When I started freelancing in 2014, I didn’t know much about the gig economy. Since then, the gig economy has flourished and is now even more popular than the traditional corporate hustle. The thing is, the gig economy offers flexibility in all of the ways that matter to young workers that classic corporate options just don’t. I’ve already spoken about the differences between freelancing and staff positions, but let’s take a dive into making the most of the gig economy!

Making the gig economy work for you

There probably is a science to the gig economy. And some freelancers are better than others at being the perfect person for every job that comes their way. However, making this volatile world work for you is about staying as personalized as possible. Here’s what I mean.  

• Plan your routines: Part of keeping myself consistent in business is adding a schedule to my day. Some days, I have 10 deadlines. On other days, I have 0. Yet, I’m sitting and working at my computer on both days. If I’m not working on active writing deadlines, I’m working on my website or applying for writing jobs. I ensure that I always work for my dedicated hours regardless of the queue fluctuations.

• Research and stand out: Once I got a few years into my freelancer career, I started specializing in niches. I picked areas that I enjoyed learning and writing about, and I also made sure that those areas were ones where my customers were happy with what I was producing. If you aren’t sure where to start with that, I’m working on a guide to help you do just that, and you can sign up for updates on it if you’re interested!

• Don’t panic when you aren’t flooded with business: Even if you are doing everything right, there will be days or weeks when business is slow. There is a lot of competition out there and customers have a lot of choice in who they hire. And that isn’t even counting things like AI blog writers. So, do your best not to panic and change course the minute things slow down. Just focus on what you can control and keep at it. This also helps with the negative beliefs that sometimes accompany a slow queue, as I mention in my book about freelancing struggles.

The gig economy can be a beast

Some see the gig economy as a monster, and others see it as a challenge. I’m somewhere in the middle and have chosen to enjoy the ride, wherever it might take me. While it isn’t for everyone, the pros of it outweigh the cons. I’ve learned a lot about my career and writing scope just by getting to know the gig economy and how to make it work for me.

But that’s just me. What do you all think? How do you make the most out of the gig economy in your freelancing niche?