network for freelancers and clients

Why not Elance, RentACoder or Guru

2007-12-27T14:35:00.000-08:00

This is a good point. Well, websites like Elance, RentACoder and Guru work in a way where the client is asked to post the project details and invite the bids from service providers and the client then selects the bid he/she likes. This works out well in most cases as can been seen from success of websites like RentACoder and Elance.

However, we felt that there are many situations in which the this model would not be suited best. For example-
1) The client may not want to post the important details of project for public view.
2) The client may not want to go through cumbersome bidding process because of time constraints and effort involved in selecting the bid.
3) There are often middlemen involved who expect service providers and/or clients to pay commission and often monthly fees.
4) The clients may want to create a social network with consultants and vice verca.

Whizolve on the other hand does not work on bidding model, but tries to satisfy the above mentioned requirements. The client can simply search and contact a consultant based on the criteria such as skill, rate, location etc. The website is relatively new and evolving and plans to improve along the above mentioned points.

Building your client network

2007-12-27T13:41:00.000-08:00

Freelancers, most often than not, face the problem of landing not their first client, but the second and the third and the subsequent. Your immediate network soon exhausts and you are out in the market, one amongst a million others, competing for prospective clients.

Whizolve.com is one place where you can build your client network and where prospective clients can find you. But are you ready to whizolve?

Here's a quick checklist to make sure you are, when that call happens and you hear from a client:

1. Make sure you know what you are offering - plans, advice, technological development, maintenance. Stick to your expertise and only offer what you know is your primary domain.
2. Communicate well - ask questions, get hold of them when in doubt before you respond to their RFP.
3. Quantify your response. Supplement your responses with costs and time estimate figures, comparative analysis, scope, wireframes etc. wherever and when applicable.
4. References - they are important to your clients. Always mention references when available or provide with an active portfolio. Make sure they are relevant to the nature of your clients project.
5. Build an active web presence. Point your prospective clients to an online web profile and build up on it. Make them leave testimonials and reviews every time. (FYI - you can do this on whizolve)
6. Build and build contacts. Be good. Point the client in a good direction, or recommend other consultants you know are more suited to their current project needs. This will ensure the client will listen to you the next time you call them.

What is Whizolve?

2007-12-26T22:07:00.000-08:00

Whizolve is a place where clients can network with consultants and freelancers, and contact them for their project needs without the hassles of bidding processes, posting in forums etc. Clients can search for consultants based upon criteria such as skills, rates, location etc., and can contact them directly with no middleman involved. The consultants can also search for clients and contact them directly in similar way.

Whizolve users can send messages and leave testimonials for other users, or can add them in their network. Registration is completely free on Whizolve for both clients and consultants. Whizolve.com is dedicated to creating the best place for clients and consultants to network with each other in the areas of software and web development and other related areas.