A Frustrated Freelancer’s Tale
Introduction
As a freelancer who has been in the industry for over 25 years with a 10-year hiatus from actual freelancing, I’ve witnessed the changing landscape of what now is called the gig economy. Freelancing for me was once a viable and sustainable career option, but now it feels like the market is totally oversaturated with freelancers. There are fewer projects and I see the quality of work has significantly diminished. Worst of it is, I need to pay to either see better projects or place higher ranked bids. I might have better luck winning money in Las Vegas. All things considered, I recently made the tough decision to close my accounts on Fiverr and Freelancer.com. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing the 5 reasons I made my decision.
- The Race to the Bottom: Low Pricing Wars
The Overwhelming Pressure to Lower Prices
In the early days of my freelance career, clients were willing to pay fairly for quality work. Unfortunately, platforms like Fiverr and Freelancer.com have led to a race to the bottom, with freelancers constantly lowering their prices to outbid each other. This has resulted in a situation where it’s nearly impossible to make a sustainable income without sacrificing quality or working unsustainable hours.
- Dwindling Quality of Work
Lower Prices Lead to Lower Quality
As the pressure to offer the lowest price increases, the quality of work inevitably suffers. To make ends meet, freelancers often have to cut corners, skip essential steps, or even outsource their work to others. This not only compromises the quality of the finished product but also undermines the value of the services freelancers provide. I found myself increasingly frustrated with the quality of work I was seeing on these platforms, which led me to question if I wanted to be associated with them.
- Unreasonable Client Demands and Expectations
Clients Expecting Champagne on a Beer Budget
Another reason I closed my Fiverr and Freelancer.com accounts was the unreasonable expectations and demands from clients. With so many low-priced options available, clients have developed a mindset that they can get premium-quality work for bargain-basement prices. This has led to freelancers being constantly bombarded with requests for revisions, additional work, or even outright refunds – often with little to no justification.
- Overcrowded Marketplace: Too Many Freelancers, Not Enough Jobs
The Struggle to Stand Out in a Sea of Freelancers
The rise of freelancing platforms has made it incredibly easy for anyone to offer their services online, leading to an oversaturated market. With so many freelancers available, it’s become increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd and secure consistent work. I found myself spending more time and effort on marketing myself and competing for jobs than actually doing the work I was passionate about.
- Lack of Personal Connection
The Lost Art of Building Relationships
One of the most rewarding aspects of freelancing 15 years ago was the opportunity to build personal connections with clients. As a freelancer, I valued the chance to establish long-term working relationships and mutual trust. However, platforms like Fiverr and Freelancer.com have made interactions more transactional and impersonal. This lack of personal connection ultimately made me feel disconnected from my work and clients.
Conclusion
After a thorough evaluation of my experiences on Fiverr and Freelancer.com, I had to make what felt like at the time a hard decision. It turns out it really wasn’t that hard and it was in my best interest to close my accounts. In fact, I will probably not pursue any freelance work unless I start bidding on government contracts or something. The current state of the gig economy has led to an unsustainable race to the bottom in terms of pricing, quality, and personal connection. As a freelancer who takes pride in delivering quality work, I simply could not continue to participate in a system that devalues the very essence of what I do.
In the future, I’ll be focusing on building my personal brand and fostering direct relationships with clients who appreciate the value of quality work and are willing to pay fairly for it. Though this decision may come with its own set of challenges, I believe that by staying true to my principles and maintaining high standards, I’ll be able to cultivate a more sustainable and fulfilling freelance career.
If you’re a fellow freelancer feeling frustrated with the current state of the gig economy, I encourage you to reevaluate your options. Think about alternative avenues for sourcing quality work because they are out there believe you me. We need to stand up for the value of our services and refuse to participate in the race to the bottom. With this new approach, we can help shape a more equitable and sustainable future for the freelancing community.
Thanks for reading!
-Shawn
- 5 Reasons I Closed My Fiverr and Freelancer.com Accounts – April 22, 2023
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