hey everyone ive finally made enough to invest in my first big project, (which is still pretty small considering some of the high rollers that hang out here). can anyone point me to a few good sites to get talented coder/designers for a web 2.0 site. so far im looking into getafreelancer.com any tips for a first time service buyer on how not to get screwed over? and is it a good idea in general to hire the same person to do coding AND graphics (i need some high quality gfx)? if there
No, it is very bad idea, if you realy whants ti make big project. You have to find good team, not one person. If you knows russian, i can advice you some sites
Actually I don't know what you mean by "cheap". You can try these sites: http://www.elance.com/ http://getafreelancer.com/ http://scriptlance.com/ I guess you could find some "cheap" designers/coders there.
Also http://RentACoder.Com - There are lots of very good programmers on there. Advice for first timers? Don't choose the cheapest bidder. Choose someone with some relevant experience, and lots of previous work on the site with plenty of good feedback. Make sure the site you choose has some sort of escrow system to protect you from unscrupulous coders, and make sure you abide by all the site's rules of communication and conduct (like not using MSN to chat with the coders unless all conversations are documented on the site for example). And remember, as is often the case - you get what you pay for!
I would post a hiring ad at http://www.sitepoint.com or run a contest there. Have had great success with both in the past.