|
Author: Tim Coulter Article source: http://www.livingnow.info/. Used with author's permission.
There is lots of freelance help available on the internet, from writers, editors, proofreaders and other professionals in the writing industry to software developers, graphic designers, web designers and all manner of other technical and business specialists.
Thanks to the increasingly popular outsourcing exchanges, such as Elance.com, SmarterWork.com and ContractedWork.com, it is now very easy to find and hire the right contractor for your project at the right price. If you need help with a technical project, such as software development or web programming, there are even exchanges like RentACoder.com that specialize in these disciplines and organize their participants according to their individual skills.
Using an outsourcing exchange is quick and easy. You simply post a description of your project requirements (in sufficient detail to allow a contractor to estimate its cost) and within hours you will receive proposals from a number of freelance specialists, each one eager to win your business.
You can even use an outsourcing exchange as a research tool, to get an idea of the likely cost of a development project that you may be considering. However, you should beware of posting repeatedly without awarding a contract, as this will earn you the reputation of a time-waster and may adversely affect the response you receive to future postings. As a buyer of freelance services, posting your requirements is usually free. It is the contractor that pays for access to the service, either as a monthly subscription or as a percentage commission on the value of contracts awarded.
If you decide to award a contract in response to a posting, you can protect yourself (and the contractor) using escrow payments. You simply pre-pay the contract value into an escrow account (an interim bank account provided by the exchange operator) knowing that it will only be released to the contractor when you confirm that the work has been completed to your satisfaction. Likewise, the contractor benefits from the reassurance that funds have been reserved to pay for his services. For complex projects, it is even possible to administer phased payments via the escrow account and, in the event of a dispute, take advantage of an arbitration service.
One of the benefits of online outsourcing exchanges is that they provide access to contractors from all over the world. Several countries (such as India and parts of Eastern Europe) have very low labor rates but a highly skilled and professional workforce, making it possible to buy high-quality services very economically. Most of these professionals also speak and write English to a very high standard, making formal communication no more difficult that with a local contractor. The instantaneous nature of internet communication means that it is no longer necessary to collaborate face-to-face.
Of course, the use of freelance contractors is not without its risks. To ensure that your project delivers the results you're expecting, you should follow a few simple guidelines:
- Create a budget for your entire project so that you know how much each aspect should cost. This will enable you to assess the overall feasibility before you start spending money on contractors.
- Write a detailed specification for each of your freelance requirements.
- If appropriate, use a non-disclosure agreement before sending out the specification to bidders. If so, it will be necessary to post a project overview in the freelance exchange and to operate a closed bidding process.
- Get a fixed price quotation before assigning work to any freelancer. If a freelancer is unable to provide a fixed-price quotation, it may be an indication that your requirement specification is not sufficiently clear or detailed - a warning sign of trouble ahead.
- Administer your freelance assignment using a written legal contract that clearly specifies time limits, fees, dispute procedures, confidentiality, ownership and other contractual terms.
- If possible, use the exchange's escrow payment service to protect yourself and the contractor.
If you take the freelance route, it is important to ensure that all rights to profit from the final product, or any materials produced in its creation, remain yours. If you do not, it is possible that a contractor employed to contribute to your project could claim the result as his own and use or sell it independently when it is completed.
You should keep a paper trail linking yourself to anyone with whom you discuss your project, including emails, letters, faxes, and even written records of telephone conversations. This will establish the relationship between you and your contractors, and will prove the source of any confidential details. Although this paper trail may never be needed, if problems arise you'll be glad you made that little extra effort. About The Author
Copyright © Tim Coulter. All rights reserved.
Tim Coulter is a consultant and software developer who helps netpreneurs to harness marketing technologies.
He is also the author of "ClickBank - The Definitive Guide" The Ultimate ClickBank Tutorial & Reference Manual.
http://www.clickbankrevealed.com/
How to Genuinely Double Your Sales in 30 Days -- Without Advertising
Success in selling does not require guesswork or risk taking. It means looking at the science behind the entire sales process, from first contact to after sale...
How to Make a Buyer Fall in Love with Your Home
Sell your home for top dollar - let's look at your home through the home buyer's eyes...
Are You Tired of Hiring Other Peoples Rejects? - 12 Mistakes Recruiters Make and How To Avoid Them
When John applied for a job at Oakland Company, his resume looked fabulous, showing tremendous talent and advancement. His qualifications were beyond question ...
Trust Funds Guide
A Trust is perhaps the best channel to keep your money and other assets safe and secure for your future generations. It is a lawful creation that isolates your ...
Reiki Energy Balance
Here's an easy method for balancing the energy in your Chakras.
The New Goo Review is Coming Right At You
Use of Goo in Battlespace Tactics
5 Steps for Creating a Garage You Can Love – and Use
According to a 1994 study by the U.S.Department of Energy (and we won't even explore what launched that study!), 25% of people with two-car garages didn't park ...
How to Sell: Selling Tips of Master Moms
If more of us could apply what our mamas taught us to selling could you imagine the sales results? In the late 1950's television show "Father Knows Best," the d...
Baby Signing - Key Points to Succeeding
Now that you have made the decision to teach your baby sign language, here are some key point to keep in mind.
Coping With Stress
When something happens in our lives, we automatically assess the situation mentally and try to determine if it is threatening. If we feel that we don't have the...
The Gaul of La Laguna de Paca
This poem is being written during my visit to Huancayo, and the mountains and Andes around this region, during the month of April, 2005; wherein I dedicate this...
1 Simple Solution to All Internet Marketers about Their Website Design Needs
Everybody agrees that a website regardless of quality and richness of content is totally useless if nobody actually visits it, giving all of us more reason why ...
Top Ten Question Prompts
Have you ever asked yourself questions as prompts for journal writing?
5 Habits Of Successful Entrepreneurs
Habits get a bum rap. When you think about your habits, I bet you think of the "bad" ones - Here are 5 habits that successful entrepreneurs can learn to develop...
Cheap Elliptical Trainers - What You Dont Know Can Cost You Big Time
Cheap Elliptical Trainers are very tempting to people in the market for an affordable cross trainer. But if you don't do your homework you could be setting your...
Marriage - Miscommunication: Root Cause of Problems?
Article about Marriage, Couples.
Start Working Before You Get Hired
What if there were a way to *prove* to any sane employer that you alone were the one to hire? There is. And you can learn it in 2 minutes. Starting now ...
Could a Slim, Healthier You be Just a Tick Away?
As your holiday approaches do you hear yourself saying "I really must lose some weight before I go on holiday", or during your holiday as you over indulge (and ...
Big Changes In Recruiting Practices For Network Marketers...
Three conditions now exist which will change the way we solicit and recruit new MLM downlines forever...
How to Choose a Memory Foam Mattress
If you enjoy the softness of a traditional, coil-spring mattress, but also need the back support of a good solid carpeted floor, then a memory foam mattress pro...
5 Newspaper Advertising Myths Revealed
What I'm about to reveal are myths that most people think are 'true.' They seem set in stone yet they are deadly to the advertiser...
The Advantages of Wooden Wine Racks
Wood wine racks provide the best storage system for a large collection, cheaply and efficiently. They are easy to assemble, study, stackable, attractive and cos...
Do You Know These Hair Coloring Secrets?
Coloring your hair is perhaps the quickest and most dramatic way to change your look. There are two types of hair dyes: permanent and semi-permanent, with var...
The Orphan Child Called ISO
ISO is one of the most overlooked features on digital cameras. Find out the benefits of this orphan feature and how you can use it to boost your camera's sensit...
|
Print this page