Congratulations on your new freelancer! Getting a freelancer is one of the best steps your organization can take for writing and editing, content marketing, graphic design, and just about any other job.
If this is your first freelancer, you may wonder how to get the most out of your gig worker. Many first time clients think they need to micromanage their freelancers to gain optimal performance, but nothing could be further from the truth.
A freelancer is a unique type of worker who is both a reliable employee and an independent entrepreneur. Freelancers are creative self-starters who can mold their work so that it looks and feels like something your own organization would produce.
How to Care for Your Freelancer for Optimal Results
Sit
Sit down with your freelancer in person, by phone or via internet, and discuss the details of your project. A short conversation can help you find the right freelancer for the job.
Stay
After exchanging pleasantries, stay on course in all your conversations. This helps your freelancer conserve precious time.
Lay down
Lay down clear guidelines and project descriptions. Freelancers are independent by nature, but they usually interact well with others and respond favorably to light guidance on a project. To remain cost-effective, successful freelancers have learned how to work efficiently without a great deal of supervision. For best results, provide clear, succinct guidelines and ample amounts of independence.
Roll over
Approve and pay projects promptly. Many freelancers do not receive a steady paycheck, but almost all gig workers have regular bills to pay on time. Approve projects quickly and send payment on schedule.
Create a convenient food source
Somewhat like bees that collect pollen from a number of flowers, freelancers earn a living through a number of revenue streams. In fact, Bright Local says that 46 percent of local search marketers have more than 11 clients at any given time. This means your organization is not solely responsible for the care and feeding of your freelancer, which could save your company thousands of dollars in training and employee benefits.
It also means, though, that your organization has to work harder or pay more to attract and retain top-notch freelancers. Competition for high quality freelancers is increasing. In fact, a whopping 55 percent of companies intend to increase their use of freelancers, according to a study cited by Small Business Trends.
Set reasonable deadlines
Successful freelancers are extremely fleet footed and are able to produce an astounding amount of content in a short amount of time, especially for loyal clients. Like anyone, though, freelancers can find themselves overworked and behind schedule.
Research shows that higher workloads and lower rewards, such as the promotion prospects and job security that freelancers generally lack, can have significantly negative effects on mental health. Another study finds that 30 percent of all entrepreneurs experience depression at some point in their careers.
Help your freelancer stay happy and healthy by setting reasonable performance expectations. Avoid next day turnaround times whenever possible, and go easy on the 48-hour deadlines unless your freelancer had previously agreed to them.
Request revisions sparingly
Even the best professionals miss the mark now and again, so sending work back to a freelancer for repair is entirely reasonable. Most gig workers are aware of the potential for do-overs, and many even build revision time into their schedules. Freelancers typically offer free revisions, but this can come at a tremendous cost to the worker, as the entrepreneur must sacrifice time on a new project to revise an older one.
Whenever possible, condense all revisions into one request. This helps your freelancer improve their product in the most cost effective way possible.
Praise your freelancer
Use positive feedback, high system ratings, and bonuses to praise your freelancer for jobs well done. Don’t pat your freelancer directly on the head or scratch his or her chin, though, because… well, just don’t.
We hope you enjoy your new freelancer. With a little care, we are sure your freelancer will become a welcome addition to your corporate family. For more information about hiring a freelancer, contact WriterAccess.
Lynn H writes everything from blogs to white papers; her specialty is putting complex scientific concepts in simple terms. She specializes in medical writing, creating informative and engaging content for professionals in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, medical manufacturing, chiropractics, optometry, emergency care, plastic surgery and others.
