I became familiar with Elance.com in 2005 while researching different ways to find clients and contractors when I used to do sales and recruiting for a 3D animation studio (I didn’t design it). Ironically outsourcing became the slow kiss of death for that company in the end.
Here is how Elance describes itself:
“Elance is an online workplace where businesses find and hire people ‘on demand’ to get work done quickly and cost effectively.”
-Elance.com’s About Page
I describe Elance as:
“An easy and cost-effective platform where one can post short term projects in which skilled contractors and freelancers can bid on with many protective controls so you don’t get screwed. It’s like an Ebay for services that can all be done remotely.”
-Neil Lemons
Although there are many other uses for Elance such as business plans and law contracts, most are web-related – programming, application development, web content writing, and design. Here are 96 more uses for Elance.
I never actually ended up bidding on an animation project for that company because they didn’t understand the value of it nor did they accept the Flat World paradigm shift
I don’t use it for design or programming (neither does my company for any major projects). I only use Elance to supplement writing projects in order to have a multitude of articles and writing styles at my disposal in which I edit, critique, and repurpose.
As a professional Internet Marketer (SEO/SEM), I am always seeking ways to achieve two things for client sites, 1. Backlinks (sites linking back to the client’s site) 2. Fresh content (either on site or off site, both are which are to create backlinks as well).
Six Common Freelance Contractor Hiring Problems Elance Solves
1. Instant References Check
You can see the difference between those with a proven record of positive feedback given by clients and those who are new or have negative feedback. You can even read his/her actual comments and how much money the contractor has made. When hiring a contractor offline for a project he/she may list their references, but only a small percentage of service-seekers actually take the time to call. With Elance, you can easily reference this information.
2. Payment Protection
Most contractors on Elance require 50% up once he/she accepts a project. This isn’t that uncommon. What makes Elance different is you can “fund an Escrow account” through Elance in order to show the contractor your intentions and reliability without it permanently leaving your bank account until the work is done. This allows them to confidently get started without wondering if the check is floating in the US Post office or if they are going to get paid late. This also protects the buyer.
3. Power Position
By leaving the bids “unsealed” all freelancers can see what others are bidding on the project. Often this gets you higher quality workers and knowledge experts at a lower price. In the offline world, if you are seeking specific expertise you’ll often pay a premium if using someone specializes in one area (medical writing for example) because you are seeking him/her out. With this platform, the buyer simply chooses a budget range and the contractors choose their proposed rate (like The Price is Right) based on the project description.
4. Digital Paper Trail
Elance recommends all communication is done via a Private Message Board. This creates a digital paper trail so all is documented in case there is ever an instance of unfulfilled expectations on either side. Undocumented phone calls, face-to-face conversations, and assumptions can all play a part in contractor and freelancer employer disagreements in the offline world.
5. One off Projects are Fine
It’s understood that everything posted is project-based and once that project is over and the contractor is paid, there is nothing left to do. Most projects are short term, which is a plus for buyers not wanting to employ as a “temp to perm,” when they know there is not enough work or they feel dangling the carrot stick of a full time job is the only way to secure high talent. This also works well for the freelancer who enjoys the variety of work he/she receives.
6. An Expert for Every Subject
Contracting writers is amazing I am able to usually secure an expert for each subject instead of having general writers appealing in the offline world to take any work they can get their hands on.
Two examples – For some education articles I was able to contract a writer with two bachelors degrees and masters who had taught for eight years. Having expert credentials help add credibly to the author’s byline. For some comedic articles I found a improve comedian who tours and writes shows. Having either of these backgrounds were not a requirement, but these writers bid on these projects because they wanted to and felt like it fit.
Timothy Ferris reintroduced me to Elance.com. He uses it for Virtual Assistants.
I know I wrote this from a Buyer’s perspective, but Elance.com offers many benefits to contractors as well, which I may cover in a separate post. Whether you are a Marketer, Publisher, or Entrepreneur I suggest you give Elance a chance for your next writing or content producing project.