Affiliate Program

[#1]

Hey guys. Any updates on upwork getting an affilaite program? Im looking to advertise a outsourcing site on my new launch..  As a long time user of odesk I would hate to have to recommend a different company.

[#2]

Upwork really needs to get an affiliate program.

I advertise to get clients directly Upwork is just one more source of business for me but I would rather have my clients join Upwork and hire me here to simplify my billing and management, I would do it if there was an affiliate program but I won't generate you clients for free, same way you don't give us clients for free. 

After all if I bring my clients over they could try one of my competitors that charges less or they could hire freelancers for other service types than what I do for them, that would make you money but for me it's nothing but a risk. An affiliate program would offset the risk, until then I will not ask my clients found directly to come over to upwork to hire me, I will keep sending them invoices instead.

I am sure there are other freelancers in the same situation.

[#3]

Upwork needs more clients not freelancers. As an employer on Upwork since oDesk days and running an agency I constantly promote Upwork.

Now I am looking to other platforms to promote because Upwork is slow to the market.

At least start one for client referrals which will generate more income for you.

We don't want to bring our own freelancers and you are already overloaded with freelancers.

Any chance you can put this forward to your Executive team for a definitive answer?

Many thanks

Charmaine

[#4]

We appreciate your feedback, Charmaine.

We've recently added a couple of programs that encourage freelancers to bring their clients on Upwork. If any new programs are added, we'll make sure to notify the users. Thank you.

[#5]

This is in reply to your reply to Charmaine. Why in the world would we bring you our clients? Unless we are 'top rated' or 'rising star', that would cut into our pay for no reason. Right now, I get 100% of my pay, and my client has always been more than responsible to pay me on time or before. I wouldn't any more refer him to you than cut my own throat, which would what it would be financially. If you want to retain excellent freelancers and get referrals for clients, you'll have to do better than this.

[#6]

I am a client and looking to refer other clients.. is there not a reward program for that?

[#7]

I agree with Charmaine, Upwork needs more clients offering work, not more freelancers underselling themselves to get work.

I run a design studio myself and I would love to pass on extra work to freelancers on Upwork. An affiliate program would help both of us out a lot.

[#8]

re: "I am a client and looking to refer other clients.. is there not a reward program for that?"

A good deed is its own reward.

[#9]

I was suprised to see there actually isnt a program to bring other clients to the platform.  Hopefully they are wroking on this.  Has anyone messaged them directly for an update?

[#10]

They are not working on this. They have repeatedly said in these comments
that they have no interest in having anyone affiliate for them. Apparently
they have enough business already. I am guessing that someone who
understands the age in which we live will start a competing service and
reap the benefits of having those of us with related audiences promoting
their service.

[#11]

I actually think this thread is showing that upwork may be the smart one here. Clearly, there are a ton of people that want to recommend them and the fact that they are begging upwork to create an affiliate program tells me that there are no other competitors offering a program.

So all of these people creating blogs or courses are left with a choice.... provide a good service for their traffic and recommend them anyway, or leave them out because they are not getting paid.

It really comes down to are you trying to help your customers or your pockets? People who help customers first always come out ahead in the end.

If someone will only mention a company if they are paid to do so, how credible does that source look? I mention companies if they have an affiliate or not. I mention affiliates that pay 5% as much as those that pay 25%. Because if I present full and fair information, my customers are served better and I will earn a lot more of them and they will be more loyal.

[#12]

i  want to become affliacte program how much will i get

[#13]

The upwork affiliate program is a simple one and very easy to understand. 

You start at zero, and as you bring more clients in, you rate stays the same. Each year you receive an incentive increase of 50% of your base commission, and once you reach the top level of affiliate, your earnings are doubled. 

[#14]

Curious if an Affiliate Program is available yet !?

[#15]

Hi there!

Unfortunately, no, we do not yet have an affiliate program, but it is something that has been suggested, so it may be considered at some point.

Update 8/20/21: We are working on developing an Affiliate program. You can read more about becoming and Upwork affiliate here and stay tuned for more information.

[#16]

Please. Please. Please. Set up an affiliate program. It's fairly easy to set up using ClickFunnels. I hate recommending other services just to use an affiliate link. Especially when I get all my work from Upwork. 

[#17]

Hey,

Just checking to see if there is a program yet? Even fivver has a referral program that pays a flat rate commission for every first time buyer you send them.

Thanks!

[#18]

i have just referred a friend to one of the upwork freelancers i use and she has signed up to upwork and will use my freelancer.. you NEED to setup an affiliate program to make this more interesting for those of us that are bringing people to your site. 

I see many people have been asking the same question and they always get the same answer. Hardly an incentive for us to help your business grow.

Please take this request seriously and under consideration, it's not that difficult to get set up and is a multi faceted win all around.

I would be singing a lot more about upwork (to non friends) if there was an incentive. 

Thanks for understanding the importance of such a feature.

Phill 

[#19]

Thanks for following up on this request, Phill. We'll make sure to send this suggestion again to the team for their consideration.

[#20]

Agreed. **Edited for Community Guidelines** has affiliates and a 12 month cookie period..

[#21]

I have referred many people to upwork in past years, but have stopped specifically due to the lack of any benefit to me for doing so.

I recommend you look at Digital Access Pass.

It is an awesome and easy to setup affiliate and product management program that operates as a WordPress plugin.

So, you could setup affiliates.upwork.com using that and be up and running in days.

It's affiliate model is a flat business model, as well, so no complex compensation schemes.

They provide the absolute best customer service and support that I've experienced in my 20 year internet marketing career and will install and configure it for you.

Their $39/month platinum plan is the best, because it provides the most integrations and access to all of their additional addons. Way cheap for what you end up getting!

**Edited for community guidelines**

[#22]

Does an affiliate program exist yet?  I am writing a blog and would like to mention Upwork.  It would promote Upwork's services to freelancers.  

[#23]

Hi Rachel,

Update 8/20/21: We are working on developing an Affiliate program. You can read more about becoming and Upwork affiliate here and stay tuned for more information.

Thanks for reaching out to us. Unfortunately, the affiliate program doesn't exist yet. However, I will share your feedback with the rest of our team for consideration.

Thank you.

[#24]

I wrote my comments a year ago, and in that time I have come to learn that Upwork has no interest in an affiliate program. Why would they, when they are turning away tens of thousands of Freelancers a week? The platform is useful, but not ideal for those looking to provide high-value work, rather than cheap. I have actually made a good rate out of Upwork over the last 12 months but it has been a tough slog cutting through the swathes of arrogant and sometimes downright rude clients. Their sense of entitlement to slave labour is palpable. Most of them have no idea about the workings of the discipline they are trying to hire. 

I tried to engage Upwork in a discussion about improving conditions and even offered a model that would refine the expectations of clients, and improve the welfare and earnings of creatives, but so far I have not had a single response. I guess the money is rolling in regardless of the conditions and attitudes we face from hirers. 

I think the answer is to use Upwork for what it is, and don't worry about referring any new people as they clearly don't need more freelancers. 

All the best with your work, I would be interested in your blog. Please send links.  

[#25]

I was astounded to find that there is no affiliate programme. I am merely echoing those that have spoken before, but Upwork... It is time to put this on your urgent to-do list. 

You have a community of happy freelancers, all making money and wanting to help you recruit more quality members. Why are you not taking advantage of this? 

Love the platform. Wish I could blog about it and see some return. 

Kindest

[#26]

---

Sean H wrote:

I was astounded to find that there is no affiliate programme. I am merely echoing those that have spoken before, but Upwork... It is time to put this on your urgent to-do list. 

You have a community of happy freelancers, all making money and wanting to help you recruit more quality members. Why are you not taking advantage of this? 

Love the platform. Wish I could blog about it and see some return. 

Kindest

---

I've read the thread but don't seem to understand what exactly the intention of this program is. What we already  have: the agency system, where a number of freelancers can work under one firm, the "bring you own client program", where a freelancer can bring a client to upwork which benefits him because he never has to pay any fee for jobs for this client, and lastly the possibility that a client can bring his own client to upwork which I believe circumvents the approval process, but the freelancer can then only work for this client.

Is what you mean covered by one of the above or if not, in what way is it materially different?