Blog post by: Alaina Krueger, Baer Performance Marketing Intern
As technology has evolved, so has the workforce and what people consider a career. Today’s “gig economy” allows people to have multiple part-time jobs, or ‘gigs,’ so they don’t have to be tied down to one job for too long if they don’t want to be.
One of the most popular jobs in a gig economy is social media. Social media has allowed many new, young professionals to build their own personal brand as well as get a foot in the door within the marketing industry. Though, a social media ‘gig’ isn’t as easy as people often perceive it to be. It takes a considerable amount of time, organization and research to become sustainable. Posts must be developed strategically, with a strong grasp of the audience that’s being targeted: What is their demographic information? What is their psychographic information? What are their pain points? What social media platforms do they use? Professional social media management also demands critical skills such as writing and storytelling, budgeting, and data analysis.
Working gigs has its fair share of disadvantages, too:
- Gig work doesn’t come with any of the normal benefits of full-time employment.
- Contracted employees typically aren’t supported by insurance and must decide how to save for retirement on their own.
- Changing jobs frequently also means a frequent change in income.
- Gig workers will likely never advance in their part-time jobs.
- More opportunities are presented to committed, full-time employees.
- Feelings of isolation are common amongst gig workers because they are working remotely on their own.
Not only are there drawbacks for gig workers, but contracting a gig worker can prove to be a challenge for businesses:
- The flexibility and lack of loyalty that comes with gig work can also reduce a worker’s incentive to produce the same quality of work as a full-time employee.
- Managers cannot closely monitor or guide an independent contractor.
- A gig worker may not be able to provide quick turnaround on an urgent project.
- Each state has different regulations for gig workers. Some states require a written agreement, others are “at-will,” giving the workers more freedom to leave whenever they please.
As our dependency on technology continues to grow, so will the gig economy. Gig workers, marketing and selling through social media, often value the freedom it affords. Many can thrive within this system, while others find it to be volatile and much more of a challenge than they expected.
If you’re a business looking to contract a social media or marketing expert for an upcoming campaign, you’ve landed in the right place. Forget the burdens of sifting through resumes and certifications, Baer Performance Marketing is a full-service marketing agency specializing in brand development and integrated marketing strategies, including a mix of digital, social and traditional media. To learn more about the benefits of partnering with BPM, contact us today!
Sources
http://acdc2007.free.fr/woodcock2020.pdf
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-marketing-strategy/
https://adapture.com/pros-and-cons-of-using-the-gig-economy-for-your-organization/
https://www.wgu.edu/blog/pros-and-cons-gig-economy1808.html#close
