Gig Economy Part II: If You Are a Gig Worker
February 07, 2023
a.png)
In our previous article, we shared more about what the gig economy is and the perks and challenges of being a gig worker. We also talked about the broad talent spectrum model and how companies are beginning to embrace the gig economy talent. If you are currently a gig worker who is feeling lost or unsure of how to grow your business, we hope that these four tips will be able to guide and encourage you.
#gigeconomy #gigworker #talentspectrum #talentgap #freelance #independentbusiness #entrepreneur
In our previous article, we shared more about what the gig economy is and the perks and challenges of being a gig worker. We also talked about the broad talent spectrum model and how companies are beginning to embrace the gig economy talent. If you are currently a gig worker who is feeling lost or unsure of how to grow your business, we hope that these four tips will be able to guide and encourage you.
1. Understand Your Audience
2. Build a Reputation
d.png)
3. Diversify Through Upskilling and Collaboration
4. Think Long-Term
In conclusion, always make thoughtful and forward-thinking decisions when it comes to your gig work regardless of whether you are planning to do it temporarily or permanently. Lastly, if you are a gig worker who is struggling or feeling lost, don’t lose hope because every experience can be turned into a fruitful stepping stone toward your next career endeavour!
If you are interested in learning more about the services provided by CTES Consulting, you may visit our website at https://ctes.com.sg/web/site/home.
#gigeconomy #gigworker #talentspectrum #talentgap #freelance #independentbusiness #entrepreneur
In our previous article, we shared more about what the gig economy is and the perks and challenges of being a gig worker. We also talked about the broad talent spectrum model and how companies are beginning to embrace the gig economy talent. If you are currently a gig worker who is feeling lost or unsure of how to grow your business, we hope that these four tips will be able to guide and encourage you.
- Having a clear idea of your audience and their needs helps you to better design your product or service. For example, if your product is aimed at mothers of young children, then it would be important to engage in conversations with mothers to find out more about their challenges. Will your product value add to their lives and reduce their burden? You can also identify gaps in other products in the industry and consider how you can set your product apart from the rest by addressing these gaps and enhancing it. Understanding your audiences’ lifestyle is also crucial in creating a marketing strategy. For example, if your target audience consist of millennials in Singapore, then knowing the social media platforms they frequent most and the times of the day or week they would most likely use such platforms would be useful.
- Finding effective ways to promote your services or products can be tricky. One way is to make use of a third-party digital platform such as Upwork or Fiverr. Ideally, the platform should be well-known, with a strong pre-existing consumer base, reasonable fees and trustworthy transaction processes in place. The platform’s clientele should also be similar in demographic as your target audience. It may be useful to do prior research on the rates that other similar freelancers are charging. While you want to remain competitive in pricing, you also don’t want to short-change yourself and make a loss. Another excellent way to gain clients is to connect with head hunters and recruiters. They have strong connections with multiple reputable agencies and can match your services to them. If agencies like your work, they may even engage you as a regular vendor in future. Keeping in touch with recruiters even after projects are completed is also important as they can keep you in the loop when any new opportunities arise.
3. Diversify Through Upskilling and Collaboration
- As a gig worker, it is not uncommon to have to juggle different aspects of your business on your own. This is why it is essential to always be learning and diversifying your skills. If you lack the knowledge to manage your business finances, consult someone or look up online resources. If you need to learn how to use a new software to take your product to the next level, invest in an online course.
- Another aspect that you can diversify in your business is the service that you are offering. Instead of viewing other gig workers in your field as competition, look to networking and collaborating with them. Chances are, there will be limitations in your expertise, experiences and knowledge that they can make up for. For example, if you are a freelance videographer, you may want to build a network of other freelance brand managers, content writers and marketing consultants. In this way, your community of freelancers can support one another by recommending each other to clients or offering packages to shared clients for big projects. If you are offering a software or digital service, you can also work with other businesses to integrate your platforms so that consumers have easy access to products from both businesses.
- A final piece of advice is to think about your long-term career plan. Are you simply intending to be a temporary participant in the gig economy, or do you plan to pursue a long-term career as an entrepreneur?
- If you are thinking of eventually returning to the workforce, make sure that you are thoughtfully using your current gig to boost your resume. This means curating a detailed portfolio of the clients and projects you have done, as well as consistently updating your resume and LinkedIn profile. If there is any particular sector or organisation you hope to join when you re-enter the workforce, make sure that the skills, clientele and products you are building in your gig work is relevant. Though it may be temporary, it can still be a productive opportunity that value adds to your work experience and helps you smoothly assimilate back into the workforce in future.
- If you hope to build your current gig into a larger business, take the time to consider its long-term sustainability and financial viability. Never underestimate the importance of creating specific goals, deadlines and plans for your business’s growth. Every client and project you take on should also be well thought through as it can affect the type of reputation or clientele that your business will eventually develop.
In conclusion, always make thoughtful and forward-thinking decisions when it comes to your gig work regardless of whether you are planning to do it temporarily or permanently. Lastly, if you are a gig worker who is struggling or feeling lost, don’t lose hope because every experience can be turned into a fruitful stepping stone toward your next career endeavour!
If you are interested in learning more about the services provided by CTES Consulting, you may visit our website at https://ctes.com.sg/web/site/home.
Topic(s): Career Path, Career Advice
Gig Economy Part I: What’s Happening in the Gig Economy
Showing Empathy At The Workplace
