Flexing It®’s Post

Freelancers and friends, what are your plans to deal with a confusing and potentially worrisome global economy? Long term confidence in the freelance revolution remains strong according to Human Cloud's quarterly trend tracker, but near term worries are increasing. Check out how freelance revolution leaders see the near term future, and their advice to freelancers. Leaders contributing to this article include many of the most important freelance marketplaces and freelance management system operators across Asia, Eastern and Western Europe, India, Latam, and the US: Catalant Technologies Africaforesight.com Uncompany YunoJuno Flexing It® Gigged.AI Human Cloud freelancermap (international) Mellow.io 358 Futures ollo.is myBasePay Collective Adeva

The freelance revolution is only going to gain momentum in 2024! Freelance platforms' CEOs, myself included, are buzzing with optimism for the surge in both demand and supply. The freelance landscape is evolving with the expansion of expert networks, employees embracing side gigs for career flexibility, the untapped potential of AI in freelancing, and more. I would highly recommend checking out Jon Younger PhD recent Forbes article for intriguing insights into the future of work and the freelance revolution. And rethink the way we work. Read more the full article, link in the comment below 👇🏼 #FreelanceRevolution #futureofwork BeGig https://lnkd.in/dgctFeip

Excited to share my new Forbes article: "Advice to New Freelancers From Germany's Freelance Unlocked Conference" Read it here: https://lnkd.in/ezNrdbZm Don't miss the advice offered by freelancers at the conference. Here's an excerpt: Tend to your network "Good networks enable scale and leverage, making freelancers better able to work on multiple projects, and attract larger, more complex, work as part of a team. Three platforms - ollo.is, The Indie List, and Uncompany - successfully banded together to win a significant, global relationship. Human Cloud teamed up with Teamera to create the "Quarterly Freelance Trend Tracker". And so on. "Effective networkers are gardeners. Relationship building is a deliberate art requiring patience and dedicated time. A good professional network has a rich mix of people whom you enjoy, who will help you, teach you, work with you, and encourage your success. "Networks are fed through collaboration and communication. Who do you contact weekly, monthly, or more occasionally? "Tending to your network also extends to clients. Catalant Technologies is a best practice in “demand planning.” Catalant team members, frequently joined by CEO Patrick Petitti, reach out to their clients semi-annually, often visiting on site. “What will you be working on and needing help in the months ahead,” they ask. “If we can help, we’ll make sure you have the talent.”  It’s a great way to show client appreciation, set up future work, and reinforce the relationship by talking up how Catalant is growing and improving." #Freelancerevolution

🚀 2024: the year of the freelancer 🚀 Pretty cool that my post on Tuesday inspired the below article 👇 Thanks to Christopher Maguire and BusinessCloud for padding out and digging into this topic following my initial musings! The article highlights how AI advancements, job market shifts, and a growing demand for flexible workforces have combined to create a fertile ground for freelancers. Startups and scaleups, as I mentioned in the article, are increasingly relying on freelance talent for their flexibility and high-quality expertise. Lorna Davidson, CEO of redwigwam - UK's largest platform for flexible staff, emphasises the record-breaking growth in the freelance market, fueled by a strong desire for flexibility and fair compensation among workers. This reflects a significant shift away from traditional 9-5 jobs. Naomi Timperley FRSA Timperley, a freelance consultant, points out the remarkable boom in the freelance industry, with businesses valuing the adaptability, agility, and diverse skill sets that freelancers bring. This trend is a game-changer in today's fast-paced business environment. However, as Richard Weatherhead and others note, it remains to be seen if this surge in freelancing is a long-term shift or a temporary response to current market conditions. What's clear is that the landscape of work is changing dramatically, and freelancing is at the heart of this transformation. Would love to hear your thoughts on how a rise in high-skill flexible workforce can accelerate the growth in venture stage SMEs? #Freelancing #FutureOfWork #IndustryInsights #VC #venturecapital https://lnkd.in/eEsuBxvF?

Thank you for the great response to my 2024 freelance revolution trends article in Forbes! Wonderful to see over 4500 readers within the first 24 hours of the article ... and more sharing. No predictions here ... instead, 23 data-based trends and observations of what's likely to be an important or interesting factor in the growth of freelancing this year. Here's an excerpt: More freelancers than ever.  According to Emergent Research LLC and MBO Partners, Covid’s impact on US freelancing is best described this way: more! Pre-Covid there were too few full-time freelancers. Covid closed the gap: 90% more full-time freelancers, and a 130% increase in side-giggers. The freelance revolution now boasts 72.1 million Americans. Freelance platform CEOs are largely optimistic about 2024.  According to the The Human Cloud Trend Tracker and our regional surveys, freelance leaders are optimistic about 2024. The Economist suggests growth will benefit freelancing core verticals: tech, marketing services, and management consulting. Among country surveys, the UK is most concerned, though worries are policy, not demand, based (IR35). Vision 2030 is driving Middle East enthusiasm. Looking for more insight? Be sure to sign up for https://lnkd.in/eWyCh6xR for free quarterly insights on the freelance revolution. #freelancerevolution

Freelancers and friends, are you building a freelance marketplace or planning changes to how your platform matches talent? Check out my new Forbes CEO survey: freelancing leaders from companies in the US, UK, India, Germany, Brazil, and elsewhere. Please read and share: https://lnkd.in/eQCZrUWT #freelancerevolution

It's already been a crazy week, and definitely a crazy couple of quarters. Check out Jon Younger PhD's latest in Forbes, Is It Good Times Or Trouble Ahead? Freelance CEOs Respond: https://lnkd.in/eYJ8t_dU I was honored to give the quote below: “We assume the freelance economy will decline in the coming months, with industries like tech and consulting hit hard. Human Cloud Freelance Trend Tracker data shows a decrease in platforms confidence to attract clients, and a 5% dip in long term confidence. However, we’re in a value capture phase where top platforms will increase market share. Our hypothesis: Downturns historically benefit freelance budgets and this downturn will benefit top platforms and increase revenue from net new freelance budgets. Our advice to both freelance platforms and freelancers: Prioritize brand and client relationships, use smaller and quicker offerings to get clients started, and align your planning with your customers' planning to mitigate surprises. We also recommend diversifying regions for both your customers and talent.”

Very excited to share this new Forbes article: "Let's help Big Corporates Trust the Freelance Revolution." This article describes the results of a pilot survey by Human Cloud: How do freelancers describe the risk factors that impact SMB and Big Corporate (e.g., Enterprise) client decisions to use freelancers. Here's an excerpt: "The challenge for freelance marketplaces interested in expanding their big corporate business is this: How to demonstrate the ability to manage the important risk factors that stand between freelancers and Enterprise clients. As a first step, it’s important to clarify what these risk factors are: Business continuity risk Talent risk  Scale risk Cultural risk Retention risk  IP risk Compliance risk  Outcome risk Insight risk  New-to-me risk "Freelancers can’t wish away these risk factors, but they can understand them. Success working with both SMB and Enterprise clients depends on how well freelancers and their freelance marketplaces understand the concerns and take action accordingly." Interested? Write to me in Linkedin and participate in the research project. #freelancerevolution

I am so excited to see our Enterprise Insights roll out. In this case, Jon Younger PhD masterfully laid out a framework for the value factors of Enterprise Adoption, and generated pilot data for the importance of each value factors. Check it out and let us know what you think! The factors are: 1: Business continuity risk – Does the platform have the financial means to remain in business for the foreseeable future? 2: Talent risk – How can we be sure the platform talent meets my requirements for technical competence and experience? 3: Scale risk – Does the platform have the talent and systems to expand as our needs increase? 4: Cultural risk – Can I feel confident that freelancers on the platform have the interpersonal skills to work effectively with our staff? 5: Retention risk – How can we be sure platform talent will remain fully engaged until the work is completed? 6: IP risk – How can we be sure the platform and talent respect our requirements for confidentiality? 7: Compliance risk – How can we ensure we are operating legally and protected from suit or fine as the protection an agency or company would offer? 8: Outcome risk – Will the platform commit to delivering the outcomes promised, and doing what’s necessary if outcomes are missed? 9: Insight risk – Will the platform offer guidance that helps us (HR) manage total talent e.g., insights about future talent demand, high in-demand skills, compensation trends. 10: New-to-me risk – Will the platform protect me (as the decision maker). Working with freelancers feels risky. Will you help mitigate the risks to me and my team?