Anyone Uses Elance.com? Guru.com? Rentacoder.com?

[Alan Mater]

I have been on Elance.com for a while providing my services, haven't really had the time to find work, though, as I have been busy with other work. The fees can get expensive, as someone else mentioned.

The other sites that people suggested I'll have to look into, when I get the time . Thanks everyone for posting them here. They may be better for me.

I haven't used any of these sites to outsource work, so I can't provide an opinion for that.

Alan

[litekepr]

I have been on Elance.com for a while providing my services, haven't really had the time to find work, though, as I have been busy with other work. The fees can get expensive, as someone else mentioned.

The other sites that people suggested I'll have to look into, when I get the time . Thanks everyone for posting them here. They may be better for me.

I haven't used any of these sites to outsource work, so I can't provide an opinion for that.

Alan

One of the issues is that their revised fee schedule penalizes people who bid on a lot of projects. I don't need a lot of work to pay the bills, but Elance needs to work on the vast number of projects that are posted, but never happen. I've suggested that they offer some kind of instruction to people who post jobs. I've talked with more people on there that have no idea how to ask or answer questions and so they simply abandon the project. I don't know about others, but I put significant work into coming up with a realistic bid and its a shame to waste the time searching and bidding only to have many of the projects left open. Easily 80% of the jobs I placed bids on - appeared to never be completed. That's a BIG waste of time and effort.

Shri

[Sab3awy]

I haven’t kept a close eye on Elance, my impression has been that it was a basic job “bid” site for freelancer programmers. The site description summarizes their main focus as “outsourcing to freelance programmers, web and logo designers, copywriters, illustrators and consultants.” People with the jobs are the employers or “buyers” and the Web workers with the skills are the “providers” on Elance.

[Alan Mater]

One of the issues is that their revised fee schedule penalizes people who bid on a lot of projects. I don't need a lot of work to pay the bills, but Elance needs to work on the vast number of projects that are posted, but never happen. I've suggested that they offer some kind of instruction to people who post jobs. I've talked with more people on there that have no idea how to ask or answer questions and so they simply abandon the project. I don't know about others, but I put significant work into coming up with a realistic bid and its a shame to waste the time searching and bidding only to have many of the projects left open. Easily 80% of the jobs I placed bids on - appeared to never be completed. That's a BIG waste of time and effort.

Shri

Hi Shri,

I agree that it can become a waste of time, and it's a shame that so many projects go unfinished. I guess we'll just have to look for other avenues to find work, like some that were suggested.

Alan

[jvprosperity]

Can you explain that in more detail??? I may be misunderstanding - but what if they are working on something confidential for another client?? Or, did I completely miss the point

Shri

When I (Buyer A) give them (Provider) an assignment they receive it through the oDesk Team Software. The Provider accesses the assignment and begins work. When the Provider accesses the assignment the understanding is that they are now doing work for me so their work is tracked and submitted to me thru oDesk.

If they access another assignment from someone else (Buyer B) the software will stop billing me and stop taking screenshots for me and will begin to do so for Buyer B.

It's really neat and transparent. I know what I am getting billed for. If I see that they are not infact doing my work but for someone else I can dispute the hours worked (billed time) and oDesk does not pay the Provider until after the issue is mediated.

I hope that clarifies it better....

That does. So, do they do jobs billed by the hour or do they also do jobs for a per project cost??

Shri

Shri, they do both. Right now my projects are billed by the hour. If I wanted to do say a telemarketing cold-call campaign then I could post it as a "fixed-Price" job e.g. $200 for 200 phone calls.

[Carol Aston]

Here's a good site if you want to either outsource some of your work or if you are looking to earn some money as a freelancer:

GetAFreelancer

Take care,

Carol

[Alan Mater]

What are the fees associated with the other sites listed? Basically, I would be interested to know what fees are associated for providers or people looking to bid on work.

Thanks!

Alan

[Lucy Wu]

Thanks for bringing these sites to our attention!
I have never before heard of these sites, but I will surely check them out.

[litekepr]

What are the fees associated with the other sites listed? Basically, I would be interested to know what fees are associated for providers or people looking to bid on work.

Thanks!

Alan

Guru.com has (or they did last time I checked) a free program that let's you see limited projects. No membership, but they still take a percentage if you get the project. One of the most reasonable I joined was www.ifreelance.com and my profile page got consistent hits from in and outside the site.

Shri

[Alan Mater]

What are the fees associated with the other sites listed? Basically, I would be interested to know what fees are associated for providers or people looking to bid on work.

Thanks!

Alan

Guru.com has (or they did last time I checked) a free program that let's you see limited projects. No membership, but they still take a percentage if you get the project. One of the most reasonable I joined was http://www.ifreelance.com and my profile page got consistent hits from in and outside the site.

Shri

Hi Shri,

Thanks for the reply. I'll check out the site.

Alan

[er33]

May I recommend oDesk.com also. Just another option to compare. Let me know what you think and if you find it better than others.

http://www.odesk.com

Cheers!

Eric Rivas
oDesk

[JBunion]

oDesk.com is by far the best freelancing web site out there. Built in reputation systems, built in accountability functions, and real-time mediation/arbitration for bad projects. They are good tools to outsource work.