In the digital age, earning money online has become increasingly accessible, and one of the simplest ways to do so is through freelancer portals. I’ve previously discussed “How to Become a Freelancer,” but with the ever-evolving landscape of platforms, it’s time for an updated guide.
If you’re already freelancing or considering diving into this career path, you might be wondering where to find assignments and how to secure clients. Fortunately, numerous freelancer portals can facilitate networking and collaboration with various companies and individuals. In this post, I’ll introduce you to some of the most popular and noteworthy freelancer portals, both in Poland and globally.
Remote Work and Digital Nomadism:
Firstly, let’s start with my personal favorite – Upwork. As one of the largest and most recognized freelancer portals worldwide, Upwork allows you to create a profile, add a portfolio and references, and send offers to potential clients. As of May 2023, Upwork charges a 10% commission on the value of the money earned on each project. It’s worth checking my previous post, “Does working through Upwork still make sense?“.
On Upwork, you’ll find assignments spanning various categories, including web development, design, writing, marketing, and customer service. If you’re unsure how to get started, check out my post on Upwork’s operation.
Exploring Local and Global Freelancer Platforms:
Freelancer portals aren’t limited to large international platforms. Useme, a Polish portal for freelancers, offers a simple and secure way to issue invoices for completed assignments. With Useme, you don’t need to have a business or bank account – simply register on the site and sign a contract with the portal. This can be a significant advantage in specific scenarios. Useme handles tax settlements and transfers your earnings directly to your account. While the number of projects can vary, it can be an excellent starting point in this business, offering projects across various industries such as graphics, programming, copywriting, and translations.
Freelancer is another global portal that enables you to find assignments and collaborate with clients worldwide. On Freelancer, you can participate in contests or bid on projects according to your rate and skills. However, it charges a membership fee (ranging from 0 to 59 dollars per month) and a commission on each transaction (from 3% to 10%). On Freelancer, you’ll find assignments across fields such as IT, graphics, engineering, administration, and more.
Guru – one of the oldest freelancer portals
Guru is another freelancer portal offering numerous opportunities to find and employ qualified specialists from various fields. It’s worth noting that this is probably the oldest and still operating platform. Guru provides a secure payment and communication system, flexible terms of cooperation and payment, and technical support and customer service. However, Guru also has a few drawbacks, such as the need to pay for some features and benefits, the risk of encountering dishonest or unreliable parties, and high competition among freelancers. Therefore, it’s worth comparing Guru with other freelancer portals and choosing the one that best suits your needs and expectations.
Fiverr operates on the principle of selling services for a set price – starting from 5 dollars (hence the name of the portal). On Fiverr, you can create your advertisements (known as gigs), where you describe your offer and terms of cooperation. Fiverr charges a commission on each transaction – 20% from the seller and 2% from the buyer. On Fiverr, you’ll find services across categories such as graphics, video, music, marketing, business, etc.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right freelancer portal for you needs
These are just a few examples of platforms offering remote work opportunities that are worth checking out. Each has its pros and cons, so it’s crucial to compare them and choose the one that best suits your needs and expectations. Remember, you don’t have to limit yourself to one portal – you can use several simultaneously to increase your chances of finding exciting and well-paid assignments.
If you’re still unsure about how to get started, the links I’ve provided could be a good starting point. If you can’t find the information you’re interested in these posts, please let me know in the comments!
I’m considering writing a series of posts on how to work remotely and with foreign clients, but I’d like to know if you are interested in the topic. Please share with me your thoughts in the comments.
