Which Freelancer Marketplace Is Right For You?

Online marketplaces offer freelancers a place to sell their services to large client bases. These platforms offer plenty of opportunities for freelancers to find potential clients, but each operates in different ways. If you are considering using these platforms, you should first determine which (if any) of them are appropriate for the services you offer and how you work with clients.

Understand the Specifics

When considering any online marketplace, freelancers should understand the specifics of how the platform works for both the clients and the freelancers. Most online marketplaces offer a quick “how it works” tutorial of some sort for new potential clients. However, freelancers should look beyond these often brief tutorials to get as much definitive information as they can.

The first step is to read any and all FAQs available on the site. This includes FAQs for both clients and freelancers. The FAQs should offer some insights into how the marketplace works and how any issues that arise are addressed by the marketplace itself (if at all). They might also answer fundamental questions such as how the payment process works, fees, and payment schedules. Note that the FAQs might be referred to as “Support” or “Resources.”

Take your time and read through everything — again, on both the client and the freelancer side. Take notes on anything that is unclear or sends up red flags as well as anything that sounds promising or speaks to your unique strengths as a freelancer.

Search the Services Offered

Some marketplaces are more general in the services offered whereas others are quite specific. Reviewing the list of services currently offered on a platform can help freelancers identify appropriate marketplaces for offering their specific skillset.

If a marketplace does not offer any services related to your skills, it probably isn’t the best choice for you as a freelancer. However, don’t forget to think about how you might be able to break down your current services into smaller jobs. For example, if you focus on developing newsletters for start-ups and small businesses, which includes writing the newsletter and putting everything together in a reader-friendly way, you might be able to offer services related to developing newsletter graphics, brainstorming market-relevant article ideas, or building a publishing schedule. Think about how you can use your existing skills to meet the needs identified in the marketplace.

Another issue to consider is to look at how many freelancers offer the same services you do on a marketplace. If only one freelancer offers the service and they have few jobs under their belt on the marketplace, don’t count on getting a ton of work from the platform. The same is true if there are hundreds of freelancers offering the same service, meaning you will be competing with all of them for clients.

Make sure to look at the prices the freelancers are charging as well. Are they in line with what you charge (after the platform takes a cut if any)? Is it possible to break your services down to offer smaller components that will generate the income you expect — or at least contribute to it?

As you study the services offered on each marketplace, you will start to get a feel for strong candidates, possible platforms, and marketplaces that will not work for you at this time based on the services you offer (or want to offer).

Read the Reviews

Reviews offer more than accolades or (yikes!) complaints. They can also provide insights into what clients on the specific marketplace expect of the freelancers. Search through the current freelancers offering the same or similar services that you offer. Read through all their reviews — good and bad — to gather information about clients’ expectations.

For example, if clients are complimenting freelancers for getting the jobs done ahead of schedule, is that something you can commit to doing as well? Can you exceed these expectations, which could set you apart from your competition? Do you feel comfortable making the effort to go above and beyond from the very beginning? Customer service can go a long way in building a successful freelancing career, so it’s best to exceed expectations from the get-go.

When you look at the negative reviews, what are the clients specifically complaining about? Sometimes people complain just to complain, but often these reviews will help you understand the expectations that people have of freelancers. While reading the negative reviews, if your reaction is consistent that the clients are asking too much, it might not be the platform for you. Of course, no one can make every single client happy, but do you feel confident that you can address the issues identified in negative reviews more often than not (and before they become issues)? If so, you might be a good fit for that marketplace.

Talk to Others

By this point, you should have a list of possible marketplaces that look like better fits for how you work and the services you offer. Now it’s time to get some first-hand knowledge. If you know someone who freelances on specific marketplaces, reach out to them and ask them about the pros and cons of the platform. Also, ask who they think would be the ideal type of freelancer to succeed on the platform.

Make sure to include some “what ifs,” which can help your contact provide additional information about how the platform works or doesn’t work. What ifs can relate to problems (e.g., what happens if a client becomes overly demanding before you finish the work — will the platform help?), operations (e.g., how does the platform list the freelancers on its site: by the length of time freelancing, client ratings, or randomly), and successes (e.g., does the platform ever do anything to promote individual freelancers, such as advertising?).

If you don’t have any personal contacts, there are numerous social media groups dedicated to freelancers working on individual sites or in general. Use social media to get access to insider information from freelancers who are succeeding on the marketplaces that interest you.

Final Remarks

Hanging out your freelancer shingle on the wrong marketplace will lead to frustration, but doing a little research in advance can help you identify the right online marketplace for your services and the way that you work with clients. The fact that so many online marketplaces exist and have strong followings means there is plenty of work to go around.

One final test that can give you even better insights into a specific marketplace is to sign up as a client before becoming a freelancer there. Being a client will help you understand what your clients experience when they are hiring you, and you might be better prepared to head off any issues before they arise.