For a freelancer to learn, as frequent as possible s/he must view relevant YouTube videos. However, as you may already know that not all content on YouTube is good and genuine, therefore, a freelancer should watch out for the following undesired influence from YouTube content.
- Getting side tracked and lose focus – Some people have mastered the art of creating convincing video content even when it is fake. Some even to the point of showing evidence for something that really does not work. Some copy from others and deliver content that they have not proof of, just that it is convincing. A wise freelancer will not be side tracked by such lures but stay focused.
I’m sure you understand that I am not to dismiss all content but giving caution on the too good to be true YouTube reports. I will be honest to confess that I have grown in my careers through YouTube content but still I am cautious. At the same time, be careful not to be lazy to do what it takes to reach your target. In short, be smart and quick in evaluating that which is good for your freelancing career.
There are so many niches online, some look so simple you may think you will get quick traction and reach your target, thus getting the temptation to give it a try. If you sadly fall for the temptation, you will lose out on your efforts to build up your reputation on your current niche. You may also find that you will keep falling for the same temptation time and time again, making you a starter all the time. This often arises from lack of understanding that things happen slowly online. You currently chose niche has potential as long as you keep working on it.
- Details you don’t need – Similar to the first point, it is wise to know what you need from video content and quickly move on when you have gotten it or realize that the content is fake. Remember that as you waste time on irrelevant content, you are wearing out and soon you will feel like you want to rest. You have to work at maximizing your learning in the first hour of your time on YouTube. Some topics may be misleading to the point that you may want to watch till the end, thinking the point you are looking for is yet to come. Just move on, there are many other content creators who address the same topic in a brief and concise way, yours is to search and get to it.
I suggest that you become very specific when making a YouTube search. Avoid lengthy videos, for me up to 15 minutes is okay, unless it is an interview, a podcast, a live coverage of a lesson on the subject or something similar.
- Invitation to unethical freelancing practices – The sad truth is that many people, freelancers included, are driven by money. I also work so hard trying to earn some money yet I am careful to remain ethical and maintain a clean heart. In the spirit of chasing for money, people will want to beat systems just to get it. The practice of fooling systems is wrong and should not be heard of from a freelancer. Other than the likely risks of being exposed and losing customers, you also work hard to remain at a location you are not in. You find yourself creating fake telephone contacts, national identity cards, etc. it just opens doors to more fictitious location demands.
Getting rich might be the ultimate but having gotten there unethically is not right. Talk to a rich person and you will know that being rich is not fulfilling but peace from having achieved things the right way does. Let me make the popular example of using a VPN to assume a location you are not in. When you check out some freelancing opportunities online, just like the ones listed in the page ‘Trial Updates’, you will realise that some are not active in your geographic location yet are within your means. Sadly, some YouTubers do recommend that certain VPN systems will enable you access even if you are in a restricted location.
Before I conclude, I do want to re-emphasize the importance of pursuing your freelancing carrier. Indicators are that the future of employment will largely be online and therefore rightly positioning yourself as a freelancer puts you ahead of many.
I would like to conclude by inviting you to collaborate with other freelancers in this website who are listed in the page ‘Freelancers’. You can do so by filling in the profile template from this link “Profile template” and send to admin@freelancinginafrica.com.
I often get requests in a number of services, of which some I do not offer. I share some of these requests in my TikTok profile. If a request comes my way and it meets your profile, I will undoubtedly pass on the work to you.
Certainly, here are a few ways YouTube might not be beneficial for a freelancing career:
1. *Time Sink:* Creating and managing a YouTube channel demands a lot of time and effort. If not managed well, it can detract from the time you could spend on your freelancing work, affecting deadlines and client satisfaction.
2. *Distraction and Procrastination:* Watching other creators’ content or getting lost in editing and optimizing your own videos might lead to procrastination, affecting your productivity and focus on freelancing projects.
3. *Unpredictable Income:* Relying solely on YouTube for income can be uncertain. YouTube’s ad revenue and monetization depend on various factors like views, engagement, and algorithm changes, making it an unstable source of income for freelancers.
