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by Stacy on | No Comments | How Tos
When working through Guru.com, you have the option of using either Guru Invoicing or SafePay for payment. Both payment services are free to Employers. For a risk-free guarantee, SafePay is the way to go. Here are some tips on how to use SafePay.
SafePay is the safest method of transaction: When payments are managed through SafePay, Freelancers avoid unpaid invoices and Employers have peace of mind knowing that the Freelancer is not paid until the completed work is reviewed and approved by the Employer. On the off chance it is needed, SafePay users gain protection through Guru.com’s Dispute Resolution services.
by Stacy on | 2 Comments | Hiring Advice
When you post a project on Guru.com, you open your door to a broad marketplace of talented Freelancers, eager to send you their quotes. While this method is fast and easy, the positive response and sheer volume of results can be overwhelming.
Carefully considering each of the basic elements of your project posting will present a good image to the Freelancers and you will receive higher quality quotes. Invest some time in your project, and you will be rewarded with quality quotes.
Title
With nearly 10,000 projects posted on Guru.com each month, your project’s title is paramount in making your project stand out. A specific, succinct project title is most likely to draw Freelancers to your listing. Good examples include “Menu redesign,” “Tax advisor for small business,” “English to Spanish textbook translation,” and “Shopping cart for retail site.”
Description
Your project description is where you describe everything about your project. A precise description will give the Freelancers a better view of your needs and enable them to produce a quality bid for your project that includes a cost and time estimate.
Project descriptions should include:
Avoid including sensitive information. Withhold that information until you’ve narrowed your pool. You may then require the Freelancer to sign a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Documentation
You may upload up to 2 MB of files to augment the project description. If you want a logo for your business, use this feature to upload examples. This will give Freelancers a sense of the direction in which the project should move.
Budget
One great advantage to hiring a Freelancer is its relatively moderate expense. To some extent, though, it’s true that “you only get what you pay for” and offering too low a rate may result in poor applicant and work quality. You can enter an estimated total project budget when posting your project. This estimated amount will give the Freelancers a clear idea of the payout in relation to the work requested.
Determine a fair price for your project, while remaining within your comfortable budget using these tips.
Your project posting is not only an outline of the work you need done, but also a portrayal of the perfect person or vendor for the job. Be detailed about the work your project entails, and include your ideal candidate’s qualifications.
by Stacy on | No Comments | Freelancing Advice
Acquiring new customers doesn’t come cheap. The best way to minimize this cost is to turn new acquisitions into long-term customers. The longer you retain a paying customer the greater your ROI (return on investment). Get more bang for your marketing buck by learning to keep your customers longer.
Like financial investments, each Employer will offer you different potential rates of return. Some Employers may only have the budget for one small project right now. Those Employers should not be discounted because someday their needs and budgets may change. They are your long-term investment.
Other Employers with huge discretionary budgets might only be taking the outsourcing option out for a test drive or might have a regular in-house person who just can’t do this one little project. By getting to know your Employers, you will learn what you can ultimately earn from them. Start maximizing your potential today!
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by Stacy on | 1 Comment | Freelancing Advice, How Tos
Securing projects in the freelance marketplace can be a job in itself. Regardless of your freelance background, you must be willing to add the roles of businessperson, marketing guru, salesperson, and financial whiz to your list of skills if you want to survive and thrive.
Below are items to ponder when creating your customer acquisition strategy.
by Stacy on | 7 Comments | Freelancing Advice, How Tos
On Guru.com, you’ll find literally thousands of work opportunities at your fingertips. To turn these opportunities into paying jobs, you’ll need to do more than send canned proposals to Employers.
Though Employers certainly consider your resume, earnings, and feedback when deciding whether to hire you, your proposal will convince Employers that you are the right person or company for the job.
Employers will know, and will not appreciate, if you send them a canned proposal. Improve your chances of being hired by thoughtfully tailoring each proposal to the project.
