Tag Archives: freelancers

New survey on freelancers uncovers unique and untapped growth opportunity for digital service providers

COPENHAGEN, 25-May-2021 — /EPR INTERNET NEWS/ — A new study looking into the business models and strategies of freelancers has revealed a unique and untapped growth opportunity for digital service providers.

Freelancers today represent a growing labour market segment, one which has been heavily boosted by the pandemic. According to Freelancer.com, in Q2 2020, as the pandemic’s first wave raged across Europe and the United States, freelance job openings increased by 25% compared to the first  quarter of 2020. Yet despite freelancers today accounting for 15% of the European labour market and up to 30% of the US labour market, these small business owners remain an untapped resource for SME service providers.

Keen to understand more about the popularity and profitability of this growing sector, SME service provider, Mono Solutions, and trade association, Localogy, conducted a survey in April 2021 of more than 550 freelancers across the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden, to gather insights into how these professionals operate their businesses and what motivates them to opt out of more secure full-time employment.

The study found that while, for many, the Covid-19 pandemic and associated market changes were behind their career choice, for others, particularly those aged between 18 and 34, the career path is a lifestyle choice. Findings also revealed that, regardless of the reason or the industry in which these freelancers operate, they all have one thing in common; a need to market themselves.

Mie Bilberg, VP Marketing, Mono Solutions, says the study shows 85% of freelancers surveyed have their own website, 61% have their own blog and 38% have an ecommerce store. “Personal branding is especially important for a freelancer, which is why his or her first marketing investment is a website and a blog, both of which require some form of software to develop and run. Interestingly, 62% of freelancers tell us they actively recommend software to their clients, but only 16% of those we surveyed are software resellers themselves.”

Most of the surveyed freelancers who were not diversifying income through software resales, simply didn’t know the opportunity was available.

Mie believes any business selling digital products like websites, online booking, ecommerce or services like, SEO, graphic design or advertisement, should be looking to freelancers as potential clients as well as potential lead generators. “Many freelancers have trusted relationships with their small business customers. As accountants, marketing consultants, graphic designers etc., they are in a strong position to recommend software solutions to their clients. Solution providers should be looking at local freelancers as the influencers they are. It’s time to get to know your freelancers on another level, they could be your key to long-tail growth.”

These findings offer powerful insights into a potentially lucrative form of marketing for software and digital technology providers. To discover more insights from the study and to download the report in full, visit Mono Solution’s website.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Struggling Jobs Market Doesn’t Stop Entrepreneurs

Despite the challenging economic times entrepreneurs are helping to guide the UK economy through these difficult times, as both freelancers fight back against the high unemployment rates and new start up business look set to boost the national GDP significantly.

As a result of unemployment in the UK steadily increasing, as well as the number of unemployed people currently being the highest since 1994, research has shown that a significant amount of people are turning to freelance work, in an attempt to earn money – an increase of 12% since 2008. With the number of freelancers and new business owners on the rise, amidst a struggling jobs market, the strong business spirit is helping us all to avoid a future recession, and to make the very best of a bad situation.

In the current challenging economic environment, businesses are keen to reduce fixed costs costs, often by reducing the number of fixed staff they employ, and are instead employing freelancers. With freelancers working on flexible, short-term contracts, they are paid on a per work basis and are therefore not paid for the times when they aren’t needed, helping to minimise overheads.

This has of course shaken up the freelance industry, with a large amount of work available from many different companies. Whether it be a large retail company looking for a web designer to design and host their website, or an office based company needing a professional to undertake some administrative duties, it seems that outsourcing is the way to go about it, with more outsourcing websites setting up each month.

With many of the websites offering payment and project management platforms, as well as a whole host of other support, it’s a hassle-free way for those with the right skills to earn a sole income, or to supplement their income.

Many people who have been made redundant now seek work through outsourcing websites, in order to continue earning money during a challenging economic time. The amount of people freelancing in this way shows that they’re actively fighting the economic environment, and boosting the UK economy at the same time.

Furthermore, a recent survey has suggested that Britain’s newest start-up businesses are set to add hundreds of millions of pounds to the national economy next year, with outsourcing being the concept that looks set to continue leading the way. The survey, commissioned by T-Mobile and carried out by the Henley Business School, estimated that technologically-focused small businesses launched in 2011 could generated a combined £360m for the UK economy in 2012, generating somewhere in the region of 70,000 jobs.

Outsourcing websites have made it easy for freelancers, from freelance web designers to freelance graphic designers, to find work, whilst also providing businesses with a cheaper alternative in getting their workload and business functions completed. Loren Holland, Managing Director of OutsourceMyProject said: “OutsourceMyProject provides a useful service to freelancers and UK businesses. Our website connects freelance professionals with businesses looking to outsource their workload, and provides them with a platform to manage and complete their jobs. We’ve noticed that sign-ups to the site have increased rapidly over the past 12 months, which is undoubtedly a sign of strengthening freelance marketplace.”

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OutsourceMyProject Welcomes Increased Demand For Flexible Staffing

Marketplace outsourcing service OutsourceMyProject has welcomed news that there is an increasing demand from employers for freelance and contract workers. The company has also affirmed the quality that an effectively outsourced task can bring to a project.

Last month’s employer survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), titled JobsOutlook, revealed that the tentative UK economy has discouraged permanent employment and led more business owners to seek freelance, contract and temporary workers.

According to the report, 83 per cent of employers said that their use of temporary workers will rise or remain the same during the next year; and four out of five of them expect an increase within the next three months.

Only 49 per cent expect to add to their permanent workforce within the next 12 months, compared to 66 per cent in the previous month; while short-term permanent recruitment expectations stand at 67 per cent, compared to 74 per cent previously.

Loren Holland, managing director of OutsourceMyProject, said: “These figures show that employers are waking up to the wealth of flexible human resources available to them.

“Rather than take on new staff on a long-term or full-time basis, specific projects can be completed by sourcing people with exactly the right skills and experience for each task.

“Whether a business is large or small, or even if someone working alone is looking for one-off assistance with a particular project, it is possible to find a freelancer to offer invaluable support.”

OutsourceMyProject is based in the UK and helps match businesses from a range of sectors to the right service providers, from freelance web designers to freelance SEO experts.

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Increasing Number Of UK Businesses Appreciating The Benefits Of Outsourcing

An increasing number of businesses in Britain are recognising how the financial benefits and specialist expertise linked to outsourcing can help their firms grow, according to the results of a new survey.

Research carried out by leading outsourcing marketplace OutsourceMyProject.com found that 72 per cent of businesses asked said they had either already outsourced services to specialist providers, or would consider doing so in the future.

In addition, two-thirds of respondents said in the current financial climate they were more likely to outsource specific projects or business functions as the need arose, rather than recruit a full-time member of staff.

OutsourceMyProject helps bring together businesses from all sectors and match them with a huge range of service providers, from freelance writers to freelance SEO experts. Co-founder Loren Holland said the recession has made many firms take stock and make positive moves to ensure their companies become more efficient and cut wastage, while retaining the experience and skills of valuable employees.

He said: “The results of the survey show that more companies now look to find a freelancer to outsourcing work to when those skills are not available in-house and this can lead to considerable cost savings. We expect to see a continuation of this trend as more firms look to rationalise their operations and increase efficiency.”

The majority of businesses that said they do not currently outsource work pointed to a lack of confidence in the skills, qualifications or experience of providers as the main reason for not doing so.

Loren added: “It’s completely understandable that companies want to know exactly who they are bringing onboard and that the professional they choose can be relied upon to complete the project on time and to an agreed standard. By going through OutsourceMyProject.com firms put themselves in a position to receive genuine tenders from experienced professionals.

“In addition, the website’s transparent feedback and rating system means both parties can draw on the experience of others before entering into an agreement.”

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