Which social media/ local marketplace clients must be avoided? A challenging question for newbies!

If you are a newbie or an expert in the field of Freelancing, then this question might have confused you any time! Many experts have faced such problems like scams or project rejection blah blah! But if you are reading it now, then you are the lucky one to read because this article is for you!

Freelancing you may know has become a trending part time and full time profession that helps digitally skilled individuals and teams to work remotely anytime and anywhere. But it is not a piece of cake or a lottery like thing that will make you a billionaire in days or weeks. Everything needs time and effort, learning and investment, hardworking and consistency.

The biggest mistakes sometimes beginners do is that they directly dive into the major Freelance marketplaces that are made for professionals who are mastered in their skills. Contrary to this, they must build their portfolio by working with local marketplaces such as social media like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.

Now you must be thinking whether I am going to suggest you to work on local marketplaces or prohibit you!

The answer is not at all! I am just going to tell you the conditions you may face while finding local clients.

Sometimes it is quite good if you join relevant groups and follow relevant pages according to your skills. Suppose if you are a graphic designer, animator, content writer, website developer or else. There are much more chances to get orders there than a freelance marketplace especially if you are looking for work to build your portfolio or not depending on one specific source of income. Because many freelancers get disappointed getting late orders by just relying on the only gigs and bids and not trying to find other platforms. Social Media is something that connects you globally with multiple like minded people and businesses and if you find the right ones, then this is a good platform for you. Whether you find local clients or do Off Page SEO of your sites or pages, it’s up to you!

Now I tell you what exactly you must be aware of and what simple steps you should take so you can avoid scams or getting negative reviews at local marketplaces!

Firstly,

Try to visit profile of the person, page or business that has posted a job anywhere on social media where you have joined. Note that if the individual is really a professional by his or her profile, description, about, experiences or any company or organization they are really working with. What categories of pages and people they like and follow, whether they suit you as a like minded professional or not? Are they trustable to work with and pay you or not? If any page or business/site/institute has posted the job, then check if they have any official appearance or not. There reviews or social media remarks by the people they hired before. Then decide to inbox them and tell that you are responding to their requirement of a skilled one by mentioning where did you find their requirement and how can you help them in the projects mentioned.

Secondly,

Here comes a challenge! Sometimes any page or individual may seem to be quite professional and well recognized but when you encounter them, interact with them the scenario is unexpected.

You have sent an introductory message with your skills and availability for the mentioned job? Alright! You have asked basic questions about what the project requirements are in details? That’s ok! What you should be aware of?

Here are some scenarios:

Scenario 1:

Client asks you to send portfolio, Its ok! but if asking for a free sample of his requirement, don’t hesitate to deny. For example you are a content writer, copy writer or designer or animator else and the person or team asks you to write on a certain topic or create a certain design or video animation or else and ask if they like it then will hire you, then you are wasting your time and efforts. Because they already have got the certain work from you by saying that you are supposed to provide fresh sample in the topic they need.

Scenario 2:

Client have visited portfolio and asked for budget, you must have knowledge about least and maximum prices at both freelance and local marketplaces. Don’t agree with such a least budget that may cost you anything to fulfill the price. You are not gifting the work from your wallet! So least price also should be as it doesn’t make you spend for client.

Scenario 3:

Ask for advance if the client agrees, If not, don’t provide the final file other than draft only for trust building, until client pays you. If they say the will hire someone else if you don’t send work before payment, then don’t get afraid of getting rejected, Say its ok! Just like you go for shopping, you pay the shopkeeper and he gives you the product. Same should be here, client pays you the day deadline for the project comes as you inform you have done! Get paid and send the project file. Trust building matters on both sides. Professionals don’t escape getting paid and not giving work. Whether you are outsourcing as well, must look for draft to get confirmed if really work is done, then pay.

Scenario 4:

Client tries to message you again and again, impatient for project and trying to boss you! The option is try to make him cooperate that the work takes time and ensure that you will complete it on the given deadline. But still you find them rude, then just stop working on their work. Because you are not there employee, but they need your valuable skill. If you don’t value yourself and work, nobody else is going to value you then.

Scenario 5:

The important and major one! Remember, you are going to work to get paid not to pay! This is the biggest scam ever faced by many people. You sign for a project but client asks you for any charges! What charges? They are purchasing your services? What are you purchasing from them? Internships and work trainings are something organizations directly train you how to work with them and pay or reward you with experience letters, stipends or salaries. If client asks you for money after project or in advance asks you that he has sent you the some payment unintentionally, and requests you to refund, then it’s a scam!

Thirdly,

You must finally agree a project if you are clear about the available payment methods on both sides! Client must have the payment methods available that you have. Note that payment apps, wire transfer etc are best options. Client asking for card CVV or OTP’s may be a scam. Moreover, if you are working remotely and client argues that they can only pay through cheque, they are scam! Because if a client who is trusted to pay, asks which payment methods is convenient to you and may tell you that they do not have the same way to pay but are trying to ask or find another way, then you can wait for response. But where the client argues that they can only pay through cheque, then ask you if you are a non native and you must find any friend or relative of client’s mentioned country. There is a big scam because these people may send fake cheque may get you trapped in money laundering or anything that make you pay the amount to the bank they mentioned or else. So just ask if they don’t have relevant payment options, then you are not going to agree project.

Conclusion:

Relying on single source of income and waiting for orders from single marketplace is not enough. Making a global community with like minded professionals can bring more opportunities to work on local marketplaces like social media. But there should be some precautions to avoid scams or bossing by local clients. I have mentioned few ones, you should also try to recognize the circumstances before agreement on projects at any platform or marketplace.