| As a freelance writer, there is one activity that takes | | | | board. Communication must occur through personal |
| up as much of my time as writing does and that's | | | | email, telephone or chat, whichever the provider and |
| looking for work. Once you find work, your next | | | | buyer agree upon. In some ways this is easier, |
| concern is whether or not you'll get paid. And if I do get | | | | however, emails can get lost or go to SPAM boxes, |
| paid, how long will it take? | | | | chats get turned off and phone calls can be missed. |
| As a freelancer, there are numerous sites to choose | | | | And there's no communal workspace where all the |
| from on which you can bid on projects. Two popular | | | | communications are tracked. There's ample |
| sites today are Elance and oDesk. From the | | | | opportunity for miscommunication here. |
| homepage, you might think that these two sites are | | | | Quality of Projects |
| pretty similar. After all, they both state that there's | | | | As a provider, the last thing you want to do is spend |
| guaranteed work with guaranteed payment. A | | | | hours communicating with a potential buyer, who may |
| freelancer's dream come true, right? | | | | not even have a whole lot of potential. Emails, phone |
| Let's compare the two: | | | | calls, and chats all take time that you could be |
| Elance Guarantees both Hourly and Fixed Price Work | | | | spending on your current projects or looking for |
| All fixed price projects on Elance use escrow. Escrow | | | | serious projects. One way that Elance ensures quality |
| is pretty straightforward and it's safe for both the | | | | projects is by testing the committal level of buyers. |
| buyer and the provider. The buyer funds the account | | | | They do this by charging a $10 activation fee to |
| and they release it when the project is completed. If | | | | ensure that the buyer has a legitimate form of |
| for some reason they forget to release the funds, | | | | payment to pay providers for the work they perform. |
| they are automatically released 30 days later. It might | | | | This must be completed before the buyer can post |
| take some time, but you're guaranteed payment. | | | | any projects. |
| Elance is also able to guarantee their hourly projects | | | | On oDesk, buyers can post as many projects as they |
| as well. This is done by the provider using Tracker with | | | | want and communicate with all of the providers that |
| Work View. Essentially Work View takes screenshots | | | | they want and never even award a single project. |
| as you work on a project and hours billed must | | | | They advertise that it's "free to post jobs and |
| correspond. Your hours are also automatically paid | | | | interview contractors," but that's not necessarily a |
| when timesheets are sent, unless a client identifies | | | | good thing. There's nothing worse than talking with a lot |
| certain hours as not being related to the project. | | | | of buyers who are just testing the waters and never |
| I don't typically work on an hourly basis; it's still good to | | | | result in a paying project. |
| know that your hourly work is guaranteed. And since | | | | Granted, there is nothing that requires a buyer to |
| 99% of my projects use escrow, I like having the | | | | award a project on Elance, but it seems to attract a |
| security of escrow.oDesk Only Guarantees Hourly | | | | higher quality buyer and higher quality projects. |
| Work | | | | Another indication of quality of jobs are the budgets |
| Although oDesk does guarantee that you will receive | | | | allowed by both websites. Elance has a minimum bid |
| payment for hourly work (and it is tracked in a similar | | | | of $50, while oDesk actually has an estimated budget |
| fashion to Elance), they don't have escrow. This | | | | level of $5! Unfortunately, there are a few projects |
| makes oDesk great for providers who do work on an | | | | that most providers can do for only $5 and quality |
| hourly basis, but if you work on a project by project | | | | providers charge more than $5 per hour. |
| basis, there's no escrow system to guarantee your | | | | Conclusion |
| payment. | | | | I am certain that there are numerous providers on |
| Communicating through Elance | | | | oDesk that are doing well for themselves and that's |
| Elance offers a variety of tools to assist you in | | | | great. However, from my perspective and I've been |
| communicating with your clients as well as ensuring | | | | doing this for several years, oDesk just doesn't provide |
| that the project flows smoothly. Once you are | | | | the level of security that I need as a provider. If my |
| awarded a project, you have access to a Private | | | | business is to be successful, then I have to know that |
| Message Board with Real Time Chat, File Sharing with | | | | I'm protected through the site that I choose to work |
| Version Control, Project Terms with Milestones and | | | | through and pay a membership to. Elance offers me |
| Comments, Status Reports and Timesheets, Autopay | | | | that security. Sure, there are times when projects go |
| on hourly projects and Escrow for fixed price projects. | | | | awry and I don't always come out on the better end |
| All of these tools allow you to document the project | | | | of the deal and I may lose money, but at least I know |
| and all details associated with it. You can discuss the | | | | that the decision we came to is a fair one for both |
| project prior to the award and after on the private | | | | provider and buyer. |
| message board; business terms are then set up with | | | | Escrow is the main focus of importance for me and |
| the necessary milestones and escrow is funded. | | | | the support system that surrounds it. Anyone that is |
| Throughout the entire process, everything is | | | | venturing out into the freelance marketplace, either as |
| documented so you can refer back to any messages | | | | a designer, writer, administrative assistant or other |
| to ensure you're both on the same page. | | | | consultant, should consider the payment security |
| Communicating through oDeskoDesk offers the Work | | | | system of any website they choose to work through |
| Diary, which tracks the amount of time you spend | | | | long and hard. Sure, you can always charge half up |
| working on a project, but that's about it. You don't have | | | | front and half upon completion, but there's no |
| the many tools that Elance offers you to help you | | | | guarantee that you're going to get that second half. |
| work. In fact, there's not even a private message | | | | Escrow ensures you get all that you're due. |