2021 News & Biggest Surprises

2021 Biggest

News & Surprises

What are the new, trending (and sometimes surprising) niches you can benefit from in 2022?

Remote work

We’ve written several posts on this topic already. Great markets to explore are increased control (trackers); records & automation (CRM, statistics); or enhanced collaboration tools.

E-commerce

Personalization has become a “Basic Expectation” for clients, making brands personalize or perish. Personal recommendations are part of this as well.

Conversational AI (chatbots) has emerged as one of the top drivers for delivering an enhanced experience to customers, employees, and agents.

Cryptocurrency & NFT

El Salvador made Bitcoin a national currency in 2021, bringing crypto to a new level. There are a lot of opportunities connected with the booming of crypto payment gateways.

The emergence of NFC and accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment makes it also relevant for online merchants.

Logistics

Shortage of trucks, containers, petrol, and drivers urges logistics companies to work on industry modernization, looking for innovative solutions.

Last-mile delivery is boosting, giving your chances, for example, in the area of contactless delivery, drones & bots, location intelligence, or faster fulfillment.

Food delivery has become a global market worth more than $150 billion, having tripled since 2017.

VR & AR

Remote living has made VR essential for online presence. AR is largely used in shopping. Apple released ARKit 4, the latest version of its open-source AR development tools. Google’s competing ARCore technology is also making great strides to keep up in the industry.

Audio content

Clubhouse was the Next Big Thing - until it quickly was not. But the audio trend remains.

Podcasts are vastly growing, causing new and better tools to prepare, record, and distribute.

Cybersecurity

Global cyber attacks increased by 29%, and Triple Extortion fuels ransomware attacks. Cybersecurity is a highly profitable niche to develop.

The world is changing more rapidly than ever. 2021 made it hard for everyone to keep up with all the changes in various industries across the globe. What chances can’t you miss in 2022?

How SEO Is Changing in the Age of AI

21-10-2025

AI is transforming search. Learn how SEO evolves into AEO and GEO — where visibility means being cited in AI answers, not just ranked in results.

Learn more

Keeping the Human Mind Sharp When AI Can Do It All

16-10-2025

AI makes work easier, but thinking harder. Learn how to stay creative, critical, and human in the age of intelligent machines.

Learn more

AI Workslop: Why Businesses Pay Freelancers to Fix AI

07-10-2025

AI speeds up work but often creates “workslop” - results that look complete yet lack value. Freelancers are the ones turning them into quality.

Learn more

Disney Creative Strategy: How Ideas Become Reality

03-10-2025

Disney Creative Strategy: dream, plan, critique — a tool to guide ideas from imagination to real-world results.

Learn more

Upwork Boost: Increasing Freelancer Profile Visibility

29-09-2025

Discover how Upwork’s Available Now badge and Profile Boost work, their costs, pros and cons, and which boost is best for freelancers or agencies.

Learn more

10 Posts to Help You Get Started on Upwork

29-09-2025

We’ve gathered a set of articles to guide you through the essentials — from setting up your profile to building long-term client relationships.

Learn more

Etcetera summer 2025 report

26-09-2025

Etcetera summer 2025 results: quiet season, new team members, shifting Upwork rules, and plans for an active autumn.

Learn more

Upwork Feedback: a trust tool you should learn to read and write

22-09-2025

Upwork feedback is more than stars — it builds trust, shapes reputation, and guides choices. Learn how to read, request, and write reviews effectively

Learn more