The rise of the gig economy has affected many industries, including the digital marketing sector. Many employers are now opting to outsource certain projects to digital marketing freelancers on short-term contracts. This way of working has its advantages and disadvantages for digital marketers. 

If you are considering going it alone as a freelance digital marketer, you should consider the following guide, which sets out the pros and cons of digital marketing in the gig economy. 

Pros

There are plenty of advantages to becoming a freelance digital marketer. To help you decide if it’s the right path for you, here are two of the main benefits:

Flexibility

Working in the gig economy offers a significant amount of freedom and flexibility that you may not find in a permanent employment role. 

Many freelancers who previously worked for agencies find that they have far more time to complete work. This is a complete contrast to working for a digital marketing agency that usually involves fast turnarounds and meeting tight deadlines. 

You can also be more flexible with your client choices, especially if you have a particular niche. As an employed digital market, you are far more restricted in terms of who you work, while the gig economy allows you to be more selective. 

Extra income

An obvious bonus is extra income, as many digital marketing employees do not receive commission, regardless of how committed they are or whether they reach their goals. 

Digital freelancers typically charge per piece or agree a fixed rate for short-term contracts. You can also opt for a commission clause in your work agreement. 

Say, for example, you are a content writer, and you charge a fixed rate for articles. However, if your work directly improves page rankings, you may be offered a form of commission for your efforts. 

Cons

As you know, there are ups and downs with most jobs, and the gig economy is no different. Before you quit your job and become a fully-fledged freelancer, you should consider the following downsides of working in the gig economy. 

No employee benefits

Freedom and extra income may seem like benefits, but don’t forget the actual employee perks you will be leaving behind. 

For example, as a freelance digital marketer, you will not receive access to pension schemes, private healthcare, gym memberships, employee discounts and more. 

Going it alone can affect your savings, so if you want a pension in place when you retire, you will have to set this up yourself and make your own contributions. So, it is clear that the gig economy comes with various sacrifices. 

Insecure work and pay 

Another downside of moving from permanent employment to freelancing is that you will not have the same job security. After all, most digital marketing gigs are one-off jobs or short-term contracts that may only last a month or two. 

Gig economy jobs do not always require a contract, which can leave you vulnerable should a company refuse or delay payments if they are not fully satisfied with the work. 

Some companies tend to underpay gig economy workers, as they are not inclined to pay minimum wage. This is clear in the digital marketing industry and other gig economy roles. 

(Source: Photo by energepic.com from Pexels)

So, will you stick to your full-time digital marketing alone or take a chance and become a self-employed digital marketer in the ever-expanding gig economy? 

Author Bio: Heather Barrigan is a Political Correspondent at ImmiNews, specializing in outreach and the creation of engaging and informative news and immigration-related content.