Gigs are on short term contracts for specific tasks which can be done by one person. There are many kinds of gigs. Gigs vary according to geographical location, experience and skills. They are more popular in call centers than elsewhere in the business because they are easy to give and take home. In call centers, they can be from one to fifty, a range of hours or even just a few minutes.
What is a gig? A gig is one term for a task which can be performed by one person. It could be a marketing job, web development job or freelance writing. Gigs are usually self-employed and are usually independent contractors. Many gig workers enter into more formal agreements with outsourcing companies to offer services for the business’ clients.
Why are so many people now entering the gig economy? The global recession has changed the global workforce dynamics. Young Americans, particularly the college-educated, used to migrate to major cities to find jobs. Now that many of them have returned home, the number of “gigs” available to these new global citizens is much smaller.
Globalization has also changed the type of work which is available in the gig economy. Instead of being tied to one company or located in one country, many independent professionals are finding that they are able to create more business through what is called “coworking spaces.” These coworking spaces are often based online but offline business still exists. Most of these businesses are Internet based. Businesses like telecommuting and outsourcing are gaining popularity in the gig economy.
Why are so many independent workers choosing to work from home? The answer is simple. The business model requires the independent worker to be self-employed and therefore requires the worker to have a good deal of knowledge of how the business works and the needs of the business. A good way for this knowledge to be gained is through digital marketing. Without the knowledge of digital marketing and online advertising, the business will not be successful. This is why so many of the newer businesses are seeking out these new types of workers who do not necessarily need a traditional workplace to work in.
There is another reason that many of these gig economy workers prefer to work from home. In the past, if a worker did not get their job done on time or was sick leave for whatever reason, it would greatly affect their ability to continue working. Sick pay was not available. Now however, many of these new business owners are making their products available online. Many of these workers are able to work for less money as they can find work in this new digital marketplace.
The last thing that these new workers may want to consider is social media. The gig economy has led many of these new businesses to utilize social media. These workers not only use social media to keep up with friends and family, but they also use this platform to post articles, market their services and to promote their businesses. Without these people being aware of the legal risks that social media can present, the gig workers could find themselves out of a job.
While the gig economy has allowed many independent workers to work from home, there are some risks that are inherent to this type of business. In order to be an effective business owner, one must take the necessary steps to protect their business and their company. By creating a business plan, setting up insurance and creating a marketing strategy, all business owners can feel comfortable that their company is stable and will continue to succeed in the future. When a business owner knows what they are doing, it makes it much easier to stay out of any legal trouble that could potentially arise. Therefore, even though the gig economy has provided many workers an opportunity to work from home, it is important that an entrepreneur to understand how to properly run their business so that they don’t become one of the many that disappears from the economy every year.
Editor-in-Chief since 2011.