Some freelance skills are more valuable than others. As the world evolves, so do businesses and the skills required to run them. For freelancers, keeping up with the times is essential in maintaining a lucrative business.
Just like having a full-time job, success in freelancing requires that you have a marketable skill. And while you can generate income with just about any skill, those looking to earn more than just peanuts need to offer what employers seek.
If you’ve been freelancing for quite a while, it’s time to ask yourself: does your skill still bring value to today’s businesses? On the other hand, if you’re letting go of your full-time job in exchange for freelance gigs, is your current skillset attractive to the freelance world?
These are essential questions to ask because, contrary to what people think, the freelance industry is a dog-eat-dog world. While there’s greater freedom, there are many tradeoffs. Stale skills have no place in a highly competitive environment, and there’s pressure to innovate continually.
If your skills need a makeover, don’t worry. In this article, I’ll discuss the most common freelance jobs online, and the most in-demand freelance skills employers look for.
So, what are the highest-paying freelance skills? Let’s find out! Here are the top skills to learn for freelancing.
All websites require content, and freelance writers can fulfill this need. Writing is one of the best freelance skills to learn if you aim for big bucks and constant work. However, those just starting need to know one thing: competition runs high.
Even the best writers in this field struggle to find work, and even if they do, the pay is often disappointing. This is mainly because entry into the freelance writing area isn’t that difficult. Knowing how to write doesn’t require specialized knowledge, which has led to a plentiful supply of freelance writers.
However, there is one solution to this problem: learn how to write for a niche audience. Marketing yourself as a freelance writer for a specific subject and format will set you apart. Being a niche writer requires specialized knowledge on a particular subject—and this specialty is what companies that pay big bucks need.
PRO TIP: Instead of branding yourself as a ‘freelance writer,’ consider promoting yourself as a pet writer, aviation writer, copywriter, or academic writer.
These types of specialized writers often get paid higher rates. While this may lead to less work, you’ll find that you’ll get paid more when you do manage to find a job.
See Related: Best Freelance Writing Jobs | Earn from Writing
With today’s more visual generation, the best graphic designers are getting rich. Today, images are more persuasive than words, and graphic designers have never been in more demand.
The numbers do not lie: according to careerplanner.com, the employment of graphic designers is projected to grow 5% from 2016 to 2026. Dribbble.com says graphic design is the second most desired design skill for hiring teams.
As a skill, graphic design can be used in various projects. It includes conceptualizing logo visuals, merchandise, marketing materials, social media, blogs, websites, and offline advertisements. Graphic design is one of the best freelance skills if you have a keen attention to detail and aesthetics.
More value is placed on your portfolio in this industry than your work history, so it’s highly essential that you have records of your previous projects in this freelance career.
PRO TIP: If you’re a beginner, brush up on your graphic design freelancing skills with free and paid internet courses. Udemy’s Introduction to Graphic Design is a great place to start.
It is a free course for basic elements, the design process, and excellent design principles. If you’re looking for more in-depth lessons, consider the resources in EnvatoTuts.
See Related: Best Freelance Graphic Design Websites
If graphic design is booming, the demand for freelance video editors is at an all-time high, too. Video content has proven to be one of the most effective media today, and highly skilled video editors may expect to earn above-average income if they stay consistent.
According to recruiter.com, job vacancies for film and video editors have increased by 26.14% nationwide, with an average annual growth rate of 4.36%.
Video editors have multiple tasks, including editing and joining together audio and video footage, graphics, VFX, sound effects, and music, and managing various post-production elements.
They must know how to use specialized computer software to create polished content. Freelance video editors work on various projects, including commercials, TV shows, films, documentaries, music videos, social media videos, news, and VR experiences.
PRO TIP: Video editors need more than just a mastery of specialized software; they need to be creative, too. Reducing a lengthy segment to only 30 seconds without sacrificing integral elements requires a good understanding of storytelling and aesthetics.
Among the freelance skills I listed here, programming is arguably the most profitable but the toughest to develop. In a world that runs on code, programmers who can leverage technology and computers to create solutions are becoming more in demand.
Masterfully made software can automate processes and streamline an organization’s system. Companies are willing to pay big bucks for talented programmers who can make their dream software come true.
According to Indeed, the most in-demand technical skills as of 2019 are SAS programmers, WordPress Developers, and Systems Integration Engineers.
Companies are looking for freelance programmers for several reasons. First, there’s not much work to warrant a full-time position, and second, learning how to program on your own may be difficult and take a lot of time. A high barrier to entry means job offers come with desirable rates.
However, a programmer’s job differs depending on their background. They may specialize in web design, front—and back-end web development, mobile application programming, enterprise software, data science work, or games.
PRO TIP: Things move very fast in the programming world, so if you’re looking forward to becoming a freelance programmer, know that learning is a long and ongoing process.
If you stick it through, you’ll find that programming is one of the best freelance skills to learn to make a lot of money.
Marketing is one of the best freelance skills for beginners. It’s easy to understand, and there is a massive library of knowledge available online.
Depending on their specialty, freelance marketers may be tasked with several things. Some run Facebook campaigns, while others overhaul an entire website’s content.
Whether you’re a marketing consultant, professional, or strategist, today’s freelance marketers need a digital edge to remain competitive in the modern world.
In 2020, LinkedIn listed digital marketing specialists as one of the top 10 in-demand jobs.
Among the most in-demand skills for digital marketers include social media, SEO, content strategy, Google Analytics, Google Ads, and marketing channels. Search marketers with lots of experience in both paid and organic marketing
Modern marketers’ jobs are widely varied, but they’re tasked with conceptualizing and optimizing digital strategies that cover all aspects of the consumer journey.
It means having a fundamental knowledge of user experience, SEO, data analytics, CRM marketing, conversions, etc.
PRO TIP: When businesses look for a freelance marketer, they’re actually looking for a specific type of specialist. Those looking for more traffic will seek an SEO expert for conversions, a copywriter, and, for improving open rates, an email specialist.
In marketing, becoming a master of all trades but a master of none may hurt you and your income. Find a niche and do your best to learn as much as possible about it!
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job market for interpreters and translators is expected to grow 20 percent from 2019 to 2029. It is at a rate much faster than the average for other occupations. The strong demand for interpreters is due to widescale globalization and the increase in the number of non-English-speaking people in the United States.
If you’ve mastered a second language, working as a translator can be one of the best freelance skills if you’re looking to score ongoing projects.
Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, French, Japanese, Dutch, and German are in high demand for translators. Advertising firms, global corporations, and publishers know that localized content is among the most effective marketing revenues.
For some businesses, hiring a translator is the only way they’ll be able to connect with customers. Only with the help of an expert translator will they be able to get their message across.
PRO TIP: One of the easiest ways to find translation jobs is through freelance marketplaces like Upwork, PeoplePerHour, or Freelancer.com.
The only downside here is that the client sets the rate for each project. Most clients will require that you have a bachelor’s degree or experience in the language. If you don’t have both, you may take online language courses that colleges or certified institutions offer.
In today’s internet-reliant world, one of the most popular skills as a freelancer is e-commerce. An e-commerce expert is well-versed in online selling, but you’ll hardly find freelancers with the title of ‘e-commerce expert’ as the job may be specialized.
An e-commerce expert may be an inventory manager who can help you employ inventory best practices to manage your sales. He may also be an order fulfillment specialist who ensures your order is done quickly and professionally.
E-commerce experts may also take on the form of copywriters who can write compelling website copy or photographers who can shoot great images and optimize your product pages. Others are customer service representatives who can ensure that your customers are happy.
Freelance eCommerce experts know the ins and outs of online selling. For businesses considering the Internet as their primary avenue for selling their products or services, e-commerce experts are invaluable.
PRO TIP: No matter what specialty you choose as an e-commerce expert, learning the basics of SEO and how e-commerce platforms work is integral to success. It’s essential always to be up to speed with developments in these areas, especially if you’re looking to stay competitive.
Web development is one of the most in-demand freelance skills and is a terrific opportunity to start your freelancing career. You can work with clients from around the world and experiment with new programming languages and technologies. There is a great need for web development abilities.
The Internet is the biggest network for trade, communication, education, entertainment, and other activities. Therefore, there is a great deal of employment for skilled people developing websites and web applications.
Web developers use computer software to build websites and web applications that let users interact with content on their screens in multiple ways. This code is written in languages like HTML5 or CSS (like clicking buttons or filling out forms).
Due to the lack of web developers, there is a great need for freelance web developers.
Select one of three specialist categories:
One of the quickest and easiest ways to create websites is with WordPress.
Making a website with WordPress is also reasonably cheap. It is the preferred option for creating websites for small enterprises.
WordPress development freelancers can be pursued through creating online storefronts, membership programs, sophisticated websites, and WordPress-powered themes.
On UpWork, WordPress was listed as one of the 7 most in-demand skills for 2020.
See Related: Best Thrive Themes Templates for WordPress
Cloud computing is listed as one of the most in-demand talents to pursue this year by Indeed.com. There are different areas of cloud computing you can consider.
You can concentrate on learning freelance skills related to cloud computing, Azure, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the abilities required to work as a cloud computing engineer or even a programmer.
Then, you might try joining startups and SaaS (software as a service) companies to help them develop their projects.
Although it may seem challenging, learning data science is actually quite simple. In business, it’s about assisting businesses in analyzing their sales and customer data to grow their operations.
Data analysis is one of the high-paying freelance skills you can learn. However, to become an expert in data analysis, you also need other abilities, such as recognizing patterns in data and understanding them.
Social Media Marketing is a valuable freelance opportunity. There are plenty of options to get paid for your expertise and knowledge because many companies ask for assistance with their social media platforms.
Social media marketing is not just about updating posts or publishing graphics, as many believe. It’s much more difficult to navigate social media than it is to post on Instagram. It entails producing content to draw users, engage them, and boost the brand. Without a doubt, tools can help you save time if you use various search engines.
Social media management makes the ideal side business for those who spend a lot of time on their phones. Although it is unnecessary, it would be advantageous if you had expertise in managing social media.
See Related: Is Paid Social Media Jobs a Scam or a Legit Online Job Portal? (Review)
PPC marketing is ideal for starting as a successful freelancer and making additional cash. You can start with your current expertise, but there are ways to pick up new skills to benefit your PPC advertising.
In this type of paid search marketing, businesses bid on keywords relevant to their industry so that their ads show up when people search for such terms on Google or other search engines.
To determine how much to charge for each keyword and whether your clients are paying too much for the number of clicks they receive, you should understand how it works.
You can write, publish, and sell electronic books online. E-book writing is a simple method to start making money as a freelancer on Upwork and Fiverr if you have the necessary abilities and interests.
You’ll need to be familiar with key tools and writing techniques before starting your first e-book. You should also learn more about how e-book entrepreneurs advertise their goods online. Finally, if you’re comfortable formatting text in Word or another word-processing tool, think about paying someone to format your book for publication.
See Related: Best Books on Making Money Online
One of the top freelance skills that pays well is search engine optimization (SEO). This field offers many job opportunities and is continually expanding.
Why? As more companies go online, they must ensure that customers can find their websites.
SEO can help with that. By optimizing the content of their websites for search engines, freelance workers can assist companies in attracting more customers and increasing their bottom line.
Optimizing the content of their websites for particular keywords and phrases can help businesses increase their online visibility to people looking for what they have to offer.
While technical expertise is required, SEO is also a highly strategic process that necessitates knowledge of how search engines function and what people are searching for.
As a result, companies are prepared to pay premium prices for independent SEO specialists who can assist them in achieving their visibility objectives.
SEO will remain one of the most sought-after and fastest-growing freelance skills in 2022 and beyond.
See Related: Ways to Get Paid to Write with Jasper.ai
The need for app developers is growing along with the time consumers spend on their phones. Companies seek freelancers to create, design, and test mobile applications.
As mobile app developers, you’ll need expertise in coding languages. iOS applications are coded in Swift. Java or C++ is used in Android apps. Knowing this lets you decide whether to study one language or all three to become a proficient mobile developer.
Where can you find out about developing mobile apps? A course on Udemy will take you from complete inexperience to producing an iOS AppStore-caliber app.
Designing a user interface (UI) and a user experience (UX) are essential elements of any contemporary software program or website.
Businesses are under pressure to provide user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing applications and websites as the world becomes more digital.
To build user interfaces that are intuitive to use and aesthetically pleasing, UI and UX designers collaborate.
Good UI and UX design have become increasingly important in recent years, and demand for designers possessing these talents is already rising.
These days, it appears like everyone is a web designer due to the abundance of platforms we encounter.
But in reality, UI & UX design goes far beyond simply altering a design template. Either have a degree in a computer profession, or you can enhance this skill by taking some college-level classes.
Once you are competent enough to work on the back end of large websites and apps, you can find high-paying freelancing employment of all sizes.
As with any freelancing career, your ability and experience determine how much money you can make as a UI and UX designer. But if you can attract lucrative clients, you could make a six-figure wage from this valuable skill.
See Related: Toptal Freelance Rates: Know Your Worth When Bidding
The main goal of public relations is to manage a brand’s reputation. That entails developing and sustaining a positive online presence in the era of technology.
Firms need qualified PR specialists because it is a complicated and dynamic industry. Here are some things you should be aware of if you’re considering working as a freelance public relations manager:
The development of audio content, like video content, has boosted the demand for voice-over work. It is used in conjunction with video content but is not required. Additionally, voice actors are employed for projects like the following:
Furthermore, the going charges for this kind of job are rather expensive! The average hourly rate for top voice performers is about $1,000. And voice acting involves much more than just reciting a script.
However, if you can develop a client base in this field, the recurrent business will probably be more than enough to cover your costs. Good recording equipment and some training are investments you should make, but they will pay off very quickly.
Don’t be concerned if you think your voice is odd or unusual. According to my research, having a distinctive quality could make you stand out and attract more clients.
See Related: Is Jenny Lewis’ Voice-Over Genesis Training Legit?
You can also pick up coaching and tutoring techniques. It might be for whatever subject you are an expert in. It does not have to be for any particular field. But it helps to have a talent that people are ready to pay for.
Here are a few examples:
There are no restrictions at all. With that, it would be better to concentrate on developing a personal brand in your specialty if there isn’t much demand for what you have to teach.
For instance, building a website like this, where you share your knowledge and sell one-on-one coaching to your viewers.
In this manner, you may sell to and present yourself to potential clients who may be interested in your services.
You may also create a comprehensive monetization plan that covers opportunities like affiliate marketing, creating your own courses, and coaching. There are many possibilities, so it’s worthwhile to think about this!
Copywriting means producing engaging, persuasive text to market goods or services. Although it may seem straightforward, copywriting skills are an intricate discipline that requires much effort to master.
Regardless of your niche, businesses will always require assistance selling their goods or services. Additionally, copywriting is a skill that you can learn easily. The fundamentals can be learned quickly, but becoming a copywriter expert will take time and practice.
The best aspect is that copywriting is incredibly fulfilling. It delivers good pay and a tremendous sense of satisfaction from assisting companies in reaching their sales objectives.
Top-rated copywriters can easily earn six figures through their large clientele on UpWork, Fiverr, and other freelance marketplaces.
It is not to suggest that only freelance writing will pay you $3K or more each month. Your early copywriting days will probably be difficult and low-paying. However, as soon as you establish a reputation in this industry, copywriter clients will appear from every industry.
See Related: Ways to Get Paid to Generate AI Content
The biggest cloud storage platform in the world is Amazon Web Services. However, it is known to be unreliable—prone to system errors and online attacks. You may work as a freelancer and offer cloud management services to businesses that use Amazon’s online storage.
Many online courses with material for beginners up to cloud storage experts are available on the AWS website. Additionally, you can take an exam that leads to official certification.
See Related: Best Amazon FBA Courses to Earn Online
The phrase “digital art” is broad and covers a range of creative endeavors. One of the industries with the biggest growth rates worldwide is digital art, which you may not have thought of as a skill you can master as a freelancer.
Digital artists use Photoshop and other computer tools to generate images for graphic design and web development projects. They also offer illustrations for marketing documents, social media posts, and advertising campaigns.
It’s tricky to comprehend just how well-known Shopify is. It’s among the top 10 most sought-after skills on UpWork for 2022.
Learning to create Shopify online businesses for customers is a very lucrative skill that will enable you to generate a ton of income.
Shopify can pay you to bring in new customers and bill clients to create their online stores.
Virtual assistants support clients remotely with administrative, technical, or creative tasks. Imagine yourself taking on the role of someone’s personal assistant, but you only provide assistance online.
The nice part is that, even without prior experience, you can begin working as a virtual assistant. However, you should be aware that there are various kinds of virtual assistants, distinguished by what they “specialize” in, such as:
If you don’t know how to use computers and have no other skills, you can start as a general or administrative virtual assistant. Its tasks are the simplest and revolve around the following aspects:
Additionally, you don’t require any specific tools. All you need to get started working is a laptop or computer with an internet connection. The client will provide the necessary software.
You may make a great living as a proofreader or editor if you know English grammar and structure. You should know that editing and proofreading are not the same things.
However, they are often combined, and you must perform both tasks if you have a contract for proofreading or editing. You can always get clarifications from your client.
You can always check out freelance platforms when looking for an opportunity. Editing and proofreading jobs are posted there by firms and agencies. If you know any content writers, you may also inquire with them to see if they know of any openings.
Call center companies serve as a bridge between agents and actual clients. Unfortunately, this middleman takes a substantial share of the clients’ payments—up to 50%, which is significant.
As a result, if you have experience working for a call center company, you can always try to acquire clients and cut out the middlemen. You are then able to request a higher price working in customer service.
You can choose from a variety of customer service positions, including:
All of them call for you to have good communication skills and the ability to handle (or put up with) upset consumers over the phone while keeping calm despite having their own “qualifications.”
The disadvantage of most customer service positions is that you must report to work at a set time, much like an employee. In contrast to other options, you must stick to a timetable corresponding to the hours your target clients are awake.
YouTube is the second-most-used search engine in the world, right after Google. With more than two billion users logging in monthly, businesses are working hard to somewhat reduce that number.
It is why there are many job postings on various freelance platforms looking for video scriptwriters.
In addition to well-known businesses, many self-made experts, trainers, and mentors use YouTube to connect with their target audience. Some people also use videos as a revenue source.
Because of this, I view producing video scripts as low-hanging fruit in the freelance world. However, you should be aware that writing for videos differs from producing information that is intended to be read.
For instance:
You can always try to respond to job postings discovered on freelance networks if you want to start working as a video scriptwriter. Conversely, you can also try looking for customers on social media, particularly those with active YouTube channels.
Thanks to the booming industry of podcasting, businesses are prepared to spend a lot of money on high-quality audio content.
Editing podcasts is a valuable skill to acquire to increase your freelance revenue. Editing a podcast involves the following:
You may learn the fundamentals of audio editing from a variety of online tutorials and courses.
As soon as you have the hang of it, you can begin providing your skills to businesses and content producers who require assistance with podcast production. For each podcast they produce, this can result in continued effort.
The need for high-quality images is growing as businesses become more active on social media. If you have an eye for detail and a working knowledge of Photoshop, you can earn a solid living as a picture editor.
To be successful in this role, you must be conversant with the most recent editing techniques and technologies. Additionally, presenting a good portfolio of your work to prospective customers would be best.
Learning to edit photos is easy if you don’t know how. You may learn the basics for free online, especially on YouTube, where resources are available. After creating a portfolio of your best work, you can begin marketing your services to potential clients.
Professional photographers, particularly those who specialize in weddings, are another option. As their firm grows and expands, they always need skilled photo editors because they don’t have the time to do it themselves.
Now that you know the best talents to study for freelancing, we’ll look at online learning platforms where you may pick up in-demand freelance skills.
Numerous courses are divided into digestible 3–10-minute films. Therefore, even if you only have a little free time each day, you may start moving forward and achieving your objective immediately.
Additionally, you may view tutorials while driving, eating lunch, or standing in line at the store! The following are the top websites for learning online freelance skills:
With more than 185,000 courses, Udemy is one of the greatest online learning sites for developing skills for the future. 49 million individuals and over 10.5 thousand companies trust it globally.
Udemy offers various courses, including those on web development, entrepreneurship, design, marketing, photography, and video. It is the ideal location for cheap learning of highly paid freelance talents.
Over 27,000 courses are available on the online learning site Skillshare, which covers everything from business to graphic design. The incredible part about Skillshare is you may learn from the best because most of its courses are taught by professionals in the field.
For freelancers in design, video editing, and other creative professions, they feature a superb collection of creative courses.
You buy individual courses on Udemy, which is how it operates. You can access the whole course catalog Skillshare by subscribing monthly or annually.
You can trust the courses and content on LinkedIn Learning. It is a high-caliber online training platform owned by LinkedIn.
Over 5,000 courses covering a range of subjects are available. They also provide “Learning Paths” that will guide you through becoming an expert in business, creativity, and technology.
Once you finish a course, you earn a certificate, which you may post on your LinkedIn page to demonstrate your expertise to potential clients and differentiate yourself from other independent contractors.
You can develop your abilities by volunteering. To expand your skill set and acquire priceless experience in your field, think about allocating weekly time to volunteer. Explore local organizations searching for volunteers with your skill set to find chances in your field.
Since finishing projects is a big part of a freelance career, developing your project management abilities will help you complete tasks more efficiently while still delivering high-quality work. Try utilizing a planner to prioritize critical activities, and try being proactive by finishing projects ahead of schedule as project management exercises.
If you have strong transferrable talents, you might get additional work. You can apply for employment in related fields that don’t necessarily require the knowledge and abilities you utilize in your current position. Consider honing your organizational, time-management, and communication abilities to sell yourself better.
You may learn how to manage projects and time well by watching other freelancers in your area. Use professional networking sites or join a professional association for your sector to find other freelancers. Freelance writers can sign up for a writing group designed especially for independent authors.
Ask the client for their thoughts once the project has been finished. You can identify which skills you can develop by getting feedback. To keep enhancing your abilities and the standard of your work, apply client comments, advice, and notes to upcoming projects.
The ideal skill for freelancing is subjective. Your hobbies and strengths will determine this. However, several freelance abilities, including web programming, video editing, writing, and digital marketing, are highly needed.
There is no simple freelance skill that can be learned. Your hobbies and your strengths will determine this. However, some abilities, such as virtual assistant, content authoring, and social media administration, could be simpler to learn than others.
Your skill level, the standard of your work, the clients you can attract, and their location all impact how much money you can make as a freelancer. While some freelancers might make a full-time living, others might only be able to do it part-time. It’s crucial to remember that no ideal way to freelance exists, and any strategy can be effective.
There is no clear answer to this because it relies on the freelancer’s particular skill set, industry, and experience. Some abilities tend to fetch higher prices than others. Along with more artistic abilities like graphic design and copywriting, these encompass highly technical skills like software development and engineering.
Clients are also ready to pay top cash for freelance services with business-related skills like project management and marketing.
Last updated: November 28, 2024
