What's New
Posted Mar 28, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
�
��
We’ve seen that providers with complete profiles have an easier time finding satisfying jobs, so we hope this tool will help providers achieve their goals and acquire more jobs.
Posted Mar 22, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
�
The changes that we’ve made allow a viewer to open a full size screenshot and have a navigation and information pane available. �
�
��
This new pane allows the viewer to do the following:�
�
1) Navigate forward and backward by 10 minute increments. Note that navigating this way will skip idle and offline time. �
2) Information will be displayed in the top pane including the username of the provider,� the active window, the work memo, activity level, and the time and date of the screenshot. �
3) View a slideshow of all of the work by pressing the Start Slideshow link.
Posted Mar 15, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
�
��
As our user base has grown almost 10X over the past year, our customer support department has also evolved along with the growth. We have focused on becoming more and more scalable in our service to our users in an effort to keep oDesk fees as low as possible. The improvements in scalability are reflected in the two pricing drops that we have been able to pass on to our users in this same period. �
�
We have compiled all of the FAQs that we are now aware of in an easy to use and navigate help center. The top questions will be dynamically updated and kept at the top of lists. Links to related questions will be included in each specific question and answer. With this new help center, you now have 3 main ways to get support:�
�
1) Browse the help center�
2) Post questions in the Community Help Desk�
3) Contact Us through the same ticket form�
�
We plan to continue to optimize this help content and appreciate your continued input.
Posted Mar 14, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
�
Posted Mar 08, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
We have launched the capability to add new skills to oDesk Profiles and Job postings. Previously, users had to choose from a specified list of skills. Now they will be able to type in a skill if they do not find their desired skill in our list.�
How does it work for Buyers:
��
If Buyers do not find the skill they want in our list, they can click on the option to add a new skill. A text input box will appear where Buyers can enter the desired skill. Please note that there is still only one Primary Skill for each job.�
�
Step 1: Option to add new skill in job description form�
�
Step 2: Input field for new skill�
How does it work for Providers:
��
On their Profile Editors, Providers will see the option to add a new skill if they do not find their skill in the drop-down. A text input box will appear where Providers can then enter the name of the skill. This will become part of their Profile and will be searchable using the keyword search on the Providers Search page.�
�
Step 1: Option to add new skill in Profile Editor�
�
Step 2: Input field for new skill�
�
�
Read more and leave feedback on the Community post.�
Posted Mar 08, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
oDesk has automated the application and signup process for Affiliate Managers. We had previously automated the process for Buyers, Freelance Providers and new Affiliate Contractors. We have implemented the same checklist process for new Affiliate Managers.�
What will it look like:
��
New Affiliate Managers can now come to odesk.com, click on signup and complete the online application process. Once done, Affiliate Managers will have their personal profile and their Affiliate Company profile active on the network. They can then start adding their Affiliate Contractors on oDesk and start applying to jobs.�
�
The new process includes the following steps:�
�
- Verify your email address
- Create your personal profile
- Describe your company
- Accept the oDesk Contract
- Take the oDesk Training Quiz
The Training Quiz is 20 multiple-choice questions, that take Affiliate Managers through the basics of working on oDesk, downloading oDesk software, adding Affiliate Contractors and best practices for working on remote assignments. We have developed the quiz so that every new Affiliate Manager will be able to work effectively within oDesk as soon as they join the network.�
�
What does this mean for Buyers:
��
Buyers will now be able to access a much larger network of Providers, both in terms of number and skill type.�
What does this mean for Affiliate Managers:
��
Affiliate Managers will now be able to create their account, add other Providers and start applying to jobs in a single online session. There will no longer be any delays due to recruiting backlogs.�
�
Read more and leave feedback on the Community post.
Posted Mar 01, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
�
What is oDesk’s online testing program?�
�
In mid-2006 oDesk partnered with ExpertRating to deliver over 100 different skill tests, (eg PHP, Java, Photoshop) to our entire provider network free of charge. The tests are available for any registered provider to take to prove their skills in their field. Our hope is that this helps qualified and talented providers differentiate themselves and instill confidence in potential buyers. �
�
What change are we making?�
�
Due to some concerns that we’ve received through our community forums about the quality of test content, we are launching 2 small enhancements to the testing system to capture feedback. �
�
1) Anytime you take an online test you will see a link to the oDesk ticket form on every question page. If you find an error or have a suggestion on a question, please click the link to submit a ticket. Your feedback will be sent to oDesk and ExpertRating and we’ll review every suggestion to see if it can be implemented. �
�
2) Upon completion of any test, you will have the option to leave feedback on the quality of the test so that oDesk and ExpertRating can determine how to prioritize efforts on all of the available tests. �
�
We look forward to all of your comments and encourage you to take qualification tests if you haven’t already.
Posted Feb 22, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
Buyers have told us they find the scores very useful in their hiring decisions, so we’ve decided to change our default sort from “Hours Worked” to “Feedback Score.” This change applies to the Provider Search and the Candidate List on each job opening in the buyer’s My Jobs tab.
Buyers can still sort by Hours Worked – we’ve simply changed the default sort to reward those providers that have earned good feedback.
Posted Feb 22, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
�
What is Fixed Price?�
Fixed Price lets buyers hire a provider to do a job for specific bid amount.� The buyer then pays once the provider successfully completes the job’s requirements. �
�
Why Fixed Price?�
We’ve been listening to the oDesk Community, and here are some examples of what we’ve heard.� Users told us that while an hourly relationship is great for longer projects with changing requirements, fixed price was often preferable for shorter projects with fixed requirements.�
�
How to use Fixed Price?
- Buyers – go to http://www.odesk.com and post a job, and you’ll have the fixed price option next to our standard hourly option.�
- Providers – go to the jobs page, and select “Fixed Price”
Check out the Fixed Price FAQ in Community to see why we’re launching fixed price, how it works, and what it means for you.�
�
We’d love for you try it and let us know what you think.
Posted Feb 22, 2007 by oDesk Marketing
“Invite to Interview” is designed to make the provider search experience more effective for buyers, leading to more interviews and hires.
In the Provider Search results, we’ve replaced “Interview” with “Invite to Interview.” This change is designed to solve 2 problems:
1. Make the invite process more like the provider application process, where the buyer gets a cover letter
2. Measure provider responsiveness, to reduce the problem of buyers that invite providers but don’t hear back
Before:
* Every provider profile in search results has an “Interview” button
* When a buyer initiates an interview, contact information is exchanged immediately
* Providers did not have the opportunity to indicate whether they are interested
* Providers were not asked to enter a cover letter
After:
* Every provider profile in search results has an “Invite to Interview” button
* When a buyer initiates an invite, the provider is asked to accept or decline the interview
* If the provider accepts, he is asked to submit a cover letter
* Once the provider accepts, contact information is exchanged
Providers – keep in mind that we plan to publish “responsiveness” stats on your profile and potentially in the search results, which means that you should either accept or decline interview requests as soon as you receive them. If you’d rather not receive interview requests, you can simply change your profile to private. Note that there is no downside to declining interviews; we simply want providers with searchable profiles to be responsive to buyer invites.
Buyers – we’ve also eliminated the interview quota. Previously you could only have 10 simultaneous interviews. With the Invite to Interview feature, there is no limit to the number of invites you can send.
No comments:
Post a Comment