When They Call You

I’m still fairly new at writing for money. I took the plunge January 1^st, this year. In many ways, I’m still a rookie. So when buyers contact me directly with an invitation, I am delighted and a little amazed.

The usual pattern is: read the job board, find something that I can do within a buyer’s budget, construct a cover letter, submit samples, apply, and wait. And wait.

The thrill comes when this process is turned upside down and interested buyers email me. Yippee!

What was it about my profile or my portfolio that had them picking me (and maybe a few others) out of the vast herd of writers at oDesk? Whatever it was, it’s a great feeling when it happens. I’m suddenly no longer a 5-drink Lucy (the one who only gets propositioned at the bar after suitors have had a few) and I’m the budding starlet plucked from an obscure waitress job to work on the big screen. (That would be a better set of metaphors if I were female.) Anyhow, it’s really nice.

Before becomes now.

Back when I was anxious about finding work, worried about reaching volume and money goals, and applying for almost anything that had the barest scent of a job I could do- back then, they said, “Get a few jobs done and done well. Fix your profile. Accumulate some samples. Do this, and buyers will find you.” Sure. Sounds nice.

All BS aside, they were right. Thoughtful and motivated buyers don’t just screw around with a job posting. This is especially so if they are experienced buyers with lots of previous projects completed. You only have to look at the ‘initiated by’ column on postings to see that buyers are actively looking for good fits. When ‘buyer’ appears in that column, it means they searched for and found someone they are interested in hiring. Once in a while, that someone is me.

Get past the flattery.

Enjoy the moment. Take the ego boost. But then, move on.

You have to evaluate the offer as you would any other: Is the money right? Is this something I want to do? Can I fit it in my schedule?

Recognize you have a bit more power than you normally have. The buyer is halfway sold going in. So consider your wants and needs a bit. Now is not the time to be swayed by the simple compliment and flattery of being singled out.

I have made that mistake. Because a buyer invited me directly, I agreed to a lower price. Oops. I no longer make that error. I bid (and try to justify my bid) based on the job as presented. Actually, I usually ask for more information as a matter of course, but then I bid towards the high end.

Try and use the they-want-me power when you have it.

Beware of the scammy.

There is a type of buyer who uses the provider listings to generate wholesale invites. I don’t think of these are real jobs at all. These folks are just broadly posting their job as an invitation instead of on the job board. The only thing I do with them is add a message when I decline the offer. The message is usually a variant of “You aren’t paying enough and I don’t think you will get a very good product.”

These folks already know this, but I still do it.

Until the terrain at oDesk changes (perhaps by adding a minimum?) scammy invites are going to show up. As long as they don’t overdo it, I don’t have a problem with buyers who want to game the system this way. They are entitled to get the lowest price they can for the work they need done.

So, follow the advice I got, and enjoy the invites when they come your way. Just make sure it’s a party you want to attend before you RSVP.