Find U.S.A. Based Internet Freelancers

Buzz Words:

You'll need to speak a little "techy" in order to hire the right consultant for your job. Here are some quick definitions of the most common web technologies being used today:

Apache - the web's leading web server - it serves out your web pages (unless you are hosted on Windows).
DNS - Domain Name Services, this system maps human readable names to IP addresses, which allow data to be routed properly.
AJAX - a method of programming javascript which allows interaction with a web server without refreshing the browser screen.
PHP - a popular scripting language for writing web applications.
ASP - a Microsoft Windows based scripting language for web applications.
Perl - an older, but still versatile programming language for web applications.
Mysql - a popular database platform for web applications.
Javascript - a client side scripting language
HTML/CSS - the markup language which allows web pages to be rendered using layout and graphics. A designer would use this primarily.
Flash - software that allows the development and viewing of animation, movies, and interactive applications.

Do you need work done on your website? Do you have a big programming project or redesign looming, and you need to find the right freelancer for the job? This site aims to give you a quick primer on how to find and hire the right programmer for a successful project.

Why hire a U.S. based Freelancer? It's tempting - hire an overseas team of developers, for $15 / hour, or lower! What a bargain, right? Not exactly. There are barriers to overcome: language (and accents), (mis) communication, timezone differences, and quality.

Do your homework Here are some things to do before you hire someone.

Write detailed requirements - determine what you want to accomplish, listing any example websites, features, etc. that you need.
Develop a rough budget and timeframe. Try to avoid asking for things "ASAP" - this usually results in rushed and sloppy work.
Ask friends / colleagues for references.

Find the right Freelancer

Post on a freelancer website - this will get you immediate and (usually) reasonable responses.
Ask for references from friends / coworkers
Craigslist.com - it's a good place to post for local talent. Under "gigs" there is a computer/technical section.
Search the net - this is useful especially if you are looking for someone local to you - put your town name or region name into the search terms
Chamber of commerce sites - these often contain lists of members, grouped by category.

Freelancer Sites: Here are the most popular sites for hiring a freelancer. In general, you sign up as an "Employer", then post your job. In a short period of time, professionals will respond with quotes, and you select the winner for your job. You can usually specify if you'd like to limit your search to US based freelancers as well.