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Ask HN: Review my startup CanYouCode.com

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Re: Ask HN: Review my startup CanYouCode.com

#11

Post by bobds »

jeswin wrote: post #9
bobds wrote: post #7

I don't like the arbitrary minimum rate but I do see how it would differentiate you from the rest of freelancing marketplaces. I think it would be better to have different minimums depending on category and type of work. There is no reason why data entry or similar should start at $35/hr, It just shouldn't be $3/hr. Could also have different minimums for different countries, freelancers have different standards on wh…

Will be doing that tonight. The initial plan is to have North America + (all of)Europe.

Another thing you should do is change the company name and company website to optional. A lot of freelancers have neither of those and it feels weird to make up a company name and use a personal blog as a company website.

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup CanYouCode.com

#18

Post by mMark »

Personally, I agree with others that the $35 minimum may be a little restricting on new developers who are trying to build site experience. Maybe a new developer rule could apply in which for the first 5 or so jobs the mandatory minimum is waived when they're sending in offers.

You could also have something like Gold Star, Silver Star, Bronze Star rating for new developers so as to alleviate anxiety from selecting a bid from a new buyer.

New user star rating earned by things like, experience and references from their LinkedIn, Open Source attributions, and a rating on their website (by standards, how many posts their website has - don't tell them that can help their ranking though. Also could include in the ratings formula any tests that they completed on your site if you implement that (maybe make it so the highest rating they can be without completing any tests is Silver Star even if their resume is above and beyond).

I agree with everyone else who mentions escrow (most definitely) and testing for developers.

What hasn't been mentioned yet is some kind of work tracking system. I personally don't like systems which seem like big brother is looking over my shoulder as I code (you know which sites I'm talking about), but a system where the dev could post a snippet of what they're doing or even the ability to post the updated source (to be archived and viewable by you only of course, to be seen in cases of a dispute in hours).

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup CanYouCode.com

#20

Post by DrJokepu »

jeswin wrote: post #9
bobds wrote: post #7

I don't like the arbitrary minimum rate but I do see how it would differentiate you from the rest of freelancing marketplaces. I think it would be better to have different minimums depending on category and type of work. There is no reason why data entry or similar should start at $35/hr, It just shouldn't be $3/hr. Could also have different minimums for different countries, freelancers have different standards on wh…

Will be doing that tonight. The initial plan is to have North America + (all of)Europe.

You see, Europe is pretty diverse. $35/hour is an entry-level wage here in the UK, however it is a very good wage in some parts of Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Russia, etc). Which means that coders from these areas (who are quite common on other developer freelancing websites as well) will easily outcompete North American / Western European developers in jobs that would normally pay a lot more than $35/hour. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing, just sayin'.
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