I've used Upwork to varying degrees of success.
Here are few of the pros and cons
Pros:
- It's easy to get started, you can just create a profile and get rolling.
- Lots of people on the other end of the spectrum, lots of potential clients which can later help with networking.
Cons:
- Lots of competition, when you're just starting you have to work really hard to build a reputable profile.
- Upwork has lots of restrictions, so make sure you read the TOS. My first account was deleted because of a TOS violation, don't let that happen to you.
- 80% of potential clients either aren't serious or are clueless, this was the major reason I stopped using the platfrom.
I did see some success and I still have clients that contact me for work that I met through Upwork but I just can't stand the potential clients anymore and have pivoted to my own startup.
Also, be wary of the scammers; Upwork has a lot of them. I was taken in by one or two that sounded legitimate, and now I'm super careful.
They typically try sucker you in with an almost-real sounding job, then try to get you to accept a check via email (photo deposit) and then pay for some equipment within 24 hours before the check clears. Or they find some other way to obtain your financial details or login credentials. These people are clever and evil, and Upwork apparently doesn't seem overly concerned about getting rid of them.
Pros: - It's easy to get started, you can just create a profile and get rolling. - Lots of people on the other end of the spectrum, lots of potential clients which can later help with networking.
Cons: - Lots of competition, when you're just starting you have to work really hard to build a reputable profile.
- Upwork has lots of restrictions, so make sure you read the TOS. My first account was deleted because of a TOS violation, don't let that happen to you. - 80% of potential clients either aren't serious or are clueless, this was the major reason I stopped using the platfrom.
I did see some success and I still have clients that contact me for work that I met through Upwork but I just can't stand the potential clients anymore and have pivoted to my own startup.