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How to use freelancers to grow your business right now
Rebecca Appleton • 1 July 2020
It’s no secret that the gig economy is absolutely booming and freelancing is taking off like never before.
As an entrepreneur, there’s always a pressure to grow – but you may find that as you become busier, there’s just not enough hours in the day to do it all yourself. There’s also a school of thought that great leaders and entrepreneurs work on their business, not in it.
At the beginning of your journey with the Eazi-Apps business opportunity, you may not have the budget to add all of the desired skill-sets to your team on a permanent basis. You may not have the office space for them or even a need to have certain skill sets on your team on a full time, salaried basis. Freelancers could be the answer.
It’s no secret that the gig economy is absolutely booming and freelancing is taking off like never before. The gig economy doubled to 4.7 million workers in the UK last year and in the US, accounts for more than 57 million workers and is the fastest growing new-jobs category across the economy. That means, with such a wealth of people and talent, you can access almost any expert on a gig or freelance basis.
The thriving freelance market is great news for entrepreneurs – while you’ll find an abundance of sales and marketing support within Eazi-Apps, there are times when you may not have the time, inclination or tools to do something yourself. Here’s how to find and manage a freelancer for those occasions, to help you grow your business:
1. Pick a platform (or two)
The easiest way to find a freelancer to suit your needs, whether that’s an animation wizard to create you a video, a graphic designer to design an email flyer or an accountant to help with your books, is to join a platform. There are hundreds online, with some broad marketplaces where you’ll find freelancers across all sorts of specialisms such as coding, marketing, social media and even data entry or telesales, to sites which are dedicated to a particular skill set. A quick Google search will give you lots of options and allow for comparison, so you can join a platform which best suits your needs.
You’ll need to create an account so get that set up and you’re ready to begin hiring!
2. Write a clear, detailed job brief
Regardless of whether your job is small or large, something that can be completed in an hour or two or will be ongoing, you’ll need to create a job brief. This brief should be clear on the work you need doing, the timeframe for completion and the rate of pay. You might also want to state whether repeat commissions are possible and the desired level of expertise.
3. Screen applications
When applications start coming in, don’t be tempted to go for the first person to apply or the one who promises to complete the work the quickest or cheapest. Make a shortlist of relevant candidates who meet your budget and experience requirements and then review their profiles on the platform. It’s always a good idea to request samples where possible but you’ll also want to check their own profile looks professional and review work history. Check feedback from previously completed jobs and read the reviews.
4. Make an offer
If you have freelancer in mind, make the offer. Confirm here the deliverables and delivery date so there is no chance of miscommunication or misunderstanding. Once the offer is accepted, you’ll need to provide your brief. Be open and clear here and make time to answer questions as this is what will ensure your job is completed in the way you envisage.
5. Provide feedback
Prompt feedback is always appreciated by freelancers as that enables them to make any necessary changes and meet your expectations. A job done well means good reviews which can help them win more work, so be clear on any changes needed. It’s also good practise to send all requested changes in one go rather than ask for one change, then the next so set time aside to thoroughly review the work.
6. Leave a fair review
At the end of the job, leave a fair review for the freelancer, considering aspects such as communication, adherence to deadlines and the quality of the finished project.
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