Many people feel a knot in their stomach when thinking about joining a freelance website. The idea of working independently from home seems promising, but the complicated administration, the fear from exposing ourselves to strangers (often on the other side of the world) and all the hustle with the application process discourages many from this new and innovative way of employment. You don’t have to worry, though, because there is nothing scary in the world of remote work management: on freelance websites, almost everything is automated and self-explanatory. Still, if you are looking for a thorough rundown on what to expect and how to begin your freelance career with a head-start, this article will tell you everything. Read More…
Freelancer Websites Articles
Freelance Sites Like Upwork
Upwork, which came to life in 2015 after Elance and ODesk (two freelance service veterans) merged together, is a site that definitely rings a bell for those who are toying with the idea of starting a freelancer career. In fact, the site is among the most recognizable freelancer services loved by many.
Being a leading force in the industry, Upwork has over 12 million qualified professionals under its belt, earning its rightful reputation by adding professional management tools to the hands of freelancers. The site is open for all kinds of tasks that can be done in front of a computer, and it doesn’t ask an upfront payment for creating an account. The Upwork Team App is the strong point of the site, which acts as a work organizer, a time tracker and an overall clever solution through which clients and employees can commence live chats and share work documents. Read More…
Contests, Marketplaces and Projects: The 3 Types of Freelance Websites
At first glance, the name freelancer website seems pretty unified. These sites offer well-executed jobs for employers and a living for freelancers working from their home. Beneath the surface, however, there are three distinct categories that greatly determine the balance between the buyer and the seller, as well as the core features available. To make things perfectly clear, or at least clearer, we labeled said categories as contest websites, marketplaces and project websites. Even though the industry doesn’t “officially” refer to the above categories like we do, this distinction is an easy way to identify them. Read More…
DesignCrowd vs crowdspring Comparison
Designer contest sites operate with a simple premise: clients are entitled to launch a project idea, detailing their vision of a certain design or artwork, while creative minds from all around the world participate, ensuring large pool of results with a varying degree of price/quality. Telling apart one design contest site from another can be tricky though, since the actual differences are very subtle. In our case, DesignCrowd is a more beneficial service for freelancers, while crowdspring is a platform with better possibilities. Read More…
Fiverr vs 99designs Comparison
Freelancing websites are a blooming business; in fact, the internet is full of numerous offers. But you should keep in mind that these sites aren’t interchangeable: some of them function as talent marketplaces, where freelancers can sell their skills to those who are interested. Others, on the other hand, help clients organize talent contests, where artists from all around the world compete with each other for one big money prize. Fiverr belongs to the first category, while 99designs is in the second one. By going through this comparison you will not only learn their individual strengths and main benefits, but also the difference between the two types of freelancer sites. Read More…
What to Do When Unsatisfied With a Freelancer’s Work
Misunderstandings and disagreements happen all the time, whether you are working from home as a freelancer or as an employee at an actual workplace. However, people tend to be more suspicious about freelance work, because it involves remote work between two strangers and you have no idea whether you pick a decent freelancer or a charlatan. Despite common misconceptions, clients do have means to fight back in case they are left with work that has much to be desired, while freelancers can do the same should they run into an untrustworthy buyer. Here are some tips on what do if you run into such a situation: Read More…
Why You Need a Resume as a Freelancer
Applying online for freelance work doesn’t differ much from the real-life job application process. With freelance websites you are in an even better position, since they provide a customizable profile page and built-in tools to showcase your talent. In fact, project and design contest websites are especially known for such a multi-layered profile system.
However, it cannot be emphasized enough that first impressions mean everything: even if you offer low prices for your services, nobody will hire you if you have an incomplete profile, as it suggests unprofessionalism. Choosing skill tags and providing background details about your education is just the first step though; what you also need is a good resume. Read More…
PeoplePerHour vs Project4Hire Comparison
On the surface, all freelancer websites seem to be the same. This is just an illusion, though; in fact, it really pays off to do some detective work before joining such a site. Take Project4Hire and PeoplePerHour, for instance: their names might be similar, but one is a trending new service while the other is an old veteran, suffering from abandonment. Both of them provide free registration for freelancers and employers alike, but they maintain a different approach, and their features vary as well. Read More…
Why Craigslist Is a No-No for Freelance Jobs
Craigslist is a world famous advertisement board, visited on a daily basis by millions of people from all corners of the world. It has sections devoted to housing, personals, services, items for buy/sell and, of course, jobs aren’t left out. You can also find an extended forum section where people discuss the latest job trends and share their experiences.
Some people consider Craigslist such an important place that they identify it as the number one option for hunting freelance jobs, since it is a highly accessible marketplace where anything goes. Does this however mean that freelancers should also turn to Craigslist to score their next gig in building a freelancer career? Read More…
Don’t You Dare: Five Fatal Mistakes Beginning Freelancers Make
The idea of working from the comfort of your home may sound like a siren’s call, but before jumping head first into action, hear us out, because the freelancer world can be quite unforgiving. What we mean is that your real-life boss may forgive you for a mistake you made in your early days – but a freelancer profile will always remember it by keeping score of your failed assignments and displaying negative comments from your previous employers. And since we are talking about a highly competitive field where only those with a strong resume are hired, you should really do your best to avoid mistakes early on. Read More…