ete successfully within your specified delivery time. There are wonderful opportunities for interesting and creative writing but be careful to avoid the requests for high volume, low budget, keyword rich, search engine fodder that is so popular on some parts of the Internet. Read the job description carefully. If the buyer seems unclear about their needs or appears aggressive or unprofessional, leave well alone. Always study any past feedback they may have.

Once you decide to place a bid you need to set out your proposal. Take time to explain why you are the right person for the job, mentioning any relevant experience and expertise. Provide writing samples and link to your website if you have one. Outline your business terms. While it is acceptable practice to ask for a percentage payment up front, new providers may decide to offer payment on c

Imagine a superstore stacked high with writing jobs. As writers browse the shelves they select projects that interest them and decide how much they would like to be paid to complete them. For freelancers this dream might become a reality with the advent of online business market places such as Elance. While some believe these auction websites present a realistic opportunity for UK writers to reach a global market and increase their earning potential, others have found them less satisfactory. For me Elance has led to real financial benefit but only because I have learnt to make the system work to my advantage. By following a few basic strategies to maximise success and avoid the pitfalls I believe there is a place for such websites in the writer’s toolbox.

Similar to online marketplaces like ebay, Elance works as a ‘reverse auction’. Buyers place their projects on the site and service providers bid to secure the contract. Everyday, thousands of international clients place jobs in various categories including creative writing, web content, academic writing, technical writing, children’s writing, journalism and much more. The diversity of subject matter is impressive. At a glance, current projects include an e-book for the care of the elderly, maths lessons for school children and a series of articles for a lingerie website.

To bid on a project writers must outline their proposal and state their fee and delivery time. At the end of the auction the client awards the contract to the writer of their choice. The Elance interface then lets the two parties finalise the contract, work together, deliver the finished product and arrange payment. After the transaction buyers are invited to rate the writer on such criteria as professionalism, quality, expertise and schedule. The writer’s feedback history is then made visible to all prospective clients as a guide to the writer’s credibility.

At first glance Elance sounds almost too good to be true and it does have drawbacks. Like any business it has to make money and it does this by charging its users. A range of subscription charges apply to sellers and a commission is deducted from all earnings received through the Elance system. As an American company all auctions and transactions are conducted in US dollars. This does not rule out UK writers but they will need to use either the Elance payment system, which transfers earnings to a chosen bank account, or a Paypal account to receive payment in sterling. These methods both incur charges for the beneficiary. Another disadvantage of Elance derives from its global capacity. While the choice of projects is huge, so is the competition. Many overseas sellers are prepared to work for considerably less than their British counterparts who are constrained by the domestic economy.

While this all sounds discouraging, Elance is certainly worth a look. Initially you can browse projects for free and get an idea of the work on offer. If you decide to place a bid you must subscribe. A basic package costs about ?14 for three months and buys you enough time to try out the system. With so much on offer, it can be tempting to rush into bidding but a steady approach is more productive. For the new provider the primary objective is to build up an impeccable feedback record as this is a major factor in securing contracts. Only choose a job that really interests you and you are confident that you can complete successfully within your specified delivery time. There are wonderful opportunities for interesting and creative writing but be careful to avoid the requests for high volume, low budget, keyword rich, search engine fodder that is so popular on some parts of the Internet. Read the job description carefully. If the buyer seems unclear about their needs or appears aggressive or unprofessional, leave well alone. Always study any past feedback they may have.

Once you decide to place a bid you need to set out your proposal. Take time to explain why you are the right person for the job, mentioning any relevant experience and expertise. Provide writing samples and link to your website if you have one. Outline your business terms. While it is acceptable practice to ask for a percentage payment up front, new providers may decide to offer payment on co

e their projects on the site and service providers bid to secure the contract. Everyday, thousands of international clients place jobs in various categories including creative writing, web content, academic writing, technical writing, children’s writing, journalism and much more. The diversity of subject matter is impressive. At a glance, current projects include an e-book for the care of the elderly, maths lessons for school children and a series of articles for a lingerie website.

To bid on a project writers must outline their proposal and state their fee and delivery time. At the end of the auction the client awards the contract to the writer of their choice. The Elance interface then lets the two parties finalise the contract, work together, deliver the finished product and arrange payment. After the transaction buyers are invited to rate the writer on such criteria as professionalism, quality, expertise and schedule. The writer’s feedback history is then made visible to all prospective clients as a guide to the writer’s credibility.

At first glance Elance sounds almost too good to be true and it does have drawbacks. Like any business it has to make money and it does this by charging its users. A range of subscription charges apply to sellers and a commission is deducted from all earnings received through the Elance system. As an American company all auctions and transactions are conducted in US dollars. This does not rule out UK writers but they will need to use either the Elance payment system, which transfers earnings to a chosen bank account, or a Paypal account to receive payment in sterling. These methods both incur charges for the beneficiary. Another disadvantage of Elance derives from its global capacity. While the choice of projects is huge, so is the competition. Many overseas sellers are prepared to work for considerably less than their British counterparts who are constrained by the domestic economy.

While this all sounds discouraging, Elance is certainly worth a look. Initially you can browse projects for free and get an idea of the work on offer. If you decide to place a bid you must subscribe. A basic package costs about ?14 for three months and buys you enough time to try out the system. With so much on offer, it can be tempting to rush into bidding but a steady approach is more productive. For the new provider the primary objective is to build up an impeccable feedback record as this is a major factor in securing contracts. Only choose a job that really interests you and you are confident that you can complete successfully within your specified delivery time. There are wonderful opportunities for interesting and creative writing but be careful to avoid the requests for high volume, low budget, keyword rich, search engine fodder that is so popular on some parts of the Internet. Read the job description carefully. If the buyer seems unclear about their needs or appears aggressive or unprofessional, leave well alone. Always study any past feedback they may have.

Once you decide to place a bid you need to set out your proposal. Take time to explain why you are the right person for the job, mentioning any relevant experience and expertise. Provide writing samples and link to your website if you have one. Outline your business terms. While it is acceptable practice to ask for a percentage payment up front, new providers may decide to offer payment on c

writer on such criteria as professionalism, quality, expertise and schedule. The writer’s feedback history is then made visible to all prospective clients as a guide to the writer’s credibility.

At first glance Elance sounds almost too good to be true and it does have drawbacks. Like any business it has to make money and it does this by charging its users. A range of subscription charges apply to sellers and a commission is deducted from all earnings received through the Elance system. As an American company all auctions and transactions are conducted in US dollars. This does not rule out UK writers but they will need to use either the Elance payment system, which transfers earnings to a chosen bank account, or a Paypal account to receive payment in sterling. These methods both incur charges for the beneficiary. Another disadvantage of Elance derives from its global capacity. While the choice of projects is huge, so is the competition. Many overseas sellers are prepared to work for considerably less than their British counterparts who are constrained by the domestic economy.

While this all sounds discouraging, Elance is certainly worth a look. Initially you can browse projects for free and get an idea of the work on offer. If you decide to place a bid you must subscribe. A basic package costs about ?14 for three months and buys you enough time to try out the system. With so much on offer, it can be tempting to rush into bidding but a steady approach is more productive. For the new provider the primary objective is to build up an impeccable feedback record as this is a major factor in securing contracts. Only choose a job that really interests you and you are confident that you can complete successfully within your specified delivery time. There are wonderful opportunities for interesting and creative writing but be careful to avoid the requests for high volume, low budget, keyword rich, search engine fodder that is so popular on some parts of the Internet. Read the job description carefully. If the buyer seems unclear about their needs or appears aggressive or unprofessional, leave well alone. Always study any past feedback they may have.

Once you decide to place a bid you need to set out your proposal. Take time to explain why you are the right person for the job, mentioning any relevant experience and expertise. Provide writing samples and link to your website if you have one. Outline your business terms. While it is acceptable practice to ask for a percentage payment up front, new providers may decide to offer payment on c

rives from its global capacity. While the choice of projects is huge, so is the competition. Many overseas sellers are prepared to work for considerably less than their British counterparts who are constrained by the domestic economy.

While this all sounds discouraging, Elance is certainly worth a look. Initially you can browse projects for free and get an idea of the work on offer. If you decide to place a bid you must subscribe. A basic package costs about ?14 for three months and buys you enough time to try out the system. With so much on offer, it can be tempting to rush into bidding but a steady approach is more productive. For the new provider the primary objective is to build up an impeccable feedback record as this is a major factor in securing contracts. Only choose a job that really interests you and you are confident that you can complete successfully within your specified delivery time. There are wonderful opportunities for interesting and creative writing but be careful to avoid the requests for high volume, low budget, keyword rich, search engine fodder that is so popular on some parts of the Internet. Read the job description carefully. If the buyer seems unclear about their needs or appears aggressive or unprofessional, leave well alone. Always study any past feedback they may have.

Once you decide to place a bid you need to set out your proposal. Take time to explain why you are the right person for the job, mentioning any relevant experience and expertise. Provide writing samples and link to your website if you have one. Outline your business terms. While it is acceptable practice to ask for a percentage payment up front, new providers may decide to offer payment on c

ete successfully within your specified delivery time. There are wonderful opportunities for interesting and creative writing but be careful to avoid the requests for high volume, low budget, keyword rich, search engine fodder that is so popular on some parts of the Internet. Read the job description carefully. If the buyer seems unclear about their needs or appears aggressive or unprofessional, leave well alone. Always study any past feedback they may have.

Once you decide to place a bid you need to set out your proposal. Take time to explain why you are the right person for the job, mentioning any relevant experience and expertise. Provide writing samples and link to your website if you have one. Outline your business terms. While it is acceptable practice to ask for a percentage payment up front, new providers may decide to offer payment on completion as a way of enticing buyers. If this is the case, perhaps stick to small projects during this period. Price your work carefully. While competition is stiff, reputable buyers will often choose quality over low prices. Be polite and professional and give as much information as you can to make your bid stand out. Once you have placed a bid, the buyer might contact you through the Elance private messaging service to clarify your proposal. Respond promptly to any queries.

If you win an auction, contact the buyer to finalise details and accept the project. Elance provides opportunities for parties to exchange contracts if desired and in the event of subsequent payment disputes offers a resolution service. Once the project is accepted, work closely with your client to get the job done quickly and effectively. When your customer is satisfied, submit your invoice and request feedback. At all times it is important to foster good relations with your buyer. This is critical to your success. Not only is good feedback essential for securing future contracts but you increase your chances of repeat work from the client. I have completed several jobs on Elance and in some cases the client commissioned more work. We were able to conduct this independently of Elance, saving on commission fees. It is this nurturing of ongoing relationships outside of the system that qualifies Elance as a viable tool for the writer.