Comments on: Why Freelancers Should Watch Their Backs (And How To Turn The Threat Into An Opportunity) http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:36:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: How to hire freelancers and create an asset out of them. « Manujarch’s Weblog http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-25870 How to hire freelancers and create an asset out of them. « Manujarch’s Weblog Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:19:31 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-25870 [...] Why Freelancers Should Watch Their Backs (And How To Turn The Threat Into An Opportunity) [...] […] Why Freelancers Should Watch Their Backs (And How To Turn The Threat Into An Opportunity) […]

]]> By: Hiatus. | GenuineChris.com http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-22749 Hiatus. | GenuineChris.com Mon, 26 May 2008 02:42:22 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-22749 [...] And…Indians are Alright from Freelance Switch Presumably Related Posts: No related posts [...] […] And…Indians are Alright from Freelance Switch Presumably Related Posts: No related posts […]

]]> By: Multiple Social Network Syndrome | DannieG http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-22449 Multiple Social Network Syndrome | DannieG Tue, 20 May 2008 01:58:09 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-22449 [...] Why Freelancers should watch their backs, I don’t know about other fields but designers likes to pick on design topics such as, we [...] […] Why Freelancers should watch their backs, I don’t know about other fields but designers likes to pick on design topics such as, we […]

]]> By: zaga http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-21801 zaga Mon, 05 May 2008 05:09:57 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-21801 Its funny to read the reaction in some of the comments about people in other countries "stealing" jobs to US.... And they forgot that US has been exploiting (stealing?) resources in most of these countries for many many years. Its funny to read the reaction in some of the comments about people in other countries “stealing” jobs to US…. And they forgot that US has been exploiting (stealing?) resources in most of these countries for many many years.

]]> By: Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-21351 Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:10:35 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-21351 [...] We hear the outcry often. Want the answer? You have two options: target a different market or find a way to be competitive. [...] […] We hear the outcry often. Want the answer? You have two options: target a different market or find a way to be competitive. […]

]]> By: Mary http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-21348 Mary Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:39:08 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-21348 At $10-$15 an hour, I would make more money working at a restraunt then in what I am trained to do for a living. We have to pay all our own healcare, higher rent/etc, and taxes, not to mention paying for the added cost of gas and food. Need we mention pirated software? It's not egotistical, its frustrating as hell to see your livelyhood disapear. Of course Americans are upset, and of course everyone who is benefiting from it is happy getting paid and saying the equivilant of "sucks for you". just saying. At $10-$15 an hour, I would make more money working at a restraunt then in what I am trained to do for a living. We have to pay all our own healcare, higher rent/etc, and taxes, not to mention paying for the added cost of gas and food. Need we mention pirated software?

It’s not egotistical, its frustrating as hell to see your livelyhood disapear.
Of course Americans are upset, and of course everyone who is benefiting from it is happy getting paid and saying the equivilant of “sucks for you”.

just saying.

]]> By: How To Outsource If You’re A Control Freak (Like Me) | Lea Woodward http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-21345 How To Outsource If You’re A Control Freak (Like Me) | Lea Woodward Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:27:32 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-21345 [...] latest article on Freelance Switch - which talks about outsourcing for freelancers - was one I was hesitant to [...] […] latest article on Freelance Switch - which talks about outsourcing for freelancers - was one I was hesitant to […]

]]> By: Aleph Naut http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-21320 Aleph Naut Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:40:37 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-21320 Jobs will always migrate to the lowest cost producer. If you enjoy designing, developing or doing any sort of skilled labor and that labor can be done more cheaply elsewhere - it will be. The bottom line is that you will not be able to support yourself doing something you enjoy. I support free markets inasmuch as they work to improve my standard of living. I'm not religious about free markets though; if "free" means I can no longer make a living doing something I enjoy then I'm opposed to that kind of "free". Countries are not companies; they, at least in theory, should act so as to improve the lives of their citizens. If you're the kind of person who enjoys your work for what you create or design - basically any kind of craftsman (programmer, website designer, engineer, etc...) then outsourcing is a threat to your way of life. If you're the kind of person who can enjoy a job even if it doesn't create anything tangible, if the money alone is enough to keep you in a job, then you're probably a businessperson and you're going to outsource wherever you can. Jobs will always migrate to the lowest cost producer. If you enjoy designing, developing or doing any sort of skilled labor and that labor can be done more cheaply elsewhere - it will be. The bottom line is that you will not be able to support yourself doing something you enjoy.

I support free markets inasmuch as they work to improve my standard of living. I’m not religious about free markets though; if “free” means I can no longer make a living doing something I enjoy then I’m opposed to that kind of “free”. Countries are not companies; they, at least in theory, should act so as to improve the lives of their citizens.

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys your work for what you create or design - basically any kind of craftsman (programmer, website designer, engineer, etc…) then outsourcing is a threat to your way of life. If you’re the kind of person who can enjoy a job even if it doesn’t create anything tangible, if the money alone is enough to keep you in a job, then you’re probably a businessperson and you’re going to outsource wherever you can.

]]> By: Seraphim Collective http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-21319 Seraphim Collective Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:31:29 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-21319 That was a great write up. I however don't feel threatened by those overseas designers. Simply because I know how the economy works. I'm in the US, and only look down on the so called "designers" that just picked up Photoshop last month and figure they can charge $30 bucks for B.S. CD design or logo. which are usually awful. Instead of building their skills to a desirable level, they decide to undercut everyone just to turn a dollar. I don't see any integrity in that, and just can't respect it. Why build a portfolio of garbage work that wont take your business anywhere fast? Still, I don't feel threatened because their careers are usually short lived. I've seen it happen many times. That was a great write up. I however don’t feel threatened by those overseas designers. Simply because I know how the economy works. I’m in the US, and only look down on the so called “designers” that just picked up Photoshop last month and figure they can charge $30 bucks for B.S. CD design or logo. which are usually awful. Instead of building their skills to a desirable level, they decide to undercut everyone just to turn a dollar. I don’t see any integrity in that, and just can’t respect it. Why build a portfolio of garbage work that wont take your business anywhere fast? Still, I don’t feel threatened because their careers are usually short lived. I’ve seen it happen many times.

]]> By: Ken Stanley http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/why-freelancers-should-watch-their-backs-and-how-to-turn-the-threat-into-an-opportunity/#comment-21307 Ken Stanley Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:34:08 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=820#comment-21307 Okay, we've established that companies in these cheaper countries are highly competitive when it comes to price but nobody have given one single example of a company that's producing world class design services at knock down prices. You know... just to see if they're as competitive on quality, which is also very important. This argument isn't anything new - it's starting to get quite stale now to be honest. Web outsourcing has been around for a while but, more often than not in my experience, clients come running back screaming. A list of quality outsourcing companies would be great. Anyone? Okay, we’ve established that companies in these cheaper countries are highly competitive when it comes to price but nobody have given one single example of a company that’s producing world class design services at knock down prices. You know… just to see if they’re as competitive on quality, which is also very important.

This argument isn’t anything new - it’s starting to get quite stale now to be honest. Web outsourcing has been around for a while but, more often than not in my experience, clients come running back screaming.

A list of quality outsourcing companies would be great. Anyone?

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