How To Properly Vet A Freelancer

When you first set out to launch your own business, you are doing almost everything yourself. This includes marketing, design, website development, and anything else that needs to get done. The long term goal is to grow the company to the point where you can begin to hire full-time employees. However, there is that lengthy amount of time where you need someone to take these things off your plate, but you are not quite ready to hire someone full-time. This is where freelancers come into play.

A freelancer is someone who is self-employed and not fully committed to any one employer long term. They possess a particular skill such as copywriting, web development, project management, or marketing. They tend to have several clients that fill out their weekly workload. Most of the time, they will work for you as needed, which means you can send them as much or as little work as you have.

The main benefit of working with a freelancer is that you are not locked into paying them a set salary, and you are not on the hook for the benefits and expenses that come with hiring them as an employee. Furthermore, their interaction with you can flow with your business. If you are busy and profits are high, you can utilize them often. If sales are slow, you are not required to use them at all.

Of course, this type of relationship can have its downfalls. For example, a freelancer may not be as committed to your mission if they are only working for you on an as-needed basis. If you do not have a prearranged agreement, they may not be available when you need them. To avoid these pitfalls and hire the right freelancer for you, try these tips and suggestions.

 

Identify What You Need

 

Before you begin searching for a freelancer, you must become crystal clear on what you need. First, what service do you need this individual to provide? If your website is broken or difficult to use, then you need a web developer. If it works fine, but the design and colors are tacky, you need a graphic designer. If the issue is the wording is unimaginative and bland, you require a copywriter. If your website is fine, but no one can find it, then you need someone with marketing expertise.

Once that is settled, you must determine how often you will need this individual. For example, if this is a one time project, then that needs to be stated in the job description. However, if you are only offering a one-off gig, there is no certainty that an individual will be available the next time you need them. If you are confident you will be able to supply the freelancer with a consistent amount of work, you can agree to a certain number of hours per week for a set amount of time.

 

Request A Portfolio

 

The most important thing to review when vetting a freelancer is their portfolio. A portfolio will be able to showcase their past work and prove they are up to the job. Also, it gives you a sense of their style and quality of output they produce. When it comes to freelancers, a portfolio is much more important than a traditional resume because you want proof they can handle the job you are going to assign them.

When reviewing their portfolio, look for work similar to what you will be requiring. For example, if you need someone to write a copy for your website and all their samples are blog posts, that could be a problem. When relevant, be sure to ask if they have experience working with companies in your industry. This does not have to be a deal-breaker, but it could be the tie-breaker if it comes down to choosing between two applicants.

 

Conduct A Real Interview

 

Ideally, you will identify that you need a freelancer before the need becomes too urgent. However, this is not always possible. Despite your best planning, you may need to hire a freelancer fast to produce quick results or fix a problem. You may be tempted to skip the formal interview processes and just get straight to work. However, it is critical to remember that this person will be working on your brand.

If you are impressed with their portfolio samples, you can set up one 15-minute interview to get to know them. When relevant, you can ask specific questions to confirm they possess the skills they claim to have. You also want to confirm they have the right attitude and communication skills to fit in with your existing team and company culture. Regardless of the length of engagement, this individual will be working with your team and should be vetted to ensure they are the right fit.

 

Contact References

 

The last step you want to take is to call at least one, if not a few of the freelancer’s references. These can be quick calls or emails that help seal the deal before hiring them to begin work. You will want to ask about the quality of their work and whether or not they would hire them again.

Also, you want to ask about how the process was working with them. Do they respond to emails quickly? How easy is it to get a hold of them? How do they handle feedback and revisions? As long as everything checks out, you can move forward, hiring them.

 

Conclusion

 

Hiring a freelancer might just be the solution you need to keep your brand progressing forward. There are plenty of highly talented freelancers who will produce quality results at a reasonable price. However, you must do your due diligence and ensure that whoever you let work on your brand is the right fit for you and your team.

 

Let’s Talk

 

Are you ready to explore hiring help for your marketing efforts? Book a FREE introductory call at contact@360gatewaybrands.com to get started!