Freelance sites eat up my profits. Colleague says they're essential, I think they're a trap. Your opinion?

4 comments

4 Comments

Actually your colleague is missing the key point. Calling them "essential" is where the trap is, because it makes you think you can't build a business without them. They're just one tool, and a pretty bad one long term because of the fees and race to the bottom on price. I used them for a bit to get my first few clients, but the real work is getting those clients off the platform so you keep all the money next time. They're a stepping stone at best, not a real foundation.

grant3472mo ago

My friend in Austin built his whole agency by being upfront about moving off-platform after the first project. That careful timing @jake_patel means you're not breaking rules, you're just not doing repeat business inside their system. The real foundation is turning that first platform job into a long term client who pays you directly.

angela_patel751mo agoMost Upvoted

My buddy tried that exact move last year. He got a solid client on one of those sites, did great work, then asked if they wanted to do the next project directly. The client said yes, but the platform flagged their messages. They shut down his account and kept his final payment. He lost all his reviews and that client. It's not a stepping stone if they can burn the whole bridge down.

jake_patel2mo ago

Wait you can just take clients OFF the platform for the next job? That sounds like you're breaking rules or something. I heard a guy got his whole account BANNED for trying to move a conversation to email early. These sites want their cut forever, they aren't just letting you walk away with their customers. It seems like a huge gamble to build your plan around poaching clients.