A Look in the Mirror

So if this image of yours is all important, the first thing you need to do is step back and have a look at it. You understand the value of the profile, and later, in Chapter 11, you’ll learn how to communicate what you want done in a clear and effective way. In the meantime, there are yet more ways you can communicate who you are.

First Impressions

The key here is to think about what you want from Elance and how you’re going to go about getting it, before you barge right in and slap your money down on the bar. Most of you will probably be testing the waters to see if you like this new way of doing business. To get the best results, you need to manage that first impression.

CYBER SNAGS

When using email as a main source of communication, be aware of how you may be coming across. Capital letters make it LOOK LIKE YOU’RE SHOUTING, when perhaps that’s not the message you intended. Humor doesn’t always come across right because you don’t have the facial expressions (like a smile) and body language to accentuate the story.

Start with focusing specifically on what you want to get done and make it small. You may have heard success stories about start-ups built solely with Elance freelancers—and these stories are true and abound—but put a toe in first so you understand how things work.

What you don’t want to do is throw yourself in headfirst, make some mistakes that you could have avoided, and then end up with a bad taste and/or bad feedback. Start slowly. Learn. And organize that first impression so attracting the best contractors will come naturally.

Spelling Counts

If English isn’t your first language, or even if it wasn’t your best subject in school, learn about Spell Check. It’s easy to use, really. The devil is in the details. Manage these and they add to your overall image.

Another alternative is to hire a proofreader on Elance. These folks get paid to make sure you come across grammatically intact. Hire someone to proof your job postings, your profile blurb, whatever. But make sure your written word is professional looking.

Clarity

Clarity isn’t just reserved for job postings. Whenever you communicate with a contractor, prospective or not, be as clear and precise as possible. One top client claims he always writes to a fifth grade level. This isn’t to say anyone isn’t intelligent. It’s to say be clear. You might be working with someone on the other side of the world where language is an issue.

BEST PRACTICES

Clients with businesses should take the time to explain the business as a whole to the contractor. Each smaller project is part of the greater whole and by understanding this end vision, each piece can be more accurate.

As I mention so many times in this book, communication is key. If your instructions are vague, so goes your response, and perhaps, so goes your project, too. When you’re first communicating with contractors to determine whether they’re a fit, it’s especially important to communicate clearly. They don’t want to muddle through an unclear project or client, and the best simply won’t.

Job History

By starting small and communicating clearly, your job history—that all-important self-advertising—will take care of itself. The feedback you leave will most probably be positive, as will the comments your contractors leave for you. By setting things up right from the beginning, you will attract the best and make sure you leave a good trail behind you. It’s not that hard to do.