Clarity Begins at Home

First and foremost, have a clear picture of what you want from your project. The clearer it is for you, the more detailed and helpful you will be able to write it in your description. Take some time and list as many features and aspects as you can. Initially, be overly detailed. Then you can tailor it back to streamline the actual posting.

BEST PRACTICES

As important as it is to clarify your project, it’s also crucial to refine it so it’s not too long. Pages of description can put contractors off and might flag you as a pain. Being concise is the key.

The point is not to inundate your prospective contractor with minutiae, but to be able to bullet point those precise features and qualities you’re looking for. Each project will be different, but consider including the following:

By outlining your needs in this fashion (and your list may vary), you are helping to focus your project for the benefit of the people who will be bidding on it. It’s a matter of distilling your vision to the clearest possible core.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

What’s in a Name?

Giving your job an appropriate name is a surprisingly important aspect to the entire process. Contractors are searching for jobs on Elance 24/7. Each will have specialties they’re looking to fulfill, and the easier you can make it to find you the better.

For example, let’s say you want an app built for iPhones. You could title your job “iPhone App.” Or you could be more specific, like “jQuery mobile app (v2).” Right off the bat, those contractors with expertise in jQuery version 2 mobile applications know to look deeper into your job posting.

Let’s say you want a brochure made for your business. You could title your job “Brochure needed.” Or you could help zero in on specific talent by titling it “Food brochure design, 15 pages.” Immediately the contractor has a better idea of what you’re looking for.

BEST PRACTICES

Building clear and concise postings doesn’t just help you clarify your project goals. It also flags you as a good person to work for. Remember, you’re also being judged by the best contractors.

Titling your project precisely is one more way you refine the communication process. Freelancers scrolling through their job searches can quickly identify projects they want to bid on by pinpointed titles. This saves everyone time.

The Nitty-Gritty

The same type of detail you apply to your job title needs to be applied within the posting as well. To use the previous example of the iPhone application, you could give a generic, albeit accurate, description of the end result:

Yes, it’s giving a picture of the end result and what the client wants. However, compare that level of detail with the following:

Which posting do you think will get the most specific bidders? It’s this type of detail that will help you target and attract the best freelancers. Their goal is to understand what you want and to give it to you in exchange for being paid money. The more you can help them understand your goals, the easier the entire project will flow.

Research

Sometimes you won’t know all the details you need in your project. After all, you’re not the expert; that’s why you’re hiring someone online. One way to overcome this is to research similar projects and see what they’re asking for.

CYBER SNAGS

As you research ideas from similar job postings, be careful about making specific decisions without being fully informed. If necessary, Google technologies you don’t understand and read up on what other people say about the latest trends. If you’re still not sure what’s best, you can always list the options in your posting and see what the contractors recommend.

Let’s say you want a website built for your new business but you don’t really know much more about it than that. Go to Find Work in the top main toolbar. Here you can search through other jobs that have been posted. On the left hand menu of categories, click on IT & Programming. In the subcategories list that will appear, click on Website Design.

Now you have in front of you the entire list of website design–related job postings on Elance. Scroll through and look for those that may be similar to yours. This is a great way to educate yourself as to what’s out there, and to gain ideas for your own postings.

Maybe you see that one client is concerned about ensuring the artwork used for his website is copyright free. If this applies to you, make a note. It’s astounding what you can learn by just having a cruise around this area. You can also see what clear and decidedly unclear job postings look like.

And If You Still Don’t Know

In the end, if you still feel uncomfortable about the details in your posting, or if you simply don’t have time to do the research necessary, ask the contractors. You’re not expected to be the expert. If you are, that’s great. But many clients need help finding the best solutions for their projects.

CYBER SNAGS

Asking questions is a great way to gain information and establish rapport. But be careful: if you ask too many questions, or if they’re way too simple, you can be flagged as indecisive by contractors. Apply the happy medium of not too hot and not too cold, but just right.

This approach has three distinct benefits. First, you’ll get recommendations from some of the most talented freelancers in the world. There’s nothing like going to the best for advice. Some contractors may be too busy to spend the time on someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing, but others will truly help you out.

Second, you’ll learn very quickly which contractors actually read your proposal and take the time to address your needs specifically. Boilerplate bids are common and asking questions is a great way to see who’s really thinking about you.

Third, by asking questions you establish rapport with your potential contractors. Very quickly you will learn who is responsive and clear, and who just can’t be bothered to fill in the gaps. In no time at all, this will help you develop your short list of freelancers. Chapter 12 goes into this process in depth.

Pricing Your Project

Asking the right price for the work you need done is a crucial piece of the equation. If your price is too low, you’ll eliminate top talent. However, if the price is too high, you’ll be paying more than you should. Fortunately, you have a few options to help you out.

First, do some research. Search for jobs as if you were a contractor by clicking on Hire, then the appropriate subcategories on the left-side menu. See what other clients are asking for similar work. Be sure to note if they have lots of proposals coming in, or just a few.

Next, remember you have a range to work from. In both fixed-price and hourly jobs you can select quite a wide price range for the bids to fall within. This means you don’t have to pick a specific price but can see what each contractor is willing to accept for their fee. If you’re absolutely not sure what to charge, you can always choose Not Sure.

The key is to select a fair price range to work from and not try to get your work done for a ridiculously cheap price. “You get what you pay for” is sage advice here.