10 Worthwhile Freelancing Skills to Learn in 2022: Freelance Your Way!
There's a lot that freelancers need to know. Knowing the right freelancing skills to learn will have everything to do with how many clients you attract and how much money you make. So, where should you start?
With the digital world constantly changing, your skill set needs to evolve with the times. Investing in your professional development is the single best thing you can do to build a successful career. With this in mind, let's explore 10 of the most in-demand freelancing skills to learn that will keep your business booming.
At a Glance: List of 10 Freelancing Skills to Learn
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Website Design
Social Media Advertising and Marketing
Video Creation
Sales Copy Writing
Google Analytics
Content Writing
AI and Automation
Blockchain and Crypto
Amazon Marketing
Master these 10 in-demand freelancing skills to learn in 2022
Freelancers are constantly having to chase new business. But with the right skills, you'll be able to attract more clients, keep them longer, and spend less time on lead generation. The best freelancing skills to learn in 2022 include SEO, Google Analytics, digital content marketing, Amazon marketing, AI and automation, and blockchain and crypto.
I chose these freelancing skills to learn based on personal experience, client requests, and industry knowledge. Master at least one of these skills and you should have plenty of clients to keep you busy.
Search engine optimization
As a freelancer, if you want to be in demand and get high-paying clients, you need to master certain skills. One of the most essential (and lucrative) skills you can learn is SEO.
Search engine optimization (SEO): SEO is a process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results. As a freelancer, your SEO knowledge can help businesses improve their website ranking and organic traffic.
Even if SEO isn't your bread and butter service, knowing how it works can help you become a more effective freelancer. So much of digital marketing hinges on getting found online, and SEO provides the foundation. Whether you specialize in content writing, video production, course creation, social media, or website design, a working knowledge of SEO can go a long way in getting your clients great results.
Website design
Another anchor for creative strategies is website design. There's not a single business today that can't benefit from an online presence.
A website provides a central point for all of a brand's digital marketing. Nowadays, consumers expect businesses to have websites. It's the first place they go to when they want to learn more about a business's services or products. Websites can conduct transactions, capture leads, share content, and track user journeys. No business should be without one.
Even with today's DIY website builders like Squarespace, companies still rely on website design professionals to craft a compelling website. They also need someone to manage their website on an ongoing basis. With the right business model, web design could be a great way for freelancers to build recurring revenue.
Social media advertising and marketing
With the increasing popularity of social media platforms, businesses are turning to social media advertising to reach their target audience. Freelancers that can create and manage social media advertising campaigns will have no shortage of clients.
With over 3.5 billion social media users worldwide, businesses need to be present on social media to reach their target audience. Freelancers can help with all aspects of social media management, including creating ad campaigns, posting content, monitoring comments, and connecting with influencers.
Video creation
As the world increasingly moves online, the demand for high-quality video content is only going to continue to grow. Video accounts for roughly 82% of all internet traffic. Freelance videographers can cash in on brands' growing desire to produce video content.
Here are some of the areas and skills you might consider:
Storytelling through video
Creative editing skills
A strong understanding of the latest video trends
Filming and editing on a smartphone
Engaging social media videos
Explainer videos
Product videos
Video tutorials
Live stream videos
VR/360 videos
For many brands, creating quality videos to use in their marketing is too complicated and expensive to do in-house. You need special equipment to record and edit videos, as well as plenty of creativity.
Sales copy writing
The internet is a noisy place. Companies are struggling to stand out as more competitors enter the market. One thing that can help companies tip the scales in their favor is compelling sales copy.
This copywriting niche focuses on actionable copy that makes people want to buy. It requires a blend of strong copywriting and psychology, as well as deep understanding of a business, its goals, and its target audience.
The reason why sales copywriting can be so lucrative is because businesses can see the ROI of it. If you're great at writing high-converting copy, you can charge a premium for your services and have clients lining up at your door. Not all copywriters can write for sales, so consider yourself a golden unicorn.
Google Analytics
As businesses increasingly turn to data to drive their decision-making, the demand for professionals with Google Analytics skills will continue to grow.
Google Analytics helps companies see how they're performing online. It tracks everything from search engine traffic to keywords to sales and more. Since Google accounts for more than 90% of all online searches, using Google Analytics is a no-brainer for most companies.
However, connecting Google Analytics to your website is just the first step. The backend can be quite a bit complex, especially when you start running multiple paid ad campaigns. Companies need someone skilled to make sense of all the data, which is where a highly skilled freelancer comes in.
Knowing how Google Analytics works and how to help companies get the most from their data can be indispensable to the right clients.
Content and article writing
If you're a content writer, you know that the demand for your skills is always high. The landscape of content writing is always changing, which is good news for freelancers. This constant evolution gives you plenty of ways to make a living.
Here are some niche content writing examples you can explore:
SEO copywriting: With the ever-changing algorithms of Google and other search engines, it's important to keep your SEO copywriting skills up-to-date.
Web copywriting: As the world moves increasingly online, so does the demand for web copywriters.
Blog writing: An evergreen skill, blog writing is always in demand as businesses strive to keep their blog content fresh and engaging.
Ghostwriting: If you're good at writing in someone else's voice, ghostwriting is a skill that will always be in demand.
Social media copywriting: With social media being one of the most popular ways to consume content, it's no surprise that social media copywriting skills are in high demand.
Email copywriting: Email marketing is still one of the most effective marketing strategies, so email copywriters are always in demand.
Advertising copywriting: From TV commercials to billboards, advertising copywriters are needed to craft attention-grabbing copy.
Product descriptions: As an eCommerce copywriter, you'll be responsible for writing engaging product descriptions that sell.
Landing pages: An effective landing page is key to any good marketing campaign, so landing page copywriters are always in demand.
1Case studies: Case studies are an important way for businesses to show off their successes, so case study writers are always in demand.
AI and automation
AI and automation are two of the most in-demand skills for freelancers in 2022.
AI stands for artificial intelligence. It involves using computers to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as understanding natural language and recognizing patterns.
Automation refers to the use of technology to automate tasks that would normally be done by humans. This can include tasks such as sending emails, filling out forms, and managing social media accounts.
Both AI and automation can save you a lot of time and help you get more work done. If you're not already familiar with these concepts, now is the time to learn.
Businesses love the idea of automation technologies but often aren't sure how to apply them to their current business processes. A tech-savvy freelancer can help companies find ways to harness AI and automation across a wide range of use cases.
Blockchain and crypto
Blockchain and crypto are going to be two of the biggest areas of growth in the coming years. Technically, it's not a freelancing skill. But freelancers that have more than surface-level knowledge of blockchain and crypto may find themselves with plenty of work. These are very hot topics that require content creation and marketing. Since it's such a niche topic, freelancers will benefit from knowing more than the basics.
So what exactly are blockchain and crypto? Blockchain is the underlying technology that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent and tamper-proof transactions. Crypto, on the other hand, refers to the actual currencies that are built on top of blockchain technology.
Freelance work in the blockchain and crypto space could be writing content material on the subject. Or it might take more of a consulting role by helping companies apply this technology to their own businesses. After all, the more in-demand skills you have, the more likely you are to land high-paying gigs.
Amazon marketing
Amazon sellers know that product marketing is essential to success. They also know that it can be a challenge to keep up with the latest changes and trends, especially as Amazon continues to grow hand over fist.
Amazon accounts for about half of all e-commerce sales. That's a huge slice of the retail pie, so it's no surprise that third-party sellers are willing to pay good money to stand out on the platform.
That's where a skilled freelancer comes in. If you're great at running PPC campaigns, writing product descriptions, optimizing product pages for Amazon SEO, and talented at finding hot-selling products for merchants to sell, you'll have a full-time freelancing job in no time.
Here are some areas of Amazon marketing where freelancers can shine:
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Social media marketing
Amazon advertising
Amazon seller central
Amazon marketplace
Amazon pay-per-click (PPC)
Amazon Associates
You can easily turn just one of these skills into a freelancing niche and make good money.
Why are these internet freelancing skills in-demand?
The skills on this list are in-demand for a number of reasons. First, they are all relatively easy to learn and can be picked up by anyone with a little bit of time and effort. Second, they are all skills that can be used to start a freelance business or to get started in freelancing. Plus, they are all skills that are in high demand by businesses and individuals alike.
I focus on skills that can generate revenue. And the best way to generate revenue is to know how to do something that not everyone else knows how to do.
So, if you are looking to start freelancing or you just want to learn some new knowledge, these are the skills you should focus on.
How can these freelancing skills to learn make you more money?
Learning new freelancing skills is a great way to improve your business, expand your services, and do more for your clients. When you become more effective in your work, your clients benefit. And that's a great way to charge more for your services!
Notice what all of these freelancing skills to learn have in common? They're all about building and growing a digital presence.
Today's businesses are online. Even brick-and-mortar businesses have some form of digital presence, even if it's just a basic site and a Facebook page. That's because when it comes to discovery, research, and buying decisions, there's nothing that can beat the speed and convenience of online channels.
You can apply these skills to help businesses perform better online. And when they win, you win, too!
But it's not all about the money. Some other benefits of learning these in-demand skills include:
Increased earnings potential: freelancers with in-demand skills can command higher rates for their services.
Greater flexibility and control over your work: as a freelancer, you can choose when and where you work, and who you work with.
The ability to work from anywhere: with the right skills, you can work from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.
A sense of accomplishment and satisfaction: freelancers feel a sense of pride and satisfaction in their work, knowing that they are in control of their own careers.
How can you learn new freelancing skills?
There are lots of ways you can learn skills that are in demand for freelancing. One option is to take courses online or in person. Take my online course, for example. I break down how freelancers can market themselves to attract new clients and make more money.
There are tons of social media marketing courses, design courses, Amazon Seller courses -- you name it! E-learning is a huge market, so you can find a course for just about anything these days.
You can also read books or blog posts, or even find mentors who can help you learn what you need to know. The most important thing is to get started and to keep learning so that you can keep up with the ever-changing needs of the marketplace.
What industries can benefit from these in-demand freelancer skills?
The skills above are in demand because they can help businesses in a variety of industries to succeed. Social media management, for example, can help businesses of all sorts and sizes to reach a wider audience and engage with potential and current customers.
SEO enables businesses to rank higher on search engine results pages, making it more likely that potential customers will find them. And content marketing can help businesses to create valuable, shareable content that can attract attention and generate leads.
What types of freelance jobs can you get with these skills?
The above skills can be applied to a wide range of jobs. In some cases, the skill is the job, such as SEO management or social media marketing.
But those aren't your only options. Consultants often bring a range of skills to their projects, as do virtual assistants, digital marketing managers, and content creators.
You can learn a new skill without making it your whole job. For example, having a working knowledge of SEO can make you a more effective content writer. Or, knowing how to produce a video might help you become a better video scriptwriter.
Here are some specific freelance jobs where you can put your new skills to work:
SEO
Social Media Marketing
Content Marketing
Email Marketing
Lead Generation
Graphic Design
Web Design
Web Development
Copywriting
Try to apply the new freelancing skills you learn in different ways. The more you have to offer your clients, the more valuable you become to them.
How can these skills help you in your career?
Learning is a never-ending process. The more you learn, the more you know. And the more you know, the more value you can bring to your clients.
Learning a new freelance skill isn't just about the skill itself. Anytime you engage your brain in learning, you're improving your critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. You're creating new neural pathways in your brain, which can make you a more effective learner. And all that learning might just lead you to your next great idea.
The skills I shared are in high demand among businesses and organizations of all sizes, so mastering them can help you land new clients and projects and ensure you never have to go back to a regular office job.
What are some of the challenges you may face when learning these skills?
Learning isn't always easy. It doesn't come naturally for many of us. As a freelancer, no one is going to make you learn. You have to be motivated enough to do it on your own.
Easier said than done, right? If you're struggling to invest in professional development, you're not alone. Lots of freelancers face challenges like:
Finding the time to learn new skills while also keeping up with current work
Making sure you are learning the most in-demand skills
Staying motivated to learn new skills
Determining which skills will be most beneficial to your career
Finding the right resources to learn new skills
There's no easy way around these challenges. The best thing you can do is build learning into your schedule, just like you would a typical freelance project or client.
Things to consider before you start investing in new skills
Ready to learn the most in-demand freelancing skills? You want the best outcomes from your time (and money, if you're paying for a course or coaching).
Before you sharpen your pencil and jump into learning mode, consider the following:
What are your goals? What do you hope to achieve by learning new skills?
What are your current skills and how can you build on them?
What are the trends in the industry you're interested in? What skills are in demand?
What are your learning preferences? Do you prefer to learn online or in person?
What sites or places can you use to find clients who need your new skills?
What are your time constraints? How much time do you have to devote to learning new skills?
How do you want your new skills to improve your work and personal life?
Take some time to figure out where your efforts will be best spent. Then start looking into options to teach you the things you want to learn.
Putting your new niche freelance skills to work
Finding the best freelancing skills to learn can help you make your freelance business more sustainable and profitable. It might also send your business in an entirely new direction, one that wasn't on your radar before but holds a lot of potential for growth.
Which of the above in-demand skills are you most excited to learn? Share your thoughts in the comments below.