SetYourRate.com….Why did we create it?

The many benefits of the internet for both individuals and businesses are well-documented. I’m sure we will continue to see fantastic new online innovations in the coming weeks and months.

The pace of change is truly breakneck and I believe this is leading to a fundamental shift in the traditional relationship between the employee and employer. Firstly, for the employer the combination of advancing technologies and globalisation have led to a flood of new companies competing for the same customers in the UK. The web now offers consumers more information and a greater choice of companies than ever before. This has resulted in businesses growing and declining at unprecedented rates (just look at the contrasting fortunes of Google and EMI over the last few years). On the flipside, employees have found that their employers can no longer offer job security as they once did. However, I believe the internet can be used by individuals to provide both additional financial security and new career opportunities. That is why we created SetYourRate.com.

Speaking to our families and friends really vindicated the thinking behind SetYourRate.com. As you would expect, most of them had full-time jobs but perhaps surprisingly, it became apparent that many of them would offer their services and skills in their ‘free’ time for the right price. In addition of course, there were students and retired relatives who, as we expected, were enthusiastic about the chance of earning income on their terms. We’ve listed some examples below which should make things more tangible:

Who: Father

Experience: Retired accountant

Service: Advises small businesses and start ups.

Who: Sister

Experience: Maths degree

Service: G.C.S.E. maths tutor

Who: Friend

Experience: Computing

Service: Home PC support

This basic research confirmed the validity of our idea. In August 2007, we went about creating what is known today as SetYourRate.com.

The site has been built to provide web space for individuals and small businesses to post their profiles and service offerings directly to the public. Crucially, SetYourRate.com allows and encourages not only your typical freelancer but also the millions of people in the UK that can provide services but have never done so.

After encouraging signals that people would use SetYourRate.com to post their services the second equally important question was whether there was actually a market of buyers prepared use these ‘new’ service providers.  So once more we asked friends and family but this time we asked businesses as well. It quickly became clear that there was a huge demand for services. Some peoples’ service needs were relatively straightforward. Others were more passive desires, frustrations and problems which could be easily solved by the right person.

Furthermore, since SetYourRate.com’s target demographic is so broad and untapped, it would quickly be able to offer buyers looking for a service a centralised selection of unique providers with useful, user-generated content about each to compare.

Some examples of services searched:

·         Configuring a wireless network for a flat.

·         Training in being a manager.

·         Learning how to make an authentic curry.

·         Learning Spanish in the evenings.

·         Personal trainer in Islington.

·         New website for a jewellery maker.

·         Dog walker during the weekdays.

·         Google AdWords expert needed for a small business.

The requests for services just kept pouring in. Indeed, when we started SetYourRate.com we ourselves needed a variety of different service providers – a web designer, accountant and copywriter to name a few examples. We didn’t want use big companies for these needs, we wanted more personal dealings with people that cared and were flexible in their approach. We struggled to find people.

By this point we were pretty exited – and intuition had been backed up by our research as well as our own experiences. We were now convinced that we had stumbled upon a great idea.

Luke Aviet

Managing Director

E: Luke.Aviet@SetYourRate.com

T: 0207-491-9875

New features released Monday 14th January

What’s New?

Since launching the beta SetYourRate.com site back in November we continue to receive hundreds of new feature requests and suggestions for improving the experience and usefulness of the site – thank you again for taking the time to send your suggestions! Today we released several of the most common requests we received:  

NEW Price on Application Pricing option for Service Profiles 

Service providers can now set the rate for your service profile as “Price on Application”. Previously you were restricted to “Hourly Rate” and “Fixed Rate” only. 

This means service providers who offer a customised service based on unique customer requirements, such as website design or wedding photography, now benefit from the extra clarity in their pricing for potential customers. 

Service providers can update existing profiles to “Price On Application” or the other available rate options via the “Edit Profile” screen which is accessed via “My Profile” from the main menu. Please note you need to be a registered user and logged in to access this feature.  

NEW Manage Images on Service Profiles: 

Service providers can now add, remove and edit the image for your service profiles.

This feature was requested to enable service providers to upload a photo, or image of your product and service at anytime. You can manage your service profile images via the “Edit Profile” screen which is accessed via “My Profile” from the main menu. Please note you need to be a registered user and logged in to access this feature.  

NEW Manage Keywords for Service Profiles 

Service providers can now add, remove and edit the keywords used to trigger service profiles in the search results. The keywords service providers enter support the search algorithm in presenting relevant service profiles to searches on the site, meaning better targeting for service providers as well. 

Service providers can manage their service profile keywords via the “Edit Profile” screen which is accessed via “My Profile” from the main menu. Please note you need to be a registered user and logged in to access this feature.  

NEW Subtitle for Service Profiles 

Service providers can now include a subtitle for their service profile, the subtitle is also displayed in the search results bringing more service information, benefits and relevancy to users. 

Service providers can add, remove or edit subtitles via the “Edit Profile” screen which is accessed via “My Profile” from the main menu. Please note you need to be a registered user and logged in to access this feature. 

NEW Manage your Account Image 

All registered users can now add, remove and edit the image used for their account. Your account image is used if you write a review for a service provider or request a service. 

Add, remove or edit your account image via the “My Details” screen which is accessed via “My Profile” from the main menu. Please note you need to be a registered user and logged in to access this feature. 

NEW Service Profile images displayed in search results and directory 

Service providers now receive further benefit from their service profile image as they will be displayed in search results and the general directory listings creating further appeal and relevancy for users.  

Other features requested will be shortly announced in a separate post. Please get in touch with any suggestions you have for SetYourRate.com.

Ash Rees

Operations Director

E: ash.rees@setyourrate.com

T: 0207-491-9875