Military Spouse
Careers
Freelance Bidding Sites Offer Another Option
By Rosemary O’Brien
Do you know about the many bidding sites for freelance writers? If you
are a freelance writer, computer programmer, or involved in a clerical
field, you should become familiar with the online bidding sites.
Sites such as Elance (www.elance.com) or Go Freelance (www.gofreelance.com)
allow freelancers to bid on all types of jobs, usually on a per project
basis. Freelancers sign up, usually for free, and post a portfolio to which
possible employers can go to view previous project work such as magazine
articles, web page construction or anything else freelancers want to put up.
It is best to put up a wide range of work samples so that the client can get
a feeling for the type of work you specialize in.
After choosing a bidder, clients contact the bidder through the site and
the project begins. The site then takes a percentage of what you are paid
for the job. When the project is completed, both bidders and clients can
leave feedback on each other. Both sides build up their reputation this way
and each can check out the other’s reputation before deciding to work with
one another. Bidders are always able to turn down jobs as well, and there is
a place for bidders to ask questions or PMB (private message board) the
client for clarification.
This is a great way to work from home while pcs’ing around the country
with your spouse. Your schedule and the projects you accept are determined
by you. I have used a few of these sites and find bidding sites a great way
to build up a client base. There is a time frame after which you can accept
future work without going through the site, but this small concession is
well worth the sacrifice. You would not have found the project in the first
place had it not been through the site.
So give it a try. Working from home allows me the freedom to work around
my family. And when we move, so does my business. It’s not always easy, and
there are sometimes late nights, but I cannot imagine working a 9 to 5 job
again.
| 
