1. Advertise everywhere you possibly can think of for freelance staff 2. After initial application make all potential prospects do a small 5-10 minute job to asses if they can follow instructions (80% can't). 3. Pick a small number of the best people to start working for you. 4. After a week or so it will be very clear who is the best. Keep the best - dump the rest.
Here is another article to read... for freelancers especially writers and for project owners..http://myseoblog.net/2008/03/25/scam-behind-article-writing/
I just went to odesk.com and they have an extensive hiring process that you can put prospective employees through. What it boils down to is putting your due diligence in.
Nice tips there. Since I have a few niche sites, I would want to have some freelance writers writing for my article marketing campaign as well.
I'm taking the first steps in order to start my own writing services company, so this thread was really timely for me. Thank you all for sharing these tips and links.
Especially while looking freelancing work through forums, to get testimonials and referring from senior members, consider offering one service to them free of charge or on very cheaper rate if it is a big project because their testimonials can be very effective for you to get more jobs.
Good ones will not bother to do small jobs for unknown client. If they are awsome they are the ones who set the rules as well. In last few years whole system of cheaper rates and dirty small jobs ruining this industry pretty hard. I don't know any other industry where it's going on in such big size. Most successful freelancers I know works directly with middle sized companies (not individuals, individuals don't have any serious money) and will not bother about anything you wrote. Why ? You described only what you look for with zero for them. Rest just goes to jobs and work on own projects in free time. Cause in the end job starts pay the same and even more considering big inflation. I assume you mainly talk about 3rd world freelancers. Cause USA guys will not work for $10 per hour. rentacoder.com online-writing-jobs.com elance.com craigslist.org Were very good 3-5 years ago. Today are flooded with 100,000s of coders and income falls greatly. Sure sites still get the income cause it's their business model but not long-term for you as coder. All above made all serious professionals run from that sources if exactly any appears. These site greatly limits your business activities and just can be described as franchise - ready made business solution. That was point of view from other side.
SEOLinker, Actually what I suggested here for a newbie, those need job at entry level in a very competitive world, they need an opportunity to prove their capability, they need to build a portfolio and get few testimonials before facing the direct competition, we should never forget people get more jobs on relationship and references, that is the power of word of mouth.
toooo many freelancer and designers working for pennies. One time on scriptlance i saw a bid for $6 for a custom logo and scriptlance has a $5 service fee. That means the guy was making $1. Im not sure if he was aware of this or not, but that is how bad the freelancing workplace is getting. There are also too many amateur freelancers now, they also take all the business, nobody bothers with the whole going through the hiring process, freelance is meant to be quick cash....in my view
bobchrist, I hear you and understand. What I mean there is no need to make it (even that few jobs) on freelance sites/DP. It mostly leading nowhere. And word of mouth...yes, it works well. Problem is that you have been referenced and known as cool but cheap guy and you may even get LOTS of such work. Is it worth it ? I don't think so. Doing this just for fun make some money on internet - maybe. It's cool on start, I know it. Later you either take it on a serious level or quit. By taking it on serious level I don't mean continue being on DP/freelance sites. Tobitdotman, yep, things are going very bad. These site really need to start feed out non-clients ($1, $2, $10 clients which are mostly more stress than money) and make some test to pass for coders absolutely. I don't mind paying more for that. Oh ...and about keep the best - dump the rest. Actually you just will hire best from the worst. That's it
Dont forget to get a signed contract... Nothing sucks more when they take content from other places and you don't know about it, then get sued. Contracts, license, etc. Always plan to be big, because when that day comes, and the buyer wants to see your rights for the content, and you can only pull up emails, your screwed once more.
Maybe you have had a difficult experience but I've got some awesome people working for me and I found it using the method I described. Its not easy and you have to chase good people and sometimes give them a bit of training - but when you have one person running a website, for you part time, making it grown, consistently saying how much they like their job, and getting a00% ROI I can't complain Where did I say I pay $10/hour. I pay more for better people but thats not to say you can't get really good hourly rates from talented people if you look hard enough. I agree there is a lot of companies and individuals taking advantage of freelancers in this industry - I used to be a freelance writer so I know what its like. But thats not to say you still can't get awesome staff - in fact with so many companies taking advantage when you offer a real opportunity for people they jump at it. There's a company that I know that takes advantage of lots of freelance writers and pays them practically nothing through a dumb revenue share scheme - when I want a good writer I just look through the people writing for these sites, pick a good one and approach them with a deal - I never fail to get a good writer that way.
GuRu.com has a large selection of freelance Workers that will bid on your project. Happy Net Working, Karl
I have no problem in my business finding joint ventures or telemarketers. I quite simply offer them 50% of the profits or 500 per sale. I have had many successful telemarketers make 1000 per week part time for me while I make money too. Win win situation. I would rather trade money for time.