GrowTal

GrowTal review:

GrowTal is one of a number of companies that connect freelance digital marketing experts — people who know how to market on social media, websites and aps — with companies that need them.

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How it works

Freelancers sign up with the platform, providing a detailed account of their credentials and experience. You’ll then be subject to a detailed vetting process that includes personal interviews and case studies.

Accepted freelancers set their own rates and availability. When a client’s needs match a freelancer’s capabilities, the site will connect the two for an interview. If you’re chosen, you tell the clients your rates and the client signs a contract.

Naturally, you can choose not to work with a client, if you feel it’s not a good fit. If you do accept a job, you’ll get the rate you set. GrowTal will add a 30% commission to your rates when they bill the client.

Pay

Clients are billed every two weeks. And freelancers are paid every two weeks by direct deposit.

One caution:

The site is only two years old, so few freelancers have reviewed the working conditions there. There are no red flags in the company’s terms. But GrowTal may not have quite as many clients are more established firms. That said, there is no exclusivity in the GrowTal arrangement. So you can also sign up with some of the site’s competitors, such as Mayple and MarketerHire.

Independent contractor

The site emphasizes that anyone who freelances through them determines their own working conditions, rates and availability and are not considered employees. This gives you the ability to sign up with as many GrowTal competitors as you’d like. You can sign up with GrowTal here.

Market fragmentation

One of the reasons that there are so many new marketing platforms is the marketing industry has fragmented as new forms of communication proliferate. Where marketing once set the strategic direction of corporate public relations and advertising departments, it now involves everything from social media to search engine optimization strategies. Indeed, GrowTal connects specialists in a wide array of specialty niches, including podcasting, video editing, copy writing, email marketing and conversion rate optimization.

Because each of these marketing niches are rapidly evolving, it’s become increasingly difficult for small companies to hire a single person — or even a small staff — to handle the increasing diverse marketing landscape. That’s opened the door for online platforms to tap highly-paid specialists to perform these niche tasks.

Given the rapid change that’s forced most experts to learn on the job, college degrees are becoming less important. However, marketers should keep tabs on projects they’ve managed, and be able to support their results with hard data.

Recommendations

GrowTal appears to be a great place to sign up to provide freelance marketing work. We’d also recommend signing up with Mayple and MarketerHire. Other platforms, that offer broader services, such as WorkingNotWorking and Creatively, may also be worth a look.