Big Elance Myths Debunked

I've been surfing the net and am blown away by the large amount of misinformation floating around about Elance. Most of the stuff has been posted by providers frustrated in their attempts to find work, and that's a shame because misinformation helps no one and does all freelancers harm.

If you're thinking about Elance and you've come across some of this stuff, then I'm glad you found your way here.

It's time to clear up those big Elance Myths. And not just because I'm an Elance Ambassador. First and foremost, I'm a provider just like you, and have used many freelance sites to get gigs. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of the freelance world, and can tell you without a doubt that Elance is by far the best place to land freelance gigs.

Myth no. 1 - You have to wade through tons of crap jobs to find good ones.

Wrong. Elance takes great steps to make sure that the quality of jobs is high. That's not to say that every job is amazing. That would be asking for the impossible. But the ratio of good to not-so-good jobs on Elance is comparable to any classified section of any paper, and much better than other online freelance sites. Elance removes jobs that don't meet their terms of service, and allows providers to file complaints about shady job postings.
And to the people spreading this myth, I say - I'm sorry that your job hunting experience was so terrible. Please contact me, and maybe I can help you find better hunting strategies.

Myth no. 2 - Most jobs never get awarded
Wrong. I have no idea what the percentages are, but from an experienced provider perspective, this is dead wrong. Sure there are some that go unawarded, like every other job place on the planet, and I remember being frustrated as a new provider seeing these, but once I learned to pick only the best jobs to focus on, the number of jobs I saw go unawarded dropped to maybe one in twenty.
Elance helps providers steer clear of low awarding buyers by identifying them in the job search listings, and a little time and experience will find you bidding on jobs most likely to award.
And to the people spreading this myth - Stick with this blog or contact me. I can help you learn to target the jobs that get awarded.

Myth no. 3 - Elance is a clearinghouse for cheap labor. A provider can't make decent money.
Wrong. If you have the skills and the experience to back you up, you will make decent money. If you're new to Elance, and therefore have no feedback, you may have to cut your rates on the first few projects just until you get a few solid feedbacks. Once you do, buyers will not only trust you, they will seek you out. And, as I said, if your skills and experience match your rates, you will make what you ask for.
I've known providers with hourly rates of 70 to 100 dollars, and they're working regularly. They're damn good, and they have earned their rates.
If you're expecting to make that kind of money and you're not landing contracts, why not take a look at these highly paid providers and compare your skills and experience to theirs. Either yours don't yet measure up, or you need to revamp your profile and bidding skills. I can help you with that.

Myth no. 4 - Elance doesn't listen to the providers needs and concerns.
Wrong. Every upgrade and every change is specifically made to make freelancing a better experience. They offer Elance University for new providers, they offer Escrow projects that make sure you get paid for completed work, and a whole range of other stuff. This was all brought in because of needs expressed by providers just like you. And I know they've got some great new stuff on the horizon. This myth is just plain false.
When I see all this misinformation out there, it makes my blood boil. I hope I've cleared up some of the myths, and I'm always open to answering questions and concerns.
Yes, I'm an Elance cheerleader, but I've played for a lot of freelancing teams in my time, and I only cheer for the best.

image by Monica's Dad