Part

3

Growing Your Business as an Elance Client

This part is devoted to Elance clients looking to hire the best talent possible. However, as the previous part was for contractors but helpful for clients as well, the same logic applies here. Contractors should read this part so they will understand how the client thinks and what they experience.

The client will learn how they are actually competing for the best contractors online and therefore how to present themselves to attract this talent. I also discuss how the client can target top contractors by studying their profiles, track records, and portfolios of sample work.

The client’s job is also to craft detailed job postings so contractors know they’re working with a serious and professional employer. I show clients how to do this and include examples of both good and bad postings. Choosing the right person to hire includes not only researching his information, but also taking into account how he or she communicates during the selection process. I provide best practices for how to proactively discover the highest-quality contractors out of many choices.

The part concludes with a chapter devoted to how the Elance platform enables the online work experience. The widgets, gadgets, and add-ons all serve to make sure your virtual office runs smoothly. I finish with concrete steps to nurture the client-contractor connection and therefore build long-term working relationships.