One of the ways a freelance developer can find clients is to bid on projects at freelance bidding sites. These websites allow clients (buyers) to register and place a request for bid on their project along with the details. Freelance web developers also register on the site, set up their profile, and place their bids on projects they select. If the developer gets selected, work commences and he or she gets paid upon project completion. The business model is great but you should take the following advice before finding work through these places.
Always look at a buyer’s reviews. This should be common sense but too many freelance web developers fall victim to a difficult project because they didn’t check client’s payment and review history. Some buyers are easy to deal with, while others are there to take advantage of you. Be sure to have the contract in place before doing any work. If things doesn’t feel right you need to back out as soon as possible to avoid wasting more time.
Commercial projects pay more than personal projects. But it is not just the pay that matters here. Commercial buyers take accepted business practices more seriously. Plus, a commercial buyer is more apt to hire you again if he or she was satisfied with your work. Commercial buyers have larger budgets as well. Personal projects are usually clients wanting to set up something like their cookbook recipes or promoting a cause they are interested in. More than likely, the latter will have lower maximum bids they will accept.
Don’t do work that’s speculative in nature. Speculative work means that the web developer builds a site at the request of a prospective buyer in hopes that the latter will like it and purchase. They will post requests for bids that request the freelance web developer submit designs for review (along with the others posting bids too)
Related posts:
