How to Live the Gig Economy Lifestyle

Fiverr and Wise Bread recently came together for a Tweetchat about the Gig Economy and how more and more people are using it to supplement their income.

When people refer to the Gig Economy lifestyle, they’re talking creating an ongoing scenario in which they’re making extra money through their passion or side business. Generally, this involves being your own boss, finding your own clients, and working in a specialized area that involves your skills.

So how do you live the Gig Economy lifestyle? For starters, you need to think about what skills you have that you use to generate income. The Gig Economy Lifestyle is what you make it, so give yourself permission to do something you love—baking, graphic design, music composition—instead of something you can do well but really aren’t passionate about.

Personal finance blog Money Crashers joined the conversation and agreed that it’s best to figure out what it is you’re good at and then figure out how to turn it into a Gig.

A3 I think it’s good to look at what skills you have already and see how you can turn those into something people would pay for #wbchat

— Money Crashers (@MoneyCrashers) January 22, 2015

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to find clients. For example, let’s say you’re a talented writer and want to use your skills to help people polish their resumes, edit college application essays, and maybe even write scripts for companies looking to craft engaging video content. Your first step should be finding job listings that are looking for writers.

@wisebread A3 Take advantages of all resources, online, library, schools, where ever you think job postings would be. #WBChat #FiverrChat

— Krystie Vines (@MrsKrystie) January 22, 2015

Job boards are usually crammed with listings looking for people who can help with on-off projects. Many people are searching for full-time jobs and pass over these listings, but as someone looking to live the Gig Economy Lifestyle, these listings are your best friend. Reach out to these people and off your services. Be sure you include your hourly rate and day rate, and be sure it’s a number that’s fair to you. In the Gig Economy, there is no room for underselling yourself!

The growing popularity of the Gig Economy has given rise to sites like Fiverr where you can post your skills and have people come to you. So be sure to search out these sites and ingrain yourself in their community.

Lastly, when looking to live the Gig Economy Lifestyle, you should always be looking for work. Take on as many projects as you can without driving yourself crazy or getting burnt out. Also, as long as a client is willing to pay your rate, no job should be considered too small. There’s no difference between eight one-hour projects and one eight-hour project!

How do you live the Gig Economy Lifestyle? What steps do you take to ensure that your Gigs are leading you down the road of personal happiness and financial success?