[tzaman]

When bidding, you don't need to go below everyone else - I go above every single time, and also explain to potential clients why I'm the best choice (top quality, deliver on time). Of course you need some kind of portfolio to back up your statements. And deliver the promised quality.

This approach also has a beneficial side-effect. Cheap clients deny the bid. Usually these clients turn out to be the most demanding ones with little understanding of scope or appreciation of your work.

[iamben]

This is fantastic advice.

The first time I freelanced I was so paranoid about getting work I took on silly amounts of work for absurdly low amounts of money. I'd also add bits on to 'sweeten the deal' - "I'll also do X and X and X!" etc.

It just ended up depressing me. I'd be working harder than my friends (in their 'real' jobs) for far less cash, with far less respect from the clients.

Now I'll just set a fair price and stick to it. Decent clients seem to respect you for doing it (and understand you have your own overheads) and there's a much more business like approach to the job (unlike the cheaper clients, who I completely agree, end up the most demanding).

Also, feeling much happier and more valued doing the work makes me want to put in much more of an effort.

[sidmitra]

>I took on silly amounts of work for absurdly low amounts of money.

I think you might have stuck longer to the lower rate + spec work. The idea is to start low and ramp up very very quickly. Infact initially you should try to double your rates, and adjust(A/B test!) your rate according to response rate.

Also i think rate is not a static thing. It depends on how much work is on your plate, or how less. It also depends on the market. So when tomorrow a lot of these startups go belly up and billion dollar valuations runs dry, so might your work. You will have to adapt accordingly.

If you don't have enough work at a particular rate, there's no harm in claiming a lower rate as a few test data points. You can always bill some hours you might not bill on the higher rate. For eg. sometimes i leave off some of the research hours when i'm billing a higher rate, but i bill them when i bid a lower one for whatever reason.

[iamben]

Yes, you're absolutely right!

I guess at the time I was worried about what people might say if I asked for too much - or what would happen if I didn't get any work. It's dreadfully hard to rid yourself of that mindset.

[sidmitra]

Actually yes you're right. I used to price somewhere in the median/average. I think i worded it wrong. By lower i meant lower than one's potential or worth or the going rate, if that made sense.

But once i had a couple of portfolio pieces, i bid around the top 5% percentile and now usually much higher on these marketplaces. It gets me the right client who're appreciative and i get to focus on them without worrying about the hours*rate all day long.

Edited the post above.

[czczcz]

I agree 100% with this. I always bid what I am willing to do a job for and explain my approach and level of attention to detail. FWIW I have been hired by many overseas firms that were looking for someone that could just get the job done correctly not just the cheapest provider.

[marquis]

Does anyone ever game the system by posting with 2 accounts: one with a really high bid and a lower one, to help the customer 'pick you'? I'm not freelancing nor have ever used these sites, but I'm curious how above-board they are.

[sidmitra]

Don't think that'll help much or is the right kind of strategy. Firstly you have a better chance trying to showcase your portfolio. If you don't have that yet, then it doesn't warrant the higher rate and you might anyways get rejected on the lower end. If you have a large enough folio to split into two, then why not put them into one compelling bid.

IMHO one's better off spending time building a few simple apps and communicating your worth to the client than go blackhat from the start.

[tzaman]

Not really, I usually bid on TYPO3 jobs (I'm a certified integrator), and alongside with me, there's usually 15 ridiculously low bids, most submitted by Indian project managers. And they go as low as 10% of my hourly rate or price.

[boopsie]

I totally agree.

You _never_ want to compete on price. Compete on quality. It's a good idea to eliminate the cheapskates ahead of time.