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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Using Elance or oDesk as a source for IT consulting leads ]]></title>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Jobsfor10$]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3419439]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[In today???s very dynamic and ever changing labor market, there is more than just the conventional 9 to 5 job. There are a lot of options to work at home, doing exactly what you like, at your own price. Some of these solutions are: Jobsfor$10, Elance, Odesk and others. I have tried them all, and I chose jobsfor10$. The main advantages that Jobsfor10$ provides, by comparison to the other similar options, are:         -  you can find very specific services (example: 70 High Backlinks from sites with PR6-8, 35,000 Traffic Visitors To Your Website, submit your site to 230 Plus Search Engines, 2 ebook cover design, upload, install, and configure any script for your website, write a best 300 word above article on any subject , etc)-The prices are low ($5 - $10 - $20)- The work and payment are 100% guaranteed-There is no negotiation, as the prices are fixed-The signup process is very lean and easy -The website has a very smart services ranking service, that allows the customer to make the best informed choice]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jobsfor10]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:58:07 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[&quot;Sniff&quot;]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3241898]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[It's a good thing (&quot;that&quot; edited out) I don't need the business right now.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[santeewelding]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:39:26 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[RE: Using Elance or oDesk as a source for IT consulting leads]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3241887]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Hi Chip, this is Nicole from Rent a Coder.I'd like to point out a few other issues with using services like oDesk and Elance since those issues could influence your satisfaction and earnings.First, workers on Elance cannot place more than 3 bids a month unless they pay a subscription fee ($10/month for 20, $20/month for 40 or $40/month for 60). It also charges workers a monthly subscription fee of $10/month - $40/month to show test results on their profiles. oDesk charges 10% in worker fees. (3% if you pay for upgraded membership).Second, workers on Odesk cannot place more than 2 bids a month unless they take certain Odesk tests, or receive feedback on a certain number of projects. Experience tells us that it takes many bids to land just one job. With limited opportunities, you may not be successful with a service that limits your ability to bid.Third, Elance does not offer escrowing on pay-for-time projects and Odesk doesn't offer escrowing on pay-for-deliverables projects. When it comes to arbitration, oDesk doesn't offer it at all, which could prevent you from getting rightfully paid for the work you do. Elance charges $199 - $399 for each arbitration, which may make it too expensive to be a legitimate option on your project. I invite you and your visitors to compare the 7 major services through this link to learn even more: http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/DotNet/misc/CompetitorInformation/WhyRentACoder_ForSellers.aspxIf you have any questions, please let me know.  You can also call in to talk to a facilitator 7 days a week, or email us (see http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/misc/Feedback.asp).Nicolewww.rentacoder.com]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[RACNicole]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:21:36 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[RE: Using Elance or oDesk as a source for IT consulting leads]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3234257]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Hey Glen-Great article and cool comparison. I've used both oDesk and Elance as a buyer and a provider in the past but I prefer Elance. I think that their site is more professional and easier to use and operate. Plus, I really tend to think that they have a lot of qualified professionals with varied skills that you simply can't find on other bidding sites. As for providers, I think that Elance can be extremely lucrative if you learn how to work the system. that is, once you learn how to bid, how much to bid and are extremely selective on what you bid on, your hourly rate can indeed go up and you can make some great cash. I have completed over 700 projects to date and still consider Elance one of my favorite marketing methods.Here's some advice for IT providers-- Know your worth and only bid on projects that you can totally dominate.- Don't lowball and bid on numerous projects.-Write individualized bills and really state your qualifications openly.- ALways get 1/2 upfront.- Understand the scope of the project before accepting.By doing this, you can truly succeed on Elance. Good luck!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3234257]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[kpcwriting]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:29:56 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Yes, it's a choice]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3230263]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I prefer not to outsource trust -- I consider it too essential to delegate.  Why should a client trust my consulting advice, if they can't even trust me to do the work?  Placing yourself in the role of Monitored Coder means that you may be a successful contract programmer, but not truly a consultant.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3230263]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sterling "chip" Camden]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:57:48 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[It Goes Both Ways]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3229562]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Seems like this has drifted a bit from the original point. I'm not saying it's impossible to work remotely without these kind of monitoring tools. I'm saying I don't have a problem with it - I don't see it as a 'stand' I'm at all interested in 'taking'.You bring up the issue of trust, I assume the flip side is also true in the situations you reference - you trust those clients to pay you. I've worked directly for clients I've only really communicated to via e-mail. However, both sides had some kind of reference (reputation/a common 3rd party vouching/etc) that created the trust needed. In some cases I don't have any reference to build trust on - and oDesk becomes that trust 'broker'. They give me confidence that I'll be paid, and the buyer confidence that work is being done. Certainly a business relationship can be established without face-to-face or even phone conversations. But there's not always a good reference to build trust upon for both parties.If you're limiting yourself to those that will trust your reputation - and in turn to those with reputations you trust - that's fine. But don't try to make it sound like it is a higher ethical road, or that those of us who use a 3rd party broker to establish trust are somehow less 'trustworthy'. It's just a choice.Some have an accountant prepare their taxes, or a payroll firm paying their employees - I choose to have oDesk handle the 'trust' factor with a certain sector of my clients.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[tim@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:05:26 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[I have plenty of clients I've never met]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3228800]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Some of them I've never even spoken with over the phone.  But they still trust me, based on my reputation.Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little, and sometimes you just need to take a stand -- and still get the business.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3228800]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sterling "chip" Camden]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:58:16 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Options]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3228333]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Of course there are many different configurations to this kind of work. I have clients I deal with face-to-face, and bill hourly without any concern about justifying my hours.I also have clients I never meet, and have no problem trading a little 'over the shoulder' for the ability to open up an additional set of possibilities - and yes, at the same rate.If you don't want those possibilities that's fine, but it doesn't mean they're not worth it.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[tim@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:00:25 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Good questions, Glen]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227421]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I'd be interested in the answers to them, too.Browsing the sites, I noticed a number of providers who had made many thousands of dollars, but those all turned out to be consulting groups rather than individuals.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227421]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sterling "chip" Camden]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:13:50 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Thanks for your perspective]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227420]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[&quot;Let's see - I can either work in an office, where people can observe what I'm doing 8 hours a day, and have the IT department snooping my IM/email/internet. Or I can work wherever I want, for people I never meet in person, and when I'm billing them for hourly work allow them access to data about the activity of my keyboard and mouse along with random screenshots every 10 minutes. Sounds like an even trade to me. &quot;Third option:  work at my own office for clients who trust me because I produce results.  That's the one I choose.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227420]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sterling "chip" Camden]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:09:59 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[What do full clients think?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227391]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I've always visited those sites using the free version ... meaning I get to see only the dregs of the projects. And of course, I've never been particularly impressed. Which matches with the opinion many commentators have on them. I also listen to a lot of purchasers who use these types of sites to buy services for unreasonable prices. (e.g. $5,000 of writing for $500. Or $200 of article for $5.) Again not exactly a positive review.The question I have is how many people with reasonable expectations (say $80-150/hr) find enough work to justify their involvement. What rate do those who believe in paying for the service actually get? And how much work do they get? How much would you have expected for the same work using other methods?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227391]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[PMPsicle]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:04:21 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[RE: Using Elance or oDesk as a source for IT consulting leads]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227368]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Figured I'd add a bit of balance from someone who uses oDesk. &quot;Many of the listings specify ?under $500? or even less...&quot;This is why I work through oDesk, and not eLance. While oDesk has both hourly and flat rate projects, the flat rate option was added after oDesk was well established, and hourly billing is really where oDesk stands out. You make the case for hourly projects in the same sentence, &quot;and the project specifications often indicate that the requestor really doesn?t know what they need.&quot; With contract programming bidding a flat rate is difficult even when the buyer understands the scope of the project. The ability to bill hourly is what attracted me to oDesk, and I've never gone back to the flat rate sites.&quot;In Meridith?s article, she quotes Nathan Wenneker as saying you need to begin low in order to compete, and then work your way up. That will take a lot of working, folks.&quot;That's not necessarily true. I've raised my rates multiple times, and probably could have done it faster. I explained my philosophy in a guest post on the oDesk blog a few months ago [http://bit.ly/5zVMWR]. You don't need to compete with the low bids - it's that your rates need to be justified by your ability, not your geography. If you can't handle that, then contract programming in a global marketplace isn't for you. &quot;oDesk charges a flat 10%, which for hourly work, they try to hide by padding the rate that they quote to buyers.&quot;Hidden? That's a little slanted. Sure, it's simplified - as they shown the total rate, but it's certainly not hard to figure out.  It's more like google and amazon listing the cost of products as price + shipping. Only in this case, the oDesk cut is the same all the time, so what's the point of showing it? &quot;I don?t know about you, but I don?t really care for that kind of snooping over my shoulder.&quot;Let's see - I can either work in an office, where people can observe what I'm doing 8 hours a day, and have the IT department snooping my IM/email/internet. Or I can work wherever I want, for people I never meet in person, and when I'm billing them for hourly work allow them access to data about the activity of my keyboard and mouse along with random screenshots every 10 minutes. Sounds like an even trade to me. &quot;Besides, I could be using multiple systems to do the work, so I might not be working on the one that?s running its nannyware.&quot;I use multiple computers as well, and have the oDesk client installed on them all. I just run it on the computer I'm generally using more. At times I hop over to another computer (leaving my screen the same and my activity quite - gasp), but I've never had a buyer mind. I've also never have a buyer challenge time I added outside the client.All said, oDesk makes up a good percentage of my work, and I have no complaints.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[tim@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:39:06 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[For those who need leads]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227333]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[... these services represent part of the online revolution, possibly replacing consulting brokerages with a do-it-yourself approach.  I've never used one of those firms, either -- I've always grown my own leads by word of mouth, online presence, and a little advertising.How do you think these sites fit with your strategy?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-324177-3227333]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sterling "chip" Camden]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:00:51 -0800</pubDate>
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