We did same other day for a website project for a Pastor. The effort took me 2 hours total and we received 15 designs to choose from. It was also impressive to our client, when we show up with 15 custom designs to allow him to choose between. I bid this same job locally for reference and receive 5 quotes between $1500-$4000. No upfront designs and an hour spent on phone just getting price quotes. We ran above contest for $200. The power of internet and outsourcing this way is that it gives you power. You define project, price, when you review designs, etc. No meetings, no phone calls, and no trying to figure out which company is best. In today’s busy world just having power to do whole project on your terms and timing can be very valuable.

Another popular way to keep projects resourced is through freelance websites. Elance.com is major one, but there are a lot of others and some are specialized in certain areas. If you browse through Elance you will see projects all of different categories. Usually, when we bid a project on Elance we receive over 15 bids. In this method you pick a contractor based on their bid and reputation. You can read reviews of them, and view samples their work. The projects we have run through elance were very easy. We posted last project and reviewed/selected a contractor within 1 business day and an hour work. The project was finished to complete satisfaction within 3 days.

I find, in general, that I can complete a project through internet with same labor effort it usually takes to call around for quotes. I can also set my price. I determine upfront what it is worth to me and what budget is. In some industries, if you price a job locally prices all seem to be very similar. Sometimes competitors in an industry(especially one in need) set their price based on their competitors prices instead of actual costs plus a percentage of profit. They are inflating their prices because of a tightness in supply instead of increased overhead costs. By bidding a project on internet you set price based on what you think is reasonable.

Some will argue that reverse is true as well, that this new page is also a page that other potential customers can use to leave your website and signup with a competitor. This might occasionally be true, but for most part it will attract more customers then it loses. This page does not have to be a page easily found by visitors to your homepage.