By Mary Nguyen
In a time where working from home has become the new normal, an increasing number of talented professionals are embracing freelancing as a way to supplement their incomes and benefit from flexible working hours.
For businesses of all sizes operating under the strain of COVID-19, these highly skilled hires are a secret weapon to staying one step ahead in these trying times. Read on to learn more about how to hire the best freelancers to grow your business.
Freelance marketing, design, UX, programming, copywriting, legal services and PR.
Whatever skillset your project or business requires, there’s bound to be someone out there for you. The Covid pandemic has forced employees and employers to rethink the way we work, replacing hours in the office and long commutes with more flexible work-from-home arrangements.
US-based freelancing platform Upwork’s CEO Hayden Brown says the shift towards remote work will have a permanent effect on how the employee workforce is constructed moving forward, and a combination of in-office roles, full-time remote employees and freelancers will likely be the default for many companies in the future.
The company, which surged 19% to a value of $300 million in 2019, is currently leading the market in the US against competitors that include Fiverr, Outsourcely, and Flexjobs. It’s one of many popular platforms which connect growing numbers of freelancers with employers who are trying to adapt to the economic downturn by operating their businesses with a leaner staff ratio.
Be they a start-up or full-blown corporation, many businesses are looking for instant access to a range of niche skills and services. According to KPMG these organisations are finding themselves in need of particular skill sets to further expand their business, but are unable to afford permanent staff due to economic and strategic circumstances. Individual owners of small businesses may also be too time poor or lack the confidence to tackle projects out of their field of expertise.
Having one team, with one set of skills is quickly becoming a practice of the past, as leading private and public sector organisations increasingly rely on external sources of know-how to hone their competitive edge. Though there are immense benefits in terms of flexibility, increased adaptability, innovation and cost-effectiveness there are several things employers must keep in mind in order to reap the full advantages of engaging freelance workers.
1. Budget realistically
Before you start your search, it pays to know a little about what the role requires and the standard rates for that role in the industry. A quick Google should tell what the average hourly rate is; contact several freelancers of similar experience and expertise to ask for a quote.
Keep in mind that as self-employed workers, freelancers must pay their own taxes, insurance and overheads which may factor into their hourly rate. Compare similar jobs on job noticeboards to see what the going rate is, also tap into online networks like local groups to find out how much they pay. Be prepared to pay more for specialist services and a greater experience level, but don’t be afraid to discuss potential arrangements to find a middle ground that works for you.
Your business may be strapped for cash, but choosing the lowest-priced service may end up costing you more if the quality isn’t up to standard.
2. Give clear instructions but keep your line of communication open
A successful working relationship with a freelancer is largely dependent on the clarity of the brief you provide them and being able to communicate consistently. Understand that independent professionals are motivated to go above and beyond for you because their ability to continue working depends on building a good reputation with their clients. The better they perform, the higher their chances of getting more work.
Be sure to be as upfront as possible and include as many details as you can in the job description. For example, a project post should include:
Project start and end dates
A description of the work you want to be performed e.g. execute a social media strategy for one product launch or design a new website for a brand.
Project deliverables and deadlines if applicable
Scope – make sure to discuss potential project creep; you can ask your freelancer to notify you of additional tasks to better manage ongoing costs
Budget
Payment terms – fixed price per project, hourly retainer or other arrangements. Every freelancer has their own unique arrangement and terms; they will let you know what their preferences are.
It’s important to check in every so often to ensure you and your freelancer are on the same page but make sure you give them enough space to do their job.
3. Look beyond the usual sources to find freelancers
A report released by Freelancer revealed that demand for coding, programming and engineering has more than doubled during the pandemic while demand for project managers and e-commerce related skills also increased.
‘These are promising times and positive signs for the gig economy. While Covid-19 has been the trigger of the already upward trending freelancer movement, this exponential growth can also be attributed to the strong desire for individuals to finally start their own freelance enterprise, work on their own terms and supplement their income,” says Freelancer CEO Matt Barrie.
The proliferation of technology has made it possible to find freelance talent from anywhere in the world, and platforms catering to niche skills like 99 Designs and Behance are plentiful. Aside from the usual job sites, businesses can harness their social networks to gain well qualified and vetted recommendations.
A large number of businesses are already using social media to broadcast job opportunities; depending on your industry and situation, this can be a good option or you can use freelancing platforms such as AirTasker, Freelancer, Guru, UpWork, Fiverr or Toptal, a high-end corporate hire site used by companies such as Motorola, Hewlett-Packard and AirBNB.
4. Do a pilot project first
A pilot project is a common way for businesses and freelancers to assess their operational fit and find their workflow before agreeing to ongoing assignments. This will give businesses a chance to minimise risk and assess the candidate’s competence in their capacity to deliver before trusting them with more important work.
Make sure to take the time to deliver feedback and seek input from your freelancer. Freelancers are in a position to deliver valuable feedback, sharing their expertise from their own unique perspective of your business. Freelancers also appreciate honest constructive feedback to help improve their own service offerings.
In 2020 70% of SME businesses in the US engaged freelancers; 83% of these businesses agreed freelancers have greatly helped their business. “Work will be regarded as a thing you do, rather than a place you go,” noted a KPMG report about changing work practices. “Measurement of ‘work’ will increasingly become about outcome rather than the input, regardless of when and where it is done.” The proliferation of freelance workers and businesses who use their service is testament to the change in attitude towards flexible workers and the value they bring.
With an abundant pool of disciplined, motivated and experienced talent to choose from, freelancers are a logical choice for entrepreneurial businesses to propel their success in this competitive and volatile market.
Though they may not be your employees, freelancers are capable of showing loyalty and can be just as invested in your success if you treat them with respect. By creating a positive work environment, you’ll encourage your freelancer to enthusiastically pitch in for you, which may be just the thing to get you over the line when you need it most.
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