While this is a freelancing blog, this is also a business blog, and I want to make a statement here to people who are considering using Internet employment/professional connection sites like Elance to contract out some of their writing, editing, or coding business needs. From what I hear online, Elance is not the place to go to find contractors for website development, and especially the more complex types of coding. Several links to these stories, and the inexcusably poor customer service Elance offered them concerning large sums of money follow. I think the scariest part is when a gentleman had thousands in Elance Escrow, had a completely insecure product created for him, and had to call over a dozen times; pretty much just to get someone to answer the phone (which they usually don't).
- http://preview.tinyurl.com/3b9v39p - When outsourced coding looks good at first, then. . .
- http://preview.tinyurl.com/3uv9tun - Great insights on how the whole system works and advice on avoiding loopholes that allow contractors to rip you off. BE SPECIFIC!
- http://preview.tinyurl.com/3e9cmdz - An impartial review of 6 of the top outsourcing platforms online, and some solid advice on getting the right person for the job, and clearly identifying what that job is.
- http://preview.tinyurl.com/3pdvt9n - Discusses Elance, oDesk, and Guru, offering insights for both employers and freelancers.
For my freelancing readers out there, I give you the thumbs up to try it. I did not see much in the way of complaints from contractors (writers, editors, content developers, web designers, and coders) and there are reports than some contractors, whom are likely organized as a small business or group of individuals, are making millions per year on Elance.
The first advantage of Elance, and possibly the most important during a time when people are so strapped for cash, is that all employers must put the money for the project in an account with Elance to guarantee the funds actually exist. Elance Escrow requires the funds be placed in an Elance holding account until the project is completed, or a weekly timesheet is verified and the payment authorized (did I mention they pay weekly?).
I can't even count the number of horror stories I have heard from people: not only online freelancers but contractors, remodelers, and others, who finish the job, do it well, and get a sob story from the employer about how they can't pay for it right now. Even worse are the stories where the project is completed and the employer refuses to answer emails, phone calls, or make any communication whatsoever. As much as these slime bags deserve to be arrested for fraud, receiving payment for services rendered usually falls into the murky waters of civil law, and can take a long time and a lot of money for contractors to get what they deserve.
Elance has minimums for both hourly and flat rate jobs, so you won't end up working for three hours on an article that makes you absolutely nothing like many blogs and content mill sites (sites that post your articles, cover the material with ads, and share the ad revenue with the author).*
Elance only allows projects to be posted that pay hourly or a flat rate for a certain project; revenue sharing based on popularity, Adsense revenue sharing, and a ton of other shady trade-ins for your time are not allowed. This is a far cry from companies that take your article, cover it with ads, and give you a percentage of the money they make off the advertising, of which they generally keep 40% anyway.**
While I don't recommend Elance.com for Employers I still think it may be a legit way to get busy and make some fair money for freelancers, so if you need a new avenue to find long- and short-term gigs, give them a go.
Getting into the world of freelance writing, editing, and coding can be a very long and arduous process. It is filled with scams, job listings that are really a sales pitch for a pyramid schemes or 'business opportunity', employers who refuse to pay after the writing is done. The list of pitfalls for budding freelance writers, editors, and entrepreneurs is virtually endless. That is, in a nutshell, why this blogs exists. To make freelancing safer for new freelance writers or business owners, and sucessful veterans alike. I try to steer readers to legitimate services and warn them about unscrupulous ones.***
Sites like Elance and many others which will be discussed in greater detail in the future require aptitude tests, pages of personal information, phone verification. . . the list of time consuming tasks goes on and on. Do your research and read what people have to say about these companies before you blow hours creating a profile that does nothing for your career (or your wallet).
* Note On Reasons to Blog: If you are a blogger, Adsense is fine but always blog for personal reasons: to share your message, to teach, to get people thinking, whatever. Don't do it because you think it'll pay your mortage. Blogs like this one are best written to help others, or help yourself practice your craft and share your expertise. Anyone who tells you your blog is an Adsense cash cow and wants to sell you a book on how to start raking it in is a conman. There are a few exceptions to this rule: when blogging draws traffic to your personal website, when a blog helps sell a product (yours or even someone elses through affiliate marketing programs), when a blog helps promote some sort of goal you want others to participate in, invest in, or donate money to, or when a blog helps you co-promote other bloggers who cover similar topics as you.
** Note: My Weekly E-Rage Minute: Factoidz.com. . . you still owe me $1.03 for at least 6 or 7 hours worth of writing. I'm coming for it Factoidz. Soon, you freaking crooks. (While upsetting, these articles were written early in my career, and my SEO was probably not what it should be. You can see all these articles here: http://tinyurl.com/3w2jolm, http://tinyurl.com/3l5gutj, http://tinyurl.com/3wmtxne (The third link is a particularly good list of resources I found for all types of search optimization for any type of content, whether it be articles, Websites, and more. Definitely worth a look in my opinion).
READER FEEDBACK: Which freelancing services has been working for you? Are there job listing sites (i.e. freelancewritinggigs.com) you use to find niche openings on Elance, oDesk, ect. that help narrow the search for jobs? Do you have experience writing for a couple different sites?Share your experiences and answer the aching question: which one pays the best overall? Still have questions or additional info. we'd all benefit from? COMMENT, and get the conversation started.
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