How to Make Money Online by Becoming an oDesk Provider

It’s true – you can earn money online by becoming an oDesk provider. It is not very complicated, and it is nothing new. A lot of people are associated with oDesk, and there are a lot of Filipino freelance writers who also work at oDesk. They work “at” rather than work “for” because it is really a virtual marketplace where a buyer can “shop” for the best candidate for the job. And on the other end of the stick, the providers prominently display their offerings (through profile displays), hoping that a buyer will eventually be interested.

Becoming an oDesk provider can be achieved in mere minutes, though it requires patience and focus. The first thing you need to do is to enlist, or sign up, as a provider. It is absolutely free and there are really no strings attached. If you’re wondering how oDesk earns its keep, it does so through a fixed percentage added to your fees, payable by the buyers. So, the burden is really on the buyer, who probably has to pay for 111% of your fees. You might think that this is a disincentive for buyers, but in reality, they still save a lot from hiring oDesk providers than employing employees the usual way.

Once you sign up, you need to build up your profile, and you need to take time to really build a good profile. Your profile is the only thing that sets you apart from the hundreds of thousands of providers worldwide so make sure that it is catchy, relevant, and correctly written. You are allowed to have a “tagline” – the one sentence that shows up in your profile when you apply for jobs. Take time to think about that tagline, make sure that it will make the buyer pay attention to your name, enough for him to click on your name so that he can see your full profile.

Then, you need to take tests to build up your portfolio. The first test that you need to take is the oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractor, and this test is about the basic rules and policies of oDesk. It is not that hard, but you cannot apply for jobs unless you have taken and passed this test. If you fail a test, or passed it but are not satisfied with your score, you can retake the test in a month’s time.

Once you’re done with these you can now proceed to applying for jobs. Be very careful in choosing the jobs – while there is no weight given to your batting average, it will still be distressing to get rejection after rejection. So make sure that you apply only for jobs wherein there’s a chance for you to get hired.