Ever wonder which skills will still be relevant in 2021? Think you have what it takes to make it as a successful freelancer? Freelancing has been one of the leading ways of earning extra money, especially for tech-savvy people.

2020 was a great year for freelancers, with more gigs getting claimed in 2020 than the previous three years combined. This trend will continue in 2021 and beyond — with a few shifts in traffic. Let’s take a look at the top 5 skills that freelancers will be working on in 2021 and beyond.

Web Design

The ripple effects of the web designer trend are felt across most digital industries, as web design has moved beyond simply making information accessible to becoming an integral part of advertising campaigns and global marketing strategies.

Web development skills are consistently in demand. Freelance web designers are needed to develop websites for a plethora of organisations and businesses. Freelance web designers have the ability to write HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML and PHP code as well as Adobe Flash, Flex and Silverlight software. So, endeavour to learn them!

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

It’s no wonder A/B tests and SEO consultants are so in-demand. The extra visibility that comes from great SEO is invaluable, especially when paired with a site owner who knows how to use the data to make improvements.

Plus, SEO isn’t going anywhere: search engines will always be looking for ways to improve themselves, and competition in the SERPs (search engine result pages) just keeps getting more cutthroat. Everything about SEO is falling into place, so now’s the time to get started in this lucrative field.

UX Design

In the UI/UX Design field, clients are willing to pay more for talented designers. These skills are in demand across every industry, and for a good reason. Companies rely on user experience designers to create positive first impressions, retain visitors and build their brand’s identity.

Digital Marketing

Many of the top jobs posted on job sites on a daily basis now require digital marketing skills as much as or more than traditional skills. With such fast-paced shifts in the marketing industry, marketing professionals who are proficient with new technologies and techniques will be employable regardless of whether they’ve been working in the marketing field for five years or ten years or if they’re just coming out of college.

Writing

Writing is one of the most sought-after skills in the freelance industry. The need for excellent writers will continue to grow as we depend more and more on the internet and websites for information. Specialised content writers are needed for everything from web copy to blogs, SEO content, white papers, writing invoices, eBooks and even ghost-writing.

Final Thoughts

It’s a good time to be a freelancer. Companies are contracting more with independent workers, and the number of freelance job postings on job sites is increasing by 5x each year.

Competition for jobs on these platforms can be intense, which means that you need to stand out from the crowd if you want to increase your chances of winning more gigs in 2021.