How are service provider profiles ranked in search results?

If you do not enter a keyword, the provider profiles in each category are ranked simply according to the last 6 months earnings on Elance.

When you enter a keyword, our search engine first identifies all the provider profiles that match, then ranks the results by relevance. If two or more profiles appear to have identical relevance to your search, then the provider profiles with more Elance history relevant to your search are ranked higher in the search results.

The following factors determine the match and ranking process:

Match

A Match is determined by the presence of relevant skills and keywords within the provider profile and within the provider's work history on Elance.

The "Skills" and "Keyword" sections of the profiles have priority during the matching process: for example, if you search for the term "ajax", a provider with the word "ajax" listed as a Skill will rank higher than a provider that mentions Ajax experience in the profile but does not list "ajax" as a Skill.  In addition, a provider that has completed "ajax" projects on Elance and has received feedback for the work performed is ranked higher in the matching process.

Reputation

A member's Reputation on Elance also determines the order in which profiles are displayed.

The reputation on Elance is based on relevant and current performance and activity indicators. These indicators include the number of assignments (projects) completed, the feedback received, the amounts earned. In addition, our system gives weight to reputation factors such as the number of credentials verified and the number of violations recorded.

Refining your search

After reviewing the initial results, you can filter and sort search results according to preference, including:

Filters - by Category, Feedback (6 mos), Number of Reviews (6 mos), Minimum Rate and Location.

Sort - by Name, Location, Minimum Rate, Feedback (6 mos) and Earnings (6 mos).