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 Effective Bidding:-
 Use bids to provide your estimated price for the project and concisely describe
your proposal.
 Review project description and buyer's profile.
Make sure you understand the context of the project, and exactly what the buyer is
requesting. You can ask for more details on the project message board.
 Include focused comments.
A buyer wants someone who is interested in their project. If you have questions, keep
them short and direct. If the buyer asks you questions about the project requirements
(best database, most attractive web colors) or your skills (level of experience, similar
projects completed) keep your answers focused. Bids that don't address project
requirements are ineffective and are considered spamming.
 Describe your approach.
The buyer will want to know how you handle this kind of work. For example, if the buyer
needs research done, explain how you will find the requested information -- sources you
might use, technology or tools you have available, etc. This gives them an idea of how
you'll complete the work and indicates that you have relevant knowledge.
 Include accurate pricing.
The buyer expects your bid to reflect the actual project cost as closely as possible. If the
buyer hasn't provided sufficient details, ask questions on the message board or state
assumptions in the bid ("this price assumes four colors in the logo"). You can place a
new bid once the buyer clarifies the details. It is unprofessional to change the cost
drastically upon winning the project, or place lowball bids just to get attention.
 Specify revisions or drafts.
It is always a good idea to state how many revisions or drafts you will provide, even if
offered as a guideline. Buyers often may not know what it takes to do the work, and this
will help avoid confusion about what is included in your bid amount.
 Indicate time frame and milestones.
Buyers always appreciate seeing progress. Tell them if you will have the first draft of a
logo completed within one week and then the additional revisions completed two weeks
after that. If the buyer has already described expected milestones, indicate whether
you'll be able to meet them or not.
 Upload files.
For project-specific work samples or more detailed proposals, upload files from your
portfolio and attach them directly to your bid. This makes it even easier for the buyer to
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evaluate your work. You can also make a more detailed bid by attaching a separate
document. Please note, it is againt Elance policy to provide free mock-ups as part of the
bidding process. If a job is requiring mock-ups please use the Report Violation link on
the job posting to alert Elance.
 Specify payment terms.
If you require up-front payment or a deposit, indicate this clearly in your bid. It's also a
good idea to check buyers' feedback to see that they have paid other service providers
on time. There are many reasons for delayed payments -- you may still want to bid, and
adjust your terms by asking for a larger up-front payment.
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8 Tips To Win More Jobs on Elance:-
Recently, we’ve shared with you how to build better business relationships online and how to
make every proposal count. Clearly these tips and strategies were designed to help you
improve your success rate on Elance, but now we’re back with an even more concise how-to for
winning more work. Before you go off submitting another proposal, make sure to read these 8
tips on how to win more jobs:
1. Stress Unique Selling Points in Your Profile: Many Contractor profiles open with personal
information, mission statements and service menus. However, chances are many Clients don’t
prioritize these items. What they really want to know is whether you’re qualified to solve their
problem or meet their needs. They want to know what you can do for them – not your children’s
names and ages. Prove that you’re qualified – more qualified than any competitor – by
highlighting your expertise. Demonstrate that you’ve solved similar problems and achieved
similar goals for similar Clients in the past.
Stress your unique selling points – the credentials and experience that make you the best
choice for the work you want. Selling points include: education, work experience, awards,
success stories and testimonials from former Clients and bosses. Nothing makes a prospect
feel more confident about hiring you than a solid track record.
Sell any credential or achievement that reflects glory on you – graduating from a prestigious
university, working for/with a Fortune 500 company, achieving something noteworthy in your
field. If you wrote an article for The Washington Post, feature that prominently in your profile. If a
website you designed gets hundreds of hits per minute, stress that accomplishment in your
profile. If the video you produced went “viral,” mention that upfront.
In addition, take the time to fill out the Service Description and Keywords sections in detail.
These two areas attract the eyes of many buyers. Lastly, study the profiles of the most
successful Contractors in your category for hints on what to include in your own.
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Profile:-
2. Create an Ideal Client Profile: Some Contractors make the mistake of trying to be all things
to all Clients. These people spend Connects wastefully, bidding on every project for which they
believe they are qualified. This “shotgun” approach to marketing is like tossing darts at a board
while wearing a blindfold. You may hit the bulls-eye once in a while, but you’ll use lots of time
and money to achieve mediocre award ratios.
Instead of bidding on almost any job, create an Ideal Client profile. This helps you spend
connects more wisely, targeting only the buyers with whom you most want to work, and who are
most likely to hire you. Unless you’re new to your chosen profession, you already have a good
sense of which people make the best Clients. Identify the characteristics that these Clients
share by asking questions such as:
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 What are the demographics (age, gender, geographic location, education and income levels) of
my ideal Clients?
 Which industries do these Clients work in?
 What size companies do they usually work for – small, mid-sized or large?
 Do they work in the for-profit or non-profit sector?
 Which markets do their organizations serve?
 What are my Clients’ core values – e.g., high value or low prices?
 Why do you like working with these Clients?
 What kinds of jobs do they usually assign?
 What are their typical budget ranges?
 Which Clients help you achieve your profit/revenue targets?
Once you have a clear profile of your ideal Clients, you can focus attention on the prospects that
are most likely to hire you. This will increase both your profitability and your reputation.
3. Write Awesome Proposals: Making a great first impression is key. Remember, you’re
selling yourself, as well as your capabilities. Posting cut-and-paste templates isn’t a good idea,
and neither is simply telling prospects how great you are.
Instead of writing, “I can do this in 12 hours for less than my competition,” ask the Client
thoughtful, relevant questions. Outline your processes, and include a detailed timeline. Then,
establish standard communication channels and frequency, and spec- out your milestones. The
prospective Client will know that you mean business.
While it helps to have a Portfolio bristling with great work samples, do not assume that every
buyer will visit it. Attach relevant work samples to every bid. That way, busy buyers can take a
peek at your best work without having to sift through your Portfolio.
Keep in mind that buyers care less about you than they do themselves – their problems and
their goals. In every proposal, stress how you plan to help prospects achieve their goals and
solve their problems. Don’t talk about yourself as much as you talk about the tasks at hand.
Make the proposal about the Client and their objectives. Once you do this, they will visit your
profile to examine your skills, experience and other credentials.
For more on proposals, check out this blog post: Make Every Proposal Count.
4. Take Skill Tests: An Elance survey revealed that 77 percent of prospective Clients
found Skill Tests and Verified Credentials to be important factors in their hiring decisions. That’s
nearly four out of every five Clients! If you’re still debating whether to take the Skill Tests, you
aren’t playing the odds.
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5. Join Groups: By joining an Elance Group, you showcase talent and professional skills that
are officially recognized by a sponsoring company – e.g., Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Excel.
Your Group affiliation is prominently displayed on your profile page, which helps buyers quickly
identify you as the cream of the profession’s crop.
6. Act Fast: Once you see that a job that fits your skills, prepare your proposal as quickly as
possible without sacrificing quality. By responding quickly, your proposal will be one of the first
that the Client sees. Of course, you also have the option of submitting a “sponsored” proposal to
capture a top spot, but you must still act fast. Only three sponsored proposals are allowed per
listing.
7. Manage Your Reputation: Feedback is one of the most important components of your
Elance track record, according to our last survey. To build a 5-Star reputation, complete your
assignments on time, treat your Clients respectfully, and communicate frequently. In addition,
consider bringing your existing Clients to Elance to instantly build feedback and take advantage
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of Elance features such as Escrow and the Workroom.
8. Stay Connected: Clients appreciate fast turnaround, and want to keep projects moving
forward by answering your questions and requests for information ASAP. Therefore, staying
connected to Clients is critical. If you have a mobile device with email capabilities, sync up with
the email account you’ve associated with Elance. Lastly, make sure you take a look at our Help
article entitled.
Now that you’ve got these 8 tips in hand, take what you've learned and start winning more
business!
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5 Ways to Outbid the Competition on Elance
Once you've created an Elance provider profile and passed the Elance Admissions test, it's time
to focus on bidding for jobs.
You'll notice that every job has at least a few other bidders, and that some jobs have up to a couple
dozen bids. Even after you've completed a few jobs and started to build a feedback rating, you need to
know how to create job proposals that will give you an edge over the competition.
Here are 5 proven methods that will help you outbid the competition on Elance:
1. Don't rush to be the first to bid. When you see a job you're interested in, put it on your Elance Watch
List. One of the best things about Elance as compared to other freelance job sites is that it shows you the
high and low bids made by other providers. If you wait until a few other people have bid (this will usually
occur anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after the job is posted), you will be able to get an idea
about how others are bidding.
2. Do your homework before bidding. Before you place a bid, look at the employer's profile. Check the
feedback the employer has given and received. Beware of employers who give consistently low ratings or
who get negative feedback from providers. Next, see if the employer has posted similar jobs in the past
and check on the awarded bid. You may be able to get a better idea about what the employer is willing to
pay.
3. Be aware of the buyer's maximum budget. Each job posted on Elance lists a maximum budget. Always
keep your bid below this maximum figure. Your Elance rating will be impacted if you bid over budget and
chances are just about guaranteed that you won't be hired.
4. As a beginner, start small and bid low. Think of your first few jobs on Elance as "on the job training."
Employers will be hiring you on faith since you don't have an Elance track record. Not all employers will
hire new freelancers, but many do. Start out with small jobs that pay less than $100. When deciding how
to bid on jobs from your Watch List, check the lowest bid and if possible match it or go lower. After you've
completed a few jobs and are starting to feel more comfortable, you can bid on large jobs and you won't
have to worry about placing the lowest bid.
5. Write a unique and personable proposal for each bid. Employers like proposals that are tailored for
their job listing. Show that you understand the job details and explain why you are uniquely suited to fulfill
their requirements. Provide 2-3 work samples that are relevant to their job description. Use a writing style
that is personable and gives the prospective employer some insight into who you are as a person. Don't
be bashful about playing up your strengths and selling yourself.
Finally, be sure to run spell check and carefully proofread your proposal before submitting it.
Here are a couple of additional tips to help make your proposals stand out. First, when you provide
Elance with verified credentials (proof of degrees, awards and certification), a special green label will
show up on your bids. Second, if you feel confident about your skills then complete one or more of the
Elance skill tests. A good score will show employers that you have the skills to back up your proposal.
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