Once upon a time - I paid for job leads at a website (that now I go to when I need to get some people to work with me on projects). It worked for a minute -simply because I got 1 (yes ONE) client- and he decided to stay with me even after I let my membership run out.
Someone mentioned jobs going for $3 to people in India, this is so true. So be careful when you sign up for anything. If you can have a trial before paying - go and see for free what its like, look and see what these people are paying and what the pros are actually charging.
After hanging around several successful VAs I've come to know that you can get clients WITHOUT paying for work. So again just be careful.
I've been very leary of anyone asking to pay for job listings. It doesn't seem right.
Haven't tried elance or any of the others. Has anyone had success with the RFP's posted on this site?
I have been a member of Elance for a while but haven't started the paid membership yet as i'm not sure whether it would be worth it. Has any one else used elance (not just the basic membership but paid)? did it help you find work?
I used Virtual Assistants.com but never received work so I cancelled my membership. I joined Elance and did receive work. I think I might have another possibility lined up. I am new at this plus working full-time. If I am to attend a networking event I would need to take the day off of work. Can't do that right now. Getting some work from Elance will give me some experience working virtually and hopefully I'll get a client.
I used VA.com for about 6 months no bites and canceled the membership. I don't think I should have to pay to get work...that is only going to pay me about $3-5 hourly.
I wont pay for work. I have done that before, it didnt work out for me. I would rather spend my time learning something new to offer. Right now SEO seems to be what I am into and I think if I commit to it every day, it will bring more clients in.. imo that would be much better than bidding on the bottom of the barrel... sorry, thats what it felt like to me... a bunch of ants trying to eat each other! very frustrating.
Don't you think it's really weird that no one gets any work through VirtualAssistants.com? I was signed up there for several months, and not even one bite or nibble. The listings seem to be current and legit ... but it's notable that several of us here had the same experience.
I don't do eLance anymore, either, though I paid for it for a few months and did get some jobs. Finally, I realized how much more to the point, and actually how much easier it is to find my own clients. eLance clients tended to remain strangers, one-off jobs, not that ideal for a VA biz.
I have to give credit where credit is due...I got my first paying client on VirtualAssistants.com. We have been working on a contract basis for over 1 month now. She was new to the site, the same week I was and liked my posting. We "clicked" right off the bat. That is the only offer I have gotten, but it has paid for my membership.
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Angie
Blue Water Business Services
I found my first client throught elance and it has been a good experience, but there are too many downfalls. Elance takes over 8% of the money you are paid. Then, if they send that money to Paypal, they will take their portion as well. Also, it is very hard to get good paying jobs on elance as they are many times awarded to the off shore companies or individuals that get paid as little as $0.25 an hour...yes twenty five cents!
Unfortunately, most of my elance jobs have been $50 project jobs.
Re: Has anyone used Virtual Assistants.com?
very frustrating.
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