Image: Guru
I’m back to bidding sites now, and today I’m focusing on Guru. This was a site I only signed up to last year to give it a try. I haven’t gotten any work through the site yet, and I don’t think I will do because I’m just not interested in bidding for work anymore. However, I have tried the bidding so I want to share my experience.
Is it possible to make money bidding for writing jobs on Guru? Or is this another site to stay away from?
Another Race to the Bottom?
One thing that I like about Guru is you can’t see what other people have bid, unless you’re a premium member. And if you’re a premium member there are high chances you’re not going to race to the bottom. It helps to take away most of the negativities of sites like this.
It is possible to see the number of proposals sent in for the projects, though. I sometimes see hundreds of proposals being sent in. Do you really want to compete against so many, especially when you have no idea what they’re bidding?
Project Posters Share Their Budget First
Another benefit of Guru is that those posting the projects get to share their budget first. They can do this by the hour or for the total project. Most of the ones that I see are between $250 and $500, but it will depend on the amount of work that is being requested.
While there are some people looking for as much work for as little cost, there are others who understand that writing takes time. It could make bidding for writing jobs on Guru a worthwhile thing. There are decently budgeted projects out there; much more than some of the other bidding sites (*cough* Freelancer.com *cough*) on the net.
Having an idea of a budget can also help with creating a proposal, and even deciding whether the job is worth sending a proposal for. If someone’s budget is way below your asking price, you can avoid without the hassle.
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Updates on Projects of Interest
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Every morning, I open my inbox to at least one update of projects that may interest me. This is a great way to keep me considering bidding for writing jobs on Guru, but doesn’t always get me coming back. Some of the days I simply delete without the temptation.
But for those who want to bid for the jobs, it can be a great way to find out about them quickly. You get the chance to get straight onto the site and place your proposal for the project. It also means you don’t have to go on the site every date to browse through the many projects listed—and not all will be within categories of interest. I use a sales proposal generator software to stand out from the competition.
A SafePay Guarantee
There is little risk of someone taking your work and not paying for it. Guru has set up SafePay. This means that the project posters pay the money to Guru, and then that money goes into Escrow. If the freelancer completes the work, the money is released to that freelancer. The money only goes back to the client if both parties agree that that should happen.
This is something that many other bidding sites should really set up. However, it will only work if Guru support are willing to listen to both sides of the story, and make a fair decision. With never having to go through this system, I can’t say whether it works fairly or not.
Upgrading Your Membership
Remember I mentioned that premium members can see the bids that others have put in. Well, you can upgrade your membership, and there are five options. The first is a free option, and one that many users will opt for. It could be worth sticking with this while you test to see if bidding for writing jobs on Guru is worth your time.
The rate for the different membership options ranges from $8.95/month to $39.95/month but all are billed on an annual basis. They open up different opportunities, including more bids each year (free members get 120 bids each year, split into months), roll over bids if they’re not used each month and links to personal sites.
Personally, I don’t think bidding for writing jobs on Guru is right for me. I prefer getting in touch with clients directly, instead of being involved in a race to the bottom. However, Guru is certainly one of the better options out there, and could be a great way to start your writing career.
Have you tried Guru? Are you considering it for your writing career? Please feel free to share your thoughts below.
Honestly I have never thought about it before. I post a new blog weekly and post it on many social media sites. I have never thought beyond that point. It is something to consider. Thank you for your important feedback. Nice blog!
You’re welcome, Tami. If you enjoy writing enough and want to do it for others, it could definitely be worth a consideration.
I like the Safe Pay idea, for sure! Interesting! I haven’t looked too much into this kind of thing, since right now I’m still working a full-time job. But I have bookmarked this to check out next year, when I’m hoping to be doing blogging/writing full time!
Oh, good luck in the transition. I recently wrote a post on Wizzley about why I decided to write full-time, but I dove in head first without really thinking. It wasn’t the best way to do it, but I’ve managed to stay afloat!
Alexandria,
I’m so glad you’ve showcased all of these different sites. I’ve been thinking of doing some web design work, but had no clue which site to apply to. I think out of all of them, Guru sounds the best.
Thanks for sharing these informative posts!
You’re welcome, Cynthia. I think Guru is one of the safest for both clients and freelancers. Good luck!
That’s a strange way of going about looking for work. Bidding! Kind of like a stock market but you hardly ever make a gin or a loss. Sounds like a big waste of time to me. I’m so glad you researched it and not me.
It does seem strange, doesn’t it? When I started out, it appeared to be the way that everyone did business. Now I know different, but there are still benefits to using these types of sites. I guess it takes the trouble of marketing directly to clients out for some people.
Have you ever thought, Alexandria, of going into research! You do such an awesome job! Unlike, Francene, I don’t think bidding for a job is so odd, it’s like submitting a proposal for a tender. When there is a job to be done, individuals and companies compete. Oftentimes the cheapest offer wins regardless of the quality. And, like Kristen, I think Safe Pay is a great idea. This approach exists in different internet exchanges to make sure that one side doesn’t runaway with the goods!
THANKS, Alexandria so much. My learning continues! HUGS <3
Honestly, Judy, I haven’t thought about doing that. I do enjoy the research side of things though. Always did…but the subject had to interest me.
I never thought of bidding like that, but it does make sense. I guess with any form of getting in touch with clients there is an element of bidding going on. And yes, SafePay is definitely a great element to the site. Putting money is escrow is definitely my preference when working through third-party sites like this. When I work directly with clients, my contracts state my payment terms clearly.
You’re welcome, Judy. You may be happy to know that I’ve just organised the plan for the content on monetization options for blogs for next month 🙂
I’ve used guru.com as a buyer and have had goods results. Bidding or tendering for work is common practice although it’s nice to not have to take the gamble of missing out because your pricing was out of step. Suppliers really need to know how to maximise their hit rate with minimal effort to get projects. Great review.
Another new site for me. The idea of bidding for work doesn’t sound odd. But if it is a race to the bottom, then you might have to be prepared to work for the low rates if you want to win the bids.
I like the idea of the safe pay system. That would give me the trust I needed to try the site if I were interested in bidding on jobs. Could be a good place to get started.
That’s what made me sign up to Guru in the first place. It was after the problems with Freelancer.com.