Introduction
Being a freelancer may be an overwhelming experience, particularly when you are not even sure of how to start. Freelance sites provide a strong answer to people who are novices in the field of freelancing and want to make a break through. All of these platforms introduce you to clients who need a particular skill, including tech, AI tools, software development, and productivity tools. This guide will discuss the way to use freelance websites to get your career started, traverse the opportunities and some of the pitfalls to avoid.
What Are Freelance Websites?
Freelance websites are Internet-based platforms that bring together businesses and individuals with freelancers that sell different services. These sites are an accessible method that allows specialists to get jobs within various industries, including technological and artificial intelligence tools or design and writing services. Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, and others are some of the popular freelance websites. These websites can be described as the initial move towards a successful business by any person looking to begin their freelance career. You can use these to build a profile, seek employment, negotiate rates, and maintain relationships with clients and do it all in one location.
The Main Characteristics of Freelance Websites
There are multiple main features of freelance websites that can be used to launch and develop a career. Here are the main benefits:
- International Access: Freelance websites will provide you with access to customers around the globe. Regardless of your location, there are clients that are seeking your services.
- Diversity of Gigs: You can be an expert in technology, an artificial intelligence developer, or a specialist in productivity tools, and the number of different jobs offered in different fields is huge.
- Flexible Hours: Freelancers have the option to work at their own time, at the time that would be most suitable to them.
- Payment Protection: The majority of the freelance websites have payment protection wherein you receive payment after your work. This develops confidence with the clients and freelancers.
- Skill Development: You can develop your skills working on various projects and create a powerful portfolio.
Best 10 Freelance Websites to Work in Tech, AI and Productivity Tools
When you are new to freelance, it is possible to begin with these 10 best freelance websites that can help you find quality customers and projects:
| Freelance Website | Specialization | Fees | Global Reach | Popular Clients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | Technology, artificial intelligence, Web Development | 20% | Globally | Microsoft, Dropbox |
| Fiverr | Technology, Design | 5-20% | Universal | eBay, Amazon |
| Freelancer | AI, Software, Marketing | 10% | International | NASA, IBM |
| Toptal | AI, Software Development | 20% | Exclusive | Zendesk, JPMorgan |
| PeoplePerHour | Technology, design, marketing | 10-20% | Global | Google, Samsung |
| Guru | Software, Tech, Design | 9-15% | Global | Yahoo, Adobe |
| 99designs | UI/UX, Graphics, Design | 15-20% | Global | The Economist, GoDaddy |
| SimplyHired | Different, Work in any industry | Free | Global | Hundreds of local businesses |
| SolidGigs | Freelance Jobs (Curated) | Monthly Fee | Global | Various clients |
| We Work Remotely | Technology, Marketing, and Customer Support | Free | Worldwide | GitHub, Zapier |
Freelance Websites: How to Use Them to Begin Your Career
It does not take any special skills or understanding of the platform in order to get started in a freelance site. The following are a few steps that can help you get started:
- Develop Your Profile: Establish your profile with the freelance platform. Make sure to emphasize your skills and experience, and in your niche, e.g., in tech or AI tools, or productivity software. Include a professional picture and engrave an interesting bio.
- Develop a Portfolio: You may have the smallest projects or personal work, but you can demonstrate it anyway, even in the initial stages. In case you do not have any real-life clients, yet, you can create sample projects that will demonstrate potential clients what you can do.
- Browse Available Jobs: When your profile is done, browse through the available listings that are related to your skills. Send your apps to the jobs that are of interest to you and be sure to make each proposal to match the job description.
- Price Competitively: At the start up, it is also necessary to be competitive in terms of prices. Visit to research what others are charging on similar work and give an introductory rate that will appeal to the clients.
- Training Communication Skills: Communication is the main success factor in freelancing. It is important to keep the clients informed about the work progress, raise clarifying questions (when needed) and be responsive.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Freelance Websites
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Availability of international customers | Intense competition in well-known niches |
| Flexible hours of work | Platform fees (to 20%) |
| Prospect of creating a diversified portfolio | Hardly available well-paying jobs in the beginning |
| Protection of payments | Some sites have complicated payment systems |
Freelance Websites Are Best Applied in These Situations
Freelance websites are the most appropriate in cases where an individual desires flexibility and a large range of work. Here are the best use cases:
- Tech Professionals: In case you are a specialist in software development, web design, or AI tools, such sites are full of projects.
- Creative People: In case you are a graphic designer, writer, or video editor, through the freelance websites, you can post your work and find customers.
- Productivity Thrusters: In case you know the ropes with productivity tools such as project management software, they are the ideal sites to get customers who require assistance to streamline their processes.
Substitutes of Freelance Websites
Although such sites as Upwork and Fiverr are popular, it should be noted that there are some alternatives to take into consideration:
- Toptal: It is known as a match-maker of high-end customers with the best freelancers. It is a less accessible platform though the compensation might be significantly high.
- Unique Selling Point: The top 3% are taken in, and the qualified professionals are presented with a higher rate.
- PeoplePerHour: It is a service dedicated to freelance services of technology, design, and marketing experts.
- Unique Selling Point: Both project-based and hourly work options are offered, which is more flexible.
- Guru: This platform has access to both the long-term contracts and short-term projects and secure payment system.
- Unique Selling Point: Flexible payment policies and an easy-to-use interface.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Being a freelancer at the beginning is not so easy to manage, and these are the main mistakes, which should be avoided:
- Column under-price Your services: Most of the beginners would price their services low in order to win customers yet this may lower the value of their skills. Research the rates of your niche.
- Lack of Communication with the Client: You may forget to keep them informed about your progress or you may lack attention to their feedback and this may result in a misunderstanding and loss of a contract.
- Neglecting Your Profile: An unfilled-out profile sends the client the wrong impression. Always maintain your profile with pertinent skills, experience as well as a professional portfolio.
- Taking Too Much Work: At the beginning, it is hard not to take every offer. Nevertheless, being too overwhelmed may result into burnout and it will impact your quality of work.
Conclusion
It is an influential idea because freelance websites can offer anyone who wants to begin his/her career in such areas as technology, artificial intelligence, software development, and productivity tools. You can make it as a freelancer by developing an effective profile, being competitive on your rates and ensuring you do not make the typical errors. Freelance websites are unlimited whether you seek part time jobs or you are trying to become full-time employees. Ready to start? Registration in one of the popular freelance sites is done today and you are starting on your career!
FAQs
1. What is the most favorable freelance site among the tech professionals?
Technology professionals should use platforms such as Upwork and Toptal because these sites have many available positions that are related to technology and their clients pay quite well.
2. What are the ways of attracting clients as a new freelancer?
Concentrate on creating an attractive profile, begin with a lower price in order to build your portfolio and apply to as many job openings that suit you as possible.
3. Do we have any freelance sites of AI professionals?
Yes, such websites as Upwork and Toptal have numerous roles of AI professionals, starting with data analysis and ending with the development of AI tools.
4. What should I do to prevent freelance scams?
Make sure you only work with the verified clients, do not take the jobs where you have to make the advance payments, and you know the payment protection system of the platform.