Project descriptions are pretty straightforward, and if you follow what’s been written on these pages before, it’s going to be hard to mess up. But there have been cases where a project description bombs so badly, that it fails to attract anybody at all – which we obviously want to avoid.
Your first instinct is to ask, “Is it me? It is my company?!?!” Maybe. Or it could just be your project description.
Below are a few things that you should absolutely avoid writing in your project or job posting descriptions.
“This is an easy job for anyone who knows what they’re doing.”
Years ago, an enterprising guru claimed that the best way to get prime talent was to say “This is an easy job for anyone who knows what they’re doing.” The idea was to ward off newbies who would take twice as long on the job, and to tell the more experienced freelancers that the task was easy, and therefore should not cost as much.
It’s poetic, concise, but it also backfired. Seasoned or new, no freelancing virtual employees will ever admit to not knowing what they are doing. It’s just a fact: some freelancers will lie through their teeth, which is why it’s crucial that you do an interview.
At the same time, this isn’t the best way to shave off a few bucks. “Easy” means anyone with fingers and a keyboard can do it half-drunk with their eyes closed. Proficiency means you’ve gotten more efficient due to experience, and experience costs money.
Never mind that you have a legitimate project, tacking these words onto the description immediately puts freelancers on the defensive. So unless your project is too good to pass up, it’s unlikely they’ll bid if they’re already in a bad mood.
“I want the highest quality for the lowest price.”
Everyone wants the best bang for their buck, Filipino VA’s, too. That’s why you have to be careful with how you word your project or job posting description. Seasoned freelancers, especially Filipinos, have been around the bidding sites long enough that they avoid red flags. These words are a red flag.
You want your job posting descriptions to be read by a full spectrum of talent, even the ones you might not be able to afford. If the job is interesting enough, there might be a possibility for you to negotiate their rates. But that won’t happen when you’ve already pegged yourself as a low-baller. Filipinos call this being “kuripot” and doesn’t impress them – especially when coming from a foreign boss!
“I can guarantee ongoing work, so give me your cheapest rate.”
Again, pay attention to the operative word here, cheapest. Not best price, or even the most competitive rate.
Nobody wants to work for a cheap employer; it is hard for them to appreciate anything. Not the work you do, or the value you add on to the company. If your project description looks like it’s advertising an opening for a sweatshop, it’s unlikely that you’ll convince anyone to be enthusiastic in working with you. The aim of a good job description isn’t just to tell them what you want, but to convince the best freelancers why they should want to work for you.
Grammatical errors.
This is an actual project description found on one of the projects posting sites: “I’m an associate in a firm looking to higher someone to expand our recruitment team.” It’s obviously not a typo.
Not everyone is an English major, that’s why you hire editors and proofreaders. But misspelling words and technical terms you regularly use in your businesses can reflect badly on your company. This lack of attention to detail means that you can’t spot quality work, and aren’t likely to pay for it either. To ensure that everything is okay, write a draft or a project description sample first.
If English is not your first language, then say so. The advantage of working with Filipino VAs is that they are used to working with people who don’t primarily speak English. Being honest will help you attract the right VA with the proper skills sets in dealing with your needs.
