This short blog post displays my thoughts on freelancing websites (NOT freelancing in general) and why they are inherently harmful to the majority of skilled people who live in ordinary or average circumstances.
“shadowy market”
Those sites are fundamentally flawed. Not only can anyone enter with any set of talent or budget, but they often also avoid borders and regulations. Furthermore, the site favors whoever pays the most commission, making it the perfect system for workers’ exploitations.
“unnecessary competition”
If you live in a country with reasonable economic growth, there is no reason to compete for a low-paying job in an exploiting market when you can use some of that time and effort to secure far better contracts/gigs elsewhere. Work permits have been implemented as a rational response to this exact problem!
“remote vs. freelance sites”
Another reason why freelancing is losing value is the rise of remote work; you can now complete most tasks remotely, freelancing sites are not the optimal answer for flexible remote jobs.
“long-term strategy?”
Long-term goals include professional development, which entails learning and doing things that you are not good at yet in order to learn and grow. In essence, this is the polar opposite of being successful on freelancing sites. Economically, you can’t make long-term investments with the sort of job security freelancing site offers, if any.
Let me know what do you think?
Disclaimer: I have a 5-star profile on one of the top freelancing marketplaces. I was able to secure gigs ranging from $15 to $2000. I am no longer active on any freelancing platform.
