Comments on: How I became a full time freelancer http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/ My Journal Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:43:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Mark Simon http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Mark Simon Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:09:51 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-207 Great post and love the story of how you made the best of your situation. Keep on working to promote yourself; I think you have a good idea on how to do that. You may want to checkout Inbound Marketing for some more ideas. P.S. I came across your site from a comment on Matt Cutt's blog about Nexus One, iPhone and Sugar...great comment, very funny. Great post and love the story of how you made the best of your situation.

Keep on working to promote yourself; I think you have a good idea on how to do that. You may want to checkout Inbound Marketing for some more ideas.

P.S. I came across your site from a comment on Matt Cutt’s blog about Nexus One, iPhone and Sugar…great comment, very funny.

]]> By: Pothi http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Pothi Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:57:19 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-87 Hi Wayfarer, As you said, it is so important to stand out from the crowd in order to be successful in oDesk (and elsewhere too). I also like oDesk's 'double blind' feedback system. I'm impressed to see your way up in oDesk. All the best on your other ventures too! Hi Wayfarer, As you said, it is so important to stand out from the crowd in order to be successful in oDesk (and elsewhere too). I also like oDesk’s ‘double blind’ feedback system. I’m impressed to see your way up in oDesk. All the best on your other ventures too!

]]> By: Tinsley http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Tinsley Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:17:46 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-16 Great post. I've been eager to find some freelance work, but have been unwilling to work for the some of the rates that jobs are going for right now. Honestly I made more working at a deli than some of these programmers are earning. I suppose, however, that outside of the U.S. that's acceptable. Also, I'm glad you didn't end up working for Geek Squad. I had a bad experience with them, but that's another story. Great post. I’ve been eager to find some freelance work, but have been unwilling to work for the some of the rates that jobs are going for right now. Honestly I made more working at a deli than some of these programmers are earning. I suppose, however, that outside of the U.S. that’s acceptable.

Also, I’m glad you didn’t end up working for Geek Squad. I had a bad experience with them, but that’s another story.

]]> By: Aman http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Aman Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:41:01 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-15 This looks like a good site. Good to know that we can get some freelancing work although it may take some time and work :) This looks like a good site. Good to know that we can get some freelancing work although it may take some time and work :)

]]> By: Buzzworthy (March 2009) | Freelancing and Outsourcing Tips, Commentary, Analysis, and News from oDesk http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Buzzworthy (March 2009) | Freelancing and Outsourcing Tips, Commentary, Analysis, and News from oDesk Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:19:29 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-14 [...] Mohler presents his tale of oDesk success, which he sums up best here: “Yes, I never write invoices. I have a service which does all of [...] [...] Mohler presents his tale of oDesk success, which he sums up best here: “Yes, I never write invoices. I have a service which does all of [...]

]]> By: Rebecca http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Rebecca Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:28:13 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-12 Great post -- and good for you, too! Great post — and good for you, too!

]]> By: Danalyn http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Danalyn Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:22:56 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-8 You need the comment subscription plugin! :P That's awesome that you're bringing people into the system! (I can count the number of people I've brought into the system on one hand...minus 3 fingers) I used to charge between $80-$150/hr with private clients, but I really never had an accurate way of measuring time, and all of it was estimated. While I miss the money, I don't miss the headaches of trying to collect payment and finding new clients. I guess look at my current rates on oDesk as having a "convenience" discount for those who hire me! You need the comment subscription plugin! :P

That’s awesome that you’re bringing people into the system! (I can count the number of people I’ve brought into the system on one hand…minus 3 fingers)

I used to charge between $80-$150/hr with private clients, but I really never had an accurate way of measuring time, and all of it was estimated. While I miss the money, I don’t miss the headaches of trying to collect payment and finding new clients. I guess look at my current rates on oDesk as having a “convenience” discount for those who hire me!

]]> By: wayfarer http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-6 wayfarer Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:32:53 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-6 My rate has climbed steadily, and I've raised it as recently as last month. I think it is going to end up capping out at about $50 per hour, as I continue to promote my website, but it could go higher, as I know people in the industry making closer to $80 for freelance work. I promote my website by giving free technical assistance to people on forums, and was able to build literally thousands of links to my website overnight, by adding it to my signature in a couple spots. 2 days later, I have a lead. Also, my jQuery tooltip plugin is on page 2 in the Google rankings, and in the #3 spot on Yahoo for "jquery tooltip", which has about 8000 monthly searches. It's not part of my business plan, I just want to share it with people, but it is possible it will eventually bring me a really good client. So instead of only finding work within the system, I am now going to be bringing clients onto it, which is something I have done before, but on a much smaller scale. The beauty of Odesk is that it allows me to network with anyone in the world, instantly, at an hourly rate, with all of my billing concerns handled for me. My rate has climbed steadily, and I’ve raised it as recently as last month. I think it is going to end up capping out at about $50 per hour, as I continue to promote my website, but it could go higher, as I know people in the industry making closer to $80 for freelance work. I promote my website by giving free technical assistance to people on forums, and was able to build literally thousands of links to my website overnight, by adding it to my signature in a couple spots. 2 days later, I have a lead.

Also, my jQuery tooltip plugin is on page 2 in the Google rankings, and in the #3 spot on Yahoo for “jquery tooltip”, which has about 8000 monthly searches. It’s not part of my business plan, I just want to share it with people, but it is possible it will eventually bring me a really good client.

So instead of only finding work within the system, I am now going to be bringing clients onto it, which is something I have done before, but on a much smaller scale. The beauty of Odesk is that it allows me to network with anyone in the world, instantly, at an hourly rate, with all of my billing concerns handled for me.

]]> By: Danalyn http://abelmohler.com/2009/02/20/how-i-became-a-full-time-freelancer/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Danalyn Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:45:58 +0000 http://abelmohler.com/?p=3#comment-5 This was a great post, Abel (also glad to see you've joined the wonderful world of blogging)! It's interesting to see that your first job was right at around the same as my first job's rate...but you've managed to raise your rates considerably since then and seem to be doing very well! How long did it take you to get to your current rate, and did you find it easier once you got the first job under your belt? This was a great post, Abel (also glad to see you’ve joined the wonderful world of blogging)!

It’s interesting to see that your first job was right at around the same as my first job’s rate…but you’ve managed to raise your rates considerably since then and seem to be doing very well! How long did it take you to get to your current rate, and did you find it easier once you got the first job under your belt?

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