Posting a Task

What Is a Task on Opengates?

A task is a project listing that you create to describe the work you need done. When you post a task on Opengates, freelancers from across the platform can view it and submit applications if they believe they are a good fit. Think of a task as a job posting — it tells freelancers exactly what you need, how much you are willing to pay, and when you need it completed.

Posting a well-crafted task is one of the most important steps in the hiring process. The more detailed and clear your task is, the better the applications you will receive. This guide walks you through every step of creating a task on Opengates, from writing the title to publishing it and attracting quality freelancers.

Before You Post: Planning Your Task

Before you start filling out the task form, take a few minutes to think through what you need. Consider these questions:

• What exactly do I need done? Define the scope of work as clearly as possible. If you need a website, specify how many pages, what features, and what design style you prefer.
• What is my budget? Decide whether you want to pay a fixed price for the entire project or an hourly rate. Research similar tasks on the platform to get a sense of fair pricing.
• When do I need it completed? Set a realistic deadline that gives the freelancer enough time to do quality work.
• What skills are required? Think about the specific skills and tools the freelancer needs to have.

Having clear answers to these questions will make the posting process faster and help you attract the right freelancers.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Task

Step 1: Navigate to the Task Posting Page

Log in to your Opengates account and navigate to the task creation page. You can usually find this by clicking the "Post a Task" button in the main navigation or on your client dashboard. Make sure you are logged in with a client account — if you have multiple account types, switch to your client profile.

Step 2: Write a Clear, Descriptive Title

Your task title is the first thing freelancers see, so make it count. A good title is specific, concise, and accurately describes the work.

Good examples:

• "Design a Modern Logo for a Tech Startup"
• "Build a Responsive E-Commerce Website Using React"
• "Write 10 SEO Blog Posts About Digital Marketing"

Avoid vague titles like:

• "Need help"
• "Website work"
• "Looking for a designer"

A specific title helps the right freelancers find your task and immediately understand what you need.

Step 3: Write a Detailed Description

The description is where you provide all the details about your project. A thorough description reduces misunderstandings and helps freelancers submit more accurate proposals. Include the following in your description:

• Project overview: Explain the big picture. What is the project about? What is the end goal?
• Specific requirements: List exactly what you need the freelancer to deliver. Be as detailed as possible. For example, if you need a website, specify the number of pages, features (contact form, blog, shopping cart), and any design preferences.
• Reference materials: If you have examples of work you like, mockups, brand guidelines, or other reference materials, mention them in the description. You can share files later through the messaging system.
• Technical requirements: If applicable, specify the technologies, tools, or frameworks you want the freelancer to use.
• Communication expectations: Let freelancers know how often you expect updates and through which channels (Opengates messaging is recommended).
• What success looks like: Describe what a successful outcome looks like to you. This gives freelancers a clear target to aim for.

Step 4: Set Your Budget

Opengates supports two budget types:

Fixed-Price Budget

A fixed-price budget means you pay a set amount for the entire project. This is ideal when you have a clearly defined scope of work. Enter the total amount you are willing to pay. You can also specify a budget range (minimum and maximum) to give freelancers flexibility in their proposals.

Tips for setting a fixed-price budget:

• Research similar tasks on the platform to see what other clients are paying.
• Consider the complexity and time required for the work.
• Be realistic — very low budgets may attract less experienced freelancers.
• Remember that Opengates charges a 12% processing fee (or 7% with Premium) on top of the freelancer's payment.

Hourly Budget

An hourly budget means you pay the freelancer based on the number of hours they work. This is suitable for ongoing projects or when the scope is not fully defined upfront. Specify an hourly rate and, optionally, a maximum number of hours or weekly hour limit.

Tips for setting an hourly budget:

• Define a maximum budget or hour cap to control costs.
• Discuss estimated hours with freelancers before starting the contract.
• Review time entries regularly to stay on top of spending.

Step 5: Set a Deadline

Choose a realistic deadline for your task. The deadline tells freelancers when you expect the work to be completed. Consider the following when setting a deadline:

• Allow enough time for the freelancer to do quality work. Rushed deadlines can lead to lower-quality results.
• Account for the time it takes to review applications and select a freelancer before work begins.
• If the project has multiple phases, you can set an overall deadline and define specific milestone deadlines within the contract.

Step 6: Select Required Skills

Opengates allows you to tag your task with required skills. This helps match your task with freelancers who have the relevant expertise. Choose skills that accurately reflect what the project requires.

Examples of skills you might select:

• Graphic Design, Adobe Illustrator, Logo Design
• Web Development, React, Node.js, TypeScript
• Content Writing, SEO, Copywriting
• Video Editing, Motion Graphics, After Effects

Selecting the right skills ensures that your task appears in search results for freelancers with matching expertise.

Step 7: Choose a Category

Select the category that best fits your task. Categories help organize tasks on the platform and make it easier for freelancers to find relevant work. Choose the most specific category available — for example, "Web Development" rather than just "Technology."

Step 8: Review and Post

Before publishing your task, review all the details one more time:

• Is the title clear and specific?
• Does the description include all the information a freelancer needs?
• Is the budget fair and realistic?
• Is the deadline achievable?
• Have you selected the right skills and category?

Once you are satisfied, click the "Post Task" button to publish your task. It will immediately become visible to freelancers on the platform.

How Gate Keys Affect Your Applications

One of the unique features of Opengates is the gate key system. Freelancers must spend gate keys to apply for tasks. This is a quality filter that benefits you as a client in several important ways:

• Serious applications only: Because applying costs gate keys, freelancers think carefully before submitting a proposal. You are far less likely to receive generic, copy-paste applications.
• Higher quality proposals: Freelancers who spend gate keys are invested in winning your project. Their proposals tend to be more thoughtful, detailed, and tailored to your specific needs.
• Fewer spam applications: The gate key requirement dramatically reduces low-effort or irrelevant applications, saving you time in the review process.

As a client, you do not need to worry about managing gate keys — the system works automatically. Simply post your task and let the gate key system filter for quality.

Tips for Getting Quality Applications

Even with the gate key system filtering for serious freelancers, the quality of applications you receive depends heavily on how well you craft your task. Here are proven tips for attracting top talent:

Be Specific About Deliverables

Instead of saying "I need a website," say "I need a 5-page responsive website with a homepage, about page, services page, portfolio gallery, and contact form with email integration." Specificity helps freelancers understand exactly what is expected and submit more accurate proposals.

Include Your Budget Range

While some clients prefer to let freelancers name their price, including a budget range helps attract freelancers who are comfortable with your price point. It also saves time by filtering out freelancers whose rates are significantly higher than your budget.

Respond to Questions Promptly

Freelancers may have questions about your task before applying. Respond to these questions quickly through the Opengates messaging system. Prompt communication shows that you are an engaged client and encourages more freelancers to apply.

Set Realistic Expectations

Be honest about the scope of work and the timeline. Overpromising on budget or underestimating the time required can lead to mismatches and disappointing results.

Use Professional Language

Write your task description in a professional, respectful tone. Avoid all-caps, excessive exclamation marks, or demanding language. Freelancers are more likely to apply to tasks posted by clients who communicate professionally.

Editing or Closing a Task

After posting, you can edit your task at any time to update the description, budget, deadline, or required skills. If you have already found a freelancer or no longer need the work done, you can close the task to stop receiving new applications.

To edit or close a task:

1. Go to your client dashboard.
2. Find the task you want to modify.
3. Click "Edit" to update details, or "Close Task" to stop accepting applications.

Keep in mind that freelancers who have already applied will be notified if you make significant changes to the task.

What Happens After You Post

Once your task is live, here is what to expect:

1. Freelancers discover your task: Your task appears in search results and category listings. Freelancers with matching skills can view it and decide whether to apply.
2. Applications come in: Freelancers who are interested submit proposals, including their approach, timeline, and price. Remember, they spend gate keys to apply, so these are serious submissions.
3. You review and compare: Evaluate each application, check freelancer profiles, and compare proposals. Our Hiring Freelancers guide covers this process in detail.
4. You hire and create a contract: Once you find the right freelancer, you create a contract and fund the escrow to get started.

Featured Task Listings with Premium

If you want your task to stand out and attract even more applications, consider upgrading to a Premium subscription. Premium clients get featured task listings, which means your task appears more prominently in search results and category pages. This increased visibility can lead to more applications from top freelancers.

Still need help? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to assist you.