First Elance Job...

[ChuckTesta]

So I just awarded my first Elance job to an individual. Has anyone here used Elance?

 

I've awarded a job in the amount of $2k. I've stated before that i like to do things myself so i may learn different things. But this alone has really stretched myself thin. My time is somewhat valuable to me and i figured having a professional help out in areas i'm not too familiar with was a good idea.

 

 

Thoughts?

[Nathan]

Yes, I have used it a lot, on both ends as the client or the contractor. Great results mostly.

[Godric]

Elance, Odesk and Freelancer are the best for these outsorcing jobs. I use Freelancer and the results are good. But the first 2 are excellent.

[Nathan]

I tried oDesk, seems pretty clunky and far behind Elance.

[Godric]

I tried oDesk, seems pretty clunky and far behind Elance.

 

Actually I like Odesk a bit better. Thier application gives us a really good detail on the work going on with screenshots and clicks and lots of other metrics. I havent ordered anything yet, but plannning to do so in the future.

[Gidget]

I have never had any success with eLance or oDesk. Usually it seems as though people who bid ridculously low are the ones who get the jobs. It's really just not fair. However, I have had some success with Freelancer, and another website called Scriptlance. Both of those are great freelancing websites as well.

[SpikeTheLobster]

Way too much experience on Elance and oDesk (on both sides of the hiring process) and a bit on Freelancer and vWorker (rentacoder, as was), too.

 

THE most important thing you're gonna need to do is set milestones with pay and VERY clear deliverables, especially at the start. With a project of $2k, you cannot afford to let things slip or to let the worker screw you at any point in the process. And do NOT give feedback before the final milestone is done - you may feel pressured to do so, but don't. That's just asking for trouble.

 

You're going to have to manage the person you hired, too. And I mean MANAGE. Not just poke your head in, ask for something and leave. You're going to have to be very clear, very present and very strict (though not necessarily unfriendly) to make sure you get what you expect, when you expect it.

 

As an aside, I've found Elance the best for top-end writers/editors, oDesk the best for cheap labour, Freelancer a hive of scum and villainy (excuse the quote) and vWorker the best for techies. But that's just my personal experience.

 

If you have specific questions about the Elance process or any tips or whatever, feel free to ask, Chuck.

[bryce12]

I have good experience with elance, odesk and rentacoder. Spike has shared some great tips on how to get the best from the person who is doing your work. It pays to be vigilant and assertive otherwise your project could suffer resulting in time and cost overruns.

[Zacko]

So I just awarded my first Elance job to an individual. Has anyone here used Elance?

 

I've awarded a job in the amount of $2k. I've stated before that i like to do things myself so i may learn different things. But this alone has really stretched myself thin. My time is somewhat valuable to me and i figured having a professional help out in areas i'm not too familiar with was a good idea.

 

 

Thoughts?

 

Wait, do you mean you're paying out $2,000.00 through elance? Or is "$2k" a form of elance currency?

[Nathan]

Yes it's $2,000 = 2k

[SpikeTheLobster]

Wait, do you mean you're paying out $2,000.00 through elance? Or is "$2k" a form of elance currency?

 

Not as much as you'd think, though I can understand your surprise. In the last six months I've spent about the same, on three separate jobs. It's surprising how few people realise that some VERY large, high-paying projects are available on the bidding sites - probably because they only ever hear people whining about the 50c-per-article content spewing rubbish!

[legalize]

I've used Elance for a few jobs, mostly good results. You just need to be careful with who you award the jobs to.

[BlackHatClass]

I've used Odesk before as a contractor, and freankly, it's like "OK". Sometimes, only, you can find decent workers on Odesk.

 

Haven't really tried Elance.

[SpikeTheLobster]

I've used Odesk before as a contractor, and freankly, it's like "OK". Sometimes, only, you can find decent workers on Odesk. Haven't really tried Elance.

 

Nail. Head.

 

That's definitely true for ALL the bidding sites, which is why I always tell people that they need to put the effort in when hiring. Too many people believe the stupid marketing hype and trust that the bidding sites will automatically provide amazing contractors at low prices: they don't. They provide ACCESS to them. You have to do the finding and hiring yourself.

 

If you're aware that the quality of people you get depends on your hiring practices, you'll always get good people. If you just pick the cheapest and hope, you'll get crap. Same as with any business, really.

[CityGirlLuv]

I've used Elance. I was invited to a lot of jobs but they were pretty low-balling when it came to the wages. I use oDesk the most with success. I'm a very picky person in general so the work I do must match the pay amount. If I feel like I'm "slaving for wages", I immediately look for something else. Be careful, because even when awarded a job, some of the clients will still try to low ball you in making you do more work then you intended.

[SwitchCase]

I use Odesk and I just registered in Elance a few days ago. There are really lots of low ballers in Odesk. Gotta explore Elance.

[Victor Leigh]

Way too much experience on Elance and oDesk (on both sides of the hiring process) and a bit on Freelancer and vWorker (rentacoder, as was), too.

 

THE most important thing you're gonna need to do is set milestones with pay and VERY clear deliverables, especially at the start. With a project of $2k, you cannot afford to let things slip or to let the worker screw you at any point in the process. And do NOT give feedback before the final milestone is done - you may feel pressured to do so, but don't. That's just asking for trouble.

 

You're going to have to manage the person you hired, too. And I mean MANAGE. Not just poke your head in, ask for something and leave. You're going to have to be very clear, very present and very strict (though not necessarily unfriendly) to make sure you get what you expect, when you expect it.

 

As an aside, I've found Elance the best for top-end writers/editors, oDesk the best for cheap labour, Freelancer a hive of scum and villainy (excuse the quote) and vWorker the best for techies. But that's just my personal experience.

 

If you have specific questions about the Elance process or any tips or whatever, feel free to ask, Chuck.

 

Can you please elaborate on that part about Elance being the best for top-end writers? It has a very intriguing ring to it. Kind of like the sound of the cash register going at a fast clip. Specifically I would like to know how Elance separates the grain from the chaff, so to say.

[Nathan]

I use Odesk and I just registered in Elance a few days ago. There are really lots of low ballers in Odesk. Gotta explore Elance.

Heh I had the same experience. I joined eDesk as well and everyone on there was doing stuff for almost nothing. I'm not sure how it was even worth their time. But on Elance you actually can have a shot and make some cash. Elance overall has a much better interface as well IMO.

[S.O. Price]

I've been looking around odesk.com and freelance.com. I'm glad I've read everyone's comments here. It sounds like I need not bother completing my profile on freelancer.com; I don't want to be considered scummy! I know my niece found a temp job on Odesk for 9.50 per hour which sounds much, much better than most of the wages that I've seen on the site. The low wages are really quite appalling. That is why I've stayed away from these sites for this long. I will take another look at elance.com and I also will look at vworker.com and tryscriptlance.com.

 

At the end of the day, with the economy so dismal I think anyone out of work needs to start their own business rather than futilely trying to find someone that will hire them. And I have a feeling it's going to get worse in the next few years before it gets better. Our country is in debt overload and inflation is taking its toll. ;(

[themdno]

I use elance all the time, but not as a buyer. I use it as a worker, mostly doing voice over stuff, and some php programming. I think it's a great site, it was second only to vworker, which is no more.

 

I get 90% of my income from working on these freelance sites, and I would definitely recommend elance.

Edited January 15, 2013 by themdno