Freelance platform, Freelancer.com, broadens its contest feature to aid in discovering writers, programmers, and other specialists.
Freelancer.com, a global online platform connecting businesses with freelancers, offers contests in various categories including programmers, writers, mobile app developers, and graphic designers. However, the specific companies offering these contests are not detailed in the search results.
Contests on Freelancer.com can be an attractive option for small businesses seeking design solutions, as demonstrated by Justin Lang, a small business owner from Caringbah, Sydney. Lang was able to select from over 900 designs for a contest he created on the platform. The minimum prize for design contests starts at $30, with an average of around $500.
While contests are popular for straightforward design projects, their effectiveness for larger or multi-phase types of projects is yet to be fully realised. A concern that has been raised is the potential for contests to involve spec work, where freelancers spend a significant amount of time on a project without receiving payment.
This concern was discussed in a post from Creative Bloq, and further addressed by Thursday Bram in a post at Freelance Switch. Bram suggests that contests should involve a pitch, sample work, and the promise of pay for future stages to avoid spec work.
For larger projects, contests can be structured by asking for a sample of 2 or 3 pages and attaching a small prize to the sample. This approach allows businesses to evaluate potential freelancers' work before committing to a larger project.
Freelancers who compete in contests on Freelancer.com are often small business people, attempting to win jobs, clients, and potentially long-term business relationships with the contest sponsors. However, it is important to note that contests should be structured carefully to avoid spec work and ensure fair payment for all parties involved.
Freelancer.com allows businesses to post contests for various categories, including websites, IT and software, mobile, writing, data entry, product sourcing and manufacturing, sales and marketing, and business, accounting, and legal. Contests can be for design projects, programming, writing, mobile app development, and more.
In conclusion, while Freelancer.com contests offer a convenient and cost-effective solution for small businesses seeking design solutions, it is crucial to approach contests with caution to ensure fair payment for freelancers and to avoid spec work. By following best practices and structuring contests carefully, businesses and freelancers can benefit from this innovative platform.
