Many freelance writers want to get away from work-for-hire platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.

The reason: Some aren't happy with the pay, some just want to explore new possibilities, and some are taking control of their freelance writing business and want to remove the middle man.

In this episode, we’re diving into how to move off these types of platforms and we'll get into the nuts and bolts of doing it the right way.

Reasons to move away from platforms like Upwork

One of the primary reasons freelance writers are unhappy with freelancer platforms like Upwork is that it’s often seen as a place for cheap work with short turnaround times. Raising rates here can be difficult; it’s also a quick path to getting burned out by doing low-value projects.

“Work-for-hire platforms are often a race to the bottom.”

Adding to the low-value output from these platforms is the high prevalence of one-off gigs (such as templatized blog posts.) There’s not much room for building direct long-term relationships with clients here, which is crucial for the long-term sustainability of a freelance writing business.

There’s also the time issue: A big complaint we’ve heard is that with these platforms, you constantly have to be on-platform because speed to reply to job postings is a key to getting jobs booked. Your response needs to be one of the first pitches when someone posts a job in order to be seen amongst the deluge of responses.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. People have been wildly successful on a platform like this, but there are a lot of downsides to it. We both always encourage people to think beyond these work-for-hire platforms.

“It is a good direction to move away from these platforms and something that's more owned.”

So how do you get off of these platforms and find more sustainable ways to grow your freelance writing business?

Expanding beyond a platform as a freelance writer

Getting off a platform on which all your earnings are dependent is neither easy nor wise. You don’t need to focus on getting off the platform right away. Instead, you should think about expanding your business outside that platform alongside the work you’re doing there.

“Ultimately, the goal to strive for is a position where you can eliminate the middleman in the form of these platforms.”

One of the ways is to take conversations offline. When you move away from the platform with an existing client, make sure you are not violating any platform rules you are currently working on. We have had instances with platforms with a strict policy on taking client conversations outside the platform. Some platforms also have a waiting period. Make sure to read the contract you are signing with the platform and be aware of the limitations the platform imposes on you.

Also, to make this possible, you need to start cultivating authentic relationships with the clients you have on these platforms. Build trust, and an opportunity to work with the client off-platform is highly likely to come to you. At the same time, remember that some clients on Upwork are not the ideal clients you want to work with on a long-term basis. Expect some of these clients to switch to a new Upwork user when you move away from the platform.

Finding freelance writing work off-platform

To get off a work-for-hire platform and sustain your freelance writing business, you need to make there is enough influx of new work. Apart from focusing on your existing clients on these platforms, be on the lookout for new clients off-platform. An excellent way to do that is by exploring job boards (and not just Linkedin and Indeed.)

Some good examples are:

The common ground for all the things you can do to find new work is networking. And it’s not about boosting your number of connections; it’s about making friends and genuine connections in the space. There are multiple ways to do so:

Join a community like Superpath or The Copywriter Club. Writing courses also have unique communities attached to them. Keep an eye out for writing accelerators and launch programs that can help you build a community.
Connect with “super connectors.” Super-connectors are the people who know a lot of other people, such as designers and other writers.
Get to know other freelance writers, marketers, and business owners. Facebook groups and Slack channels are a valuable resource for getting to know founders and other people that may hire you. Build your presence on Twitter and LinkedIn to meet new people, too.

You can also get into an apprentice model with a successful writer where you can write more and focus on the business part of freelance writing less. The same is the case with working with agencies. If you know a couple of marketing or advertising agencies, you could possibly join them as a freelance writer.

Start taking action

Step one to start moving away from freelance platforms is to build. A simple website as your portfolio.
Step two is to start trying things. Start trying some of the things we've talked about and see what works best.
Step three is to be patient. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Take these deliberate steps forward to make your goal of getting off these platforms a reality.

How to get off Upwork, Fiverr, and other freelance platforms