Ask Is it against the rules to ask a repeat client to always hire you directly outside the bidding process?

[Brendan]

When you have worked with a client more than once, it is natural to want to skip the whole bidding process and just get hired directly. Most platforms actually allow this and even have features that let clients invite specific freelancers to a job without opening it to everyone. What is against the rules is asking the client to move the work completely off the platform so you can avoid fees. There is a big difference between direct invitations within the platform and trying to take the relationship somewhere the platform cannot see. Do you use direct invitations with your repeat clients, or do you still go through the normal process?