I really, really hate middlemen. I know many of you probably use websites like Upwork, but I just can’t. These kinds of networks are nothing more than glorified forums that connect pros with clients, then lock you into their communication and payment platforms, take a cut of your money, and threaten to ban you if you talk to your client outside of their ecosystem.
You’re probably thinking “That’s great and all, but I’ve gotta eat. How else am I supposed to get any exposure other than to use one of the big networks?”
You’re right; I understand. And I don’t fault anyone for using them. However, I personally deleted my accounts from those places years ago and never looked back.
So, now you know what I hate. Here’s what I love:
craigslist
craigslist?! “But isn’t craigslist full of spammers and scammers?” It sure is, but there are still lots of legitimate gigs posted there all the time, if you know how to ignore the nonsense.
WordPress Jobs
If you work with WordPress, this is a great place to check for job listings.
We Work Remotely
This is more for full-on careers than just gigs, but it’s still an excellent place to find and apply for work.
It’s a short list, but I honestly am not aware of any other sites that let you cut through the BS and contact potential clients directly without having to register, pay, get locked into some system, or any other kind of interference.
That is the objective of GigDig. Free the gig!