Nine Important Platforms Freelancers Can Use To Showcase Their Work

(This post is a guest contribution by Chanell Alexander. Read more about her in the Author Bio below the post)

You did it! You figured out that the freelance work style is for you, and made the transition to become your own boss. You have found your niche and are ready to get to work. However, a few referrals you were expecting from friends did not pan out, and you need a little help kick-starting your freelance career. You may feel a bit defeated, but you are not alone.

According to a study by Upwork and the Freelancers Union, freelancers make up 35 percent of the U.S. workforce. This group earned one trillion dollars in 2016, a massive share of the American economy. Freelancers are a dominant force, but most have one thing in common: they had to start from square one.

Luckily, we live in a time when technology can be used to gain exposure. The challenge is picking the right platform(s) that will best fit your freelancing needs.

Before you jump onto a platform, it is helpful to ask yourself these questions about your growing freelancing business:

● What subject matter are you serving? Are you a coder, graphic designer, writer, or editor? Some platforms are committed to serving specific niches.
● Are you open to spending a subscription fee? Most platforms are free, but some offer extra services through a paid subscription.
● Who is your target audience, and where do they reside? It is always important to check if a platform serves an international audience, and supports communication across various time zones.
● How much are you looking to charge for your services? Many platforms support manageable price points for clients since their purpose is to provide affordable freelancing services to customers. You may want to think of a different strategy if you are looking for more premium clients.
● How many additional resources does the platform offer? Do they have tech support, and how easy is it to search for clients who fit your niche?

Quick Tips for Freelancers

Before we get into the various platforms freelancers should look into, here are a few online search tips for freelancers open to more work.

● Keep track of contacts, necessary documents, and day-to-day duties a capable project management system. The life of a freelancer can be hectic, so keeping everything in one place is vital. Check out this list of the top project management tools for ideas.
● Don’t forget to check out the gigs and jobs sections of Craigslist. A lot of small businesses will search for freelancers and contractors there.
● Facebook has a lot of Freelance and Remote Workgroups where companies and professionals come to recruit. Search for your subject matter or general freelance groups, and take the time to join.
● Search for freelance jobs using relevant hashtags on Twitter: #freelancejobs, #gigeconomy, and #contractjobs are proper tags to start the search.

Important Platforms for Freelancers

Upwork

As of 2015, Upwork housed 1.5 million clients, music to the ears of any freelancer looking for new customers. Upwork is not dedicated to any one particular subject matter as they support freelancers from the web and mobile development, writing, editing, design, administrative support, marketing, accounting, customer service, translation, and engineering. Freelancers can search for jobs based on keywords, the number of bids a project has received, or the level of expertise clients are searching for. Freelancers can also communicate with clients and set up payment within the app.

Toptal

Unlike Upwork, Toptal has a more rigorous joining process for freelancers. The platform publicizes its commitment to bringing on the top three percent of freelancers in their field. Toptal only hires freelancers in software development, design, and finance. All freelancers are required to speak English, and freelancers are more so dependent on clients searching for them. Once freelancers and interested companies complete a one to two-week trial period, companies are free to hire them on for longer-term projects.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a bit of a blend between Upwork and Toptal. It does not require an arduous hiring process like Upwork, but like Toptal the ball is in client’s court to search for the services they want. Therefore, freelancers have to be sure to use keywords that enable them to show up in client searches. Ratings are a big draw on this platform, as the more favourable rating freelancers receive, the more attention they are likely to receive from clients. The platform also allows freelancers from various subject matters.

PeoplePerHour

This platform is a blend between Upwork and Fiverr, as it provides multiple options for freelancers to sell their services and become noticed by clients. Freelancers can build a detailed profile that highlights their talents, and these profiles are ranked by economic activity so the more freelancers gain sells, the higher their profile will rank in searches. However, like Upwork, freelancers have the option of sending proposals for jobs posted by potential clients. Also, in a fashion similar to Upwork, freelancers can send a limited amount of proposals per month before having to pay. Last, workers can post what is called an “Hourlie” which is a quick service that can be sold for a fixed price.

Freelancer

This platform gives freelancers and clients an equal amount of control in work and workers each is seeking respectively. Those looking for work can create a profile and can browse jobs based on project length, geographical location, fixed price or hourly assignments, and other specific requirements. Workers can also send bid requests to win over a prospect for a project. The site also promises 24/7 tech support and encrypted and secure payment options.

Contently

Contently does serve a niche market. The platform is set up for businesses looking for content marketing help from experts in the fields of design, writing, photography, videography, and illustration. Freelancers seemed to be vetted similarly to Toptal, where only the most skilled are invited to join the platform. Freelancers are recommended to clients based on their talents and level of expertise, and all communication happens within the application.

Guru

Guru is a freelance marketplace that has three million members worldwide, one million jobs completed, and approximately $250 million paid to freelancers. Clients can pay freelancers by task, milestones, or by the hour. The marketplace allows freelancers from every niche including —but certainly not limited to—virtual assistants, mobile development, SEO and social media marketing, translations, data entry, writers, designers, and many more. Freelancers can create profiles, search for jobs that best fit them, and submit quotes to projects.

LinkedInProFinder

LinkedInProFinder is an excellent option for freelancers who are already using the service to connect with other professionals. Freelancers can sign up to become a Pro. Once they do this and specify their expertise, member requests will be sent to their inbox when a service they offer matches their needs. Freelancers can then respond to members at their pace with a proposal, and in a little nod to services like Tinder, if a member accepts the proposal, then both parties will be able to chat with one another. Freelancers do need to make sure they have detailed recommendations on their profiles and even participate in publishing LinkedIn posts to appeal to clients looking for workers.

Behance

Behance is a freelance marketplace platform that is similar to Guru in that freelancers that are involved in an artistic subject matter like writing, graphic design, and web development can showcase their work, comment and like work samples of other freelancers, and browse for jobs that fit their expertise. Freelancers do have to become members to apply for jobs, and the company has over two million members as of this year. Since Adobe purchased the company, staff can select works to share on the Adobe website to increase the popularity of freelancers.

The Wrap Up

Working as a freelancer has its ups and downs. The most significant challenges that most have is trying to attract long-term clients. Years ago, this was even more difficult since most had to depend on word-of-mouth. Nowadays, freelancers can use a variety of digital tools to put their work in front of clients who need their service.

Not only do these platforms offer a range of resources to freelancers, but it also helps businesses from start-ups to large companies who need quick expertise from a dedicated freelancer. That is why these platforms have become more popular over the years, as they offer convenience to the clients and freelancers who use them.

Each comes with its own pros and cons. Some offer a rigorous hiring process to ensure that clients are getting the “best-of-the-best,” while other platforms have less of a barrier to entry for new and up-and-coming freelancers.

Whatever the needs, there is a digital platform that is prepared to offer it. Never before has being a freelancer been easier and more convenient than today. As the years go on, it will be exciting to see more workers start to embrace the gig economy, and how well-known freelance platforms step up to provide even more services that clients and freelancers need.

Author Bio:-

Chanell Alexander currently resides in Atlanta, GA. When she’s not travelling and trying new restaurants in the Metro Atlanta area, she writes about the latest technology and tools for TrustRadius.

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