|
|
|
| Tue, Nov. 24 - - Mobile - RSS | |
|
|
Writer for hire. Web site lets freelancers market themselves
Elance helps free lancers and small businesses connect.
Date published: 7/30/2006
By Kafia Hosh As a ghost writer, Jeff Haden has penned an assortment of books for a wide variety of clients. He wrote a real estate manuscript for a French mortgage banker, a book about pregnancy for a Seattle-based doctor and a guide on cultivating roses for a landscape artist in Peru. Haden, a 46-year-old ad agency executive, earns extra income by writing from the comfort of his Harrisonburg home. "I get paid whether the book sells or not," he said. His secret? He finds writing work on Elance, a virtual marketplace where freelancers bid on business projects. "The cool thing about Elance is that if you're good at writing, you have a good work ethic and you do a good job for people, there's plenty of work out there," Haden said. But Elance is not limited to writers. There are a slew of design, Web development, marketing and programming projects up for grabs. "It doesn't matter what you do, chances are virtual work can offer you something unique," said Fabio Rosati, Elance president and chief executive officer of the Silicon Valley-based company. "There's an almost unlimited use." Elance works by allowing businesses or individuals to post specific projects online. Service providers, or freelancers, then bid competitively on the projects. A freelancer's experience and the price he's willing to accept to complete an assignment help determine whether he wins a bid. There is also a rating system in place where buyers can give feedback on their experiences with a service provider. If you're a buyer "it really matters to you who else has used this provider and what they have to say," said Rosati. "The rating system makes or breaks you," Haden said. The lure of Elance is that it creates work opportunities for those who may not have access to a wide variety of jobs. Haden was able to freelance for clients across the U.S. and around the globe from his Southwest Virginia location. And Web designers in Ohio or computer programmers in India can market their skills on Elance. There's also significant earning potential for Elance's service providers.
Date published: 7/30/2006
|
 |
|||
|
|||
