Fastlaners, How Would You Make Elance/oDesk Better?

[James Fake]

<div class="bbWrapper">Hey Fastlaners,<br /> If you&#039;ve followed me before, I just launched Fendza and recently started a 2nd venture called <a href="http://www.freelanceful.com" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="noopener">Freelanceful.com</a> (<a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/progress-threads/32190-progress-thread-james-f-startup-2-a.html" class="link link--internal">Progress threads here</a>)..<br /> <br /> Anyways, so I am sure there are quite a few folks on the Fastlane that have used Elance or oDesk before... what I would like to know is:<br /> <br /> <b>How would you make it better?</b> Sharing your experiences, problems, or success stories..</div>

 

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[malourdesa]

<div class="bbWrapper"><b>How I made it in Elance.</b><br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="JamesF" data-source="post: 165447" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=165447" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-165447">JamesF said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Hey Fastlaners,<br /> If you&#039;ve followed me before, I just launched Fendza and recently started a 2nd venture called <a href="http://www.freelanceful.com" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Freelanceful.com</a> (<a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/progress-threads/32190-progress-thread-james-f-startup-2-a.html" class="link link--internal">Progress threads here</a>)..<br /> <br /> Anyways, so I am sure there are quite a few folks on the Fastlane that have used Elance or oDesk before... what I would like to know is:<br /> <br /> <b>How would you make it better?</b> Sharing your experiences, problems, or success stories.. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> I got a job back even when I didnt have anything in my portfolio in Elance because <br /> <br /> <br /> (1) I completed my profile and wrote there every detail i think that was important for a client to know about my capabilities.<br /> <br /> <br /> (2)I wrote down what I had experience or skills in, even if I didnt have any proof yet. Later on, a client will know if you really know the task you are applying for because it will show more clearly in how you explain what you will do to give the result or in how you ask about the task. He or she will trust you, and eventually you will get a job.<br /> <br /> <br /> (3)If you do have previous work now, or sample of different things you have done, put them in your portfolio.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Be persistent and choose the jobs you want to apply for wisely.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> Newbies can&#039;t have sig links. When you signed up you agreed to follow forum rules. Runum</div>

 

[theBiz]

<div class="bbWrapper">As you learn more about outsourcing you can filter talent easier. Here is the problem. If someone says they want their website done the &quot;right&quot; way.... what does that even mean. It took me a year to even figure that out. Its not cut and dry which sucks. I want a messaging system that 1,000 users can use. Ok then they make it and its coded inefficiently and is using a ton of resources. How would you even know to think that off the start. There are so many legitimate businesses making money who just want something to do X and Y and work. I say you add a consulatation service. Something thinking small, but it really is not if people move over to your service. Give me a 1-800 number where i call and have to pay X amount per hour to talk to a certified freelancifier. Show me videos of them helping people out, ,make it personal. I personally know people who have asked me well cant i just pay someone to help me plan it? Apparently not.<br /> <br /> Web develpers do what you tell them. People need someone who will help them &quot;architect&quot; there job. So instead of posting a job&quot; i need small business website&quot; they will say i want a .php site built with XYZ and extremely detailed.<br /> <br /> Im being serious, it really is needed. It will be a hard sell at first because its a new concept but thats why i said show videos... start the video by showing someone paying and it not working, then say but NOW ... and then go into someone calling, a nice guy helping him etc. You can even do one of those stick figure animations, put it right on the home page. Outsource the consultation services at first , after a while you can use US based guys. Honestly if i could pay $30-50 per hour and talk to someone who knew there stuff and help me architect it properly when spending 10k on as project, its nothing and worth it. When i started out i definitely would of used it too. The site is nice but PLEASE do something drastically different, there are so many competitors, you need this 1 on 1 approach to succeed IMO.<br /> <br /> Outsourcing and using people in different states for cheaper labor gives no one an advantage when they do not get what they expect, and that is the case on these websites. A logo.... no you see the portfolio, you like them... its pretty straight forward, websites and software are not at all though.<br /> <br /> <br /> You want to be this company..<br /> <br /> <br /> <i><b>Jimmy:</b> Im going to develop voice recognition software for a website.</i><br /> <b>Mike:</b> LOL, you know nothing about software development<br /> <i><b>Jimmy:</b> Im going to call freelancify....</i><br /> <b>Mike: </b> Oh.</div>

 

[kwerner]

<div class="bbWrapper">Quit spamming the forum Rob.</div>

 

[domainflipguy]

<div class="bbWrapper">Kwerner, I&#039;m not spamming at all. I&#039;m trying to help others and simply putting my information in the posts.</div>

 

[kwerner]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="domainflipguy" data-source="post: 193832" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=193832" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-193832">domainflipguy said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Kwerner, I&#039;m not spamming at all. I&#039;m trying to help others and simply putting my information in the posts. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> 14 posts in 2 hours of signing up + dropping your phone number &amp; website links = spamming</div>

 

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[domainflipguy]

<div class="bbWrapper">I&#039;ve sent you a message. Can we please contain this conversation there. Thanks.</div>