I'm torn on the price display there, given the format unless you attract a very high quality buyer invariably the price is going to be a factor. But then if you don't have it makes it harder for the buyer.
I think he's suggesting that the most obvious way for potential buyers to quantify freelancers is through price, meaning that no matter what (in most cases), the job will go to the lowest bidder, leaving quality freelancers with no other way to 'prove' they are worth more.
I'm not sure I agree with robryan 100%, as there are other ways for buyers to compare the freelancers (years experience, etc.). For a middle-ground, you could have the freelancers give a per hour range to be negotiated dependent on the scope/intensity of the project. Also, you could expand on the freelancers' credentials by including websites, previous projects, or client testimonials.
yeah, we have plenty of places for freelancers online which are essencially a race to the bottom on rate, a lot of buyers are looking to compare on rate, most sellers that sell at a premium would at least like buyers to give them the time of day to hear what that premium will get them.
I've thought about this idea and 3 things should help:
1. we'll have a min. hourly rate of $40/hr.
2. by making it phone-based, we will be filtering out most non-US programmers
3. we intend to charge $2-5/lead once we get traction. This will probably make it unaffordable for folks that only compete on price.
I really don't want to attract elance/rentacoder-type audience which only cares about cost. My experience as a freelancer AND client has shown that you get what you pay for. I'd like higher end clients to match with higher quality coders.
2. by making it phone-based, we will be filtering out most non-US programmers
I think you underestimate the capacities of non-US programmers. The international shops (ie. the coders from India and Singapore who can charge a fraction of what a US programmer would need to) usually have access to great VOIP and 24/7 availability.
