Is anybody making money out of freelance websites

**black_fish** · December 15th, 2008, 10:00 AM

You know the ones Guru.com, Elance, etc.

Is anybody around here making money out of those or are they just a way to rip off people? They sure look like that.

**Mirana** · December 15th, 2008, 10:13 AM

Mm, a friend of mine keeps an account on Guru and reads me some of the "art" posts occasionally for a big laugh. He's never applied to any of them. They're always bottom-of-the-barrel, "I'll give you $10 to design my game" kind of offers.

**J Wilson** · December 15th, 2008, 10:45 AM

I've never even looked into them, so maybe my perception is totally off, but they seem like sites best left to people willing to work for next to nothing. Why set yourself up to be underbid on work by people with either less skill or in living in parts of the world where the cost of living is much less? I'm not sure there are a lot of jobs on bid type sites where the client is looking for primarily good quality. Most likely they will attract people looking for the biggest bargain on talent.

Then again, like I said, I don't have personal experience so I could be wrong.

**sigmadog** · December 15th, 2008, 06:21 PM

If I were just starting out, had time on my hands, and wanted some quick practical experience, then perhaps these types of sites would be something to consider. Not for the money, but just for the experience.

**Christian223** · December 15th, 2008, 06:36 PM

I used to work on freelancer sites for for graphic designer jobs, not illustration, but there was an illustration specific site around, never tried it though. I ended up earning as much as a normal graphic designer but i live in argentina, so things are cheaper here.

**VulgarDragon** · December 15th, 2008, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Mirana

They're always bottom-of-the-barrel, "I'll give you $10 to design my game" kind of offers.

I agree with that. I was on ifreelance for a few months and never could get any art jobs...people always want the cheapest bids. "Hey, can you paint a neekid girl on my truck for $25?"

I do know that some people on CA use it and make some money, but I never had such luck. I feel like I got burned.

**ArtZealot** · December 15th, 2008, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Mad Cross

I agree with that. I was on ifreelance for a few months and never could get any art jobs...people always want the cheapest bids. "Hey, can you paint a neekid girl on my truck for $25?"

I do know that some people on CA use it and make some money, but I never had such luck. I feel like I got burned.

Did that thing about the truck really happen?

**VulgarDragon** · December 15th, 2008, 11:52 PM

Not really, but there are lot of similar ridiculous stuff like that.

**Lone Wolf** · December 16th, 2008, 03:31 PM

I have a Guru account and I applied to some jobs, but I agree that the jobs are bottom of the barrel and it it not worth the effort.

**black_fish** · December 17th, 2008, 10:43 AM

Yeah Guru sounds more like a pimp than a professional ad website...

Not only do you have to pay to view their ads but you also have to give a percentage of everything you earn and go through their exclusive escrow system.

Pimp!

**Jason Rainville** · December 17th, 2008, 11:05 AM

I tried Guru for a while and I have to say not all jobs are bottom of the barrel. There are plenty of employers accounts I've seen with their safepay payments over $5,000, plus plenty of jobs in the 250-500 and up range.

The big problem is simply not getting seen. I've applied for jobs that required a somewhat realistic illustrator, being the lone decent artist in the bunch (alongside people who do only crappy cartoons or PS work with too many filters) and getting completely ignored because I didn't pay for my 'guru' account which means I'm seen close to the bottom.

So I ignore that site now.

**J Wilson** · December 17th, 2008, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jason Rainville

I tried Guru for a while and I have to say not all jobs are bottom of the barrel. There are plenty of employers accounts I've seen with their safepay payments over $5,000, plus plenty of jobs in the 250-500 and up range.

But how much work was involved? $250-$500 can still be VERY bottom of the barrel depending on what they expect you to do. There may be the occassional decent job there, I have no idea, but the format to me screams "get taken advantage of."

**Jason Rainville** · December 17th, 2008, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by J Wilson

But how much work was involved? $250-$500 can still be VERY bottom of the barrel depending on what they expect you to do. There may be the occassional decent job there, I have no idea, but the format to me screams "get taken advantage of."

Exactly, it's easily work that is undercharged for, but people were making it out to be the Da jobs section: "HAI guise can u maek me a logo? I got $10" Or "hey make my OC and my comic u'll get paid when I get rich"

While it's still something that should probably be avoided, it's not quite as bad as all that