Gig Guidelines

Services We Currently Accept

For the initial network, we are focusing on:

We may expand these categories as the network grows.

What We Expect From Your Profile

1. Accurate Information

All information submitted in your profile should be truthful, current, and complete.

This includes:

• Your name
• Contact information
• Location or region
• Primary service
• Specialty
• Work references
• Pricing information
• Typical response time

Do not provide false, misleading, or intentionally incomplete information.

2. Genuine Work References

Every freelancer should provide at least one relevant work reference.

Work references can include:

• Personal projects
• Freelance projects
• Previous client work
• Professional work
• GitHub repositories
• Websites
• Design portfolios
• Video samples
• Writing samples
• Other relevant examples of your work

Previous paid client work is not required.

Beginners are welcome to apply if they can provide genuine work that demonstrates their skills.

3. Your Work Must Be Genuine

Work references must represent your own work or work that you are authorized to present.

Do not submit:

• Someone else's work as your own
• Stolen work
• Plagiarized content
• Fake projects
• Fake testimonials
• Fake clients
• Misleading credentials
• Work you cannot reasonably explain or demonstrate

If a project was completed as part of a team, clearly represent your role in the project.

1. Daily Working Hours

Your Daily Working Hours represent the time window during the day when you are at your workspace and available to work or communicate with clients.

Why we ask for your working hours:

• Timezone Alignment: Clients operate in different regions (India, US, Europe). Knowing your active hours ensures we match you with clients whose schedules align with yours.
• Protects Your Personal Time: When clients know your stated working hours (e.g., 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM IST), they know when to expect updates and will not disturb you during off-hours or family time.
• Flexible Work: If you select Flexible / Client-Dependent, it tells us you are open to adapting your schedule based on the client's project timezone and requirements.
• Custom Hours: If you follow a unique daily schedule, you can specify your exact Start Time and End Time so clients know your specific active window.

2. Average Response Time

Your Average Response Time is the speed at which you typically reply to messages during your active working hours.

Why response time matters:

• Setting Clear Client Expectations: Fast, predictable communication builds immediate client trust and eliminates worries about project status.
• Used in Verification: When you register, Mantraist sends a quick questions email check. We evaluate your response within your selected response window to verify that your communication is reliable before introducing you to clients.
• Be Realistic: You do not need to choose 30 minutes if you are busy coding or in meetings. Selecting a realistic window (such as 1 hour, 2.5 hours, or 4 hours) is completely fine and helps us set accurate expectations for clients.

Professional Communication

Good communication is an important part of reliable freelance work.

Freelancers are expected to:

• Communicate respectfully with clients.
• Respond within a reasonable timeframe.
• Keep clients informed about important changes.
• Ask questions when requirements are unclear.
• Communicate delays instead of disappearing.
• Maintain professional communication throughout a project.

Your stated response time helps us understand your normal availability and communication expectations.

Reliability and Work Commitment

If you accept a project, you should make a reasonable effort to complete the agreed work.

Freelancers should not:

• Accept work and intentionally disappear.
• Repeatedly ignore client messages.
• Abandon projects without communication.
• Promise deadlines they have no reasonable ability to meet.
• Submit incomplete work while representing it as finished.
• Intentionally provide low-quality work instead of making a genuine effort to complete the agreed work.

If something prevents you from completing a project, communicate with the client as early as possible.

Quality and Honesty

Mantraist values genuine work over exaggerated claims.

You do not need to claim that you are an expert in everything.

Be clear about:

• What you can do.
• What you have experience with.
• What you are still learning.
• What type of work you are comfortable accepting.

A freelancer with a smaller but genuine portfolio is better suited to the network than a freelancer using false claims or copied work.

Location and Region

The Freelancer Network is initially focused on freelancers in India.

Your location should be accurate because location and region may be relevant when considering potential opportunities, communication, availability, or client requirements.

The network may expand to other regions in the future.

Services and Activities We Do Not Accept

Mantraist does not accept profiles offering services involving:

• Illegal activities
• Fraud or scams
• Fake reviews or deceptive engagement
• Academic cheating
• Plagiarism or copyright infringement
• Unauthorized access or malicious hacking
• Spam or abusive messaging
• Sexual or adult services
• Prohibited goods or services
• Other activities that violate applicable laws or create significant harm

Mantraist may reject or remove profiles that violate these requirements.

How Profile Review Works

1. Submit Your Profile

Provide your personal information, service details, work references, pricing information, response time, and other requested information.

2. Profile Review

Mantraist reviews the information you provide to determine whether the profile is complete, credible, relevant, and suitable for the network.

3. Work Reference Review

The work references you provide help us understand whether your stated service and skills are reasonably supported by your work.

4. Review Decision

Your profile may receive one of the following statuses:

What Approval Means

Approval means that your submitted profile has passed the current Mantraist Freelancer Network review.

Approval does not mean:

• You are guaranteed a client.
• You are guaranteed a project.
• You are guaranteed income.
• You will receive a specific number of opportunities.
• Every opportunity will be suitable for you.
• Mantraist guarantees the outcome of your future work.

Approved profiles may be considered when relevant opportunities arise.

Keeping Your Profile Accurate

Your profile should remain accurate after approval.

If important information changes, such as:

• Your services
• Portfolio
• Availability
• Pricing
• Location
• Typical response time

you should update your information when possible.

Mantraist may request clarification or additional information when necessary.