Have you ever used one of those online gig-finding sites to get more work? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out Elance.com or Guru.com.
I responded to a post on Freelance Switch yesterday about this and it prompted me to expand on the discussion.
In the past year I’ve used one of the bid sites regularly to find “gigs.” It was that twitchy, fear-based part of me that wondered if I was missing out on a steady flow of clients. It sounds simple enough. As someone looking for work, you pay them to bid on projects that “clients” post. If the “client” accepts your bid, then congratulations to you, the lucky winner. You get to sing “I’ve Got the Golden Ticket” all afternoon.
I got three gigs this year from one of those sites. In fact, one of my best clients is someone I found through a project posted on a bid site. After that first project, we’ve worked exclusively outside the bid site realm.
That is an extremely low number of projects won when you consider that I viewed over 2,000 and bid on less than a quarter of them.
The thing is, I was looking for the top projects, posted by people who were paying what was close to my rate. I was very selective, which resulted in plenty of sifting and researching. Admittedly not the best way to approach the bid site freelancing model.
Is the bid site model for you? Maybe. Here’s how to tell:
1. You have time (or help) to sort through glittering gems like these:
“Need 1,000 icons for huge global brand web site. I want them by Monday. Don’t bid unless you can do it for under $250. Great for student or someone who needs work for their portfolio.”
2. You need some quick cash. The thing is, most people posting on these sites are looking for the cheapest and quickest they can get. If you’re in famine mode, it’s possible to get some quick projects going if you’re willing to work for bargain-basement rates.
3. You don’t mind stepping outside your niche. Hey, if I had to, I could tweak someone’s PowerPoint presentation in a jiffy. If I don’t have any work in children’s publishing, why not use a skill I already have?
Stuff to Watch Out For
If you’re going to do it, just be careful out there. A few things to keep an eye on:
1. Fees. Make sure you account for the bid site’s fees when bidding an amount. It can take a big chunk out of what’s already a small source of revenue.
2. Submitting spec work. People can be sneaky. Unless you’ve got the green light (a signed proposal), don’t send sketches or concepts. They can take your stuff and use it without paying you. Sound like fun?
3. Portfolio crap. If you accumulate enough quick & cheap work, don’t expect to have a lot of samples for your portfolio. At some point, you need to step off the treadmill and create something that’s not quick and cheap.
You can probably guess that I don’t use the bid sites much anymore. I get curious and I look at project listings now and then, but thankfully I haven’t had to rely on it exclusively.
One of the things that’s turned me off is the prospect of bidding on projects for people I’ve never even spoken to. A large part of my work is consulting with my clients, so blind bidding doesn’t fit my business model. I like to work with real people I can actually talk to and make a connection with. That doesn’t happen often on the bid sites, so it’s not my favorite.
To sum up, finding work on bid sites can be a good way to prime the pump and generate some extra income. Just don’t make it your prime model if you want to work on high-end projects.
