Small Business Blog

This is the fourth article in our series about working with freelancers.

Sometimes, things just don’t work out the way you expect. Even if you interview a dozen freelance candidates, check references, and pour over work samples, you can still end up with a professional who isn’t compatible with you or with the project objectives. You should, of course, be taking steps to protect yourself from these situations: test out freelancers on smaller projects first, and obtain the contractual right to pay the freelancer for work completed and part ways, even if the contract is not 100% complete. These steps are important, because you really don’t know an individual’s working habits until after the project begins.

At that point, you can and should start watching for these freelancer red flags: (continue reading…)

This is the third article in a series that provides tips for working with freelancers and independent contractors. Our topic of discussion today is defining scope and setting reasonable expectations. When you take steps to clarify expectations before the project begins, you are far more likely to be satisfied with the project outcome.

You have a project to complete, and you’ve decided to find a freelancer to do it. Maybe you’ve collected a few phone numbers and you’re ready to start interviewing your prospects. Don’t do it until you are prepared! Before you pick up the phone, you must take the time to clarify the scope of your project and define your own expectations. The success of your project depends on it. Here are a few reasons why:  (continue reading…)

This article is the second in a series about working with freelancers and independent contractors. Once you’ve made the decision to retain a freelancer, the next step is to find the right person. Try these five tips to help you find and select the right freelancer. 

Get referrals

Ask everyone you know for a referral to a qualified freelancer. Post a note about your search on your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. Colleagues who’ve worked with an exceptional freelancer are usually happy to share information. If someone does pass on a name, press the referring individual for details. Questions to ask include:

1. What were the freelancer’s strengths? Weaknesses?
2. How well did the freelancer accept direction?
3. Was the freelancer able to work independently?
4. How quickly did the freelancer adopt the goals of the project? (continue reading…)

This article is the first of a series on working with freelancers and independent contractors. Because giving up control is extraordinarily difficult for any entrepreneur or small business owner, our first conversation in this discussion will cover the advantages that come from working with a freelance professional.

Think about the progression of a regular work day in your life. You rise early, work long and hard throughout the day, have a few hurried meals, put out a few fires, and then go to bed thinking about all the things you didn’t get done. Am I close? You have too many tasks to accomplish in any given day. And you have trouble delegating, probably because you’ve learned the hard way that no one does things the way that you’d do them. You don’t feel great about paying an employee to do a shoddy job, when you can do a better job yourself. Trust me, I understand your perspective completely. (continue reading…)