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| Searching for Freelancers |
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Search for Freelancers by keyword and by skill category. View search results for Freelancers' profiles and work samples. Refine and sort those results with several available tools.
Search by keyword — Find Freelancers by entering relevant keywords in the search fields on the home page or on the Search page.
Search by skill category — Find the talent you need by clicking a skill category on the home page and refining with subcategory links to the left of your search results.
Search for Freelancers you already know — Use keywords to search for your Freelancer by his or her screen name, tagline or profile ID.
Or find Freelancers by their screen names in the Freelancer Directory accessed from links at the bottom of every page on Guru.com. Click a letter, number or symbol to locate your Freelancer indexed by the first character of his or her screen name.
View your search results
Refine your search results
Sort Your search results
Search tips
 Read a related article:
Learn how to save a Freelancer to a Favorites folder or ways to contact Freelancers.
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View your search results
Profiles — Click a Freelancer's screen name or work sample icons to access profile pages with more complete information, then click "Back to Search Results" to return to your search.
- Freelancer's screen name
- Profile features: Guru.com membership, Save to Favorites button, and work samples available for review (websites, audio, video, images)
- Freelancer's rank and main skill category
- Freelancer's Quality Score
Work samples — Click "Images" or "Websites" above the keyword search box to see work samples that match your search criteria. Click an image to view details of the work sample, or click the Freelancer's screen name to access his or her profile.
Refine your search results
After producing results with any profiles or work samples search, you can narrow your search using several refinement tools.
- By Skill Category — click a category link in the All Skill Categories column.
- By Freelancer Location — select a region from the "Location" tab in the Refine Results section. Narrow the geographical area with country, state and city links. For U.S. searches, you can also refine by ZIP code.
- By Industry experience — select a field from the "Industry" tab in the Refine Results section. Your selection is matched with Freelancer's who have experience or have produced work samples in the field.
- By Budget — set a budget range on the slider under "Budget" in the Refine Results section. Your selection is matched to Freelancers' posted minimum budgets and work sample prices.
You can clear any or all refinements using the links found below the keyword search and Refine Results sections.
Sort your search results
After producing results with any profiles or work samples search, you can sort your results by various parameters.
Click the desired parameter above your search results. The search results are automatically resorted.
- By default, all search results are ordered by Freelancer rank.
- Profiles may also be sorted by minimum rate per hour, minimum budget and earnings for the year.
- Work samples may also be sorted by price.
Search tips
If your Freelancer search is not producing sufficient results:
- Check the spelling of your keyword, and leave a space between words.
- Choose different keywords that describe your search, use fewer descriptive words.
- Add or remove "s" to search on the plural or singular form of your keyword.
- Do not use search operators (and, or, not); they will be ignored. All searches are "AND" searches.
- Do not use punctuation unless you expect it in the results.
- For exact phrase searches, put quotation marks around your phrase.
- Consider browsing the skill categories and refining by location, industry or budget.
Learn how to save a Freelancer to a Favorites folder or ways to contact Freelancers.
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| How Freelancers are ranked |
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In your search results, Freelancer Profiles are sorted by rank by default. A sequential rank is assigned to profiles based on their main skill categories, membership types, invoice activity and Quality Scores.
- One (1) is the highest rank.
- Guru and Guru VENDOR Freelancers are ranked before Basic members.
- Profiles may share the same rank in your search results if the profiles belong to the same Freelancer or if you are searching multiple skill categories.
- Guru or Guru VENDOR profiles with no payments in the last six months and those with Quality Scores of zero will be sorted by last sign in date and assigned a rank, but they will be ranked below Guru and Guru VENDOR members with recent payments and positive Quality Scores.
- Profiles with a rank of "N/A" are Basic members with no payments in the last six months and those with Quality Scores of zero. They are sorted by last sign in date at the end of your search results.
Rank calculation
Freelancer rank is based on the calculation of Quality Score and how it compares to that of other Freelancers. Profiles get sorted in four ways; then the sequential rank is applied to the results. Rank assignment occurs every 24 hours.
First sort = main skill category.
Second sort = membership type.
Guru and Guru VENDOR members are ranked first. Basic members are ranked second.
Third sort = invoice activity.
Profiles with SafePay payments within the last six months are ranked above profiles with no recent payment activity.
Fourth sort = Quality Score, highest first.
Quality Score is a main determinant of rank. Quality Score relies on common, quantitative measures of business success rather than the subjective user feedback employed in traditional online ranking systems.
So, by comparing Freelancer rank or Quality Scores, you can make confident decisions on how well a Freelancer provides services and manages customer relationships. The Freelancers with the highest Quality Scores do the best job of satisfying the needs of Employers.
Quality Score is the product of three factors of business success:
- Customer Acquisition Rate — A Freelancer's ability to gain new business by submitting accurate and detailed quotes tailored to Employers' projects. Freelancers who engage in proposal spamming are not rewarded.
- Customer Earning Rate — A Freelancer's ability to turn quality work into earnings. CER measures SafePay payments per Employer per month within the last 12 months.
- Customer Retention Rate — A Freelancer's ability to retain customers over time. Repeat business from Employers is an indicator of quality results and excellent customer service.
While not used in calculating rank, the feedback ratings and comments that Freelancer's have received are tools you can use in your hiring decisions. View Freelancer feedback by clicking the star icons found in search records or on Freelancer profiles. Read more about giving feedback to Freelancers.
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| Contacting Freelancers from your search |
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You can contact Freelancers from your search results three ways.
- Request a Quote
Invite one or more Freelancers to place a quote on a new or existing project.
Learn how
- Ask a Question
Use the Quick Discussion Board to ask a question or send a message directly to one Freelancer.
Learn how
- Contact Directly
Some Freelancers display their contact information to Employers who have registered and signed in.
Learn how
How to Request a Quote (Invite Freelancers to place quotes)
Use the "Request a Quote" feature if you want to invite one or more Freelancers to place a quote on a new or existing project.
- Perform your desired search.
- On the search results page, select a Freelancer:
Method one - from a Profiles Search
- In the Profiles Search results, click the checkbox next to one or more profile summaries.
- Click "Request a Quote" at the bottom of the Profiles Search page.
Method two - from a profile
- Within any search results, click the Screen Name of a Freelancer to view the pro's full profile.
- Click "Request a Quote" located under the Images box on the profile page.
- If you are not signed in, enter your Employer credentials and click to "Sign in" to your existing account, or click "Register" then "Register as an Employer" to create an account.
- If you are a new user, complete the Register and Post Your Project forms. After your project is posted, an invitation email is sent to your selected Freelancer.
- If you are signed in, follow the instructions below.
- Select to either invite the Freelancer to place a quote on a new project or an existing project.
- For a new project, complete and submit the Post Your Project form.
- For a project you previously posted, select a project in the drop-down menu and "Submit." (Only "Open" projects will appear in the drop-down menu.)
- Click "Submit."
- You will receive a confirmation message that your selected Freelancers were invited to place quotes on your project.
- Continue this process until you invite all of the Freelancers in which you are interested. You can invite a maximum of 200 Freelancers to a project.
What happens next?
- After you invite Freelancers to place quotes on your project, the Freelancers each receive a Project Invitation email. This email includes detailed information about your project and instructions on how to submit a quote on your project.
- After reviewing your project, the Freelancer can either decline or submit a quote for your project.
- Learn how we notify you when Freelancers place quotes on your project.
Questions? We are happy to assist you.
Call us: 1-888-678-0136, option 1 (toll-free)
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am - 6 pm ET
How to Ask a Question
Use the "Ask a Question" feature if you want to ask a question or send a message directly to one Freelancer.
Note: If you want to receive multiple quotes for a project, we recommend that you use the " Request a Quote" feature instead.
To ask a pro a question:
- Perform your desired search.
- On any search results page, click the screen name of a Freelancer to view the Freelancers's full profile.
- Click the "Ask a Question" button.
- If you are not signed in, enter your Employer credentials and click to "Sign in" to your existing account, or click "Register" then "Register as an Employer" if you are a new user.
- If you are a new user, complete the Register form then post your question.
- If you are signed in, you can post your question immediately.
- Type your question or message, and click the "Post Message" button.
What happens next?
- Within 24 hours, the Quality Assurance Team will quality check your message before sending it to the Freelancer. If your message cannot be approved, you will be notified by email. Please review the list of messages that cannot be sent.
- If the Freelancer posts a reply to your question, it will be sent to your personal email account. In addition, you can click the "Quick DB Messages" link on the My Account page to check for messages.
How to Contact Freelancers Directly
Some Freelancers have chosen to reveal their direct contact information to Employers who have registered an account and have signed in.
This information appears on a Freelancer's profile page and may include any of the following data.
- Phone number
- Address
- Email address
- Instant messenger info (Yahoo, MSN, iChat, AOL, Skype)
- Time zone
- Fax number
Note: To contact Freelancers who have opted to leave their information hidden until they submit a quote on a project, we recommend that you use the " Ask a Question" feature instead.
CAUTION: In contacting Freelancers directly, please note that all registered users are bound by the Guru.com Terms of Service and the Privacy Policy, having clicked the "I AGREE" checkbox on the Registration form. |
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| About Instant Messengers |
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What is IM?
Instant messaging (IM) is an online form of communication that allows you to correspond in real-time, via typed text, with another person over the web. When you use an IM program, you are able to connect with a Freelancer online as quickly as if you were to place a phone call.
Communication with a Freelancer via an IM system can vastly speed up your rate of communication, and therefore, the time in which it takes to complete a project. Additionally, when you interact with a Freelancer via IM, you are able to communicate your ideas more succinctly, and are able to clarify any confusion as soon as it arises. This improves the chance that you and the Freelancer will understand each other well and stay on the same page in terms of the project timeline.
How do I use IM to communicate with Freelancers?
When you click to view a pro's profile, their IM contact information (if they have opted to make it public) will be visible in the left-hand column, below their profile images and other contact information.
If you already have IM programs installed on your computer, simply enter the pro's IM contact information into the program to determine if they are online and available to chat. If you do not yet have IM programs installed on your computer, click the chat / call links next to each IM program to download the appropriate program. Learn more about different IM programs below.
- iChat: iChat is an IM program for Mac users included as a part of OS X. Features include instant messaging, click-and-drag file transfer, and full audio / video conferencing capabilities. AOL IM contacts may be seamlessly integrated into iChat by using your AOL account information to sign in. iChat is included with Mac OS X Tiger. Learn more.
- AOL IM: AOL IM is a program primarily found on PCs, but older versions accommodate Mac computers, as well. Using AOL IM, you have access to person-to-person instant messaging, chat room messaging, and the ability to share files peer-to-peer with your "buddies." The latest versions support audio / video conferencing and text messaging to cell phones. AOL IM 6.1 adds a simple option to log all IM conversations and the ability to receive messages while offline. A variation of AOL IM is AIM express, an IM program that does not require you to install software, but which you can access with a standard Internet connection via PC or Mac. You can download AOL IM free and learn more here.
- MSN / Windows Live Messenger: MSN / Windows Live Messenger is the default IM client included with Windows. In addition to instant messaging, audio / video messaging capabilities, newer versions also allow PC-to-phone communication and Yahoo! IM compatibility. A simple web version of MSN Messenger, for text chat use only, is available for use by Windows and Mac users. You can download Windows Live Messenger free for PC or Mac.
- Yahoo! IM: In addition to instant messaging, Yahoo! IM also offers PC-to-phone service, file transfers, webcam hosting, and chat rooms in various categories. A partnership with MSN / Windows Live Messenger allows you simultaneous access to contacts on both services. Yahoo! Messenger offers a simple web based chat client, as well. You can download Yahoo! IM for Windows free and learn more here. Older, more limited versions are also available for Mac users.
- Skype: Skype is a voice service that works very much like a traditional telephone call, only via your computer. It also incorporates video capability. Skype users may call each other without any charge. If one party uses a standard phone, Skype calls are billed on a per minute basis, although certain types of calls are eligible for monthly plans. You can download Skype and learn more here (including rate information).
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| Saving Freelancers to a folder |
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While searching for Freelancers, you can save your favorites to folders. This is very similar to a shopping cart feature.
- Assign a chosen name to each folder they create.
- Save a maximum of 50 Freelancers to each folder.
- Type notes about each Freelancer saved to a folder.
- Request quotes from Freelancers saved to folders.
Save a Freelancer profile and add notes
- Perform a Profiles Search for Freelancers.
- Locate a profile summary in the search results.
- To save a particular Freelancer to folder, click the "Save to Favorites" star icon located in the profile listing.
Or, when viewing an individual profile, click the "Save to Folder" button.
- Using the drop-down menu, select the folder to which you wish to save the Freelancer. Or, create a new folder.
- Click the "Submit" button.
- Enter your comments on the Freelancer in "Your Internal Notes."
- Click "Save Notes."
Contact Freelancers stored in a folder
- Go to the My Account page.
- Click the "My Saved Profiles" link.
- Using the drop-down menu, select the folder where your chosen Freelancers are stored.
- You can contact one or more Freelancers at a time, or all Freelancers en masse.
- To request quotes from all of the Freelancers in your folder, find the "Folder Actions" box, and click the "Request Quotes from All Pros" link.
- To request quotes from one or more Freelancers at a time, click the checkbox(es) next to "Request a Quote," and click the "Request Quotes" button.
- Follow the instructions on the next page to complete the process.
Manage Saved Profiles
- Go to the My Account page.
- Click "My Saved Profiles."
- View existing saved profiles or click an action link under Folder Actions.
- Create a new folder — Enter a name for your folder, and click "Create Folder."
- Rename a folder — Select a folder using the drop-down menu, click "Rename Folder," enter a new name then click "Update Name."
- Delete a folder — Select a folder using the drop-down menu, click "Delete Folder" and on the next page click the "Delete Folder" button.
- Move a profile to another folder using the "Move pro to this folder" drop-down menu. Click "Go" after making your folder selection.
- Delete a profile using the "Remove" link to the left of the profile information.
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| Reviewing Freelancer profiles |
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Scan through the Freelancers' full profiles. Take special note of the features listed below. These tools can help you locate the best Freelancer(s) for your project.
- Guru seal
Freelancers with the Guru seal on their profile pay a membership subscription fee to have priority access to projects.
- Guru VENDOR seal
Freelancers with the Guru VENDOR seal on their profile pay a premium above the normal Guru membership to highlight their status as a vendor/firm.
- Profile Images
Many Freelancers upload images of their business logo, office space, or of themselves to give you a better idea of who they are.
- Video Profile
Freelancers who wish to paint a fuller picture of their strengths and bring their profile and to life upload a Video Profile for you to view. To watch a Video Profile on Guru.com, you must have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed onto your computer. Click the image below to download Adobe Flash Player for free.
I can't get the video to play. What's wrong?
To watch a Video Profile on Guru.com, you must have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed onto your computer. Click the image above to download Adobe Flash Player for free.
The video keeps stopping and re-starting. It's choppy. Why?
If the video keeps stopping and starting while you're watching it, your connection speed probably is causing the problem. The speed at which data is reaching your computer over the web is slow. People who have high-speed DSL or broadband internet access generally do not experience this problem.
I can't hear the audio when watching the video. Why?
- Check the volume controls on your computer. Make sure the volume is turned up.
- Check the volume controls on the Flash Player. Make sure the volume is turned up.
- Your connection speed is slow. People who have high-speed DSL or broadband internet access generally do not experience this problem.
I can't see the video, but I can hear the audio. Why?
- Your connection speed is slow. People who have high-speed DSL or broadband internet access generally do not experience this problem.
- The video was incorrectly encoded by its creator.
- Network icon
Freelancers that have been endorsed by you or by Employers in your network will have a network icon. If the person was endorsed by an Employer in your network, you can consult with the person to learn more about the Freelancer's skills and credentials. Learn more about endorsements.
- Rank and Quality Score
Freelancers with the best ranks and Quality Scores have met objective criteria of business success and proven their ability in managing customer relationships.
- Feedback rating
Freelancers with an established work track record on Guru.com have a feedback rating of one to five stars.
- Money-earned statistic
Freelancers with an established work track record on Guru.com have a money-earned statistic displayed on their profile.
- Proposals submitted
The number of proposals a Freelancer has submitted in the last month gives you an idea of his or her activity in the Guru.com marketplace.
- Skill tests
Freelancers can take skill tests from ExpertRating to validate their knowledge and expertise in various fields. Look for the ExpertRating Certified Professional icon and view test scores that Freelancers have posted to their profiles.
- Detailed Overview section
Freelancers with a detailed profile overview make a special effort to highlight their skills and work terms for Employers.
- Resume or Company section
Guru VENDOR Freelancers can showcase their team and company information in the Company section.
Guru and Basic members can list their accolades in a formal resume.
- Work Samples
Many Freelancers upload project examples to their Work Samples space to showcase their Freelancer creations.
- Package Deals
Package Deals are pre-packaged services that Guru and Guru VENDOR profile members market to Employers.
- Completed Projects
Those Freelancers who have received payment from other Employers through Guru.com's SafePay system can display their past projects in this section.
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