6 ways to find freelance writers, social media experts and PR pros

In the world of PR and communications, there’s an ever-growing need for outside help.

The “gig economy” is taking over, as businesses scale up—and down—at what seems like a moment’s notice.

Three-quarters of companies will increase their freelancer headcount, according to the Future Workplace/Field Nation survey. Nearly half of HR respondents expect to ramp up their freelance hiring by 30 percent or more.

Content creation, social media and PR are areas where outsourcing is increasingly popular. They can use freelancers as needed, saving money and allowing them to find the best fit.

This is good news for freelancers who specialize in those areas; the number of freelancers is also growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of self-employed people is expected to grow steadily by about 1 million every year. In 2016, it was estimated that 34 percent of the U.S. workforce were freelancers, and that number is projected to grow to 43 percent in 2020.