5 Strategies For Successfully Engaging A Freelancer
Outsourcing business processes is one effective method of getting work down. Apart from cutting costs, using a freelancer allows your business to access skilled expertise, reduce the turnaround time, and is also a flexible staffing option. Despite these benefits, working with freelancers has to be strategic for it to work for your business.
With about 10% of Africans engaged in one form of full-time freelance work or another, there are a lot of freelance professionals to go around. However, since most freelancers usually have more than one client, loyalty might be challenging to implement. It also makes it challenging to build a substantial relationship between the employer and freelancer. So, how can you overcome the challenge of engaging remote freelance workers? This article should help.
1. Be Strategic About The Hiring Process
The hiring process is not as intensive for freelancers as it is for in-house employees. However, since there is a likelihood that you would use the same service again, it would be better to make the right decisions right from the start — at the hiring stage. Consider factors like their skill set, competencies, and experience. When freelance outsourcing on Kreek Africa, check out their ratings and reviews, and completed projects. It gives you a fair idea of what to expect from the freelancer to obtain value for money. The interview process should also cover their motivation, values, and drive.
2. Be Straightforward About Expectations
Another thing to be clear about right from the beginning of your relationship with a freelancer is your expectations. It prevents confusion down the line and provides context for the professional. You should communicate your project goals and where their work comes in, and do so as concisely as possible. Since they may not always be physically present to assimilate attitudes, communicate your goals, values, and mission so that it reflects in the work they present.
3. Offer Feedback
You can also engage a freelancer by offering honest feedback on their work. It doesn’t have to be as intensive as a performance review; feedback as basic as letting them know what areas of their work were up to standard or otherwise will do. This strategy allows your professional freelancer to improve their work quality and offer their best freelance work for you and any other client they may have. Apart from giving feedback, a little motivation will also go a long way to let them feel like a part of your business. With kreekafrica.com, you can leave a review for them as well. You can go the extra mile to ask about the challenges they face and offer assistance where necessary.
4. Establish Effective Communication Guidelines
Especially if you’re working with a remote freelancer, you cannot expect them to always be at your beck and call. You need to understand that the professional might be working from any part of the world. However, without effective communication, it will be challenging to reach your goals. Therefore, establish guidelines for you to interact with each other, considering things like time-zones and their family obligations. All it takes is a conversation for you both to know your work-schedules and the best times to communicate.
5. Avoid Delayed Compensation
Apart from the love for their work, freelance professionals also want to be well compensated. And while it may be easy to forget about temporary staff, it is not a good idea to do so. You might lose the freelancer’s loyalty and taint your reputation, especially if you hire freelancers online. Therefore, agree on payment methods, amount, and other related matters and stick to that arrangement. On the Kreek Africa platform, the amount decided on is called the milestone. When this amount is set, you can only change it after a mutual agreement between the client and the freelance professional is reached. The funds are then released to the freelancer once you are satisfied with their work. This payment method is free and fair and prevents conflict between client and freelancer. The professional will have more respect for your work ethics and will be more than willing to work with you on other projects.
A freelancer search might not be that challenging; however, engaging them and maintaining a cordial relationship is where the work begins. Consider these few tips to help you get along with your freelancers.
