Ben Faubion
Aug 8, 2017 · 4 min read

Thanks for the article and email Mark. LocalSolo is one of the sites I search through for freelance projects. However, I’ve yet to land any project through it. I don’t see large volume of projects for what I do, visual and interaction design (ux, ui, etc). Mark, I’m not sure what a next step could be for LocalSolo, but I’m happy to share some of my pain points with online freelance network, perhaps that may give you some clues.

  • By virtue of being online, and remote, I am now competing with a global talent base. Some of this talent does not have a good local economy to support their skill, so they rely on economies in places like western Europe, the US, etc. What that means is that people are willing to do the same work that I do, for the half the cost.. or less. Major pain point. My industry is flooded with just good enough designers, who are happy to work at low ball rates because it’s enough to pay their rent and drink some beers with their buddies.
  • Design is different from other skills in my industry.. if computer code doesn’t function, it kills the whole service. What that means for me is that people who are less aware of what good design is, are willing to hire, yet again, mediocre and just good enough designers, because they don’t know how to discern between adequate and exceptional work, and the decision process behind it. When they see my rate $90+ an hour, they figure they can get the same quality of work from someone at $60 an hour. Nevermind that I have multiple more years of experience, which absolutely gives me an edge over less experienced designers. The truth is, at my rate and speed, I might actually save people money over a designer who charges 30% less. I have in the past, and will likely continue to do so. But as long as hourly rates are a means for people to evaluate whether someone should be hired or not, it will likely do senior designers more of a disservice.
  • Client/talent agencies owning the relationship. I can’t tell you many times I’ve come across this. Recruiting companies and online platforms often try to “own” their middle-man position, via contracts, fees, etc. What that means is that even though this client is technically my client, the talent agency refers to them as “their” client, and has lockdown on the relationship. For me, this is definitely not ideal. Sometimes I’ll do it, just to see how things turn out. But for the most part, I refuse to work as a W-2 employee of a recruiting company, who arbitrages out my work and owns me. HELL NO. There’s tons of these companies, and as a designer/entrepreneur, I feel like this type of situation strips away any sense of autonomy that we as freelancers are aiming for.
  • Hidden or high fees. Again, these talent companies don’t disclose how much they make off your hourly. They tend to have a one-line quip that’s meant to get you to work for a lower rate, while they likely do the opposite with the client who is paying. I prefer to not work with these companies, but sometimes will make an exception. However, I am doing this less and less. I signed up with another site recently, and only after I had passed the screening process did I learn they charge a 25% project fee. WOW. just WOW. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see how one can run a business on a site like this. My only choice is to overcharge to make up for that fee or take a pay cut.
  • The real high profile projects won’t be found on freelance sites. I can hardly be bothered to try and get business on online freelance sites anymore because I’ve found that my own network is the best way to high paying and professional contracts. Currently I have 2 clients, signed directly, in L.A. and SF. I have no middle-man, they are a decent hourly client, and the relationships are fantastic. As soon as I get online, whether it be AngelList, Crew, or LocalSolo.. I’m competing with a bucket load of other designers who need to keep deal flow going. At this point, my best bet is to work with a business development partner, and leave the freelance platforms behind. IMHO, they are filled to the brim with mediocre talent, and it’s difficult to even get some kind of response from clients because of all the noise.

Mark, I hope this helps. If I could sum it up.. it would be that in order for me to have a fullfilling and competitive business I have to do several things. 1) own the client relationship 2) continue to remove myself from freelance websites 3) find clients and relationships before they post any freelance projects online. With that being said, I would happily pay for a membership to LocalSolo (and remittance fees) if…. 1) their fees were reasonable and transparent to both client and freelancers 2) if they could actively filter out low paying clients 3) if they could actively filter out mediocre talent so there is less noise for clients.

I hope you can make LocalSolo into a fantastic freelance business network.. I’d absolutely continue to use it. I really do appreciate all the work you’ve put into it, and thanks for posting this article/memo.

    Ben Faubion

    Written by

    Designer, and founder at reactivecanvas.com. Interaction, visual, and motion design for startups and brands.