Comments on: Lessons from an Elance Pro Part II http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/ News, opinion, and fresh thinking for web developers and designers. The official podcast of sitepoint.com. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:43:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: JACK http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-190166 JACK Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:30:25 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-190166 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. 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.

]]> By: Kim Scott http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-60267 Kim Scott Tue, 26 Sep 2006 04:49:47 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-60267 Elance and RentACoder are nice but I don't like chasing freelancers that barely speak my language. I use <a href="http://www.softwareprojects.com/projects" rel="nofollow">SoftwareProjects</a> Elance and RentACoder are nice but I don’t like chasing freelancers that barely speak my language.

I use SoftwareProjects

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12691 Anonymous Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:39:07 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12691 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. 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.

]]> By: VodkaFish http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12018 VodkaFish Thu, 15 Dec 2005 20:38:04 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12018 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. 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.

]]> By: marcel http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12010 marcel Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:03:18 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12010 there is also rentacoder.com there is also rentacoder.com

]]> By: marcel http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12009 marcel Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:01:17 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-12009 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. 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.

]]> By: friendsterindia http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11975 friendsterindia Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:40:52 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11975 any other online marketplaces to pick up projects ...?? any other online marketplaces to pick up projects …??

]]> By: friendsterindia http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11973 friendsterindia Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:39:19 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11973 how can we make elance to spend more money on advertisements currently there are few buyers and low value projects how can we make elance to spend more money on advertisements currently there are few buyers and low value projects

]]> By: friendsterindia http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11972 friendsterindia Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:39:01 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11972 <blockquote>how can we make elance to spend more money on advertisements. currently there are few buyers and low value projects</blockquote>

how can we make elance to spend more money on advertisements. currently there are few buyers and low value projects

]]> By: mjc http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11876 mjc Wed, 14 Dec 2005 03:05:58 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2005/12/13/lessons-from-an-elance-pro-part-ii/#comment-11876 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. 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.

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