Get paid with online job sites like Elance.com

Updated: Mar 20th, 2010

Elance.com is yet another online job site — it’s similar to Guru.com. In fact, Guru.com and Elance.com are the two biggest online job sites for freelancers. Travel writers can earn extra cash by signing up with Elance.com. Not only does Elance provide you with paying opportunities, but you’ll have portfolio pieces. Here’s a review of Elance.com.

Online job sites like Elance.com can provide you with extra cash. There are plenty of writing opportunities for you. Make sure you bid on projects that you know you’ll be able to finish on time. If you know you’ll be traveling, you may want to hold-off on bidding on projects.

What we like

Here’s what we like about Elance’s online job site. You’ll notice that there are a lot of good points about Elance.com.

  1. You can sign up for a free account and create a profile.
  2. Another opportunity for you to earn extra cash from your travel writing.
  3. They provide support if you have a dispute with an employer.
  4. They have a blog where you’ll find topics such as “Elance at Work,” “Trends,” and other categories.
  5. Once you sign up, you’re eligible to attend Elance University where you’ll learn the ins and outs of Elance.
  6. They have an affiliate program. This is another way to earn even more extra cash.
  7. The website is very easy to navigate.
  8. If you have other skills such as design or administrative, you could apply for those jobs as well. You could double your income. The more skills you have, the more valuable you will be to employers.
  9. Over $153 million paid to freelancers.

What we don’t like

Here’s what we don’t like about Elance.com. All online job sites have a dark side! Hey, nobody’s perfect.

  1. Bidding on jobs takes time. You must wait to find out if you’re awarded projects. What’s that saying about patience?
  2. New writers could have competition from experienced writers.
  3. If you’re not receiving projects, you may not know why. It could be that you’re bids are too high or you are not experienced enough.
  4. No forum.
  5. Paying for extra services.

Fees

Of course online job sites have fees. You’re not going to get away from paying fees. Here’s an excerpt from Elance.com, “…When Clients (Employers) make a payment to their Service Providers, Elance deducts between 6.75% and 8.75% from the payment to cover its Service Fee and Payment Processing costs and transfers the remaining amount to the Service Provider.”

Tips and Tricks for Elance.com

  1. Be professional.
  2. Make sure your rates are competitive with other writers.
  3. Have clear and effective communication with employers. If you do not understand an assignment, call or email the employer. Do not “guess” at what the employer wants. Clarify all terms of the assignment before you start working on it.
  4. Create an excellent profile. Make sure you list accomplishments and what you can do for employers.
  5. Make sure you can actually complete the assignment.

Online job sites such as Elance.com can help your travel writing take-off. It’s a great way to gain exposure as a writer. Take advantage of Elance’s blogs and comment on them. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact someone at Elance. Good luck!

Rebecca

Would you sign up with Elance.com? Why? Why not?

About Amandah Blackwell 198 Articles

Amandah Blackwell is a creative, freelance and ghost writer for industries that include but are not limited to the arts & entertainment, travel, publishing, real estate, pets, personal and professional development, and much more.

Amandah's personal writing projects include screenplays, teleplays, YA, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry. 

You can find more of her writing at www.MisticCafe.com, savvywritingcareers.wordpress.com, and www.savvy-writer.com.

You can follow Amandah on Twitter at:  http://twitter.com/savvy_writer

5 Comments

  1. I’m a worldwide professional speaker who has touched over 50 countries, more than 50 islands, and 6 continents. I’ve authored 17 books and written over 1,000 articles. I also have produced nearly 300 videos on youtube.com/greatawakening

    What I have not done, nor learned how to do yet is to get paid writing on travel.

    My heart and passion is world travel.

    Please somebody tell me how to get paid to travel.

    PaulFDavis.com
    RevivingNations@yahoo.com

    Only sincere letters, no spam or trying to sell me junk please!

    • Thanks for finding Travel-Writers-Exchange.com. If you have not done so, sign up for our forum. You can find great information in our forum on “how to get paid for writing travel.”

      What kind of travel writing are you looking to do? Write guidebooks? Write for newspapers? Write for magazines such as Travel+Leisure? Write and produce documentaries?

      Have you contacted editors at newspapers (local) and magazines? Local newspapers are a great place to start. You may consider contacting the editor and find out if you can sell them your travel articles.

      I signed up with Elance.com, and they have many writing opportunities. You may want to sign up for a free account and checkout the Travel Writing section.

      Also, Trisha interviewed Lisa Lambden from the Travel Channel Academy. Checkout the podcast because Lisa provides insight into the program and about travel writing. Many of the students have found success with the program.

      Good luck with your travel writing.

  2. Hi Paul – welcome!

    Rebecca makes several good points – it would help to know what steps you’ve already taken so that we can make suggestions. And also it takes a concerted effort to communicate specifically with travel content publishers in order to find the right opportunities.

    It’s important to note that there is a HUGE difference between being “paid for travel writing” and being “paid to travel”…..I’m not aware of anyone who will pay you to travel, although there are plenty of media trips being offered (with requirements to qualify) that offset a portion of your travel expenses (in almost all cases you pay for your own airfare). What we strive for is to earn enough from the travel writing that it pays for our travel expenses.

    If you spend time at our site, and in our Forums, and maybe even sign up for our newsletter, you will find that we also teach ways to earn an income from travel blogging.

    I hope we’ll see you in our Forums!

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