are also more freelance networks and communities where you can meet other freelancers (and their clients) to collaborate with or compete against.

Additionally, many new tools have made it easier than ever before for freelancers around the world to get jobs done without leaving their homes: from virtual assistants on TaskRabbit in San Francisco who do everything from planning your trip abroad to booking travel accommodations.

Through remote writing platforms such as WriterAccess which let you hire someone remotely just by filling out a form with details about what you need to be written; even down to web designers who will help build your website from anywhere in the world!

Embracing the freelance lifestyle requires understanding the unique ways we operate in the gig economy. Explore our article on 13 Ways We Are Different in the Freelance World to gain insights into the distinct aspects of freelancing.

There Are Fewer Gatekeepers Between Freelancers And Clients

The internet has made it easier to find and connect with clients. It’s now possible to research a potential client before you take their job, which means you can make informed decisions about whether or not to take that job based on the client’s reputation.

The internet has also made it easier for freelancers to find other freelance workers in their field, so if you’re having trouble finding work in your area of expertise, try looking online for people who are hiring freelancers just like you.

You Can Specialize Your Career In Ways That You Couldn’t Before

In the past decade, we’ve seen more people choose to do what they love. You can now specialize in one area and become an expert at it.

For example, if you’re a writer who loves writing about food, then you can write about food for blogs or magazines. Or if you like helping people and teaching them things that will help them live better lives, then maybe becoming a tutor is your calling. There are tools like Udemy where you can teach classes online and get paid for doing so!

You Have More Options When It Comes To Setting Your Rates

This is a big one, especially because freelancers often find themselves competing with full-time employees for jobs. In this day and age, it’s important to remember that the value you bring to a company isn’t just determined by;

How much experience or education you have also had to do with how well-connected you are in your field of expertise. Also, how much work experience (even if unpaid) you’ve had under your belt and how popular or respected your name is within the industry.

To set yourself apart from other freelancers who may not be as experienced as they claim or who don’t know what they’re doing yet but still want all of those high-paying gigs anyway, it helps to value yourself appropriately (and charge accordingly).

And while there are plenty of ways for us all out there who happen not only need but deserve more than minimum wage jobs offer these days like paying off student loans or saving up enough money so we can buy our place someday down south where the weather is warmer year-round than anywhere else on Earth

You’ll never get anywhere unless we stop treating ourselves like second-class citizens by undercutting ourselves every time someone asks us about our rates.

Want to know more about the gig economy and its impact on freelancers? Our post on Freelancers: What Can You Tell Us About the Gig Economy? offers valuable information and perspectives from experienced freelancers.

People Are More Comfortable With The Idea Of Working With Freelancers

Some people may have been busy with work, kids, and other commitments that they didn’t have time to consider freelancing until recently. But now more people are considering it as a viable option.

It’s no longer just a young person’s game anymore. If you’re looking for an opportunity to supplement your income or start making money on the side while continuing with your current job, there are plenty of options available.

Whether it’s working from home, from coffee shops, or even from an office space shared with other freelancers (like coworking spaces), there are many places where you can make money doing what matters most to you and making some extra cash in the process!

There Are More Tools For Managing Projects As A-Team

It’s now possible to manage the whole process of a project from start to finish, with tools that make it easy to plan, budget, and manage every piece of your work.

Project management software like Asana can help you keep track of all the details involved in any given project. You can use it to share files, assign tasks and subtasks, and assign deadlines for each element of your work.

Time management tools such as Toggl allow freelancers (and those in traditional office environments) to track their time so they can bill accurately or even set daily goals for themselves.

Finance management apps like Xero are essential for staying on top of tax seasons and expenses associated with operating your business.

People Can Freelance From Anywhere In The World

In years past, freelancers were limited by their geographical location and the locations of their clients. But now, thanks to technology and a globalized workforce, freelancers can work from home or any number of locations around the world. This is a major change because it allows freelancers more freedom than ever before.

Are you curious about the future of web design jobs? Take a glimpse into what lies ahead in 2025 in our comprehensive analysis on What the Future Holds for Web Design Jobs in 2025 and stay ahead in the ever-evolving field.

Freelancing Is More Profitable Than Ever Before

This might be the most important point on the list. In many cases, freelancers are paid higher rates for their work than employees of a company are paid for similar work.

While this is not always true, it does happen enough to make freelancing a great choice for anyone looking to make money as an entrepreneur or small business owner.

Freelancers have complete control over their time and can decide how much they charge clients based on what they need and when they need it.

The Competition Among Freelancers Has Increased

More people are freelancing than ever before. The number of freelancers has doubled since 2005, and this growth is expected to continue unabated.

In addition to more people working from home, there are also more entrepreneurs and small businesses that need help with projects outside their core competencies. This has created new opportunities for professionals at all levels from entry-level workers right up to managers who oversee teams of remote employees on a full-time basis.

The competition among freelancers has increased as well.

With so many talented professionals out there (and more still coming), it’s not enough anymore just to be able to do your job well; you have to find ways in which your work stands out from the crowd by providing exceptional quality or value-added services that make your clients happy enough that they’ll refer other businesses/clients too!

Small Businesses Are Depending On Freelancers More Than Ever Before

In the last ten years, freelancers have become an essential part of small businesses. Small businesses are more likely to hire freelancers than larger corporations such as Google.

This means that when you’re looking for a freelance job, you can choose clients based on their size and needs. You can work with small businesses in three ways:

For a specific project (for example, writing an article)
For ongoing work in a certain area of your expertise (for example, managing a social media marketing campaign)
For any kind of work (for example, helping out with administrative tasks).

Freelancers Have Access To Better Resources And Benefits Than They Used To

You’re not just getting a job done. You’re building a network that will help you succeed in the future. With better access to resources and benefits, freelancers can invest more time and energy into their work, which ultimately makes them better at what they do.

The ability to have health insurance and retirement plans has made it possible for freelancers who need these things (like many part-time employees) to take advantage of them. This allows them to focus on their business rather than worrying about finding health care providers or having a retirement plan set up on their accounts.

As the workforce evolves, freelance work is gaining momentum. Discover the reasons behind this shift in our in-depth article on The Future of Work Will Be Freelance: Reasons, and prepare for the changing landscape.

Clients Expect More When Hiring Freelancers, But They’re Willing To Pay For It

Clients want to know that you have experience and can do the work promptly. They also expect you to be able to communicate with them about any issues or concerns that arise during the process.

Most clients will not hesitate at all when it comes time for payment if there have been any problems along the way. This means that you have to deliver your best possible work on time, even if it takes longer than expected.

Specialized Skill Sets Have Become More Valuable Than Ever Before

The more specialized your skillset is, the more valuable you become. The more value you provide to clients, the more money you can charge. In a previous era, freelancers were expected to have a few different skill sets and be able to juggle various projects on top of one another.

Now, though, because there’s so much competition for each gig and so many people who are willing to do whatever it takes for any given project at low rates or no rates at all (see: Fiverr), specializing in one thing becomes much more valuable than ever before.

Mindset Is Becoming A Major Contributor To Freelance Success

Another major factor in your success as a freelancer is your mindset. Your mindset can be the difference between working hard and embracing new opportunities or feeling overwhelmed and discouraged at every turn.

Here are some examples of mindset factors that contribute to freelance success:

Being flexible and adaptable. You might not want to work on a particular project, but if you refuse it because it doesn’t fit with your ideal vision of what freelancing should look like for you, then you’ll miss out on potentially big opportunities.

The more willing you are to accept those projects that don’t align with everything else in your portfolio, the more likely they will lead to new clients and therefore income for the future (even if they don’t feel quite right at first).

Have realistic expectations about how much money you’ll make as a freelancer. If your goal is $1 million per year within five years as a consultant (which is possible), but then only make $50k over those five years because business never picks up enough speed for clients to pay higher rates than what’s offered by their current agencies/staff members/etc., then this could lead to disappointment and burnout down the road.

Being honest with yourself about what kinds of work make sense for where you’re currently at in terms of skill level versus where client expectations may fall short based on their own needs (or lack thereof).

Many People Who Start As Freelancers Eventually Form Their Businesses

Freelance work is a great way to get your foot in the door, especially if you are just starting. It’s an excellent way to gain experience and build up a portfolio. It also offers other benefits:

You’ll learn new skills as you do your work (even if it’s for someone else).
You can make connections with other freelancers or businesses who might be interested in hiring you full-time after getting to know what you’re capable of.

Freelancing Has Gone Mainstream As An Alternative To Traditional Employment Opportunities

Freelancing has gone mainstream as an alternative to traditional employment opportunities. The number of freelancers in the U.S. has grown from 53 million to 55 million, since 2016 (according to data from Freelancer’s Union).

In fact, according to Project: Time Off, over half of all American employees want to work for themselves at some point in their careers.

Freelancing is one option for people who want to work on their terms or pursue something they’re passionate about, without having to set up a company or find investors or executives who will let them do it without much oversight and control.

Self-Taught Skills Are Often Valued Just As Highly As Educational Experience Or Credentials In The Same Field

The value of self-taught skills is often valued just as highly as educational experience or credentials in the same field. Educational experience and credentials can be useful, but they’re not everything.

The combination of a degree and work experience counts for a lot, but if you don’t have either, don’t worry there are many other ways to get hired by companies.

Freelancing has revolutionized how we approach work. Dive into our thought-provoking piece on How Freelancing Is Redefining How We Work to understand the transformative impact of freelancing on traditional employment.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that the decade-long changes to the freelance economy have been massive. You now have more opportunities than ever before, but you also have more competition and a greater responsibility to prove yourself.

Many of these factors have gone hand in hand to make freelancing a viable alternative to traditional employment, which has led it to become one of the fastest-growing sectors in today’s economy. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not freelancing could work for you, why not give it a try?

People Also Ask

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is the act of working for yourself and not for a company. Freelancers can work from home, in coffee shops, or at co-working spaces around town. It’s a great way to make money on your own terms and do what you love.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Freelancing?

Pros:

You can set your hours. You don’t have to work a 9-5 job, you can work whenever you want, as long as you get the job done.
You can take on more projects at once. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can take on two projects at once and work on them in parallel.
No dress code! Wear whatever makes you comfortable.
Work from home! Or go to Starbucks, or wherever else makes you happy.

Cons:

No benefits you’re on your own when it comes to health insurance and retirement plans.
You’re also responsible for getting yourself paid taxes every year.

What Is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is the art of crafting written content for clients who don’t have the time or expertise to create it themselves. Freelancers can work remotely, or they can work in-house with a client. In either case, they are hired by a client to complete a specific task or project.

What Do You Think Will Be The Next Big Change In Freelancing?

I think that one of the next big changes in freelancing will be automation. While there are already some services available that allow you to hire virtual assistants who can take care of some of your administrative tasks.

I think that eventually, we’ll see those services get better and better until it’s almost impossible for anyone no matter how busy they are to not use them.

What Are The Best Ways To Find Clients?

It’s a tough question, but the answer is: it depends. In the past, it was more common for freelancers to find clients through word of mouth, by reaching out to friends who had good experiences with their services (and thus would likely recommend them), or through referrals from other freelancers.

But now, with more people looking for help online, there are also new ways to find clients that didn’t exist before.

You can post your profile on sites like Upwork and Fiverr, where you can connect with clients who need your skills.

You can also try social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook or even Twitter if you’re looking for a more professional connection.

What Are The Best Websites To Use When Looking For Clients?

The best websites depend on what kind of work you do. If you’re a graphic designer or writer/editor, there are several great sites dedicated specifically to finding jobs in those fields (Dribble and Behance).

Other sites that have been very successful in helping freelancers find gigs include Craigslist and TaskRabbit; however, these sites are not exclusively used by freelancers so be sure it’s okay before using them as your main source of income.

What’s One Mistake You See Freelancers Make That They Could Avoid?

One mistake I see freelancers make is not having a clear understanding of what their goals are as a freelancer. If you’re not sure what type of work you want to do, or if you don’t know what kind of clients you want to work with, then it can be easy to get sidetracked and end up doing things that aren’t aligned with who you are or what your vision is for yourself as a professional.

What Is The Difference Between Freelancing And Remote Work?

Freelancing usually refers to an independent contractor who works on a contract basis for a single client. Remote work, on the other hand, is when you do your job from home or another location that is not your employer’s office.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.

How Freelancing Has Changed In The Last Decade And Where It’s Going