Navigating Upwork: Pros and Cons of the Freelancing Platform

Upwork is a  platform teeming with opportunities, challenges, and endless possibilities for those with enough patients to use it. I’ve used it a few different times, and been disappointed with every encounter. But, I know some people who have found successful anchor clients on the platform. So, I think it’s important to analyze the platform so you can decide if you'd like to pursue clients there. 

Pros of Upwork:

Upwork has some noticeable high points that make it appealing to novice and veteran freelancers.

Access to a Global Marketplace

One of the most significant advantages of Upwork is its reach. It connects freelancers with clients from around the world. It’s also very well-known.  Whether you're a seasoned professional or a novice freelancer, Upwork offers a level playing field where talent and expertise aren’t limited by geographic boundaries.

Diverse Range of Projects

Upwork has a  wide variety of projects spanning virtually every industry and niches. Remember: you don’t have to stay in medicine. All the skills you learn in the Writer’s Academy are applicable to any subject.  And Upwork has them all. 

Opportunity for Growth: Upwork helps freelancers build their portfolios. This is particularly true because these jobs can be lower paying, so the editors can be more “loosey-goosey” with their content. The work is also plentiful here, so you’ll find a lot  of content to write for your portfolio. If your bid gets accepted.

Secure Payment

Upwork's secure payment system gives freelancers peace of mind. You don’t have to worry about scammers trying to get your banking information or

worrying about tracking payments.  With built-in invoicing, payment protection, and dispute resolution, freelancers can focus on delivering their content without worrying about payment issues or non-payment. This is huge when you’re new and unsure of what a scammer looks like. 

Access to High-Quality Clients

While the platform is crowded with freelancers, Upwork can attract some high-quality clients. Not every client will be a retainer that pays well, but they’re definitely there. 

Upwork is great for freelancers who are just starting out and want to know what the market price is for a certain job. It also is great for quick portfolio building, if you’re ready to take on below-market-price work. 

Cons of Upwork:

In my opinion, Upwork’s negative side almost outweighs their positive. 

High Competition: The most significant challenge on Upwork is the fierce competition for freelancers battling for the same projects. With thousands of freelancers competing for attention, securing projects can be a daunting task, particularly for newcomers to the platform. Your peers from other countries can outbid you, and the client can accept a bid as low as pennies for every word. And you’re worth much more than that. 

Platform Fees and Charges

Upwork takes a percentage of freelancers' earnings as platform fees. Right now, it ranges from 5% to 20%. It depends on the total billing amount with a client. These fees help support the platform, but they come out of your pocket. If you use

another method, you keep all the profits. 

Limits on Connects

Upwork's Connects system limits the number of job applications freelancers can submit each month. They want you to buy more  Connects for a fee. This means that you have to actually pay to bid for jobs. Sometimes, you’ll bid for a job and they just never respond. Or, you bid and there's 400 other people. Those are basically wasted connections you’ll never get back. This can be particularly challenging for freelancers, because it limits  their ability to look for new opportunities.

Risk of Unreliable Clients

While Upwork attracts many reputable clients, tons of bad clients flock to the platform. These clients want to pay the lowest amount possible for work, but they want a high performance out of writers. They’re used to low- bidders and that’s what they’re looking for. 

Overview

Upwork can be an incredibly hard platform. The competition is very high, and people can outbid you. So, you may struggle to get a job that pays well. Sometimes the listings aren’t accurate and you don’t know until you’ve wasted a bid on it. 

It can be discouraging for freelancers who struggle to get clients on there. They may worry that they don’t have what it takes to be a freelance writer, or they may think freelance writers are supposed to make $0.05/word. But, occasionally, you can find some great clients there. 

Upwork is great as an occasional tool as long as you know your worth as a freelancer. Use it along with the other client acquisition tools we talk about in the Writer’s Academy.