Freelancing hints ( My Own Experience)

SA,

I think i have some good experience in this field.
I am used several websites for freelancing but the best one i worked on was : www.getafreelancer.com
The procedure is too similar to what Omar said. but with more clarifications:
1- There are 2 types of users on freelancing sites: Service Buyer and Service Provider
2- Service Buyer is the one who want to do SOMETHING
3- Service Provider is the one who can do this SOMETHING ( This is you )
4- Mainly most of the projects is web-based projects ( PHP mostly, ASP.NET a little) but there are other types as well ( Java is mostly in desktop applications, .NET, C++) also there are Photoshop, Logo design, and MATLAB....etc
5- the project lifecycle is too easy
   a. Service Buyer put the project with description and range of budget and required experience
   b. Service Provider(s) submits their (bids) on the project
         1. Bid is your offer for this project (Price, Period, Proposal  or 3P). this is like " I can do this project for $50 within 4 days and here are the proofs that i can do this"
         2. you can use 3 types of proofs of experience
              a. Previous Projects you made outside the site ( I used my Projects on the College in the beginning)
              b. Previous Projects you made on the site ( Links for websites you made before, demos for desktop applications....etc)
              c. your way of talking and submitting your proposal in a professional way ( This is really very helpful for the beginners who don't have a. or b.
   c. Service Buyer check submitted bids and choose one or more to contact using the PMB or Private Message Board. This is something like private channel between you as a service provider and the service buyer. This is used for exchange more details about the project that doesn't allowed for the public or any one who can see the project.
   d. after every thing was cleared and the service buyer choose you to do this project. He will pick you as a winner of this project then you can enter to your account and accept(or deny) to do this project.
   e. the site will send you the direct mail of the service buyer and send him the direct mail of you to facilitate communication between both of you.
   f. after you complete the project and deliver it to the buyer. he will send the money you agreed on your bid to the site. so you can transfer them to a credit card or bank account ( to be explained in details later)
   g. after the buyer send the money, Now you can post a review on this buyer so he will. a review is a small comment on this buyer and a rating of 10 (e.g." this is a great buyer" and give him 10 from 10 ). You both have to make review to each other to make the review appears. and none of you can view the review of the other side before published and can't be withdrawn in an easy way so be careful.
   h. THE END :D

6- Tips and Tricks :D
  a. Be smart in your bid ( don't make it lower than enough and higher than enough ) you can estimate the price by reviewing the other bids from other providers.
  b. Read the project description carefully. and try to discuss the uncleared points in the PMB not in public bid.
  c. you can attach your CV in the PMB without contact info ( mail,phone ....etc) to provide more credibility to your bid
  d. Check the reviews/nationality of the buyer before submitting your bid to make sure that he is not a fake
  e. Use the escrow payment if you can't trust the buyer 100% like the ones without reviews at all
          escrow payment is working as follows
           Imagine that you won a project with $50
            1. the buyer choose to make a escrow payment for the account panel and send the $50 to the site for this project
            2. the site notify you that the buyer send this $50.this money is not added to your balance yet
            3. Now the money is on the site. The buyer can't take it back and The Provider can't withdraw it yet.
            4. Only you can cancel the escrow so the buyer can take it back.
            5. Only the buyer can release the escrow so you can withdraw it. (This can be done anytime ( after demo of the project or after complete delivery - you have to agree on this before working in the project)
   f. There are 3 types of projects for providers
            1. Gold Projects ( you have to be a gold member to bid on these projects)
            2. Trail Projects ( You have to be WITHOUT reviews to bid on these projects ) (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for beginners )
           3. Not Gold and Not Trail Projects ( any one can bid on these projects)

7- Payment
   1- There are several types of payment methods on GAF
          1- PayPal ( Not supported in egypt ) :D
          2- Money Bookers ( this is an external site which you can link an existing bank account or credit card to it. and withdraw using any of them.
          3- GAF credit card ( My Fav. One ) this is a master card which you can make through a online bank called Payoneer. The bank will take your information then send you the credit card using the ordinary MAIL system ( Bareed ) in about 2 months max. after receiving the card you can transfer to it from GAF then withdraw from any ATM  ( Except THe National Bank ATMs - don't know why).
     there are 2 more ways but not popular as the above in egypt
    2- There are 2 types of membership
            a. Ordinary member ( free membership ) but GAF would deduct 10% from each project you WON. and give you 35 ~40 bids per month. i.e. you can bid on max of 40 projects per month ( Note: You can retract your bid before the project period is ended)
            b. gold member $12 per month with 190 bids per month. and doesn't take any percentage from the won projects.


mmmm
i think that is all what i know.
If you need more help, feel free to ask.