Tips for Elance Success

Freelancing on Elance can be immensely frustrating at times, and following these simple tips can go a long way in helping lighten up your day:

1. Stay away from users who have a history of giving poor feedback, especially when said feedback was given for negligible reasons. The user might write something like "good job" or even worse-"will hire again in the future"-and still leave 4.0/5 feedback, which as far as I am concerned is unacceptable. Not only is such a user likely to be an unappreciative client, these users are often the most demanding, insisting on rapid turnaround times and an endless number of drafts.

2. There is no need for a sponsored proposal on projects for which you have received an invitation. The client will undoubtedly read your proposal and "upgrading" your proposal to sponsored not only will cost you a connection, but it is likely to make you come across as painfully desperate.

3. Personalize every proposal to the greatest extent possible. This is literally the most important piece of advice to keep in mind when submitting a proposal. Every significant client that has chosen me over other qualified freelancers has done so because of a personalized proposal that conveys why I am uniquely qualified to complete their project. This can be anything ranging from previous experience to background knowledge or interest in the subject-just keep in mind that your potential client has no way of knowing whatever it is unless you write it. This is your one chance to distinguish yourself from other qualified bidders, so take full advantage of it.

4. In light of the previous tip, this means fewer and more focused bids. Five targeted proposals will go a lot further than twenty which are posted haphazardly. Make the most of each proposal, even if this means bidding on fewer projects. In the end, you'll receive the projects that you sincerely want, inspiring you to perform at your full potential.

5. Check the user's history when debating what to bid on a project. If the user has spent a relatively large amount of money on Elance, don't be shy of submitting a bid that reflects your true value as a writer.

6. On the other side of the coin, if the user has chosen zero clients from their previously posted job descriptions, then don't waste your time submitting a proposal. Why take the time to personalize a proposal that is extremely unlikely to result in a new client?

7. Stay away from overly demanding job descriptions. Providing details is completely acceptable and encouraged, but there is a fine line between offering information about a potential project and demanding that it be completed in an extremely particular format. If the user is this insistent even before a freelancer is chosen, just wait until the poor freelancer submits a draft to the client.

8. Similarly, do not bid on overly short job descriptions. If the user could not take the time to write a simple paragraph explaining what he or she would like done, then it's not worth working with them. These clients tend to be chronically unsatisfied, and worst of all they cannot be bothered to articulate what it is they would like.

9. Be sure to let your clients know explicitly that you'd be happy to work with them in the future. This is the simplest way of securing future projects, and best of all it does not even require writing a proposal. Moreover, such clients are likely to be willing to pay you more in the future, since they already have faith in the quality of your work.

10. Upgrade your membership towards becoming an Individual Member. The extra twenty connects are definitely worth the extra $10 a month, particularly for new freelancers, and you will also receive preferred placement in search results. This in turn results in receiving more invitations to job descriptions, setting the groundwork for securing more projects.