The Pros and Cons of Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive Upwork Team Membership

When you’re part of an agency on Upwork, you have two options: you can be an exclusive or non-exclusive team member. This decision affects how you work, the jobs you can apply for, and how much flexibility you have. Let me break it down simply to see the pros and cons of each option THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

Exclusive Upwork Team Member

As an exclusive member of an agency, you only work on projects through the agency. Your personal profile isn’t active for applying to individual jobs, and everything goes through the agency. This setup works great for some, but it does come with a few downsides.

Pros of Being an Exclusive Member:

1. Managers See Everything
   When you’re exclusive, all the agency managers can easily see your messages and activity. This makes it much easier to get quick responses and stay in the loop with the team.
2. Access to All Invitations
   You also get visibility on all the invitations the agency receives, which means more chances to be selected for jobs. Being part of the agency gives you a higher chance of getting work.
3. Get a Badge Faster
   Even if you’re new, you can benefit from the agency’s Top Rated or Plus badges. If the agency has these badges, you get a boost in reputation just by being part of it.
4. No Client Confusion
   Since all contracts go directly through the agency, clients won’t get confused about who they’re working with. Everything is clear-cut, and there’s no mix-up.

Cons of Being an Exclusive Member:

1. Can’t Apply to Independent-Only Jobs
   As an exclusive member, you technically can apply to independent-only jobs, but it’s a mismatch, and clients might prefer someone who isn’t tied to an agency.
2. Connect Issues
   You can’t buy connects separately for yourself as an exclusive member. Connects are tied to the agency, which can be a problem if the agency runs out of them or doesn’t have enough.

Non-Exclusive Upwork Team Member

As a non-exclusive member, you can work both with the agency and take on your own projects. This gives you a lot more freedom, but there are still some things to keep in mind.

Pros of Being a Non-Exclusive Member:

1. Manage Your Own Connects
   You’re in control of buying and using your own connects. No need to depend on the agency for this, so you can apply to as many jobs as you like.
2. Build Your Own Brand
   You get to maintain your personal profile and build your reputation outside of the agency. This helps if you want to grow your own freelance business while still working with the agency.
3. Flexibility
   You can balance agency work with your personal projects. This gives you more options to earn money from different sources and keep your schedule flexible.
4. You Can Bid on Independent Jobs
   Unlike exclusive members, you can bid on any jobs you want, including independent-only ones. This opens up more opportunities for you.

Cons of Being a Non-Exclusive Member:

1. Less Attention from the Agency
   Since you’re not exclusive, agency managers might prioritize exclusive members when assigning work. You might not be the first one they think of for new projects.
2. No Automatic Badge Boost
   You won’t get the automatic benefits of the agency’s Top Rated or Plus badges. If you want those badges, you’ll have to earn them on your personal profile.
3. Possible Client Confusion
   Clients may send invites and offers to you even when they are asked to send it to the agency.

P.S. What do I suggest for the agencies? Have both options (keep a couple of non-exclusive freelancers to apply to Independent only jobs:)

Hugs,

Tamara