2018-2021 Smartsociates
Smartsociates is a community of freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses ready to support clients deliver projects.
Almost every professional and business activity can be carried out online. Thanks to technology our workplaces and learning environment can be replicated online seamlessly. Provide details of your work requirement and you will be surprised how Freelancers can help to deliver your projects faster, better and affordably.
You can contract a Services Provider (Freelancers and Contractors) for your project on Smartsociates by either direct enquiry or posting a project.
- Basic Profile: Update Basic Profile and attach profile picture. For Company account users your profile picture could be the company logo or brand picture.
- Edit Buyer Details: If you are a Client using Smartsociates to purchase services, then update your Buyer profile with just a basic summary. Your Buyer profile will not appear on any listing but will only be seen by Freelancers that you are purchasing services from. However you need to uncheck the work option on your basic profile details.
- Edit Seller Details: Freelancers, Entrepreneurs and SME service providers are required to update Seller profiles and include a profile summary. Seller profiles will be viewed on the profile listing pages. All seller activities are checked by default. Uncheck activities that do not apply so your profile is listed on the right page. Complete all fields as required to increase your chances of being contacted by Clients.
- Edit Company Details: For Company Users, a basis company summary is required giving an overview of Company Products and Services as well as case studies.
- Click on the Hire link to start browsing and to contact Freelancers and Contractors.
- Use our search filters to refine your search and improve your profile listing.
- Review Freelancers, profiles and contact suitable candidates directly to discuss your requirements and request a quotation directly from the freelancer.
- Your discussion should mostly cover work description, cost, delivery timescales, number of revisions and comments, specific terms and conditions, payment Workpacks for fixed price jobs and weekly or monthly payment for hourly or rolling contracts.
- Click on the Hire link to start browsing and to contact Freelancers and Start-up businesses.
- Follow instruction to complete the project posting form.
- Once the form is complete, submit the project and it will be available on listings for Freelancers and Companies to search for and to express interest.
- Pre-qualify Freelancers and Companies that have expressed interest before they raise a formal quotation.
- Use the Smartsociates pre-qualification tool to select and deselect Freelancers who have expressed interest.
- Once you have pre-qualified a number of Freelancers, they will have a chance to bid for the job formally by creating and submitting a quotation for you to review.
- Review quotations and clarify your requirements with the Service Provider using our messaging and communication tool.
- Your discussion should mostly cover work description, cost, delivery timescales, number of revisions and comments, specific terms and conditions, payment milestone for fixed price jobs and weekly or monthly payment for hourly or rolling contracts.
- A workpack is a billable quantity of Work.
- Each Quotation should have a minimum of one Workpack.
- Projects with a larger scope, can be broken down into Workpacks, which are smaller units of work that are paid as each task within the project is completed.
For Fixed Price and long duration work, clients can agree with the Freelancer or Service Provider to split the project into multiple Workpacks to match your milestone payment schedule. Sales orders and invoices will be generated for the Workpacks as agreed by both parties.
For Hourly or Rolling contracts clients can agree with the Freelancer or Service Provider to split the project into multiple Workpacks, these workpacks may cover a period of time i.e. one weeks or a months wage. Sales orders and invoices will be generated for the Workpacks as agreed by both parties.
- Once all requirements are clear to the Freelancer, the buyer can place an order.
- At the order point the buyer needs to provide payment details via PayPal
- Work commences once order is complete.
- The Freelancer will send electronic deliverables or output for review and comments.
- Review outputs and send comments within the agreed timescale to ensure a smooth workflow.
- Any changes that are identified to be out of the scope of an existing order will need to be discussed and agreed by both parties.
- An additional Workpack can be created to cover the changes.
- Freelancer will use the “Deliver Order” tool in the order page to submit output.
- Once all parties are happy with the output. Click on “Accept Work” button at the bottom of the quotation page.
Invoice will automatically be generated and payment will be released to Seller’s wallet.
Smartsociates Learning Providers Portal is a complete marketplace for where Clients can outsource training requirements for Freelance Trainers, Coaches and Training Providers to support them with their training needs.
Clients can achieve this either by searching for providers and contacting via the portal or by posting a training requests in order to receive bids from freelancers and training providers.
One to One Learning activities are also supported within Smartsociates. Members of the community can interact in different ways:
- Classroom Follow On – Get an extra session from your Course Facilitator, Lecturer or Trainer out of the classroom to close your learning gaps following a classroom session.
- Expert Coaching – Connect with an expert to be mentored in any area, improve work performance and excel in other subjects.
- Remote Support – Never be stuck on a task when you have a team of experts prepared to help you solve the problem – and to teach you how to solve it yourself if it arises again. Save time and money by engaging with an expert in a Teamviewer session in a wide range of fields, such as Software and Scripts Installation on cloud servers, building an engineering model using a standard software package ( AutoCAD, Aspensuite, ), or customising a CRM or ERP Package( SAP, Maximo).
- Private Coaching – Almost any skill that could be learnt remotely on a one to one basis. You just need to pick the right to support you in your Entrepreneur journey.
- For remote voice and video interaction Learners and Trainers can agree to use a preferred communication platform to hold a training session if it is most convinient e.g Skype, Webex, Net Meeting, GoTo Meeting, Team Viewer etc.
Members of community are able to access Smartsociates Pro-Shop to search and order packaged services from Training providers. This can include upcoming courses, events, online training material, coaching and mentoring session. You can buy package services via Smartsociates Pro-Shop.
- Basic Profile: Update Basic Profile and attach a profile picture. For Company account users your profile picture could the company logo or brand picture.
- Edit Buyer Details: If you are a Client using smartsociates to purchase services only, then update your Buyer profile with just a basic summary. Buyer profile will not appear on any listing and will only be seen by Freelancers that you are purchasing services from. However you need to uncheck the work option on your basic profile details.
- Edit Seller Details: Freelancers, Contractors and SME service providers are required to update Seller profiles and include a profile summary. Seller profiles will be viewed on the profile listing pages. All seller activities are checked by default. Uncheck activities that do not apply so your profile is listed on the right page. Complete all fields as required to increase your chances on being contacted by Clients.
- Click on the Learn Link to start browsing for expert skills.
- Contact them directly to discuss you Coaching or Tutoring requirements and Request a Quotation Directly from the Freelancer.
- Use our search filters to refine your search and improve your profile listing.
- Your discussion should mostly cover training outcomes, duration and hourly price.
- Click on the Learn Link and then click the post a project Training Request.
- Follow instructions to complete the project posting form.
- Once the form is complete, submit project and the project will be available on listings for Freelancers and Trainers to search and Express Interest.
- Pre-qualify Freelancers that have expressed interest before they can get a chance to raise a formal quotation.
- Use Smartsociates pre-qualification tool to select and deselect Freelancers who have expressed interest.
- Once you have pre-qualified a number of Freelancers, they will have a chance to bid for the job formally by creating and submitting quotations for you to review.
- Review quotations and clarify your requirements with Service Providers using our messaging and communication tool.
- Discuss youR requirement with the experts, agree on Learning Outline and Outcomes.
- Agree on Training session duration, delivery timescale, hourly rate and communication media (e.g Skype, Webex, GoTo Meeting).
- A workpack is a billable Quantity of Work.
- Each Quotation should have a minimum of one workpack.
- For multiple training sessions the worker or service provider can break it down into work packs and payment milestones can be agreed based on training sessions.
Most training sessions will be time based and for multiple sessions workpacks should be designed for each session to match session payment schedule. You will be able to approve invoices for corresponding workpacks in order for the Freelancer to be paid per session.
- Once all requirements are clear and you are happy to place an order, do so via the quotation the service provider sends to you and then training sessions can be arranged.
- Work commences once the order approval is complete.
- The Coach or Tutor will set up meeting times once the sales order is approved.
- Request training material if needed before the session.
- Smartsociates does not provide remote access facilities. For remote support sessions both parties need to agree on remote access tools like team viewer.
- Sessions may be ran via communication applications e.g Skype, Webex, GoTo Meeting etc.
- Complete training session and Request Certificate or Attestation of request.
- Any changes that are identified to be out of the training scope of an existing order will need to be discussed and agreed by both parties.
- An additional workpack can be created to cover for the changes.
- A new sales order will be created for the additional scope and needs to be approved before changes can be implemented.
Smartsociates payment system protects Clients who purchase services on Smartsociates by ensuring that Freelancers only receive payment after work has been carried out and all outputs have been issued as agreed.
Smartsociates Payment Flow provides flexibility for Clients to manage project risks for large projects as they can choose to split project into manageable workpacks and only approve sales order for a portion of that workpacks to start off with and then release more orders as the project progresses.
- All Smartsociate Users can Buy or Sell Services within Smartsociates with a single account
- Upon ordering a workpack or multiple workpacks the Buyer will be taken to a PayPal portal and can choose how they pay.
- PayPal allows you to pay via your bank account, card or existing PayPal ballance.
- Upon completion and acceptance of work the Freelancer will recieve payment via PayPal using the email address they registered to Smartsociates with.
Smartsociates payment system allows you to pay later, if you choose this option the freelancer will be informed of your order but directed not to begin until your paymenyt is recieved by Smartsociates.
When you select this option you will recieve an invoice which gives you your options for how to pay which includes:
- Bank Transfer
- PayPal
- Western Union
Smartsociates Innovate feature provides a set of collaborative innovation tools to help promote Entrepreneurial and enterprise activities within the Smartsociates community. Start-up Entrepreneurs, Businesses and other Organisations can get their ideas to market quicker by reaching out to like-minded individuals who are willing to support the idea by sharing or volunteering their skill through an agreed collaborative framework.
You could reach out to Graduates or young professions who are willing to volunteer their skills on a project of interest in exchange for work experience or sweet equity.
You could also reach to experienced professionals willing to volunteer their skills for good cause e.g on a charity initiative.
This is a free tool on the platform where collaborators can create team or group accounts and manage project communication within the platform.
- Click on the Innovate link and you will be directed to the Innovate page.
- Click on Post a Collaboration Project.
- Complete Project Form and Post and Post a Collaboration Project.
What projects can be done on Smartsociates?
You can complete or post a high range of projects ranging from engineering to management consultancy (see all of our categories here). These projects can be small projects starting from £5 all the way up to larger scale projects
Can I buy or provide services?
On Smartsociates we do not differentiate between our sellers and buyers so you can work on projects or/and get your projects completed by other users.
What is the payment method?
Smartsociates uses PayPal at both ends of the workflow, a Buyer pays Smartsociates via the PayPal portal when ordering a workpack. Once work is complete the seller recieves their payment via PayPal from Smartsociates.
How much does it cost to use Smartsociates?
It is free to sign-up onto the platform and get your profile displayed or to post projects, however we take a small commission from projects that are being completed on the platform.
Our fees are as follows:
2.8% when crediting your wallet
20% on payments under £100
15% on payments between £100.01 and £500
10% on payments between £500.01 and £5000
5% on payments greater than £5000
To read more about our fees please see our Terms of Use.
Are upgrades available?
We have three account upgrades available for a cost; these are Pro, Business and Enterprise. To see more visit our Upgrade page.
If you have any other queries please contact: support@smartsociates.co.uk
Almost every professional and business activity can be carried out online. Thanks to technology our workplaces and learning environment can be replicated online seamlessly.
Freelancers and Entrepreneurs can complete a project on Smartsociates from Direct Client Enquiries or by Bidding for Posted Projects.
Update your profile page on Smartsociates with your full details of education, skills and experience and your profile will be made visible to Clients. The more details you include on your profile the higher your chances of being contacted directly with project request.
Seller/Buyer Profile: If you don't want your seller profile or buyer profile visible untick the buyer or seller options in the edit profile section.
If a Client contacts a Freelancer directly with a request, use our messaging tools to communicate with the Freelancer to clarify the Client’s requirement. Confirm scope, delivery timescales, prices etc.
- Client will be able to request a quotation using the “Request Quotation” link on the Freelancer’s profile page.
- Once a Client sends a request for quotation, a new project card will appear on your dashboard.
- Use the project card on your dashboard to create a quotation and send to Client based on agreed scope.
- You can bid for posted projects.
- Click on the Work link to browse for posted projects and use filter to refine your search.
- Open project card and review Clients requirement and express interest to bid for project.
- Click on project link to view project details and click express interest if you wish to make a proposal.
- Client will be able to review your profile and you will receive a message from Client instructing you to make a proposal once you have been prequalified.
- Once you have been pre-qualified for the project, contact Client to get more clarification if required.
- Create a Quotation. If required breakdown scope into more than one work pack to suit delivery time and payment milestones.
- Issue quotation to Client to formalise your proposal and for Client to confirm.
- A workpack is a billable Quantity of Work.
- Each Quotation shall have a minimum of one workpack.
- If required breakdown scope into more than one work pack to suit delivery time and payment milestones.
- For Fixed Price and long duration work, you can agree with Client to split project scope into multiple workpacks to match your milestone payment schedule.
- You will generate sales order as agreed by both parties and issue invoices for completed workpack milestone so you can get paid while project is being progressed.
- Workpacks should match payment schedule. This could be weekly or monthly payment.
- A maximum of 12 work packs are allowed, so worker could raise a quotation with 12 equating to 12 weeks of work for weekly payment or 12 months of work for monthly payment.
- This will enable you to raise weekly or monthly invoice to get paid weekly or monthly.
- Start working on project once you have received a notification for an order.
- Issue output to Client for review and comments using the Deliver Work Tool, then update output as per client’s comments (This applies to electronic deliverables).
- Revise deliverables to address Client’s comments. Issue final deliverable once Client is happy.
- Any changes that are identified to be out of the scope of an existing order will need to be discussed and agreed by both parties.
- An additional workpack can be created to cover for the changes.
- A new sales order will be created for the additional scope and approved before changes can be implemented.
Smartsociates Learning Providers Portal is a complete marketplace for where Clients can outsource training requirements for Freelance Trainers, Coaches and Training Providers to support them with their training needs.
Clients can achieve this either by searching for providers and contacting via the portal or by posting a training requests in order to receive bids from freelancers and training providers.
One to One Learning activities are also supported within Smartsociates. Members of the community can interact in different ways:
- Classroom Follow On – Get an extra session from your Course Facilitator, Lecturer or Trainer out of the classroom to close your learning gaps following a classroom session.
- Expert Coaching – Connect with an expert to be mentored in any area, improve work performance and excel in other subjects.
- Remote Support – Never be stuck on a task when you have a team of experts prepared to help you solve the problem – and to teach you how to solve it yourself if it arises again. Save time and money by engaging with an expert in a Teamviewer session in a wide range of fields, such as Software and Scripts Installation on cloud servers, building an engineering model using a standard software package ( AutoCAD, Aspensuite, ), or customising a CRM or ERP Package( SAP, Maximo).
- Private Coaching – Almost any skill that could be learnt remotely on a one to one basis. You just need to pick the right to support you in your Entrepreneur journey.
- For remote voice and video interaction Learners and Trainers can agree to use a preferred communication platform to hold a training session if it is most convinient e.g Skype, Webex, Net Meeting, GoTo Meeting, Team Viewer etc.
If you hold a Pro or Pro+ Account you will be able to List and sell packaged services on the Smartsociates Pro-Shop. This can include, Upcoming face to face courses, events, Online Training Material, coaching and mentoring sessions. Clients will be able to order for services directly via the Pro-Shop.
- Update your profile page on Smartsociates with your full details of education, skills and experience and your profile will be made visible to Clients. The more details you include on your profile the higher your chances of being contacted directly with project requests.
- Seller/Buyer Profile: If you don't want your seller profile or buyer profile visible untick the buyer or seller options in the edit profile section.
If a Client contacts a Freelancer directly with a Training request, use our messaging tools to communicate with the Client to clarify the Client’s requirement. Confirm learning outcome and delivery timescales.
- Client will be able to request a quotation using the “Request Quotation” link on the Freelancer’s profile page.
- Use the project card on your dashboard to create a quotation and send to Client based on agreed scope.
- You can bid for posted Training Requests.
- Click on the Work link to browse for posted projects and use filter to refine your search.
- Open project card and review Clients training or Tutoring requirement and express interest to bid for project.
- Click on project link to view project details and click express interest if you wish to make a proposal.
- Client will be able to review your profile and you will receive a message from Client instructing you to make a proposal once you have been prequalified.
- Once you have been pre-qualified to provide a Training quote, contact Client to get more clarification if required.
- Create a Quotation. If multiple sessions are required breakdown scope into more than one work pack to suit delivery time and session payment milestones.
- Issue quotation to Client to formalise your proposal and for Client to confirm.
- A workpack is a billable Quantity of Work.
- Each Quotation shall have a minimum of one workpack.
- For a multiple training sessions the Trainer or service provider can break it down into work pack and payment milestones can be agreed based on training sessions.
- Most training sessions will be time based and for multiple sessions workpacks should be designed for each session to match session payment schedule. You will be able to create invoices for corresponding workpacks in order get paid per session.
- Coach or Tutor will set up meeting times on calendar once sales order is approved.
- Issue training material if needed before session
- Smartsociates does not provide remote access facilities. For remote support sessions both parties need to agree on remote access tools like team viewer.
- A third party communication service should be used such as e.g Skype, Webex, GoTo Meeting etc.
- Complete training session and Issue Certificate or Attestation of request.
- Any changes that are identified to be out of the training scope of an existing order will need to be discussed and agreed by both parties.
- An additional workpack can be created to cover for the changes.
- A new sales order will be created for the additional scope and approved before changes can be implemented.
Freelancers and Business could pay for services or earn money on Smartsociates platform by either selling your skills to deliver a project or by providing One to One Coaching, Remote Assistance.
- All Smartsociate Users can Buy or Sell Services within Smartsociates with a single account
- Upon ordering a workpack or multiple workpacks the Buyer will be taken to a PayPal portal and can choose how they pay.
- PayPal allows you to pay via your bank account, card or existing PayPal ballance.
- Upon completion and acceptance of work the Freelancer will recieve payment via PayPal using the email address they registered to Smartsociates with.
Smartsociates Innovate feature provides a set of collaborative innovation tools to help promote Entrepreneurial and enterprise activities within the Smartsociates community. Start-up Entrepreneurs, Businesses and other Organisations can get their ideas to market quicker by reaching out to like-minded individuals who are willing to support the idea by sharing or volunteering their skill through an agreed collaborative framework.
You could reach out to Graduates or young professionals who are willing to volunteer their skills on a project of interest in exchange for work experience or sweet equity.
You could also reach out to experienced professionals willing to volunteer their skills for a good cause e.g on a charity initiative.
This is a free tool on the platform where collaborators can create team or group accounts and manage project communication within the platform.
What projects can be done on Smartsociates?
You can complete or post a high range of projects ranging from engineering to management consultancy (see all of our categories here). These projects can be small projects starting from £5 all the way up to larger scale projects.
Can I buy or provide services?
On Smartsociates we do not differentiate between our sellers and buyers so you can work on projects or/and get your projects completed by other users.
What is the payment method?
Smartsociates uses PayPal at both ends of the workflow, a Buyer pays Smartsociates via the PayPal portal when ordering a workpack. Once work is complete the seller recieves their payment via PayPal from Smartsociates.
How much does it cost to use Smartsociates?
It is free to sign-up onto the platform and get your profile displayed or to post projects, however we take a small commission from projects that are being completed on the platform.
Our fees are as follows:
2.8% when crediting your wallet.
20% on payments under £100.
15% on payments between £100.01 and £500.
10% on payments between £500.01 and £5000.
5% on payments greater than £5000.
To read more about our fees please see our Terms of Use.
Are upgrades available?
We have three account upgrades available for a cost; these are Pro, Business and Enterprise. To see more visit our Upgrade page.
If you have any other queries please contact: support@smartsociates.co.uk