Is Upwork Worth It? Part 1

Whether you're a freelancer, a hiring manager, or a business owner, you've probably heard of Upwork. It was born in 2015, after two freelancing sites called Odesk and Elance merged into one. Today, the freelance networking giant has about twelve million registered freelancers and five million registered clients, with roughly three million jobs posted each year. It's the largest freelancing marketplace in the world, but it's not scandal free.

So what's the deal? Is it worth the hassle? Are there still any good freelancers left? Here's what clients need to know before taking Upwork for a spin.

1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but a writer with 10 years of experience and a proven track record is highly, highly unlikely to charge $0.02/word. While there are exceptions to the rule, you usually get what you pay for. Consider your budget and priorities. If you own a large company and need hard-hitting copy with a quick turnover, don’t skimp! If you do, you may be less than thrilled by the result. Whether it sucks up tons of time in edits or misses your brand voice entirely, you may end up hiring that pricier freelancer with tons of great reviews that you passed up the first time. Hire the freelancer who fits the bill, not the one who promises you the lowest bill.

2. Look out for fraud.

There’s one case in which “you get what you pay for” doesn’t apply: Fraud. Upwork fraud comes in many flavors. Some freelancers embellish their qualifications or experience, which inevitably shows in their work. Some use samples that aren’t their own. Others steal profiles entirely. If the wording in someone’s cover letter doesn’t match their samples, or if a writer based in New York sounds like they didn’t finish middle school, don’t ignore it. A professional writer will sound professional from start to finish. If they don’t, consider it a red flag.

Some freelancers promise the left and deliver the right...

Tread carefully, or you might end up with an ugly wedding dress of a blog! That said, if a freelancer turns in work that’s clearly not what you paid for, Upwork’s protection policy has your back.

Another important tip- check for plagiarism. Stolen content isn’t content you want on your site. Run all completed pieces through a plagiarism checker like Grammarly, Chegg, or this free one. Just to be safe.

3. Ghosts are real...

This ghostwriter is sassy, but at least he's finishing the job.

But you shouldn't believe in them! Some people take ghostwriting way too literally. You know those people who sound GREAT when you hire them? Only to stop responding to messages and vanish after about a week? Yeah, they’re assholes. Early on in my writing career, I had a baby. A loud, needy baby that hated sleep. At some point, the loud, needy, sleepless baby got the flu and gave it to me. We both had 103-degree temperatures, and guess what? I still responded to all of my messages, because that’s what a serious freelancer does. It’s really not that hard. While true emergencies do come up, if a freelancer doesn’t respond for more than a few days it’s safe to assume they flaked. End the contract and move on!

4. Reviewing candidates carefully SAVES time.

Don’t rush the hiring process. Add questions to your job listing to see who actually reads them. After reading each application, reviewing profiles, and comparing qualifications and samples, interview the most promising candidates. Look for freelancers who are responsive, communicate clearly, and understand what you’re looking for. The right one will make future projects a breeze, so take your time choosing!

5. Good freelancers are out there.

Like this one, with her fake cup of coffee!

Really, they are. I promise. While I don’t use Upwork often, I’m still there, along with many other reliable, hard-working freelancers. Most of us don’t smile at our screen like this lady, but we’re still happy to help!