Traditionally, getting a writing job was just as hectic and stressful as applying for any other position that requires a bit of academic prowess.
It wasn’t easy to get your name out there, and if you wanted a job as a wordsmith, you were going to have to apply to companies with nonsensical requirements.
Now that the internet has taken off and opened doors to entire worlds of opportunities across nearly every industry, that has changed.
Anyone can be a writer these days, and to an extent, anyone can make money off it. That’s thanks to freelance sites. Freelancer sites are gig platforms that allow aspiring writers to sign up, list their services, and start attracting buyers.
Are they any good, though? Are you better off making your own site or taking the traditional route instead?
Well, that depends on a few factors. Practically anyone can create a profile and start marketing themselves to customers, but whether you’re successful or not largely depends on your capabilities not only as a writer but as a business professional, as well.
There are also major drawbacks to using someone else’s platform to do business.
Let’s go into more detail.
The Cons Of Freelance Sites
First, we want to get the negative stuff out of the way. Freelance sites do have some major drawbacks that we highly recommend you consider before signing up for one, but they’re still viable options, and they can even be extremely fruitful in some situations.
So, don’t worry. We’ll get to the exciting and fun stuff once we take care of more serious matters.
#1. It’s Someone Else’s Platform
This is a con that goes for any type of job that uses someone else’s platform. It’s not just an issue for writers.
Policies can change, you can say or do something that’s not approved, or the platform can just go bankrupt, and you’re suddenly out of a job.
#2. Fees
You will have to pay fees for any freelance platform you use. This is a reasonable thing for platform owners to ask for. After all, they didn’t open the business as a charity, and you are receiving a service.
However, some sites can have fees that are outright ridiculous, or they can be scattered everywhere. Oftentimes, even the customers have to pay fees just to place an order.
This type of nickel and diming can be frustrating for workers and customers alike until a good relationship is built to make the costs more worthwhile.
#3. Unreasonable Pricing
This is the one that gives freelance platforms a bad reputation the most. They have dragged down the value of writers.
A content writer backed by a company, or even just one that has opened their business on their own, can make a considerable income.
With freelance platforms, the platforms often market themselves as offering amazing services at extremely low prices. That’s alright. Everyone likes getting a deal on good work. However, it creates drawbacks.
First, you’ll have to deal with customers who are used to paying $10 for a service that actually costs $100.
Good customers aren’t like this, and you will find them if you try hard enough, but you will be barraged by people who no longer see the value in a good writer, too. That can be draining.
This isn’t just bad for writers, though. If someone’s willing to work for $1 or $2 an hour, they usually aren’t putting out good work. A lot of the competition on freelance platforms will consist of these ridiculously low-priced services that just don’t get the job done.
That irritates customers when they cycle through dozens of them, and by the time they get to you, they might be frustrated. That puts a lot of pressure on you to deliver.
The Pros Of Freelance Sites
Alright, we’ve complained enough. Freelance sites aren’t horrible. Here are the things that counter all those negatives we listed.
#1. Ease Of Access
Go to a job board and see what a company expects of its writers. You’ll often see requirements such as master’s degrees in English, relocation requirements, letting a program literally watch your computer if you’re working remotely, and other nonsense.
You don’t need a master’s in English to write. You need skill and a desire to constantly learn.
Freelance sites let you skip all the extra stuff and get straight to proving you have what it takes.
#2. The Sky Is The Limit
One of the best things about using a freelance site is that you’re not limited to a certain income.
You can work very little and be paid barely enough to eat, or you can push yourself to the max and make more money than you’d make at any other no-experience-required job out there. It’s up to you.
#3. Customers
We know we warned you about certain types of customers earlier, but that’s just it. Those are only some of the customers you’ll be dealing with.
Because you’re operating on your own, you deal directly with customers, and you’re not following some company script. You can be you, and they can be themselves.
If you do it long enough, you’ll meet customers who not only value you but also turn into somewhat friendly business acquaintances.
No, you won’t invite them to your kid’s birthday party, but the interactions you have will be much more casual and enjoyable than if you were in an office setting just getting orders passed down to you.
#4. Intro To Business 101
Finally, a freelance site functions as a sort of intro to the basics of operating a business. The platform usually takes care of all the complicated stuff like operating a website, handling payment services, and even a lot of marketing.
You get to focus on pricing, communicating professionally, scheduling, and all the meaty work of operating a business.
This can make things a lot easier if you decide to go out on your own in the future because you’ll already know over half the skills needed to operate your own freelance business from your own site.
Are Freelance Writing Sites Worth It?
So, are freelance sites worth it in the long run? Yes and no.
Freelance sites are not worth it if you need the motivation of a boss to push yourself forward.
They’re also not worth it if you’re not ready to really put on your thinking cap and find ways to leverage the platform in your favor.
However, if you’re the type of person who is extremely independent, capable of getting creative to maximize your earnings within a set system, and willing to dig deep to get the job done, a freelance writing site can be your ticket into the world of professional writing.
