For the gurus

Posted on August 27, 2008 - Filed Under Business |

With the deadline looming for my great “online business”, it’s time to bring in some hired help.  Between eLance and Guru.com, I’ve decided to run with Guru.com.

For those that don’t know, sites like eLance and Guru.com are resources to find just about anyone to do just about anything business related.  Whether it’s research or marketing plans to building websites and creating logos these two sites can line you up with scores of people.

How the process works from the entrepreneur’s standpoint:  Create a project, inputting as much information as you can.  Give start and completion dates for the project, along with any specific requests.  Last but certainly not least, you can select a budget.  This doesn’t mean people will take your job, building the next great website for $250.  When your budget hits the fair point, people will bid.

I’ve put two projects up, requiring different skill sets.  So far I’ve been impressed with the level of competent skills which have bid on my projects.  Yes, some rather unimpressive folks have bid but at least they are trying.

The reviews are key.  At first I was only interested in looking at those with high ratings and reviews.  But some of these people only had 4 or 5 reviews, each job around $40 or $50.  Being the suspicious, sneaky person that I am I thought maybe these people had some friends create some projects.  Exchange a few dollars and a positive review is born.  I figured 50 positive reviews was a good cut off point.

Of course, horror stories liter the internet from both sides.  The number one item which would scare any entrepreneur would be a company stealing your idea.  It’s true: the US does have the non-disclosure agreement.  But a number of stories were centered around companies in India stealing their ideas and running with it.  What recourse does the US based, budding entrepreneur have?

So far no contracts have been awarded.  People are carefully being vetted.  But if my experience goes well, other jobs are coming down the pipe and it would be nice to have a few names on speed dial.

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