- Joined
- Mar 25, 2014
- Messages
- 762
Rep Bank
$2,574
$2,574
User Power: 250%
Visiting old.reddit.com/r/upwork/ at any hour on any day and you will see the numerous problems that freelancers are facing on Upwork today:
- Massive cost of doing business: every job costs between $0.50 to $10 to apply to (monetized via Connects), even if it's a fake posting; one screenshot today shows a $3.15 application fee for a job that pays $3 to $4 per hour
- It costs between $5 to $15 in initiation fees for businesses to hire a freelancer
- I post jobs on there but don't necessarily find someone to hire; just the mere act of posting that job makes Upwork between $20 to $100 as dozens of freelancers spend real money to apply to it; there's no refund for them if I remove the post
- 10% pimp fee to Upwork levied on freelancers for all services rendered; or opt-out for the greater sum of $3,500 or 25% of annual salary
Upwork is the absolute pinnacle of 2024 "enshittification", overly monetized by its IPO and only propped up because there's a lack of competition in this space.
In attempting to solve the problems of spam, low quality freelancers, and fake profiles, Upwork has continually raised its rates on all fronts - yet the problem has not gone away.
Is it possible to build a generalized better platform that better serves both freelancers and businesses? Or does one need either need to seriously niche down or does the recruiting space / temp agency solution better fill this niche?
Curious to start a discussion on people's thoughts; by all means, individuals can still be highly successful on the platform, and it's still a great way to find clients. But this is more of a macro discussion on the platform itself and trending changes over the last 3 years.
- Massive cost of doing business: every job costs between $0.50 to $10 to apply to (monetized via Connects), even if it's a fake posting; one screenshot today shows a $3.15 application fee for a job that pays $3 to $4 per hour
- It costs between $5 to $15 in initiation fees for businesses to hire a freelancer
- I post jobs on there but don't necessarily find someone to hire; just the mere act of posting that job makes Upwork between $20 to $100 as dozens of freelancers spend real money to apply to it; there's no refund for them if I remove the post
- 10% pimp fee to Upwork levied on freelancers for all services rendered; or opt-out for the greater sum of $3,500 or 25% of annual salary
Upwork is the absolute pinnacle of 2024 "enshittification", overly monetized by its IPO and only propped up because there's a lack of competition in this space.
In attempting to solve the problems of spam, low quality freelancers, and fake profiles, Upwork has continually raised its rates on all fronts - yet the problem has not gone away.
Is it possible to build a generalized better platform that better serves both freelancers and businesses? Or does one need either need to seriously niche down or does the recruiting space / temp agency solution better fill this niche?
Curious to start a discussion on people's thoughts; by all means, individuals can still be highly successful on the platform, and it's still a great way to find clients. But this is more of a macro discussion on the platform itself and trending changes over the last 3 years.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
