Choosing a service provider...

While most buyers wait until their project posting expires before choosing a service provider, this is not entirely necessary. Providing that a service provider has placed a bid on your project, you can choose a service provider at any time.

You are essentially choosing a bid, not a service provider. Since a service provider may have placed multiple bids on your project in order to out bid competitors.

1.) Login to your account management area.

2.) Expand the buyer panel by clicking on the menu option titled buyer  panel.

3.) You should now be at the My Posted Projects sub-menu and have your open projects, if any exist, in view.

4.) If the project is an open project then click on the project title. If the project is already closed then you must first click on the Closed Projects tab and then click on the project title.

5.) You should now be viewing your project in a view which we refer to as the buyer's view since only a buyer can view his\her own projects in this particular view. This view provides you with a number of different project management options, including the ability to choose a service provider.

6.) Your next step is to carefully review each bid by evaluating the bid amount, the service provider's portfolio, references, license information, if any exists, and finally, the service provider's feedback.

7.) Once you have found a bid of your choice just click on the blue button titled "Choose Bid" which is found in the far right hand column of that particular bid's description.

It's that easy! Just remember, you're essentially choosing a bid, not a service provider. Reason being is that a service provider may have more than one bid on your project to out bid competitors.