Angie Tells The Truth About Elance

“If you’re not learning while you’re earning,
you’re cheating yourself out of the better portion of your compensation.”
—Napoleon Hill

In Issue #225

Main Essay: Angie Tells The Truth About Elance
by Angie Dixon

I approach life as a series of opportunities. I’m constantly looking for new ways of doing things, and especially ways to accomplish my big dreams. You know, that list of things you would do if there were no obstacles.

So when I was faced with two seemingly opposing needs – to contribute financially to my family, and to realize a couple of my bigger dreams – I started looking for opportunities.

I decided to turn to Elance, despite some earlier failures using it in the past, to find freelance writing clients. This time, I cracked the Elance code. Now I am happy to report that I am pursuing some of my really big, audacious goals because of the security, the safety net if you will, of Elance.

There were two things I had to do to really make Elance work for me:

Once I did both of those things, the money started really rolling in. Then, for as long as I needed to, I put all my efforts into working with Elance clients. Until I had my bigger financial needs covered at home. Then, I had the freedom to back off a little – and spend more time on my big dreams.

I don’t think I’m all that special. Anyone can use Elance the way I have. That’s why I also wrote about my system – Elance Success For Writers – so other freelancers can do what I did.

In fact, some Copy Protégé readers who purchased the ebook have already written in to tell of their success using my system. The elimination of cold calling is a real blessing if that’s not your thing. The tools, such as status reports, private message boards and feedback can help you build your business quickly. And the ability to certify skills, verify credentials, and set yourself apart from everyone else. Despite the chronic complaints of competition on the job board scene, Elance makes it easy to rise above.

But I want to level with you – which I do in the ebook as well – there are drawbacks, too.

My main problem with Elance is the fees. Until a couple of weeks ago, they charged fees 45 days after the project was awarded, whether you’d been paid or not. When you are using Elance as a regular source of income – as I often do – that can mean a lot of money coming out of your pocket before it makes its way in.

Fortunately, starting this year, they began withholding fees from payment. This means you don’t hold all the risk anymore – if you don’t get paid, or the project gets shelved or cancelled for some reason, you don’t get stuck still paying fees. And it also means you don’t have to front the fees before you even get paid. A good and necessary change.

Another sticky issue is the practice of “billing off the books” – strictly against Elance’s Terms of Service. I admit, I’ve done it (and I’m hoping the Elance police don’t read the Copy Protégé!) I try to minimize it – and stick with the spirit of the agreement. But on occasion – for second and third assignments with the same client, or when clients might find me on Elance, but contact me through my website – I’ve made judgment calls and billed them individually.

I’m not telling you to do this. In fact, there are risks. You can lose your right to use Elance altogether – which is costly. Your profile won’t show how much you’ve actually made through Elance – something that gives new clients confidence in you. Only you can weigh the risks versus the cost-savings versus your conscience on this one!

The bottom line is this: there is always a cost of doing business. Snail mailing, cold calling, spec assignments, networking – all have a price tag. So does Elance. Smart business people try to minimize expenses without reducing the effectiveness of their marketing. I certainly wouldn’t avoid Elance because of fees – and I wouldn’t advise using illegal practices to reduce costs either! – but weigh the pros and the cons realistically and be reasonable about it.

Despite the drawbacks of fees and reporting, Elance has opened up a new world of possibilities to me – opportunities I might have missed if I hadn’t been willing to give Elance another try, adapt it to my lifestyle, and develop a system that makes it easy and profitable.

I’ll also share with you that after just a couple months of hard work earning my personal goal amount of $5,000/month, I’ve been able to go “inactive” on Elance and take some leaps toward realizing other big dreams. Knowing I have Elance to “fall back on” has given me the confidence I needed to pursue goals that might take a little longer to become profitable than I was able to afford just six months ago.

Life can be wonderfully unpredictable, if you let it. I didn’t start my latest Elance writing venture intending to write an ebook on Elance. And I didn’t write the ebook intending to go inactive on Elance and take off in new directions. But that’s exactly what has happened. And I’m happily working away on two projects I have had on the shelf for too long: starting a pet photography business, and writing what I believe will be my masterpiece!

I urge you to do the same—look at everything as an opportunity, be willing to open new doors and try new things – and grab the chance to pursue your big dreams wherever you find it.

A long-time freelance writer working successfully on Elance.com, Angie has written hundreds of articles, websites, ebooks – you name it, she’s written it. Now that she is able to generate more money in less time using Elance, she is focusing on her passion – her own information products. Current titles in progress include: Write as Fast as You Think, Pet Photography Profits, Procrastinate Later, and personal development products, including The Leonardo Trait and If I Had Known I Would Live this Long: Being More of Who You Are at Any Age. Look for more of her products and books here at The Copy Protégé in the months ahead.

Resource Referral: Applications Due by Friday – What Are your Waiting For?!

In case you missed last week’s issue, I wanted to tell you again: the Copy Protégé Mentoring Program starts up the week of February 9th. If you’ve been meaning to apply, but haven’t gotten around to it yet, now is the time.

Here are a few highlights of the program –

Plus, you’ll pay less than half of what you would pay for other coaching programs out there. We know, we looked around – and then made sure to create a program that offers you the most value for the lowest price.

Look, neither of us had a lot of money to invest when we started out. But we both had mentors in the early days, so we know firsthand what a difference it can make. Our commitment with this program is to do for you what was done for us. At a price you can afford.

Apply today. Send us a writing sample of no more than two-pages (less is fine), and your goals for the next six months to admin@copyprotege.com. We are collecting applications through this Friday January 30th – and will start notifying applicants the following week.

Quick Business Tip: Stop Cheating on Yourself

My 10-year-old daughter is starting to – gasp – talk more and more about boys. They already use terms like “going out” and “cheating” on each other. I can’t get a good answer on what this all means yet – since none of them are actually allowed to date. But it gives me pause.

As we tackle these concepts and conversations, I start to realize that the person we often “cheat” on the most is ourselves. We try to stay focused on our goals – but end up checking email ten times a day and getting behind. We vow to go to bed on time so we can get up earlier – but end up watching late night television. We promise to eat healthy food and exercise – but the ease of a drive-thru McDonald’s when we’re starving and the kids clamor for Happy Meals melts our resolve.

You can’t divorce yourself for such infidelities. There’s no one else to blame. Sometimes, there isn’t even anyone to catch us and dole out an appropriate punishment. But cheating is cheating. Like I told my daughter – getting honest on the ways you “cheat” on yourself comes first. Everything else falls into place much easier when we start with ourselves.

And no dating! Oh wait, that’s for her … not you.