IDEA: RocketTheme Freelancers
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- Cory Webb
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 32
- Thanks: 0
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I apologize if this idea has already been suggested, but I was just thinking about the possibilty of RocketTheme community members having the ability (and forum) for offering RocketTheme template modification/conversion services on a freelance basis through the RocketTheme website.
I know that I have the ability to modify templates to suit my own purposes, but others either don't have the ability or don't have the time to perform the modifications they need to tailor their templates to their sites. I also know that it is not possible for Andy to customize every person's template.
From a business standpoint, it might actually attract more customers to the club because they would not feel intimidated by the prospect of converting their own templates, and those of us who don't mind the work could "earn" some money on the side, maybe to help pay for a RocketTheme club renewal.
Just an idea...any thoughts?
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- Andy Miller
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 9919
- Thanks: 96
- Web Kahuna
- Sounds like a good idea! I'll have to work out the best way to do that.
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- Cory Webb
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 32
- Thanks: 0
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Andy Miller wrote:
Sounds like a good idea! I'll have to work out the best way to do that.
It could be as simple and informal as a separate forum for that purpose, or you could use a freelancer script so that you get a piece of the revenue. Either way, I would be willing to participate.
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- Stew Thompson
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 573
- Thanks: 0
- School Teacher
- Sounds cool. Maybe if anything becomes of this, you could include some of your template mods for people to see you work before they "hire" anyone out.
- www.bentonhighschool.com/
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- HNL
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 112
- Thanks: 0
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Hi Everybody,
At face value or first sight (how do you say that in English?) or rather first thought,
this seems like an interesting idea. But there are some snags and second thoughts one could have.
Field of Tension 1
It has happened to me (not on this forum!!) that I posed a question and that somebody
PM-ed me with the message: "I'll solve your problem for a fee."
It could induce people to give incomplete answers or no answers at all
hoping that eventually somebody will end up on the Freelancer department.
It seems to me that a freelancer section could perhaps
be a self-defeating concept for a forum.
Field of Tension 2
How do I, as a potential customer, know that the service
that I intend to buy, has the quality one needs?
How to judge the level of expertise of the freelancers?
Suppose you enlist someone and he/she does some work on your website,
then you change something yourself or some other freelancer
does some work and the whole site collapse?
Who is responsible?
You want repairs and the first freelancers can't solve the problem.
You ask somebody else and he/she says: Jeeez, what kind of monstrous dirty hack
is done to your site, this should have never happened.
You email the first freelancer and ask compensation which he/she fiercly denies you.
When there are problems, a customer can be in for A LOT of trouble.
Most of the time it will not be somebody from around the corner,
but even from another continent!
How are you going to arrange any sort of guarentees?
There is the suggestion that Andy should get a cut of the fee.
Seems very good and neat and sensible idea.
However where starts and ends his responsability
for the quality of the work delivered?
Should he have a final say in the resulting coding?
Suppose he feels that the work is bad,
should he forbid the freelancer to do something?
Again what kind of guarentee is the customer going to get
Field of Tension 3
Any problems could seriously affect the appreciation of the website of Andy.
Of course he would have to adapt in a very professional way his Terms of Services.
He can not be held responsible for the actions of the freelancers.
However if somebody has a bad experience,
it will definitely change his ideas about Rockettheme
and that is the last thing Andy really needs!
And we also for that matter!
If I were you Andy,
I would really think very hard
before setting up something like this.
We all know that shit happens and that
shit sometimes hits the fan.
I do not claim to have said the non-plus-ultra in this respect.
I for one would consider asking paid advice
as I actually have done already.
But then I was absolutely convinced of the superior quality
and expert knowledge of the person I asked for advice.
You can shoot my musings to pieces of you like. ;D
Cheers, HansNL
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- Blue Maroo
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 134
- Thanks: 0
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@HansNL,
You hit the nail right on the head!!!!!!
@Andy,
I am an avid fan of yours, don't think twice but many times!
At the end, though, I will still respect your decision!
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- Cory Webb
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 32
- Thanks: 0
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Let me go through your concerns one at a time...
HansNL wrote:Field of Tension 1
It has happened to me (not on this forum!!) that I posed a question and that somebody
PM-ed me with the message: "I'll solve your problem for a fee."
It could induce people to give incomplete answers or no answers at all
hoping that eventually somebody will end up on the Freelancer department.
It seems to me that a freelancer section could perhaps
be a self-defeating concept for a forum.
Good point. I hadn't thought of that. However, there is a big difference between offering advice on the forum and actually doing the work for someone. I also think that actively offering *FREE* advice on the forum would lend to a freelancers credibility, so there is an incentive to continue offering that advice.
HansNL wrote:Field of Tension 2
How do I, as a potential customer, know that the service
that I intend to buy, has the quality one needs?
How to judge the level of expertise of the freelancers?
Suppose you enlist someone and he/she does some work on your website,
then you change something yourself or some other freelancer
does some work and the whole site collapse?
Who is responsible?
You want repairs and the first freelancers can't solve the problem.
You ask somebody else and he/she says: Jeeez, what kind of monstrous dirty hack
is done to your site, this should have never happened.
You email the first freelancer and ask compensation which he/she fiercly denies you.
When there are problems, a customer can be in for A LOT of trouble.
Most of the time it will not be somebody from around the corner,
but even from another continent!
How are you going to arrange any sort of guarentees?
There is the suggestion that Andy should get a cut of the fee.
Seems very good and neat and sensible idea.
However where starts and ends his responsability
for the quality of the work delivered?
Should he have a final say in the resulting coding?
Suppose he feels that the work is bad,
should he forbid the freelancer to do something?
Again what kind of guarentee is the customer going to get
I don't know about you, but I would never pay anyone to do work for me without seeing references, feedback from past customers, and a solid portfolio of quality work. It seems to me that freelancer sites have been very successful because they have good feedback/rating systems. I think that this "Field of Tension" should be a non-issue.
HansNL wrote:Field of Tension 3
Any problems could seriously affect the appreciation of the website of Andy.
Of course he would have to adapt in a very professional way his Terms of Services.
He can not be held responsible for the actions of the freelancers.
However if somebody has a bad experience,
it will definitely change his ideas about Rockettheme
and that is the last thing Andy really needs!
And we also for that matter!
If I were you Andy,
I would really think very hard
before setting up something like this.
We all know that shit happens and that
shit sometimes hits the fan.
I do not claim to have said the non-plus-ultra in this respect.
I for one would consider asking paid advice
as I actually have done already.
But then I was absolutely convinced of the superior quality
and expert knowledge of the person I asked for advice.
I agree with you there. We definitely don't want something to affect RocketTheme negatively. However, I think people understand that a freelancer is a freelancer and is not affiliated directly with RocketTheme. Really, it would look worse for the freelancer than for RocketTheme. Obviously, a customer would have to agree before purchasing freelancer services that RocketTheme cannot be held responsible for the quality (or lack thereof) of the freelancer's work.
HansNL wrote:You can shoot my musings to pieces of you like. ;D
Why not? You shot my idea to pieces... ;D
The bottom line is, the good freelancers will rise to the top and get the most business. It's just like shopping on Ebay. You only buy from people with positive feedback.
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- damo
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 2142
- Thanks: 0
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cory you said in your last post
However, I think people understand that a freelancer is a freelancer and is not affiliated directly with RocketTheme
it's exactly that point that andy allowed kenneth lund to put a post out for modifications to his internet gazette template - for the freelancers to contact him and quote for their services
if anyone needs work and andy doesn't mind users asking for people to contact them then isn't what you're suggesting already in place in the forum? - www.c3p0.se - sweden
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