Working With A Freelancer
Working With A Freelancer – Could It Be For You?
Working with a freelancer could be something you’ve considered, and written off.
We have been made to believe that we should have a full-time salaried employee to get the most value and consistency out of what we need from that skill set.
But, if you’re looking to get help with one-off projects, and flexibility or you’re a solopreneur who just doesn’t have the cash flow to bring someone on board full time, then contracting out to a freelancer may be just the answer you’re looking for.
Benefits and disadvantages of working with a freelancer
Like most things in life, there are both pros and cons to hiring a freelancer. No two situations are the same, so what works for one organization may not work for you. Working with a freelancer isn’t for everyone, and that’s OK.
Benefits
Breaking down the pros
When you’re starting out, the cost is a huge factor in everything you do. You may know that you need help with an area of your business (such as launching your social channels and strategy) but you know that you can’t afford to bring someone on full-time to help with that. Find a freelancer that loves working with social content growth so that they can focus on that skillset that they love, and you can work on other aspects of your business.
Onboarding a full-time employee can be very costly, so this is a great alternative to getting an expert to help you grow, and at some point, you may be ready to bring someone on full-time and have a clear definition of that role and responsibilities. Plus, saves you on space so if you’re still working out of your home office, no sweat. You work from your home office, and they’ll work from theirs. Win-win!
Availability and flexibility are huge benefits to working with a freelancer. Not every person works at their best at the same time every day. When you have an employee on full-time, and they’re expected to be creative in coming up with content for your blog & social channels, for example, creativity doesn’t start at 9 am and at 5 pm. As much as we want it to, trust me, that’s just not the way it works. More productive at 3 in the afternoon? Maybe 6 am? Perhaps you’re a night owl and do your best work while your household is sleeping. The beauty of working with a freelancer is knowing that there is a deadline, so regardless of what hours they choose to work, it doesn’t matter.
You’ll typically always see a quicker turnaround time with a freelancer compared to a full-time employee because this is their livelihood. Freelancers know that in order to get paid, they need to get the project back to you. Compare this to a full-time employee who will still work really hard on their project, but maybe not turn it around as quickly. Distractions in the office, or when you’re covering multiple aspects of a company, can derail someone’s progress on a project. It happens …a lot. Trust me.
Disadvantages
Breaking down the cons
Back to the last point of the pros with turnaround time. Your investment with a freelancer can be a double-edged sword. Freelancers absolutely want to retain your business, especially if they love working with you and/or your organization. With that being said, while they want to retain your business, they also need to work with other organizations to pay the bills. This is where having a full-time employee is more advantageous. Full-time employees are more likely to be invested in your organization compared to a freelancer. This is where you have to take a hard look at your business, what you require, what you can afford to do now, and what you anticipate 6 months, 12 months, 2 years, and 5 years from now.
When looking at working with a freelancer, you also need to take into consideration how you work with others. Not every person that runs a business can be hands-off, nor should you be. If you are the type of person that needs to know what someone is doing at all times, working with a freelancer may not be for you. Hear me out!
You are a small business that is just starting to grow, or you’re still trying to get your feet off the ground. You’re going to be worried about what someone is doing to help enhance your business. That’s totally fine! If you’re willing to have a discussion with your freelancer options, about timely updates, and they’re open to it, this can still work for you. Micromanaging a freelancer will not bode well for your relationship or either person’s sanity. Know what you can handle and find someone that works within that.
Most importantly, sign a contract with a freelancer you vibe well with. After all, you’re putting your full trust in them to help you grow your business. You may as well like the freelancer you’re working with.
Still interested in working with a freelancer, or becoming a freelancer? Head on over and check out our list on becoming a freelancer, hiring a freelancer, and what you can commonly find jobs/projects that are outsourced.
