Would you guys use Upwork to create your business website?

Question

If not, can you recommend 1?

Thanks.

Dave Spooner · Answer

@Lyndon Timbang We used UpWork in the past for help with our website and we've had a great experience every time. Happy to answer questions you might have. Feel free to PM me.

Dave Spooner · Answer

@Lyndon Timbang no, not from the ground up, just in spots. We've also used Upwork to connect with folks to produce various marketing assets, pieces of content, etc. In my experience, it's like most things - you get what you give. If you put in a lot of preparatory effort and let them know what you want, spend time with them detailing aspects of your business, you can get really high quality work.

Jason Madden · Answer

I have used upwork and fiverr for a range of tasks and have mixed success.  Things like logos and photo editing I've had a lot of rewarding interactions, but written content like blogs were highly plagiarized.  Much of the outsourced cheap software teams ended up causing me more work to fix.

If you have some patience with computers and give it a bit of time, I think most people can do what they need for RE websites (especially if its basic).  Plus if you want to work on your seo score, you'll know how to go into your website and add your own content.

This is still a work in progress, the top half of it is complete but I still haven't updated the sections below the main window.  http://slq.xse.mybluehost.me/rei/. So far I have only used the point, click, and upload buttons in the dashboard to create it.  I still have a ways to go with it, but I think most people would have no problem without much struggle.

I'm hosting using

https://www.bluehost.com/wordpress/wordpress-hosting on the most basic plan.

All of the themes available on the wordpress.org site are also available to use in bluehost.  You can find them here:

https://wordpress.org/themes/

There are many themes that are free and more than fill the needs for real estate.

Feel free to message me if you want to go the DIY route.  I can walk you through some of your pain points and get some seo in there without having to pay extra for it.

Abby Weinstock · Answer

One more thing to add to my post above. What I have been asking of web developers who do freelance work for us is that they provide me with brief video tutorials so that I can make changes myself down the road. For example, if they have put added my blog post for me but I know I will continue to blog down the road, then I will ask for a video tutorial to show me how to do add the next blog post to the site myself. It is very easy for them to record what they are doing on their screen and then share that recording, and makes it less likely that you are forever dependent on someone else to make edits/updates to the site.

Abby Weinstock · Answer

We have been using Upwork for web design, web development, graphic design, and software customization. It has mostly been very successful. You can post the job you have and invite people to apply who you have vetted already (you can choose to focus on freelancers with a very high success rate, who have earned many dollars on Upwork, who have worked many hours on Upwork, who have a very short turnaround time, who have current availability, etc.). Our website was built already, but we wanted to undertake a re-design. We are currently working with multiple freelancers from Upwork and the success depends on (1) being clear about your expectations, (2) being prompt with feedback, (3) being clear about deadlines and priorities, and (4) not making unrealistic demands (they may be working for other people too, so not fair to drop something on them at the last minute and demand immediate turn-around).

You can choose to structure the project on a flat rate basis or on a per hour basis. If the project is on a flat rate basis, you can (and should) develop milestones with progress payments tied to those milestones. The money for the project is essentially escrowed and you control the release of the progress payments from escrow when you approve the completion of milestones.

If you structure the project to pay by the hour, it can be structured so that the freelancer can only charge time to the project if he/she is logged in to Upwork (I believe you can even access screen shots?). You can choose (or not) to allow "manual work" to be added--meaning that time can be charged to your project without them being logged into Upwork.

Overall, I have been very happy and will continue to work with freelancers from Upwork. If you have any follow up questions, you are welcome to PM me.

Mark Sewell · Answer

I would not recommend UPWORK for this, or even making a custom site at all.

Just get a website package from INVESTOR CARROT and be done with it.  Localize, personalize, follow their 3 lead per day training and spend your time/energy creating useful & relevant content.

Lyndon Timbang · Answer

@Rachel Stewart - thanks Rachel. We will be using Upwork but i will definitely reach out if i need your expertise.

Rachel Stewart · Answer

@Lyndon Timbang sorry for the late response. It really varies.  Generally (and my personal thought process) the more you want (bigger, complex) the more likely your developer will want to do a Time and Materials contract. If you want something basic the less risk to them and the easier it is to do a fixed bid. For reference, a basic website on an all in one platform, our labor base rate is $250. In my experience, that's on the low side of average for on-shore design and development work. For my day job, I'm an analytics consultant so I've got a lot of experience with consulting pricing and contract terms. Reach out to me if you ever want a second set of eyes on a freelancing gig. Good Luck!

Lyndon Timbang · Answer

@Rachel Stewart- good to hear. Is there like a minimum charge when building a website? I just want to set a baseline for comparison. Thanks

Lyndon Timbang · Answer

@Dave Spooner- thanks for the input.

Would you guys use Upwork to create your business website?

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