No More Compromise

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So you’re looking to hire a freelancer to do some work for you on one of the freelance sites? Fantastic. As both a buyer myself and an occasional provider, I have seen the setup from both angles and what I want to do in this article is examine the pointers I have picked up over the years fron the school of hard knocks on how to get the best results possible out of your freelancing experience.

In short - how do you choose the right person and ensure the job gets done to the right standard and on time?

1) Look At Feedback

If previous clients have left feedback on the provider take a look at what has been said. No feedback may be acceptable for a new provider but wherever possible take into account the freelancers reputation. Remember that it takes time for anyone to leave feedback so generally the most extreme freelancers - the best and the worst - tend to have the most feedback when compared to the total number of jobs they have completed.

2) Build Up A Dream Team

Over time, try out different providers to see which create the sort of work you are looking for. Reward them with positive feedback as a result but also keep a note of who you would willingly work with again. Over time you will build up a list of trusted freelancers that you have done business with in the past and so you know their standards. This greatly reduces your risk and speeds up the process of outsourcing future jobs when you can offer work directly to providers who have already proven themselves to you.

3) Examine Previous Work

Wherever possible try to look at the potential freelancer’s portfolio to see if their previous work is the sort of thing you are looking for. Does their writing appeal to you, for example? Do you like what they have done with that sales letter? Is that blog theme classy-looking? Try to imagine whether you would be happy receiving similar work.

4) Produce A Detailed project Description

Take the time to create a detailed project description which lays out in great details exactly what you need your freelancer to produce for you. In this way not only will your freelancer be happier because they know what you are looking for but you redice the chances of the prject not turning out how you would like. Try to include timescales in the project too and agree these with your freelancer before work beginds so that you can manage the workflow and ensure the project gets finished when needed.

5) Don’t Just Look At Price

Many of us have done this in the past, including me. Try not to pay too much attention to price but intseas look for someone with experience and a good reputation that you feel you could work with. Price should be secondary after finding people with the skills to complete your project to the standards you expect.

6) Stay In Contact

Not only should you email potential freelancers before selecting a final winner if you have any questions at all with a bid, but once it has begun stay in regular (ideally daily) contact with them via the private message board so you can keep abreast of how the project is developing.