We have signed up as a provider on E-Lance, you can view our profile by clicking on the link in the blog rolls.
So far the experience has not been mixed. We did get a contract to do a quick project, and did it in the allotted time. We didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to fight for projects. We can easily do most of the $500 web sites, except for the ones that are asking for ridiculous functionality for $500. There is a lot of competition out there, and we are doing our best to compete.
We have put in bids for projects from $200 all the way to $52,000. Unfortunately, it costs ‘Connects’ to bid on projects, and the higher dollar value of the project, the more connects it costs you. We are charged for the connects, and then we are charged a fee of 8.75% of the amount billed. E-Lance is in the business to make money. They are doing well with it. The business model is understandable, but it would be nicer to be charged a lower percent on the billable amount.
Overall we are OK with the way it is working out, as we are still new to being a provider on there, and it is not easy to be a new kid on the block. We are sure once we get a few more projects under our belts through them, things will become easier.
