Freelancing has never been easier. This is fantastic news for creative folks that are looking to either supplement their income or branch off on their own. Now an Internet connection and creative skills can secure you work from anywhere.
But where does one start? There are so many different sites out there that offer creative freelancers the chance of acquiring money for their services. Some sites seem too good to be true while it’s easy to see that others are actually trying to get money out of the freelancer.
Some sites reach out to multiple creative areas and others offer services that are specific to one craft like article writing and logo design.
Either way, a great Internet connection and creative drive will make it possible to work from anywhere.
Opportunities for Creative Freelancers
Bunny Inc.
Bunny Inc. is working to build the “one-stop shop for professional services that can be delivered online.” What is interesting about Bunny Inc. is that they don’t let just anyone work as a freelancer for their multiple services. The application process is intense, and only the best of the best are able to make it as one of their creative freelancers. Another stark difference between Bunny Inc. and a lot of other sites is that they use artificial intelligence and sophisticated algorithms to connect clients with the right workers for the job.
While there are only four categories at the moment – voice over work, writing services, dubbing, logo design – freelancers in these fields can rejoice because they can actually set their own rates. Another great feature of the Bunny Inc. brand is that they work with a human-powered quality assurance team that make sure all submitted projects meet their high standards. If the project passes their quality control, the freelancer gets paid no matter what – even if the deliverable is ultimately rejected by the client. When it comes to outsourcing creative projects, Bunny Inc. is a great option for freelancers.
Upwork
Formerly known as oDesk, Upwork is an international platform that connects freelancers and businesses. The billion dollar corporation boasts more than 10 million freelancers and receives about 5 million job postings on a yearly basis. Upwork has freelancers across a wide-variety of areas. Some of these areas include, but are not limited to, writers, designers, web developers, mobile developers, sales and marketing experts, consultants, and more.
The competition is stiff, with freelancers from around the world competing for jobs. Because of this, those with a lot of experience freelancing might get priced out by newcomers that charge little in an effort to lock down work and expand their portfolio.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a global marketplace for micro-gigs and small tasks. While popular among businesses looking to save a few bucks (or many bucks if you think about it), Fiverr is quite controversial in the freelance community.
They have been accused many times by countless freelancers of taking advantage of creative folks by only promoting $5 gigs. Sure, the freelancer can charge more for rush jobs, bulk jobs, and anything that goes beyond the basic $5 job. But they have become known as the place to go to get the cheapest projects completed. Fiverr is a great place to build a portfolio by completing many projects. And considering Fiverr is enormously popular and receives huge amounts of projects each day, freelancers working with Fiverr will get all of the experience necessary to make sure their portfolios are strong.
Guru
Guru is a site that connects freelancers to creative projects and has been in the game since the 90s! That is an incredible feat in the online world, but they are still going very strong. Guru offers over 3 million different services that are separated by categories on their site.
They cover a wide range of different services that include web design, software, IT, design, writing, sales, marketing, legal, engineering, architecture, translation and much, much more. While there are loads of jobs posted every single day to Guru, the competition is very intense. There can be dozens of people out to get the same job. Make sure you are quick with your edits when applying for a gig. Otherwise, it might get snatched up before you can even reach out to the client.
Freelancer
Freelancer.com works with millions of small businesses from around the world. With over 8 million jobs posted on the site and close to 20 million registered users, Freelancer is one of the biggest players on the planet. Their site is very easy to navigate – for both freelancers and clients – making the experience a pleasant one for users.
Freelancer has a wide range of different membership plans for their freelancers. There is the Free, Intro, Basic, Plus, Standard, and Premium. The lower your membership, the higher the project and hourly fees you will pay to Freelancer. Also, the lower your membership, the fewer bids you will be able to use per month. For example, the Free membership will only allow you eight bids per month and charge a 10% fixed and hourly fee. The Premium membership – which will cost you a whopping $199.95 per month – will give you 1,500 bids and still charge you a fee, this time only 3%. You have to decide how much you want to put into your freelance experience. If you plan on really hustling and doing this full-time, the Premium membership might be a good road for you. If you plan to moonlight as a logo designer or article writer, it might make more sense to go with the Free or Intro membership (at least to start).
iFreelance
iFreelance’s membership rates are inexpensive, and they don’t take a commission from your earnings. This is a good sign for creative folks looking to get into the world of freelancing. Their website is a bit of an information overload and could definitely benefit from a makeover. The project page leaves quite a bit to the imagination as well, with very few projects posted across a couple of dozen categories. If you are going to use iFreelance, definitely do so alongside some other platforms if you are serious about landing some gigs and making some cash.
Opportunities for Freelance Writers
Contently
Contently is a powerhouse in the world of content creation. They only work with top-notch writers to accomplish their mission of creating and content marketing solutions for their large portfolio of international enterprises. Writers working with Contently feel productive and accomplished though many feel disposable because of the long line of writers waiting in line to join the team. The Contently platform is well-designed and easy to use, making the entire process a breeze for all parties involved. The pay is very competitive, leaving writers happy. Contently is growing fast, which means changes happen quickly. For those who aren’t quick to adapt, this can mean problems or confusion. But for writers looking to shine on an accomplished platform with room for growth, Contently is a great option.
Scripted
Scripted works with thousand of professional writers and offer its clients projects ranging from blog posts and website content to white papers, social posts, and travel guides. Not just anyone can get work with Scripted, and the application process is quite selective. Many of the Scripted writers are happy with their experience. The rates are higher than some of Scripted’s competition, and work is steady for the writers with great reviews and proven track records. Scripted is a great option for writers with a passion for the written word and a desire to grow their portfolios.
ArticleBunny
ArticleBunny offers writers the chance to set their own rates and work on projects ranging from blog posts, listicles, academic papers, marketing content, product descriptions, SEO content and more. Unlike most other sites designed for freelance writers, ArticleBunny is very strict about who writes for them. The application process involves first taking an English proficiency exam. If you pass, you will be asked to produce an article that is presented to you the same way ArticleBunny writers receive projects from clients. ArticleBunny’s quality control team will then evaluate your article to make sure you have what it takes to join their team of writers. This makes sure that only high-quality written content is being sent to clients. Another great feature of ArticleBunny that leaves their freelance writers smiling is that revisions are paid. ArticleBunny is still very new compared to their competition, so the number of available projects isn’t as high as other places but growing at a very steady rate. This is a great site to get in early and make a name for yourself.
Opportunities for Freelance Voice Over Actors
Voice123
Voice123 is a marketplace where clients post jobs and voice over artists audition for roles. The client then chooses the perfect voice and can communicate directly with the artist to perfect the project. Voice123 revolutionized the way the voice over industry works back when it started back in 2003. Since then, many sites have tried imitating the way it works but have had trouble gaining traction. There are two types of memberships. First, there is the free membership for voice actors. Second, the premium membership, which costs $395/year. You can visit the Voice123 website to see the advantages of joining as a premium voice actor.
VoiceBunny
VoiceBunny is a production house that uses sophisticated algorithms to connect clients to the best professional voice over artists to their project. Voice actors looking to use VoiceBunny don’t have to pay anything to join; they just have to pass the test and be accepted as a worthy voice artist. The algorithm will connect voice over artists to the right projects the moment they are posted. The description created by the client will be reviewed instantly by the algorithm and sent immediately to the voice actors that fit the bill. The entire process with VoiceBunny is streamlined. This makes life easier for the freelance voice actor because they don’t have to worry about billing or auditioning for roles. To find out more about how to apply for a position as a professional voice actor, visit VoiceBunny today.
Opportunities for Freelance Logo Designers
Logoworks
Logoworks is an online graphic design agency that works with logo designers from all over the world. By using intelligent technology and great designers, they are able to produce high-quality logos while meeting deadlines.
LogoBunny
LogoBunny is a great place for designers to get work creating logos for clients around the world. As with the other Bunny Inc. services, the requirements for becoming a logo designer are stringent, and designers should be prepared to wow the team behind LogoBunny to be accepted as one of their designers. Many more applicants are rejected than hired, keeping true with the Bunny brand reputation of only working with very qualified freelancers. LogoBunny is a new service that has already established itself as a service that delivers high-quality logos in a timely fashion.
The trend of outsourcing creative content is growing at a rapid rate. Also, the idea of the remote workplace is becoming more acceptable, even for large corporations. These realities are making it possible for creative freelancers to have the ability to take control of their lives and follow their passions. Sites like the ones listed above help companies looking to save money by outsourcing projects while offering creative freelancers the ability to find work and sustain themselves doing what they love.
