Which Freelance Site is Best for UK based Writer?

1. 41

   Ritsosposted 13 years ago

   Just read a very good hub about freelance sites but really not sure which one is the best to try for a UK based writer.
   
   If you were to pick just the one, which would you choose ?
   
   thanks

   replyreport
   1. 93

      Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I've had a lot of work from freelancer.co.uk and for the majority of it I didn't even need to bid - clients were approaching me through my profile. I paid for a year's gold membership (which I'm sure helped a lot) and worked hard on creating a very good profile with links to my work.
      
      If you fancy it and are feeling generous I have an affiliate link for freelancer.co.uk on this hub as well as info on other freelancing sites that I have used.

      replyreport
      1. 41

         Ritsosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Susana .. it was your hub which inspired me to post this question so I'm happy to click your link if that's the one I do choose .. good gto have first hand experience . also good to focus on one initially rather than spread too far methinks.

         replyreport
         1. 93

            Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I did wonder if you had been reading my hub Yes, I'd definitely recommend trying one site at a time - it's time consuming working out how each site works, creating profiles and bidding on work.
            
            My personal favourites are freelancer.co.uk and constant content simply because you can get more money for your efforts. I know Sufidreamer does well on Odesk but he writes technical copy and can command a high price for it.
            
            Other hubbers I know use textbroker but I haven't personally used that site.
            
            Good luck!

            replyreport
            1. 41

               Ritsosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               thanks .. just had a quick peek at textbroker .. it's US only so won't be looking at that ... Think I will register at freelancer.co.uk and see how it goes but interested to see others experiences too .. thanks for the info .. and the hub :-)

               replyreport
               1. 41

                  Ritsosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  joined via yr affiliate :-) ... will fill more detail in early next week .. cheers

                  replyreport
2. 80

   Sufidreamerposted 13 years ago

   oDesk has really declined over the last year or so - they refuse to set minimum rates, so any good gigs are swamped by crappy 50-cents-per-article postings.
   
   You can find work on there, and it is free to join, but be prepared to wade through the postings to find anything decent. The rate of exchange is against us, too
   
   I might have a look at freelancer.co.uk - via the affiliate link!

   replyreport
   1. 93

      Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Sufi!

      replyreport
      1. 80

         Sufidreamerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Just found that I already have an account that I had forgotten about.
         
         Sorry about that!
         
         Edit: It seems to have expired, so I will try to rejoin through your link

         replyreport
         1. 93

            Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Lol - no probs. It's the thought that counts

            replyreport
3. 80

   Sufidreamerposted 13 years ago

   Just another thought.
   
   You may have to be a little patient at the moment. You tend to find that, after a major Google change, website owners etc. tend to wait and see how it pans out, much as we are on HP. You may also find that the sites have been flooded by people desperate for extra income after their passive income disappeared - most of them don't last!
   
   It usually improves, so keep plugging away, even if it feels like you are banging your head against the proverbial wall

   replyreport
   1. 41

      Ritsosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      thanks Sufi .. that's a fair description of life in general :-)

      replyreport
4. 76

   frogdroppingposted 13 years ago

   I was looking around other similar sites this morning and noticed (pretty much) what sufi already mentioned. The world and his wife wanting top quality content, research also done by the writer (yayyyy) for ridiculously low prices.
   
   In light of the recent shake-up I find that a shame. Do these people never learn? One guy wanted 60 articles a day, inlcuding the research, for about 20 bucks. It' so bad it's laughable.
   
   60 articles for less than the usual peanuts/crumbs? For that I'd expect a whole ton of bottom of the barrel crap.

   replyreport
5. 41

   Ritsosposted 13 years ago

   One other thing I'm planning to do is to set up a site for myself as a copy writer and contact local small businesses, starting with my web clients. I recognise that I need to build up a bit of work before I can charge a decent rate (no idea what that would be) .. thinking of the initial batch of work at around £15 per hour then move to £25/hour for new clients ... That seem reasonable or am I under/over selling myself?

   replyreport
6. 80

   Sufidreamerposted 13 years ago

   I was just about to post that, Ritsos - I clicked reply and your post came up.
   
   Going through your own website is the best option - it shows that you are professional and competent. £15 per hour is a decent start, although you can charge more once you start building a reputation. For non-specialist articles or web content, I usually charge $25 - $50 per 500 words, although my cost of living is tiny when compared to you guys in the UK
   
   It does take a while to get noticed, but the fact that you already have a list of potential clients will give you a real head start.
   
   Best of luck - it can be a slog, but you will get there.
   
   PS: Always try to take some money upfront. There are many people who will take your work without paying - I am about to start chasing down a Hubber who owes me a sizable sum

   replyreport
   1. 41

      Ritsosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Sufi .. want to swap residents lol ?... been a long time since I've been to Greece .... must check out 'fear of flying' hubs!!!!.
      
      Yes .. I reckon I could probably get a couple of jobs from my clients or people they refer me to .. would be a start at least ...
      
      and yep .. I do the upfront thing with web design and never had any complaints .. in fact in a couple of cases I've had full payments for sites that the client never ever ever sent me copy for ... so there is money around I guess !!
      
      cheers

      replyreport