Finding Freelance Talent on the Internet
Dave Touchette reviewed the basic types of freelance talent Web sites that exist and tried to provide some direction for ACCers.
There are a number of directories of creative resources, which provide minimal information and links to the individual talent’s Web sites. These include sites such as freelancebank.com and freelanceonline.com.
Freelancers.com provides a searchable gallery of freelance writers for use at a fee. The galleries provide examples of the creative work. There is also a specific talent locator, where the Web site finds the talent for the client at a larger fee. Bullhorn.com provides more than 16,000 online portfolios for all types of creative talent. One can post a project and soon see replies from other site visitors. There is a searchable talent base for findng the ideal freelancer for a project. The talent base lists location, fees, specialties and has samples of the creative work. Bullhorn.com also offers to streamline your creative project through its “project exchange” program. It can provide e-mail alerts regarding project status, the ability to conduct on-line meetings with full support and on-line invoicing and payment.
Aquent.com is one of the more complete and extensive sites available, Touchette reported. Aquent can provide permanent, temporary or freelance creative talent. Clients can search the database or work with one of the many brick and mortar offices throughout the country. One of the more useful features is the gallery, which showcases project and provides descriptions of application as well as the strategies behind the project. The Aquent.com database lists writers, illustrators, graphic and Web designers, project managers and desktop support for clients.
Without knowledge of legitimate Web sites to find freelance talent, one can get lost. Simply entering the term “freelance writer” on a search engine, can get returns of thousands of Web sites. The trouble is, said Touchette, many of these sites make outlandish claims, or offer ridiculous services, such as writing pen pal letters.
If you know the right Web sites to go to, Touchette said, the Web can be a useful and timesaving approach to finding freelance creative talent.
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