Seems like every freelance writer is that uses Elance is up in arms. Yesterday I informed you about the changes Elance are making come the 4th December. I didn’t really pay too much attention to them because unlike a lot of other freelancers out there I very seldom bid on Elance unless I am going through a quiet patch. I kept up with my membership though as it was paid on a yearly basis and I knew it was there if I needed it.
I have been with Elance for a number of years now and have excellent feedback too. I built up my client base using Elance and I always thought of it as the best freelance jobs website around, until now.
I have been doing a little digging today and it seems like Elance might not be the company I thought. After reading up on their proposed changes and reading the views of a large number of very angry writers on the Elance Water Cooler it seems like all Elance is interested in is lining their own pockets.
Writers are up in arms and most are reporting that their fees will rise from approx $189 per year to over $500. This is ridiculous and most of the writers are saying they are going to leave and move their business elsewhere.
Other blogs are covering the story too and these include JCM Enterprises and Catalyst Blogger if you are interested in reading their views.
I am personally going to reconsider keeping my membership going with Elance once it expires in April. I am one of the lucky ones that hasn’t just renewed their membership because believe it or not, there are writers who renewed their memberships just last week and paid for a full year. These writers are now going to lose what they paid for which in most cases is either 80 or 120 bids per month. With Elance’s new system they will get 25 connects per month and to bid on the high paying jobs they will have to use 6 of these. In essence these writers will get 4 bids per month instead of the 80 or 120 they paid for. Yes they can buy more bids but why should they?
Is Elance really taking the **** out of us writers or what?
Is it time to look for alternative marketplaces? I know I will, what about you?
Until next time,
Keep writing.
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Thanks for the mention. I’m biding my time too. I learned not to have a knee-jerk reaction, but unfortunately, I’ll have to definitely consider what to do about my membership at Elance. At close to 1k a year just to be there and active – and that doesn’t mean winning any projects, either – it’s an expense to deliberate before paying.