Mckinsey predicts that by 2025, online talent platforms could increase employment by 72 million full-time equivalent positions. Freelancers are considered microentrepreneurs because they control their own brand, work environment, sales, and marketing. As entrepreneurs, freelancers are more intentional about delivering exemplary service with the right quality and desirous to impress their clients enough to attract favorable reviews which would help them get more deals. This is primarily considered the reason for the gradual preference for freelancers over conventional employees.
According to International Organization Employers (IOE) a few years ago, a study by Payoneer showed that about 10.1% of the world’s freelancers are in Africa. This figure has risen quite considerably by now as discussed in a recent article on Linkedin on Africa’s potential as the world’s workforce capital. In cities across Africa, many young people are turning to freelancing and self-employment. Some of them leave their full-time jobs, either in the public or the private sector, in order to set up their own projects. Sometimes this choice is made without a guarantee of being able to derive a sufficient income.
As intriguing as these facts are, a staggering number of freelancers are yet to secure at least one gig and are thus frustrated in their freelancing journey. Many clients would prefer to queue along with a freelancer with proven experience than try out new talents. This suggests that just about 20% of freelancers are harnessing the benefits of freelancing.
What should a new freelancer on an online freelance marketplace do to solve this problem?
They can leverage their network of friends, family and former work colleagues to patronize them, at least for their first 5 to 10 gigs. These are low hanging customers they may first work hard to get. Entrepreneurs that cannot convince or persuade their friends, family or former work colleagues to patronize them probably need to improve the quality of their products or services. Same applies to freelancers. They can give discounted promos, ensure they deliver top quality services, request great ratings, reviews and feedback on their works from these low hanging customers.
As a freelancer, it is also vital to pay keen attention to your chats and notifications, especially on the mobile app. Any delay in responding to potential or existing clients could lead to losing them and income you could have earned from them. Most clients lack the patience to wait so long for your response. They would readily move to the next talent with the right requirements they need.
For instance, Ben who is an incredible writer with decades of experience in content writing, copywriting, and academic writing, signs up on the terawork platform. It would be difficult for him to secure any gig at the initial stage if he is not able to convince any of his regular clients, or his family or friends to patronize him on the platform. Meanwhile, Sam, who may not be as skillful as Ben but has about 10 completed jobs with glowing reviews and ratings from his clients on the same platform would have 6 or more projects queuing and counting.
Most online freelance platforms, including terawork, give you opportunities to sell yourself as a brand, but sales must start from your immediate network. The onus is therefore on freelancers to leverage their networks to increase their chances of getting gigs.
