Freelancer.co.uk

[Jawloms]

Anyone know anything about it? Good, bad or otherwise.

[SC-UK]

We have been using Freelancer, ELance, and ODesk for a long time now to find outsourcers for a variety of different projects.

 

Overall I would checkout ODesk as we have had much more success with this than the other two put together.

 

You didn't mention if you would be using the service to look for work for yourself, or to hire somebody to do a job. If you are looking to hire somebody, be very careful with your replies. No matter what you post you will get lots of replies saying that they are able to do the job, but many have either not understood the job posting fully, or even read it at all. It's a good idea to have a good long chat with anybody you are thinking of hiring either over the phone or via Skype, and don't be afraid to ask a million questions of them. If they genuinely are capable of doing the job they will not take offence at being grilled thoroughly!

 

Tom

[Jawloms]

I was looking at it with the idea I could do some of the work, but I don't want to start doing things and then find out there's a clause which means they can get out of paying me or whatever.

[SC-UK]

You can quote your price for a project and set milestones along the way for part payments i.e. not wait for the entire job to be complete before paying in full. Also, deposits can be requested for work.

 

The biggest advice I would give you is to checkout the references and profiles of anybody that you are considering doing work for. Treat the system similarly to eBay i.e. only buy from trusted sellers, high feedback, etc.

 

Tom