Freelance: Is it a path to a sustainable future?

Sustainable development goals and their relationship to freelance:

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015, which aim to achieve comprehensive development including social, economic and environmental issues by 2030. Self-employment offers opportunities to achieve these goals by achieving greater flexibility and creating sustainable employment opportunities. Goal 1: Eradicate poverty: Self-employment is considered a way to improve the income level of individuals, and thus plays a role in reducing poverty.

Goal 5: Gender Equality: Self-employment can contribute to achieving gender equality by providing opportunities for women to work from home and achieve a balance between professional and personal lives.

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth: Self-employment contributes to creating job opportunities for individuals and contributes to advancing economic growth.

Goal 10: Reduce inequality: Self-employment can reduce the gap between different classes by providing equal opportunities for all.

Goal 13: Climate action: Self-employment is a way to achieve sustainable development by reducing carbon emissions, whether through working from home or using environmentally friendly means of transportation.

Freelance work: the most important fields and tips to start with:

What is the free work?

Freelancing can be defined as a work method that allows individuals to provide their services independently, enabling them to determine working hours and choose the projects they work on.

Advantages of freelancing:

Work flexibility: the ability to work from anywhere and at any time.

Be your own boss: the ability to make decisions and determine the direction of a course of action.

Choose your clients: Identify clients and projects to work on.

Earn more money: set your own pricing and increase your income.

Areas of freelance work:

Includes writing, design, marketing, development, translation, teaching, and consulting:

Creative and content-based works:

Freelance writing: Content production: crafting attractive, good content for websites, blogs, and books.

Specializations: Specialization in areas such as advertising copywriting, technical writing, and editorial writing.

Graphic design and drawing: Logos and branding design: Designing logos, branding materials, and visual identities.

Artistic creativity: Creating illustrations and visual materials using programs such as Adobe Creative Suite.

Website design and development: Building attractive websites: Developing attractive and functional websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Programming skills: Proficient in programming languages ​​such as Python, Java, and C++.

Technology and technology direction:

Software development: Application building: Web and mobile application development.

Programming Languages: Proficient in languages ​​such as Python, Java or C++.

Data analysis and science: extracting insights: analyzing large sets of data and building predictive models.

Experience: Develop skills in statistics, machine learning, and data visualization tools.

IT and Security Support: Providing technical support: Providing remote technical assistance to companies and individuals.

Knowledge of networks, problem solving and information security: valuable knowledge.

Professional Services:

Virtual Assistance: Administrative Support: Assist clients with administrative tasks such as organization, email management, and data entry.

Organization skills and ability to multi-task: essential.

Project Management: Planning and Implementation: Planning and implementing projects for companies to ensure on-time delivery.

Communication: Project management methodologies and strong communication skills.

Consulting: Sharing expertise: Sharing expertise in areas such as finance, marketing and human resources.

Problem solving: The ability to have analytical and problem-solving skills.

Translation and interpretation: Linguistic bridges: translating documents and providing language support services.

Multilingual Proficiency: Effective Language in Multiple Languages.

Legal and financial services: Legal advice: providing legal advice, drafting contracts, financial analysis or accounting services.

Qualifications and Experience: Relevant qualifications and experience are essential.

Other unique opportunities:

Training and Mentoring: Knowledge Sharing: Sharing knowledge and experience through training in specific areas.

Personal Growth: Individual or group mentoring in areas such as developing personal life or business skills.

Education and Lessons: Offering online or face-to-face lessons: Providing educational content on various topics.

Teaching skills: The ability to communicate and present information effectively.

Research and Writing: Conducting research and writing reports: Conducting research on specific topics and writing analytical reports.

Analytical Thinking: Strong research and analytical thinking skills.

Social Media Management: Content creation and community building: Manage social media accounts and create content that encourages engagement.

Results Analysis: Analyze campaign results and improve digital presence.

Planning and managing virtual events: Organizing events and seminars: Organizing and managing virtual events including planning, technology, and coordinating speakers.

Tips for starting freelance work:

Identify your skills and experience: Identify areas of strength and skills that can be leveraged.

Research freelance niches: Explore the market to identify needs and opportunities.

Create a freelance profile: Market yourself by creating a profile that highlights your skills and previous work.

Create a portfolio: Show examples of your work to show the extent of your skills and experience.

Market yourself to clients: Use social media and networking to promote your services.

Freelancing sites

The most popular freelancing sites:

Fiverr: A global platform focused on microservices starting at $5. The platform offers a wide variety of services in different fields.  

“I recommend it for starting out in the field of self-employment.”

Fiverr  to register on the site 

Upwork:  A leading global platform that connects freelancers with employers from all over the world. The platform offers a wide range of services in various fields.

Freelancer: A global platform that provides a wide range of services in various fields. The platform is known for its auction system that allows business owners to choose the best offer.

Guru: A global platform that provides a wide range of services in various fields. The platform is known for its low fees.

PeoplePerHour: A global platform focused on services in the UK and Europe. The platform offers a wide range of services in various fields.

Arabic freelance sites:

Mustaqil: A leading Arab platform that connects freelancers with employers from all over the Arab world. The platform offers a wide range of services in various fields.

Khamsat : An Arabic platform that focuses on mini-services that start from 5 Saudi riyals. The platform offers a wide variety of services in different fields.

Independents: An Arab platform that focuses on connecting independent women with employers. The platform offers a wide range of services in various fields.

FreelancerArabia: An Arabic platform that provides a wide range of services in various fields. The platform is known for its low fees.

ArabFreelancer : An Arab platform that provides a wide range of services in various fields. The platform is known for its ease of use.

Tips for choosing a freelance site:

Identify your skills and experience: What are you good at? What experiences do you have?

Determine the type of services you want to provide.

Compare different freelance sites in terms of fees, features, and reputation.

Read user reviews of various freelancing websites.

Choose the freelancing site that suits your needs.

Additional tips for freelancing:

Start with small projects: Avoid huge projects at first and start with smaller projects to build experience.

Be patient: It may take some time to reach a sustainable customer base.

Be Organized: Manage your time and resources carefully to ensure continuity.

Keep learning: Develop skills and follow developments in your field.

in conclusion :

Self-employment can be a path towards a sustainable future, as individuals can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by creating job opportunities, promoting innovation, and improving the quality of professional and personal life.