More Problems for Writers at Elance
I’ve never liked elance much. Although the idea of providing a market place for writers, designers, and etc. is a good one, elance’s public bidding simply means the price for projects just get driven down. However, some freelance writers have made a decent career from elance work.
Jennifer, a freelance writer who blogs at CatalystBlogger, wrote about why she was leaving elance back in November. On December 12, she talked about the fallout from much touted changes at the bidding site.
It doesn’t sound good. What I’m afraid of, however, is that elance will continue to attract beginning and desperate writers which will continue to drive the price down for many. My suggestion? Stay away from elance after you get a credit or two. You deserve better.
Write well and often,
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10 opinions for More Problems for Writers at Elance
Jennifer
Dec 17, 2007 at 3:20 pm
It may still be possible to catch a few well-paying jobs now and then on Elance if you’re a well-established provider there; a lot of writers are upset by the changes but are sticking around to see how the chips fall. But for new writers, Elance has just become a very unfriendly place. I don’t recommend that anyone sign up for Elance as a newbie anymore. Elance buyers typically hire newbies because they’re cheaper than others; they don’t have an established track record of projects and client comments yet. New Elancers have to bid aggressively and underbid others to land their first few projects. With the new “connect” system the way it is, it’s becoming very expensive to adopt such an aggressive strategy. My prediction is that it will take Elance newbies longer than before to land their first projects, it will cost them more to earn those projects–and they’ll still be underpaid for their work.
Bridget Wright
Dec 17, 2007 at 3:40 pm
When I first began freelancing, I signed up with elance. And, just like in the post and in Jennifer’s comments, they proved to be very unuser-friendly to beginners. I found more work and had better luck when I went it on my own, following online leads and referrals. This is the way I would suggest for other newbies to go. It worked for me.
Anne Wayman
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:39 am
Thanks for the update.
Anne Wayman
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:57 am
I’m with you Bridget…
Lori
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:00 am
Excellent advice, Anne. I too have never been an elance fan, and Jennifer’s posts (as well as Kathy’s over at Irreverent Freelancer) have convinced me that paid sites in general are just a bad idea.
By the way, I’m sending you some link love today on the goal-setting post. :)
IrreverentFreelancer
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:24 am
Oh yeah, Jennifer is SO right. I’m a well-established provider there and still can pick up occasional quality jobs. That’s the ONLY reason I’m still there. For a long time I’ve felt it’s not the place for new writers to get started, and things have only gotten worse since the recent restructure.
Allena
Dec 18, 2007 at 11:39 am
I started at freelance and still occasionally go there when things get slow. THank god it’s less and less. I don’t want to disparage them completely because three of my top returning clients are from there- including my highest paying, best editing client. BUT those changes really screwed things up.
THE WORST PART? Technical difficulties. I am NOT getting my email notifications, or am getting them sporadically. My clients and potential cleints contact me and I don’t get it until it’s too late. I get electronic notifications days late sometimes!
I always recommended them to beginners because it’s part of how I started and it’s where I got some of my best clients, but lately…UGH!
Anne Wayman
Dec 19, 2007 at 9:44 am
with all these problems, wonder if it’s working for employers?
Lori
Dec 20, 2007 at 8:08 am
Very good question. I wonder how much their posting fees have gone up, and how complicated it’s become for them? My guess? Probably not very complicated at all. Without the job postings, ELance and their ilk would have nothing to peddle beyond our incredible talents, and then they’d have to be nice to us. ;))
Anne Wayman
Dec 20, 2007 at 8:36 am
It would be interesting also to know if employers stick with elance or move on… probably some do and some don’t.
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