Do You Refer?

Well, there it is. The referral ad. Click it and then sign up for oDesk and I get credit. Earn (or purchase) a thousand dollars and I get fifty. Rank commercialism.

If you haven’t looked into this, the code and referral form can be reached after signing in to oDesk. Go to: My oDesk–> My Stuff –> Referrals.

I’m anti-sales. The whole idea of talking someone into something strikes me as disingenuous and shady. I couldn’t sell you a band-aid if you were bleeding. I could give you a band-aid, sure, but selling it (or anything) is distasteful to me. Thankfully, referring someone to oDesk doesn’t seem the same. I suppose it’s because for me to make any money, they have to make money first.

Sure, oDesk is going to make money from users- both buyers and sellers.

Sure, I might eventually get a cut if I sign someone up.

Sure, it’s selling of a sort.

But I’m not allergic to it. Because I’m so enthusiastic about oDesk and freelancing in general, and because I don’t rely on making any commission, it’s more like recommending a good restaurant than selling a product or service. I do more selling in an average cover letter than I do when inviting a writer or programmer to oDesk.

How does it happen?

Well, I meet a fair number of people. The “What do you do?” question comes up. When you tell people you freelance, there’s an interest. I think it has to do with the supposition that freelancing is an edgy way to make a living. Freelancing sings songs of freedom and excitement– the master of your own ship in a wild sea of thrilling employment opportunities.

I don’t know. But the whole conversation flows. I’m honest about what I do, what I make and how I go about making it. And I ask them if they’d like me to email them an invitation to oDesk. (I admit this gives oDesk an air of exclusivity, as if you had to be invited in.)

I email people who seem interested (and there are a surprising number of people out there looking for ‘something on the side’) send a referral from oDesk, and mention I am available to answer questions or give profile suggestions.

That’s it. What they do on oDesk is up to them.

Offline referrals

A friend of a friend knows I’m a writer for hire. They need something cranked out and they need it by the end of the week. Unfortunately, I’m jammed up. Aha! I talked to a fellow last week who said he was a published author interested in part-time freelance work.

A quick email and a follow-up phone call and it’s a done deal. Problem solved.

Will he refer back to me? I don’t know. Maybe. The point is to pass it on when you can, keep the network alive, and rely on the better half of human nature to take care of the rest. Oh, and he did sign up to oDesk through me.

Final thoughts

It was an odd question: “If you sign me up, won’t we be bidding on the same jobs?”

I thought everyone knew why this isn’t a concern. Good writers/programmers bring good buyers who attract even more good writers and programmers, which draws in more buyers… Come on in. I’ll invite you. Click my ad.