How Freelancing Has Changed In The Past 10 Years

Freelancing has grown over the past 10 years. It’s become so mainstream that many people consider it their main source of income and turn down full-time jobs to pursue their passion on a freelance basis.

This change is due in part to a variety of factors, including changing attitudes and habits among workers as well as an increasingly globalized economy. More and more companies are hiring remote employees, meaning they don’t need to commute into the office every day they can do their work from home or wherever else they want.

They also don’t need to worry about paying for expensive office space or maintaining an office environment; instead, they can just pay online contractors by the hour without having any physical contact with them whatsoever.

The internet has made communicating easier than ever before; now anyone who wants their own business can start one quickly using tools like WordPress (a blog software platform). You’ll find plenty of online communities where people who’ve found success in freelancing offer advice about how others can follow suit too!

It’s an exciting time to be a freelancer, as the industry is changing rapidly. Here are some of the most important ways that freelance has changed in the past ten years:

Takeaways
1. Technological advancements have revolutionized the freelancing landscape, enabling seamless remote work opportunities.
2. The gig economy has witnessed significant growth, with more professionals embracing freelancing as a viable career option.
3. Online platforms and marketplaces have emerged, providing freelancers with broader access to global clients and diverse projects.
4. Freelancers are increasingly leveraging social media and personal branding to showcase their expertise and attract potential clients.
5. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of freelancing as businesses sought flexible solutions to navigate uncertain times.
6. Skill diversification has become essential, as freelancers need to adapt to changing demands and emerging technologies to stay competitive.
7. Work-life balance and mental well-being have gained prominence, prompting freelancers to prioritize self-care and avoid burnout.
8. Freelancers are forming communities and networks to share knowledge, support each other, and foster professional growth.
9. Increased awareness of freelancing as a legitimate career choice has led to more individuals exploring and entering the freelance market.
10. Future prospects indicate that freelancing will continue to evolve, driven by technological advancements and changing work dynamics.

It’s Become An Industry In And Of Itself

Over the past decade, there has been a steady growth in the number of freelancers. In 2015 alone, 53 million Americans were working as freelancers. The trend shows no sign of slowing down; since 2005, the number of U.S.-based self-employed workers has increased by 50 percent and is projected to continue rising for years to come.

In addition to this growth in sheer numbers, many industries have begun to rely more heavily on freelance workers than ever before. While freelance work was once considered a side hustle or short-term gig for people who couldn’t find permanent employment at a traditional workplace.

Many companies now look at it as an integral part of their business model and some businesses are entirely built around the idea of outsourcing certain tasks or operations while keeping staff small enough that they can be fully handled by freelancers without sacrificing quality control or oversight (or adding unnecessary cost).

Building a successful freelancing career requires a clear understanding of how freelancing actually works. Our comprehensive guide on How Freelancing Actually Works provides valuable insights and tips to help you get started on the right path.

The Internet Has Been A Huge Change To Freelancing

The internet has been a huge change to freelancing. It has made it easier to find work, clients, and other freelancers. It has also made it easier to find resources and tools that you can use as a freelancer.

This is one of the biggest reasons why people keep going freelance after they’ve quit their day jobs because they prefer this kind of lifestyle over working in an office environment.

Now There Are More Options Than Ever Before

The internet has changed everything. The number of options available to freelancers today is far greater than it was only 10 years ago when I started as an independent writer.

When I first got into freelancing, there were no online-only publications and no online marketplaces for listing freelance gigs. There weren’t even any virtual job boards like Upwork or Freelancer where you could find work!

Nowadays, there are many more options for finding work as a freelancer and discovering new opportunities outside of your network than ever before.

Those who are using these resources to their full advantage tend to reap significant benefits from them and often enjoy faster rates of growth than those who don’t take advantage of these new tools and techniques.

The world of work is evolving, and freelancing is at the forefront of this transformation. Discover the ways Freelancing Is Changing the Way We Work and how it impacts the digital economy and workforce.

Freelancing Is No Longer A Strictly One-Person Operation

Freelancing is no longer a strictly one-person operation. While freelancers are still common, most of the work being done these days is through teams of freelancers and remote workers who are located all over the world.

This means that your team can be made up of people who live in different cities or even countries! You’ll never have to worry about missing out on opportunities because you don’t live in NYC or San Francisco again.

This Allows For More Collaboration, But Also Creates New Challenges

Collaboration is a key factor in freelancing today, and it’s something that can be both rewarding and challenging. 

As with many things in life, the more you collaborate with others, the more opportunities you have to grow as an individual. But this also means that there are more people involved with your work and potentially more opinions on how it should look or sound. 

Collaboration can be hard because it often involves working remotely and communicating via email or instant messaging tools like Slack or Google Hangouts (or even telephones).

This is especially true when working with clients who aren’t familiar with these tools themselves; they might not understand why certain conversations need to take place over text rather than in person. 

Collaboration can also be challenging because communication styles differ greatly from person to person even if everyone happens to speak English.

When two or three people are trying to work together across continents (or even states), there’s bound to be some miscommunication along the way unless there’s already a clear understanding of what each party expects out of their relationship before signing on board (which isn’t always feasible).

New Legal Protections Have Been Put In Place To Ensure The Continued Growth Of Freelancing

In the past decade, there have been several laws enacted to protect freelancers. These laws provide additional protections for workers who do not have an employer-employee relationship with their clients.

For example, if you are a freelancer and you have an issue with your client that goes unresolved by your contract (for example, they don’t pay up), then you can go through the courts and take legal action against them if necessary. 

This means that professional services like lawyers and accountants can also use this system to get paid by their clients if needed.

While these new legal protections are great for freelancers looking for work on Upwork or Fiverr, it also means that you should be even more vigilant about what kind of contracts you sign and what kind of jobs you take on as a freelancer

More People Are Going Into Freelancing For The First Time

It’s not just the number of freelancers that is on the rise, but also the rate at which it’s increasing. Freelance workers are adding about 4 million new jobs every year and this number is expected to keep growing as more people feel comfortable going into freelancing for the first time.

The rise of the gig economy has led to significant changes in the way businesses operate. Learn how Freelancing Is Changing the Digital Workforce and how organizations are adapting to this new way of working.

The Variety Of Opportunities Has Exploded

The variety of opportunities has exploded over the past decade. When I started freelancing in 2006, I did so because my boss at the time told me to get out of his hair and stop bothering him with questions.

Nowadays, you can freelance for all kinds of reasons: because you want more flexibility than full-time employment offers. Because you want to work from home; or simply because it’s a great way to earn extra cash on top of your day job. 

You can also do it as a stepping stone for bigger things I know several people who have used their experience as a freelancer to launch successful businesses (including myself).

Freelancers Are Gaining Recognition

It is no secret that freelancing has become increasingly popular over the past decade. With the advent of automation and Artificial Intelligence, many jobs have been lost to technology and computers.

This has left many people unemployed and looking for work elsewhere which is where freelancing comes in. You might be surprised to learn that freelancers are not just people who do odd jobs or things on the side but rather highly skilled professionals who take on full-time jobs as well as side gigs all at once.

For example, if someone works as a graphic designer at home during the night while also working full time at an advertising agency by day, they are considered a freelancer.

The good news is: Freelancers are gaining recognition as valuable members of society (not just someone who does random stuff). They’re being seen as more than just a job; they’re showing us how valuable their skillsets can be when used together with other people’s skill sets.

Becoming A Freelancer Is Easier Than Ever

But it’s also easier than ever to become a freelancer. There are more freelance platforms than you can count, and there are even more opportunities for people who want to work for themselves. 

As the economy changes, so does the way we approach our careers and that’s good news for anyone who wants to freelance. So what does this mean? Well, if you’re interested in making money by doing work online on your terms, becoming a freelancer could be an excellent option for you. 

You don’t have to quit your day job just yet; instead, consider your options and explore some new opportunities as they arise.

Stigma Has Shifted, But It Hasn’t Gone Away

There has been a shift in the stigma around freelancing. The idea of working from home, or not having a boss hovering over you, was once considered to be a negative thing now it’s becoming more and more common and accepted.

Many people are seeing this as an opportunity to take control of their lives and build their careers doing something they love.

They’re realizing that they don’t need someone else telling them what to do; they can make their schedules, set their own goals, and find clients who appreciate them for who they are instead of what degree they have hanging on the wall behind them at work (or don’t have).

Freelance Pay Is Higher Than Ever

In a recent survey, freelancers reported an average annual income of $51,000 much higher than the national average for full-time employees at $37,000. That’s a big difference.

Freelancers are happier with their earnings than full-time employees too: 50% of freelancers said they were satisfied with their income compared to just 44% of full-time workers.

Freelance writers with diverse expertise have unique opportunities in today’s market. Find out how to leverage your skills and secure the best jobs with our guide on How Freelance Writers with Diverse Expertise Can Get the Best Jobs.

Finding Clients Is Easier Than Ever

Finding clients is much easier than it used to be. There are more ways to find clients, and most freelancers find their clients through referrals and networking.

In the past 10 years, finding clients online has become much easier, as well. Many websites focus on connecting freelancers with potential employers (popular sites include Upwork and Freelancer). 

Even if you’re not on a website like this yourself, you can still network with other freelancers who might know someone looking for your services or at least refer them back to you when they are!

If going online isn’t your thing, there are other ways you can get your name out there in person as well: attend networking events (such as Meetups or conferences), join groups related to what you do (like writing groups), or even just start chatting up people in coffee shops or grocery stores!

Freelancing Is A Demanding, But Rewarding Job

As a freelancer, you’re responsible for your success. You have to be willing to work hard on developing your skills and promoting yourself to build up a good reputation. You have to be willing to take risks and try new things, even if they don’t seem like they will work out at first. And most importantly: you need to love what you do.

If there are aspects of the job that aren’t enjoyable, then it probably isn’t worth doing as a full-time job.

Embracing the freelance lifestyle means understanding the ways Freelance Work Is Redefining the Way We Work and how it challenges traditional work norms. Discover the benefits and possibilities of this dynamic career path.

Final Thoughts

What would you say are the biggest changes to freelancing in the past 10 years? Is it more difficult or easier for you to find work today than it was before?

So, what does the future hold for freelancing? In short, anything you want it to. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from freelancing, it’s that you can create exactly the life you want if you’re brave enough to jump in and make it happen.

Further Reading

The Future of Freelancing: Explore the trends and predictions shaping the future of the freelancing industry.

How Freelancing Has Changed Over the Years: Learn about the significant shifts and transformations in the freelancing landscape throughout the years.

How the Coronavirus Has Changed Freelancing: Discover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the freelancing world and the adjustments made in response.

People Also Ask

What Is A Freelancer?

A freelancer is someone who works on a project or assignment as an independent contractor. 

The main difference between a servicer and an employee is that the former has more freedom in terms of where they work, how they work, and who they work for. A freelancer may choose to set their schedule and decide which projects they want to take on.

Can I Be Successful If I Don’t Have A Degree?

Yes. It’s not necessary to have a degree or even have gone to college at all; many successful freelancers never went, including our CEO Tim Ferriss!

I’m A New Freelancer, What Should I Expect?

You’ll probably have to hustle more than you’ve ever had to before. You’re going to need to build relationships with clients and platforms, create a good portfolio of past work and make sure your website looks professional. This takes time! Keep at it though because once you get through this initial stage, things will be easier.

How Can I Get Started As A Freelancer?

One way is by using an app like Upwork or Fiverr – they have hundreds of thousands of jobs posted on their sites every day that people can choose from if they don’t want to do them themselves (although we think this isn’t always necessary).

Another way would be finding clients yourself – maybe someone who knows someone else who needs your services? That’s how most people start out working independently; there’s no right or wrong way here so find out what works best for you!

How Often Should I Update My Website?

Just make sure there aren’t any typos anywhere on it so visitors can easily understand what they’re reading otherwise they might leave quickly thinking ‘this site sucks’.

It also helps if there’s an image somewhere near where visitors’ eyes will land first which will help draw them into reading further down below too so keep that in mind when choosing photos

How Do I Know If I’m Ready For Freelancing?

If you’re interested in freelancing, it’s worth taking an honest look at your current career situation. Are you unhappy with your current job or the opportunities there? Do you have the skills and experience required for the type of project you would like to do? If so, then it may be time to make a change.

How Can I Get Started With Freelancing?

One way is by creating a portfolio website that showcases your work. This can be as simple or elaborate as necessary; the important thing is that potential clients can view examples of what they could expect from working with you on their projects (and be confident that they will receive quality work).

Will, I Have To Accept Lower Pay If I Freelance?

No. If you’re willing to take on more risk and put in the work, you can earn just as much (if not more) than you would if you had a full-time job. But only if you’re willing to work hard and stay focused on your goals, which is what separates successful freelancers from unsuccessful ones.

Can I Make My Hours?

Yes! Freelancing is essentially “being your boss.” You can set up your schedule however works for you; whether it means working late at night or taking long breaks throughout the day, it’s up to you.

The only requirement of freelance work is that there are no set hours you get paid per project completed, so there’s no pressure with getting things done quickly unless that’s how you want things done.