Impressed by Elance bids
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
October 12, 2011 3:56pm CST
I just posted a job at Elance for a substantive book edit (for my upcoming bestseller on the "nobody's ever heard of you" list) and I have to say... WOW.
I expected a bunch of awful, templated responses to the proposal. What I got instead (so far) are about a dozen funny, individual, very impressive bids.
It seems that people are finally waking up to the fact that a good bid is the best bet for getting the work! And not a single one of them forgot to include the "key word" that showed they'd read the job offer.
I don't know if any of you have used Elance for more than a couple of years (that's when I started, end of 2008) but the difference is astounding. I just wish I could post the responses here: they're all excellent examples of how to get work on the bidding sites!
3 people like this
5 responses
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Oct 11
Hi Spike. I'm also a member of elance. I've made a few proposals but only got one response. He said he wanted to see some samples of my work because I have no ranking in elance. I gave him links to my health articles since that is what he will want written. My location got his attention since his city and mine are very near each other. I hope to hear from him but if I don't I won't give up.
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
13 Oct 11
The first jobs are always stupidly tough to get. I have to admit that before posting mine I made a shortlist of half a dozen people I'd love to have do the work - the top two have already bid, though one can't do it in the price range. I'm being ethical, though, and considering everyone rather than assuming the shortlisted ones are the only possibles!!
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
13 Oct 11
Guess what?! I got a try out gig with this one I bid on! I had given him links to my health articles on AC and I got a try out with 2 articles! I'm really excited because this will be my first one for any jobs for a place like elance. The money is pretty good too. He said he will send me the details in a day or two. Yayyy!
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
13 Oct 11
Well done, PQ. It seems the work is there to be had, and not all writing jobs pay peanuts. I picked up a good gig last night as well - a local guide to Spain for the area I live in which is paying $30 for 1,000 words. It's not on eLance, but it's still a great feeling to get a 'real' writing gig.
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
13 Oct 11
Elance seems to be a higher quality site (of workers and jobs) than freelancer.com, but I've tried a couple of times and just can't get the hang of Elance. Well, if money gets tight again I'll have to give it another go--right now my full-time job and the clients I have from freelancer take up all my time.
Congrats on the great bids!
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
13 Oct 11
I've found the same thing, although it may just be personal experience. I think the fact that Elance is quite strict and expensive compared to the other 3 main bidding sites ensures higher quality. Then again, it also puts them in line for a lot of criticism!
@LouieWpHs04 (4555)
• United States
13 Oct 11
Sounds pretty exciting. I wonder if I can find a good web designer from the website. I have been looking for a good reliable one for years. Most are either really terrible, or want ridiculous amounts of money for work.. that is still kind of shotty.
Hmm! But yeah, congrats to you. Finding quality workers is apparently really challenging.
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
13 Oct 11
I know a couple who are good if you'd like their details. One did the illustrations for my first "proper" fiction ebook, the other has done leaflets and stuff. I don't know what your budget is, of course, but they might be worth a look.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
13 Oct 11
Hello, Spike. That sounds like a result, and also proves that it's not just the weirdos and no-hopers who join these sites - present company excepted of course! The problem is, not many people take internet writing seriously, and that includes the writers themselves, some of whom would sell their soul to get a writing gig.
Good internet writing is at least as valuable as print journalism, and the skills required are very different. I know you're asking for an edit rather than a copy writer, but you can see the point I'm making.
I earn a tidy amount each month from my writing. It's not enough to live on yet, but it's going that way, yet my husband still says 'How much longer are you going to spend playing on the computer?' Talking to other internet writers, that attitude is pretty commonplace.
I never 'play' these days - everything I do earns me something. Mind you, I picked up a $30 1,000 word gig last night, so perhaps he'll start to take my work more seriously now. He's already spent the money in his head, and I haven't even written the article yet!
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
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13 Oct 11
That's very true and I think the attitude goes for writing in general until you're published, recognised and world-famous! When I tell people I write, they always get the idea it's famous fiction novels or rubbish... ah, well!
Great news on the gig - hopefully that'll be the start of some great offers!!
