Freelancing has long been the dream for those stuck on the relentless 9-5 treadmill of corporate life. It’s certainly not difficult to understand the growing appeal of the insta-perfect ‘digital nomad’ lifestyle. With a laptop and a high-speed internet connection, virtually anywhere in the world can be “the office” (yes, even a hammock on a beach in Bali, if you’re lucky!)
In a previous blog post, I explained how the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a surge in freelancing around the world. In such uncertain and fragile times, it’s no wonder that people are increasingly looking to take control of their career. As job stability plummets, freelancing has become an attractive option for those seeking a more flexible way of working around homeschooling or other family commitments.
Thinking about joining Upwork?
If you’ve ever dipped your toe into the world of freelancing, it’s very likely that you’ve come across Upwork. As one of the most popular freelancing platforms online, Upwork (formerly Elance-oDesk) is often the first step on a freelancer’s journey – including my own, when I first began this adventure back in 2012.
But despite its success, Upwork remains a dirty word in the freelancing community. A quick Google search brings up pages of anti-Upwork blog posts and shared horror stories from disgruntled workers. So, how can something be amazingly popular, yet unpopular at the same time?
Popular or unpopular?
The more successful you are, the more you’ll be criticised. Let’s take Facebook – a website with so many issues there’s even a dedicated “Criticism of Facebook” page on Wikipedia to list them all. Almost everyone seems to have something bad to say about Facebook, yet it boasts almost 2.5 billion active users every month. What’s more, 74% of these visit at least once every day. On that basis, is it popular or unpopular?
As one of the top 3 freelancing websites in the world, Upwork is clearly popular – so why does it get so much hate? Is it really THAT bad?
Every job has its pros and cons, and while much has been written about the downsides of Upwork, I think it’s important not to overlook the positive aspects*.
Like many freelance writers, I’ve gradually evolved away from relying on Upwork as a sole source of income. Despite this, I’m extremely grateful for the experiences and opportunities it provided in those early days of freelancing. For me, it was a tremendously important stepping stone towards pursuing my dream. Without it, who knows where I would be today?
So, what are the ups and downs of Upwork?
THE UPS
You can start from scratch.
Joining Upwork is an easy way to get your foot in the door of freelancing. Creating a profile takes minutes, and you can get going straight away – without the hurdles and costs involved in setting up on your own. This makes it super accessible and ideal for complete beginners.
It’s easy to get paid.
All payment is taken care of by Upwork, saving you the time and hassle of invoicing clients. This is really useful for newbies. Every freelancer knows the agony of chasing up unpaid invoices after completing work for a client. Fixed-price jobs on Upwork are pre-funded in Escrow, which means you are pretty much guaranteed to get paid on time (Top tip: always check the job is funded BEFORE you start working on it!)
Low-paid? Not always.
Upwork has a notorious reputation for exploiting the lower end of the market. While this is partly true, I want to make it clear that you definitely CAN find well-paid jobs on there. Sure, there are plenty of people wanting to pay $5 for 500 words. But there are clients out there who are willing to pay for quality – it’s just a case of finding them! A recent survey found that skilled freelancers on Upwork earned a median hourly rate of $25 (approx £20) – hardly slave labour!
Upwork brings the clients to you.
If the idea of cold-calling prospective clients fills you with dread, you’ll appreciate the convenience of having opportunities presented to you on a plate. When it comes to freelancing, finding work is often the biggest hurdle. As a third-party, Upwork sources those juicy leads on your behalf. Again, this makes it much easier for newbies who may otherwise struggle to get off the ground.
Make professional contacts.
I’ve been lucky enough to connect with a bunch of fantastic people on Upwork, some of which became long-term clients of my own. During my time on there, I’ve come across some really interesting projects, including many well-known brands. It can be a great opportunity to make valuable professional connections that lead to regular, well-paid work in the long term.
Get testimonials.
One of the advantages of Upwork is that clients are encouraged to leave a feedback comment for every completed job – so you’ll end up with a ready-made list of testimonials that you can use for your own website, should you decide to branch out on your own.
Fill in the gaps.
If you decide to go solo, it can take time to build up your own client base. Even established freelancers have the occasional dry spell. Upwork can be useful for filling in these gaps until you’re fully booked with your own clients. As long as you keep your profile active, you can dip in and out whenever it suits you.
THE DOWNS
The fees.
For me, the most annoying thing about Upwork is the 20% cut they take from your earnings. When I first began freelancing (back in the Elance days) it was around 8-10%, which seemed more reasonable. Just remember to factor this in when submitting your quotes!
You have to pay to apply for jobs.
As well as paying 20% commission, freelancers have to PAY for each job application – something that many clients don’t realise. In order to submit a proposal for a job (or even ask a question about it) you need to exchange real money for ‘Connects’ (essentially ‘job application tokens’). Connects cost $0.15 each (plus VAT) and you’ll usually need to use between 2 and 6 for each job application. While I understand the logic behind using Connects, I think this places an unfair burden on the freelancer. Many job descriptions are frustratingly vague, so freelancers are forced to use their Connects just to contact the client for more information.
Unrealistic expectations.
Upwork is often criticised for listing ridiculously low-paid jobs with long lists of requirements. We’ve all come across those ads for “NATIVE ENGLISH WRITERS, ORIGINAL HIGH QUALITY CONTENT, NO PLAGIARISM TOLERATED, WILL PAY $5 PER 1000 WORDS” And yes, it’s true that UK/US writers are competing against people in India and the Philippines who are willing to work for such rates. But – as previously discussed – not all jobs are like this. Just ignore them (they usually receive very few proposals anyway) and focus on finding clients that are willing to pay for quality.
So, is it worth it?
Would I recommend Upwork as a long-term career? Probably not, if you’re looking for a decent full-time income. But is it worth joining as a newbie freelancer to gain experience, build a portfolio and make professional contacts? Yes, I think so. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some fabulous people on Upwork, several of which became well-loved, regular clients. Many one-off jobs turned into long-term working relationships.
After a few years, I had the confidence to go solo by setting up The Write Direction. These days, the majority of my clients come directly to me – and I’ve never been happier!
If the ultimate goal is to set up your own freelance business, think of Upwork as a stepping stone. Get the experience, get the testimonials and then get your own website.
TOP TIPS:
1. There’s a place for everyone in this industry, it’s just a question of finding YOURS. Some people are happy to write for £5 an hour, some won’t get out of bed for less than £350 a day. Snazzy corporate contracts aren’t for everyone. Establish your niche and be AWESOME at it!
2. Get your own website – I can’t emphasise how important this is! It doesn’t need to be snazzy – one page is better than nothing at all.
3. Don’t be tempted to work for less than you are worth. When I first began freelancing, I made this mistake too many times. Newbies often feel pressured into accepting low-paid jobs, particularly if they’re trying to build up positive feedback. It’s just not worth it!
Have you ever worked on Upwork? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Let me know in the comments below!
* My experiences are entirely based on freelance writing jobs. Some of my points are still relevant to other job categories, but I’d recommend seeking out industry-specific advice.