Launching an Upwork or Freelancer Clone? What Would You Do Better?

Summary 

Upwork and Freelancer are two of the top freelance marketplaces catering to a wide global client. However, these platforms are not free from short comings. This post discusses the common drawbacks present in these two freelance giants. It also discusses the areas you can improve, if you are looking to build your own Upwork or Freelancer clone. 

Upwork and Freelancer are two of the most popular freelance marketplaces redefining how freelancers and clients connect with each other. More than 100 million users globally offer their services and hire talent through these platforms. However, while dominating the online freelance industry, these two platforms are not free from flaws. If you are looking to build a freelance marketplace similar to Upwork or Freelancer, it is essential for you to understand the drawbacks present in these freelance giants so that you can eliminate them from your freelance marketplace.

In this post, we will discuss some of the common drawbacks of Upwork and Freelancer and what you can improve in your own online freelance platform. Read on for further information.

Upwork

Here are some of the common pitfalls present in Upwork that make it less attractive for many freelancers, especially for those who are new to the field.

High Competition

As one the top freelance platforms globally, freelancers have to deal with huge competition while offering their services through Upwork. Most projects here have a large number of applicants which force professionals to offer their services at low costs. The number of bids are very limited here and to get access to more bids, freelancers have to make larger payments.

High Fees Structure

Offering services through Upwork is highly expensive. Freelancers have to pay 10% to 20% of their earnings as commissions which is a very high amount, especially for those who work on smaller projects.

Challenging Space for New Freelancers

It can be quite difficult for newcomers to secure any project on this freelance platform. Many clients choose to work with only established portfolios, making it difficult for newcomers to get a job. Besides, freelancers here do not get paid right after completing a project. They have to wait for two to three weeks to get paid for their work.

Risks of Scammers

Offering services through Upwork also involves the risks of falling victim to scammers. The platform does not conduct strict profile verifications. So, professionals may have to deal with spam bids frequently.

Freelancer

While being one of the top freelance giants globally, Freelancer too is not free from shortcomings. Here are some of the common concerns freelancers have to deal with while using this remote job platform:

High Fees and Costs

Just like Upwork, Freelancer charges a large amount (often more than 10%) from the freelancers as commission fee. This makes it highly expensive for freelancers to work through this platform. The platform also charges penalties for accounts that do not constantly remain active.

Presence of Scams and Fraudulent Activities

Freelancers have to constantly remain cautious of scams and fraudulent activities on the platform. It is quite difficult to distinguish fraudulent clients and spam jobs. This leads to significant wastage of time for the professionals.

Huge Competition

There is huge competition among freelancers for getting a project. Thousands of freelancers bid for the same job. This brings down the prices of the projects.

Low Quality Customer Service

While using the platform, freelancers cannot expect quality customer support. The platform deletes users' accounts without any proper reason or explanation. In such situations, the account holders do not get any help from the support team.

Building Your Own Freelance Platform: Areas to Improve

As now you are aware of the pitfalls existing in the freelance giants Upwork and Freelancer, you would not want to introduce them while building your own remote job marketplace. Here is how you can build a better platform for your users:

Introduce Lower Fees Structures

The high fees structures are the most common problem encountered by freelancers while offering their services through Upwork and Freelancer. Freelancers have to sacrifice a large amount of their income while offering their services through these platforms. You can build a better clone of these freelance sites by introducing low cost fee structures that do not feel like a burden to the freelancers. Instead of 20%, keep your platform charges limited to 5-10%.

Provide Better User Interface and User Experience

Provide your users with a quality UI and UX so that they can have an enjoyable time while offering their services through your platform. Top notch freelance sites surely have quality interfaces. However, they have issues such as complex navigation, untidy dashboards, cluttered designs etc.

Make sure your website has a clean design and users can easily navigate the platform without having to deal with any complexities. Users should be able to easily post jobs, send proposals, communicate directly, and make secure transactions on the platform.

Activate Strong Spam Removal Measures

Fraudulent listings and clients are one serious problem present in freelance platforms. Activate strong user verification methods that prevent scammers from entering the site and exploit freelancers. Implement measures such as multi-layered verification, real time monitoring, AI-powered abnormality detection etc. through which you can detect and prevent fraudulent activities on your freelance platform.

Include powerful fraud prevention measures like two-factor authentication, IP tracking, secure transaction gateways etc. to minimize risks on your freelance site. 

Include a Fast and Effective Dispute Resolution System

Provide your users with a secure environment to connect and collaborate by integrating a fast and effective dispute resolution system in your Freelancer or Upwork clone platform. Build trust by integrating an Escrow system that securely holds payments until the successful completion of a project. If there is a dispute between a freelancer and client, have effective measures in place to promptly resolve it to both party’s satisfaction.

A fast dispute resolution system builds trust on your freelance platform and makes users feel safer.

Specialize in a Niche

Upwork and Freelancer are generic freelance platforms that cater to all industries. This results in huge competition on these platforms as professionals from all industries come to connect with clients and secure jobs here. You can eliminate this huge competition by specializing in a particular niche.

You can make your platform particularly available for users from a specific region, or from a particular industry such as content writing, digital marketing, photography, videography, tech support, and others. By making your freelance platform niche specific, you will attract a particular target audience who do not have to deal with huge competitions and can prosper through your platform, while allowing you to manage a profitable business.

Provide Quality Customer Support

Offering exceptional customer service to your users is one underrated aspect of a successful online freelance platform. Your users should be aware of the fact that they have an authority to turn to if they ever come across any issues while using your platform.

Pay utmost attention to any concerns your users may be having and resolve these issues immediately. The role of quality custom service in an online freelance marketplace is non-negotiable.

Final Words

With millions of users relying on online freelance platforms for finding projects and verified talent, building a freelance platform like Freelancer and Upwork can be a highly profitable business idea to consider today. However, both Upwork and Freelancer have their own set drawbacks that discourage many users from joining these platforms.

You can build a successful remote job marketplace by working on the drawbacks existing in these platforms and making your site a better and more user friendly one. Whether you build your Freelancer/Upwork clone through custom development, or by using a pre-built solution, make sure the users feel secure here and can enjoy using it.

More Blog: Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Freelance Marketplace like Upwork