One of the most beneficial developments for self-employed individuals has been the proliferation of platforms connecting freelancers with employers eager to hire them. But sometimes self-employed individuals need money before they start their freelance job online. They may get a loan from PaydayChampion. Bad credit is not a problem.
You may offer and find projects on various topics on sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr. According to Freelancer.com, its freelancers have worked in over 1,800 distinct areas.
How these websites operate
On most of these websites (exceptions apply; see below), small businesses, organizations, and individuals advertise for jobs. Independent contractors, “solopreneurs,” small enterprises, and freelancers search the postings, see employment and budgets, and bid on projects. Whether it’s video production, blogging, research, virtual assistant job, social media marketing, sales, or accounting — these sites can help you get steady employment.
Now comes the terrible news.
The bad news is that there is often a pricing race. Capitalism being what it is, and given the global marketplace’s increased competition from developing nations, many of these locations face significant pressure to bid cheap to secure contracts. Not everyone wants the lowest option; they want the best, so keep this mind.
What to watch for
Thus, here are the top sites from my new book, “Your Small Business Boom,” ordered by reputation, gig availability, gig quality, and earning potential. (Note: Because these websites are excellent, this list is not ranked “best to worst.” They all have unique talents and contributions to make.)
1. Upwork. I am biased toward this site due to my success in recruiting freelancers. The level of work available on Upwork is good, with several large customers seeking assistance with both short-term and long-term projects. I met Abby, who handles all of my technical work, seven years ago while seeking someone for a one-off assignment. She continues to work with me today.
2. Independent contractor. Upwork and Freelancer are two of the most established and biggest freelancing online gig marketplaces. My impression is that Upwork engagements are of higher quality than those on Freelancer; they pay more, link you with better customers, etc. There is a wealth of stuff available on this site. Both services charge identical rates, with the host receiving a share of the revenue made by the gigs.
3. Fiverr. Fiverr rewrites the rules. Instead of individual advertising tasks and freelancers bidding on them, freelancers handle the listing on Fiverr. They post their abilities, specialties, services, and goods, and customers seek the gig worker who best meets their requirements. Fiverr seems to function well for independent freelancers who can consistently provide minimal output — short whiteboard films, voiceovers, and Photoshop work.
As the name implies, Fiverr strongly encourages inexpensive pricing. While tasks were first priced at $5 apiece (a “fiver”), they now pay far more, but $5 projects are still available. According to the website, their offerings vary from $5 to $10,000. Fiverr charges a flat fee of 20% on each sale.
4. SolidGigs I like this site, and it, too, flips the usual bid-on-a-gig concept on its head. One of the drawbacks of other freelancing services is the time and effort required to identify suitable assignments to bid on. SolidGigs addresses this.
You choose the sorts of jobs you’re searching for on our site, and the SolidGigs staff takes care of the rest. They will provide you a list of freelance tasks they have discovered for you regularly (daily, weekly) (they peruse other sites listing gigs). You pay a fixed monthly charge of $21 if you sign up for an annual plan or $35 if you sign up for a month-to-month plan.
5. Vista’s 99designs. This is another site that I recommend. 99designs is the place for designers (websites, logos, branding, etc.). Individuals can advertise design projects or host contests in response to the listing requirements.
6. Craigslist.com. Craigslist? Without a doubt. What do you notice at the bottom right of the homepage? A section devoted to “Gigs.” There is also a great deal of work that can be discovered and obtained here.
Have fun searching!