When you think of the gig economy, you probably think of your friendly Lyft and Uber drivers who are busy shuttling folks from city to city by way of their own vehicles. Those companies have certainly facilitated a new kind of economy where people can work for themselves in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Automobiles aren’t the only modern creation that’s ushering in a new way of working, however. Wordsters with the skills to churn creative content out of the ordinary alphabet have begun providing services to companies of all sizes—from one-man shows to huge corporations—all from the comfort of their living rooms or favorite coffee shops thanks to laptops, the internet, and a little thing called ingenuity.
It’s not about working for the gig economy; it’s about making the gig economy work for you. People all over the planet are cashing in on their talents and finding ways to raise funds doing what they love and what they’re great at. Like everything in life, it takes a certain talent to be successful, but those who know how to make it work for them are turning the working world upside down.
Who’s doing this heavy lifting, you ask? Great question! Let’s explore!
1. Professionals Who Want a Change of Pace
Professional burnout is a real thing. The people who have the highest stress jobs also come equipped with ample amounts of experience and niche knowledge that can only be obtained by doing the jobs they do (or did, as the case may be). Thanks to the gig economy, attorneys, teachers, doctors, corporate executives, and military personnel can expound upon their skills and continue to make money with the education they’ve gained without succumbing to stress-induced burnout.
It’s worth noting that this is a huge benefit for the freelancer as well as the business world; companies now have access to specially trained workers with whom they likely wouldn’t have come into contact with before the gig economy came into creation.
2. Solopreneurs
Some writing professionals take their freelance gigs full-time and build a business around their content creation. They don’t necessarily call themselves “freelancers” because they’re hustling 9-5 (and then some!). These folks are also well-positioned to partner up with other marketing professionals and open agencies–and end up managing teams of writers focused on service clients’ content needs. The sky’s the limit!
3. Students
Students’ schedules are seldom simple. Classes operate at all hours of the day with random, intermittent blocks of time between one course and the next. Plus, students’ availabilities change every few months. This combination makes it difficult for many studious people to work paying jobs into their calendars. The gig economy enables students to showcase their skills, learn valuable business lessons, and make money while they pursue their degrees.
4. Stay-at-Home Parents
Approximately 20 percent of parents in the U.S. are stay-at-home moms or dads. A quarter of dads and nearly one-third of moms who stay home to take care of their families have bachelors’ degrees. This means great things for both marketers and stay-at-home parents alike: the business world has access to tons of talented, educated, and experienced people (many whose marketing careers are “on hold” for a few years), and parents have the flexibility they need to take care of their kids, make it to practices, and operate on their own schedules…and get some satisfying writing work done, too!
5. Talented People Who Want (or Need!) Extra Cash
It’s no secret that the Great Recession hit hard. A decade later, many people are just now starting to recover from what was notably a devastating disaster across the country. The average American household carries about $7,000 in revolving debt—that’s on top of things like mortgages, car payments, and student loans.
When you’re at the mercy of debtors, it can be hard to find a way to get ahead. The gig economy is enabling a skilled workforce of people who have specialized skills in their “day job” lives to generate additional income when they leave the office.
WriterAccess is a content marketplace that’s filled with incredible talent. If you’re ready to put your skills to the test, take a look at the ways our platform is leading the charge in this word-driven world!
Kristin B is interested in anything that teaches her something new or gives her a different perspective on something she already knew. She’s a self-proclaimed Learn Nerd, which means the world is her educational oyster, and she’s always seeking opportunities to learn from life’s experiences and her clients’ assignments.
