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I’ve hired many freelancers and consultants to:
1) Fill expertise and bandwidth gaps without needing to hire full-time employees
2) Get outside perspective on the business from someone with a much wider field of vision
But getting the most from these engagements takes work
1) Fill expertise and bandwidth gaps without needing to hire full-time employees
2) Get outside perspective on the business from someone with a much wider field of vision
But getting the most from these engagements takes work
We’ve hired freelancers for help with copy, content, design, development, SEO, strategy, data analysis, and more.
Here’s how we’ve managed our freelancer relationships to get great work from great people, and become a “sought-after client” (one of our freelancers’ words).
Here’s how we’ve managed our freelancer relationships to get great work from great people, and become a “sought-after client” (one of our freelancers’ words).
It starts with putting in the work to help them succeed.
The idea of a “turnkey solution” is romantic, but ultimately impossible.
Nobody can step in and be effective without the right kind of support from stakeholders.
The idea of a “turnkey solution” is romantic, but ultimately impossible.
Nobody can step in and be effective without the right kind of support from stakeholders.
When you hire a freelancer to help, ask them: “what have your best clients done to make the engagement successful?”
You’ll learn how they prefer to collaborate, be managed, and what they need to do great work.
You’ll learn how they prefer to collaborate, be managed, and what they need to do great work.
Unless you’re managing a team of mercenaries (e.g. an editor with a stable of freelance writers), don’t force contractors into *your* work rhythms.
Operate on theirs.
Operate on theirs.
I have freelancers who are in @podia’s Slack whom I talk to every day, and those who prefer ad hoc calls whom I talk with 1x/mo, and they all do great work.
Set clear, specific, expectations on day one. With KPI’s if you can.
“To me, success in 30/60/90 days looks like ____.”
Take the time to figure this out. It may change as you go and learn, but the best freelancers want to know how to knock a project out of the park.
“To me, success in 30/60/90 days looks like ____.”
Take the time to figure this out. It may change as you go and learn, but the best freelancers want to know how to knock a project out of the park.
If an engagement isn’t tracking toward success, don’t wait to address it.
Every high-performing freelancer would rather have a “this isn’t working, let’s fix it” talk than a “this didn’t work, let’s end it” one.
Every high-performing freelancer would rather have a “this isn’t working, let’s fix it” talk than a “this didn’t work, let’s end it” one.
Give clear positive feedback, too.
Not just “you did a good job on this,” but “woah, check out these metrics, X is up Y% thanks to you”.
Being on the outside makes it harder to see the specific results of your work, but it’s still important.
Not just “you did a good job on this,” but “woah, check out these metrics, X is up Y% thanks to you”.
Being on the outside makes it harder to see the specific results of your work, but it’s still important.
Finally, if you're here for the easy hackz, this one's for you.
A simple hack that will INSTANTLY increase freelance happiness, turn you into a highly sought-after client, and make your freelancers delighted to do their best work for you.
A simple hack that will INSTANTLY increase freelance happiness, turn you into a highly sought-after client, and make your freelancers delighted to do their best work for you.
Be the fastest-paying client they’ve ever had.
We have an internal rule at @podia that all freelancer invoices get paid within one business day.
Usually it’s within one hour.
Sometimes minutes!
You wouldn’t believe how much goodwill this wins us with our freelancers.
We have an internal rule at @podia that all freelancer invoices get paid within one business day.
Usually it’s within one hour.
Sometimes minutes!
You wouldn’t believe how much goodwill this wins us with our freelancers.
In fact, what prompted this thread was a conversation with one of our freelancers about how fast we pay our bills.
Freelancers talk to each other.
They know who the good and bad clients are.
And they refer each other accordingly.
The best clients get the best freelancers, and the best work.
They know who the good and bad clients are.
And they refer each other accordingly.
The best clients get the best freelancers, and the best work.
In short: freelancers are people, not “vendors”.
Treat them as you would treat a true partner, and expect results proportionate to the work you put in to the relationship.
Treat them as you would treat a true partner, and expect results proportionate to the work you put in to the relationship.
