Outsource Your Labor or Find Work on oDesk
oDesk has received a big nod of approval from folks all over the globe who are able to work from the relative comfort of their own home on a relatively new interface that allows them to connect with remote employers (or workers) in a variety of niches. As a webmaster, you can use oDesk in two ways: as a buyer of services to find skilled help on projects that you have ongoing, or as a provider of services, offering your services to companies all over the world who have a need for your unique skills set. oDesk can be thought of as a sort of "middle man" in the online jobs marketplace.
A Buyer's Market
For service buyers, oDesk offers the opportunity for you to post projects that you want to outsource, without any cost, and then set up interviews with potential service providers via email, chat, or phone. Projects are listed "auction style" with providers of services bidding on the projects that they are interested in, either on an hourly or fixed price basis. There are various niches that you can advertise your product in, including web development (web design, programming project management), software development (desktop applications, plug-ins, mobile apps), writing and translations blog and article writing), networking and information systems (server administration, ERP/CRM implementation, database administration), and design and multimedia services (graphics, 3D modeling, CAD, engineering and technical design), among others. Those who wish to offer these services can look a project over, make a bid, and wait for an interview. Providers of service have an opportunity to prove their worthiness by building an online portfolio and taking (free) skills tests in hundreds of categories.
Advantages of oDesk
The biggest advantage of oDesk is that it allows buyers to have access to the skilled workers that they need on a temporary basis, as independent contractors of services, without hiring a person to fill the job at their company in a traditional sense. Because oDesk is a global marketplace, buyers have the advantage of being able to utilize skilled labor at rates that are oftentimes cheaper than they are in the U.S. And oDesk takes care of all the billing for the buyer. For providers of services, the biggest advantage of oDesk is that they can offer their services without tying themselves to one employer, which is the perfect way to launch a small business. And the relationships that are forged on oDesk with buyers can be long-lasting and very profitable over time.
Simply put, as a webmaster, if you haven't had a chance to check out oDesk, now is the time! Whether you want to outsource some tasks that you have had on the back burner or you want to offer your own services to a global audience, you'll find that there's a niche for your skills.
oDesk provider
I\'ve recently signed up as a provider at Odesk. It is hard to get decent job when you\'re new and have no feedback. i guess that will change later after I do my first few jobs (to get first jobs I\'ll have to bid low). oDesk interface and navigation was confusing to me in the start. Now I got used to it. In general, they seem more professional than other freelance sites I\'ve been using.
You must be consistent
Yes, you must be consistent with freelance sites. In the beginning it is hard you have no feedback, no recent jobs so buyers will hesitate to give you job, that's especially true for the good jobs. That's why it is important that you upload good portfolio and to bid low in the beginning. With every completed job and received feedback (if feedback is above 4.5) it gets easier and easier. It is snowball rolling effect. After 20 jobs and overall feedback higher that 4.5 buyers will beg you to work for them and will be sending you enormous amount of money. Okay, I exaggerated this last part, but you got the point.
Post new comment