Craigslist vs Elance

I have used both Craigslist & Elance several times to find freelance professionals for small projects such as:

• Copywriting
• Graphic Design
• Web Design
• Programming
• Logo Design
• Administrative Tasks

I think many people turn to a website like Elance, because they appreciate the “eBay style” community feedback on freelancers, the secure payment options, and the message board and other communication/productivity tools offered at Elance. Personally, I have noticed that for most small projects (like those mentioned above) I can find a better freelancer faster & cheaper by posting an ad (or two ads…try posting your ad in LA & NYC, for example) on Craigslist. The problem I have with Elance is that it just takes too much time to fill out a complete listing, review all the bids, accept or reject bids, review feedback, etc… With Craigslist, it takes only a couple of minutes to post your project (I usually post to the “gigs” section) and within minutes you’ll have email responses from all over the world for your project. Most freelancers on Craigslist accept paypal or some other form of online payment, so paying them is simple and Elance isn’t taking a cut of the money. In fact, Craigslist has been so successful for me I have several freelancers I regularly work with that I originally found on Craigslist! Craigslist might not have all the feedback and community features that Elance has, but if you would like to check feedback on Craigslist you can do it the old fashioned way…ask for references. One complaint I have about Elance is that is getting over-crowded with low quality workers from Eastern Europe, India, China, etc… There are plenty of high-quality workers in those areas of the world, but for whatever reason Elance is attracting a lot of bad ones. It makes reviewing bids and providers somewhat difficult…

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