The pandemic so far has hit the freelancing community particularly hard, but things may be looking up this year. From where Easy Freelancer stands as a community leader with many connections in these industries, it seems there's more opportunity than ever before.
The pandemic so far has hit the freelancing community particularly hard, but things may be looking up this year.
With budget cuts, travel bans, and project cancellations, things have been rough for freelancers this past year. Many gigs fell through due to the pandemic. This caused many people who used their services to stop working or take up another job entirely because they might get sick themselves. This left journalists without work; some were lucky enough that what little freelance income remained still did pay off during these challenging times as long-term contracts finally started coming again after months.
As restrictions on Covid slowly ease, freelancers will be able to work from anywhere in 2022. This is positive news for those who want a career change or want to launch their own freelance business and can now take advantage of working opportunities in Dubai.
Freelance journalist Sam Lambert believes that with covid restrictions slowly easing, 2022 will be a great year for commercial activities. This allows freelancers to work from everywhere, so if you want your beach vacation in Dubai whilst working as a freelancer, now is the time!
Flexibility and setting your own rules are two of the best aspects of freelancing. Still, it also comes with some disadvantages, especially when you're not making money right away. Journalist Lambert says journalists who want their newsletters or podcasts marketed correctly need to become good salespeople. This will help them negotiate fees while also understanding how much time goes into running different media platforms such as YouTube channels or Podcasts (if these exist).
He cautions freelancers not to get distracted by the hype and treat any side hustle as a focused editorial product, not just because it's fun.
The basics of journalism (which never go out of fashion) include solid communication skills and story-telling formats. You need to write well and interview people effectively to give good information, then report on it accurately. All while paying attention to the ethics at play in each situation and understanding data thoroughly!
Freelancers should have a nose for good stories and research them. They also need to create lots of ideas, pitch their work in straightforward, concise ways targeting the right publication, and have professional websites or portfolios helps! A social media presence makes it simpler for commissioning editors to find you, so consistency is key here as with anything else worth doing well at home. The more often people see your brand, the better chance they'll take notice when looking through new freelancers.
As a freelance journalist, you should try to branch out to copywriting, SEO, photography, or podcasting. You can expand your earning potential while still making a living from reporting.
Copywriting is a much needed and valuable skill. You can make money as a copywriting freelancer in Dubai or even just start out with your own business by writing compelling content for clients on demand!
The skills you develop as a Copywriter can be invaluable in any industry. For example, copywriters have more power than journalists when setting their price points. This is where people typically find the most value in their work.
Jane Bell, currently living in Dubai, has been a copywriter for 20 years, and she's still going strong. She shares her top three tips on staying ahead of the game when freelancing as a journalist in Dubai.
What is a better referral than someone saying thank you? You know how critical reviews are, and it's even more crucial for businesses like yours. If you want to drive new connections and keep clients happy, then testimonials will help do just that!
Secondly, you might be the best journalistic salesperson in your industry, but when it comes time for clients and potential employers to decide whether or not they want you on board with them. What other people say about YOU will probably have more weight than anything coming directly from yourself.
Marketing yourself is a tough job. You need skills, knowledge and self-esteem if you want to get the best gigs possible for your company or yourself as a freelance journalist.
Do something about it - sharpen those marketing muscles now so they'll be ready when negotiating and gig finding time comes around again.
Thirdly., keep on top of your numbers. It's essential to pay attention to your numbers and know the difference between profit turnover. The cash flow will always be higher, but your actual earnings remain after taking all expenses out.
This coming year, freelance journalists in Dubai need to be resilient and patient. They must also show tenacity when required and excellent news judgement for them to succeed on the job market!
And finally, Keeping in touch with your peers can help you find solutions to the problems that come up when working alone. It's also great for sharing emotions, which often get lost during freelancing hours!
Freelancing as a journalist is still a great way to make a living in Dubai in 2022. Keep on top of the basics outlined in this article, and we are sure that you will have a successful year freelancing.
For help getting your freelance business set up compliantly with the UAE government, please feel free to reach out to Easy Freelance. One of our excellent teams will guide you through the complex process, making it easy to start freelancing in the UAE.
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