How to Write a Successful Bid Site Bid

If you're going to make your living on bid sites you'll have to write a great bid.  Most of the people who fail on these sites do so by trying to get into a price war or by failing to write bids that capture the potential of employers.

Now, you're not going to win 100% of your bids. 20% is a good number, and when you start 10% is a really good number.  You should plan your bidding accordingly.  However you'll get 0% if you send out generic bids.  Some people bid as if a bid is a form letter.  The bids that work best, though, are tailored specifically to the potential employer's request.

It helps for you to keep your past experience in mind.  Nothing is ever wasted.  I, for example, spent 2 years of my life selling home security systems.  I was a decent sales rep, not a fantastic one but I made quota every month.  I also rented apartments, sold advertising into the real estate section of a local news paper, worked as an administrative assistant and even worked as a skip tracer for a time.  

My very first Elance job was writing a series of articles about security and security options.  I was able to point to familiarity with the subject matter, and that is what allowed my employer to give me a chance to work for him.  I always have the top paragraph of my proposal point to specific experience, whether it is something I've written before, something I'm familiar with through work, or something I'm familiar with through hobbies.  The second paragraph is for a bit more explanation.  At first, I explained why my prices were so low (I wanted to build a reputation).  Now I offer invitations to read my feedback.

Always attach portfolio pieces.  Your employer doesn't have time to ask you for samples.  Samples should be a given!  Wherever possible your samples should reflect something close to what the new employer wants you to do.  The whole goal is to instill confidence.

If you're a virtual assistant or a sales rep you won't have samples of course.  Instead, you'll want to provide references, letters of recommendation, or whatever you feel might help you stand out.  At least one or two names and phone numbers of past employers is worth including.  It allows you to prove your skills.  

Pricing is a sticky matter.  You can't just make a stab within their budget and hope for the best unless you've no other choice.  However, a look at employer profiles will tell you what they've paid in the past.  That tells you all you need to know about how to become serious competition for the other bidders.  Too high and you'll price yourself out of that market; too low and you shortchange yourself and risk not being taken seriously.

Finally, you should choose bids that you feel you have some chance with.  From the very beginning I avoided any job description that took up three scroll downs talking all about their requirements.  Any posting that showed a lack of respect for me or my profession was written out.  I simply knew that I would not be happy working under such circumstances, so I avoided such posts.  I also avoid posts which only have a 1 or 2 line description of what the buyer wants.  "Need ebook wrote" is the worst one I've ever seen.   What kind of ebook?  About what? How long are they wanting the ebook to be?  Stuff like that is important.

It takes practice, but you'll soon write your way into plenty of paying work. 

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