Hello Everyone,

I was going to through my stuff this morning and found my login information for this website ELance.com I was wondering, have any of you had a good experience in this site as far as finding a good a job and keeping the client?

Need your advise.

Thanks

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Karla Amaya, Your Practical Admin
http://www.yourpracticaladmin.com

Good clients from sites like Elance and Guru.com are far and few, in between.

Unfortunately, most project posters on those kind of sites are looking to get the 'greatest deal' over actual quality.

They both used to be pretty decent sources a few years ago, but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise you will be competing with students or those with less experience that low ball a quote, and contractors from other countries that can afford to quote lower, too.

Hi Linda,

That's true, but some clients only require minimum stuff like type up a document, and update a spreadsheet and so on. I guess I'll just keep an eye to see what's going on.

Thanks,

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Karla Amaya, Your Practical Admin
http://www.yourpracticaladmin.com

Hi Karla,
I currently have one client through Elance.com. I got extremely lucky with him, it just ended that he worked in a Christian publishing business and I currently work full-time at a church. My capabilities fitted his VERY specified needs. However, I was competing with people from the Philippines who were going to charge him $5 an hour. I signed up for Elance when I just first started to read about this field, which was actually not that long ago, and after reading a lot in this forum, it does not seem like there is a lot of potential future through Elance or guru.com. Many people have succeeded providing services on their own in this forum, so I take that as encouragement and am planning to find clients on my own. I will actually make money doing that way, which in the end will make my job more enjoyable. Hope this helps.

Julie

HI Julie,

Thanks, it sure helps alot. I think I'll just keep it open as another option.

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Karla Amaya, Your Practical Admin
http://www.yourpracticaladmin.com

It seems if the VA work on elance can be performed by someone who does not have a good grasp of the english language then the level of pay goes down. So re-typing, data entry and things like that will be low ball, but business writing, research and reports fair a little better but not much.

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Wendy Harrison, www.wendy-works.com
Go virtual and you'll never go back.

I haven't found a project yet that I want to bid on and think I will probably delete my profile. Most of the "admin work" is about getting contact info from web sites for spammers. I am also listed under legal, not much of interest there either, unless working for $2 per hour apeals to you. And, I don't have any trouble getting clients on my own, so don't want to pay a fee to Elance for a crummy low end assignment.

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Virtual Bankruptcy Paralegal
www.bkprep4u.com

I see a lot of freelancers working for such a low amount. I am not sure how useful those sites will really be.....

Elance and Guru are great if you are looking for quick work. Unfortunately most clients are looking for students and overseas workers. I had bid on a few projects at half of my hourly rate in order to build a profile, however I soon found out that if I am lucky I would land jobs at half the rate it became a very frustrating process.

I have actually worked with several clients from elance.com, it was very good work and wonderful pay. The clients I found actually told me they were looking for quality and not just low prices. I believe if you have the qualifications on some of the jobs on Elance, they client will be willing to pay a higher price. It is all just a matter of finding the right job.
Thanks,
Heavenlea