The gig economy is flourishing with more than 53 million Americans working as freelancers and 24 percent earning money through the digital ‘platform’ economy last year, reports a national survey of the new workforce. In fact, researchers estimate as much as half of the working population will enter the gig economy by 2023.
The rise in the number of gig workers can be attributed to financial downturns in the economy. With full-time employment increasingly more difficult to find, individuals are picking up side gigs that allows for flexibility and financial freedom. As the gig economy continues to grow, entrepreneurial gig workers will have to shift the approach to work. As a gig worker, it means closer collaboration across expanded locations and varying workdays.
How do you begin to prepare yourself to sustain and grow your business for the gig economy? Gig workers have access to a myriad of tools to not only make life easier and more flexible, but also to help run a successful side gig. Whether you are just starting your journey or are a gig pro, this survival guide of tips and technology resources will help you prepare and thrive in the gig economy.
Utilize the right technology
As a busy worker juggling life, work and potentially multiple clients or employers, you must find effective ways to separate your personal and business personas. One way to accomplish this is to have a toll-free phone number which allows you to set up shop anywhere and appear omnipresent to your business contacts. Tools like Grasshopper enable the gig worker to separate business calls from personal calls – allowing you to separate work and personal communication without the expense of an additional phone.
Gig workers who collaborate with remote colleagues must also consider how they present the aura of a unified company. A virtual phone system that allows for a second business line and unlimited extensions for remote colleagues can make it appear that you and your colleagues are sitting in the same office, even when you are on different coasts or even take work with you, whenever you’re on the go. Calls are forwarded straight to your smartphone – and with the mobile app, you can make outbound calls from your Grasshopper number and keep tabs on text and voicemails.
As a gig worker, you may need to collaborate with other businesses or gig workers in order to complete a job. With tools, such as Box or Dropbox, you can not only safely store all important documents for your business in a single place but also easily share documents with others – allowing access from any device, and any location. You should also save all current or past work on Box for an instantly accessible portfolio – you never know where you may meet your next client and it’s important to be prepared to show your work.
Learn how to manage all your projects
Now that you have a steady stream of work, it can be stressful managing all your clients and projects. Programs, such as Teamwork, keep track of progress and next steps for you or your entire team so you can easily give attention to projects when necessary. Meeting deadlines is one of the most important pieces in running a successful side business; once you miss a deadline your credibility instantly decreases.
Don’t forget the security basics
Sixty percent of small businesses that suffer a breach end up going out of business within six months. If you collect sensitive data from your customers, it’s imperative to keep their information safe. Your customers trust you with their personal information and if you get hacked, it will very likely damage your reputation and possibly your income stream. An easy way to stay safe online is using a password manager, such as LastPass, to safely store all your important passwords and documents within a secured vault.
The tools are there to thrive in the gig economy, but it’s up to you as the entrepreneur to use them and ensure the success of your business. Leveraging the aforementioned tools will help you continue to be your own boss and run a well-oiled side gig.
