You hiring? I’m willing

I agree 100% – there are many tip-off signs to watch out for when selecting a freelancer to work with. I’ve heard many, many stories from clients who come to us after being burned by others who aren’t ethical in their practices and who seem to have no morals.

Hiring over the high-speed connection lines is really no different than hiring someone in person. Ask questions, look for references (and contact those references!), request samples, find out as much as you can about the person. Test for personality fit as well as business fit. Don’t shop by price, shop by quality and skills. Everything should go smoothly.

Check out our free report on our site, Writing that Reflects You.

I certainly wasn’t trying to paint all freelancers with a broad brush, but it was my intent to outline lots of the pitfalls someone might come across…. because while you sound great and dedicated (want a job? ) it is easy to get mislead by those people that aren’t.

Like anything on the internet, all the tools are there to empower anyone that can click a mouse to both achieve great things and to get in over their head. Especially when it comes to something where people may have little or no experience (like hiring someone) erring on the side of caution certainly seems like the prudent approach.

I don’t think there is any denying that there are potential dangers and speed bumps related to freelancers out there, so I wanted readers new to the game to simply be aware of where they might stumble and to set expectations accordingly.

Cheers, and good luck.

I’d like to set the record straight on a few points:

“Don’t expect things to go smoothly.” If you’ve chosen your freelancer or professional well, things *will* go smoothly. It is our job as professionals to ensure the client receives top-quality services and has a good experience. Many freelancers help people new to outsourcing by guiding them through websites, processes, contracts, and we even provide recommendations or suggestions that often are in the client’s best interest.

“It’s cheap.” Yes, outsourcing is cost effective. It is cheap in that it will cost you less time and money than if you’d attempted the job yourself. But the maxim “you get what you pay for” reigns in outsourcing. If you just want cheap work at a cheap price, take the lowest bidder and toss the rest.
A better idea is to find the freelancer that fits your needs and has the skills you require and that has reasonable rates – not inflated, and not rock bottom, but somewhere in the middle that is fair to both parties involved. Do you really want to promote sweatshop work?

“Since a lot of work is sent to other countries…” No one sends the work to other countries but the client. *You* choose the person you want to work with. If you outsource and you select a freelancer located somewhere else in the world, that is your choice. Freelancers who accept contracts and jobs do not further outsource the projects to workers in other countries.

“There’s a good chance you might be dealing with someone half a world away…” There are many, many freelancers located within minutes, miles, or a couple of hours of your location. There is no need to deal with people half a world away if you choose not to go that route.

“Many vendors simply bid dozens of projects without a lot of thought about your particular project” I agree that *some* freelancers practice this method. Many, many freelancers care a great deal about your project, you as a client and your ultimate satisfaction. They also care very much about doing a good job.

Keep in mind, also, that freelancers have to eat – since there is high competition, bidding on multiple jobs to contract one or two is normal and in no way a reflection on the quality of services.

“Odds are you aren’t going to find someone that is as passionate about your project as you are.” Many freelancers love what they do. They’re pros. They’re experts. They see each project as a challenge to do the best they can do – and surpass client expectations. The odds are more likely to be that you find a freelancer who is just as excited about your project as you are.

“At the end of the day, there isn’t much accountability on the vendor’s side other than their feedback rating. Some vendors may run into trouble and simply cut and run.” There are two sides to every coin. There are providers who do cut and run, yes. There are also just as many clients who cut and run as well after the work is delivered, leaving the freelancer with no money and empty hands.

“Many bidders act almost as a project manager (without telling you) and simply re-outsource the project. This means you aren’t really choosing your vendor. Explicitly inquire about and avoid this.” There is no reason to avoid teams of freelancers. Grouping together is common in the freelancing world, because united we stand, divided we fall. The lone entrepreneur and freelancer don’t last long in a virtual world. Consider, rather, that those freelancers who work in teams are possibly the best to choose – there is always someone available for your project, the client is not left hanging should a real life emergency come up, and teams are efficient for large-volume jobs. They also have a pool of skills at your disposal.

“Expect delays.” There is no need for delays, and experienced freelancers know exactly how much time a project takes. If they can’t pin down an accurate figure due to the project requirements, they can certainly offer a deadline – and they *can* meet it.

The best bit of advice that you offered in your post is your last statement – that you should find a good freelancer with which you have good rapport and who is talented enough to help you with your project.

I invite you to visit the “Working with a Writer” section of my blog – there is some valuable advice for those seeking to outsource projects to have a great working relationship with freelancers – and not just writers!

What he means is, when you outsource a project, it can be potentially dangerous for you to NOT know how to do it yourself. You don’t have to be an expert as the person you’re outsourcing it to, but at least know enough so you can do it on your own.

The worse thing that can happen is if you’re website, project, or tool that you outsource is ONLY understood by someone other than you. It essentially becomes a “black box” that you can’t access.

What if the outsourcing person is no longer available? Or he or she decides to no longer work with you? You’re stuck. And if it’s a major piece of your business, then you can be in deep trouble.

I hope this makes sense.

- Shiraz Khan

And my best advice, to reiterate you, Wendy, is be extremely detailed in your assignments. Assume your outsourcing partner knows nothing and needs explicit detail. Then you leave no room for costly misunderstandings!