Self Employment: Evaluating the Freelance Guru™

By Michele Blandino

Should I pay for a Guru™ membership?” This is a discussion that comes up at least once a month in one of the online writer’s groups I belong to. And, as would be expected, the advice offered by the group’s members largely depends on the member’s particular experience with the service.

What is Guru™?

Guru™ is essentially an online marketplace that allows businesses to connect with freelance talent in over 160 professional categories. Among the disciplines covered are website design, graphic design, programming, freelance writing and administrative support. While the majority of relationships formed through this service are virtual, employers are also welcome to post projects that involve the worker to be on-site.

How it Works

Freelancers interested in attempting to obtain work through Guru™ have a few options. There is the free basic membership which entitles the freelancer to bid on up to ten projects per month. The catch is that the number of projects available to be bid upon is fairly limited and, perhaps even more importantly, a transaction fee equal to 10% of the contracted amount must be paid to Guru™ upon completion.

The next level is referred to simply as Guru. This is a paid membership with fees ranging from $29.95 to $99.95 per quarter depending on the professional category selected. Freelancers choosing to sign up for one year will receive a 50% discount. Paid membership entitles the freelancer to bid on up to 100 projects per month with a 5% transaction fee.

Finally, Guru Vendor membership, priced from $38.94 to $129.94 per quarter (with a 50% discount for an annual membership) is geared more toward small businesses looking to pick up additional work. Like the Guru level, 100 monthly bids are included and a 5% transaction fee is due upon the project’s completion.

What are the Odds?

According to statistics published at Guru™’s website, there are over 30,000 employers registered on the site. While this sounds fairly impressive, you must balance this against the fact that there are also over 400,000 freelancers registered. The bottom line: there’s a lot of competition.

The best way to land a job – besides proving you have the required qualifications – is to make your pitch early. Employers often become overwhelmed at the number of applicants expressing interest in their projects and don’t bother looking beyond the first few proposals. Making sure your proposal is one of the first 10 entered will greatly enhance your chances.

Remember, there will be quite a bit of competition for the jobs that are posted. While some freelancers believe the only way to be selected for a project is to bid low, I believe it is possible to land work without selling out. Most employers will be more interested in making sure they hire a reputable professional for their project and will be willing to pay a little more for this assurance. In your profile, be sure to highlight your specific qualifications for the project and why you are the best fit for the task at hand. If you are willing to demonstrate specific expertise, you will find yourself in a better position to receive the project.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that you probably won’t be able to keep yourself busy full-time with Guru™ projects. That said, the service is a terrific way to establish relationships which might very well lead to additional long-term work. Before committing to a membership, try to determine how often you anticipate you will turn to the service to look for work. If you think you will only be looking sporadically, then a paid membership may not be worthwhile. If, on the other hand, you will be looking for work on a regular basis, chances are, you will be able to pay for the cost of a membership after completing one or two projects.