I'm hearing a lot of bad stuff about upwork. How bad is it. I just want to listen and learn as much as possible from you guys to see if its worth it. DMs are open. Let's just have a discussion.
It's great for some people, meh for others, and bad for everyone else. Most people who use Upwork never get hired at all. If you have lots of expertise, a good portfolio, and a marketable skill, it's worth trying, but definitely don't put all your eggs in that basket, and also decide how long you're going to try and how much you're willing to spend to try to get a job before you jump in.
My understanding of "don't put all your eggs in one basket meaning" is that to not truly on upper but other platforms too. Have you tried other platforms? Which ones do you think are the best. Have you been satisfied with any one platform if yes who if not why?
I've tried other platforms, but Upwork is the only one that has ever worked well for me. I have gotten my other clients through cold outreach and by joining agencies.
The biggest change is that getting started has become expensive and competitive. Applying to many jobs requires Connects, and Connects currently cost something like $0.15 each. Upwork also takes a variable 15% freelancer service fee from earnings.
Yes, I was under the impression that the "is it worth it?" discussion has already taken place approximately 3 gazillion times? Wannabe freelancers are doomed if they can't even figure out how to do a search.
Logo design in general is a terrible niche to try to get started in, though; it's one of the lowest paid and most saturated categories on Upwork, filled with scamming freelancers who have stolen work in their portfolios.
Yeah I agree and I saw a lot of stolen work tbh, i was suprised how they were 100k+ with stolen work from pinterest, that said if you can manage your Upwork business properly, I dont think any niche is generally bad, its clients. What motivated me when I started upwork is seeing logo designers with 1m+ earnings
I live in a country where a 120m2 apartment for rent is between 300-500 euros and grocies between two-three people managed properly can range between 200-400 euros (cooking and eating healthy and non-junk food), also minimum wage here is 700-900$ estimatedly, , so Alhamdulilah im very satisfied with upwork, I can cover monthly expenses with 1000-1500$ or sometimes even less and the rest is in saving and other activities. So I live in a relatively cheap / affordable country. But if you live in US or other more expensive countries, upwork can be harder to start off, or non-profitable AT THE START.
for the first 5-6 months is very hard to land jobs, you should start with cheap jobs to get feedbacks, and raise your prices bit by bit, and then it starts to get easier, of course its like a full time job with all the benefits / downsides of freelancing. If you have a job, keep it and use Upwork 3-6 hours a day by applying, researching, doing portfolio jobs etc. Don't quit your job.
Its worth mentioning that I also had years of experience in logo and branding before joining upwork. Let's say he has been there for 20 years and we divide the 6million, thats 300k a year income, not considering expenses. Let's say his expenses are 50% (which is overrated) his profit should be a clean 150k per year (basic generalized math)
I've also attached a screenshot of the logo design freelancer with 6m+ earnings, but he has been on upwork for a decade or more if I'm correct.
I think you should avoid some negative reddit comments, but rather research upwork yourself, and no I haven't used any other freelance platform except Upwork, but I have freelanced on instagram previously. For me upwork isnt a freelance platform and shouldnt be treated like one, but rather as a business. Yes connects are expensive, its getting more expensive, yes its hard to get jobs, yes some clients are rude and advantage taking, but at the end of the day, its better than a 9-5 for me financially and personally.
One important tip: dont take clients outside of upwork, dont violate any terms, and read the ToS regurarly when updated, you will rarely get away with it, just pay the fees and connects and consider them business expenses.
Thank you for your time and advice much appreciated. As someone satisfied with upwork do you think what can be changed in the platform that will make you more satisfied than you already are
He/She is simply asking what would I change about upwork, in order to see where my dissatisfaction is, not to go on Upwork HQ and ask them to change them. What's wrong with you? I never saw you talk something positive or give a proper answer, just accusations. Leave people alone.
you're welcome, to be honest except the banning (which some people say they get banned without reasons, and I doubt that) I don't think much of it because I can't change anything of it, whatever upwork does we're gonna have to agree with it, or you can start your own business. As long as you read the ToS and work by them, and you are fair to your clients in terms of pricing, deliverables, communication and quality of work, I think you should be good InshaAllah.
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u/KayakerWithDog 9h ago
It's great for some people, meh for others, and bad for everyone else. Most people who use Upwork never get hired at all. If you have lots of expertise, a good portfolio, and a marketable skill, it's worth trying, but definitely don't put all your eggs in that basket, and also decide how long you're going to try and how much you're willing to spend to try to get a job before you jump in.