Starting out as an online freelancer - Part 1

This series is aimed towards those who are trying to get into the wonderful world where one can work from his or her own home!

Guys, winning your first project is the most difficult job you'll ever get in this field.The entire online freelance community works on a crucial system of ratings. All major online marketplaces have rating systems which employers use to judge potential workers.

A person new to the world of freelancing is without a single rating, and so starting out can be very difficult. Few employers are willing to trust workers who have done no jobs on that marketplace previously.

But don't worry, we'll constantly update you with the latest tips and techniques to landing jobs, and hopefully guide you through the process. Feel free to communicate with us by leaving your comments below this post.

Part 1 of this series deals with setting up accounts on the most ideally suited freelancing marketplaces to those starting up!

STEP 1:REGISTRATION

We have done a lot of research over the past couple of weeks on the easiest websites for online freelancers to begin their work. Taking into account various factors including the long term prospects of these websites, we realized that freelancers have the highest chance of getting jobs on two websites:

We recommend you register on this site as well as this one both at once, so that you can save time filling their profiles (a lot of profile requirements are similar so you can just fill them simultaneously).

 Once you create accounts on both the websites, choose your payment methods etc. oDesk requires you take a readiness test before you can post a reasonable number bids at one time so make sure you do this after reading up on how the site works..

Fill in your areas of expertise, resume*, etc on both the websites and put up a photo to give your profile a less robotic look. Portfolios are very important to show any past experience you may have, so if you have any proof of work you may have done in the past that could be relevant to any projects you might bid on, upload it!

Vworker has Expert Guarantee tests that you should complete, whereas oDesk also has certification tests. There are a number of tests available, so you should just do tests in areas in which you believe you are an expert. A great score could result in you gaining more credibility as a worker, so make sure you take tests which you think you can score well in.

Once this is all done, you will have two solid looking profiles set up and you will be all ready to get to the most important part - BIDDING! 

Stay tuned for part 2 to find out the best bidding strategies for when you are completely new to the game!

Please feel free to leave a comment if any part of this is unclear or if you have any further questions. Thank you.

We would recommend you also like our Facebook page which can be accessed by clicking here since we frequently publish Success Tips which are absolutely essential to follow if you want to land your first project and complete it successfully.

Best Freelancing Websites for Pakistanis - PART 3 - Elance

Hi all,

While there are a lot of reviews comparing various freelancing websites, few do it from the perspective of a Pakistani. I have taken the time out to do a little bit of research to identify which website is most suitable for us, in terms of cost and payment methods.

There are a number of freelancing websites out there that allow Pakistani workers to work on projects and then get paid on them. However, a lot of Pakistanis have problems receiving payments from abroad because we cannot have a Paypal account in Pakistan and relying on the postal system to receive checks via snail mail is not a preferred option.

This series will talk about the pros and cons of the major online freelancing marketplaces from our perspective. The next website we will be looking at is:


ELANCE

Elance is a leading online freelancing website that boasts having faciliated $494,935,092 worth of business during the course of its existence. Elance has a large number of employers posting jobs regularly, but there is also a lot of competition and each job posting receives a large number of applicants.

While a basic membership on Elance is completely free, if you wish to upgrade your membership, there are superior plans available. The table below shows the types of memberships Elance offers to workers.

Source: www.elance.com

There are a number of payment methods for Pakistani contractors.


Wire Transfer (PKR) is offered by Elance. It is a direct bank transfer from their accounts to your local PKR bank account in Pakistan. Most major banks in Pakistan are supported by Elance, and while there is no list of supported banks published on their website, you can try out your bank details after making an account on Elance. Each Elance account is entitled to one free local currency wire transfer every month, after which each additional withdrawal costs $5.00. Since Elance converts the funds before transferring them, the currency conversion cost is avoided.


Wire Transfer (USD) is also offered for non-US countries. It is a bank transfer from Elance to your bank account (local PKR or local USD) in Pakistan. However, Elance does not offer any free USD wire transfers to account holders, and each withdrawal amounts to $25 in fees. Also, local PKR bank accounts often charge a hefty fee to convert the USD amount into PKR so this is not advisable, specially if you do not have a local USD account.


Payoneer [FOR more information about Payoneer, please click here: How to use Payoneer MasterCard Debit Cards in Pakistan.] is reliable and quick but it can end up being quite expensive. They issue a prepaid MasterCard debit card to people who can then use it to make electronic purchases at any place that accepts MasterCard, or withdraw it at ATM machines which accept MasterCard (in Pakistan, these include Standard Chartered Bank, Faysal Bank* and Muslim Commercial Bank).

Payoneer charges $24.99 as a one time activation fee that Pakistanis must pay, as opposed to a $9.99 fee for some other countries.

Source: www.elance.com

While Elance provides free withdrawals to your Payoneer account, Payoneer charges $2 to load it ($5 if you want to load it instantly). Otherwise it can take a few business days. Payoneer also has a monthly fee of $3 ($1 if you have more than three transactions, either through ATM or purchasing from shops etc in the previous month) but this is not deducted from your account if you do not have sufficient money there during the course of the month; i.e. your Payoneer account can never become negative. Besides this, there is a $2.15 fee for each ATM withdrawal you make. To top it all off, you get a poor exchange rate in Pakistan. The exchange rate is Rs.90/$ but our banks only give Rs. 87/$. This amount can build up if you are withdrawing a lot of money. Remember that Elance has a $20 minimum withdrawal limit for Payoneer users.


FOR more information about Payoneer, please click here: How to use Payoneer MasterCard Debit Cards in Pakistan.


Skrill, more commonly known as Moneybookers, charges EUR1.80 per withdrawal. Moreover, a rate of 1.99% has been applied for currency converssion by Skrill.

Moneybookers had a fantastic reputation amongst Pakistani contractors until recently, when there were widespread complaints of additional fees, delays and missing money with their services over the past couple of months. Skrill has undergone several internal changes, which have reduced its credibility in the eyes of many Pakistani contractors.



*only those branches of Faysal Bank that were once owned by Royal Bank of Scotland accept MasterCard. Look for the MasterCard logo on the machine. DO NOT insert your card in machine that does not accept MasterCard



FOR more information about Payoneer, please click here: How to use Payoneer MasterCard Debit Cards in Pakistan

Using Payoneer in Pakistan

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POST IS OUTDATED. PLEASE SEE MORE RECENT POSTS ON THIS BLOG FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT USING PAYONEER IN PAKISTAN. 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR PAYONEER CARD. IF YOU USE THIS LINK TO ORDER YOUR PAYONEER CARD, YOU WILL GET $25 FREE AFTER RECEIVING YOUR FIRST $100. YOU CAN USE PRIVATE LOADS INSTANTLY WITH THIS PAYONEER CARD, UNLIKE ANY OTHER PAYONEER CARD

Did you FINALLY just receive your Payoneer MasterCard in the mail? Once you are done with the initial excitement of owning a MasterCard debit card, run through the following guide to make sure you know exactly how to use the Payoneer card in Pakistan.



Step 1:  
Open the envelope 

•  Rip open the envelope you have received from Payoneer 
• Unpack the card
•  Switch on your personal computer

Step 2:
Activate your card

•  Go to www.payoneer.com 
• Click on Activate your card in the panel on the right
• Enter your account details to login to your Payoneer online account (these are the same details you chose when you ordered the card). The username is your email address.  
• Once you login, you will see a button you can click to activate your card. Click it!
• Enter the 16 digit card number located on your card, and choose a 4 digit pin number.
• Celebrate the activation of your card! 

Step 3:
Use your card

• Your Payoneer card can be used in thousands of locations across Pakistan
• You can withdraw money from selected ATM machines all over Pakistan. Your card will only work at ATM machines that support MasterCard. In Pakistan, these include MUSLIM COMMERCIAL BANK, CITIBANK and FAYSAL BANK. 
• You can see a list of ATMs near you that support MasterCard by visiting the link below.
• Make sure you look out for the MasterCard logo on the machine before you insert your card
• Remember that Payoneer's daily spending limit varies depending on which vendor you got your card through. Odesk cards have a daily ATM withdrawal limit of $2,500 but this does NOT mean you can withdraw this amount. Local ATM machines have varying daily withdrawal limits. Consult the bank associated with any ATM machine you are withdrawing from before making large transactions.
• Remember that all transactions in Pakistani ATM machines are done in Pakistani Rupees.
• Remember not to check your balance from the machine, but to check it online. Most machines in Pakistan do not support checking of balance of MasterCard cards, and your card could get eaten up. 
• You can also use your Payoneer MasterCard debit card at any shop, petrol pump or restaurant that accepts MasterCard payments. All big stores etc accept this method of payment.

A summary of Payoneer fees: 

• $24.99 - one time card activation fee.(some Payoneer partners are charging the regular fee of $9.99 for Pakistani clients now)
• slow load fee (different for every partner. Many partners have subsidized this fee completely)
• instant load fee (different for every partner)
• $2.15 - ATM machine withdrawal fee per transaction
• $ 1-3 - Payoneer monthly fee (depending on number of transactions made in the previous month)
• 3%* - Currency Exchange fee 

DISCLAIMER: Withdrawing more money than you have on your account can result in your card being eaten by the machine. Make sure you calculate a modest exchange rate, taking into account all fees etc. Failed transactions due to insufficient balance are also charged a small fee.

* The currency exchange fee is quite uncertain. Many people believe it is 3% of the dollar exchange rate per dollar.i.e. if the rate is Rs. 100/$, for every dollar you withdraw, you will get 97 rupees. However, these days most ATM machines tend to give between $92-93. You get better rates by swiping your Payoneer card.


If you have any questions relating to Payoneer services in Pakistan, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or find our Facebook page and I will try my best to help you out.


CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR PAYONEER CARD. IF YOU USE THIS LINK TO ORDER YOUR PAYONEER CARD, YOU WILL GET $25 FREE AFTER RECEIVING YOUR FIRST $100. YOU CAN USE PRIVATE LOADS INSTANTLY WITH THIS PAYONEER CARD, UNLIKE ANY OTHER PAYONEER CARD

EZ Rupee Online Facebook Page Up

Hey guys,

Our Facebook page is up and running! Make sure you like it to receive updates about the latest posts as well as to be a part of a conversation with other people in your fields.

The page can be found here.

Happy freelancing!

Best Freelancing Websites for Pakistanis - PART 2 - oDesk

Hi all,

While there are a lot of reviews comparing various freelancing websites, few do it from the perspective of a Pakistani. I have taken the time out to do a little bit of research to identify which website is most suitable for us, in terms of cost and payment methods.

There are a number of freelancing websites out there that allow Pakistani workers to work on projects and then get paid on them. However, a lot of Pakistanis have problems receiving payments from abroad because we cannot have a Paypal account in Pakistan and relying on the postal system to receive checks via snail mail is not a preferred option.

This series will talk about the pros and cons of the major online freelancing marketplaces from our perspective. The next website we will be looking at is: 

 

ODESK

oDesk is amongst the leading online freelancing marketplaces on the internet today. It boasts hosting the more online work than anywhere else on the web, with over 1 million jobs posted and contractors earning more than $220 million in 2011 alone. 

 

oDesk is completely free to join, and it is free to apply for projects as well. However, oDesk users must go through several stages of verification before they can post unlimited bids at one time. New users who do not take any verification tests can only send out two job applications at a time. 

 

oDesk takes its Pakistani community very seriously. They have several payment options that are well suited to Pakistanis. Besides this, they have a dedicated sub-forum for Pakistani employers and contractors to discuss their issues and exchange ideas. 

There are a number of payment methods for Pakistani contractors.

 

 

Wire Transfer (PKR) is a relatively new payment method introduced by oDesk. It is a direct bank transfer from oDesk to your local PKR bank account in Pakistan. At the moment, only 11 banks are eligible for this transfer. According to the oDesk website, these include: 

• Habib Bank Ltd.
• National Bank of Pakistan
• United Bank Ltd.
• MCB Bank Ltd.
• Allied Bank Ltd.
• Bank al Falah Ltd.
• Habib Metropolitan Bank Ltd.
• Bank of Punjab Ltd.
• KASB Bank Ltd.
• JS bank Ltd.
• Dubai Islamic Bank Ltd.

oDesk charges a flat rate of $4.99 per withdrawal, and they offer the first Wire Transfer to Pakistanis for free. The exchange rates they offer are also competitive, and local bank charges are minimized because all transactions are occurring in PKR. The exact time it takes for the wire transfer to be completed is uncertain, but many people believe time maximum time a transfer can take is approximately ten business days.

Payoneer is reliable and quick but it can end up being quite expensive. They issue a prepaid MasterCard debit card to people who can then use it to make electronic purchases at any place that accepts MasterCard, or withdraw it at ATM machines which accept MasterCard (in Pakistan, these include Standard Chartered Bank, Faysal Bank* and Muslim Commercial Bank).
Payoneer charges $24.99 as a one time activation fee that Pakistanis must pay, as opposed to a $9.99 fee for some other countries.

 

Source: www.payoneer.com

 

oDesk charges $2.00 for each payment you make to your Payoneer card, and Payoneer charges $2 to load it ($5 if you want to load it instantly). Otherwise it can take a few business days. Payoneer also has a monthly fee of $3 ($1 if you have more than three transactions, either through ATM or purchasing from shops etc in the previous month) but this is not deducted from your account if you do not have sufficient money there during the course of the month; i.e. your Payoneer account can never become negative. Besides this, there is a $2.15 fee for each ATM withdrawal you make. To top it all off, you get a poor exchange rate in Pakistan. The exchange rate is Rs.90/$ but our banks only give Rs. 87/$. This amount can build up if you are withdrawing a lot of money.

Skrill, more commonly known as Moneybookers, transfers money to your Skrill account for $1.00, whereas Skrill charges EUR1.80 per withdrawal. Moreover, a rate of 1.99% has been applied for currency converssion by Skrill.

Moneybookers had a fantastic reputation amongst Pakistani contractors until recently, when there were widespread complaints of additional fees, delays and missing money with their services over the past couple of months. Skrill has undergone several internal changes, which have reduced its credibility in the eyes of many Pakistani contractors. 

*only those branches of Faysal Bank that were once owned by Royal Bank of Scotland accept MasterCard. Look for the MasterCard logo on the machine. DO NOT insert your card in machine that does not accept MasterCard

Best Freelancing Websites for Pakistanis - PART 1 - VWORKER

Hi all,

While there are a lot of reviews comparing various freelancing websites, few do it from the perspective of a Pakistani. I have taken the time out to do a little bit of research to identify which website is most suitable for us, in terms of cost and payment methods.

There are a number of freelancing websites out there that allow Pakistani workers to work on projects and then get paid on them. However, a lot of Pakistanis have problems receiving payments from abroad because we cannot have a Paypal account in Pakistan and relying on the postal system to receive checks via snail mail is not a preferred option.

This series will talk about the pros and cons of the major online freelancing marketplaces from our perspective. We will start with:



VWORKER

Previously known as Rent-a-Coder, Vworker is one of the fastest growing online freelancing marketplaces out there. This website is free to sign up for, and you can place as many bids as you want. They have a lot of fantastic employers, many of whom are also Pakistani.

The interface is simple and easy to use, and the number of features is impressive. There are a number of types of projects you can bid on, ranging from outsourcing, to crowd-sourcing, to trial-sourcing.

The payment methods open to Pakistanis are quite limited.


Western Union is very expensive - Vworker takes $10 to process international payments and Western Union then deducts a whopping 15% as fees! To sum it up, if you earn $110 on a job, you pay $10 to Vworker when you are withdrawing the money, and then $15 to Western Union. You will be left with only $90.

 However, Western Union has certain advantages, particularly for Pakistanis. We get a good exchange rate at Western Union offices. Moreover, there are hundreds of Western Union branches all over the country and you merely have to give them a copy of your CNIC card as well as your payment number (which Vworker issues) and you get the cash in PKR.


Snail Mail Check is very unreliable. The Vworker website reads:

 (This method is NOT recommended to workers in Pakistan or minor Indian cities, as the mail system tends to be less reliable in these cases.)

 Vworker charges $10 to send a check through snail mail. I believe local banks also charge a significant fee to deposit a foreign currency check into a PKR bank account, although I cannot verify this as I have never received my payments using this method.


Payoneer is reliable and quick but it can end up being quite expensive. They issue a prepaid MasterCard debit card to people who can then use it to make electronic purchases at any place that accepts MasterCard, or withdraw it at ATM machines which accept MasterCard (in Pakistan, these include Standard Chartered Bank, Faysal Bank* and Muslim Commercial Bank).
Payoneer charges $24.99 as a one time activation fee that Pakistanis must pay, as opposed to a $9.99 fee for some other countries.The Vworker site reads:

Warning: To prevent identity theft, money laundering and terrorist financing, government regulations require Payoneer to perform additional due diligence on customers in certain countries. This process (enhanced KYC) requires a scanned copy of your ID and an additional activation fee of $24.95. Enhanced KYC is required in Angola, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Sao Tome and Principe, Turkmenistan, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Côte D’Ivoire, Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia, Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.

Source: www.payoneer.com

 Vworker charges $5.00 for each payment you make to your Payoneer card, and Payoneer charges $2 to load it ($5 if you want to load it instantly. Otherwise it can take a few business days). Payoneer also has a monthly fee of $3 ($1 if you have more than three transactions, either through ATM or purchasing from shops etc in the previous month) but this is not deducted from your account if you do not have sufficient money there during the course of the month; i.e. your Payoneer account can never become negative. Besides this, there is a $2.15 fee for each ATM withdrawal you make. To top it all off, you get a poor exchange rate in Pakistan. The exchange rate is Rs.90/$ but our banks only give Rs. 87/$. This amount can build up if you are withdrawing a lot of money.

While the fees may sound like a lot, Payoneer is not only quick but reliable. I have been using them for a long period of time now and I have never had any issues with them.

Payoneer also offers another option to workers on Vworker. Their international bank transfer service can transfer money to most banks in Pakistan. The base fee for this in Pakistan is $14.95 ($5 Vworker fee + $9.95  Payoneer fee). Along with this, you are charged for currency conversation by Payoneer if your bank account is not in USD.


Skrill, more commonly known as Moneybookers, is the latest addition by Vworker on the special request of various Pakistani contractors. Vworker transfers money to your Skrill account for $2.00, whereas Skrill charges EUR1.80 per withdrawal. Moreover, a rate of 1.99% has been applied for currency converssion by Skrill.

Moneybookers had a fantastic reputation amongst Pakistani contractors until, coincidentally, Vworker began offering their withdrawal services. There have been complaints of additional fees, delays and missing money with their services over the past couple of months.


*only those branches of Faysal Bank that were once owned by Royal Bank of Scotland accept MasterCard. Look for the MasterCard logo on the machine. DO NOT insert your card in machine that does not accept MasterCard

Welcome to EZ Rupee Online!

Hi all,

Welcome to EZ Rupee Online, a blog dedicated to people who want to make a part time or a full time living on the internet. While there is no shortage of resources available on the internet for people who want to learn how to start earning money on the internet, there is a massive amount of information that remains unverified or even downright untrue.

Here at EZ Rupee Online, I am going to do my best to get as many of you into the great world of online freelancing as possible. While this blog aims to serve as a resource to primarily Pakistanis, people from other countries are also welcome to ask general questions and join the conversation.

I have been working as an online freelancer for a year now part time. While I am a full time student, the extra income I have earned over the past few years services has helped me out tremendously, at a time when our economy has not been producing too many jobs.

I only talk about PROVEN ways to make money. There are a lot of scams out there, and I know a lot of people who have been victims of them.

If you ever have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. I will do my utmost to get back to you as quickly as possible.