After using Elance / oDesk / Upwork for over 10 years, I dare say I've seen and experienced firsthand the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I wrote about fellow freelancers who have been hit hard. The most notorious are the introduction of connections required to submit proposals and the strict sections of Upwork's terms and conditions. I was able to accept the fact that my words were being heard by the deaf remote work community. Also, when Upwork nearly bled to death on the stock market, and when they were caught red-handed for posting fake jobs to get freelancers to spend connection fees, I had an “oh yeah” moment. I didn't take advantage of the opportunity to cherish. It has been caught because of a legal catch-22 called “conversion fees.”
I have always been objective and was ready to have every claim I made and every word I wrote challenged and proven wrong, but in just one week I made 100,000 on Upwork. I felt helpless and emotional when more than one freelance account was deleted. why? Because no one cared. Because we are all too aware of the harsh realities of remote work.
I didn't know Upwork's suspension train could go back and forth. The client will also be stopped. But there is a big difference.
What I witnessed was in the best interest of all freelancers. I'm talking about scammers and “predators” which is a common problem on all freelance platforms, not just Upwork. In this case, right is right. By suspending these types of clients, Upwork is fighting the right battle to keep its platform as safe as possible. But what a fellow freelancer caught my attention was something completely different and unheard of.
Upwork's “whale” is supposed to be a natural monument, right?
The so-called Upwork “whale” is every freelancer’s dream. I'm talking about someone on Upwork who spends six figures. There are seven-figure and even eight-figure whales, but those are reserved for the highest tier of Upwork's freelance elite. Now, back to the story of my freelancer friend who has been successfully swimming with six-figure whales on Upwork for quite some time now.
One day he shared a screenshot with me and he got upset.
This client has been suspended and is unable to submit a proposal and is unable to work. At first I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
My friend said that's unthinkable for multiple reasons. First, no one in the right business mind would kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Second, after spending a lot of money on Upwork and hundreds of projects under client management, it's important to understand the details of the Upwork Terms, especially the prohibitions that could get you into suspension trouble (temporarily or permanently). I know everything about it. Finally, all platforms, not just Upwork, would think twice about suspending long-term clients with deep pockets. Without blinking an eye, he can suspend 100 freelancers because there are thousands of newcomers eager to replace them. But killing whales on Upwork can have a serious impact on your business.
I tried my best to sympathize with my brother in Freelance's arms, but the line that my one swallow is no summer solace was hard for him to swallow. So a few days later he sent me another screenshot.
And then, in that very week, the following happened three times in a row:
I was trying to unchain the situation, à la DiCaprio, of, “You had my curiosity, and now you have my attention,'' and I think so.
Ian Fleming's Goldfinger would be better.
Mr. Bond, there's a saying in Chicago: “Once is a coincidence.” Twice is a coincidence. The third time is the enemy's action.''
In the week following our “investigation”, many “casualties” were being reported due to “enemy action”.
I also tried to find patterns. A friend of mine had a theory related to the recent increase in the price of her Upwork Plus membership for freelancers. He saw this as a last resort to keep some of his Upwork freelancers and clients working off the platform.
They violated Upwork terms, were arrested, and were subsequently suspended. But this didn't make sense to me. Why is increasing freelance fees a client issue and treason?
After two more pieces of evidence, I finally accepted that this was no coincidence.
8 “whales” x 6 figures is a lot of money for Upwork to “write off” as is.
got it. In other words, it's not okay. What is happening and why?
New clients on Upwork block
Even if you're not as successful and hard-working as my friend who cares deeply about “whales,” if you happen to be an avid freelancer on Upwork, you're probably on the CEO's LinkedIn page for previous great financial reports. I bet you've never missed a post. Year:
This article goes on and on, but there is one part that caught my attention.
What's with the suspension of 8 out of 31 new customers? Nothing. right? I think “enterprise client” represents a potential “whale”. But it will take a while for these new Upwork customers to reach their six- to seven-figure spending goals.
All freelancers are equal, but just as some freelancers are more equal than others (JSS – Job Success Score), all Upwork clients are equal but some are more equal than others. ('Client Spending' category filter for clients with Upwork profiles).
I forgot to mention a small detail. In three weeks, my friend and I were able to find eight clients on Upwork who were suspended for six figures. So, a natural question remains. How many more clients have been suspended during this time (as of the time you're reading this article)? Honestly, Upwork's financial reports and suspended clients are my It doesn't affect your average resting heart rate, but it certainly increases the number of freelancers who are used to, and are expected to, work for these Gone with the Wind clients. do. Based on my first-hand experience, each of these whales has, on average, dozens of active jobs available at a reasonable price at any given time. So eight whales being suspended means hundreds of his Upwork freelancers are out of work.
Where have all the good Upwork clients gone?
All of these clients didn't leave the world of remote work just because Upwork went on hiatus. It's unclear whether it was a temporary or permanent suspension, so some may return. But some are gone forever. Where will they be employed and work next? That's literally the million dollar question.
I can't believe that October will mark five years since I asked the still-maturing question, “Is freelance anarchy the future of freelancing?”
Please read and understand the story. Because it's not what you think. Contrary to the unpopular beliefs and prejudices of an Upwork community moderator, I don't want his Upwork to collapse in the stock market, and I'm rooting for it. I wish Upwork would go back to basics and go back to the good old days without connections and (questionable) suspension.
If anyone can make freelancing great again, it's not this person…
…But Upwork itself. The day we run out of “material” to write about on Upwork will be a good day for both clients and freelancers. Until that day, you'll have to pay somehow to play on Upwork. Freelance. That's how the whole remote work thing started. Remember?
