There are many sites for writers, artists and other creative self employed people. The problem is they don’t value this.
A professional of any other type has a set fee. Business consulting folks charge $200+ per hour and don’t quibble. So why do the same people setting up sites to make money then expect those writing & designing it to work for nothing?
A few years ago I signed up with several online places. Elance and Guru were two – the latter was higher priced and in a year I think I did two jobs. The rest were paying rediculously low wages or never awarded to anyone, wasting my time. Many of the same jobs appeared on Elance.
Elance made a big thing about allowing providers to roll over their contacts (bid allowance). So with 38 bids rolling over to the next month it should be +40 right? Otherwise – if the bids are taken away it just starts over and they’re really lost while SAYING they’re not. Saying so doesn’t make it true. Asking about this on their help forum has been met with silence.
I learned long ago trying to contact anyone at Elance was a waste of time. They don’t talk to providers – or at least not writers. There are minimums you’re allowed to bid – $50 – yet bids have been denied for “bid too high”. Does Elance care? No. They got the money for the monthly service.
This morning I received another. Having some time to pick up a few quick projects I bid one with 15 articles and specific things he wanted for $115 – “bid too high”. The only ones seemingly doing well are those who will work for under $5/per hour – which is really free by the time you take out taxes, expenses etc – or those bidding who employ those making under $5 – “article marketers.” Then buyers come back complaining about content…when they turn down people meeting their requirements!
I know the economy is bad for businesses as well as individuals. I can write blogs and other stuff and get paid nothing…without giving up rights to promotional material.
I’ve tried several sites and all are the same – wanting 50-100 hours of work for under $50. Then there’s the ones you do the work (along with dozens of others working for nothing) and one might get picked. What this means is you can work all week and get nothing for it but give ideas openly to others.
Now to use up another 38 bids for more “bid too high” comments. Fair wages….no way. And it’s likely these same people protest wages given to people in other countries – while supporting a living wage for those right here.
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