We have created the Trusted Platform Partner Program to provide freelance marketplaces with a powerful way to establish and publicize the trusting relationship they have established with their clients, and to gain objective, quantitative and comparable feedback. Young platforms, small platforms, and local platforms in emerging markets don’t have the same resources as large global platforms. We are eager to close the gap by offering marketplaces the chance to be recognized and celebrated globally as a Trusted Platform Partner, and by providing a common measure for client feedback on trust.
Title Sponsors:
Why Join?
This brief survey is the starting point to give freelance platforms of all sizes with incredibly valuable, confidential, client feedback, and provide clients with an opportunity to offer their freelance platform partners an honest and professional assessment of their experience.
Platforms that are consistently rated as highly trusted by clients earn the Trusted Platform Partner designation. Those platforms that earn this designation have the opportunity to publicize this achievement, are invited to prominently place the emblem of Trusted Platform Partner on their website and their marketing and sales materials.
But that’s only the beginning. CTW will announce and help to publicize Trusted Platform Partners, and beginning in 2023 will hold an annual event for Trusted Platform Partners, combining celebration of their achievement and a day of education and best practice sharing.
Moreover, as we build the data base, platforms will be able to compare their overall feedback with regional, global, and category norms. This will provide helpful feedback on best practice and aid platform teams to identify where improvement is needed.
How does it work?
It will take less than 10 minutes to complete. There is no cost during the beta period to participate.
Our beta is in the English language. We’ll add additional languages as we grow our population.
During the beta period, when the survey is completed by a sufficient number of clients, platforms become candidates for designation as “Trusted Platform Partners” based on the survey results. Analysis and reports are provided by CTW.
Only the requesting platform and providing client will see the feedback.
The Center for the Transformation of Work is a community of open talent platforms, freelance entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders and policy makers, owned and supported by Open Assembly.
A Trusted Platform Partner badge will be awarded to each accredited platform
A multi-page survey finding report will be provided to each participating platform
To learn more about the the Trusted Platform Partner Program and partnership opportunities, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of the Trusted Platform Partner Program?
Our goal is to provide freelance marketplaces and platforms with reliable data from their clients on the trustworthiness of their services. This provides a way for smaller, younger, and regional platforms to build their brand and expand their reputation. And, it provides a way for client companies to provide valuable feedback to marketplace and platform teams on how to improve their services and relationships.
Why should I participate?
It’s becoming more and more difficult for potential client companies to distinguish between different marketplaces and platforms. And, turning to freelancers is still seen as a risker choice by many organizations who rely instead on traditional agencies or consultancies. The Trusted Platform Partner Program evens the playing field by providing marketplaces and platforms with an objective means of showing they are recognized by clients as trustworthy partners.
What are the categories of Trusted Platform Partner Program?
There is only one category: trusted platform partner. We thought about different categories of trustworthiness, and that may be something we do in future. But, for now there is only one.
Is there a limit or ceiling on the percentage of platforms that can earn Trusted status?
Practically yes, in that not all platforms will participate. But that answer is: We hope a high percentage earn Trusted status. It would be amazing to learn that most marketplaces and platforms are trusted by clients.
How can I use Trusted Platform Partner status in marketing?
In all of the ways credentials can be used and advertised. We expect the stamp of Trusted Platform Partner will be on the landing page of your website, will be mentioned in your marketing and sales collateral, and will be communicated to current clients and potential clients.
How do you establish trusted status?
Trusted status is based on the results of the brief “Trusted Platform Partner Program survey”. The online survey takes less than 10 minutes for a client to complete on their experience with and trust in a given marketplace that has invited their feedback. Those marketplaces and platforms that receive relatively high ratings on the survey items from sufficient numbers of clients earn “trusted” status.
How will this help me if we don’t “win” trusted status?
By participating in the Trusted Platform Partner Program survey process, your marketplace or platform will receive clear feedback that provides the information you need to achieve trusted status. By addressing the challenges that clients identify, you will inevitably win trusted status.
How will I be able to use this designation to help my business?
Large, global, platforms have the history and resources to establish a strong market identity. Younger, newer, smaller platforms need a way to differentiate their service. Earning a trusted platform partner designation will provide an important lift that can be added to your website, pointed to in client meetings. Moreover, the feedback from the survey enables your company to make the changes needed to continue to impress clients.
How much time will it require from my clients?
One survey per client annually. The survey can be completed in less than 10 minutes.
What can I do if I disagree with the result and believe my platform is more trusted by clients than the data indicate?
There is no appeal process per se because trusted status depends entirely on the assessments of clients that you have invited to participate. But, if you act on the issues identified by the survey as needing your attention from client’s perspective, you will improve your scores and reach trusted status.
What percentage of platforms will achieve trusted status?
We cannot know currently. We will learn quite a bit in the first year. We want trusted status to remain attainable but meaningful, so fewer platforms will obtain trusted status than seek it. But, we hope for a day when more and more platforms achieve trusted status
Will you protect the confidentiality of my client’s feedback?
Absolutely. We will not release individual platform data or client survey responses.
How will the Trusted Platform Partner Program be financially supported?
Individual marketplaces and platforms will pay a small fee for participating. During the beta phase, there is no cost to participating platforms.
What information will clients receive?
When a client completes a survey, they automatically receive a “receipt”, a list of their own responses. It is up to the platform or marketplace to provide any additional information to their clients. We recommend that platforms share the data and share their plans to address any areas of concern identified by client feedback.
How will it work?
The platform provides emails for the clients you’ve nominated to give feedback. The process is automatic from there:
- You identify a coordinator or project manager who is our contact
- Nominated respondents are automatically sent a survey form and explanatory email
- The survey is completed online and respondents receive a “receipt” containing their responses once they “send” the survey back
- We automatically prepare a summary report that is sent back to the marketplace or platform coordinator
- We offer a consultation if there are questions about the results, or to help you to prepare a response to participating clients
What client roles are appropriate?
Several possible respondents make sense. First and most likely, the client project manager. Alternates could
What is the cost of participating?
TBD
How broadly do you think this will operate?
This has to be global to be meaningful.
How will you support communication and marketing of the Trusted Platform Partner Program project?
In a variety of ways, CTW will congratulate marketplaces and platforms that achieve trusted status:
- Through social media as specific platforms or marketplaces achieve trusted status
- Through public acknowledgment and speaking opportunities at regular CTW events help through the year
- Through podcasts / webinars that bring together trusted platform leaders to share their story
- Through an annual global summit or regional celebratory summits inviting Trusted Platform Partner Program achievers to a two day conference including best practice speakers and events, and a small celebratory dinner
Will you offer non-English versions of the survey and international versions of the trust designation?
Eventually yes, but currently we are beginning with an English language version
To learn more about the the Trusted Platform Partner Program and partnership opportunities, contact us.