The following announcement was written by IRBO, Inc.:
IRBO, Inc. parent company of Genealogy Freelancers.com announced today that their groundbreaking service that connects experts in the field of genealogy to those seeking their family history has begun the final stage to their successful pilot program initiated in May of 2008. The announcement follows the company’s yearlong quest for qualified international ancestry specialists and the launch of their pilot site in September 2008. The final phase has been based on the success of the program and the readiness of the site. “We’ve spent the last year networking with professionals who have a passion for genealogy and the qualifications that bring security to the seeker of their family history” said Jack Irwin, co-founder of Genealogy Freelancers. “It’s been a monumental task, because we not only recruited through the US, but internationally as well. We have a huge pool of experts now and it’s growing daily. Everyone is really excited to move forward”.
The service provides a platform for professional genealogist freelancers and other family history experts to make offers on ancestry projects that are posted to the site in categories such as archive/genealogy research, document translations, village photography, calligraphy, pedigrees to name a few. “It’s a simple premise,” said Elaine Bostwick, spokesperson for the company; “The freelance specialist will be notified of any project in their particular specialty or location and then the seeker can choose which specialist they feel is best suited for the task.” Although the site was first launched as a pilot program for the specialist it is already catching on with the consumer. “The service is really unique and timely so we weren’t too surprised that we would get postings before our public launch, but it’s been wonderful to hear the excitement from our members” added Ms. Bostwick. “It reaffirms that our idea is welcome and that it has a place in the genealogy community”.
The company stresses their commitment to customer service. Jack Irwin adds, “We are so proud of this service and prouder still that we’re the originators of the concept. There’s an obligation that comes with being the pioneer of any new business. If you believe in it and if you treat those that have faith in your service with equal respect then you’re on the right track; that’s why our customer service is and will remain top priority.
Key Features
- International memberships
- Flexible project control for the Specialist
- Multiple payment methods
- Escrow option – providing security for the Customer and the Specialist
- Fair and reasonable commission rates
- Personalized customer service
- Verification of members who have credentials and/or association memberships
- Mentor Program
- In-house Affiliate Program
The founders of Genealogy Freelancers have a professional background in the field of genealogy and understand the needs of both the client and the professional. “We came together on this idea, because we have an insight to both sides; we know what they need and we have their interests at heart”.
Elaine Bostwick - COO
Irbo Inc.
231-420-0545
www.genealogyfreelancers.com
Freelancers has a huge drawback. Professional, and not so professional genealogists are trying to outbid each other. Most people seeking a genealogist do not understand that most research projects are not easy. Most clients believe that the cheapest is the best. This means that the client normally takes the lowest bid. This creates the following problem. The researcher has bid low and this means the researcher is not going to spend the quality time needed to have an accurate conclusion or a reasonable chance of finding the information requested.
This is having a huge detrimental effect on the quality of research.
If Freelancers doesn't believe this, why don't they have a section for comments on their website? Not a comment for individual researchers, but a general comment site about how well clients rate Freelancers?
Freelancers has been around for about a year and has no more than ten clients at once. This really says it all.
Posted by: Jeff Davis | May 16, 2009 at 11:38 AM
As stated in our press release, the site has been in the pilot stage for the past year while we have been networking with the specialists. The fact that projects have been posted during this time has been a reassurance that the interest is viable. The bids are private so there is no possibility of out-bidding the other based on cost and it might surprise many that the customer is much more savvy than one might think in that they are not so easily swayed by cost. They ask many questions and consider the details of the offers made. Our statistics clearly establish job owners are most concerned with what can be done and in experience that a specialist may have in a particular area rather than how cheaply the project can be managed. Also of major importance is establishing a relationship before determining who the best fit is for their individual project. This is done by communication via our site. The value of timeframe and cost, according to our site statistics hold slightly less value. It's an important decision to make and they take it seriously.
The variation in offers comes mainly from travel needs. If the specialist lives near to a research facility then the cost will of course, be lower than that of a specialist who must travel to perform the same task and there are also variations to the hourly fees of each specialist based on their individual requirements that vary from country to country.
We ask each signup for any comment. It is extremely important to us to make this service one that includes the needs of both the client and the specialist. We have listened to and implemented many facets to the site during the pilot stage based on our member’s suggestions and they have been a tremendous help to us. The invitation to contact us directly has been extended to everyone and not one has been, or ever will be ignored. We absolutely welcome any comment since we believe that it can only benefit the service. If there are negatives to the site it would only behoove us to eliminate them as there can be no growth in it. We look to our members to help us and greatly appreciate their excitement and support.
Posted by: Elaine Bostwick | May 17, 2009 at 02:19 PM
The notion that there will be substandard work based on cost isn't a fair comment. I have been working in this field for too many years to mention and I know for a fact that my rates are either lower or higher than other professionals in consideration of a multitude of variables. Most often I can adjust my costs based in part on the reasons mentioned in the response by freelancers and when they are lower, you can rest assured that the reports submitted will not be of any less quality than those charged at the higher rate. There are also times when I'll quote in stages in order to assure that we can proceed further once one phase is complete. My clients are much less concerned with my quotes as they are in the, what, where and how of my methods.
I haven't tried this company as of yet and don't know if I will, but I personally know a few who say that they're quite pleased with the service and I know for certain that they do not perform or submit substandard research.
Posted by: Cheryl Franklin | May 17, 2009 at 08:25 PM