Looking ahead: What does this mean for 2022?

What is the future of the freelance industry in 2022?

We've covered a lot of ground as we looked at our Predictions for freelancers in 2022. By now, you've seen that there are some great opportunities for freelancers in 2022. Let's take a look at how you can use our predictions for the future to grow your business.

If you're an aspiring freelancer, there are many ways to start a freelance career. The one that may be the easiest is to use the skills you have from your current job and find ways to offer them as a freelancer.

On the other hand, if you're already a freelancer, you can use these predictions to see how your business might change in the next few years. By planning ahead, you'll be able to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

Here are some key takeaways from this report that you can use to prepare for the future and freelance smarter in 2022:

Use technology to your advantage

Work smarter not harder by leveraging technology, outsourcing and automation where you can.

Freelancers today have an array of tools available to help them manage their workloads and make sure they're getting paid on time. Accounting software and integrated platforms offer automated tasks like invoicing, payment reminders and income reports that would have taken hours just a few years ago. And as more companies look to hire independent contractors, both on-demand platforms and established firms are offering specialized support for freelancers.

Get organized

If you plan on traveling or lead an “on-the-go” lifestyle, you need systems in place to help you keep track of all of your deadlines, contracts, invoices, etc.

Minimizing distractions and low-value tasks will allow you to focus on what you love doing instead of draining yourself with logistics and administrative tasks.

You’ll need collaborative tools to stay in touch with clients and collaborators. And a reliable way to keep track of your schedule and your billable hours so nothing falls through the cracks.

The Hectic mobile app is your business in your pocket. That means you can literally run your business from anywhere... even without a computer!

Collaborate with other freelancers

Successful freelancers have always been good at building networks of people who know, like and trust them. That's why they're successful in the first place. These days, their networks include other freelancers who are eager to team up for mutual benefit.

Now that it's so easy to find other people working on similar projects, you should. It will be worth your time to keep an eye out for other people who are a good fit for complementing your skills. If you can create a team of freelancers, you'll be able to tackle much larger projects and earn a lot more money as a result.

One way to do that is by using project management software that allows you to easily work with as many people as you need to to get the job done. For example, you can invite unlimited collaborators to Hectic, where you can share your vision, communicate your needs, and get more done—together.

Always be learning

The most important skill you can have as a freelancer is the ability to learn new things quickly.

Professional development training is one of the best ways to earn more money as a freelancer.

Freelancers invest in their own training and education more often than non-freelancers according to a recent study. The study also found that 65% of skilled freelancers completed business-related training in the past six months compared to just 40% of non-freelancers.

Successful freelancers are always learning new skills and technologies, so they can offer their clients more. They're learning how to market themselves better too.

Keep learning about your craft so you can deliver better work for your clients. Take courses that help you perfect your skills or offer new ones

Find your niche

Our final takeaway as we wrap up this guide to succeeding as a freelancer in 2022 is an important one: Find your niche

What sets you apart from other freelancers? Do you have any specialized skills or experience? Are you willing to take on jobs that no one else will? It's tough to break into the freelance world without finding your niche first.

Being a specialist helps you stand out from the crowd and produce stronger work. It also helps you attract the right kinds of clients and projects.

Looking ahead…

We've covered a lot of ground as we looked at our Predictions for freelancers in 2022, and the implications of these trends are both exciting and scary.

These predictions have been focused on the future of work and what it means for freelancers, but they can also help you understand how to use them to grow your freelance business.

Freelancing will continue to grow. Freelancing is only going to get more popular, so if you're a freelancer now, you're already in a good position. The future is brightening every day.

You'll need more skills than ever before. Freelancers will need to be even more versatile than they are today. You'll need to be able to market yourself, manage your finances and adapt to any new technological trends that pop up. This means you'll need even greater strategic thinking skills, as well as an entrepreneurial mindset that helps you identify opportunities for growth and new possibilities for your career.

You'll have more opportunities than ever before. With more people becoming freelancers, there will be more demand for talent in the gig economy. While competition will be fierce, there will also be plenty of opportunity to start (or grow) your own freelance business!

The future looks bright for freelancers. The freelance sector is only going to continue growing, which means that now is the time to embrace it by building your skills, selecting the right marketplace partner and taking advantage of technology to set yourself up for success in 2022 and beyond.

Of course, no one knows exactly what the future holds. But we can make some pretty good guesses about what's coming based on the trends we're seeing today. And if you take steps to prepare for those trends now, you'll be well-positioned to take advantage of whatever opportunities come your way.