Alternatives to Upwork That Actually Work
Upwork has been the gold standard for finding jobs as a creative freelancer, but recently it has started to go downhill.
Finding work as a freelance creative is a lot like going to the proctologist: it’s a pain in the butt. Upwork has been the gold standard for finding jobs and gigs for writers and the occasional graphic designer. However, recently many freelancers are expressing frustration with the platform’s flaws and changing policies. The fake job postings, rude clients, low pay scales, and increasing cost of applying for jobs are all giving freelancers headaches, which is why more and more people are starting to take their work elsewhere.
Need to find greener pastures? We’ve looked into the pros and cons of different platforms for you. These alternatives might be your best bet:
Fiverr
Believe it or not, Fiverr can be a legitimate way to get great clients — particularly in graphic design. If you can market yourself and your gigs wisely, you can turn Fiverr into a decent income.
Sadly, Fiverr doesn’t always have the best reputation among freelancers. To a point, that bad rap is rightfully earned. The app makes communicating with your clients difficult and giving personal information can get you banned, even if you need that for your work.
TopTal
Marketed as the freelancer platform of the elites, TopTal is famous for having high-paying gigs that are also fairly exclusive. This platform won’t accept just anyone. You have to go through a rigorous screening process involving human screeners to be vetted as the best of the best.
If you’re approved, you will have a plethora of opportunities that you wouldn’t otherwise get. The hard part, of course, is making the cut.
Problogger
Known for being the best place to learn about blogging as a professional, Problogger is part online school, part job board. The job board is the one that you want to check on a regular basis for freelance work. Some of the top names in media use this job board, including Bolde and Mashed.
The good part about Problogger is that you don’t have to pay to apply. The bad part is that you might get only fifty postings per month.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a lot like licorice: you either love it or hate it. Most people hate it because many of the job postings on the site are fake or reused. However, most freelancers who use the site don’t use LinkedIn for the job postings.
Instead, they generally use this site for an online version of “cold calling.” You will need to pay extra to get enough connections to make the process effective, but it can be worth it. LinkedIn, after all, is a social networking site geared toward professionals. You never know who might be on there reading all about you and your work.
Indeed
Indeed is mostly geared toward full-time, regular W-2 employees. However, you might be surprised at how much contract work they have on the site. Freelance remote opportunities occasionally appear there, making the site a good choice for creatives.
The bigger perk here, of course, is getting on the radar of companies local to you. Most local news sites use Indeed to recruit new employees and contractors. Considering how easy it is to apply to jobs on the site, giving Indeed a try doesn’t hurt.
Guru
Guru is a lot like how Upwork used to be prior to all the advertising prompts and special buyable “boosts” of today. It’s a small, community-oriented site that allows you to bid on gigs that you want to complete.
Most of the time, writing jobs are not going to be easy to find on here. However, if you’re a graphic designer who also works with WordPress, you might find some decent clients. With that said, breaking into this site is hard and finding a job that fits your skills can be a while.
Bark
Bark is a great site for people who offer a wide range of services, especially if you do social media content and graphic design. The major perk to Bark is that the leads are hot, and you can work with local and national professionals. They also have a hire guarantee. If you don’t get hired, you get your money back.
However, there is a drawback to Bark. The price they charge freelancers for connecting to these leads is shockingly high. When one of us at OBA tried out the site, Bark tried to charge us $70 for a starter pack. There also isn’t a free trial option, so you might decide you don’t like the site AFTER you’ve already invested.
Craigslist.org
Yes, it’s true: Craigslist is an online bulletin board that actually works fairly well for freelance creatives. While the site tends to be particularly popular among models and TV extras, there is a fair share of writing and graphic design gigs.
Out of all the Upwork alternatives we dug up, Craigslist is one of the riskiest — both physically and financially. However, the site can still be worth a shot if you are okay with rolling the dice. Contrary to popular belief, many writers have found full-time employment from Craigslist.
Alignable
Alignable is unique among freelancer-friendly sites because it’s a lot like Indeed. The difference is that Alignable is a social media platform focusing on trading skills or hiring rather than flexing how corporate you are. (Sorry, Indeed, but you’re a vanity contest.)
This platform is mostly centered on local talent, so if you want to get more involved in your community, this site is a smart choice.
Cold Calling
Finally, there’s one alternative that you won’t find on the net: cold calling. The truth is that telemarketing still works when you’re doing business-to-business sales. The work is not easy or fun and can be quite discouraging. However, we’d be lying if we said it doesn’t work.
According to Cognism, the average ROI on cold calling rests at around 4.8 percent. If you call 200 people per day, you can expect to get at least ten new clients if you have reasonable sales skills. If a single gig gets you $200, that’s an income of $2,000 from a single day of work. That’s not bad at all!
The moral of the story? Cold calls work better than you think they do, and sometimes online job boards are a waste of time.
Need more help finding those gigs?
Trust us, we get it. Being a creative freelancer is rough. The hustle never stops and there’s always more that people expect you to do. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a network that can support you as you navigate the rough terrain known as the creative world.
OBA isn’t just a magazine. It’s a community, a common voice, and a digital playground for people who are looking to stretch their potential skillset to the max. Aren’t you ready to join the winning team?
Do you have experience with any of these platforms? Have you heard of any other websites for freelancers or tried other creative ways of marketing yourself? Let us know in the comments!