Freelancer or Odesk

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Simon H

Who has outsourced their work to Freelancer or Odesk.

Any major success or horror stories? Please share.

I've done some freelance work via oDesk as an astrologer and an affiliate for an online business and I've had no reason to complain. Only one client gave me bad feedback which made me sorry I agreed to take on her job.

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Joe Mobley 13 years ago

I can not speak for Freelancer but I highly recommend oDesk.com.

Hope this helps,

Joe Mobley
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- BradRich 13 years ago
  
  I have used odesk several times. I have had some do jobs for me and not do what I needed them to, so you have to be very specific and it is difficult to keep in touch with them because of the time difference. But, they do give you the option to not pay the worker if they did a bad job so you never have to worry about being out of pocket for a service you didn't like. I really like to use odesk and I always get several samples first before I hire anyone.
  
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Headfirst

13 years ago

I hire on Odesk a lot, its a mixed bag. I've done much more through scriptlance over the years and prefer script lance for some reasons and odesk for others.

I like the odesk interface, but I despise their system of agencies.

They need a toggle switch that prevents agencies from applying to postings if I dont want to deal with them.

The best solution I've come up with to avoid agency spam is to include a keyword towards the end of the posting and require that applicants use that keyword as the first word of their response.

Any responses that dont begin with the keyword I mark as spam.

It's the only solution I've found so far.

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Capitalist_Pig

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Headfirst

I hire on Odesk a lot, its a mixed bag. I've done much more through scriptlance over the years and prefer script lance for some reasons and odesk for others.

I like the odesk interface, but I despise their system of agencies.

They need a toggle switch that prevents agencies from applying to postings if I dont want to deal with them.

The best solution I've come up with to avoid agency spam is to include a keyword towards the end of the posting and require that applicants use that keyword as the first word of their response.

Any responses that dont begin with the keyword I mark as spam.

It's the only solution I've found so far.

I just filled my last open position, but I could have sworn there was an option to ignore agencies...

What don't you like about them? As long as I get my work done at the price I want, I could care less who I pay.

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Headfirst

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Capitalist_Pig

I just filled my last open position, but I could have sworn there was an option to ignore agencies...

What don't you like about them? As long as I get my work done at the price I want, I could care less who I pay.

There is an option to filter out agencies from the responses you get, but the bigger problem is agencies using individual accounts that aren't registered as agencies.

My problem with the agencies is that every job I've given to an agency has been botched in one way or another.

What I'd like to find is an agency with a US or Canadian office that I can get with on the phone when need be.

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Converting Copy

13 years ago

I've been using Odesk on and off for the past couple of years and have always been satisfied enough, it's my go to and I've found them to be the most professional and "together" when I need to outsource. Can't comment on Freelancer.

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stevmark008

13 years ago

Odesk has secure payment compared to freelancer. But both sites are good and I earned a lot because of this sites.

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zigato

13 years ago

oDesk has visual time sheets and escrow. Freelancer.com only has escrow... unless it has changed within the past few months.

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tobyR

13 years ago

not tried either but have used elance with some very good but also some very average results if that helps

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Steven Miranda

13 years ago

I like Freelancer.com The bids come in so fast sometimes I have to delete the listing because there are way too many people that want to do the work. That should be a good thing though....

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Simon H

13 years ago

I use both Freelancer and Odesk for various projects and find that with Freelancer you get overloaded with candidates. You have to be very specific with your posting to weed out as much as possible, but even if you dont you will get lots of candidates depending on the project. Make sure you look at candidates reviews and re-iterate what they can do for you. All in all, I usually find that projects usually take longer then expected with the back and forth communication and reiterations.

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sam770

13 years ago

Freelancer dot com may be great for you

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PaulMark

13 years ago

Strangely, I get more bids and higher level of work from Elance.com The code is usually done fast and accurately.

I always make a video of what I am wanting done and that usually helps the process.

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Nathy Curiel

13 years ago

I have been use odesk for a while and I would recommend it highly.
I like that option where you can keep an eye on your workers

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trishworks4u

13 years ago

I have a project that I need done and posted on both elance and vworker (formerly rentacoder) on Friday. No one was interested - think it was "too hard".

Posted it on odesk yesterday and had 10 good candidates in a few hours. Have someone working on it now.

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Damien Roche

13 years ago

Odesk..

Originally Posted by trishworks4u

I have a project that I need done and posted on both elance and vworker (formerly rentacoder) on Friday. No one was interested - think it was "too hard".

Posted it on odesk yesterday and had 10 good candidates in a few hours. Have someone working on it now.

Doubt it was too hard. Some of the most qualified providers work on Elance. Vworker, sorry, not so much. Terrible site.

However, on Elance, you will find people less likely to bid for the sake of it. You have to pay $5 for every 3 or 4 bids (depending on the budget of the project). You will usually get more thoughtful proposals because of that.

Odesk is also very good.

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trishworks4u

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Damien Roche

Odesk..

Doubt it was too hard. Some of the most qualified providers work on Elance. Vworker, sorry, not so much. Terrible site.

However, on Elance, you will find people less likely to bid for the sake of it. You have to pay $5 for every 3 or 4 bids (depending on the budget of the project). You will usually get more thoughtful proposals because of that.

Odesk is also very good.

Actually, Thanks! I didn't know that about Elance.

I think I may hire 2 people to do this independently but haven't gotten any acceptable/affordable bids from the other 2 yet. It's programming, so not cheap.

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bay37

13 years ago

oDesk or looking into VA management companies - there are a few around and they offer well trained VAs. It depends on what your project is.

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myeanne 13 years ago

Originally Posted by bay37

oDesk or looking into VA management companies - there are a few around and they offer well trained VAs. It depends on what your project is.

VA management firm or outsourcing is still a good option. It enables you to set up your own offshore team consisting of staffs hired on your behalf who will work for you exclusively. You will have supervisors who will ensure the quality and productivity of your employees.
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Jack Duncan

13 years ago

Simon H,
I've tried both of these as well as others like Elance, Scriptlance, RentACoder, etc...

The biggest tip I can give you to avoid any horror stories is to make very clear instructions about what you want to have done.

The only times I have had really lousy results was when I didn't spell out every single detail in the requirements...

I remember giving someone a banner job one time for an internet marketing related project, and I happened to use an example when explaning the project that related to baby supplies.

I didn't think anything of it...I thought it was very clear that it was just an example of one way to match the colors and fonts to the market.

However, to my surprise, I ended up getting a bunch of baby supply banners back instead of the IM related banners I had actually given instructions for.

So...you have to be very clear and look critically at your instructions to see if there is any way something could be misunderstood...

All the best,
Jack Duncan

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x3xsolxdierx3x

13 years ago

Question...

For Odesk...

If you need a graphic design done, do you simply state a price, and people say if they can/will do it for you?

Or...do you get a flood of people that bid to do the project?...and, you can pick the best one? (not necessarily the lowest bid, but you can pick the lowest if you like their other work, right?)

...just trying to gain a little better idea of how odesk works...

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gittar1122

13 years ago

oDesk is much better than Elance for outsourcing but you need to be very specific in your job details.

At oDesk you can choose your project as Fixed Price or on Hourly Basis. For Fixed price you set your desired price for that work and service providers bid(apply) with their price. Service provide may ask higher/lower than price you mentioned and you have the right to accept or reject any provider even after interviewing him.

For Hourly Basis, you set your desired price per hour and service providers apply with their desired work per hour. Hourly basis jobs are more secure as compare to Fixed price jobs.

In Hourly basis jobs you will be getting work diaries and snapshoot of provider's windows (usually 6 captures in an hour). So it will give you a clear idea of what kind of work performed in billing hours. So if you are satisfied then you can payment and if you aren't then you can create dispute. For fixed price jobs, employer has more power in this case, you have the right to decline to make any payment or partial payment for the job done, oDesk will not involve in this matter.

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Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x

Question...

For Odesk...

If you need a graphic design done, do you simply state a price, and people say if they can/will do it for you?

Or...do you get a flood of people that bid to do the project?...and, you can pick the best one? (not necessarily the lowest bid, but you can pick the lowest if you like their other work, right?)

...just trying to gain a little better idea of how odesk works...

Thanks

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jtgjustin

13 years ago

freelancer is full of scammers - don't go there

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Jay Cummins 13 years ago

Originally Posted by jtgjustin

freelancer is full of scammers - don't go there

I think you need to be careful where ever you go. I have had good experiences with both.

Jecco
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candem

13 years ago

I have used eLance , oDesk and easyoutsource and have had good experience with all of them.

For project type work I have mainly used eLance as I have found the quality of the providers to be better. You pay a bit more but it is worth it.

oDesk and easyoutsource I have used to find full time people. Usually start them on a temp basis or give them a project to see how they perform and then convert the good ones to full time.

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DominionInc

13 years ago

Freelancer to program something.. Odesk to post and do links building

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microunique

Banned 13 years ago

To work as freelancer I prefer odesk but tp post jobs I like freelance

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hellyegal

13 years ago

As a freelance writer, there is one activity that takes up as much of my time as writing does and that's looking for work. Once you find work, your next concern is whether or not you'll get paid. And if I do get paid, how long will it take?
As a freelancer, there are numerous sites to choose from on which you can bid on projects. Two popular sites today are Elance and oDesk. From the homepage, you might think that these two sites are pretty similar. After all, they both state that there's guaranteed work with guaranteed payment. A freelancer's dream come true, right?

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Ocean Feather Marketing

13 years ago

I prefer Odesk to work as a freelancer and I did many jobs there and didn't get any bad feedback from my clients yet..I use to do SEO over there and some Article submission projects..

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Alaister 13 years ago

Freelancer.com is the best outsourcing sites. I have gotten a lot of various different types of projects done there and met a lot of unique people. I have tried most of the other sites and find freelancer to be the most innovative and filledmwith high quality freelancers. One thing that attributes to my success with outsourcing is I am very clear and strict when choosing a suitable freelancer. Don't just choose anyone.
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David Hooper

13 years ago

I love oDesk. Have worked with some really good people there.

The downside is that each project you do could likely end up with HUNDREDS of applicants. Be specific as to what you want and use their filters to help limit the volume, if that's going to be a distraction for you.

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LukeH

13 years ago

Freelance is good. I also like elance as well.

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Andrea Wilson

13 years ago

I simply wont do any business with Freelancer anymore. The service is truly undesirable. One can take the job and get away without informing the emplyer. The quality of Odesk is far better than any others and the payment is more secure. The site is very easy to use as well.

Andrea