"Qualify as a Trusted Member" what does this mean and can I delay it?
Hi all,
Something I'm fairly concerned with at PPH. Have made the step from doing more back end programming of large websites to doing front end work and building lots of small websites, and PPH is ideal for finding this kind of work.
I submitted my application (which was accepted) two months ago with the intention of getting a few endorsements (which I've done) improving my profile and, most importantly, BUILDING UP A PORTFOLIO!
I'm still in the process of finishing off a few sites for family and friends as I can't start bidding for websites until I can show I've already built websites!
But this is showing on my dashboard
"To qualify as a trusted member of our community you need to make just 2 sales receiving an average 4+ rating until 07 May 2015."
That's like less than 2 months away!
Firstly, 90 days is a minimum to get a website spec'd, designed, and filled with content from the client. So even if I was accepted for some bids now, in reality it can easily take 6 months, so
- What happens if I don't achieve this? Am I expelled from PPH and lose my endorsements and profile?
Thanks all
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Have a trawl through the other posts on here, this has been discussed. There's a thread called 'Want another chance with James', unless they've censored it.
I believe what will happen is, PPH will give you the option of paying them a fee in order to remain a member for a while longer, or being blocked from making proposals.
The logic seems to be that they 'only want good sellers on here', and if you have made 2 sales that in itself somehow proves you are a good seller, also if you pay them money that also somehow proves you are a good seller. Go figure.
But they make up new rules so frequently on here, and they never announce or explain the changes, so this info might be out of date by now.
What it really comes down to is that if you're not putting money through the books so that PPH can take commission, or alternatively paying money just so's you can bid, you're no use to PPH. If you really want to stay onboard, do a couple of jobs for a fiver each, that will be enough to tick the boxes. You don't have to bust a gut for £5 and don't worry about the rating, usually everybody gives everybody 5 stars.
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Hey Pie, Thanks for the reply!
I thought something similar myself. Like there was no warning beforehand "only sign up when you're ready".
What other options do I have? I was thinking of getting people outside of PPH to pay me for some small jobs (like SEO or slight changes) through PPH and then give me a rating. Does that also work as well?
PPH does sound very mysterious but then all the other freelance sites have similar ratings and reviews. I wouldn't want to rely on a site like this for all my income but for doing some jobs it could be really useful!
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I think that's what most people do. Better still, find someone else who wants to work on PPH, and do each other a mutual favour. The trouble is if you bring a genuine respected client in, as soon as PPH gets hold of their email address they'll be bombarded with spam and they won't thank you for it. A lot of members have been embarrassed about this issue, and sometimes even quite distraught because it's riled their client so much that they're afraid it's permanently damaged the relationship. It's the same when you get people to endorse you of course - that's why PPH wants you to get lots of endorsements, even if they're from your mum and your mates and people who have no idea how good your work is, because every person that endorses you automatically gets a PPH account and starts getting spammed.
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Cheers Pie, I thought as much. Yes well the two people I've got to recommend me both I've worked for and done work for but our relationship isn't that professional so I'm not too worried. Other people I'm thinking of asking to pay through PPH for their ratings I would class as mates.
Otherwise yeah, I'd shudder at the thought of having a daily email from the "PPH Ninjas" arriving in their inbox with absolute rock bottom prices.
I'm not that sure what their business plan is to be honest, the feedback for these kinds of sites is really bad (get what you pay for kind of thing)and then when PPH start offering their own Wordpress maintenance services for $50 a year - surely their main business is being a market place for web development?
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90 days is a minimum to get a website spec'd, designed, and filled with content from the client.
I think that you'll find differently.
The buyers on PPH vary enormously as do the budgets they have. Web development competition is intense.
You're quite right - not content to levy commission from sellers, PPH also competes directly with them.
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Hi Paul, thanks for the comments.
Yes I'm realising now that it's possible to do for jobs on PPH much quicker than that. It's quite different to referrals and recommendations in that a lot of people on here already have everything planned out and ready to start!
Do you (or anyone?) have any idea how much they'll charge? I suppose I'll find out soon! It's all very smoke and mirrors but then PPH seems less chaotic than the other freelance sites out there.
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Ah OK. Like I can see why they do most of what they do. The internet is full of spam and failed promises so they need to be somewhat aggressive in their strategy
(Although that doesn't really explain why they themselves would start offering Wordpress services - stealing your client's clients normally being bad for business)
Well I can update this thread with what they say to me! The competition looks pretty serious and I feel like there's more sellers than buyers (thus them not caring too much about losing sellers but wanting new buyers at all costs) but I've already had one reply from three emails I've sent out.
(My business plan by the way being I'm a developer from the UK but I've relocated to Peru where I'm charging half the salary - so I'm hoping that I have somewhat of a USP that'll make PPH work for me)
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explain why they themselves would start offering Wordpress services - stealing your client's clients normally being bad for business
I agree. PPH say that they source the people to fulfill these services from PPH sellers, so they aren't competing.
I think we all know that PPH are competing by offering this service and removing the choice of seller from the buyer to PPH themselves. They also undercut the rates of competing sellers.
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Cheers David, that might be an idea! I'm thinking of getting my mates (who i'm doing small and cheap bits of web work for) to pay me for bits of work through PPH. But I didn't actually think of just paying myself to save the fee!
For what it's worth, I got an email from PPH offering another chance after I ran out of my 3 months. They're charging £9.95/month per month for another 3 month chance.
The good thing is that they haven't said when this will have to start and, PPH being PPH, I'm sure they'll be sending me lots more emails about this. If I can activate this extra 3 months in another 3 months or so that would be great
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