Do you work with freelancers? Are you thinking about working with freelancers? Here's a short guide on how to get the best out of them. entrepreneur how earn by blogging blog

Hey r/entrepreneur,

I'm been a freelance copywriter for 6 years, but I've also hired my fair share of freelancers too. As someone who has seen both sides of this intriguing coin, I'd like to offer you some tips that will help you to get the most out of working with a freelancer. If you're one of those people who "has never got on with freelancers", give this a read. It's very possible you're missing out on a fantastic resource for no good reason.

Tip #1 - if you're going to pay for a freelancer's expertise, accept that they may know more than you.

Crucial to any good freelancer/client relationship is mutual respect. The freelancer must respect the fact that their client almost certainly has a more intimate knowledge of their own business, and very possibly the industry, than he/she does.

But if you've decided to hire a web designer, for example, you need to respect the fact that this person probably knows more about web design than you do. If they clearly don't, it's likely you've made a bad hiring decision. Use them as a resource for advice. Ask them questions, seek their counsel, listen to their suggestions. You're paying them, after all.

Believe me, it's very easy for freelancers to work to a poorly executed brief, take their paycheck and run; but the best freelancers have their own knowledge and experience to bring to the table too. It's in your interests to listen. Don't be offended or angry; you've made a great call by hiring someone conscientious enough to care about your future success after the job is done.

Tip #2 - be realistic with your expectations (you pay for what you get).

If you're paying $100 for a new website, it probably won't be absolutely perfect. Unrealistic expectations like this usually stem from a fundamental misunderstanding about what the job actually involves, so do your research, find out how much you'd pay at a few different agencies, and use that as a guideline. This will also ensure you're not overpaying, too. Good freelancers do cost money, but they're usually absolutely worth the investment.

Tip 3 - ask for evidence.

Every industry has people or businesses that lie about their credentials, and freelancing is no different. Great testimonials are easy to forge, and past clients are easy to invent. If you're not going through a site like Upwork (I would never recommend Upwork to clients or freelancers, but perhaps that's another post) you need to be a little bit more savvy about how you approach the hiring process.

Personally, I like to keep a bank of 2 or 3 clients that will be happy to vouch for me should a new client need a reference. This makes it easy to verify that my work is legitimate and my claims are valid. If you're paying good money, you deserve solid proof that your freelancer can do the job to the required standard.

Disclaimer: most freelancers aren't trying to fleece you, so don't be overly cynical. Just be wary if they appear reluctant to offer evidence of their work.

Tip 4 - understand you're not the only client.

Most freelancers have 3 or 4 clients on their books at any one time, depending on the nature of their work. The best ones will make you feel like you're the only one, but it doesn't mean you are. This isn't an excuse for poor communication, but if you don't receive a response to an email within 30 minutes, try to remember that it's very possible your freelancer has their hands full with another task.

Good organisation will mitigate this issue. If you're constantly sending work to a freelancer that "needs to be completed within the hour", you're both going to end up frustrated. Plan ahead, and try to give your freelancer achievable deadlines where possible. You'll both be grateful for it.

I hope this helps! If you have any questions, I'd be happy to talk more in the comments.

submitted by /u/tongueinloftuscheek
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