Are Freelancing sites worth it!?

[toosmrtformyowngood]

Ive been in web development for 10 years, done both the full time thing working at places and also working from home, the way I see it its pointless to have to commute anywhere to do what I do. Most of my business freelancing has been people in my area via word of mouth but that does not bring in a lot of business. Ive tried odesk but all I seen was lowballing from other countries that are willing to work for peanuts. Being in Canada thats just not worth it.

Have any of you people on here had any good experiences working on any freelancing sites? If so what ones? I was thinking about giving flex jobs a try. Im at the point where I'm either going to grow this lil business of mine or look to find something else to do:banghead:

 

[jo080711]

I've had decent luck on Elance. I had the same experience with Odesk.

It's definitely a bit of a grind, especially at first. Had to take some of that lowball shit to build up a profile - you should be able to quickly reach a point where you can choose who you want to work with on there. (I do SEO though - if you've been doing web development for 10 years you probably already have a good portfolio built up). Just move on very quickly from the clients that suck.

Whichever one you to decide to try out though - just stick with it for a little while. You'll almost certainly have to take a few jobs you wouldn't normally touch with a ten foot pole. Think of it as a long game. It doesn't always pay off right away, but once it starts it takes off quick.

 

[MrFluffy]

All depends on how much you get paid for your time same as anything else.

I know elance is good though my friend is a php coder and he is banking on there.

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

I've had decent luck on Elance. I had the same experience with Odesk.

It's definitely a bit of a grind, especially at first. Had to take some of that lowball shit to build up a profile - you should be able to quickly reach a point where you can choose who you want to work with on there. (I do SEO though - if you've been doing web development for 10 years you probably already have a good portfolio built up). Just move on very quickly from the clients that suck.

Whichever one you to decide to try out though - just stick with it for a little while. You'll almost certainly have to take a few jobs you wouldn't normally touch with a ten foot pole. Think of it as a long game. It doesn't always pay off right away, but once it starts it takes off quick.

Hmm ok i think over the season ill try elance and see what I can come up with. I do have a good portfolio so ill make sure to showcase it. And yep odesk looks like crap I don't think ill go back there at all :-\

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[gatekept]

For people who know how to market themselves correctly, yes. For people who do not, no.

I make between $500-$800 per week from freelancing sites doing copy and content writing and am in the process of scaling up, now. It's hard to make much more than that without slaving, due to the abundance of low-quality clients on platforms like these.

I'm at the point in my career where I'm pretty much done with freelancing sites and transitioning to seeking clients through LinkedIn and my personal website, because I can command much higher prices there. I also use lead generation software (Mobile Renegade) to find new prospects who I cold email about my services.

Freelancing sites are great for just starting out, or people who are happy with a few hundred bucks a week. They are not a good long-term strategy if you want to grow a real business.

 

[honkabonka]

Your demographics and experience says you should focus on quality leads only. I've always got quality buyers from eLance & Guru, even the relationships were that strong that, now I've quite the freelance and working from my home with one of buyer from Guru.

My personal experience is that if buyer prefer quality over price he/she would definitely hire you.

All the best!

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

Your demographics and experience says you should focus on quality leads only. I've always got quality buyers from eLance & Guru, even the relationships were that strong that, now I've quite the freelance and working from my home with one of buyer from Guru.

My personal experience is that if buyer prefer quality over price he/she would definitely hire you.

All the best!

Agreed. I would rather deal with quality clients that want quality work. Ive been looking around on frelancer.com Ive only been on it for the day so I cant review in depth but I will say that so far it seems as though it can turn into a pissing contest of who will work for the least $. Than on top of that have to do these stupid tests. Like fak I already went to college and have to do tests lol. Ill probably do some tomorrow and build up the profile.

But all in all yes I want to find quality leads, regular clients. Stuff like that. I just don't know where to find em.. Maybe im getting old and the games changing I duno

 

[Seven4]

It's best to start strong, and build up nice reviews. Freelance websites are good to make connections, and eventually you won't need them, because you'll have a built client base.

 

[jo080711]

I would rather deal with quality clients that want quality work. Ive been looking around on frelancer.com Ive only been on it for the day so I cant review in depth but I will say that so far it seems as though it can turn into a pissing contest of who will work for the least $.

I don't know about freelancer, I never tried them. But like you said - you've been there a day. There are people on these sites who want real work done and are willing to pay - but they aren't going to give it to someone who just signed up. Even though you have been doing it for 10 years.

Put yourself together a nice website to send people to if you haven't already. Preferably one that showcases some of your past work. Put some testimonials on there. Put the link in your bio.

If you don't have testimonials - suck it up and do a few jobs you wouldn't normally do so you can get some. Ask them outright for feedback.

Within a few weeks you'll be turning people down for interviews. The freelancer sites only work if you are willing to put in that shitty time in the beginning. For me, it was about 5 weeks. You just have to stick with it and you'll get those leads. Once you get one quality client - you can offer them a discount for referrals or something too.

Otherwise, you could try to hit the street talking to business owners, cold calling or maybe ads or something to drive traffic to your site.

 

[alias2002]

All depends on how much you get paid for your time same as anything else.

I know elance is good though my friend is a php coder and he is banking on there.

Yeah, Elance is good. I have heard about this. Many of them earning handsome from Elance.

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

I don't know about freelancer, I never tried them. But like you said - you've been there a day. There are people on these sites who want real work done and are willing to pay - but they aren't going to give it to someone who just signed up. Even though you have been doing it for 10 years.

Put yourself together a nice website to send people to if you haven't already. Preferably one that showcases some of your past work. Put some testimonials on there. Put the link in your bio.

If you don't have testimonials - suck it up and do a few jobs you wouldn't normally do so you can get some. Ask them outright for feedback.

Within a few weeks you'll be turning people down for interviews. The freelancer sites only work if you are willing to put in that shitty time in the beginning. For me, it was about 5 weeks. You just have to stick with it and you'll get those leads. Once you get one quality client - you can offer them a discount for referrals or something too.

Otherwise, you could try to hit the street talking to business owners, cold calling or maybe ads or something to drive traffic to your site.

I do have a site, just revamped it too. I have business cards and a portfolio of prints from past print & design jobs too. Im in the process of getting past clients to write me testimonials as well to show case on my site.

My site is SEO optimized but I hate link building and since google panda my SEO is rusty in terms of building up links I used to link exchange but I don't think google likes that any more. Point is my ranking on google sucks. So gaining clients that way aint happening. I tried a link service but it didn't help at all. Ill add going to businesses in my area to my list of networking as well..

As for freelancer, I don't think I am too impressed after 2 days of messing with it. Its a pissing contest. Im new no reviews and even if I put the lowest bid Im still not getting crap it looks like. Than the cash grab comes in. Gotta pay 5 bucks to take tests, 10 bucks to promote my bid. Ugh screw that. You could spend 40 to 100 a day doing that shit and its a gamble to make real money. Maybe if I was on it from when it started and built up a name for my self. But at this stage in the game it seems saturated and too much of an uphill battle when you gotta get the bills paid. Ill keep messing with it but I think elance (which I signed up for today) and flex jobs may be more in order for higher quality and longer jobs..

 

[igniteimages]

Try People Per Hour.

Far better jobs on there, although like a lot of these sites many price shoppers

 

[SEOking222]

Elance, odesk and peopleperhour are great sites to work on!

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

Try People Per Hour.

Far better jobs on there, although like a lot of these sites many price shoppers

Ill take a look at that one too Ive never herd of it before.. Thanks for the heads up on it.

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

Elance, odesk and peopleperhour are great sites to work on!

odesk was a thumbs down for me lol

 

[honkabonka]

But all in all yes I want to find quality leads, regular clients. Stuff like that. I just don't know where to find em.. Maybe im getting old and the games changing I duno

You could try Classified website, I've myself got very few but quality & repeated orders.

However as you are from my programming community I would say come up with your own product, even a smaller one. I've never imagined that I would be able to earn $700+ from a simple PHP Contact form, though this whole money is from all sales since last 2+ years, but hey, atleast I earned

 

[bicycle]

I've recently written a post of my freelancing experience. Google "lifebulous" and check out my post. Hope it inspires you somehow.