Elance is no stranger in the freelancing world. Whether you are a freelancer or intend to be a freelancer, you should check out Elance as freelancing platform to get started. Get started with a free “basic” account to get used to the platform.
It is very easy to use.
1. Register an account.
2. Log in and fill in your details.
3. Browser for jobs.
4. Bid for interesting jobs.
5. Keep trying until you land your first job.
However, there are certain things that you might not like about Elance.
For example, their service fee. They charge 8.75% as their service fee.
If you are new on Elance, you might find this annoying, as you are starting out fresh as a freelancer and having to pay 8.75% might be too much.
Personally, I find the service fee reasonable, although it would be nice to reduce the rate.
For basic account (free account), you get 40 connects (free!) – which means you can send up to 40 proposals (although sometimes it takes more than one connect point to send a proposal).
This might be annoying as well, especially being a fresh freelancer on Elance. You have the option to add more connects, but you will have to upgrade your basic account to a paid account such as “individual” account to get more connects, and perhaps pay for additional connects. It costs $10/month to upgrade to “individual” account and a minimum $5 for extra 5 connects.
Here’s my Elance profile. Check it out if you want to get an idea.
Have fun freelancing!
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Verdict: I find it great with better reputation than other freelancing sites.