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`.