You’ve probably heard success stories of freelancers earning in dollars instead of pesos—all while working from the comfort of home. Maybe you’re tired of the daily grind, dreading long commutes and rigid 8-to-5 schedules. Or perhaps you’re simply looking for a way to boost your income.
Whatever your motivation, the gig economy offers exciting opportunities to take control of your career and financial goals. It allows you to work on your own terms, choose projects that align with your skills and passions, and tap into a global marketplace of clients.
But where do you start? This guide will break down the details and help you navigate the world of freelancing with confidence, all so that you can take that first decisive step towards a more flexible and rewarding career.
Getting to Know the Gig Economy
Unlike regular, full-time jobs, the gig economy refers to freelance, contract, or part-time jobs. Instead of working for just one company, you get to work for various individuals and companies across the Philippines and even abroad. Since freelancers do all kinds of jobs, such as writing, graphic design, video editing, programming, and virtual assistance, you have the freedom to choose your projects based on your skills and services.
Moreover, since the majority of these gigs can be done remotely, you can do them at home, a coworking space, a café—basically anywhere you want, as long as you have an internet connection. You don’t have to deal with heavy traffic or long commutes anymore. And, of course, getting paid in foreign currency can be a huge financial advantage—especially if you know how to manage your money wisely. If you have a Maya e-wallet, you could simply link Maya to PayPal to easily withdraw your earnings and use them for daily expenses.
How to Join and Reap the Benefits of the Gig Economy
1) Find Your Niche
Many beginners to the freelance life make the mistake of offering every service they can think of. But here’s a pro tip: if you say you can “do anything,” clients may not take you seriously.
Instead, focus on what you do best. For example, if you love social media and enjoy making creative posts, you might want to offer social media management as your primary service. Or, if you’re good with numbers, you can learn bookkeeping and offer the service to clients. Take your time figuring this out, because choosing the right niche will lay the foundation for your freelancing career.
2) Build Your Online Presence
Once you know what services you want to offer, it’s time to create your online presence. In most cases, you don’t need a website just to do this. Just create a well-made LinkedIn profile, a strong Upwork or Fiverr account, and a portfolio showcasing your best work.
The portfolio is particularly important for content, graphic design, or web development-related services. Clients want to see what you can do, so having concrete examples ready will help you stand out. Create sample articles and store them in a Google Drive folder or publish them on Medium if you’re a writer, then include the links in your virtual portfolio. Or, showcase your work on Behance or Dribbble if you’re a graphic designer. If you don’t have any past projects yet, consider offering free or discounted services to small businesses or non-profits to expand your portfolio’s contents.
3) Find Clients and Grow Your Network
Now that your online presence is set up, it’s time to find clients. Popular freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are good places to start. Look for job opportunities on Google, LinkedIn, and Facebook groups as well. Moreover, never underestimate the power of referrals. Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about your services—they might know someone who needs your help.
4) Set Your Prices
Deciding how much to charge will be tricky at first. If your rate is too low, clients may not take you seriously, but if you charge too much without experience, it will be hard to get jobs. A good strategy is to check what other freelancers in your field are charging and set your price slightly lower as a beginner. For example, if most new writers charge USD 20 for 1,000 words, you could start at a range between USD 15 and USD 18. As you gain more experience and good client reviews, slowly raise your rates.
On this note, always price your services in dollars when working with international clients. It’s easier to adjust your prices with this base currency.
5) Manage Your Time
Freelancing gives you the freedom to set your work hours, but you still need to manage your time well. There are plenty of stories of freelancers who accept too many projects and burn out, and others who don’t work consistently and end up struggling financially.
If your gig is just a side job and you still have a full-time job, set aside 2-3 hours a day for freelancing. Conversely, if you’re freelancing full-time, treat it like a regular job—wake up at a reasonable hour, work for a set number of hours, and take breaks.
Avoid working long hours just because your clients are in different time zones. Your health is just as important as your income.
6) Learn How to Handle a Variety of Challenges
Lastly, remember that not every client will say yes. Some will ignore your messages, while others may hire you and then disappear without paying.
These things could happen to anyone, regardless of their freelance niche. What’s important is how you handle these situations. If a client rejects you, ask for feedback so that you can improve. Or, ask for a deposit before starting work so that you have some money in case they ghost you.
You’ll also encounter difficult clients. Some may demand too many revisions, while others expect you to be available all the time. You’ll be able to solve a good deal of these problems by setting your rules in your contract. Don’t be afraid to say no to unreasonable client requests as well.
Conclusion: Growing Your Freelancing Career
Once you have regular clients, think about how you want to grow. The scope of freelance gigs is so vast that you have opportunities in so many industries—if you have the skills to grab them. Consider taking online courses and connecting with other freelancers who can give advice, support, and referrals.
One of the great things about the gig economy is that you have the power to shape your own future, even if you aren’t stationed in a permanent office. The key is to stay patient, to keep learning, and to commit to moving forward.
