Tips for People Per Hour

djkarl

I've made several bids and always get good feedback from the clients, but my offer is usually declined, usually it ends up going to someone for £1/£2 an hour

JuniorDesigner

younganddumb wrote: »

I registered with PPH a while back, but have just started using it.
I've been bidding on admin / virtual assistant work, and have bid on 6 jobs.

I won a bid last week for a virtual PA, which includes "warm-calling" businesses after they have received an initial call, and an information brochure, and database management, booking appointments etc.

The client stated between £7 and £12 per hour, so I placed my bid at £9.50. Not too low as to rip myself off, and not to high as to rip the client off.

I was in several clients "watchlists", and have found that if you place your bid at a sensible rate, (mine are always slap bang in the middle of the clients budget range.

I find stating what you can do and how you will do it, in what timescale, tends to help too. Especially if you explain the experience you have too.

HTH,

Young&Dumb!X

Great advvice this, I have heard from others who do the same and have said it works to keep your 'rate' in between their budget margains.

Also asking questions on Clarification Boards can be beneficial as they can see you are professional in your approach and are interested in their project.

beeswax_3

I've been working for freelancer and elance now for the last 6 weeks, and yes, the majority of the work is low paid stuff that isn't worth bothering with. But, having said that, if you take the time to sort out the wheat from the chaff, there are some fairly decent paying jobs. I've earned over $300 for just three really simple jobs, which isn't bad considering I'm only doing this to supplement my wages!

JuniorDesigner

But how would you go about sorting the wheat from the chaff??

Almost every job I have seen that I believe I could do is covered by someone in a foreign country willing to do it for pittance?

beeswax_3

The clients I've worked for are looking for quality work - not the cheapest, just because someone is offering to do the same for less doesn't mean they will get selected. Don't let cheap bids put you off, only bid what you feel the project is worth - don't undersell yourself.

Just reading the job description should give you some idea if the client is wanting cheap bulk work or a professional job. If the job description is unclear or it actually states the maximum fee they are willing to pay - then just steer clear.

I always send a private message with my bids and a sample or link to some of my previous work. I don't have any feedback ratings either, but I've been offered more than I could take on, so have had to decline a couple of jobs.

JuniorDesigner

beeswax wrote: »

The clients I've worked for are looking for quality work - not the cheapest, just because someone is offering to do the same for less doesn't mean they will get selected. Don't let cheap bids put you off, only bid what you feel the project is worth - don't undersell yourself.

Just reading the job description should give you some idea if the client is wanting cheap bulk work or a professional job. If the job description is unclear or it actually states the maximum fee they are willing to pay - then just steer clear.

I always send a private message with my bids and a sample or link to some of my previous work. I don't have any feedback ratings either, but I've been offered more than I could take on, so have had to decline a couple of jobs.

I didn't realise you could do this, is this only for paying members?

Sometimes I feel the best way to get a job is to talk to the client about your ideas rather than bidding against each other without getting to know the client.

beeswax_3

We may be talking at cross purposes. I don't know if PPH have a private message button, but Freelancer and elance do.

JuniorDesigner

Yeah it's OK I meant ELance as I use them also.
Can I just ask also, do you put together some samples of what your proposing when you bid for work or do you just bid given what you've got on your portfolio etc?

JuniorDesigner

I'm sorry how is this Spam!?

I am trying to find tips on getting succesful bids from freelance sites.

Are you a freelancer?????

cymru78

I too always leave a private message with what I have done in the past/can do and explain that if I've not done something in particular then I can learn it quickly

I tend to go for the admin/data entry jobs myself and like I said earlier, most of my bidding is the same price.

I also have my own website which has client testimonials on there, which I guide them too.