The gig economy is here to stay. How will you thrive in this new working world?
The workplace has transformed from long-term employment to now being about much more regular job changes. These days many workers choose “short-term gigs” over “permanent” (long-term) employment.
The difference between struggle street and thriving in the gig economy are your skills, information and desire. Do you have the right information on how to succeed in this new working world?
In this post I’m going to show you all about gig economy online jobs and online options (even if you’re a complete beginner) or are currently working full-time. Also, how you can be successful in the gig economy.
Digging deeper I want to take some time to discuss exactly what it takes to become successful online in the gig economy and offer those who are seeking to take this path some real options to help you to make it a reality. In this post I’ll also cover:
- Gig economy online jobs
- Gig economy online businesses
- How to be successful in the gig economy, what is possible!
What is the Gig Economy?
The gig economy is “a way of working that is based on people having temporary jobs or doing separate pieces of work, each paid separately, rather than working for an employer” (source: Cambridge Dictionary)
This means essentially working as a freelancer, temporary contractor or on standalone one-off jobs different from traditional full-time employment. Each gig (an individual job, task or assignment) typically represents a small portion of a workers income. Some attempt to make just working on gigs enough for them to live off like a job income. Others leverage short-terms gigs as a way to earn a part-time or extra income on the side.
If you are working full-time but have some spare time, why not make extra income from a side hustle?
More and more companies are outsourcing work to gig economy workers using gig economy platforms. So many apps and websites have sprung up as companies take advantage of the skills and efforts of gig economy workers, which is typically cheaper than traditional employees.
Businesses love lower costs.
Pros and Cons of the Gig Economy
I’ll focus here on you – the worker in the gig economy
Benefits of the Gig Economy
Flexibility
For many working for yourself, having flexible working hours, and not being subject to office politics and office walls, are driving the popularity of today’s gig economy jobs.
If you like to work early mornings and weekends from home, particularly if you’re doing it as a side hustle, then the gig economy can really benefit you.
More independence
Many gig economy workers, including independent contractors, have more freedom from their independence to complete their work. You are not confined to an office and won’t have someone look over your shoulder, so many in the gig economy are able to be given a task, apply their skills and complete it. This is especially true for those working creatively.
Variety and greater access to jobs
Gig economy workers get to choose the jobs they take on. So may find they have a wide variety of jobs to complete. Rather than being in an office with traditional jobs with similar, monotonous tasks to be done each day as well as admin, commute etc, each gig or project may include various elements that make the work more interesting.
Workers in creative fields may then find that they are more engaged in their projects and can be more creative with their work because of the daily variation.
Pay – some earn more money
Freelance workers earn money based on their expertise and skills. As you become more skilled and an expert in your field, you can potentially charge more. If you provide services online, you are always competing with a more global marketplace, so for many services online there will be price competition from countries with lower living costs.
Cons of the Gig Economy
While there are some real upsides for some, particularly those using their skills as a side hustle, there are also downsides for many
No employer benefits
Most workers in the gig economy do not receive any benefits as part of their payments for services. Given you aren’t classified as an ‘employee’, the laws regarding the benefits the company needs to give you are different. This is even if you are working 40+ hours per week. Typically, you will need to plan your own retirement contributions and insurances and get income when you are sick.
Working poor for many 
For many providing services in the gig economy such as driving, delivering, cleaning etc. These are really like a “commodity” as such, so there will always be cheaper services available. Companies can make more money and incur a lot less liability classifying workers as independent contractors to save costs. Arguably this is based on exploitation of workers.
In many industries this has created greater “working poor” and this in-work poverty has effectively replaced unemployment. According to the US Federal Reserve’s recent report on economic well-being in the US. The report found that in 2018, workers who supported themselves through the gig economy struggled financially far more than the average person. Many are struggling to make the minimum wage and struggle to pay bills. In addition, they are shut out of the financial system for loans to buy a house as traditional lenders struggle to assess their volatile incomes and risks of lending to them.
You don’t want to be in this situation.
Tax responsibilities
Workers in the gig economy receive direct payment for their work. Most companies won’t withhold the taxes that need to go to the government each time. This means it is up to each worker to put aside the correct amount for their tax obligations. Depending on your country, most freelancers should set aside 25-30% of each of their paychecks for taxes in order to not owe the taxation office at tax time.
Isolation
Some workers may find the remote, isolated working life of a gig economy a problem. You miss out on the social elements when you work in a traditional office, like lunchtime discussions, lunchtime exercise or water cooler banter. You do get the added flexibility of being able to work wherever one wants like coffee shops etc, but the advantages can disappear if you are the type of person that feels removed from your work friends and family,
More hours for typical gig workers
Even though you have the flexibility to set your own hours as a gig worker, it can be a challenge if you face competition and need to offer high levels of availability and quick turnaround on a project in order to receive contracts. This can lead to you working longer hours and even seven days a week to be profitable.
More stress
Full-time workers can rest assured that their employment position is relatively secure. Sure there are layoffs which make relying 100% on your job income risky. But for gig workers when you earn your money from gigs then you are always looking out for the next job. There can be sudden and unexpected changes in jobs for gig workers so your income is never 100% secure.
This can be stressful for many so starting out with a side hustle is surely a far safer way to begin with those wanting to get multiple sources of income. 
Is The Gig Economy For You?
The gig economy provides flexibility for both workers and businesses. Employers and corporations are the big winners because instead of being limited to what is available from only their employees, freelancers make it possible for them to access these skills and services on demand.
For gig economy workers you can enjoy the flexibility of working your own hours at a location you prefer. By 2030 experts predict as much as half of all workers in the labor force could be full-time gig economy workers. So considering the pros and cons of this style of working can be an essential port of what tomorrow’s opportunities could be.
As I’ve mentioned, with all the cons working in the gig economy, for those that have a choice, the safest way could be to start as a side hustle. Let’s take a look at the opportunities available.
Best Gig Economy Online Jobs
There are a growing number of apps and job search sites for gigs, freelance jobs, part-time jobs, and more. You can get lost in all this, so focus on using websites that list the kinds of jobs you actually want.
You can always use general job search sites like Careerbuilder.com, Indeed.com, Job.com, Monster.com etc. Just be sure to vary your search to only freelance or part-time jobs (depending on what you want). You can also use apps that will help you find quick gigs and odd jobs.
You can also search on job sites that specialize in gig jobs. Focusing on Freelance gig platforms to sell your skills and experience to boost your earnings in your area of expertise. Check out my list below to see if any of these gig search sites are what you’re looking for.
UPWORK.com: Upwork is a global platform for freelancers where skilled contractors and independent professionals can find rewarding projects and clients. The Upwork platform enables freelancers to find projects, connect with clients and get paid. Signing up and getting accepted is the first step and very difficult in some cases. When you create a freelancer profile, the Upwork algorithms help you find projects that fit your skill and experience.
Like most of these platforms you’ll have to bid against other low paying freelancers for jobs and it is hard to get work when you have no portfolio or reviews. But once you get gigs, you then enter your hours and get paid through Upwork. So this streamlines the process when you are working for multiple companies.
Upwork also developed a geo-blocking filter to allow USA based freelancers to compete against other USA freelancers only. So this protects their contract pay from being undercut by low paid foreign counterparts. On the flip side, If you are outside the US or UK you can be excluded from applying for USA and UK only jobs.
Upwork keeps 20% for the first $500 billed with each client as a fee for its services, lowering to 10% over $500 and 5% over $10,000.
Toptal.com: Toptal helps highly skilled IT developers, designers and finance freelancers find gigs. This platform is a fantastic freelance talent marketplace when employers want to hire talented people who belong in the top 3% of their fields. Their rigorous interview screening process only allows the top 3% of applicants and ensures that employers get the best candidates to fill in their open positions.
Jobs range from coding to software engineering to web design to app development to financial modeling. Toptal only accepts the top 3% of freelancers who apply. You will first have to complete a series of screenings and interviews. However, if you get accepted, you have access to some excellent finance and IT positions.
TaskRabbit.com: TaskRabbit allows people to post requests for help with various handyman, home help, chores and tasks. You can complete tasks ranging from cleaning houses to moving boxes to making deliveries from people who have tasks they need completed but don’t want to do it themselves. TaskRabbit nоtіfіеѕ you оf роtеntіаl jоbѕ nеаrbу, and уоu саn select thе ones you wаnt to соmрlеtе. The site does not have as many creative and IT as other sites, but they allow you to find jobs with extreme flexibility.
The main problem many find with TaskRabbit is that prices for completing a task can be very low, as there are likely some taskers who will put in a low bid just to get work.
Guru.com: Guru gig platform is a marketplace that lists thousands of freelance jobs in a variety of categories. You will need to quote (bid) for these jobs. You can search for jobs by category, payment type (hourly or fixed price), location, and quotes already received. You can also post your previous work to showcase your skills.
Guru website offers free and different paid membership options to freelancers interested in getting work and earning money via the Guru platform. Guru paid membership options start at $11.95/month and allow registered freelancers to get more bids with lower job fees. Guru also has a virtual “Work Room” where you can schedule your tasks, share materials, communicate with employers, and decide on payment.
Freelancer.com: Freelancer.com offers you various different kinds of job opportunities, including hourly projects and fixed-price projects. This offers freelancers access to thousands of projects that are posted by registered employers. The projects are posted with full work description, skill requirements, and the budget range. Then you as a freelancer “bid” for them before the closing time.
For job listings, people looking for jobs place bids on jobs and get the job if their bid is accepted. You can also submit to “contests”, for these job seekers submit to a project and receive a fixed payment if they are selected. Freelancer.com keeps 10% as a fee from each payment released to the freelancer.
FlexJobs.com: FlexJobs is a major career site focused on people looking for flexibility in a job. The site lists remote, full-time, part-time, freelance, and even seasonal jobs. Full access to FlexJobs full service starts at $14.95/month which includes access to discounted career coaches and resume review. They thoroughly vet all employers who want to list jobs so it is a great way to avoid scams. They offer jobs in 50+ categories, so there are plenty of options for every kind of employee.
Fiverr.com: Fiverr claims to be the biggest global network of freelancers with a gig purchased “Every 4 seconds”. The site offers freelance positions in a variety of fields, from digital marketing to graphic design to writing to music. You can make money on Fiverr by setting up a gig – a work based on your skills and experience you can sell on Fiverr. You can offer your service or a gig based on over 250 categories listed on Fiverr website. With Gig Packages you make pricing from $5 to $995 per gig. You get paid after someone buys the gig service you are selling, then you do the job and it gets approved by the buyer.
Most jobs are only $5 or $10, so while you might not make a lot of money, it is a great site to use for building your portfolio. Fiverr keeps 20% of each transaction as a fee for its services.
Behance.net: Behance is specifically for people in creative industries, including photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and more. Behance is a well-established platform where you can showcase your work to employers for $9.99 per month or for free with limited design and feature options. You can also search for part-time work and gigs. You can search for freelance gigs or jobs by keyword, location and creative field.
These are many other examples of gig economy jobs, but these are some of the best gig economy jobs.
Other gig economy job ideas
Here are more gig economy ideas that almost anyone can do.
Delivery and Driving Gigs – these are very popular, ranging from driving gigs to delivering goods. Uber, Lyft, UberEats etc, These are essentially low paying jobs and are adding to the growing number of working poor.
Tutoring and Teaching Jobs – there are various gig platforms that allow you to teach online to others on a subject matter you have knowledge and experience on. You are not limited to your local community, now virtual tutoring to a global market creates new opportunities and you can work from anywhere.
Renting Assets You Own – renting out these assets, like your car, house, parking bay, and even just rooms in your house, can be used to make money using various apps and services connecting you with those in demand.
Trust is a key issue here in lending out your assets to complete strangers. But rest assured, the legal teams and insurance coverage for these types of popular services are meant to give you peace of mind. So if you’ve got an extra room on your house or a rental property, you can make serious money with hosting services like Airbnb, Homestay, Flipkey, Spot and others. Turn your space into a gig and monetize your spare asset. Then there’s Turo for vehicles and Just Park for parking spaces
Other Gig Jobs To Make Money – Then if you have spare time there are loads of other gig economy ideas:
- Caregiving jobs – you can get gigs as pet sitters, babysitters, nannies, senior care providers, and housekeepers to earn money.
- Online surveys – sharing your opinion online is another way to earn a little bit of cash in the gig economy. Sites like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, Inboxdollars are just a few of the many here. You can monetize your commute on the train etc by sharing your opinion or performing digital tasks.
Summary – Other than renting assets you own, the challenge here is these other gig economy online jobs are low paying. With any of these ideas, you won’t get rich but can make some money. You are essentially trading your time and efforts for small amounts of income.
Let’s look at some gig economy online business ideas where you can build your income producing assets that can grow.
Gig Economy Online Business Ideas
Direct Selling
If you do enjoy working with and helping people, then you could consider adding direct selling as a gig economy online business as a side hustle. Would you like to make a few hundred dollars here and there while maintaining another career or other interest?
Then if you are to decide which direct selling company to join, health is always in demand.
With recent health and immunity concerns, quality and trusted health and nutrition products are sought after.
Think about all the people interested in health, nutrition and immunity products. There is enormous buying power in health, particularly vitamin and mineral supplements. Let’s take millennials for example, millennials don’t want to be sick, rather they ask “how can I not be sick”. So that’s why they go to health clubs, clinics and people that they trust rather than doctors.
So if you are already working with people and like helping others, then direct selling can be a good opportunity for you. If this is you, you’ll want to partner with a great community and trusted company in the industry that can help you with best chances of success. There are even people doing direct selling and using it as a platform for them to help others. For example, personal trainers wanting to reach more health enthusiasts or a public speaker wanting to create a team to train and groom to be leaders. Some are also in direct selling because they love to be working with like-minded people in their free time, like work from home moms. If this is you, chat here
I have partnered with a community that are experts in social media, branding as well as blogging to brand yourself and grow your online business. See also the next option of blogging below to take your direct selling business to the next level.
For example, running a blog around topics such as lifestyle, health, fitness or weight loss can be like a train to take people and drive sales online for your USANA business. Your website is your gateway to the world, and your product referral links work globally, so this is where I can help you take this to a whole new level. The fact that you are reading this article right now shows that it works.
Even if you already have a successful offline or online business and you’re looking to grow it, My Top Free Recommendation can teach you how to take it to the next level. If you choose to promote USANA or any direct selling business, you can also learn all about YouTube and social media marketing on the inside. I will be your personal coach and mentor to help you do this.
Please ask me anything by email me at John@earnfromyourlaptop.com if you want to learn more.
Start a Blog or Online Business with Affiliate Marketing
For most people this is the best way to make money at home on the computer to earn residual income.
Here’s a couple of things to think about…
Currently in the world one thing is for sure, Billions of people are shopping online for things never thought about before including dry groceries and anything else people buy. With COVID-19 the CoronaVirus, the shift from offline to online shopping is unprecedented. This trend may not ease much after COVID-19 fades from current memory.
Do you want to HAVE to work for the rest of your life?
Would you like the freedom to be able to pick and choose the days and times when to work?
If you would, then earning residual income is a must! This is different from trading time for dollars in a traditional job or the gig economy online jobs mentioned earlier in this article.
A few years ago I actually did not know it was possible to earn money through a blog…
But it is!
Here’s how:
- Affiliate marketing
- Advertising / Sponsors
- Selling your own content – like an Ebook or Digital Info product.
I’ve put a lot more information about these types of income and how to do this in other posts which you can find below.
For now, you just need to know that it’s not hard to start a blog.
However, it can be harder to set up a blog that suits monetization (which is how to make money from home).
But don’t worry!! You could have a blog set up in a great way for monetization after you read this article and about 30 seconds to set it up:
So this really is an online business you can start today.
Related articles:
How can I work at home and make money, including the entrepreneurial mindsetChооѕіng a Profitable Blogging NicheHow To Make Money Affiliate Marketing for Beginners – step by step for success
Again, with My Top Free Recommendation I can teach you how to build your own online business using affiliate marketing to leverage the increase in online shopping. Your online business is about you! Are passionate about something? Then you can build an online business around any niche you are passionate about. That’s the cool thing about online marketing. You’ll learn everything you need to know on the inside. I will be your personal coach and mentor to help you do this.
Why Do You Want to Make Money at Home?
If you’re like me then you don’t want to work in a job until you’re 70+ years old.
Consider this for yourself, would you like to have more time to do the things you love whilst you’re still young and have energy?
Well here’s some truth for you:
Being in control of your own schedule has the biggest impact on your happiness.
Most of us know some people who work from home or don’t have a “traditional job”.
Now, consider this…
Do you think these people dread Monday mornings?
Here are 7 reasons why everyone should find out how to make money from home:
- Lots of parents uѕе wоrk frоm hоme орроrtunіtіеѕ to make it роѕѕіblе to stay home with children
- It can provide you with additional income to spend on important things your need or treats for you and your loved ones
- It increases your chances greatly to reach financial independence and retire early (FIRE)
- Making money from home can be done part-time with as much time as you want to put in
- There are sooo many ways to make money from home that there is something to suit you
- You can spend more time doing the things that you love doing
- You spend less time “doing stuff” (like commuting, the clothes and getting ready for work) and therefore spend less money on things that don’t make you happy
Try it out for yourself and tell me if this is wrong!
Another important thing to understand is realistic expectations. It will take 6 months to 2 years to build a substantial income from any business (online or traditional) so don’t be fooled by get-rich-quick schemes and slogans.
What is a good side hustle for you?
Pin this page to come back to it later…
How to be Successful in the Gig Economy Summary
The gig economy offers both challenges and opportunities. There are many cons for those working in the gig economy online jobs. For many it has created a new class of working poor. For those that have a choice, the safest way could be to start a gig economy online business as a side hustle and I’ve covered some options for you to consider.
If you do create a gig economy online business…
Just imagine days from now waking up to see additional money in your bank account.
This does not have to be a faraway dream.
All it takes is a bit of action from you and you can start trying the method that suits you best for how to make money from home in the gig economy…
RIGHT NOW!
If you are interested in making money online to free up your time, take a look at my #1 recommended program here, which I am currently using.
Jоhn іѕ a Fаthеr, Husband, Entrерrеnеur аnd Internet Mаrkеtіng Suрроrt Cоасh. Evеr ѕіnсе hе ѕtаrtеd hіѕ Onlіnе Buѕіnеѕѕ he lоvеѕ wоrkіng frоm аnуwhеrе аnd thе lарtор lіfеѕtуlе. Thіѕ means bеіng сlоѕеr tо our сhіld аѕ ѕhе grоwѕ uр. When hе’ѕ nоt buіldіng wеbѕіtеѕ, hе’ѕ ѕреndіng рrесіоuѕ time wіth оur lіttlе girl аnd fаmіlу, еxеrсіѕіng аnd еnjоуѕ trаvеlіng. Follow me: Webtalk· Twitter· Instagram· Facebook
source https://earnfromyourlaptop.com/gig-economy-online-jobs-how-to-thrive/
