Freelance Programming

The Software Development and programming world is set to change. Big companies are getting bigger and small companies are either getting smaller or getting out of the business. Small and medium level buyers have started looking for cheaper options, and so the life of employees working in Software Services companies is gradually going towards instability.

A happier note on the other hand; the availability of freelance jobs are also on the rise in the market. If a programmer or software architect is ready to put in some extra hours to use his skills and experience, then the chances of survival in the industry becomes much bigger. Freelance Programming is becoming a potential option, too good to be ignored, helping programmers to earn money and buyers a value for their money as well. Codersource.net is planning dig into some ways which can help programmers to reap the benefits of freelance programming.

Types of Freelance Jobs:

There are lots of reputed freelance websites in the market like rentacoder, elance etc., offering chances for both freelance programmers and buyers looking out for cheaper outsourcing. The type of jobs could be different every time. Some of them could be Development of a new project or testing an existing project or enhancing an already available proprietary or open source code or writing content etc.,

Choosing the write Freelancing Medium:

Of course the first medium of choice for programmers is freelancing through the web. Because offline marketing is so tedious and will also need a lot of resources. So the obvious choice will be web.

Now a days if we type in a simple term as freelance programming in Google, there are millions of freelancing agent websites returned. It is a clear fact that we cannot manage our Service Provider accounts in all the agent websites. So we need to choose a Freelancing Agent will be the one who

has a lot of projects to choose from.
pays the programmers regularly and sincerely after completion of a project.
charges nominal commissions.
resolves disputes (if any) by interfacing between the providers and buyers.
has secure payment facilities

The above are some of the qualities to look for a freelance agent. After doing a bit of research on this subject decide the right option. Some of the well known freelance agent websites with some or all the above mentioned features are rentacoder, elance etc.,

Sometimes there are people who are content hungry viz., Codersource.net are also offering opportunities for programmers. This could be in the form of compensation for writing content /article/sample projects etc.,

Become a Freelance Service Provider:

The first step to become a service provider is to find the right medium and register with it. During registration mention a clear skill set with the domain area of your expertise. Write a neat introduction about what you or your group of people can offer. This intro could include your past experience, any excellence records/rewards, qualifications which you think makes you the right person for the job etc.,

In case of websites paying for freelance writing viz. Codersource.net and any others, write to them and find out if there is any option available that enables you to earn money on a consistent basis.

One important point that usually programmers ignore is the account through, which we receive the money after a project is completed. One should make sure he checks out the commission lost while receiving the money. If services like PayPal are chosen, they charge good amount of commissions on a pro-rata basis and also have their own exchange rate which is normally less than the normal Foreign exchange rates.

Bidding for Projects:

After registering successfully with a freelance website, search for the projects. Choose the right project which matches your skill sets and communicate your abilities to the buyer through the e-mails or using the message boards provided on the freelance sites. Do not try to by-pass the site's rules as the buyer could develop a distrust on the provider. One has to be prompt in replying to the queries raised by the buyer with clear answers. Though the messages can bounce back and forth for a while, this approach can really develop confidence with the buyer to choose the provider. The programmer should not be worried about losing some bids but if he can stick to the proper guidelines and professionalism, eventually projects will start flowing in.

Doing the project:

After winning the project, it is essential to complete the project on time. If there is any delay or the project is planned to be for longer duration, the buyer should be kept updated with regular status reports. After completion of the project it is vital to request the buyer to give feedback about the work. These references will help in getting more projects easily.