Are you looking to hire a freelancer? There’s scores of them and with the ability of technology to reach so many people, this might be the best time to do so. On the other hand, you might receive sixty applications for one job posting. How do you choose who’s the best fit for you and your project?
Whether you’re looking for someone for a one-time project or to build a long-term working relationship with, here is the process you’ll need to follow.
1. Decide exactly what you want them for
If you’re unsure as to what needs to be done for your project, do not start looking for freelancers – not yet. You will need to know as much as possible about the job at hand in order to hire freelancers, especially off the internet. It is recommended that you start with a brief scope of the project, including a timeline, deliverables and a payment schedule.
2. Be descriptive in the job post
You’ll want to stand out as you’re competing for the highest quality freelancers (as the freelancers are competing for the best jobs). Again, it is crucial to provide as much detail as you can about the job so the freelancer can evaluate for themselves if they’re a good fit.
For example, if you need someone to write articles for your website, what is the content of your site? Do you expect them to have some level of expertise on that topic? What do you use to upload content – do they need to know how to use WordPress? Details like these will help freelancer assess whether they meet your project requirements. It’s also not a bad idea to ask for samples or test them with a small piece of the project.
A good job post follows a template:
- It lets the freelancer know who you are, the company you represent and what your project is about
- It is absolutely clear about project goals and deadlines while keeping an open channel for discussion
- It talks about payment and work hours – whether you prefer hourly or fixed payments and the number of hours the freelancer is expected to work in a week
- It is clear about what experience and skills the freelancer would need to contribute to your project.
3. Select the best of the bunch
Once you start receiving proposals, you can wait and see who comes to you or reach out to freelancers who you know have the skills you need.
On many top freelance sites, it is possible to apply a filter and narrow down your search to freelancers who check off your requirements. When looking at applicants, it can be tricky to gauge what kind of worker they are. One of the best indicators of a freelancer’s reliability and skill are reviews left by previous clients. Platforms also have tags that indicate a freelancer’s experience or contributions. Upwork has badges such as Top Rated, Rising Talent, while the Hubspot badge indicates a that the freelancer is considered a leader in their field.
Posted profiles are not the only place to search for freelancers. They might be participating in discussion boards about their field, which is a good sign in that they’re experienced enough in their field to have a deep discussion about. YouTube could even be a good place to look. If you’re looking for an app developer for a game, you might find someone who has a whole YouTube channel on program games on Xcode or for Android.
4. Set up an offer
Once you’ve found who you’re looking for, it’s time to make an offer that includes a contract based on what you and the freelancer agreed upon. Make sure to take into account the legalities of hiring freelancers, which are different than hiring an employee.
While hiring freelancers, here are some other things to consider.
- Take advantage of time zones
Don’t rule someone out because they’re twelve hours ahead of you.
Once you set up a time to communicate – it could be eight or nine o’clock in the morning/ night, the time difference could work to everyone’s advantage.
- Find a balance between cost and quality
Would you rather spend three dollars on a pair of headphones that’ll break down by the end of the month or a pricier version that although will cost more, will last years? The same cost-quality principle applies to hiring people. If you’re willing to invest a few more dollars, you’ll have access to top professionals who warrant that higher price.
That’s not to say negotiation is off the table, especially if there’s more work to come. It’s up to you to match the complexity of your project with the appropriate skill level of the freelancer. You might have to go with the $150 per hour front-end developer, or if the project isn’t that complicated, you could give the less-experienced $75 per hour programmer a chance.
- Timing and availability are important to discuss
Do you expect the freelancer to work/ be available a certain number of hours a week? That is something you’ll want to clarify off the bat. The freelancer may be working other jobs that only allows them to work for you on a part-time basis or they might only have a window of time to work for you. Be sure that the person you hire will be able to meet your deadlines. If you’re unsure how long your project will take, ask the person who could be doing that job (the freelancer) for their input.
- Protect your IP
In order to protect your IP, you can have the freelancer sign a non-disclosure agreement or hire through sites that include confidentiality in their terms of service agreement (such as Upwork).
- Look out for scammers
Some freelance sites such as Upwork have been experiencing a surge of clients that have been scammed by fake contractors. There is usually an authentication procedure but it’s hardly extensive – they ask you two questions like “What’s your name” and “What’s your address?” before signing off on your profile. This allows people to easily fake profiles, advertising skills and experience they don’t have. One thing to look out for is the quality of their profile – if they’re claiming to be a writer but their profile is written in broken English, that’s an obvious red flag. Also, be wary of people who request to be paid outside the platform. This is where it’s crucial to look at ratings and reviews from previous clients.
With these tips, you’ll be sure to hire the best freelancer for your business. Here are some sites where you can find freelancers:
- Freelancer.com
- Guru.com
- Upwork
- PeopleperHour
- Truelancer