This is a follow up to the Elance Pro blog a few entries ago.
I have a second project, similar to the one that the Elance Pro just did for me. He once again impresses me with his ability to close business. Here is how it worked:
1. I sent him specifications for the project.
2. This morning when I hit the computer, he instant messaged me immediately to thank me for the specs.
3. He asked me my budget for the project. I told him that it should be less than the site he just did for me. He agreed and suggested a ballpark. I agreed to that. He asked if I could start today; I told him early next week.
4. Now it gets interesting. He asked me if he wanted me to have him post the project for him. I said sure.
5. So he posted the project on my behalf and awarded it to himself!
This action not only “closed the deal” for him, but did two other things:
1. He saves 4.75% on elance fees by doing this on a repeat project.
2. He is able to automatically invoice me for half the project fees right away.
So with a brief IM conversation, this developer managed to close a second project. I love that kind of speed and efficiency!
I know some people here like it – but I hate “instant IMs”, and they seem very common from people working overseas. The moment I log on I get bombarded with them. I don’t mind IMs, but I don’t prefer to conduct a lot of business over them. I’ve met few who do, but Sitepoint seems to be an exception to that (observed) rule.
December 13th, 2005 at 3:39 pm
Vodka,
You’re of course totally entitle to your preferences but for myself I wish more people would get into conducting business with IM. It’s much more responsive than email, easier to control, and easier to keep records on.
Perhaps you just haven’t found the right platform? I like Yahoo messenger but there are others that work in different ways that suit many other folk’s needs.
Best regards
December 13th, 2005 at 5:39 pm
Once again – I bet someone in the U.S. could have done it just as cheap and just as well.
December 13th, 2005 at 5:43 pm
Once again—I bet someone in the U.S. could have done it just as cheap and just as well
So? Why bother going with someone else you haven’t worked with, to get the same price and quality?
December 13th, 2005 at 5:59 pm
You will soon see it.
December 13th, 2005 at 6:49 pm
I think it will be best to leave the “India vs. USA/UK” discussion in the previous blog, or somewhere else. Let’s not draw attention away from the topic of this entry.
December 13th, 2005 at 8:50 pm
pdxi, agreed.
The lesson here is how to get repeat business from a customer who has already bought from you. The location of either business is immaterial. I’ve heard horror stories about offshored projects and I’ve worked with very good Indian developers. In this case the developer is doing a good technical job but quite clearly an excellent marketing job which is why Andrew is using him as an example.
Elance is a place where it’s hard to compete on anything except price. You’re better off marketing yourself on quality in your local niche. Read Michael Porter, on second thoughts, don’t ;) Summary:-
You can only compete based on one of three criteria being either Best, Cheapest or one of the previous two in a niche.
Looking seriously at most of us we:
a) Don’t have the resources to be best in the world.
b) can’t compete with an offshore outfit on price.
Which leaves us with niche marketing which I’m sure Andrew’s recommended in the past. So everyone, identify your niche & be best in that niche.
December 13th, 2005 at 11:05 pm
December 15th, 2005 at 9:39 am
how can we make elance to spend more money on advertisements currently there are few buyers and low value projects
December 15th, 2005 at 9:39 am
any other online marketplaces to pick up projects …??
December 15th, 2005 at 9:40 am
I would not mind buying services from the US or India or UK. But so often I see freelancers or sellers saying “We only accept PayPal”.
In India they accept Paypal, Wire and a myriad of other payment options. I know online businesses that make $120,000 / year and only accept PayPal.
That’s not Ecommerce. The rest of the World exists you know…
For those who don’t know, PayPal does not do business with a lot of countries.
Just a 0.02 cent sidenote.
December 15th, 2005 at 2:01 pm
there is also rentacoder.com
December 15th, 2005 at 2:03 pm
davestarr,
IM means responding at someone else’s pace or sitting and waiting for them to respond at yours. I find it great for quickie things, sending out reference links, etc., but not conducting business. I’d rather email someone and not have to worry about focusing on the IM, or I’d rather just pick up a phone (or IM chat, Skype, whatever).
I use Trillian myself, love the thing, always have windows open – but I like to keep most of my business over email or on the phone for time purposes. Time is my greatest expense and if you’ve ever had to clarify things with a slow IM conversation, it just seems too costly.
December 15th, 2005 at 4:38 pm
Concerning Elance anyone choosing to join this service should watch their billing like a hawk. They make countless mistakes in overbilling, which they will fix but its happened to me more than once where I was double billed with Elance service fee which is 8.75. Also all the times I’ve called their 800 number I’ve never reach a live person. Their answering machine message just becomes redundant. Although someone eventually calls you back.
January 13th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Elance and RentACoder are nice but I don’t like chasing freelancers that barely speak my language.
I use SoftwareProjects
September 26th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Elance and its team is good for nothing…Elance have some fake buyers. The commission and fees is also very high. They are high-tech robbers which can use your credit card to refund for the buyers.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:30 am