The internet revolution has made it easier to find talented freelance professionals than ever before – but there’s a right and wrong way to go about Hiring them. Whether you’re hiring a website or graphic designer, a programmer, or a content expert to build your website’s audience by the week, there are a few common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid. By steering clear of these rookie mistakes, you’ll achieve your goals faster, develop a lasting professional relationship with your freelancers, and save yourself a whole lot of wasted time and money.

1. Hiring the First Freelancer You Find

There are literally millions of freelance professionals out there marketing their services, and as a client, you have the right to choose the best person for the job. Of course, there are times when an urgent project needs to get done and time is of the essence, and those are exactly the times when we make rash hiring decisions that we end up regretting. Before you hire a freelancer, make sure you’ve vetted them, seen legitimate examples of their work, and read their references to make sure they are a good fit for your project.

2. Hiring the Cheapest Freelancer

Reducing costs is an essential part of every business strategy, and if you can find a freelancer who produces top-quality work at rock-bottom rates – consider yourself very lucky. There’s a general trend in the freelance world where more experienced and highly skilled professionals demand higher rates for their services, and if you’re going to insist on quality you may have to invest a few extra dollars to get it. Considering how much better your website will look, and how much more engaging your content will be, it’s an investment that will definitely pay for itself over time.

3. Not Providing Enough Information

Working remotely with a freelancer creates all kinds of opportunities for miscommunication – in ways you’d never expect. If you provide open-ended, vague briefs with no examples of the type of result you’re aiming for, you’re basically leaving the field open for your freelancer to do their own thing – and if the work they produce isn’t in line with your vision, you’ll have to take some of the blame. It’s best to avoid the blame game entirely by communicating what you want by using a comprehensive brief, stating your instructions clearly, and providing examples of the type of product you would like. Links to websites and social media accounts that you really enjoy following and would like to emulate are a great start.

4. Failing to Communicate

Giving an excellent brief is just the first step in the communication strategy you’ll need to use when working with freelancers. It’s possible to just send them a brief, ask for edits, corrections, and changes and say thank you by paying them at the end of the month, but if you want to create a stable, positive working relationship with your freelancers, you’ll have to go one step further and get to know them a little. Stay in touch with your freelancers, even when you don’t have work for them, and encourage them to follow your business on social media and keep up with your activities. They will feel connected to your business and gain insight into your business’ philosophy and long-term vision that will help them produce content that’s a perfect fit for you.

5. Only Hiring the Best – When You Can’t Really Afford To

While it’s important to hire freelancers who deliver the goods, there are times when your budget just won’t allow for a big-name web designer or content writer. Also, companies with smaller budgets may also find that the big names are less willing to commit the time and effort required to produce top-quality results at a lower price than they usually charge. The solution for getting a great job done on a smaller budget is to hire a good freelancer at a fair price, and work closely with them to get the result you want. You may have to show them more examples of what you need and ask them to make changes along the way, but if the end result is good and your budget isn’t blown, you’ll still be a step ahead of the competition.

6. Not Ending Working Relationships That Just Don’t Work

There always seems to be a freelancer that you work with from time to time, even though you know you really shouldn’t. Whether it’s sub-standard work, missed deadlines or a personal and professional attitude that you just don’t gel with, there are red flags that will warn you that it’s time to cut ties for good. Once you feel uneasy working with a freelancer who isn’t delivering the goods, don’t be sentimental – let them know that you’ve decided to go with someone else, and you can both move on to more positive collaborations with other people.

7. Not Referring and Hiring Freelancers Based on Good Referrals

Your business network is a great source of information on all kinds of services – and freelancers are no exception. If you happen to be spending some time with your close colleagues or suppliers you work with on a regular basis, ask them if they can recommend a good freelancer for your business. If their company website looks great and you hire the same freelancer, chances are yours will too. A freelancer who has been referred by a colleague you know and trust will make doubly sure that they produce the right results – after all, their reputation with two influential clients is on the line.

Conclusion

Hiring a freelance professional has never been easier, and if you avoid these seven mistakes you may just find yourself working with a dynamic, reliable professional who contributes to the success of your business. The lower overheads associated with freelance professionals will help you keep your costs low as you gain a motivated professional who understands the challenges of business and self-employment first hand. Through mutual respect, trust and open communication, you could gain a reliable service provider who will support your business through each stage of its development.

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