Freelancers & the Blockchain: Reasons Why Decentralization of Payments is Long Overdue
Our goal is to turn our existing freelance platform Content Hourlies, into a zero (or exremely low fee) commission platform for content (marketing), and related services.
Why do we need our own token for that?As it would become a non-profit organization we need volunteers, and volunteers need to be rewarded.
Our own token would be the perfect way to provide incentives for:
- Freelancers to produce more work
- Clients to leave feedback for freelancers
- Volunteers to handle disputes between clients and freelancers
A platform that isn't moderated would quickly turn into a cesspool of scams, as feedback systems can be manipulated by undesirables.
Quality checks are therefore mandatory to turn the platform into a success.
Problems most freelancers run into:
Problem #1: A study shows that nearly 6 out of 10 freelancers have had an experience with runaway clients that don’t pay for their work.
Solution: When a client places an order the cost will be deducted from his/her balance and kept in escrow till the work gets approved.
Problem #2: Unauthorized payments (fraudulent chargebacks).
Solution: Payments made through the blockchain are irreversible, so there will never be any Paypal dispute or credit card charge back.
Problem #3: Most freelance platforms charge 20% commission, on top of that there are Paypal or credit card fees.
Solution: By rewarding volunteers with our own token we reduce the overhead costs to near zero so there's no need to charge any commission. The result, cheaper services for clients and increased earnings for freelancers.
These are serious issues that every freelancer deals with on a regular base, Content Hourlies aims to solve this once and for all.