New Features Launch

Submitted by Elance_Sunny on September 13, 2007 12:56am.
New Elance Water Cooler, Improved Search and Provider Videos


Whether you’re an Elance buyer or provider, there’s something new for you on Elance. In addition to improvements to search and a new section dedicated to you, our Elance customers, we’ve also updated the Elance homepage, and added a host of other new features to make it easier to hire and work on demand.

Test drive the new features directly, or browse through descriptions for providers and buyers:

 

Providers: Find Work Faster and Easier

It's easier than ever to find work on Elance. With improvements to search, enhanced buyer quality, and the new Elance Water Cooler, you have access to everything you need to find interesting work from high quality buyers. Take a look at the new features, and be sure to tell us what you think at the Water Cooler.

Find interesting work faster than ever

  • Fast project search. Redesigned search results page now with project details and buyer information helps you find the work you want—quickly and efficiently.



  • Additional search filters. Find projects more quickly by filtering search results for hourly jobs and browsing buyer information directly from search results.



  • Added bidding privacy and efficiency. Bid on a project directly from search, plus sealed bids are now the default selection for new posted projects.
Now, high quality work finds you too
  • Get work instantly. With Elance Chat and Elance Call, buyers can contact you immediately, free of charge and directly from your provider profile page. You'll start getting calls immediately so be sure to check the phone number on your profile is an appropriate number.



  • More qualified buyers. New buyers are required to post an initial $10 deposit prior to posting a project, ensuring your proposals are evaluated by ready-to-hire buyers. Plus, view buyer history of posted projects.



  • PayPal for escrow projects. PayPal is now available as a payment option for escrow projects, giving you one additional way to structure payment terms with your buyers.


  • New traffic for active providers. Active providers are featured on the new buyer homepage, one of the most visible pages on Elance. Be sure to update your provider profile picture and description to get the most out of this promotional opportunity. View the new homepage


  • RSS feeds for search results. With RSS feeds, providers can get automated updates on their internet browser with links to specific search results that interest them. This means you learn about new projects without having to visit Elance and do a search for projects.


  • Videos on provider profiles. We've added the ability for you to place a short video on your provider profile. This is a great way to connect with potential buyers. To participate, just describe your services, skills, or whatever you'd like to highlight in a video, upload the video on www.youtube.com, and paste the YouTube URL into your provider profile page. The video will appear where the static photo currently appears. 

 

Meet fellow Elancers at the Water Cooler 

  • Discussion boards. Visit the new Elance Water Cooler area to meet fellow Elance providers and buyers, learn best practices and grow your professional network.



  • Elance University. Learn best practices for provider profile pages, bid proposals and more with new Elance University training courses—now in video format!

 

 

Buyers: Connect with Providers Instantly 

Introducing Elance Call and Elance Chat


It’s easier than ever to connect with Elance professionals to help you get your work done. And with the new Elance Call and Elance Chat features, contacting providers is truly simple and immediate.

Elance Call

Elance Call is a new feature that enables you to call service providers directly from the Provider Profile page. Phone calls through Elance Call give you instant access to any service provider you would like to contact, and best of all, calls are completely free of charge.

It’s easy to use Elance Call:
1. Click ‘Contact Me’ on the Provider Profile page



2. Click Elance Call and type in your phone number



3. Your phone will ring, and then you will be connected with the provider you want to contact



Elance Chat

Elance Chat also gives you instant access to service providers via Instant Messaging. Unlike other Instant Messaging technologies, Elance Chat enables you to keep your other personal and business instant message identities private.

It’s easy to use Elance Chat:
1. Click ‘Contact Me’ on the Provider Profile page



2. Click Elance Chat



3. If the provider is online, a new chat window will appear


Meet fellow Elancers at the Water Cooler


The Elance Water Cooler is a new section of the website that is totally dedicated to you, our Elance customers.

Within the Water Cooler is Elance Talk, our new discussion forums. On Elance Talk, you can easily share your thoughts with other Elancers, whether it’s a new insight on working or hiring on demand or a new business trend. You can also get help or learn new tips and tricks by posting questions for other Elancers. Or, just stop by Elance Talk to say hi, tell us what’s going on and mingle a bit.