Freelancing is becoming increasingly popular, especially for those seeking to quit their 9 to 5 jobs. The best thing about independent work is that anyone can take on projects that align with their skill set and interests. As technology advances, it also expands opportunities for people to make a living from freelance jobs online. However, with so many possibilities to stay competitive in the freelancing industry, figuring out where to begin can be challenging. Here are some ideas.
What Freelance Skills Should You Learn in 2023?
Are you looking to become self-employed in 2023 or considering a career change? If so, the first step is to identify a valuable skill and acquire comprehensive knowledge about it. In other words, you need to learn a skill that’s in demand in the job market. Below you’ll find the top skills you should pick up in 2023 to stay ahead of the competition.
App Development
The demand for iOS and Android app developers is always on the rise. According to Statista, as of last year, there were at least 1.6 million apps on the Apple App Store and approximately 3.55 million on the Google Play Store. In addition, at least 21% of millennials have admitted to opening apps on their mobile devices roughly over 50 times a day. The numbers give us a better understanding of why numerous companies are intensifying their efforts to promote their services on mobile devices.
App development provides an excellent opportunity for developers to leverage their skills as brands commonly look for freelancers to create and test their apps. Furthermore, this demand is projected to persist in the future. That’s why you should contemplate learning app development to earn a living as a freelancer for as long as mobile devices remain integral to people’s lives.
To develop apps, you require a mastery of specific coding languages such as C++ or Java for Android and Swift for iOS. You can choose to learn one or both to become an accomplished app developer.
Video Production and Editing
This skill involves creating and post-producing raw footage for various purposes. The most common are:
- Entertainment
- Marketing
- Education
The skill is in high demand since more and more companies are using videos to interact and engage with their audiences nowadays. Want to learn video editing? Then check out Premiere Gal, Film Riot, Mango Street, and DSLR Video Shooter resources online.
Website Development
Another job in high demand in the freelancing sector is designing and coding websites for diverse purposes. So, if you possess this skill set, you can easily monetize it and generate a decent income. In addition, the scarcity of programmers despite the high demand for web development skills implies that programmers can earn more money due to their expertise.
Need to learn how to code? Website development is easy to understand as long as you are determined to put in the necessary effort and time. There are many resources online where you can learn how to create websites. For tutorials, for example, you can check out platforms like Udemy, W3Schools, and FreeCodeCamp.
WordPress Management
Not everybody requires a heavily coded site to run their online businesses. In some cases, brands use WordPress to run their 7 figure businesses. That said, WordPress Management is a skill you should consider mastering this year. Fortunately, there are numerous resources online to learn how to create a WordPress website.
As a WordPress manager, you will be responsible for designing and developing web pages, scheduling posts, and optimizing the site’s speed. Additionally, you will need to install and test new plugins to ensure seamless site performance, as well as manage comments and other backend tasks.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
If you are fascinated by machine learning and its interactions with people, developing your AI skills may be just right for you. With the growing popularity of AI and machine learning solutions, many companies are adopting these technologies to improve their operations. Several businesses already use these technologies, with AI expected to continue expanding in the coming years.
Selecting AI as your freelancer career will enable you to work with high-end companies that pay big bucks. Additionally, if you want to be your own boss, you can create code for automated home gadgets like Google Home and Alexa and sell them to interested parties. To start learning, check out resources such as Google AI Education, Machine Learning Mastery, and Coursera.
Start Learning Now
Finding the perfect skill with high demand is essential to earn more money as a freelancer. However, finding something you like is more important. Cultivating talents you’re passionate about makes the whole process easier and much more enjoyable. Besides, once you’ve mastered the selected skills, you’ll actually enjoy your job!
Nevertheless, gaining new abilities takes time and sometimes requires an initial investment. If you need to make a little extra cash on the side to get by or pay for courses, you can consider taking online surveys or sharing your bandwidth.
