$2M Freelancer Reveals: Where to Find the Best Freelancers for Your Job

Most people don’t know this, but I’ve spent over $1,000,000 on freelancers in the past 5 years.

This is just one of my Upwork client accounts:

That's to say: I’ve made enough bad decisions that my battle scars help keep me out of trouble.

The right freelancer can add tons of value to your business.

The wrong one can be an extremely expensive headache (that can wreck your entire stack - ask me how I know).

And here’s one of the big things I’ve learned:

Not all freelancer pools are created equal.

It really matters where you look, because some websites truly suck:

• You get drowned in 200 proposals…
• …Where 58% of them are AI-generated
• …and another 32% are copy-pasted

You can’t tell who’s legit & who’s real.

And after spending HOURS going through proposals, profiles & work samples, you end up just throwing up your hands and saying: **

“SCREW IT, we’ll just find another way”

It might be because you’re looking in the wrong place.

Not every platform is going to be conducive to what you’re looking for in a freelancer.

So instead of trying to force a round peg through a square hole, here are my go-to’s for getting stuff done, based on the type of project:

You Know Exactly What You Want, Need It Done Fast & Don't Want to Sell a Kidney

…then it’s a job for Fiverr.

I view Fiverr as my “quick-and-dirty” option.

We've all been there—you need it done, like yesterday, but it doesn’t have to be gold-plated. And let’s keep the budget down.

That's got Fiverr written all over it.

Just beware, navigating Fiverr can feel like wandering through a maze blindfolded. Here's how to make it work for you:

1. Master the Filters: Start with Seller ratings and delivery times.

2. Check Portfolios: A picture's worth a thousand words—or dollars.

3. Shoot a Message: Don't be shy; ping them before hitting Order.

Some people hire a few different Fiverr freelancers to spread their risk - and it “feels” great from a value standpoint - but if you’re doing that then it’s best to just spend more on someone who has a higher-priced but reputable gig.

Example: I needed some quick design work, and the “average cheap price” was around $25.

Instead of riding on hopes & dreams with 4 different freelancers, I hired one person for $125.

She did an incredible job.

You’re Doing Anything Involving Video

A while back, I needed to hire a video script writer.

I posted 5 job posts on Upwork, and no one could give me an even remotely “good” script.

I dove a bit deeper and finally understood:

Oh shoot, I’m in a ‘general’ freelance platform - no wonder most people only have ‘general’ skills.

After wasting about 2 weeks trying to find someone via X (best of luck!)…

…I finally found out about YTJobs. And it was exactly what I was looking for.

It’s basically the Mecca for anyone who works in the content stack:

• Script writers
• Video editors
• Thumbnail image creators

The best of the best are on YTJobs.

These are where the biggest YouTube channels - the ones YOU watch - hire their people from.

Typically, they’re not crazy expensive, but they’re often REALLY good at what they do.

Just know that YTJobs isn’t set up to be a “handle-everything” platform, so you’ll have to agree terms on things like payment method, be more prescriptive about delivery & revisions, etc.

For a specialized project, look on a specialist platform.

Long-Term Roles

I’m getting pretty upset with certain freelance marketplaces these days, because they’re going the way of American tipping culture:

Literally everything comes with a 20% fee (just some hide it better than others).

They’re jacking up their fees & it’s pissing me off - and many other business owners too.

So I looked basically everywhere to find a platform that:

• Wasn’t a total Wild West (sorry Freelancer.com you’re immediate DQ’ed)
• Had a high focus on quality
• Didn’t cost so damn much

And so that led me to goLance.

The biggest thrust of goLance:

When you need to hire someone, they’ll white-glove find you the person you need.

Yes, a person will go out on your behalf, and find the freelancer you need.

And they won’t rip you off behind the scenes - or, say, add 50% to that freelancer’s rate - while doing it.

All-in, between freelancer and client fees, goLance sits at just under 8%.

Worth it, I say.

It makes a huge difference, especially if you're planning to work with that freelancer for the long run.

Don't Settle—Invest in Talent That Gets Your Vision

At the end of the day, your business’s success hinges on more than just a groundbreaking idea.

You need the people to get there.

But recognize they might not hang out where you’re looking for them.

Be sure to check under the right rocks, for the right people!

You've got this.