Make Money Online with Elance
Marketing Business Services, Writing and More in Job Auctions
Jun 1, 2009
Elance.com is a California-based job auction website. Presently, the site offers over 4,450 available projects (all figures taken from Elance.com job and provider listings on June 1, 2009). Service providers pay for a monthly membership, then use the connects included in their fees to bid on open jobs.
These are not jobs in the traditional sense; most are one-time projects, outsourced by individuals or companies who lack the funds to have the job done locally or need a certain level of expertise.
Not all of the 4,450 open projects will be awarded and completed through the site. Some employers find a suitable professional elsewhere, while others cancel the posting for any number of reasons. Still, an Elance membership gives service providers access to a pool of warm leads, or buyers already interested in the type of service they have to offer.
Who Uses Elance for Marketing Business Services?
There are currently over 88,000 service providers registered on Elance. To give a more accurate idea of what to expect, consider the number of active providers competing for jobs. Just over 5,100 Elance providers have earned more than $50 a month over the last 6 months.
Many sign up, give it a try, but realize it's not a good fit for them and move on. Some expect instant gratification and aren't willing to put the time and energy into building their business there. Using a service like Elance is like any other new business. It takes time to get established and start earning money.
The Top 25 Individual providers each made between $14,000 and $35,000 over the last 6 months. There is potential to succeed and make money with Elance.
Building an Online Portfolio
Every person selling services on a job auction site like Elance should have a portfolio of samples to show potential clients. Because there is no face-to-face interaction, the bid, profile and portfolio must do the selling.
After reviewing Elance's University and Help pages to get oriented, take the time to build a profile complete with references, a service description, payment terms, and an online portfolio. Carefully proofread the profile before launching.
How to Bid on Jobs
Elance offers a number of filters to aid providers in finding jobs that match their skills. Filter job postings by time left, budget, category, and more. Most bids are sealed, preventing providers from reading the details or prices of other bids.
Carefully read the description and address the buyer's needs in the bid. Cover as much ground as possible in the bid: how long will it take to complete the job? In what file format will the end product be delivered? How will you communicate throughout the project? How much will it cost, and are there limitations or exclusions?
Don't take shortcuts or try to be too cute. A bid on a job auction site is a proposal and probably the only shot a service provider gets to win over the buyer.
Completing Jobs on Elance
Elance uses the Remote Work System to facilitate communication and collaboration between buyers and service providers. The system is comprised of Status Reports, a private message board, and other unique features. Know the Elance system inside and out before accepting the first job.
Always ask new clients for their contact information, and create a work agreement (samples are available on Elance). Require that buyers place the project funds in escrow to help reduce non-payment issues.
How to Make Money with Elance
There is much more to building a business presence on Elance than can be explained in one article. It is possible to make money with Elance, but one must be willing to do the legwork, get to know the system, and put in the time required to get established. For more information on selling services on Elance, visit Elance University.
 |
