How Startups Can Ensure Success While Working With Freelancers

Just a decade or so before, freelancing was not taken very seriously by many organizations as well as individuals.

However, the scenario has changed drastically in the last ten years. According to a report by Forbes, 34% of the US workforce, which is equivalent to 53 million people, has earned their income via freelancing in 2015. As per Upwork, this number increased to 57 million in 2019. According to this report, freelancing contributed to about $1 trillion to the US economy in the same year as 61% of Americans have opted for freelancing by choice!

What caused this surge in freelancing as a career choice?
Well, first of all, it’s the work-life balance that freelancing provides to the millennials, who crave for it. But the key factors that have contributed to such a massive growth of the gig economy are the acceptance and incorporation of freelancers into the startup culture.

As per a report by Learning Hub, in 2019, 59% of organizations in the US have a flexible work culture, including remote workers and freelancers. This apart, 23% of the workforce of small and medium-sized agencies comprise of freelancers. So, you see how this latest mode of working with freelancers is slowly becoming a trend?

The pandemic situation has further fuelled this growth by turning the attention towards remote working. With the companies struggling to manage their workforce remotely, freelancing has seen a new light of development. As most freelancers are self-sufficient and well-accustomed to the remote working model, companies are hiring them to complete pending assignments, as well as new projects that are already in line.

If you are planning to do the same, you should consider the following things while working with freelancers to ensure success:

Communicate your expectations properly
Working with freelancers can be a tad difficult if you’re doing it for the first time. Unlike your full-time employees, the freelancers may not be well-acquainted with the specific objectives of your business or your target audience. You should communicate those ideas to the professionals in clearest terms and even provide them with a brief introduction of your business, objectives, mission, vision, and target audience. You should also explain the project and your expectations regarding it properly, as well as create the timeframe to complete it. Once the professionals have a basic idea about the business, as well as the project, they will be able to complete it without any hassle. You should also be responsive through email or other platforms, in case they have any queries.

Evaluate the credibility of the freelancers
Just like you hire your employees through a careful recruitment process, you should also hire freelancers after evaluating their talent and credibility. Arrange for paid evaluation tests or ask for samples of previous works before you start talking to them about the project in hand. The former is more effective than the latter, as you can get a clear idea about the freelancer’s quality of work, as well as understand if they are the right fit for your project. It’s unwise to go ahead without proper evaluation, as you never know what type of experience and expertise they have.

Propose; don't sign an agreement, yet
If you’re planning to hire a freelancer for the long term, you shouldn’t be in any hurry to signing them on your team. It may give rise to complications later if the person wants to move away for some reason, or you decide to take a step back. Instead, create a proposal for them and send an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), which will prevent the professional from revealing intricate business details to outsiders. After some time has passed, you can go ahead with the detailed contract, if you’re happy with the quality of work and the level of commitment shown by the professional. But take your time to decide.

Try to find the person on social media and ask for references
As the freelancers are not in your control, you may feel hesitant to go all-out with a freelancer-incorporation strategy in your workplace. Like, how to trust them? How to know if they will deliver the work on time and won’t run away with your money? Well, you can always ask them politely if they can follow your business page on LinkedIn or other social media platforms, so that you can get an idea about their track record and previous works easily. You can also ask for references and speak to them to get an idea about their experience.

Make the most of remote working tools
There are numerous web and mobile applications that make it easier to keep track of the progress of freelanced projects. The platforms like Trello, Lighthouse, OpenProject, Wrike, and others can help you delegate assignments faster, and communicate and collaborate more effectively with the freelancers. Get adept with such online tools and seek professionals who are comfortable using them too.

Wrapping it up
The gig economy is here to stay, and there can be no arguments on this. Why not incorporate the same in your business? Hiring freelancers, after all, will save a lot of resources. For a startup struggling to ride out the COVID-19 storm and the economic crisis, hiring freelancers can be a lucrative option. Think!