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The Gig Economy: How to Thrive as a Freelancer in 2025

/ 24 May 2025 / 0 Comments
Submitted by Editor on 24 May 2025

What is Freelancing?

Before the internet, job hunters could only find jobs based on their locations. Even when they worked multiple roles in different allocations, they had difficulties with time management, transport, and locations. However, in the 21st century, people keep finding ways to utilize technology for better living and earning. This is where freelancing comes in.

Freelancing is a form of work that prioritizes flexibility such that professionals seeking more roles or a different role provide support to as many clients as they can on a project or contract basis, without being tied to a full-time job. Therefore, freelance work is a service rendered by a professional to a contractor on a temporary or per-project basis without the constraints of traditional employment.

A freelancer is then a self-employed individual who works for two or multiple clients at one time across the same or different projects without committing to  long-term employment and earns income per project or per hour. 

Freelancing is highly relevant in the discussions concerning the gig economy. A gig is a temporary service that one performs for payment. The gig economy is a term coined by a journalist, Tina Brown, in 2009. Also known as the access economy, it is a contingency-driven economy where labor is broken down into possible roles to be performed by more than one person. It is made up of three components: the independent workers paid by the gig, the consumers who need a specific service, and the service demanded. For example, Chowdeck, an online restaurant in Nigeria, provides delivery services alongside cooking services when customers order from their restaurant and need door deliveries. These riders are freelance delivery riders, as their jobs are temporary.
 

Freelance Jobs:
 In 2025, freelance jobs include but are not limited to: 

  1. Social Media Management
  2. Graphic Design
  3. Virtual Assistance 
  4. Copywriting
  5. SEO Specialist
  6. Project Management
  7. Video Editing
  8. Data analysis
  9. Public Relations
  10. Web Development
  11. Content writing 
  12. Digital Marketing
  13. Web Design
  14. Translation
  15. User experience design

Freelancing is very similar to remote jobs It differs from the latter because it utilizes the pay-per-hour strategy and contract role, allowing freelancers to control their roles. It also focuses on a specific project and independence. It is, in fact, controlled by the freelancer. Remote jobs, however, have to do with a salary form and less control over assigned roles or projects. 

Where to Find Freelance Jobs:
There are many freelancing websites where freelancers can find roles. These include:

  1. Upwork Inc.
  2. Fiverr
  3. PeoplePerHour
  4. Guru.com
  5. Toptal
  6. Freelancer.com
  7. 99designs
  8. FlexJobs Corporation
  9. Simply Hired
  10. Behance
  11. Dribbble
  12. Taskrabbit
  13. Designhill.com
  14. LinkedIn
  15. Working nomads

It is very important to be cautious on these websites and confirm the legitimacy of roles before submitting your personal information.

Tips to Success in Freelancing

While the internet has been very beneficial for freelancing, it appears some roles are in high demand or quite populated. Thus, one must seek ways to thrive in an overpopulated niche. Below are tips to thriving as a freelancer in 2025.

1. Choose a niche and become the best:
The first step in becoming a freelancer is to find a niche, a role that you are interested in. You must learn everything about the role and be the best in it. Watch YouTube videos and attend online classes from Udemy and Coursera.

2. Networking:
LinkedIn is not just a place to send connection requests. Are you actively connecting with your network? Reach out to established or better-learned people in your niche and learn from them. Show up and mean it!

3. Knowledge of rates and pay:
Do not just take roles without learning the pay for those roles. Ask your colleagues and check on social media platforms. Never sell yourself short.

4. Marketing & positioning:
Position yourself on social media so that you sell both your personality and role. When people see you or your profile, do they see your profession or just your social life?

5. The importance of systems:
Build a system for the niche you are in. How do you do what you do? What comes first?

6. Lifelong learning:
Always keep learning, both actively and passively. The road to success is not child’s play or an off-and-on thing. You must be consistent and commit to learning new things and adapt to new technology if need be. For instance, AI is a powerful tool to aid your role. What are you doing with available technology?

Try these tips and comment on your experiences after applying them. Did your chances on freelance websites increase? Did you land better roles?

Photo credits:
Blog waalaxy
Fleurish freelance

References:
Investopedia
Flexjobs