Thread: What would you do to outpeform other bidders?

competitive rates.

I suggest that instead of lowering your price, add more value.

Good point.. thanks!

You might consider doing it for a lot less and let the buyer know that you are looking to get your feet wet and that is why your offer is lower then the others. Also make sure to show them that you are able to do the job with examples of your work.

A lot of folks try to compete on price point. Long term, not the best solution. There will ALWAYS be someone cheaper b.c. they will be younger, hungrier or come from a place where the cost of living is less.

Many will low-ball a bid, get the contract, and then make up for the lowball bid by hitting the client w/change orders. NOT the way to go, IMHO.

Instead focus on SERVICE. Outstanding Customer Service layered on honest communiction, built upon a solid work ethic and committment to one's promise. Long term, SERVICE is what travels fastest through word of mouth. The joy of a well-delivered product LONG outlasts the fleeting moment of a cheap price...

I see, thank you guys!

Showcase your portfolio. If you don't have one yet, get some material up quick. It doesn't have to be published sites, but it's important to showcase your skills.

Providing outstanding service is very important but people can't see that service until they hire you.

Thank you all for the input!

There are a lot of things you can do to attract attention if you're new to the freelance game...below are some suggestions to help get you started.

1. create a stellar profile for yourself
The first thing any employer looks at after your initial response is your profile. You need to make sure you write a short little bio about yourself or company and keep it short to the point. You should also have an image of some kind. Preferably a professional looking portrait to portray a sense of professionalism. This can also be your companies logo, but I believe a personal picture works better to let the employer know you're real and to form a connection.

You also want to complete any necessary tests (like odesk has) to show you know your stuff.

2. create a simple website/portfolio area
You want to showcase your past work. When you're trying to get web design/coding jobs, you NEED to show past work examples. Without these, you'll struggle to get any work at all. Think about creating a simple website that shows your past work, and talks a little about yourself or company. Having a simple site to showcase your work will increase the amount of jobs you receive tremendously. You should also include your website address in your profile and with any job application you put in.

If you don't have any past work, create some now. Throw something together if you have to. This is critical when the employer is deciding on if they should hire you. Also, as you complete jobs, make sure you add these to your portfolio/website each time. You want to keep building and showing what you're capable of.

3. Price accordingly.
When you first start out you need to look at what the average job rate is. What are people in other countries charging for their services? For oDesk, people set a budget number. You'll want to bid a little lower then that number to attract their attention if you're new. After you complete a job or 2, simply bid what their budget is. Never overbid on a project. If the budget is set too low, simply don't apply.

The fact is that on these freelance websites USA workers always hold the advantage. If you can price your work anywhere near the Indian companies to begin, you'll find success. After you have some work experience behind you, you can start charging premium rates simply because you're USA based. This is true for other countries where English is the primary language, or where you're capable of speaking good English yourself.

4. Job selection
This is probably the most important part of finding the right job. At first you're going to have to not be as picky when it comes to applying. Apply for any job that offers reasonable pay for the work to build up your reputation. After you get a job or 2, begin becoming very selective with who you decide to work for. It's very important you work with an understanding, easy to communicate with employer that pays well. This will lessen any future headaches and problems. Trust me on this.

Also, when searching for jobs to apply for, you should only apply to employers who have paid workers in the past. You can set your search options to always show this on most sites. Avoid the new employers because they are usually hesitant to hire (wastes your app credits), don't know how to communicate or know what they need, and are just best to avoid. Look for employers who have paid out at least once, and make sense in their job description. If you have a hard time reading their job description, you can imagine what it will be like to work for them.

If you follow the above tips, you'll eventually find steady work, and be well on your way to achieving freelance success.