Once a business begins to grow and flourish, you may find you need extra help to lighten the load. Hiring more staff may not always be feasible and finding suitable candidates can be time-consuming, so you may want to consider using a freelancer. A freelancer can be a highly worthwhile addition to any company.
Some people may be reluctant to consider the use of a freelancer because the quality and continuity of work can be hard to control, especially if the freelancer works remotely. There may also be disputes on payment, especially if the freelancer demands an unreasonable fee and even more problems could arise if you are dissatisfied with the work.
If you are mindful about who you select however, you will easily find a freelancer that you trust and produces good work.
Here are five tips of how to find freelancers and how to implement them to get the best out of your business:
1. Word Of Mouth
The most reliable way of searching for a freelancer is by word of mouth and good recommendations from colleagues or companies within your sector. This also allows you to see examples of the freelancers work and technique to see whether he or she would be suitable. By seeking advice from previous clients you can not only find out about the quality of a freelancers work but also their time-keeping, interpersonal skills and reliability.
2. Scout For Talent
You can advertise for a freelancer online, specifying any particular skills that the freelancer needs to have. Or you can search through reputable sites such as Elance to find reliable, trustworthy and talented freelancers that can help undertake your projects or tasks in hand.
3. Be Clear About What You Want
It is important not to be vague when giving a freelancer a job outline or brief, as this can sometimes be open to interpretation and may not always be necessarily what you wanted. If there is a strict deadline for the work make sure you specify one. Discuss costs and the method of payment and make sure you both agree before any work commences. Don’t try and haggle the price down as the price you will pay for poor quality content is far higher.
4. Find Those Suited To Your Requirements
Have they any experience in the projects you are hiring them for? It is important that the freelancer you choose has worked on similar, if not the same projects that you require. If you take a chance on a freelancer with limited experience, the chances are the work may not be as professional as you had hoped.
5. Don’t Just Rely On One
Freelancers by nature can have several clients at any one time and are not contractually obligated to you. This means they will not always be available for work. It is important to have several freelancers on the backburner, in case an important and urgent project arises and your regular freelancer has other commitments from another employer.
Alison Parcell provided this guest article on behalf of Hallmark Consumer Services who provide contract packing and e-fulfilment services.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.com
