In the era before the internet, being self-employed was a daunting task. However, with the advent of the digital age, over 13 million individuals have embraced self-employment. The internet has seen the rise of numerous platforms designed to cater to this growing demographic, offering a range of services from job matching to professional advice. These platforms have become invaluable resources for those venturing into self-employment.
The job categories available on these platforms are diverse, spanning from writing and management to legal, IT, and marketing. The primary objective of these Business-to-Business (B2B) platforms is to match your skills with companies seeking your expertise. Some platforms charge membership fees, others are free, and some take a cut from each job awarded, typically from the employer.
As a new user, you'll need to create an online profile detailing your experience, skill level, and sometimes, examples of your work. Let's delve into some of the most prominent freelancing platforms:
Guru Guru is arguably the most popular freelancing platform, likely due to its extensive advertising. The platform boasts over 320,000 members and more than 7,000 job listings. Guru also offers a variety of backend services such as articles, an ezine, and other resources to help you run your business more efficiently.
eLance eLance operates on an auction model where you bid on projects that pique your interest. The platform features an online rating system that allows buyers and sellers to leave feedback about each other, which is then made public. eLance covers a wide range of business categories.
Ants Ants is another auction-style platform where you bid on projects that interest you. The job categories are more limited, but you can earn money by referring friends to the service.
eWork Exchange eWork Exchange requires you to build an online resume as part of the registration process, which can be supplemented by creating a skill profile. The platform makes it easy to search for projects, and when you find one you like, you can email the project owner through a private profile number. eWork claims to have over 170,000 members.
Free Agent Free Agent boasts over 100,000 members and requires a detailed form outlining your skills and qualifications upon registration. The platform doesn't use open bidding, but you can search for projects by category. Free Agent uses a skill-matching engine that matches your skills with potential employers, who can then contact you to discuss payment details.
So, the next time your business is slow, or you're uncertain about your next paycheck, explore these platforms. You'll secure a gig in no time!
De-Spam Your Inbox: "How to Fight the Spam War and Win!"
Spam, Spam ... what's a person to do? If you'rean online ... odds are your mailbox is ... daily with Spam. The longer you've been ... theNet and the more visible you've
Website Updates are a SNAP With Server Side Includes
If you ever had to make a change to your website that neededto be carried onto every page, you know what a tedious job ... have I got news for you. It doesn't have to be. ... the world of
"How's Your Sense of Style?"
No, I'm not ... to your wardrobe here, but to ... style sheets, also known as CSS. ... by the World Wide Web ... it allows ... to separate site layout from the design.
