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1:46 pm
February 11, 2010
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I was contacted via email by a prospect a few days ago. They invited me to submit a bid on their project.
This doesn't happen often, but I'd say I get a similar request every 2-3 months. Most people who find me already know my rates and background. They either either me based on that, or they can look elsewhere if they don't think I'm the right fit. I have a strict policy against bidding on projects. I don't do it on bidding sites. And I don't do it when I receive a request.
That's not to say there's anything wrong with making bids or using those sites as long as you're smart about it (by not getting caught up in a race to the bottom).
Do you bid on freelance writing projects? Why or why not?
Jenn
7:56 am
June 15, 2011
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No, I never have. I hate the whole bidding idea – yes, even e-Bay 
(I'm one of those that makes the payment outright). It just feels like that person is always going to be on the lookout for something better to come along and I don't have the energy for that.
I understand there are good clients, too, on those sites that may use it single place to review several credentials and fees, but I'd just rather not get in a bidding war.
8:03 am
June 6, 2011
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I've prepared proposals, but those are for people I've reached out to -- not the other way around.
If someone asks for my price and a bunch of information, they get the price first. I won't waste time putting together a proposal for someone who's kicking tires. For example, two weeks ago someone got in touch via my website. She wanted a price for a ghostwriting project, plus she wanted my process. I gave her the price first and apparently saved myself a ton of time. She never came back.
8:08 am
February 11, 2010
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lol I'm a recent eBay addict. I've scored some great deals on antique books there. 
I'm with you on bidding wars though, on the freelancer side of things. If you can use the sites to advertise your going rates and land some work, I don't see an issue with it. But it's a problem if you let that environment push you into a downward spiral of lowering your rates.
I've found that the best clients aren't usually there. They don't want to be bothered with competing bids in that form any more than they want to be bothered with a bunch of applications from a published ad on a job board. But I have seen some decent clients there who are simply new to hiring freelancers. When they're not sure how to go about it, they tend to end up on these sites. And that can be a great thing for freelancers who know how to find them while weeding out the cheapskates only there for the lowest bids.
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