Great article. As a freelance writer, I’m definitely noticing a big change in attitudes towards freelancers. Business owners and project managers are getting much more savvy about the need for freelancers, and personally, I’ve never been busier.

I think it’s also about giving people peace-of-mind — When you hire a freelancer, you’re hiring an expert, so we can hit the ground running and start producing creative work straightaway.

That said, people shouldn’t assume that every freelancer is a great freelancer— As in any field, you need to be confident about *who* you are hiring. That’s why it’s vital to look at portfolios, skills, experience, and more so you can make a confident and informed choice.

I’m pleased to see that freelancing is becoming less of a “race to the bottom” on price (*cough* elance *cough*) and more of a respected industry with a stronger focus on quality, flexibility, and trust.

Of course, from a freelancer’s perspective it’s great too —Being valued purely on the quality of what we produce, not having to deal with office politics, and the freedom to work as and how we want are just some of the less obvious benefits of being a freelancer. And I’ve never been happier!