Oh thanks, that's a nice question.
If you ever had any experience with support ticket systems, that would make things even more clearer.
So in support system, whenever you have a problem, you submit a ticket (explaining your problem), which is forwarded according to it's category, which you have chosen (will it be IT support, Plumbing or whatever),
this ticket is automatically forwarded to corresponding person in corresponding field (plumber gets the ones with plumbing category), and then interaction begins, until issue is resolved and ticket is closed.
That's actually the base and basic functionality on EQUI.
Let's do a simple case study and compare how things are and how things can be (This is general, countries differ, situations differ)
Let's assume the person is a good photographer, willing to work and expand. What are his options to get more customers?
1. He makes a facebook page with some portfolio, also does other social networks
2. He makes profiles on several major photography oriented portals
3. He posts some free ad on local platforms
4. Word of mouth, real world scenarios and so on
We're talking about a simple person, a really good photographer, uses smartphone.
Social networks without boost are a no go and there are no guarantees whatsoever. But still you pay money, it may do some feedback, it may not. As soon as you stop boosting, feedback will go down. And he's doing this post not for likes, he's looking for a job.
That's it, without budget for your own marketing, you're not actually going anywhere. I'll keep reminding you that we're talking about super simple person with great skills. Marketing is not his job, he doesnt even want to get familiar with it, though everyone will say that he has to, because there is no other way.
So here is what EQUI does in that case. We say that he doesn't have to go through all that marketing and PR stuff and pay anything at all.
What he does, is that he just subscribes to let's say category called "Photography" in his home country. He mentions both, the category and location. That's it, there's nothing else to be done.
At the same time, people who need a photographer would just create a "TICKET" (like in ticket systems, you create a ticket when you need something), they would put some text in the ticket like "I have a wedding in couple months, am looking for a great photographer", mentions category (photography let's say as the person is looking for a photographer) and location (home country, where the service is needed).
So what we have here is that both sides did a super simple procedure. and our photographer guy instantly gets notification, that there is a new ticket in his category that needs to be served, and he goes to that ticket, leaves comments and has direct communication with his customer. There may be 10 other photographers subscribed in the same location for the same category, and they all will communicate with the customer in the same space. Customer will be able to choose whom he wants to follow, photographers will read each other's comments and will much better realize what is happening on their market in their field. They will have to win the customer in the most fair way possible. It's like they are all in the same room and they are all offering and the customer can decide. There's much more than that what a small ticket like that can initiate. This ticket is a free market analysis for all of them, they will see who is offering what and so on and so on, just free your imagination on any field you will see what it can do.
Ok let's leave that , you're not looking for a photographer, but you can just submit a ticket in photography category in your location and just ask for advice, like "which camera is best for 500$ for a newbie?", well i believe lots of photographers subscribed to that category will give you a feedback, they will work to build their communities. It's all about interaction.
Now I think I explained the difference between us and projects you asked us to compare, and if there are any other questions, im never lazy to give as much info as i can!
Thank you for a really constructive question anyway!
