You struggled to learn that skill, paid for lessons and certifications, attended conferences and seminars, just to become free with the hopes of finally making a steady income as a freelancer… Sorry to burst your bubble. A luta Continua.
Freelancing or Free-Lancing?
Freelancing is one of the few professions with a misnomer. Everyone assumes you are available for free work. Friends, family members, church/mosque folks, even fellow freelancers. It’s quite sickening, really. Now, members of the public have devised new means to pay freelancers without paying. They will promise to pay in kind by referring new clients. Some will pay you with exposure. The next thing you know, you are being paid attention.
However, this problem is not peculiar to you or your profession. A survey revealed that an average of 80% of freelancers were approached to work for free. The good news? Only about 11% agreed. The others either knew their worth or had a platform which ensured that they got paid.
Although payment is a prevalent issue, it is secondary. Many people still struggle to get jobs. A good number of skilled workers get their jobs via referrals. Few lucky ones get one or two offers on social media (even after thousands of retweets/likes). The fact is that these forms of publicity do not suffice; it does not guarantee a steady income.
For this reason, the year 2009 – 2010 saw several freelancing platforms emerge in quick succession. “Eureka!” Many people screamed aloud. A panacea for the troubles. These freelancing platforms are tasked with the job of sourcing for clients, creating awareness for your brand, and eliminating any chance of payment evasion. Basically, a freelancing platform transforms an ordinary skilled professional into an international money-making freelancer.
The Pain of Established Freelancing Platforms
The solution of one problem creates more challenges to be tackled and the initial freelancing platforms perfectly exemplified this axiom. Fiverr and Upwork are two renowned hubs, however, they are not without their inherent difficulties. For one, Fiverr receives a flat rate of 20% off your earnings irrespective of your level.
Upwork uses a similar model, however, they charge lesser on the bills you give each individual client. I.e. you need to have a transaction of over $500 per client before the rate is reduced to 10%. This is seen as an impossible task for a lot of freelancers on the platform, hence, they opt to transact with the clients off these platforms. This further complicates matters as the client can threaten to report to the authorities or abscond without making payment.
Fortunately, there are freelancing platforms which do not place as much emphasis on stripping you of your earnings. This is one platform, which charges as little as 7%.
Another reason many freelancers opt out of platforms is the strict rule governing transactions. Your hard-earned cash is withheld for weeks, sometimes months. Sometimes, your funds are seized permanently and your account is blocked. When you contact the customer service, they give flimsy excuses implying that “yes, we did it. Deal with it!”
Introducing TERAWORK
You really do not deserve the harsh treatment you get. You are a professional and you deserve to be treated as such. You ought to ply your trade on a platform where you are valued and treasured. One where you are not robbed blind by your so-called bosses. You deserve a center where you are treated right, given the right coverage and exposure.
TERAWORK is a burgeoning hub of freelancing where the seller is protected from the ills and perils of the otherwise treacherous path. The customer support service is unparalleled, ensuring that your needs are attended to and your demands are met.
Are you a photographer? A copywriter? Digital marketer or a Business strategist? Your skills are in demand at terawork. There are tons of clients who require a business expert, SEO specialist, graphics designer, etc. Are you ready to be a part of this freelancing revolution? You can sign up here to begin.
