The Client Profile

The best freelancers are going to assess your history with Elance. They have learned through experience that not all clients are easy or desirable to work for. Just as you have red and green flags in finding great contractors, they in turn will have the same for you. As with so many aspects of success, through knowledge you can turn this into an advantage.

CYBER SNAGS

Contractors are on the watch for unprofessional clients. Nobody likes their time wasted or their talent unappreciated. Only post projects when you know what you want and are ready to hire someone and get going.

After reading your job posting, the contractor will check out your profile if interested. A couple of ways are available to do this.

Two Views Top Talent Will Use

If a contractor has been searching for jobs through the search mechanism, they can easily get a quick scan of your statistics from the thumbnail job posting.

To view client statistics as in Figure 9.1, click on Find Work on the main toolbar. This will bring up the Job Search page that contractors use to find projects.

Figure 9.1: A glimpse of a client’s statistics can be seen directly from the job search results.

In the bottom-left corner of each project, you will find a series of four dots, some will be green, along with the user name and location of the client. Hover your cursor over the dots or the client’s name. A box appears with basic client information.

In Figure 9.1, you can see that the total purchased by this client is over $5,000. This gives them four green dots and is an easy way for contractors to spot potentially active clients. Payment verified means the client’s method of payment has been verified by Elance and is ready to go. Contractors like this.

The percentage of jobs awarded is a closely watched statistic by contractors. If the ratio is low, it means this client might not be serious and might be a waste of time. Big red flag. The data also shows how long the client has been a member of Elance and where he is located.

Next, click on the client’s user name. Now their actual profile will appear. Most important for the contractor are the statistics and the feedback. Obviously, when you first join Elance you won’t have any data, but over time you will and this is what the talent you’re searching for will see.

To find your own profile, hover your cursor over Hire in the main top toolbar. In the drop-down menu, click on Client Profile. This brings up your Client Profile page.

BEST PRACTICES

Although many clients rarely visit their profile, it’s good to know it exists. As you complete projects and post more, your reputation is stored for all to see.

What are contractors looking for? Initially, an active client, as shown by the total number of jobs posted, a high award ratio, and a larger dollar amount of total projects purchased. They want you to be active and serious. If you’re not that active, that’s okay, but you must place more emphasis on your job posting (see Chapter 11).

Next, your feedback to other contractors will be reviewed. See Figure 9.2 for what the Feedback section looks like. Contractors are checking for clients with consistently high ratings and positive written feedback. This means you’re probably professional and good to work for. They will read what you’ve written and what type of relationships you’ve developed. They will read what the hired contractor says about you in return.

Figure 9.2: Client and contractor feedback is viewed by contractors to see what type of work experiences you’ve had already on Elance.

For great clients who post quality jobs, the feedback area is free advertising. Equally, contractors will notice if projects consistently don’t go well or seem troubled in some way. The message here isn’t to fiddle with the statistics, you can’t. It’s that if you’re a good client, part of the work of attracting top talent is done for you right here. This is true self-advertising to attract top Elance talent.

Profile Extras

As a client, you also have the ability to showcase yourself and/or your company. This is another way to let the contractor know you’re serious about your projects on Elance. In Figure 9.3, the client has written a brief description about his company and the services they provide.

Figure 9.3: Providing a brief company description on your client profile is another way to show you’re serious.

You also have the ability to upload a company logo or photograph, and you can post a YouTube video. These are great ways to begin making the connection necessary for long-term, quality working relationships. It’s not just clients that want to hire the best, but the best talent wants to work for professional clients. By using these tools, you are able to hone your image and attract top talent.