With the rise of technology, the future of work is undergoing a massive shift. ‘Digital Nomad’ or ‘travel fish’ are the buzzwords among millennials. People seek to have a fulfilled life, and not a ‘work-filled life’. Netizens today have “life-first attitude” and are constantly seeking to work on some interesting freelance business ideas where they can pretty much control their work life: where they work, how they work, compensation packages, and a host of other specifications about their work life.
As per a U.S. study conducted by the Freelancers Union and Elance-oDesk, 57.3 million people freelanced in 2017 and it is estimated that 86.5 million Americans will be freelancers by 2027.
Freelancing offers a zillion of opportunities that give you the freedom to earn over 6 figures from your couch.
In this article, we have curated a list of 10 popular freelancer business ideas along with freelance marketplaces to kick-start your career in 2020:
1) Brand Identity Designer
Businesses are more visible than ever to customers, and they consistently need to promote themselves and maintain their brand image across all platforms. If you have a knack for designing and story-telling this could be a perfect fit for you. Through your creativity, you can help a brand present themselves beautifully and make a strong online presence.
This is more than just designing logos and graphics. You will be required to ensure all aspects of branding – colour scheme, logo, font, graphics, etc. and most importantly work with the brand to form a coherent and cohesive message that tells the story the brand wants to portray. The most popular freelance platforms to get this kind of work are Toptal and 99Designs.
2) Instagram Marketer
Do you wish to make money by just playing on Instagram all day? 2018 has transformed Instagram and it seems everyone’s getting on board. Instagram stories and live videos are a great way for businesses to get in touch with the audiences and indulge in direct marketing.
Companies are in a constant hunt for freelancers who are passionate about learning the nitty gritties of the platform. As an Instagram marketer, they will be required to maintain their brand’s identity and create engaging content strategies to grow their business in 2020. The best freelance marketplace for this is Instagram itself. Instagram is the new best friend of freelancers.
3) Content Marketing Specialist
The internet has altered the marketing landscape. With all the ads, pop-ups, and offers, businesses have to devise strategies to cut through the clutter and reach their ideal audience. They are able to do this effectively only with valuable content.
As per a research article, content marketing costs 62% less than outbound marketing, it generates more than three times as many leads. This implies that there is a huge opportunity for individuals who have a knack for writing to provide incredible value to business owners.
Businesses these days need creative, problem-solving individuals who can create an optimal content strategy by deciding what type of content, i.e. infographic, blog post, vlog, live video, etc are going to create a ripple and then create that content on time. The best freelance websites for this are Upwork, Fiverrr, etc. They are arguably the most well-known websites for freelance job-seekers.
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4) Video/YouTube Marketing
Did you know that 400 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute! If you are great at storyboarding, video editing, scriptwriting, and video production then you’ll be in high demand by business owners of all types.
5) Facebook Ad Campaign Manager
Facebook has recently hit the two billion monthly active users mark and is now one of the largest online advertising platforms with over six million advertisers spending $10 billion every quarter between them.
If you understand click-through rate and cost per action or you can target the right audience at the right price, businesses will be lining up at your virtual doorstep begging you to take their money. This is undoubtedly one of the best freelance business ideas if you have some background in marketing.
6) Search Engine Optimization Expert
An SEO expert plays a vital role in helping companies build their businesses and attract new customers through web traffic. Search engine optimization or SEO has emerged as an important industry in recent years due to the increasing power that search engines like Google wield.
As companies try to raise their rankings on Search Engine Results Pages (SERP), they are turning to a specialized marketing professional to accomplish this goal, the SEO specialist. SEO specialists are tasked with designing, developing and promoting high-quality websites. SEO specialists are not typically the builders of the website but are more often a consulting authority.
7) Email Marketing Specialist
Despite all the social media facade email marketing is still extremely prevalent. It still gives one of the best returns on investment for businesses. These days over 95% of companies using automation are taking advantage of email marketing. That means freelancers who can set up segmented audiences, engage an email list, and increase clicks and opens stand to get a bigger piece of the pie.
8) Freelance Project Manager
Are you a people’s person? Do you enjoy working with teams of people and collaborating? Are you incredibly organized and reliable? If yes, then this is one of the newest freelance business ideas in the market as businesses are always looking for ways to increase efficiency and improve communication. As more and more teams work remotely, project management software (and the ability to delegate and organize) will continue to be crucial.
9) Analytics Expert
Data science or artificial intelligence are the hot topics for this decade. Data analytics is expected to radically change the way we live and do business in the future. Freelancers who know how to read data from places like Google Analytics, social media, and email service providers, are a valuable resource for businesses looking to continually improve their marketing practices.
Listing yourself as a freelance data scientist via LinkedIn is not enough, you must grow your network and publicize yourself by using alternative networks. One of the most effective ways to advertise your work experience is by having a personal website that displays your portfolio.
10) Digital Illustrator
Is drawing, doodling or sketching your hobby? Well, this hobby can certainly help you stash some cash. In the freelance marketplace, there are 1,001 ways to turn your passions, skills, and hobbies into profitable careers. Digital illustrators are required to create original, one-of-a-kind artwork for brands and businesses. Through your artistic skills, you can provide businesses with a powerful new way to connect with their audiences and stand out from the competition.
Other than the conventional platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, you must also try facebook group chats or coworking communities like myHQ to get your dream job. You will find an array of startups and entrepreneurs on these platforms who are on a constant lookout for such talent.
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