Web Marketers - Get Some Professional Help! -

Home
>
Internet Marketing
>
Web Marketers - Get Some Professional Help!

Web Marketers - Get Some Professional Help!

There is lots of freelance help available on the internet, from writers, editors, proofreaders and other professionals in the writing industry to software developers, graphic designers, web designers and all manner of other technical and business specialists.

Thanks to the increasingly popular outsourcing exchanges, such as Elance.com, SmarterWork.com and ContractedWork.com, it is now very easy to find and hire the right contractor for your project at the right price. If you need help with a technical project, such as software development or web programming, there are even exchanges like RentACoder.com that specialize in these disciplines and organize their participants according to their individual skills.

Using an outsourcing exchange is quick and easy. You simply post a description of your project requirements (in sufficient detail to allow a contractor to estimate its cost) and within hours you will receive proposals from a number of freelance specialists, each one eager to win your business.

You can even use an outsourcing exchange as a research tool, to get an idea of the likely cost of a development project that you may be considering. However, you should beware of posting repeatedly without awarding a contract, as this will earn you the reputation of a time-waster and may adversely affect the response you receive to future postings. As a buyer of freelance services, posting your requirements is usually free. It is the contractor that pays for access to the service, either as a monthly subscription or as a percentage commission on the value of contracts awarded.

If you decide to award a contract in response to a posting, you can protect yourself (and the contractor) using escrow payments. You simply pre-pay the contract value into an escrow account (an interim bank account provided by the exchange operator) knowing that it will only be released to the contractor when you confirm that the work has been completed to your satisfaction. Likewise, the contractor benefits from the reassurance that funds have been reserved to pay for his services. For complex projects, it is even possible to administer phased payments via the escrow account and, in the event of a dispute, take advantage of an arbitration service.

One of the benefits of online outsourcing exchanges is that they provide access to contractors from all over the world. Several countries (such as India and parts of Eastern Europe) have very low labor rates but a highly skilled and professional workforce, making it possible to buy high-quality services very economically. Most of these professionals also speak and write English to a very high standard, making formal communication no more difficult that with a local contractor. The instantaneous nature of internet communication means that it is no longer necessary to collaborate face-to-face.

Of course, the use of freelance contractors is not without its risks. To ensure that your project delivers the results you're expecting, you should follow a few simple guidelines:

Create a budget for your entire project so that you know how much each aspect should cost. This will enable you to assess the overall feasibility before you start spending money on contractors.
Write a detailed specification for each of your freelance requirements.
If appropriate, use a non-disclosure agreement before sending out the specification to bidders. If so, it will be necessary to post a project overview in the freelance exchange and to operate a closed bidding process.
Get a fixed price quotation before assigning work to any freelancer. If a freelancer is unable to provide a fixed-price quotation, it may be an indication that your requirement specification is not sufficiently clear or detailed - a warning sign of trouble ahead.
Administer your freelance assignment using a written legal contract that clearly specifies time limits, fees, dispute procedures, confidentiality, ownership and other contractual terms.
If possible, use the exchange's escrow payment service to protect yourself and the contractor.

If you take the freelance route, it is important to ensure that all rights to profit from the final product, or any materials produced in its creation, remain yours. If you do not, it is possible that a contractor employed to contribute to your project could claim the result as his own and use or sell it independently when it is completed.

You should keep a paper trail linking yourself to anyone with whom you discuss your project, including emails, letters, faxes, and even written records of telephone conversations. This will establish the relationship between you and your contractors, and will prove the source of any confidential details. Although this paper trail may never be needed, if problems arise you'll be glad you made that little extra effort.

About The Author

Tim Coulter is a consultant and software developer who helps netpreneurs to harness marketing technologies.

He is also the author of "ClickBank - The Definitive Guide" The Ultimate ClickBank Tutorial & Reference Manual.

http://www.clickbankrevealed.com/

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Replycom-Launches-Worlds-First-Marketplace/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BD96E5C35-1B36-48A4-92E6-F2A1DA0636A3%257Dcid=1277227574ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNEKMbm4UQF3eE5TIqPLUzbf3-ewqwReply.com Launches World#39;s First Marketplace for Enhanced Clicks(TM)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;We are on a mission to make bInternet marketing/b available to businesses of any size by making it easy and profitable to generated locally-targeted and b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1697334.htmcid=1277184060ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNHVZ8bmCb0PbHNBS-ZJ-E2H0TxOvQTripology Appoints bInternet Marketing/b and Lead Gen Expert to Board b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr15 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;His success as an entrepreneur and innovator in the field of online lead generation and binternet marketing/b means he#39;s done this before. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Nationwide-Credit-Card-Processing-Provider/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BE577AC73-AE6A-45A5-A6CE-279FB4961FEA%257Dcid=1277161601ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNHWcirqwIkLtl9gFZXkLAcigWVuIgNationwide Credit Card Processing Provider, BankCard USA, Engages b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr17 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;bInternet marketing/b is a large source of revenue for many businesses today,quot; notes Alan Griefer, President of BankCard USA. quot;Click-fraud is more prevalent b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory%3Fid%3D6351355cid=1273809014ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNFOfoxMKVJts0_xSGYJQ9sM7Trr1wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=rCvADcZDXGUJimgurl=a.abcnews.com/images/Business/ap_holiday_shopping_081128_mn.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2ABC News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cyber4-2008dec04,0,4537908.storycid=1273809014ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNG0TIs3aJ8UO8COkD-7qs5tUx22xQRetailers rejoice: Cyber Monday sales figures rise/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLos Angeles Times,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;All online retailers are doing much more aggressive bmarketing/b,quot; said Bernard Luthi, vice president of bmarketing/b and merchandising at Newegg, which offered b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D-0iz1s7QEc4cid=1273809014ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNGFNO_66ztfzM3P46VHz8MTctngMAVideo: Online Retailers See Monday As Black Friday/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAssociatedPress/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/-0iz1s7QEc4/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/-0iz1s7QEc4type=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Consumers-Benefit-a-Frenzy-Around/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B3EA6E82C-6D99-450C-B19E-D86692E11361%257Dcid=1273809014ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNEZkuvDR4ZKsapjygN052g4voxEjwConsumers Benefit from a Frenzy of Around-the-Clock Online Shopping/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122817819658170827.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1273809014ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNHFZF6GukbRKJAmv5yADm0P8fppNgOnline Retailers Dangle Free Shipping, Discounts/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWall Street Journal/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local/story/636657.htmlcid=1273809014ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNG7sg5X5WRBnFh8v1dxN_Yy3phk_gnobrBeaufort Gazette/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/majors/ecommerce-developments/e3i4a52d85a423be92dd57a90800b336343cid=1273809014ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNFeWBZZWcnRCdsHKtCzStihhBIzZQnobrNational Jeweler Network/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1273809014hl=ennobrall 2,030 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/03/home-work/cid=0ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNG5ahUwUR9bk1XTKFbFBEcesHpnIwBusiness road warrior opts for bInternet marketing/b to keep family first/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fDeSoto Appeal,nbsp;TNnbsp;-/font nobr23 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Around late April, Stephenson launched an bInternet marketing/b company. Memphis Sudden Values could be coming to an inbox near you. quot;What I do is help local, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Pontiflex-Launches-ROI-Calculator-Enables/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BCB462437-073B-4BC4-A5EC-6ECC9806031B%257Dcid=1277212379ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNE21TmyMRgq3ELsCMbPeIOl844A7QPontiflex Launches ROI Calculator, Enables Marketers to Easily b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The calculator empowers online marketers and advertising agencies to proactively assess returns on their bmarketing/b dollars. This is useful especially in a b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1614564.htmcid=1277297037ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNGeOEPjVvICvtncuYf8xWgExojZCgAs a Busy Mum of Three, Daniele Launched Her Successful bInternet/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Daniele started her Business following the bInternet Marketing/b techniques taught in a course. Working from home on an bInternet/b-based business is ideal when b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickthrough-marketing.com/Now-is-the-time-to-address-mobile-online-marketing/18910068/cid=1277148372ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNHbahHKJU3rpywAyYSzih88xebsOgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=5z6GJKebOmQJimgurl=www.clickthrough-marketing.com/clicknews/ai/T-Mobile%2BG1_920_18910068_0_0_7019025_300.jpg width=60 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Internet Marketing News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.businessfeet.com/internet-marketing-news/items/is-the-internet-marketing-future-mobile-1228312980.htmlcid=1277148372ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNHu-OFPvEllaUOLe2wpggYXZXDB3wIs the binternet marketing/b future mobile?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusiness Feet,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bInternet marketing/b gurus may have to learn how to make their adverts miniature in future, if the latest trends are anything to go by. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickthrough-marketing.com/Now-is-the-time-to-address-mobile-online-marketing/18910068/cid=1277148372ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNHbahHKJU3rpywAyYSzih88xebsOg#39;Now is the time to address mobile online bmarketing/b#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternet Marketing News/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1277148372hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Zeer-Announces-Formation-Advisory-Board/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B449FA5C9-B12B-48E3-8F5B-80282304F27A%257Dcid=1277198132ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNF3QUYETA5nooxf9FDmQ2vgARibtgZeer Announces Formation of Advisory Board/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1He has spent the bulk of his career in strategic bmarketing/b and consulting roles, and has been involved in bInternet/b strategy since the early 1990s. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.live-pr.com/en/the-new-age-internet-marketing-consultants-r1048239977.htmcid=0ei=XnE3ScZZnMjwBOfMlKYPusg=AFQjCNG_-ERcUbxEgwWz3UUQ-dr0w6bz6wThe new age bInternet marketing/b consultants/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLive-PR.com (Pressemitteilung),nbsp;Austrianbsp;-/font nobr26 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Ever since the binternet/b has become a source for business, the role of binternet marketing/b consultants has become two fold. While the primary one still is to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

internet marketing - Google News