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A Freelancer’s Guide to Earning More on Elance.
Table of contents


	   1. 	 Work Differently™: You’re gonna love it................................. 3               	   5. 	 Your Workroom: Where jobs get tackled.............................. 17


	   2. 	 Your Profile: Shine like a diamond......................................... 5            	   6. 	 Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest............................. 19
	   	    	    1. Write your Overview with the “ideal” client in mind...... 5                      	   	   	    1. Feedback is important. No, critical............................ 19
	   	    	    2. Include an engaging and professional photo............... 6                      	   	   	    2. Making sense of My Stats and Level......................... 20
	   	    	    3. Take multiple Skills Tests............................................. 6        	   	   	    3. Managing your Feedback, Stats and Levels............. 21
	   	    	    4. Use your Portfolio to showcase talents....................... 7
			           5. Join Elance Groups..................................................... 7        	   7. 	 Your Reminder: Rules to keep you safe............................... 22
	   	    	    6. Miscellaneous tips, advice and others truths............... 8                    			
                                                                                                  	   8. 	 You’re Hired: Go do an awesome job.................................. 23
	   3. 	 Your Job Search: Finding great work fast.............................. 9                 	   	   	    1. Speaking of which, look-out for follow-up jobs........... 23
	   	    	    1. Check your Opportunities daily.................................... 9
	   	    	    2. Use Watch Lists to follow potential clients................. 10
	   	    	    3. Use the Elance search bar to find jobs...................... 10
			           4. Respond to Job Invites you receive........................... 11
	   	    	    5. Miscellaneous tips, advice and others truths............. 11


	   4. 	 Your Proposal: The perfect pitch.......................................... 12
	   	    	    1. Stay in your happy zone, selecting jobs carefully...... 12
	   	    	    2. Screen clients as carefully as they’ll screen you....... 13
			           3. Now write a killer Proposal........................................ 14
	   	    	    4. Set a fair price........................................................... 15
	   	    	    5. Consider submitting a Proposal with no price........... 15
	   	    	    6. Don’t just sit there, follow-up..................................... 16
	   	    	    7. Don’t just sit there, send more Proposals.................. 16
			           8. Negotiating your price................................................ 16
Section 1:
Work Differently™: You’re gonna love it

  Hello and welcome to Elance.

  Ready to land fantastic online freelance jobs? Excited about earning great
  money working when you want, on projects you love? We thought so. Well,
  you’ve come to the right place: Elance.

  Whether you’re new to Elance or looking to brush-up on your expertise, this
  Freelancer’s Guide is a great starting point for being more successful.

  You’ll learn how to perfect your Profile and Proposals, how to find the best
  jobs, how to stay protected and even how to get jobs done and get more work
  flowing in.

  We assume you’ve already registered on Elance. If not, sign up now (it’s free).

  What exactly is Elance?

  Elance is where people Work Differently™.

  We’re an online workplace where businesses go to find, hire and collaborate
  with skilled online freelancers like yourself. Not to brag, but Elance has over
  500,000 businesses posting 100,000+ jobs each month.                                                        Corrina S.
                                                                                      United States  |  IT Project Manager
  On Elance you’ll have the opportunity to work with businesses in more than 170
  countries – from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and individual
  entrepreneurs.




                                                                                            Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  3
Section 1: (continued)
Work Differently™: You’re gonna love it

   How Elance works.

   To work at Elance, all you need is an internet connection and talent.

   You use Elance to find jobs (we help you, making it even easier), then you
   complete jobs in a secure Workroom. We also take care of all the paperwork,
   plus collect and pass-on your money-due (so you’re sure to get paid).

   As a freelancer, working on Elance doesn’t have to cost you a penny. You have
   a choice of membership options, including a free plan. We make our money by
   adding a small 8.75% service fee above and beyond your price. For example,
   when you submit a $500 proposal, we add our fee to your quote and pass it
   on (your client would see a quote of $543.75). When the work is delivered, we
   deduct our $43.75 and pass the remaining $500 on to you.

   Ready to learn more?

   Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the guidelines in the following
   pages. With your talent and the tips provided, you’re sure to earn more money
   and be even more awesome on Elance.


                                                                                                         Artem K.
                                                                                         Ukraine  |  IT Programmer




                                                                                                Go for it!

                                                                                     Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  4
Section 2:
Your Profile: Shine like a diamond

  When you stand out from other freelancers, you improve your chances of
  getting hired. That’s why making a great first impression is important. Come to
  think of it, it’s critical. Here are some tips on creating an eye-catching Profile:


1.	 Write your Overview with the “ideal” client in mind.                                Good:

  You can’t be all things to all people. Throwing too wide of a net in your             Stand out with great design!
  Overview section will land you nothing.
                                                                                        With over 12 years of producing corporate marketing projects for some of the
  Write your Overview to be read by one person and one person alone: Your               most innovative companies in world, I’m here to bring your ideas and vision to
  ideal client. What would he or she want to know? Explain how your SKILLS              life.  I’ve personally managed over 150 website designs and hundreds of print
  allow you to SOLVE PROBLEMS (as much as we hate using all caps, this is               packages that include magazines, 1-pagers, and other collateral for events and
  one time they’re called for).                                                         other special promotions.

  Also, write in a friendly yet professional tone. Be warm and you’ll instantly stand   I can and will deliver great results with a process that’s timely, collaborative and
  out. And no tpyos (oops).                                                             at a great value for my clients.




                                                                                        Bad:

                                                                                        Minimum hourly rate $15. A 10 year old software development company.




                                                                      Daniel B.
                                         United States  |  Videographer/Animator

                                                                                                                                             Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  5
Section 2: (continued)
Your Profile: Shine like a diamond

2. Include an engaging and professional photo.                                           3. Take multiple Skills Tests.

   Clients are people too. They love putting a face to a name, and a friendly photo         Show clients you know your stuff. Most professionals will find relevant Skills
   of you smiling is sure to get them leaning your way. Research shows that                 Tests on Elance, assessing your proficiency. Test completion helps separate
   freelancers with an image are twice as likely to get the job. Yes, twice as likely.      you from others. In fact, 76% of clients say they prefer hiring tested
                                                                                            freelancers. Tests are free on Elance, and if you suffer from the test jitters (as
                                                                                            we all sometimes do), don’t worry. You can always re-take the test later.

   Good:




   Bad:




                                                                                                                                                Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  6
Section 2: (continued)
Your Profile: Shine like a diamond

4. Use your Portfolio to showcase talents.                                             5. Join Elance Groups.

   Don’t be shy, show-off. Real-world samples bring your skills to life. Again, fill     Your membership in pre-screened professional Groups goes a long way to
   your Portfolio with work your ideal client would want to see. Be specific in your     reassure a client that you’re top-notch. You’ll find Elance Groups in many
   descriptions, explaining your role in the project and what was accomplished.          categories, from technical fields to creative categories. Potential clients often
   Also name your sample carefully, as potential clients can use our search bar to       exclusively invite Group members to a job.
   find Portfolio pieces of interest (such as, “ecommerce mobile app”).




                                                                                                                                              Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  7
Section 2: (continued)
Your Profile: Shine like a diamond

6. Miscellaneous tips, advice and other truths.

   Here are other juicy tidbits that we hear often from clients:

   ▪ 	In your Service Description section, explain how you solve problems.
      Be solutions oriented and give clients a good idea of how you think and
      approach jobs.

   ▪ 	Pay close attention to the Keywords you enter on your Profile. Again, try
      not to be all things to all people. Narrow the list of words that showcase your
      talent to those that will attract a very specific client.

   ▪ 	Clients want to know for sure who they’ve hired. Complete the Identity
      Verification and verify your Credentials. Trust is key to any working
      relationship.

   ▪ 	Your Portfolio will be public. Don’t include sensitive files you wouldn’t want
      shared. And make sure you have approval to use those files.

   ▪ 	No borrowing/pilfering. It’s OK to check-out other Profiles for inspiration,
      but don’t plagiarize. Ditto for Portfolio samples. With your talent and
      the strategies addressed in this guide, it’s only a matter of time until the
      awesome jobs start rolling in.

   ▪ 	Make sure your Profile is 100% complete. Clients constantly search for
                                                                                                                     Yoko M.
      freelancers (read: you), and the information found in your Profile is what                   Japan  |  Graphic Designer
      steers them in your direction. On the right side of your My Elance page, you’ll
      see a tracker that marks Your Profile Completeness. Aim for 100% to give
      yourself the best chance of attracting clients.




                                                                                        Next: Your Job Search

                                                                                                Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  8
Section 3:
Your Job Search: Finding great work fast

  The future looks bright! Now that your Profile is simply dazzling, you’re ready
  to explore the 100,000+ jobs posted on Elance each month. You have many
  options for getting hired, but here are some quick thoughts to head:


1. Check your Opportunities daily.

  The great thing about Elance is, you don’t have to do anything to find jobs. You   ▪ 	View Opportunities from My Elance. My Elance is your homepage on Elance,
  can be more proactive (and we whole-heartedly encourage you to be – see               where you’ll keep an eye on all projects and possibilities. To see more
  below), but we will do a fair amount of the work for you. This includes your          recommendations we found for you, simply click on the Opportunities tab.
  personalized Opportunities feature. Here’s a quick synopsis:                          Voila! Jobs galore.


  ▪ 	Get email updates with job Opportunities. We use our number-crunching über
     computers and well-seasoned job matching expertise to pinpoint jobs that
     match your skills and interests. We then email you recommendations. How
     easy is that?




                                                                                                                                    Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  9
Section 3: (continued)
Your Job Search: Finding great work fast

2. Use Watch Lists to follow potential clients.                                      3. Use the Elance search bar to find jobs.
   Once you get up to speed, you’ll find lots of companies that are doing the work     To use the Search bar on Elance (be sure you toggle to “jobs”), simply type in
   you love doing. Sounds like a match made in heaven? Simply put the company          the project you’re looking for or the skills you have and we’ll give you a list of
   on your Watch List and you’ll know when they post jobs. You’ll be among the         great job opportunities. Browse the selection for projects you’re perfectly suited
   first to catch their eye!                                                           for. Keep checking back too, as new jobs are posted all the time.

                                                                                       Keep in mind you can also Narrow Results when searching. Simply type in a
                                                                                       general skill, such as “writer” and you’ll land on our Search results page. On
                                                                                       the left column, you’ll see options for more-specific job categories for writing,
                                                                                       as well as options for Job Type, Budget, Hourly Rate, Featured jobs and more.
                                                                                       This can be a real time saver, if you’re focusing on specific projects (which you
                                                                                       should be).




                                                                                                                                          Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  10
Section 3: (continued)
Your Job Search: Finding great work fast

4. Respond to Job Invites you receive.                                                  5. Miscellaneous tips, advice and other truths.

   With your eye-catching Profile and strong skillset, you’re sure to get personally      Things to consider when you’re finding jobs on Elance:
   invited to jobs as well. Especially if you join Elance Groups and follow the other
   suggestions from the previous section, Your Profile. Be sure to respond quickly        ▪ 	Use multiple forms of communication when conferring with potential
   to invites, letting them know if you’re interested (or not).                              clients. Your project Workroom has its own private message board, allowing
                                                                                             for email communication. However, sometimes it makes sense to pick up
                                                                                             the phone or Skype. Just be sure to wait until the client responds to your
                                                                                             proposal– not doing so and providing your contact information up front
                                                                                             violates Elance policy. And be sure you and your client always document
                                                                                             any decisions in the project’s Workroom.

                                                                                          ▪ 	When searching for jobs, keep in mind whether you prefer Hourly jobs
                                                                                             or Fixed Price jobs. Each has its advantages, so decide what works
                                                                                             best for you.

                                                                                          		 Hourly jobs are based on a simple principle: An hour paid for an hour
                                                                                             worked. The option is particularly popular when the project has a good
                                                                                             chance of flexibility, such as the scope may change mid-stream. Freelancers
                                                                                             often choose Hourly work because of features like Work View™ and Tracker
                                                                                             – where your time is automatically tracked and screenshots submitted to your
                                                                                             clients. When work is approved, timesheets are automatically paid.

                                                                                          		 Fixed Priced jobs are generally posted when the client has a good grasp
                                                                                             of what the project entails, and there aren’t a lot of details left to the
                                                                                             imagination. One benefit is the Elance Escrow feature, where the client
                                                                                             funds your job before work begins. When certain pre-determined milestones
                                                                                             are met and the client approves the work, payments are automatically
                                                                                             released to you.




                                                                 Dennis H.
                                                   Germany  |  Web Developer
                                                                                                                              Next: Your Proposal

                                                                                                                                           Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  11
Section 4:
Your Proposal: The perfect pitch

  Well done. Now that your Profile is a power-packed magnet pointed squarely at       1. Stay in your happy zone, selecting jobs carefully.
  great businesses (if not, see The Profile section), your next step is pinpointing
  which businesses are truly great (read: great for you). And then crafting a           Just as your Profile Overview can’t position you as all things to all people, nor
  proposal they can’t refuse. Here is some sage advice:                                 should your job selection process span widely across your field. It’s best to
                                                                                        focus, focus, focus on jobs best suited for you. Things to consider:

                                                                                        ▪ 	Find jobs that match your skill and interests. Life is too short to work on
                                                                                           projects that neither interest you nor put your best talent to work.

                                                                                        ▪ 	Find jobs with a hearty description. If the client’s job description is vague
                                                                                           and feeble, chances are the job will be equally woeful. Keep searching for
                                                                                           better opportunities.

                                                                                        ▪ 	Find jobs with the right budget. One good job you can sink your teeth
                                                                                           into is better than four small ones that take time and energy ramping up for.
                                                                                           However, if you’re brand new to Elance or your category you may need to
                                                                                           start small and grow your way to success.

                                                                                        ▪ 	Find jobs that fit your availability. When you’re booked solid and going on
                                                                                           a 2-week trip to the islands, pass on monster projects. There will be more big
                                                                                           projects when your stress level is back to normal.




                                                                   Ivy F.
                                                       China  |  Translator




                                                                                                                                           Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  12
Section 4: (continued)
Your Proposal: The perfect pitch

2. Screen clients as carefully as they’ll screen you.                                    ▪ 	Find businesses with an established Job History. Although great new
                                                                                            businesses come to Elance daily, there is peace-of-mind in finding clients
   With so many opportunities on Elance, be selective in the businesses you                 with a solid track record.
   choose to work with. If it’s not the right match, you’ll just spin your wheels and
   waste precious energy better used for other clients. A few thoughts:

   ▪ 	Find businesses who truly want you. Browse the job posting to make sure
      you’re what they’re looking for. Check for the Experience and Skills they
      desire, as well as any Geographic Preferences. Don’t fit? Move on.

   ▪ 	Find businesses with Verified Payment. Although it’s not essential, it makes
      sense to first seek clients who have a payment process in place. Look for the
      Verified Payment symbol in their job post – a dollar sign among the green icons.


                                                                                         ▪ 	Find businesses with a high Award Ratio. The Award Ratio is a fair indicator
                                                                                            of how serious the company is in hiring you. Your time is valuable, so use it
                                                                                            wisely.




                                                                                         ▪ 	Find businesses giving regular Feedback. Your status (see Your
                                                                                            Reputation section) is based greatly on the Feedback clients leave. Look for
                                                                                            partners who are quick to spread the word about your skills.




                                                                                                                                           Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  13
Section 4: (continued)
Your Proposal: The perfect pitch

3. Now write a killer Proposal.

   After vetting clients and finding a job that looks sensational, it’s time to pounce.
   Act quickly and set those wheels of getting hired in motion. Naturally a great
   Proposal is paramount to getting noticed and sealing the deal. There’s a lot to
   cover, so let’s jump right in:

   ▪ 	Customize (yes, customize) your Proposal. Clients can spot “cut-and-
      paste” Proposals from a mile away (1.6 kilometers), giving you the axe
      instantly. Cookie-cutter responses stand out like a sore thumb and earn you a
      quick thumbs down. Ask questions too. As well as showing interest, it’s good
      to begin a two-way dialog between you and the client.

   ▪ 	Write in a suitable tone. Much like your Profile Overview, your Proposal
      should be personable yet professional. Save your 16-letter words for
      Scrabble, instead explaining yourself in a warm and friendly manner. Make a
      friend and you’ll get the job.

   ▪ 	Be succinct. Be a good editor. Brevity is vital, as clients may be browsing
      several proposals in a short amount of time. And please, no typos.
                                                                                                                                                                 Firmo S.
      Spellchecker is your friend.
                                                                                                                                                     Indonesia  |  Translator

   ▪ 	Show you’re a good listener. Be sure to demonstrate that you’ve read the
      job posting. Ask good questions, and show interest and enthusiasm.

                                                                                          ▪ 	Ask for the job. Think of your Proposal as an interview. What would you say
   ▪ 	Highlight the value you bring. Don’t rely only on your Profile. Be specific
                                                                                             to make sure you get called back? Show your enthusiasm and let the person
      about benefits you bring to this particular job. Spotlight relevant experiences
                                                                                             know you want to start the project soon. Oh, thank them for their time too.
      you’ve had, how you tackled similar jobs and what unique approaches and
      skills you bring to the table.
                                                                                          ▪ 	Showcase relevant samples. Your Elance Portfolio should be full of awe-
                                                                                             inspiring pieces demonstrating your talents, but why not pull some of the
                                                                                             more relevant examples and include them directly in your proposal? This
                                                                                             gives clients your best, most relevant work without having to search for it.




                                                                                                                                            Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  14
Section 4: (continued)
Your Proposal: The perfect pitch

4. Set a fair price.                                                                        5. Consider submitting a Proposal with no price.

   Clients are inevitably going to get low-priced Proposals from the desperate and            If you’re not sure of the requirements, don’t make a wild guess. It can come back
   uninspired, as well as outrageously high-priced Proposals from others. Don’t worry         to haunt you. Instead, on your Proposal check the “Will submit amount later” box.
   about them. If you’ve proven your worth (see above) you’ll get your fair price. Now,       In your Proposal be sure to ask specific questions to get further clarification, and
   what exactly is a fair price? Here’s a starting point to determine that:                   reassure the client that you’ll finalize a price based on that information.

   ▪ 	Factor in your time and effort. Carefully guesstimate all that’s involved.
      Make sure to take into account the project’s complexity, time-frame (any 16-
      hour days needed?) and total effort required.

   ▪ 	Research your market. Do your due diligence, deciding who you’re
      competing against. Get an idea for industry pay averages, starting with
      Elance’s very own Trends pages where we show you all the top skills being
      hired on Elance, along with average pay rates. Factor in if you’re offering a
      premium skill that’s difficult to find.

   ▪ 	See things from your client’s perspective. Are you just breaking into
      the market, or new to Elance and yet to build-up your standing (see Your
      Reputation section)? Or just the opposite, are you a proven expert with great
      feedback and ratings? It matters. And realistically, so does your potential
      client’s past budgets. Look to see what they’ve spent for similar projects.

   ▪ 	Decide what you’re worth. Estimate in all honesty what is a fair price for the
      job at hand. Don’t sell yourself short, reacting to low-ball pricing. If the client
      wants quality work in a timely manner, they’ll pay you what you deserve.




                                                                                                                                                  Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  15
Section 4: (continued)
Your Proposal: The perfect pitch

6. Don’t just sit there, follow-up.                                                    8. Negotiating your price.

   Once your Proposal is submitted, keep your eye on the ball. Check your My             Often a potential client will like what they see, but not see eye-to-eye on
   Jobs page or Watch List daily for status updates on your potential project. The       pricing. This may be a straight-up cost issue, or the scope of the project may
   client may be asking for additional information. If you change your mind or earn      have changed. Either way, keep these thoughts in mind:
   another job and can’t fit this project into your schedule, be polite and withdraw
   your bid. You may well come across this client again, and they’ll remember your       ▪ 	Always remain professional. No need to take things personally. You’re a
   courteousness.                                                                           professional and you know what you’re worth. Simply explain why you feel
                                                                                            you’re asking a fair price.
7. Don’t just sit there, send more Proposals.
                                                                                         ▪ 	Be willing to withdraw your offer. If there is absolutely no wiggle room,
   Although you want to be selective in the jobs you set your sights on, you also           walk away and thank the client for their time. Simply withdraw your offer and
   want to make sure you cover all of your bases. Your first Proposal is just the           move on.
   beginning. Once that Proposal is submitted, start the process over and find
   another job that’s perfect. And another. And another. As you build your online        ▪ 	If the price changes, update terms and milestones. When fluctuations
   work reputation at Elance you’ll want to give yourself lots of opportunities.            happen, update all related items in the project. Be especially sensitive to
                                                                                            shifting end dates and scope.

                                                                                         ▪ 	Do not work without job funding. While the early bird gets the worm, in
                                                                                            some instances he/she gets burned. Don’t be the one who gives away free
                                                                                            work. Wait until funding is secured before you log hours.




                                                                                                                           Next: Your Workroom
                                                                                                                                            Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  16
Section 5:
Your Workroom: Where jobs get tackled

  Congratulations! Your Proposal was accepted and you’re now ready to create      ▪ 	Manage projects. Use your Workroom to keep projects moving smoothly.
  some magic. With every project you’ll automatically be assigned a secure           You can set and update terms, share status reports and have your
  Elance Workroom where you and your client can collaborate. This is also where      timesheets submitted automatically if you’re working on an hourly job.
  you’ll track progress and ensure you get paid (yeah!). While there are many
  services and features, here are some highlights of your shared Workroom:

  ▪ 	Communicate and collaborate. You’ll find tools for staying in touch (from
     email to video conferencing), as well as solutions for sharing files and
     tracking work.




                                                                                                                                 Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  17
Section 5: (continued)
Your Workroom: Where jobs get tackled

   ▪ 	Get paid quickly. All the tools for getting paid are included in your   ▪ 	 liminate paperwork and busy work. Elance has streamlined the
                                                                                E
      Workroom. When objectives are successfully met, your money will be        process of getting work done, including taking many of the bureaucratic
      released and sent to you.                                                 steps out of the process. Things happen automatically, intuitively and
                                                                                greenly. Mother Nature will thank you.




                                                                                                                                              Esteban T.
                                                                                                                               Argentina  |  iOS Developer




                                                                                                           Next: Your Reputation

                                                                                                                            Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  18
Section 6:
Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest

  With all things being equal, clients will obviously accept the Proposal with the    1. Feedback is important. No, critical.
  best balance of quality and value. But as we know, not all freelancers are equal
  in talent nor affordability. That’s where your online reputation comes into play.   For each job you work, a client can (and should) leave Feedback ratings to
  Elance gives you several opportunities to distance yourself from others who         share how great it was working with you.
  may be interested in the same job. Here’s some information on how to put
  yourself in the best light:                                                         Just as clients can leave comments on why they enjoyed working with you, you
                                                                                      can also respond with your own Feedback to their comments. It goes without
                                                                                      saying that any comments you leave should be professionally worded…as
                                                                                      other clients will be able to see them. Sometimes we see freelancers reacting
                                                                                      poorly to Feedback received. Don’t get caught up in the negativity. If you
                                                                                      disagree with the Feedback left, be sure to remain professional and allow your
                                                                                      response to explain the situation.

                                                                                      If you feel that a client is pressuring you to change the scope of the work by
                                                                                      withholding positive Feedback (example: asking for extra work you didn’t
                                                                                      agree to), give us a call. Coercion is a violation of Elance Policy and you
                                                                                      deserve better.

                                                                                      And remember, Feedback cannot be changed once it’s posted. This is
                                                                                      important to remember when asking for Feedback, and when leaving
                                                                                      Feedback for your clients.




                                                               Sarah R.
                                                      Puerto Rico  |  Writer




                                                                                                                                         Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  19
Section 6: (continued)
Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest

2. Making sense of My Stats and Level.                                                 ▪ 	Your Level is determined by My Stats. By factoring in the data we
                                                                                          accumulate in My Stats, we’re able to assign a numerical number that
   To help differentiate yourself beyond a Profile and price, Elance has several          assesses your level. When you focus on doing great work and building a
   features for determining your online reputation. These include My Stats and            successful online business, your Level will rise accordingly.
   your Level. My Stats includes a snapshot of your history of work on Elance,
   while Level is calculated using the numbers from My Stats. Let us explain:          		 Note: Your Level is calculated as a result of a number of factors, from your
                                                                                          service delivery and client relationships to marketing performance. Your Level
   ▪ 	My Stats is your online work history. Some key numbers we include in                will determine where you place in the default search rankings on Elance.
      My Stats are the number of clients you have (and repeat clients), as well as
      the number of jobs, milestones and hours you’ve worked on Elance. It also        ▪ 	Key drivers of My Stats and Level. Many factors play into your ultimate
      includes client Feedback–from recommendations to reviews.                           numbers, including job Feedback, earnings volume and growth, how you
                                                                                          grow client relationships, whether you bid an appropriate price and even your
   		 Note: Feedback left by former clients is viewable by potential clients. That’s      Elance policy compliance.
      why it’s important to make sure clients leave Feedback after every successful
      job and you respond professionally to that Feedback. Good Feedback also
      elevates your Level.




                                                                                                                                         Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  20
Section 6: (continued)
Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest

3. Managing your Feedback, Stats and Levels.

   Here are some quick pointers for maximizing your online reputation at Elance:

   ▪ 	Always request Feedback from clients. We automatically prompt your
      clients to provide Feedback once a job is complete, but we can’t force them
      to do so. If a few days go by and there’s been no Feedback entered, be sure
      to gently nudge them as a reminder. It may even take a second nudge or
      more. Be persistent, but not rude. Remember, before accepting a job you can
      check a potential client’s tendency for giving Feedback. Keep that in mind
      when sending Proposals.

   ▪ 	Respond professionally to Feedback. Whether it’s good or bad, remember
      that it’s someone’s estimation and respect their opinion. Plus, Feedback can’t
      be changed once it has been posted. Also, your response will be displayed
      on your Profile. Do you really want potential clients to see a nasty remark
      you’ve made to a client?

   ▪ 	Use the Elance platform. You’ll complete jobs successfully,
      get Feedback and receive payment through Elance.

   ▪ 	Build strong relationships. To best raise your online reputation, continue to
      add new clients and achieve repeat work and strong earnings from them.                                       Dayna B.
                                                                                                           Canada  |  Illustrator
   ▪ 	Dot your “i”s and cross your “t”s. Be diligent in the details provided in
      this guide. Create a strong Profile, submit quality Proposals for relevant jobs,
      price your services within customary budget ranges and ensure the work
      is awarded and completed on Elance.




                                                                                         Next: Your Reminder

                                                                                               Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  21
Section 7:
Your Reminder: Rules to keep you safe

  Your security is paramount at Elance. Naturally we want you to take advantage
  of all the great features and services we offer to help you Work Differently™.  
  Our guidance is simple: Stay on Elance, Get Paid on Elance.

  Using the job’s Workroom and Terms & Milestones areas to document costs,
  deliverables and other decisions related to your work is critical. Elance is here
  to help, but we can only rely on the information provided in the Workroom.
  Using Work View™ and Elance Escrow are great ways to manage your
  payments on Elance and will give you and your client the confidence to hit the
  ground running.

  Keep these rules in mind at all times:

  ▪ 	Never take jobs off Elance. If clients ask you to work outside of the Elance
     platform, a warning bell should go off in your head. Something is not right. If
     you agree, it’s against Elance rules and you’re in danger of getting scammed.
     You will lose all protection Elance affords you. Period.

  ▪ 	Refuse (and let Elance know) if clients:

    - Ask you for financial accounts
                                                                                                               Gillian W.
                                                                                                          Jamaica  |  Writer
    - Ask you to buy anything to complete their job

    - Ask you to work on a job Elance has disallowed

    - Are not officially listed on Elance

  ▪ 	Never create custom samples. Again, don’t give out your work for free. Use
     your Portfolio (and prolific powers of persuasion) to sell yourself. If you make
     samples before the job is awarded there’s a good chance you’ll never hear
     from them again.


                                                                                        Next: You’re Hired

                                                                                           Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  22
Section 8:
You’re Hired: Go do an awesome job

  With your incredible skills and the know-how gleaned from this handy                 Speaking of which, be on the look-out for follow-up jobs.
  Freelancer’s Guide, you’re sure to be an awesome success on Elance.
                                                                                          And as we mentioned previously, long-term client relationships is something
  Remember, your online reputation is a major driver in growing your business.            that will only help you be more successful on Elance. When you’re finished with
  So be sure to go the extra mile/kilometer to do a great job. Feedback is an             a project, don’t be shy about suggesting other work you can do. Clients are
  important tool for attracting new clients. Exceptional work will also help you get      sometimes so focused on their to-do list that they don’t realize opportunities
  a second and third job from each client too.                                            that may be in the peripheral. Enlighten them (in a non-pushy way). In short,
                                                                                          become an invaluable partner.

                                                                                          So go get yourself some online freelance jobs and do an awesome job. We’re
                                                                                          excited to have you on the team!

                                                                                          If you’re looking for additional help on earning more money at Elance, check
                                                                                          out these resources:

                                                                                          Elance Help Center

                                                                                          Elance Official Blog

                                                                                          Hiring Trends

                                                                                          Terms of Service

                                                                                          Elance Webinar Sign Up

                                                                                          Water Cooler Member Forum




Sam B.                                                                                    Cheers,
    Australia  |  Writer
                                                                                          The Elance Team




                                                                                                                                           Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide  |  23
Elance Freelancer Guide

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Elance Freelancer Guide

  • 1. A Freelancer’s Guide to Earning More on Elance.
  • 2. Table of contents 1. Work Differently™: You’re gonna love it................................. 3 5. Your Workroom: Where jobs get tackled.............................. 17 2. Your Profile: Shine like a diamond......................................... 5 6. Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest............................. 19 1. Write your Overview with the “ideal” client in mind...... 5 1. Feedback is important. No, critical............................ 19 2. Include an engaging and professional photo............... 6 2. Making sense of My Stats and Level......................... 20 3. Take multiple Skills Tests............................................. 6 3. Managing your Feedback, Stats and Levels............. 21 4. Use your Portfolio to showcase talents....................... 7 5. Join Elance Groups..................................................... 7 7. Your Reminder: Rules to keep you safe............................... 22 6. Miscellaneous tips, advice and others truths............... 8 8. You’re Hired: Go do an awesome job.................................. 23 3. Your Job Search: Finding great work fast.............................. 9 1. Speaking of which, look-out for follow-up jobs........... 23 1. Check your Opportunities daily.................................... 9 2. Use Watch Lists to follow potential clients................. 10 3. Use the Elance search bar to find jobs...................... 10 4. Respond to Job Invites you receive........................... 11 5. Miscellaneous tips, advice and others truths............. 11 4. Your Proposal: The perfect pitch.......................................... 12 1. Stay in your happy zone, selecting jobs carefully...... 12 2. Screen clients as carefully as they’ll screen you....... 13 3. Now write a killer Proposal........................................ 14 4. Set a fair price........................................................... 15 5. Consider submitting a Proposal with no price........... 15 6. Don’t just sit there, follow-up..................................... 16 7. Don’t just sit there, send more Proposals.................. 16 8. Negotiating your price................................................ 16
  • 3. Section 1: Work Differently™: You’re gonna love it Hello and welcome to Elance. Ready to land fantastic online freelance jobs? Excited about earning great money working when you want, on projects you love? We thought so. Well, you’ve come to the right place: Elance. Whether you’re new to Elance or looking to brush-up on your expertise, this Freelancer’s Guide is a great starting point for being more successful. You’ll learn how to perfect your Profile and Proposals, how to find the best jobs, how to stay protected and even how to get jobs done and get more work flowing in. We assume you’ve already registered on Elance. If not, sign up now (it’s free). What exactly is Elance? Elance is where people Work Differently™. We’re an online workplace where businesses go to find, hire and collaborate with skilled online freelancers like yourself. Not to brag, but Elance has over 500,000 businesses posting 100,000+ jobs each month. Corrina S. United States | IT Project Manager On Elance you’ll have the opportunity to work with businesses in more than 170 countries – from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 3
  • 4. Section 1: (continued) Work Differently™: You’re gonna love it How Elance works. To work at Elance, all you need is an internet connection and talent. You use Elance to find jobs (we help you, making it even easier), then you complete jobs in a secure Workroom. We also take care of all the paperwork, plus collect and pass-on your money-due (so you’re sure to get paid). As a freelancer, working on Elance doesn’t have to cost you a penny. You have a choice of membership options, including a free plan. We make our money by adding a small 8.75% service fee above and beyond your price. For example, when you submit a $500 proposal, we add our fee to your quote and pass it on (your client would see a quote of $543.75). When the work is delivered, we deduct our $43.75 and pass the remaining $500 on to you. Ready to learn more? Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the guidelines in the following pages. With your talent and the tips provided, you’re sure to earn more money and be even more awesome on Elance. Artem K. Ukraine | IT Programmer Go for it! Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 4
  • 5. Section 2: Your Profile: Shine like a diamond When you stand out from other freelancers, you improve your chances of getting hired. That’s why making a great first impression is important. Come to think of it, it’s critical. Here are some tips on creating an eye-catching Profile: 1. Write your Overview with the “ideal” client in mind. Good: You can’t be all things to all people. Throwing too wide of a net in your Stand out with great design! Overview section will land you nothing. With over 12 years of producing corporate marketing projects for some of the Write your Overview to be read by one person and one person alone: Your most innovative companies in world, I’m here to bring your ideas and vision to ideal client. What would he or she want to know? Explain how your SKILLS life. I’ve personally managed over 150 website designs and hundreds of print allow you to SOLVE PROBLEMS (as much as we hate using all caps, this is packages that include magazines, 1-pagers, and other collateral for events and one time they’re called for). other special promotions. Also, write in a friendly yet professional tone. Be warm and you’ll instantly stand I can and will deliver great results with a process that’s timely, collaborative and out. And no tpyos (oops). at a great value for my clients. Bad: Minimum hourly rate $15. A 10 year old software development company. Daniel B. United States | Videographer/Animator Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 5
  • 6. Section 2: (continued) Your Profile: Shine like a diamond 2. Include an engaging and professional photo. 3. Take multiple Skills Tests. Clients are people too. They love putting a face to a name, and a friendly photo Show clients you know your stuff. Most professionals will find relevant Skills of you smiling is sure to get them leaning your way. Research shows that Tests on Elance, assessing your proficiency. Test completion helps separate freelancers with an image are twice as likely to get the job. Yes, twice as likely. you from others. In fact, 76% of clients say they prefer hiring tested freelancers. Tests are free on Elance, and if you suffer from the test jitters (as we all sometimes do), don’t worry. You can always re-take the test later. Good: Bad: Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 6
  • 7. Section 2: (continued) Your Profile: Shine like a diamond 4. Use your Portfolio to showcase talents. 5. Join Elance Groups. Don’t be shy, show-off. Real-world samples bring your skills to life. Again, fill Your membership in pre-screened professional Groups goes a long way to your Portfolio with work your ideal client would want to see. Be specific in your reassure a client that you’re top-notch. You’ll find Elance Groups in many descriptions, explaining your role in the project and what was accomplished. categories, from technical fields to creative categories. Potential clients often Also name your sample carefully, as potential clients can use our search bar to exclusively invite Group members to a job. find Portfolio pieces of interest (such as, “ecommerce mobile app”). Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 7
  • 8. Section 2: (continued) Your Profile: Shine like a diamond 6. Miscellaneous tips, advice and other truths. Here are other juicy tidbits that we hear often from clients: ▪ In your Service Description section, explain how you solve problems. Be solutions oriented and give clients a good idea of how you think and approach jobs. ▪ Pay close attention to the Keywords you enter on your Profile. Again, try not to be all things to all people. Narrow the list of words that showcase your talent to those that will attract a very specific client. ▪ Clients want to know for sure who they’ve hired. Complete the Identity Verification and verify your Credentials. Trust is key to any working relationship. ▪ Your Portfolio will be public. Don’t include sensitive files you wouldn’t want shared. And make sure you have approval to use those files. ▪ No borrowing/pilfering. It’s OK to check-out other Profiles for inspiration, but don’t plagiarize. Ditto for Portfolio samples. With your talent and the strategies addressed in this guide, it’s only a matter of time until the awesome jobs start rolling in. ▪ Make sure your Profile is 100% complete. Clients constantly search for Yoko M. freelancers (read: you), and the information found in your Profile is what Japan | Graphic Designer steers them in your direction. On the right side of your My Elance page, you’ll see a tracker that marks Your Profile Completeness. Aim for 100% to give yourself the best chance of attracting clients. Next: Your Job Search Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 8
  • 9. Section 3: Your Job Search: Finding great work fast The future looks bright! Now that your Profile is simply dazzling, you’re ready to explore the 100,000+ jobs posted on Elance each month. You have many options for getting hired, but here are some quick thoughts to head: 1. Check your Opportunities daily. The great thing about Elance is, you don’t have to do anything to find jobs. You ▪ View Opportunities from My Elance. My Elance is your homepage on Elance, can be more proactive (and we whole-heartedly encourage you to be – see where you’ll keep an eye on all projects and possibilities. To see more below), but we will do a fair amount of the work for you. This includes your recommendations we found for you, simply click on the Opportunities tab. personalized Opportunities feature. Here’s a quick synopsis: Voila! Jobs galore. ▪ Get email updates with job Opportunities. We use our number-crunching über computers and well-seasoned job matching expertise to pinpoint jobs that match your skills and interests. We then email you recommendations. How easy is that? Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 9
  • 10. Section 3: (continued) Your Job Search: Finding great work fast 2. Use Watch Lists to follow potential clients. 3. Use the Elance search bar to find jobs. Once you get up to speed, you’ll find lots of companies that are doing the work To use the Search bar on Elance (be sure you toggle to “jobs”), simply type in you love doing. Sounds like a match made in heaven? Simply put the company the project you’re looking for or the skills you have and we’ll give you a list of on your Watch List and you’ll know when they post jobs. You’ll be among the great job opportunities. Browse the selection for projects you’re perfectly suited first to catch their eye! for. Keep checking back too, as new jobs are posted all the time. Keep in mind you can also Narrow Results when searching. Simply type in a general skill, such as “writer” and you’ll land on our Search results page. On the left column, you’ll see options for more-specific job categories for writing, as well as options for Job Type, Budget, Hourly Rate, Featured jobs and more. This can be a real time saver, if you’re focusing on specific projects (which you should be). Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 10
  • 11. Section 3: (continued) Your Job Search: Finding great work fast 4. Respond to Job Invites you receive. 5. Miscellaneous tips, advice and other truths. With your eye-catching Profile and strong skillset, you’re sure to get personally Things to consider when you’re finding jobs on Elance: invited to jobs as well. Especially if you join Elance Groups and follow the other suggestions from the previous section, Your Profile. Be sure to respond quickly ▪ Use multiple forms of communication when conferring with potential to invites, letting them know if you’re interested (or not). clients. Your project Workroom has its own private message board, allowing for email communication. However, sometimes it makes sense to pick up the phone or Skype. Just be sure to wait until the client responds to your proposal– not doing so and providing your contact information up front violates Elance policy. And be sure you and your client always document any decisions in the project’s Workroom. ▪ When searching for jobs, keep in mind whether you prefer Hourly jobs or Fixed Price jobs. Each has its advantages, so decide what works best for you. Hourly jobs are based on a simple principle: An hour paid for an hour worked. The option is particularly popular when the project has a good chance of flexibility, such as the scope may change mid-stream. Freelancers often choose Hourly work because of features like Work View™ and Tracker – where your time is automatically tracked and screenshots submitted to your clients. When work is approved, timesheets are automatically paid. Fixed Priced jobs are generally posted when the client has a good grasp of what the project entails, and there aren’t a lot of details left to the imagination. One benefit is the Elance Escrow feature, where the client funds your job before work begins. When certain pre-determined milestones are met and the client approves the work, payments are automatically released to you. Dennis H. Germany | Web Developer Next: Your Proposal Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 11
  • 12. Section 4: Your Proposal: The perfect pitch Well done. Now that your Profile is a power-packed magnet pointed squarely at 1. Stay in your happy zone, selecting jobs carefully. great businesses (if not, see The Profile section), your next step is pinpointing which businesses are truly great (read: great for you). And then crafting a Just as your Profile Overview can’t position you as all things to all people, nor proposal they can’t refuse. Here is some sage advice: should your job selection process span widely across your field. It’s best to focus, focus, focus on jobs best suited for you. Things to consider: ▪ Find jobs that match your skill and interests. Life is too short to work on projects that neither interest you nor put your best talent to work. ▪ Find jobs with a hearty description. If the client’s job description is vague and feeble, chances are the job will be equally woeful. Keep searching for better opportunities. ▪ Find jobs with the right budget. One good job you can sink your teeth into is better than four small ones that take time and energy ramping up for. However, if you’re brand new to Elance or your category you may need to start small and grow your way to success. ▪ Find jobs that fit your availability. When you’re booked solid and going on a 2-week trip to the islands, pass on monster projects. There will be more big projects when your stress level is back to normal. Ivy F. China | Translator Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 12
  • 13. Section 4: (continued) Your Proposal: The perfect pitch 2. Screen clients as carefully as they’ll screen you. ▪ Find businesses with an established Job History. Although great new businesses come to Elance daily, there is peace-of-mind in finding clients With so many opportunities on Elance, be selective in the businesses you with a solid track record. choose to work with. If it’s not the right match, you’ll just spin your wheels and waste precious energy better used for other clients. A few thoughts: ▪ Find businesses who truly want you. Browse the job posting to make sure you’re what they’re looking for. Check for the Experience and Skills they desire, as well as any Geographic Preferences. Don’t fit? Move on. ▪ Find businesses with Verified Payment. Although it’s not essential, it makes sense to first seek clients who have a payment process in place. Look for the Verified Payment symbol in their job post – a dollar sign among the green icons. ▪ Find businesses with a high Award Ratio. The Award Ratio is a fair indicator of how serious the company is in hiring you. Your time is valuable, so use it wisely. ▪ Find businesses giving regular Feedback. Your status (see Your Reputation section) is based greatly on the Feedback clients leave. Look for partners who are quick to spread the word about your skills. Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 13
  • 14. Section 4: (continued) Your Proposal: The perfect pitch 3. Now write a killer Proposal. After vetting clients and finding a job that looks sensational, it’s time to pounce. Act quickly and set those wheels of getting hired in motion. Naturally a great Proposal is paramount to getting noticed and sealing the deal. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in: ▪ Customize (yes, customize) your Proposal. Clients can spot “cut-and- paste” Proposals from a mile away (1.6 kilometers), giving you the axe instantly. Cookie-cutter responses stand out like a sore thumb and earn you a quick thumbs down. Ask questions too. As well as showing interest, it’s good to begin a two-way dialog between you and the client. ▪ Write in a suitable tone. Much like your Profile Overview, your Proposal should be personable yet professional. Save your 16-letter words for Scrabble, instead explaining yourself in a warm and friendly manner. Make a friend and you’ll get the job. ▪ Be succinct. Be a good editor. Brevity is vital, as clients may be browsing several proposals in a short amount of time. And please, no typos. Firmo S. Spellchecker is your friend. Indonesia | Translator ▪ Show you’re a good listener. Be sure to demonstrate that you’ve read the job posting. Ask good questions, and show interest and enthusiasm. ▪ Ask for the job. Think of your Proposal as an interview. What would you say ▪ Highlight the value you bring. Don’t rely only on your Profile. Be specific to make sure you get called back? Show your enthusiasm and let the person about benefits you bring to this particular job. Spotlight relevant experiences know you want to start the project soon. Oh, thank them for their time too. you’ve had, how you tackled similar jobs and what unique approaches and skills you bring to the table. ▪ Showcase relevant samples. Your Elance Portfolio should be full of awe- inspiring pieces demonstrating your talents, but why not pull some of the more relevant examples and include them directly in your proposal? This gives clients your best, most relevant work without having to search for it. Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 14
  • 15. Section 4: (continued) Your Proposal: The perfect pitch 4. Set a fair price. 5. Consider submitting a Proposal with no price. Clients are inevitably going to get low-priced Proposals from the desperate and If you’re not sure of the requirements, don’t make a wild guess. It can come back uninspired, as well as outrageously high-priced Proposals from others. Don’t worry to haunt you. Instead, on your Proposal check the “Will submit amount later” box. about them. If you’ve proven your worth (see above) you’ll get your fair price. Now, In your Proposal be sure to ask specific questions to get further clarification, and what exactly is a fair price? Here’s a starting point to determine that: reassure the client that you’ll finalize a price based on that information. ▪ Factor in your time and effort. Carefully guesstimate all that’s involved. Make sure to take into account the project’s complexity, time-frame (any 16- hour days needed?) and total effort required. ▪ Research your market. Do your due diligence, deciding who you’re competing against. Get an idea for industry pay averages, starting with Elance’s very own Trends pages where we show you all the top skills being hired on Elance, along with average pay rates. Factor in if you’re offering a premium skill that’s difficult to find. ▪ See things from your client’s perspective. Are you just breaking into the market, or new to Elance and yet to build-up your standing (see Your Reputation section)? Or just the opposite, are you a proven expert with great feedback and ratings? It matters. And realistically, so does your potential client’s past budgets. Look to see what they’ve spent for similar projects. ▪ Decide what you’re worth. Estimate in all honesty what is a fair price for the job at hand. Don’t sell yourself short, reacting to low-ball pricing. If the client wants quality work in a timely manner, they’ll pay you what you deserve. Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 15
  • 16. Section 4: (continued) Your Proposal: The perfect pitch 6. Don’t just sit there, follow-up. 8. Negotiating your price. Once your Proposal is submitted, keep your eye on the ball. Check your My Often a potential client will like what they see, but not see eye-to-eye on Jobs page or Watch List daily for status updates on your potential project. The pricing. This may be a straight-up cost issue, or the scope of the project may client may be asking for additional information. If you change your mind or earn have changed. Either way, keep these thoughts in mind: another job and can’t fit this project into your schedule, be polite and withdraw your bid. You may well come across this client again, and they’ll remember your ▪ Always remain professional. No need to take things personally. You’re a courteousness. professional and you know what you’re worth. Simply explain why you feel you’re asking a fair price. 7. Don’t just sit there, send more Proposals. ▪ Be willing to withdraw your offer. If there is absolutely no wiggle room, Although you want to be selective in the jobs you set your sights on, you also walk away and thank the client for their time. Simply withdraw your offer and want to make sure you cover all of your bases. Your first Proposal is just the move on. beginning. Once that Proposal is submitted, start the process over and find another job that’s perfect. And another. And another. As you build your online ▪ If the price changes, update terms and milestones. When fluctuations work reputation at Elance you’ll want to give yourself lots of opportunities. happen, update all related items in the project. Be especially sensitive to shifting end dates and scope. ▪ Do not work without job funding. While the early bird gets the worm, in some instances he/she gets burned. Don’t be the one who gives away free work. Wait until funding is secured before you log hours. Next: Your Workroom Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 16
  • 17. Section 5: Your Workroom: Where jobs get tackled Congratulations! Your Proposal was accepted and you’re now ready to create ▪ Manage projects. Use your Workroom to keep projects moving smoothly. some magic. With every project you’ll automatically be assigned a secure You can set and update terms, share status reports and have your Elance Workroom where you and your client can collaborate. This is also where timesheets submitted automatically if you’re working on an hourly job. you’ll track progress and ensure you get paid (yeah!). While there are many services and features, here are some highlights of your shared Workroom: ▪ Communicate and collaborate. You’ll find tools for staying in touch (from email to video conferencing), as well as solutions for sharing files and tracking work. Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 17
  • 18. Section 5: (continued) Your Workroom: Where jobs get tackled ▪ Get paid quickly. All the tools for getting paid are included in your ▪ liminate paperwork and busy work. Elance has streamlined the E Workroom. When objectives are successfully met, your money will be process of getting work done, including taking many of the bureaucratic released and sent to you. steps out of the process. Things happen automatically, intuitively and greenly. Mother Nature will thank you. Esteban T. Argentina | iOS Developer Next: Your Reputation Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 18
  • 19. Section 6: Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest With all things being equal, clients will obviously accept the Proposal with the 1. Feedback is important. No, critical. best balance of quality and value. But as we know, not all freelancers are equal in talent nor affordability. That’s where your online reputation comes into play. For each job you work, a client can (and should) leave Feedback ratings to Elance gives you several opportunities to distance yourself from others who share how great it was working with you. may be interested in the same job. Here’s some information on how to put yourself in the best light: Just as clients can leave comments on why they enjoyed working with you, you can also respond with your own Feedback to their comments. It goes without saying that any comments you leave should be professionally worded…as other clients will be able to see them. Sometimes we see freelancers reacting poorly to Feedback received. Don’t get caught up in the negativity. If you disagree with the Feedback left, be sure to remain professional and allow your response to explain the situation. If you feel that a client is pressuring you to change the scope of the work by withholding positive Feedback (example: asking for extra work you didn’t agree to), give us a call. Coercion is a violation of Elance Policy and you deserve better. And remember, Feedback cannot be changed once it’s posted. This is important to remember when asking for Feedback, and when leaving Feedback for your clients. Sarah R. Puerto Rico | Writer Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 19
  • 20. Section 6: (continued) Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest 2. Making sense of My Stats and Level. ▪ Your Level is determined by My Stats. By factoring in the data we accumulate in My Stats, we’re able to assign a numerical number that To help differentiate yourself beyond a Profile and price, Elance has several assesses your level. When you focus on doing great work and building a features for determining your online reputation. These include My Stats and successful online business, your Level will rise accordingly. your Level. My Stats includes a snapshot of your history of work on Elance, while Level is calculated using the numbers from My Stats. Let us explain: Note: Your Level is calculated as a result of a number of factors, from your service delivery and client relationships to marketing performance. Your Level ▪ My Stats is your online work history. Some key numbers we include in will determine where you place in the default search rankings on Elance. My Stats are the number of clients you have (and repeat clients), as well as the number of jobs, milestones and hours you’ve worked on Elance. It also ▪ Key drivers of My Stats and Level. Many factors play into your ultimate includes client Feedback–from recommendations to reviews. numbers, including job Feedback, earnings volume and growth, how you grow client relationships, whether you bid an appropriate price and even your Note: Feedback left by former clients is viewable by potential clients. That’s Elance policy compliance. why it’s important to make sure clients leave Feedback after every successful job and you respond professionally to that Feedback. Good Feedback also elevates your Level. Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 20
  • 21. Section 6: (continued) Your Reputation: Stand out from the rest 3. Managing your Feedback, Stats and Levels. Here are some quick pointers for maximizing your online reputation at Elance: ▪ Always request Feedback from clients. We automatically prompt your clients to provide Feedback once a job is complete, but we can’t force them to do so. If a few days go by and there’s been no Feedback entered, be sure to gently nudge them as a reminder. It may even take a second nudge or more. Be persistent, but not rude. Remember, before accepting a job you can check a potential client’s tendency for giving Feedback. Keep that in mind when sending Proposals. ▪ Respond professionally to Feedback. Whether it’s good or bad, remember that it’s someone’s estimation and respect their opinion. Plus, Feedback can’t be changed once it has been posted. Also, your response will be displayed on your Profile. Do you really want potential clients to see a nasty remark you’ve made to a client? ▪ Use the Elance platform. You’ll complete jobs successfully, get Feedback and receive payment through Elance. ▪ Build strong relationships. To best raise your online reputation, continue to add new clients and achieve repeat work and strong earnings from them. Dayna B. Canada | Illustrator ▪ Dot your “i”s and cross your “t”s. Be diligent in the details provided in this guide. Create a strong Profile, submit quality Proposals for relevant jobs, price your services within customary budget ranges and ensure the work is awarded and completed on Elance. Next: Your Reminder Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 21
  • 22. Section 7: Your Reminder: Rules to keep you safe Your security is paramount at Elance. Naturally we want you to take advantage of all the great features and services we offer to help you Work Differently™. Our guidance is simple: Stay on Elance, Get Paid on Elance. Using the job’s Workroom and Terms & Milestones areas to document costs, deliverables and other decisions related to your work is critical. Elance is here to help, but we can only rely on the information provided in the Workroom. Using Work View™ and Elance Escrow are great ways to manage your payments on Elance and will give you and your client the confidence to hit the ground running. Keep these rules in mind at all times: ▪ Never take jobs off Elance. If clients ask you to work outside of the Elance platform, a warning bell should go off in your head. Something is not right. If you agree, it’s against Elance rules and you’re in danger of getting scammed. You will lose all protection Elance affords you. Period. ▪ Refuse (and let Elance know) if clients: - Ask you for financial accounts Gillian W. Jamaica | Writer - Ask you to buy anything to complete their job - Ask you to work on a job Elance has disallowed - Are not officially listed on Elance ▪ Never create custom samples. Again, don’t give out your work for free. Use your Portfolio (and prolific powers of persuasion) to sell yourself. If you make samples before the job is awarded there’s a good chance you’ll never hear from them again. Next: You’re Hired Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 22
  • 23. Section 8: You’re Hired: Go do an awesome job With your incredible skills and the know-how gleaned from this handy Speaking of which, be on the look-out for follow-up jobs. Freelancer’s Guide, you’re sure to be an awesome success on Elance. And as we mentioned previously, long-term client relationships is something Remember, your online reputation is a major driver in growing your business. that will only help you be more successful on Elance. When you’re finished with So be sure to go the extra mile/kilometer to do a great job. Feedback is an a project, don’t be shy about suggesting other work you can do. Clients are important tool for attracting new clients. Exceptional work will also help you get sometimes so focused on their to-do list that they don’t realize opportunities a second and third job from each client too. that may be in the peripheral. Enlighten them (in a non-pushy way). In short, become an invaluable partner. So go get yourself some online freelance jobs and do an awesome job. We’re excited to have you on the team! If you’re looking for additional help on earning more money at Elance, check out these resources: Elance Help Center Elance Official Blog Hiring Trends Terms of Service Elance Webinar Sign Up Water Cooler Member Forum Sam B. Cheers, Australia | Writer The Elance Team Elance: A Freelancer’s Guide | 23