Site idea (feedback)

Atlas_IRL

I dont mind sharing this idea as i think a lot of web developers might be opposed to it for whatever reason.

Why isnt their a freelance website for Ireland only for web development/web companies?
Im thinking along the lines of someone posting up details of what type of website they want done vaguely or not private or public, then people can bid on them in reverse auction very like scriptlance.


Would get people great prices on their website costs plus they get a bunch of different quotes as well to mull over.

Ive noticed from this forum that some web devs come across as not liking the whole outsourcing/freelance websites out there and am not sure if they would like the idea or not.

Also the site could have a section specifically catering just for small sme's an new companies starting out. Lots of info would be available

how to start up a business, how to register .ie's etc. Basically all the general questions people have here and guides about the steps people take/need to take.

Would anyone welcome a site like this?

jrochie

sounds like a very good idea to me. particularly in the current climate, where people needs websites, but can't afford to pay big money for them. It would also give people the opportunity to gain work, and actually could work as a way of free advertising, both for the person or business looking for the site, and the web designers who make an offer on building it!

Well done Atlas_IRL your getting two thumbs up from me, and a smiley face to boot!

polopunk

I would have loved this 6 months ago!!

Good idea though.

jobucks

Great idea OP, hope you go ahead with it.

I'm not a developer myself but I write web content and other documents, I use oDesk quite a lot but it would be great to have an Ireland only site as then I wouldn't be competing with overseas bids (which can be insultingly low)... would you consider a broader range of skills so that maybe writing could be included??

Best of luck anyway sounds like a plan:)

In my opinion, the same sort of people who would use it would just as easily use scriptlance or some other similar site for cheaper.

Either/or, the type of individual who would use it would be quite confident with web jargon as vague posts would be useless to all involved.

Atlas_IRL

jobucks wrote: »

Great idea OP, hope you go ahead with it.

I'm not a developer myself but I write web content and other documents, I use oDesk quite a lot but it would be great to have an Ireland only site as then I wouldn't be competing with overseas bids (which can be insultingly low)... would you consider a broader range of skills so that maybe writing could be included??

Best of luck anyway sounds like a plan:)

Yes a lot more could be on it, esp web content writing graphic design/logos etc.


If you look here any of these services https://www.scriptlance.com/programmers/more_info.shtml could be included but would have to be thought over i suppose to see what direction the site would take. I dont really have in mind a pure freelancing site where anything can be done more so a community site where people can get information and possibly get their work done and the developers/writers can showcase their porfolio's and get work.

jobucks

Atlas_IRL wrote: »

Yes a lot more could be on it, esp web content writing graphic design/logos etc.


If you look here any of these services https://www.scriptlance.com/programmers/more_info.shtml could be included but would have to be thought over i suppose to see what direction the site would take. I dont really have in mind a pure freelancing site where anything can be done more so a community site where people can get information and possibly get their work done and the developers/writers can showcase their porfolio's and get work.

Sounds great Atlas, keep us updated, be great to see it take off:)

IrlDigi

All these activities can be sourced at www.zumpty.ie

Axwell

Theres tenderme.ie and zumpty however they arent aimed at just that market, also there is freelanceireland.ie which is a bit hit and miss. The main reason I think you will find it hasnt or doesnt work is that people use sites like elance etc so they can get cheaper work done by people abroad as they dont think the prices here are good value, they also dont have much knowledge when it comes to web design and development and the standard of work when comparing them and go for the cheaper option. However they fail to realise the cost of living here is a lot higher along with the advantages of dealing with an irish based business such as face to face meetings, support, same time-zone, fluent english speaking etc etc.

Atlas_IRL

They are more in the online tradesman industry which i will be in very soon once my site launches.(not this idea) I want it to be open where everyone can see quotes and interact, which is what the site i will be launching soon will be like. We can do a similar service to people in the web business which isnt catered for that way imo.

From looking at tender me it seems you dont know where you stand when you bid, also zumpty is behind closed doors by the looks of it, although i havnt looked at it closely.

Im looking for feedback though negative and positive.

Axwell

Id agree with you on tenderme, its a case of bidding and then you are left in the dark. Also they run a job for 7 days and its left there even if the bid from someone has been accepted you can still bid on it so they seem to be making money off people dishonestly who dont know that job is closed.

With zumpty you sign up and pay your membership and then hope people look for your service, you then get a chance to email a bid on the job. You cant see anything from the outside so its all member based and you pay up front to be a member with no gaurentee of any jobs coming your way. At that price its a bit risky, at least with tender me you are only risking €3 to bid per job.

I think if you make a site like this feedback in relation to bids etc is vital. If i bid on a job i need to know its been read, i need to know when someone elses bid is accepted as the winner and i need to know when the job is no longer available. These are key in terms of the person bidding and are flaws with tenderme, they do email you apparently when the job is closed but a lot of time the person who listed the job doesnt seem to close it. This is another vital thing, the person listing the job has to be urged to play their part and list the job as no longer open or given to someone and not just email someone accepting thir bid and leaving the ad running on the site.

A problem you will have also mainly in the web design/development area is that people will post that they want a job done and not really know the value of decent web design. They will get bids from students doing nixers and people who became web designers overnight and get bids of figures that are just way to low and shabby work. They will accept these bids ahead of a decently prices offer because its cheaper but not understand the difference in the quality of work. For this reason good designers and developers will avoid the site and it will be full of cowboy/part time designers offering sub standard work.

This is just some advice based on my own opinions from working in this area and having looked into zumpty and tenderme and the other sites out there and who bids on the jobs and whos bids get accepted.

W!zard

Great idea, I give it my vote and if you need any help with it, just let me know. Hope you do go ahead with it as I am sure it will help alot of startups looking for a good price for their new biz / online biz.

IrlDigi

IrlDigi wrote: »

All these activities can be sourced at www.Google.ie

Fixed that for you.

fiscalstudent

From looking at tender me it seems you dont know where you stand when you bid, also zumpty is behind closed doors by the looks of it,

Don't mean to be pedantic, but isn't that the whole point? Are you suggesting on your site that who bid for a project would be able to view other bids?

Axwell

What i assume hes referring to is that with zumpty you dont even see the projects that people are bidding on, you have to be a member then you get them emailed to you. So you cant even go look at the site right now and say well plumbing gets a lot of jobs, or whatever. Its all behind closed doors so there could be no one using the site or hundreds, yet you have to sign up to find out which IMO makes it not worth it and a bad idea on their behalf.

Axwell

Axwell wrote: »

What i assume hes referring to is that with zumpty you dont even see the projects that people are bidding on, you have to be a member then you get them emailed to you. So you cant even go look at the site right now and say well plumbing gets a lot of jobs, or whatever. Its all behind closed doors so there could be no one using the site or hundreds, yet you have to sign up to find out which IMO makes it not worth it and a bad idea on their behalf.

Hi Axewell, we have a step by step strategy with zumpty which takes in a lot of different factors. Over the last couple of months we have done deals with some of the largest associations in Ireland (to be announced in the press soon) in order to obtain a critical mass of businesses on the site, in order to provide quotes, and enough of them so that the site will fulfill its concept of letting the consumer make their choice based on their own criteria, and not just have 1 or 2 people quoting on the job.
So, over the next month we are putting roughly 20,000 business on the site which takes a bit of time. Next step is to launch phase 2 of our PR campaign which is directed specifically at the consumer in order for them to post jobs on the site.
Once this is happening we can then introduce a live page for jobs, and reintroduce our directory and have both of them full.

It would be fantastic if when you launch a new business there is instant critical mass business and consumer, so you can have hundreds of jobs available and posted at once. But unless you started off with dozens of staff and a massive budget this is impossible, so we have to have our building blocks to success. Not agreeable with everyone, but we feel this is the smart way to go right now

CathalMc

Just a short contribution: being able to have a ratings/trust rating to the various service individuals seems like it would add value to these type of sites. Ebay ratings spring to mind. Perhaps some of these sites do this already.

Out of curiosity, has zumpty considered or does it do this, ER?

Axwell

Deleted User wrote: »

Hi Axewell, we have a step by step strategy with zumpty which takes in a lot of different factors....

Hi ER..its Axwell by the way :P

Thanks for the reply,IMO I just find that when your asking for a membership fee from someone the site should be more transparent in that I can see how many people post in my field looking for work etc to show to me its worth signing up. Without being able to see this its really a stab in the dark and means paying upfront with no gaurentee of any jobs in that area. With tenderme.ie you can see the jobs and apply for them and only pay when you tender. Once yours is at a stage where the jobs can be seen ill certainly look at it again but for now its just a gamble that isnt worth taking when I cant see some sign that my money is worth spending.

CathalMc

CathalMc wrote: »

Just a short contribution: being able to have a ratings/trust rating to the various service individuals seems like it would add value to these type of sites. Ebay ratings spring to mind. Perhaps some of these sites do this already.

Out of curiosity, has zumpty considered or does it do this, ER?

Yes its a major feature of our site cathal

I hear you barking Axwell you will have your wish in time!

damienmcd

Sounds like a brilliant idea. Hope it takes off for you. If you need anything in dev of the site etc then PM me.