Bidding on Elance: When in Doubt, Ask!

One big question that keeps coming up is how to bid on jobs with very little in the way of job description.

You see them all the time. You know, the ones like:

Need five articles on the life cycle of lice.

That's it. Nothing more. But inevitably, they attract bids.

Normally I say, "Don't waste your time." But sometimes that's hard. The allure is too great.

Perhaps you did your doctoral thesis on the life cycle of lice, or maybe your kids have brought lice into your house twenty times now and all your knowledge was learned with blood, sweat, tears and lots of cleaning supplies. You could do this contract in your sleep while juggling steak knives.

So do the current bidders have information that you don't? It's possible. They could have asked a pre-bid question and have a better idea of the scope of the project. But more likely, they are the wild bidders who bid on anything and everything in hopes of winning something.

I say, don't worry about either type. Concentrate on you.

Don't be afraid to ask the buyer for the answers you need in order to put together a winning proposal. If it takes five or six back and fourths with the buyer, all the better. You'll be in a better position to craft a proposal that gives them exactly what they want, you'll have already established a working relationship with the buyer before the contract is awarded, and you'll come across as very interested, knowledgeable and professional. That may just be enough to rocket you to the top of the list of choices.

But what is it exactly that you need to know in order to bid intelligently?

In the case of the above example, you would need to know the length of the articles, the target market (parents of school aged children versus the scientific community), the intended use (marketing articles to sell a new lice treatment - SEO articles to drive traffic to a site - informational articles to educate - humor articles, etc.), but these need-to-know nuggets translate to most types of projects.

If the job description doesn't spell out specifically what you are required to produce, ask. It's much better to ask than to write 500 words on lice only to find out that they expected 5000. And that's not the worst-case scenario. Imagine writing 5000 words only to find out that they expected 50 thousand.

Save yourself the potential negative feedback, remember as always that time is money, and when in doubt - ask.

image by Marco Bellucci

All Freelancers Welcome

Yes, I'm a writer. And yes, this blog happens to be biased in favor of freelance writers. But that doesn't mean other freelancers can't get anything out of a visit. Freelancers of all shapes and sizes are welcome. Pull up a chair and warm yourself by my virtual fire, and I'll put on a pot of virtual coffee.

Hey, we're all freelancers, or on the path to becoming freelancers, so who cares if my tools are commas and a thesaurus, while yours is techno-babble I have no hope of ever understanding, or a foreign language I have even less hope of ever understanding. We all face the same challenges, go through the same bidding processes, and have the same goals in mind - to carve out one heck of a good freelance career. We're not so very different after all.

We can learn much from one another. And hey, we might actually team up on a project or two.

Most of what I write for the benefit of my fellow writers, applies just as well to every other freelance specialty. In fact, taking some tips on crafting great Elance proposals and profiles from a writing blog, may give freelancers with other areas of expertise a leg up on their competition. Writers are online image specialists, and what field can't use a great image?!

So stay a while and have a good look around. You'll find that most of my posts have something for you too. And I might just have the occasional gem outside of the writing arena to pass on. Like, for example, I hear through the Elance grapevine that there's a rapidly growing demand for SAP specialists. If that's your thing, run - don't walk - to Elance and make your mark now.

But before you go, let me wrap up this piece of virtual pie for you to snack on later.



image by bitzcelt

Quick Update

Exciting news! That amazing writer I wrote about Tuesday - the one I did a bidding walk-through with in order to get her over her mental hump...

She landed her first Elance contract today!

It took her all of 72 hours once she started bidding, and now there will be no stopping her!

I won't out her here without her permission, but I'm sending a hearty congrats her way!





image by photobunny

Just a Small Town Girl in a Big Online World

I just got back from spending the bulk of the afternoon with an amazing writer. She registered with Elance a few months ago, but until today she had done little with her account other than browse. So today, plied with coffee, I walked her through the Elance bidding process.

Very quickly, it became painfully clear that her reluctance had nothing to do with her skill level, and everything to do with not knowing the 'rules' in the strange new world of online freelancing.

When you've built a reputation doing business locally where face to face is the norm, the jump to doing business in a global online community can be quite unnerving. No longer do you worry about what shoes to wear. First impressions are now made and broken on a single word choice. A good smile and a winning personality no longer cut it. Your work really has to be good enough to sell itself.

That's a lot of pressure.

In the case of today's writer, I've seen her work. She has the chops to compete. She has a track record of experience to back her, and knows her writing is solid. All she had to do was make the mental switch to a new way of selling herself without the face to face.

What advice did I give her? Samples! Give the buyer kick-ass samples! Make sure your proposal meets the buyer's needs, and let your personality shine through in your writing. Take skill tests and list additional skills relevant to the types of writing jobs you plan to target, and by all means, list relevant past experience in your profile. Bid on smaller projects to build a reputation on the site, and encourage communication.

We spent some time crafting a proposal for one particular sweet job she had her eye on, and you know what? Her winning personality was there on the page. The same rules that apply in face to face transfer to the online job arena. They are all there, and they all matter just as much. They just don't wear pretty shoes.

And once her first proposal was in the bag, she was liberated. The rules are pretty much the same - the just need correct spelling and grammar. Now she's trading in her black leather pumps for bunny slippers and putting her first impression out there on the page.

And I give it a week tops, before she lands her first contract.



image bykharied

Don't Get Stuck in the Comfort Zone

One of the great things about freelance writing is that projects come in all shapes and sizes. The diversity means that boredom, frustration, and lack of enthusiasm are things other people have to worry about, not you. This very thing is what draws many people to the freelance life in the first place.

But when it comes to stepping outside of their area of expertise, many freelancers balk. Suddenly ten years of say, legal writing experience, seems worthless when attempting to snag that cool children's writing gig. Writers are very quick to negate solid experience if a project falls outside of their comfort zone, and are very harsh when judging their own skills.

This is a key stumbling block to true freelancing success. Don't be your own worst enemy.

I know you've done it. Surfed through the Elance job listings, immediately dismissing jobs outside of your comfort zone and targeting in on only those you're uber-qualified for. I also know that every once in a while, a job way outside your normal playing field calls out to you, and you can't help but take a closer look... and it sounds so amazingly wonderful! You'd love to do it, you know you'd be great, but...

No buts!!

Who cares if it doesn't meet your skill set! If it's something that calls out to you, give it a shot. Create a killer proposal, attach a decent sample, and go for it! What do you have to lose?

Think of the passion you'll bring to it. Think of the thrill and excitement of forging new territory. You'll do a kick-ass job, not only because you're professional, but also because it's important to you. And guess what? Now that you've stepped outside of your comfort zone, you've added a whole new area of jobs to target, and expanded your potential client base. You're on your way to becoming an expert in a whole new field.

That is how freelancing careers are made.

So next time you find yourself itching to bid on that branding job, forget that you specialize in academic writing, or dating articles, or technical manuals, and go for it!

Step outside of your comfort zone and you'll find a whole new freelancing world of possibilities.



image by finsmal...Phfffft. ..

Just Say No!

Juggling too many projects and having to turn work away is so far off the radar of any new freelance writer that they never give it a second thought.

But sooner than you think, you'll be faced with having to say no. But like a girl with loose morals, saying no is not something most of us are good at. Well it's time you get good, and quick!

I hear you laughing, "Me turn down work?! Never!"

But soon enough you'll land a couple of sweet writing assignments at the same time and be up to your eyeballs in work. And that's when Murphy's Law always rears its ugly head. That is when that third big, amazing project you've been eyeing for weeks will be awarded to you. That is when you'll be faced with having to say no.

You're not a superhero. You can't bend time and space to take on another project. Don't do it!

But you won't listen to my warning. Like every writer before you, you'll take it on and get it done and nearly kill yourself in the process. Your kids may not get fed or bathed, your spouse may start talking about divorce, but you won't notice. You'll be too busy.

And when it's done, you'll swear that you'll never do that to yourself again (and please tell me so I can say, "I told you so!").

So after you've recovered from all that work, here's how to handle it the next time.

Stick with the one's you've already committed to doing. Dropping projects because something better or more interesting comes along is just not cool (and it's a fast way to get some negative feedback and a bad reputation.)

Learn to say no, and turn down projects in a firm but professional manner. And here's the thing - unlike the real world where no means no, in the freelance world, it doesn't have to. Buyers chose you for a reason. They want to work with you. So telling them that you're booked solid for the next two weeks and can't possibly devote any time to their project will very likely result in the buyer agreeing to put off the start date until you're ready to go. If their project is time sensitive, it may not happen, but more often than not, it will.

Whatever you do, don't put yourself through the ringer again. It's hard not to, especially when you know that freelance writing seems to work in a feast or famine type of cycle, but juggling too many projects results in lower quality work on all of them. And this is good for nobody.

Don't overextend yourself, be realistic about the workload you can carry, and communicate with the buyer. This will pay off in the long run. You'll have a solid reputation, and make more money.
But whatever you do, don't let the fear of overextending hold you back from bidding on projects you want! It's better to have too much work and have to learn to say no, than to sit around waiting for that one job you want to maybe come your way.

Bidding on Elance writing projects is like dating. Go for the best, but don't get too serious and tied down to one until they commit. Always keep your options open.

image by BlueCinderella

Proposals that Win You Writing Jobs

You've done your research. You've vetted the job listings. What remains are those few sweet jobs you want to win.

It's time.

You have 2000 characters to blow the buyers socks off and land the job, so use every keystroke wisely. Your proposal needs to stand out and scream, "HIRE ME!"

Here's how:

Tell the buyer who you are and why YOU are the best candidate for the contract. Briefly provide your relevant background and leave all unnecessary information out of your proposal. If you're going for a legal writing position, the buyer really doesn't need to hear that you won first place in your town bake-off, but if you're trying to bag a recipe-writing gig, it's good detail to mention.

Next, using clear, concise language, tell the buyer exactly how YOU are going to meet his needs as laid out in the job description, including time frames and payment terms.

Provide outstanding samples of relevant work so they see and experience the high level of quality they can expect.

And finally, close with something that encourages communication and demonstrates that working with you will be a pleasure.

That's it.

I know, easier said than done. It's hard to craft a stellar proposal, and it takes a while to find your own style, but don't worry. I forgot to mention the secret ingredient --

You.

As a unique, talented individual, you bring something to the project that no one else can bring. Everything you are. Let your voice shine through in your proposals; let your writing skills blow them away. You're not just selling your writing skills, you're selling YOU.

Not quite sure you can do all that? Then take a look at the open bid projects. There aren't many, but if you look hard enough, you can find a few. See how other providers craft their bids and see which ones stand out, and which ones fail miserably. Use the good ones as a guide and the bad ones as a handbook of what not to do. I'll try to rustle up a few to post in the near future as examples.

And contrary to what you might think, if you have very little experience, there is no harm in telling the buyer that you are new to freelancing. If your rates reflect that, and your samples are strong, it may even give you the advantage.

Take your time, nail all of these points, and you will have a job-winning proposal.

It's time to bid.


image by ZachAncell

The Great Elance Job Hunt

So this morning, coffee in hand, I’m scanning the new job listings, as is my typical morning routine, and I realize that there are currently over 800 writing jobs listed on Elance. This isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it dawns on me how intimidating this might be for a new freelancer.

How the heck do you figure out what to bid on with so many listed jobs?

I was going to write about crafting job winning proposals today, but my half-caffeinated morning epiphany made me realize that I was putting the cart before the horse. Before you can even begin to bid, you need a system to figure out exactly what to bid on.

I’m sure there isn’t one system that will work for everyone, and you’ll develop your own style over time, but until then, I’m offering up my system as a place to start.

I developed this system over time with a good deal of trial and error, with one main objective – money. I don’t mean making money. I mean not losing it. You see, as a freelancer, you have to value your time. And the time you spend on the job hunt is time not making money. So anything that streamlines the hunt means more time to work on actual paid assignments, and consequently more money in your pockets.

So in keeping with this goal, I’ve developed the following job hunt system:

Scan the New Listings

Do this very quickly. Don’t go into the job descriptions, just take a quick peak at the details. If it seems even remotely interesting, put it on your watch list. If you do this daily, this should only take a few minutes.

Delete the Duds

When you’re done your scan, quickly go through the possibilities now in your watch list and delete any obvious duds. Jobs with unrealistic budgets (ie: I want 500 articles and my budget is only fifty dollars), jobs that clearly don’t match your skills, or jobs that just give you a bad feeling for no apparent reason. (In this business, you really need to rely on those gut feelings, but that’s a whole different blog post…)

Put Out Some Feelers

With your possible job list now much smaller, it’s time to look at each of them more closely. If a buyer has a low award rate, they have never posted a job before, or their job description is vague, post a simple question about the job on the public message board, then forget about it. If they respond, it is worth pursuing, but if they don’t, you haven’t wasted valuable time crafting a solid bid proposal or pre-bid question. And if they do respond, chances are much higher that the job will be awarded.

All of the above, if done daily, should take less than thirty minutes once you get into your groove. Spend the remainder of the hour concentrating on the very small number of jobs that still remain on your list – those with reputable buyers and clear job descriptions. Those are the ones you bid on.

If you’re spending anything more than an hour a day job-hunting, you’re wasting precious and valuable time.

There is no guarantee that every job on your shortlist will be awarded, but the chances are much higher; meaning your investment of valuable time, energy, and resources won't be wasted chasing dead ends.

There is also no guarantee that every job you eliminate will be a dud. Many will actually get awarded. But personally, I'd rather spend my caffeine-fueled energy on paid work rather than trying to psychically deduce a buyer's intentions.

Anyone have any more good tips for picking jobs to bid on?



image by MayaEvening

Getting Started Part Two: Wild Bid Variations on Elance Explained

You've done your research. You're itching to toss your hat into the ring on a few sweet jobs, but...

The system still doesn't quite make sense.

When you're just starting out, it's hard to determine what bid amount to submit on a project when some jobs get awarded for peanuts while others seem to have a high rate of pay. What makes it even more confusing is watching one particular job you KNOW you're made for, and seeing that it gets bids that range from fifty dollars to three thousand.

How is a talented freelancer new to the Elance arena supposed to make any sense out of this?!

First, lets look at how two very similar jobs can be awarded for very different amounts. Lets say both jobs ask for five articles of the same length and one is awarded for fifty dollars while the other goes for five hundred. The explanation boils down to the buyer's needs and expectations.

Buyer one may be looking for quick filler pieces where quality isn't important while buyer two wants well researched, well written material. Or buyer one may want well written material but has no idea how much time and skill are required to produce a high level of content. In this case, buyer one will be disappointed in the results he gets.

Both styles (churning out article after article at breakneck speed, or spending serious time and energy on just one article) are valid choices. Figure out which one you're suited for and bid accordingly. Ask pointed pre-bid questions or questions on the job post's public board to determine exactly what the buyer wants, then only bid if their vision meets your skills. You'll save yourself a good deal of confusion and disappointment that way.

Now let's look at it from the other end - providers bidding all over the board on the same job. Partly the reason is the other side of the above coin. One provider may estimate five articles will take only thirty minutes of his/her time, while another will commit hours or research and writing to the project.

Additionally, they may have inside knowledge of the buyer's expectations because they asked a pre-bid question. Maybe they found out that the buyer wants five articles with citations from reputable journals, or perhaps they found out that the buyer wants filler SEO articles that drive traffic to a website with no concern for content. There is no way of knowing for sure.

And thinking about it is enough to drive even the most experienced of freelancers batty!

The best advice I can give is to NOT think about it. Set your rates and base your bid on what you can offer the buyer. Ask smart pre-bid questions if the project isn't 100% clear and don't worry about the wild variations.

Because who knows? The extreme bids may just be wild shots in the dark from other providers. It's best to focus on crafting an amazing proposal that shows the buyer exactly what YOU can do for them and why YOU are the person for the job.

Stick with that, and you'll start landing jobs.




image by helgasms