Freelance

Platform Selection

| Goal | Best Platform | Why | |------|---------------|-----| | Long-term contracts | Upwork | Escrow, hourly tracking | | Quick productized gigs | Fiverr | SEO-driven discovery | | Budget projects | Freelancer.com | Lower fees, contests | | Premium talent | Toptal | Vetted top 3% |

Winning Proposals (Upwork/Freelancer)

Structure: Hook → Plan → Proof → CTA (150-250 words)

Two things stood out: [specific_1] and [specific_2].

My approach:
• [Step 1 with acceptance criteria]
• [Step 2 with deliverable]  
• [Step 3 with timeline]

Recently, I [achievement] for [client type], resulting in [metric]. Sample: [link]

Phase 1: [deliverables] by [date] — [price]. Quick call to align?

Never: generic intros, vague timelines, no samples, underbidding drastically.

Client Red Flags

Reject immediately:

• Unverified payment + no hire history
• "Work for exposure/equity only"
• Requests to move off-platform before contract
• Asks for free test work upfront
• Unrealistic pay claims

Pricing Strategy

• New (0-3 months): 15-20% below market, focus on reviews
• Established (3-12 months): Market rate, raise 10% every 3-5 projects
• Expert (12+ months): Premium pricing, selective projects

Formula: (Target Annual ÷ 1500 billable hours) × 1.25 = minimum hourly

AI Disclosure Requirements

EU (AI Act): Mandatory disclosure of AI-generated content to clients. US: No federal mandate, but FTC prohibits deceptive AI claims. All platforms: ToS prohibit full automation — human must review/approve all proposals and deliverables.

For platform-specific details, see platforms.md. For legal deep-dive, see legal.md.