Comments on: oDesk: One Writer’s Experience and His Plea to Clients http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/ Freelance Writing Jobs for All Writers Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Davis http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-2/#comment-151883 Mike Davis Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:30:06 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-151883 Sometimes I just can't believe what people think. So what all of you are saying is, a company (or any individual who might hire you) should pay you money for doing things NOT outlined in the job description? Surely you see a problem with this thinking? Imagine if it were your money. I bet you would not have this attitude at all. As an employer, I hate Odesk for many reasons including the ridiculous fees they charge freelancers which make it hard for all parties to work something out. But you CAN turn off tracking for tasks that are not outlined in the job so the company isn't paying you to switch songs on your iTunes. I'll be damned if I spend $.01 paying someone to read email from other clients or change songs or do anything else not in the job listing. You all really have some nerve. Your attitude is exactly why companies welcome screenshot tracking because you clearly can not be trusted. It just seems like this is something no one should have to point out to you. None of what you are talking about is about the act of being controlling and more so about not wanting to spend money on tasks that aren't related to the job. And if you think you ought to be paid for tasks not related to the job, you are seriously bankrupt when it comes to integrity and maturity. Sometimes I just can’t believe what people think. So what all of you are saying is, a company (or any individual who might hire you) should pay you money for doing things NOT outlined in the job description? Surely you see a problem with this thinking? Imagine if it were your money. I bet you would not have this attitude at all. As an employer, I hate Odesk for many reasons including the ridiculous fees they charge freelancers which make it hard for all parties to work something out. But you CAN turn off tracking for tasks that are not outlined in the job so the company isn’t paying you to switch songs on your iTunes. I’ll be damned if I spend $.01 paying someone to read email from other clients or change songs or do anything else not in the job listing. You all really have some nerve. Your attitude is exactly why companies welcome screenshot tracking because you clearly can not be trusted. It just seems like this is something no one should have to point out to you. None of what you are talking about is about the act of being controlling and more so about not wanting to spend money on tasks that aren’t related to the job. And if you think you ought to be paid for tasks not related to the job, you are seriously bankrupt when it comes to integrity and maturity.

]]> By: rob http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-151637 rob Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:55:59 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-151637 interesting thoughts here- i am new to hiring someone to do the tasks i need, and I completely understand as a BUYER of services that is PAYING by the hour, that i should be getting a reasonable amount of work done in that hour. If a person has some amazing skills, etc,and can get 5 hours of work done in an hour, he should negotiate a flat rate. I don't really need to see what he has on his desktop... I want to know the work i cannot do and need to be done is completed correctly, efficiently and at a fair price. I posted to odesk a few minutes ago and got 10 virtually instant applicants. Some must have some sort of autoresponder set up. I feel weird using a system like this and want to know if it works. I don;t agree with the screen shots (and Im an employer) however, if you charge someone by the hour say $25 and then YOU ship it to bangladesh to get done, and you pay $2 an hour, who is screwing whom? just wanted to put my 2c in... have a nice day y'all. interesting thoughts here- i am new to hiring someone to do the tasks i need, and I completely understand as a BUYER of services that is PAYING by the hour, that i should be getting a reasonable amount of work done in that hour. If a person has some amazing skills, etc,and can get 5 hours of work done in an hour, he should negotiate a flat rate.
I don’t really need to see what he has on his desktop… I want to know the work i cannot do and need to be done is completed correctly, efficiently and at a fair price.
I posted to odesk a few minutes ago and got 10 virtually instant applicants.
Some must have some sort of autoresponder set up.
I feel weird using a system like this and want to know if it works.
I don;t agree with the screen shots (and Im an employer) however, if you charge someone by the hour say $25 and then YOU ship it to bangladesh to get done, and you pay $2 an hour, who is screwing whom?
just wanted to put my 2c in…
have a nice day y’all.

]]> By: Erica Benton http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-151567 Erica Benton Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:08:55 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-151567 Gregory, The concern about worker classification is a valid one, especially for U.S.-based businesses who are interested hiring U.S.-based workers. These concerns are the reason that oDesk offers both contractor and employee relationships through the platform. We call it "oDesk Payroll" and you can find out more information about it here: https://www.odesk.com/info/odeskpayroll_buyer Best regards, Erica Benton Marketing Communications Manager oDesk.com Gregory,

The concern about worker classification is a valid one, especially for U.S.-based businesses who are interested hiring U.S.-based workers. These concerns are the reason that oDesk offers both contractor and employee relationships through the platform. We call it “oDesk Payroll” and you can find out more information about it here: https://www.odesk.com/info/odeskpayroll_buyer

Best regards,
Erica Benton
Marketing Communications Manager
oDesk.com

]]> By: Gregory http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-151551 Gregory Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:44:11 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-151551 I know this is an old post but I just wanted to make a comment that no one seems to understand. As a majority of clients/buyers are from the USA...it is important for Both Employers and Freelancers to understand the legal implications. Here is a link to the20-part test to determine whether workers are employees or independent contractors. http://www.comptroller.ilstu.edu/downloads/20-factor-test-for-independent-contractors.pdf (This is also on the IRS site but I have lost the link to this information) Take a look at at the very first factor that is list: • Level of instruction. If the company directs when, where, and how work is done, this control indicates a possible employment relationship. And Take a look at at these: • Flexibility of schedule. People whose hours or days of work are dictated by a company are apt to qualify as its employees. • Sequence of work. If a company requires work to be performed in specific order or sequence, this control suggests an employment relationship. • Requirements for reports. If a worker regularly must provide written or oral reports on the status of a project, this arrangement indicates a possible employment relationship. • Realization of profit or loss. Workers who receive predetermined earnings and have little chance to realize significant profit or loss through their work generally are employees. In MHO oDesk software does all of these and makes it so that employers are actually hiring employees rather than freelance workers. I have posted this information several times to the oDesk forums asking for comment and warning "buyers" not to use this software as it legal requires them to treat freelancers as employees. oDesk has never commented on my post and as a matter of fact they have removed the posts and blocked my access to the forum and help areas of the site. Should the IRS or a Class action Law suit come to life all these small buyers could be forced into bankruptcy because they trust that oDesk knows what it's doing. Remember never trust everything you read on the internet and they same can be said for trusting a company's business practice...Just because they think it's the thing to do does not make it legal. I know this is an old post but I just wanted to make a comment that no one seems to understand. As a majority of clients/buyers are from the USA…it is important for Both Employers and Freelancers to understand the legal implications.

Here is a link to the20-part test to determine whether workers are employees or independent contractors.

http://www.comptroller.ilstu.edu/downloads/20-factor-test-for-independent-contractors.pdf

(This is also on the IRS site but I have lost the link to this information)

Take a look at at the very first factor that is list:

• Level of instruction. If the company directs when, where, and how work is done, this control indicates a possible employment relationship.

And Take a look at at these:

• Flexibility of schedule. People whose hours or days of work are dictated by a company are apt to qualify as its employees.

• Sequence of work. If a company requires work to be performed in specific order or sequence, this control suggests an employment relationship.

• Requirements for reports. If a worker regularly must provide written or oral reports on the status of a project, this arrangement indicates a possible employment relationship.

• Realization of profit or loss. Workers who receive predetermined earnings and have little chance to realize significant profit or loss through their work generally are employees.

In MHO oDesk software does all of these and makes it so that employers are actually hiring employees rather than freelance workers.

I have posted this information several times to the oDesk forums asking for comment and warning “buyers” not to use this software as it legal requires them to treat freelancers as employees.

oDesk has never commented on my post and as a matter of fact they have removed the posts and blocked my access to the forum and help areas of the site.

Should the IRS or a Class action Law suit come to life all these small buyers could be forced into bankruptcy because they trust that oDesk knows what it’s doing.

Remember never trust everything you read on the internet and they same can be said for trusting a company’s business practice…Just because they think it’s the thing to do does not make it legal.

]]> By: Vanessa http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-151368 Vanessa Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:26:24 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-151368 Why point specifically to oDesk when you know what Elance is as well? And you should stop writing and read more what working virtually means. Trust? Do your previous clients send you upfront payment first before letting you work? Otherwise, they don't trust you as well. Why point specifically to oDesk when you know what Elance is as well?

And you should stop writing and read more what working virtually means.

Trust? Do your previous clients send you upfront payment first before letting you work? Otherwise, they don’t trust you as well.

]]> By: Reem http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-148568 Reem Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:08:33 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-148568 This post is crap. oDesk also has fixed-price assignments. You want an hourly job and you also want to waste time on other stuff. How fair is that? Stop whining and start acting like an adult. This post is crap. oDesk also has fixed-price assignments. You want an hourly job and you also want to waste time on other stuff. How fair is that?
Stop whining and start acting like an adult.

]]> By: Ramakant http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-147595 Ramakant Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:59:18 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-147595 Tamara, You make a very valid point there. As long as the payment is guaranteed to the provider, I guess there is no point complaining. You actually make odesk sound good. Maybe, I will give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen? All they do is take screen-shots and capture keystrokes. I would probably have to get another computer to make it work and skip the webcam too. Tamara,

You make a very valid point there. As long as the payment is guaranteed to the provider, I guess there is no point complaining.

You actually make odesk sound good. Maybe, I will give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen? All they do is take screen-shots and capture keystrokes. I would probably have to get another computer to make it work and skip the webcam too.

]]> By: Tamara http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-147512 Tamara Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:38:32 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-147512 Ramakant, I hate to tell you this, but if my painter lazed around and drank beer all day, I wouldn't pay him what he wanted to be paid. Even if the walls did look good. He's taking up time in my home, and isn't time what we are talking about here? It is if you are on an hourly job, and at oDesk most jobs are hourly. And I really don't mind the oDesk screenshots, because most jobs ARE for hourly work. A) If they catch something I didn't mean for them to catch I can delete them. (Time lost for those five or ten minutes, yes. But if I didn't want the client to see them, then I shouldn't be billing him for them, right? Or are the ethics lost on you?) B) Anyone who has ever gotten screwed by fixed rate work (i.e., it takes way longer than either you or client imagined, but you are stuck with your price) will be thankful for hourly work. C) I guess as a fellow writer (as many are here on this thread, fans of Deb), I don't see what the fuss is about. I don't need to be secretive to get my work done. I am clear with any clients who might question my work methods that I sometimes listen to music. If I need time to write things on paper I ask for off line time approval. I've never had problems with any of these things, and wouldn't take work from employers who didn't get that writers are not data entry workers. oDesk is not invasive or ridiculous. No one I've ever written for on oDesk has ever asked me why my mouse paused for ten whole minutes mid-sentence while writing. Because I only take jobs for people who know this is part of good writing. And those jobs DO exist on oDesk. oDesk and freelancers who use oDesk are living in reality, where workers and employers need a way of building trust. If you can get online clients on your own without them (who pay you on time and in full) go for it. But don't knock those of us who love them, simply because we don't have a problem with the client knowing just how long it took us to write that marketing blurb. Ramakant, I hate to tell you this, but if my painter lazed around and drank beer all day, I wouldn’t pay him what he wanted to be paid. Even if the walls did look good. He’s taking up time in my home, and isn’t time what we are talking about here? It is if you are on an hourly job, and at oDesk most jobs are hourly. And I really don’t mind the oDesk screenshots, because most jobs ARE for hourly work. A) If they catch something I didn’t mean for them to catch I can delete them. (Time lost for those five or ten minutes, yes. But if I didn’t want the client to see them, then I shouldn’t be billing him for them, right? Or are the ethics lost on you?) B) Anyone who has ever gotten screwed by fixed rate work (i.e., it takes way longer than either you or client imagined, but you are stuck with your price) will be thankful for hourly work. C) I guess as a fellow writer (as many are here on this thread, fans of Deb), I don’t see what the fuss is about. I don’t need to be secretive to get my work done. I am clear with any clients who might question my work methods that I sometimes listen to music. If I need time to write things on paper I ask for off line time approval. I’ve never had problems with any of these things, and wouldn’t take work from employers who didn’t get that writers are not data entry workers. oDesk is not invasive or ridiculous. No one I’ve ever written for on oDesk has ever asked me why my mouse paused for ten whole minutes mid-sentence while writing. Because I only take jobs for people who know this is part of good writing. And those jobs DO exist on oDesk. oDesk and freelancers who use oDesk are living in reality, where workers and employers need a way of building trust. If you can get online clients on your own without them (who pay you on time and in full) go for it. But don’t knock those of us who love them, simply because we don’t have a problem with the client knowing just how long it took us to write that marketing blurb.
Tamara´s last [type] ..Fired! Shout! Factory

]]> By: Ramakant http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-147498 Ramakant Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:15:41 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-147498 Oh and as for writing code and programming, odesk programmers are the cheapest on the planet. Nobody in India or US can compete with those rates. It does appear that most of the programmers on odesk have a day job somewhere else. They wouldn't be able to finance the cost of broadband or computers or rent with just the projects at odesk. Oh and as for writing code and programming, odesk programmers are the cheapest on the planet. Nobody in India or US can compete with those rates. It does appear that most of the programmers on odesk have a day job somewhere else. They wouldn’t be able to finance the cost of broadband or computers or rent with just the projects at odesk.

]]> By: Ramakant http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-147497 Ramakant Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:05:36 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-147497 hmm..I think Amazon's mturk is the better site for the kind of work that requires recording of keystrokes and screen-shots. Why would a legitimate business pay you on the basis of "delivered work" and want to track your every move? If I hire a contractor to paint my walls, I don't sit and stare at him all day. If the wall is painted at the end of the day, he gets paid. If he prefers to drink beer and laze around all day and still gets the wall painted, well, that's just great. hmm..I think Amazon’s mturk is the better site for the kind of work that requires recording of keystrokes and screen-shots. Why would a legitimate business pay you on the basis of “delivered work” and want to track your every move? If I hire a contractor to paint my walls, I don’t sit and stare at him all day. If the wall is painted at the end of the day, he gets paid. If he prefers to drink beer and laze around all day and still gets the wall painted, well, that’s just great.

]]> By: You're kidding right http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-146885 You're kidding right Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:34:41 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-146885 You're checking your email while on the client's time and you have the audacity to complain? Then you wonder why people who pay people on an hourly rate want screen shots of what they're doing while they're on the clock. Simple solution to worrying about your itunes problem, get an ipod and load it, that way you don't have to worry about an itunes screen when you're supposed to be working. The people backing you up on your crybaby post is just unreal. I understand that the client in this situation didn't hire you for an "hourly job." However, you have to look at it from a client's perspective who does pay people who are on an hourly rate. Would you be happy with someone who is checking their email, fiddling with their music, maybe watching some YouTube videos while on your dime? If you say anything other than no, then you're full of it. You’re checking your email while on the client’s time and you have the audacity to complain? Then you wonder why people who pay people on an hourly rate want screen shots of what they’re doing while they’re on the clock.

Simple solution to worrying about your itunes problem, get an ipod and load it, that way you don’t have to worry about an itunes screen when you’re supposed to be working.

The people backing you up on your crybaby post is just unreal.

I understand that the client in this situation didn’t hire you for an “hourly job.” However, you have to look at it from a client’s perspective who does pay people who are on an hourly rate. Would you be happy with someone who is checking their email, fiddling with their music, maybe watching some YouTube videos while on your dime? If you say anything other than no, then you’re full of it.

]]> By: Wal http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-141567 Wal Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:23:55 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-141567 Hi Rebecca, I'm not sure you'll read this very late reply, but I'll post it anyway. I checked your website and I think it's great. You do have a problem though with the contact links. Your twitter link directs to twitter.com's front page, not your twitter page. Same thing for facebook link. Also, I think you should allow site visitors to email you (I see no email on the contact page), or you could add a contact form to allow visitors to send messages through the site. My best wishes, Wal Hi Rebecca,

I’m not sure you’ll read this very late reply, but I’ll post it anyway. I checked your website and I think it’s great. You do have a problem though with the contact links. Your twitter link directs to twitter.com’s front page, not your twitter page. Same thing for facebook link.

Also, I think you should allow site visitors to email you (I see no email on the contact page), or you could add a contact form to allow visitors to send messages through the site.

My best wishes,
Wal

]]> By: Gaurav http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-141363 Gaurav Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:00:35 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-141363 This is a great piece on the potential hassles of using the oDesk system. However, there's always a flip side! As a freelancer, I actually found the hourly rate system refreshing; I love the idea of being paid for actual working time. While working "offline" does sound liberating and non-structured, it also leaves us freelancers open to certain risks. We bid based on an estimate of how long a particular job will take us. Any unforeseen delays (difficult research, complex design) cost extra time, while the "fixed rate" remains as it is. This is not even counting those few clients who undersell the project depth in the initial offer, get the contract signed, then pump in additional features or complexities! I think the oDesk reports remove all such uncertainty - its easy enough to explain time overruns if you have documented proof. Screenshots: You've made very good points about the screenshot feature. It is a bit irritating, but no worse than my Gmail prompt or random song changes on my Winamp. I've also had the tool take a grab of a mail I was sending another client. So I simply went and deleted that grab - I lost 10 minutes of time, which was fair enough, since i WAS mailing another client! At the end of the day, its just a darn tool. How we use it is up to us. Or oDesk does offer "fixed rate", offline work as well. Choose wisely. This is a great piece on the potential hassles of using the oDesk system. However, there’s always a flip side!

As a freelancer, I actually found the hourly rate system refreshing; I love the idea of being paid for actual working time.

While working “offline” does sound liberating and non-structured, it also leaves us freelancers open to certain risks. We bid based on an estimate of how long a particular job will take us. Any unforeseen delays (difficult research, complex design) cost extra time, while the “fixed rate” remains as it is.

This is not even counting those few clients who undersell the project depth in the initial offer, get the contract signed, then pump in additional features or complexities!

I think the oDesk reports remove all such uncertainty – its easy enough to explain time overruns if you have documented proof.

Screenshots: You’ve made very good points about the screenshot feature. It is a bit irritating, but no worse than my Gmail prompt or random song changes on my Winamp. I’ve also had the tool take a grab of a mail I was sending another client. So I simply went and deleted that grab – I lost 10 minutes of time, which was fair enough, since i WAS mailing another client!

At the end of the day, its just a darn tool. How we use it is up to us. Or oDesk does offer “fixed rate”, offline work as well.

Choose wisely.

]]> By: catahoula http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-128484 catahoula Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:28:49 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-128484 Great article. I also gave odesk a try and quit after I saw what the software does. It was nightmare as far as I am concerned. A year layer I still find needless files on my computer. Which means it does not uninstall completely. Had the Odesk software been explained clearly and in an upfront manor I never would have signed up. This is probably why Odesk does not explain it clearly and in an upfront manor. The worst was trying to terminate the odesk account. Several of these types of places will bury the discontinue feature so deep that you cannot find it, or worse, mislead you into believing that you have discontinued the account when you have not. These type of tactics would be considered criminal in a traditional setting but for some reason they are allowed to take place on the internet. Greed can be the only motivation for such actions. I recently read an email from an internet marketer boasting how he got a computer program written for $1.50 an hour. It is places like Odesk to allow such slave wages to take place. It seems to be fashionable to day for a business person to see just how cheap they can get something done on the internet. This will have unintended consequences in the future. Great article.

I also gave odesk a try and quit after I saw what the software does. It was nightmare as far as I am concerned. A year layer I still find needless files on my computer. Which means it does not uninstall completely.

Had the Odesk software been explained clearly and in an upfront manor I never would have signed up. This is probably why Odesk does not explain it clearly and in an upfront manor.

The worst was trying to terminate the odesk account. Several of these types of places will bury the discontinue feature so deep that you cannot find it, or worse, mislead you into believing that you have discontinued the account when you have not.

These type of tactics would be considered criminal in a traditional setting but for some reason they are allowed to take place on the internet. Greed can be the only motivation for such actions.

I recently read an email from an internet marketer boasting how he got a computer program written for $1.50 an hour. It is places like Odesk to allow such slave wages to take place.

It seems to be fashionable to day for a business person to see just how cheap they can get something done on the internet. This will have unintended consequences in the future.

]]> By: Maria Victoria Pascual http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-128388 Maria Victoria Pascual Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:45:25 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-128388 This is a great post and I'm re-tweeting this. Deb clearly nailed down the head here for freelancers of all sorts. Today, many entrepreneurs are hiring to virtual service providers, freelancers or independent contractors coming from all corners of the world. And for it to work, establishing a work relationships based purely on trust and integrity is the key. It's trust on the part of the employer and integrity on the part of the virtual service provider. This is a great post and I’m re-tweeting this. Deb clearly nailed down the head here for freelancers of all sorts. Today, many entrepreneurs are hiring to virtual service providers, freelancers or independent contractors coming from all corners of the world. And for it to work, establishing a work relationships based purely on trust and integrity is the key. It’s trust on the part of the employer and integrity on the part of the virtual service provider.

]]> By: TriNi http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-127865 TriNi Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:06:47 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-127865 Wow! I've heard of oDesk before but never really looked into it that much. I never knew that their tracking system is so strict though, even taking pictures of the freelancer while they worked? That's crazy! I don't think I would ever be able to work under that condition as I'm extremely picky about who gets to actually see me online. One of the reasons that I actually like making money online is because you can do it in your bra and panties for all you care because no one actually has to see you in order for you to get work done! I definitely would not be able to work under the condition of being watched. I love the flexibility and freedom of working online. Wow! I’ve heard of oDesk before but never really looked into it that much. I never knew that their tracking system is so strict though, even taking pictures of the freelancer while they worked? That’s crazy! I don’t think I would ever be able to work under that condition as I’m extremely picky about who gets to actually see me online. One of the reasons that I actually like making money online is because you can do it in your bra and panties for all you care because no one actually has to see you in order for you to get work done!

I definitely would not be able to work under the condition of being watched. I love the flexibility and freedom of working online.
TriNi´s last [type] ..Make Money Online With Freelance Writing Jobs!

]]> By: Marcy Sheiner http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-126436 Marcy Sheiner Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:59:17 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-126436 Thank you for this information. I registered with oDesk but I haven't gone any further, and now I won't. The way i work would never be compatible with being watched: I get up to exercise, to eat, to go to the bathroom. I go do a crossword puzzle, then come back to work some more. I like working over a long stretch of time--8 hour or more--with frequent breaks. They'd think I was being lazy and not working I suppose. The big benefit of freelacning, IMO, is in the word: FREE. Nobody's going to take my picture while I am working! Again, thanks for the heads-up! Thank you for this information. I registered with oDesk but I haven’t gone any further, and now I won’t. The way i work would never be compatible with being watched: I get up to exercise, to eat, to go to the bathroom. I go do a crossword puzzle, then come back to work some more. I like working over a long stretch of time–8 hour or more–with frequent breaks. They’d think I was being lazy and not working I suppose. The big benefit of freelacning, IMO, is in the word: FREE. Nobody’s going to take my picture while I am working! Again, thanks for the heads-up!
Marcy Sheiner´s last [type] ..Ethics of Blogging

]]> By: guest http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-125561 guest Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:51:33 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-125561 hi, this is just a short invitation to a discussion. the discussion on this page has just started - anyone interested? topic: we could call it a talk about 'what are tomatoes and what is bread in freelance writing'. still about oDesk. http://www.fourteenerwriter.com/2010/07/06/odesk-this-writers-experience-and-review/ (added trial to place a normal link without knowing which code this forum comment field speaks - <a href="http://www.fourteenerwriter.com/2010/07/06/odesk-this-writers-experience-and-review/" rel="nofollow">click to blog page talk</a> hi, this is just a short invitation to a discussion. the discussion on this page has just started – anyone interested?

topic: we could call it a talk about ‘what are tomatoes and what is bread in freelance writing’. still about oDesk.

http://www.fourteenerwriter.com/2010/07/06/odesk-this-writers-experience-and-review/

(added trial to place a normal link without knowing which code this forum comment field speaks – click to blog page talk

]]> By: minka http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-125506 minka Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:23:20 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-125506 you can turn off the webcam you can turn off the webcam

]]> By: What works and doesn’t work for freelancers on oDesk — Fourteenerwriter http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-125497 What works and doesn’t work for freelancers on oDesk — Fourteenerwriter Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:13:57 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-125497 [...] (March 11, 2010) on The Freelance Writing Jobs Network by a guest poster, Greg Minton. In this article, Greg expressed distaste for working through oDesk because their use of online time recording [...] [...] (March 11, 2010) on The Freelance Writing Jobs Network by a guest poster, Greg Minton. In this article, Greg expressed distaste for working through oDesk because their use of online time recording [...]

]]> By: Noirin http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-125106 Noirin Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:13:25 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-125106 some of the legal definitions for "subcontractors" - which freelancers are - mean that the freelancer does NOT work under direct supervision. This monitoring business, in my mind, constitutes being directly supervised, and therefore, oDesk is turning subcontractors into employees. This has a lot of legal ramifications, and I've already gone through that with a magazine I used to edit. The result was the refiling of three years worth of income taxes on my part, (thankfully I had claimed all the income) and a hefty fine to the magazine. I'm not a lawyer, but this resembles that situation too much. And no one is taking screen shots of my computer, that is for sure. Thanks for this post, as I was just about to sign up with them. some of the legal definitions for “subcontractors” – which freelancers are – mean that the freelancer does NOT work under direct supervision. This monitoring business, in my mind, constitutes being directly supervised, and therefore, oDesk is turning subcontractors into employees. This has a lot of legal ramifications, and I’ve already gone through that with a magazine I used to edit. The result was the refiling of three years worth of income taxes on my part, (thankfully I had claimed all the income) and a hefty fine to the magazine. I’m not a lawyer, but this resembles that situation too much. And no one is taking screen shots of my computer, that is for sure. Thanks for this post, as I was just about to sign up with them.

]]> By: Ankit Sharma http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-124785 Ankit Sharma Wed, 09 Jun 2010 05:31:08 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-124785 Agree on #2 "how freelancers actually work." :) Agree on #2 “how freelancers actually work.” :)

]]> By: secret agent chick http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-124734 secret agent chick Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:42:21 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-124734 I'm a copy writer and I work through oDesk. I charge hourly but I tell my clients that I estimate the job will take X amount of hours and I don't use the oDesk tracker because my time spent concepting doesn't translate well to time tracking software, and that sometimes I need to dance in the rain or doodle on my notepad to facilitate the creative process, they're fine with it. WATCH OUT FOR FIXED RATE JOBS! I've had three little side jobs in a row where the clients actually held my final payment hostage, tried to renegotiate a lower payment and subtly threatened me with bad feedback. I don't give a rat's ass....YOU PAY ME NOW! :) I’m a copy writer and I work through oDesk. I charge hourly but I tell my clients that I estimate the job will take X amount of hours and I don’t use the oDesk tracker because my time spent concepting doesn’t translate well to time tracking software, and that sometimes I need to dance in the rain or doodle on my notepad to facilitate the creative process, they’re fine with it.

WATCH OUT FOR FIXED RATE JOBS! I’ve had three little side jobs in a row where the clients actually held my final payment hostage, tried to renegotiate a lower payment and subtly threatened me with bad feedback. I don’t give a rat’s ass….YOU PAY ME NOW!

:)

]]> By: Arevik Dumikian http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-124486 Arevik Dumikian Fri, 28 May 2010 18:38:48 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-124486 Great article! And it reflects everything I personally thought of this software :) It turned out that I work on oDesk more than any other sites, but this idea didn't make me happy at all. I usually bid with hour price but in my cover letter to a potential customer I propose him a fixed-rate price for total project. So far no one said 'no'. I consider this kind of software a spyware and I don't want to be spied. Deb is right - creative job cannot be done only by typing. You may need to look for some info, to do a research, to think, to have a cup of coffee eventually! I'm a translator and I always do a research if a subject I translate is not of my competence. So I spend some time researching and reading rather than typing the translation, but it's all a part of job and then I deliver a high quality job in time (and even earlier). So I totally agree with you, guys: if the customer doesn't trust, he doesn't have to hire. Great article! And it reflects everything I personally thought of this software :) It turned out that I work on oDesk more than any other sites, but this idea didn’t make me happy at all. I usually bid with hour price but in my cover letter to a potential customer I propose him a fixed-rate price for total project. So far no one said ‘no’. I consider this kind of software a spyware and I don’t want to be spied. Deb is right – creative job cannot be done only by typing. You may need to look for some info, to do a research, to think, to have a cup of coffee eventually! I’m a translator and I always do a research if a subject I translate is not of my competence. So I spend some time researching and reading rather than typing the translation, but it’s all a part of job and then I deliver a high quality job in time (and even earlier). So I totally agree with you, guys: if the customer doesn’t trust, he doesn’t have to hire.

]]> By: Waqas http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/03/odesk-one-writers-experience-and-his-plea-to-clients/comment-page-1/#comment-122574 Waqas Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:32:34 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=7678#comment-122574 Good point Deb. There is not doubt that consistent screen capturing by odesk software puts annoying effects on mind of provider specially if he/she is busy in writing or other sort of creative work. However If you have won buyer's trust then oDesk offers you facility to add 'offline hours' in your work diary. These hours will work same as 'logged hours'. But they need buyer's confirmation before getting into payment schedule which should be no problem in case of a great mutual understanding. Good point Deb. There is not doubt that consistent screen capturing by odesk software puts annoying effects on mind of provider specially if he/she is busy in writing or other sort of creative work.

However If you have won buyer’s trust then oDesk offers you facility to add ‘offline hours’ in your work diary. These hours will work same as ‘logged hours’. But they need buyer’s confirmation before getting into payment schedule which should be no problem in case of a great mutual understanding.

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