Even though my recent posts on this blog are less on freelance and more on technology, blogging and social networks in general, I keep on getting emails asking me inside freelancer tips on how to get their first oDesk work assignment. For a while, I had been active in oDesk’s forum discussions, helping fellow Filipino freelancers land their own jobs. But ever since I’ve discovered blogging, I had already abandoned the forums in favor of learning new ways of making money online.
If you do not have an idea on how oDesk works, you can read an overview of this freelance site through this previous post, Get Paid by the Hour in oDesk, or see this video:
Are you still using your Payoneer card? I am not using that card as often as before, because I am quite contented with the transfers that I do from Paypal to Unionbank to Smart Money.
Payoneer card for oDesk
-I read an announcement posted in my Payoneer account yesterday. Metabank replaces the First Bank of Delaware as the issuing bank. Here’s a snippet of announcement posted within my Payoneer account:
On February 9, 2009 , MetaBank will replace First Bank of Delaware as the issuing bank for the Payoneer Prepaid MasterCard card accounts.
The transition to MetaBank will not affect card usage. You may use your card as usual without interruption in service or security. Please access your Terms and Conditions for changes.
Now this might explain why the First Bank of Delaware bank account suddenly dropped from my list of Paypal bank accounts. I used that virtual bank account a few times to transfer funds from Paypal to Payoneer (this feature is NOT available yet for all Payoneer card holders). This means I have to add that virtual bank account again with Paypal. I will still have to try adding that bank account again in a few weeks.
Payoneer is an alternative for me to withdraw cash from oDesk, but this card can also be linked to other websites such as ReviewMe, Elance and GetAFreelancer. It is a lot similar to a Paypal account, but this one is a Mastercard debit card that can be easily used to withdraw cash or to pay for purchases.
Do you just love it when someone blogs and links back to you?
I do, and I found this neat surprise over at oDesk which really got me too excited! The image is taken at one of the oConomy pages section of the site. Pretty neat huh!
I know a handful of bloggers who work with oDesk and had written their own version of blog posts, but I did not think that this blog post about getting paid by the hour in oDesk would make it as one of the helpful resources in their Articles section.
encircled link pointing to one of my blog posts
So far their reward is to give me two awesome free T-shirts that I got from their oDesk store, as a token of appreciation for putting up a good word about them.
I’ve noticed that there is an increasing number of bloggers asking what oDesk is all about. This blog is linked to my profile in SocialSpark, so a number of bloggers who follow my blog profile from that site are often curious about oDesk. I decided to write a new post to talk about this freelance site where I offer my freelance services.
What is oDesk?
oDesk is a freelance site where your services can get paid by the hour or by fixed-price bids. A client (termed as buyer) get to post their job so that they can get a freelancer (termed as provider) to do that particular job. These are small contracted work where the client can handpick his freelancers or he can wait for active freelancers to apply to his job. oDesk offers jobs from data entry to writing as well as their initial job offerings in programming, graphics and web design jobs.
Create a Profile
To begin with, one has to create a profile. That profile is similar to a resume. A portfolio is also very helpful in proving one’s capability to finish a job. It took me a day to update my profile but once that it is done; my profile was appealing enough for interested clients. I wrote some tips for the oDesk blog to help several oDesk freelancers on polishing their profiles.
Measuring One’s Skills
Don’t forget the tests too! oDesk offers free tests that measure the skills capabilities. Programmers can get tests related to the programming skills; writers can also take tests that are related to writing. These tests are important, especially to those who do not have any oDesk work history and feedback to back up their profile. The oDesk Readiness Test (ORT) is a new test about the oDesk policies and procedures to make sure that freelancers are ready to apply and accept jobs in the marketplace (I have not encountered this test in the first place).
How Job Progress is Monitored
Hourly jobs are monitored using special software called oDesk team that needs to be downloaded and installed in the freelancer’s computer. That software logs in the time consumed, and captures a snapshot of the entire freelancer’s screen at regular intervals.
This YouTube video here for you that clearly explains how oDesk works:
Get Paid
For the Philippine-based freelancers, almost all oDesk withdrawal methods are available to get the earnings here in the Philippines. I highly recommend using Payoneer and Paypal. US freelancers get to withdraw their earnings out of oDesk using ACH.
There are plenty of writing jobs that await bloggers in oDesk too! The banner below leads you to the oDesk site, and you can sign up for a FREE account now!
I have not found any resource on adding oDesk mail to be able send oDesk email using Yahoo mail. The one that is written on site is for Gmail and Apple mail.
In Yahoo mail, this is simply accessed by starting with Options at the upper right portion on the screen, then clicking Mail Addresses under Management. You should be able to see an Add button where you can add a new email address, then you can follow the instructions that is provided.
The third step on adding a Setup Mail Server is not needed anymore because oDesk automatically forwards all incoming emails to the specified email address that you are working on. Just click Skip the Step to get to the verification page.
Do not forget to verify your oDesk email address by clicking Send Verification. Get to your Yahoo account and find the verification email. Click the link on that email that will confirm the verification.
Then you are all set and done. When you try to compose a new email, you will see that you have numerous email options in the From field.
Have I told you that oDesk is a good way to earn part time?
encircled link pointing to one of my blog posts
