Freelancers United RFP

May 20, 2014

Alexandros Anoyatis
By Alexandros Anoyatis

Ok, I have this stupid idea in my head since the beginning of my time here at the fora so I have to get this out of my chest. So hear me out...

There's so much talent in these forums that cover almost everything a perspective client or lead could hope for; be it advice, demos, portfolios and any kind of opportunities. In my book, everyone (especially the regulars here) brings something valuable to the game. Some are Master ID's with a great edu background, some are technical wizards, some excel at coding, others are great voice-over pros - I don't want to give out names, you all know who you are.

Why not try to come together in some sort of collaborative effort on a subject regarding our trade and create a whopping in-depth demonstration of our field of expertise that we could all plug into our websites or portfolio?

Any takers and/or ideas are welcome.

Alex

33 Replies
Nick n/a
almost 10 years ago05/22/14 at 1:09 am (UTC)

The best route could be to stick with the forum and community that have already developed and see how it goes from there. Once Articulate has shifted the forum to Version 2.0 it should be easier to divide into separate groups and develop shared interests around those groups.

At this point it's either a contribution to a question or on a particular thread. Some of us focus on particular threads than others. Once we have the option to join in a particular group I guess that would make networking/asking those with particular skill-sets we don't have a much easier process. I look forward to that aspect.

'' If you are talking monetization, well it wouldn't be too long before things got sticky, at least here in the forum.''

+1.

Articulate created this community and I'd rather see it as a community. Linking the community with generating money? That's something that can be discussed off the forums IMHO.

I personally have a good idea about how to do something like that. Am I going to discuss it here on the forums? No. I'm here to learn from others who are giving up their time and energy and try to contribute something useful and helpful in return. Giving a moment of your time is the most valuable thing you can offer someone.

To put in the words of David Anderson:

''Hey gang. This is an interesting discussion. My first thought was around asking you what E-Learning Heroes can do better, differently, or begin doing to support your needs.

 

Are you looking for ways to promote your business? Create informal/formal business relationships? Build a group of trusted resources who share work and referrals? 

 

If it's exposure and reputation building you're after, I can't think of a better place to be than ELH. Whether it's sharing a free graphic or template, answering questions, or posting examples of your work, your work will be seen by more folks in ELH than any other method of advertising. 

 

Guess I don't fully understand what your end game looks like... but I'm interested in hearing what you think we can do to help.''

Bruce Graham
almost 10 years ago05/22/14 at 1:37 am (UTC)

I would just like to make a point or two to substantiate what I have posted so far...

1. This post had the word "freelancers" in it. Freelancing is about running a business, and that is ultimately about money. Sorry.

2. As I understand it, many possible clients and customers visit these forums, and money is certainly not a dirty word.

3. To some, (me included...), this community in a sense represents our Sales and Marketing Budget. Yes - I give all my advice freely, here and in the many MANY PMs and private back-chat activities that go on.

4. I will continue to advise, to help, to offer support, to listen, and yes - to sometimes criticise, because that is what I started off doing here. I will continue as long as I can.

I am not a member here with the OBJECTIVE of being rewarded, in any way. Saying that, I am sure many of my freelance colleagues HAVE benefitted, from being passed leads, from being invited to speak, guest-blog and so on. From that - financial reward usually flows in some way.

For the record - my version of the "collective" will NOT be "competing" per se, it operates on a very different model. There will be some form of competition, but as it is not different from when (for example...) Phil and I go for the same jobs, or get rung up about the same project it's no different.

If you add VALUE to anything, you generate rewards, in one way or another, usually. I would never do anything, get involved in anything, or suggest anything that I thought was divisive in any way, but would I get involved in competitiveness? Yep. That what freelancers do, but I have also passed on my share of leads and jobs to others on this forum.

Even with a great big "uber-demo", clients may still look at it, ring up Articulate and go "Oh! I love these two bits...Could you let me know who created them so that I can contact just them", and you are back to competition in some way again.

That's (freelancing) life.

Alexandros Anoyatis
almost 10 years ago05/22/14 at 1:44 am (UTC)

@Nicholas

I have to make some things clear before this gets out of hand, as there has been some misinterpretation here, and as the OP of this thread, I am probably more to blame for this than anyone else.

  • I never linked this "idea" to e-learning heroes or Articulate or the contributions we try to make here.
  • I have zero problems with the way the forums work, as far as I am concerned there are zero reasons for ELH 2.0.
  • What I was (and still am) in fact exploring was a different model, completely unrelated to what we do here at ELH.

In hindsight, yes this could have been discussed through PM's, but I thought that would be against the openness these forums embrace.

Thanks
Alex

Joshua Roberts
almost 10 years ago05/22/14 at 2:29 am (UTC)

Alexandros Anoyatis said:

@Nicholas

I have to make some things clear before this gets out of hand.

  • I never linked this "idea" to e-learning heroes or Articulate or the contributions we try to make here.
  • I have zero problems with the way the forums work, as far as I am concerned there are zero reasons for ELH 2.0.
  • What I was in fact exploring was a different model, completely unrelated to what we do here at ELH.

In hindsight, yes this could have been discussed through PM's, but I thought that would be against the openness these forums embrace.

Alex


And in no disrespect to Bruce as I know it wasn't his intention to hi-jack the thread, but people hopped onto that model rather than Alex's proposal. I guess a differentiation would need to be made there too.

Nick n/a
almost 10 years ago05/22/14 at 3:54 am (UTC)

''@Nicholas

I have to make some things clear before this gets out of hand.

  • I never linked this "idea" to e-learning heroes or Articulate or the contributions we try to make here.
  • I have zero problems with the way the forums work, as far as I am concerned there are zero reasons for ELH 2.0.
  • What I was in fact exploring was a different model, completely unrelated to what we do here at ELH.

In hindsight, yes this could have been discussed through PM's, but I thought that would be against the openness these forums embrace.

Alex''

Thanks Alex, that's quite clear. No offense meant/or directed at any posters on this thread. I stand corrected on any/some of my points made. I also support the openness ELH provides.

Alexandros Anoyatis
almost 10 years ago05/22/14 at 4:14 am (UTC)

No offense taken, just had to clarify any misunderstood notion that all this is done for pure personal exposure.

On the other hand, I appreciate the skepticism - it doesn't necessarily lead to acceptance, but it does imply consideration. And that to me is a first important step.

But enough with that.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to have a nice old-fashioned group video chat to bring any ideas to the table?

Just a thought,
Alex

Nick n/a
almost 10 years ago05/22/14 at 5:06 am (UTC)

Bruce Graham said:

I would just like to make a point or two to substantiate what I have posted so far...

1. This post had the word "freelancers" in it. Freelancing is about running a business, and that is ultimately about money. Sorry.

2. As I understand it, many possible clients and customers visit these forums, and money is certainly not a dirty word.

3. To some, (me included...), this community in a sense represents our Sales and Marketing Budget. Yes - I give all my advice freely, here and in the many MANY PMs and private back-chat activities that go on.

4. I will continue to advise, to help, to offer support, to listen, and yes - to sometimes criticise, because that is what I started off doing here. I will continue as long as I can.

I am not a member here with the OBJECTIVE of being rewarded, in any way. Saying that, I am sure many of my freelance colleagues HAVE benefitted, from being passed leads, from being invited to speak, guest-blog and so on. From that - financial reward usually flows in some way.

For the record - my version of the "collective" will NOT be "competing" per se, it operates on a very different model. There will be some form of competition, but as it is not different from when (for example...) Phil and I go for the same jobs, or get rung up about the same project it's no different.

If you add VALUE to anything, you generate rewards, in one way or another, usually. I would never do anything, get involved in anything, or suggest anything that I thought was divisive in any way, but would I get involved in competitiveness? Yep. That what freelancers do, but I have also passed on my share of leads and jobs to others on this forum.

Even with a great big "uber-demo", clients may still look at it, ring up Articulate and go "Oh! I love these two bits...Could you let me know who created them so that I can contact just them", and you are back to competition in some way again.

That's (freelancing) life.

Thanks Bruce. I'm going to takes notes on that post.

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