We all need a little help sometimes – especially if you’re working on a project that requires a set of skills that fall outside of your wheelhouse. The freelance community has exploded in size – and talent – with the rise of the digital age to meet this new demand. Everyone from small business owners to corporate executives – and sometimes other freelancers – can benefit from outsourcing a specific task to a qualified expert.
If you’re new to the world of freelance, welcome! This blog will serve as your guide as you navigate hiring your first freelancer – and accomplish some serious goals! Let’s get started.
1. Determine What You Need
Before you start contacting freelancers – the fun part – you’ll want to sit down and set your project goals. A thorough understanding of what you expect from the results is crucial to the freelancer’s success. Ask yourself some of the questions below to get started:
What skills should your freelancer have?
Why is this task important?
Is this a stand-alone task or part of a larger project?
What’s the duration of this project?
Do you have hard deadlines you have to meet?
What goals do you need to achieve through this work?
Do you anticipate building a long-term relationship with your freelancer?
This information will help you set a clear vision that you can easily present to your candidates.
2. Create a Budget
Taking time to create a realistic budget is an important step that deserves some thought before you advertise your freelancing job. Freelancers often have an ideal amount they need to make either hourly or by project in order to cover their overhead and operational costs. Consider the following when determining your freelance budget:
What skill-level do you need your freelancer to be? Beginner, intermediate, or expert?
What’s the value of this job? How will this completed task impact your ability to meet your goals?
Do you prefer to pay your freelancer hourly or by project?
What would you like to pay?
What’s the absolute highest you would pay for guaranteed optimal results?
Set a budget range that feels comfortable and leaves you a little room to negotiate up or down. Remember, freelancers tend to have higher hourly rates because they specialize in a few specific skills, unlike many full-time employees who juggle many roles.
3. Find Your Best Candidates
Once you’ve created a job description that clearly outlines your goals and have prepared a reasonable budget, it’s time to go live! There are limitless ways to find your freelancer. Websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr host thousands (if not millions) of candidate profiles. For a small fee (paid either at the time of posting or when you make the hire), you simply post your job description, sit back, and wait for the resumes and work proposals to come in.
You can find many candidates using a Google search, too, but you’ll likely have to put in a bit more effort if you’re reaching out directly to private agencies or independent contractors.
4. Communicate Clearly
Before you make your first hire, you’re likely going to engage in at least a few conversations with other potential candidates. Make sure you carry your direct, clear message from Step 2 into these conversations. Ask questions openly and answer the freelancer’s questions honestly to clarify your goals and expectations. The most important piece of advice I can give to potential clients is that clear communication makes all the difference in the results I produce. Don’t hesitate to jump on a phone or video call with your favorite prospect before hiring!
5. Make the Hire
Hooray! You’ve found a candidate that meets all of your requirements, will work within your given budget, and who’s confident they can produce high-quality results for you in accordance with your deadlines. Depending on how you found your freelancer, each hiring process can be a little different. Keep copies of the proposal, contact information, and contracts in a mutually accessible, secure location. Keep up the great communication throughout the duration of your project and wait for the results to flow in. Congratulations – you’ve hired your first freelancer!
If you have any questions about making your first freelance hire – or just want to hear a good freelancer story – please contact me!
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