5 strategies to get the best out of online freelancers

This sponsored post is produced in association with Upwork.

The workplace has changed a lot since the Mad Men days of Don Draper. No longer are we tied to conventional workplace structures — or hamstrung by the inefficiencies of the hiring and recruitment process that can turn a temporary hire into a six-week process. The Connected Age has enabled businesses to become much more agile, enabling employees to work remotely, giving them far more control over their work-life balance.

At the same time, the emergence of online platforms and freelancer marketplaces like Upwork have provided businesses access to professional and specialized talent quickly and affordably — and allowed the emergence of a “hybrid workforce” made up of a core team of in-house staff supported by independent skilled remote and online workers.

Not only for startups

Good or bad, the online freelancer community tends to be automatically associated with the digital/social/mobile start-up community. That’s a self-sabotaging misconception – whether you’re just launching a shiny new venture or looking to augment your existing workforce, hiring remote online freelancers can be an invaluable tool for any business.

Fortunately, there are scores of talented freelancers out there you can tap into. Many of them have senior-level and specialized skillsets and have intentionally traded the commitment of a full-time, year-round position for the flexibility of freelance. Others are talented, young stars who are passionate about what they do, driven to prove themselves, and will go above and beyond to do so.

Still, there are some key guidelines for getting the best out of online freelance hires. Here are five ways to make sure you find the right talent to suit your needs.

1. Write a clear description of what you want

Don’t hold back on any details. Whether you’re looking to hire a programming whiz for software development or a creative designer to come up with a new corporate logo, provide a clear and comprehensive description of the role and deliverables. A basic overview is not enough here. And outline the skills that you’re looking for. Here’s a checklist of things to include in your project brief:

Company overview: Imagine that the person reading your brief doesn’t know anything about your company, because they likely won’t.
Deliverables: List out what you are ultimately looking to receive at the completion of the project.
Required skills: Be clear if your task requires a specific skill set. If you’re looking for design work, include the types of software proficiencies they need, such as a strong background in Adobe Photoshop.
Timeframe: Be very specific about when you are looking to receive completed work by.
Budget parameters: Are you hiring on an hourly or fixed-price basis? Hourly projects are useful for ongoing work or if the scope of the project may change.

2. Evaluate proposals on their merits

Now that you’ve written that detailed brief on your brand/product and what you’re looking for, you’ll have to sift through a lot of responses to find the perfect candidate(s). As you look through proposals from freelancers, it’s important that you consider all factors including, but not limited to, price.

Avoid template responses: You want to focus on submissions that are personalized and written specifically for your project and not a template proposal that was adjusted with a Find and Replace functionality.
Devil in the details: Look for professionalism and attention to detail with a (somewhat) logistical structure and information flow in the proposal.
Samples and portfolio: Professional freelancers will have samples of previous work or an online portfolio that they can direct you to. Give the most weight to samples that are closely related to your task.
Enthusiasm: Although it’s sometimes hard to measure this via a written proposal, try to get a gauge for someone’s enthusiasm and interest in the project.

3. Shortlist top candidates

Online platforms like Upwork allow you to delve deeper into a freelancer’s profile to get a better sense of how they will perform. Take a look at their ratings, work history, accredited skills, and examples of past work.

Look through written feedback from previous clients, both positive and constructive, and how the freelancer responded to that feedback — it will give you a good sense of the level of professionalism that you are dealing with.

Seasoned freelancers are great but don’t be afraid of new freelancers just

hitting the marketplace. Although they might be untested in a professional freelance capacity, they will likely be motivated to over deliver and impress you in order to launch their online freelancing profile and career.

4. Test and grow

Depending on your project needs, it can be beneficial to do a small test project with two or three freelancers before making your final long-term selection. This will help you get a sense of individual skills, work style, and online personalities and how they mesh with you and your team’s style.

5. Communicate, communicate, communicate

The number one downfall to the success of freelancers in your business is the lack of — or poorly written — communication between the hiring party and freelancer. Here are some things to keep in mind to make sure you’re communicating effectively:

Protect your intellectual property: If you need to provide sensitive information, ask freelancers to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement upfront to protect yourself.
Agreement: When you’re ready to select your freelancer and finalize negotiations, confirm the job terms, price, and payment terms in a simple written agreement that all parties can sign off on.
Overcommunication is good: After you come to an agreement, check in regularly in your day-to-day interactions and emails. The more information you can share with your freelancer, the more intimate they will become with your project, and the better output that you’ll receive from them.

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