Working in any kind of job industry will have positives and negatives.  I’ve spent time writing about the advantages of the gig economy, and I’m a firm supporter of it. However, I also want to be honest about the potential downsides that it can be hiding.  In the 10+ years I’ve been a gig worker, I’ve found a few stubborn drawbacks to being a business content writer in the gig economy.  Let’s go!

The most common downsides to the gig economy

These dark details were hidden from me at first since I was focused mainly on the possibilities the gig economy could offer me. Over the years, seasons, and market changes, these issues have remained constant.

• Unpredictable workload: This is first on the list for a reason.  Unless you are fortunate enough to work with a few regular clients who prioritize consistency, gig work means somewhat unpredictable ups and downs with workflow.  For the purposes of this point, I’m talking about natural ebbs and flows within gig work depending on client needs, budgets, and more.  You could be flat-out one month and then struggling to make ends meet the next.  While this can be nice when working multiple jobs or family life, it can be frustrating to adjust to this change.

• Constantly working with new clients: It’s nice to meet new people and take on new projects without question.  However, there can be a downside to that as well.  As most freelancers will tell you, there are some clients that you need to…train.  This doesn’t mean they are bad clients — far from it.  But having new clients daily, weekly, and monthly can mean that you have to answer the same questions, explain the same details, and ensure the client has realistic expectations of the work you can do.  If you’re going through a slew of new clients, this can be creatively exhausting at times.

• Getting niched: As a freelance writer with a wide taste, this one really surprised me!  While I’ve written about a little bit of everything, I still find that clients naturally put me in a few niches.  I’m a huge fan of niche writing, but it can also mean that you are writing only in a few sections for a season or two.  For example, I advertise myself as a general business content writer.  But dog behaviour, psychology, mental health, and fitness niches have naturally developed as clients come my way.  While some of these are from client referrals, many are not!  This is often an upside for me, but it can be a downside if you get bored easily or want each day to be completely different from the day before.

Downsides or upsides?  You decide!

All in all, the upsides outweigh the downsides when it comes to work-life balance.  The funny part of writing this blog post is that these gig economy downsides could also be upsides, depending on how you want to look at them.  I also find that it depends on the work rhythm.  Sometimes, I enjoy the freedom of flexibility; other times, it feels unsettling.

Are advantages and disadvantages dependent on our emotional states?  Or is it more about the kind of workflow we’re looking for at any moment?  Let me know!