| Whether you currently deal with a freelancer website, | | | | of the world. |
| or are just looking for the best place to find a | | | | For example, you want someone to create a logo for |
| freelancer, the biggest problem you face is how to find | | | | you. Any decent graphic artist should be able to do |
| a good reliable freelance, one that will do the job | | | | that. So, it probably is safe to go with the lowest |
| properly with good quality work and finish it on time. | | | | bidder. But, suppose you need a sales letter written for |
| Many sites offer you, the webmaster, a place to post | | | | an Australian audience, do you really think someone is |
| your projects to be bid on by freelancers. All of these | | | | Eastern Europe or China will be able to do as good a |
| sites let you contact offshore workers that live in | | | | job as a native Australian? Probably not, but, the cost |
| countries where wages are only a fraction of what | | | | of living is a lot higher in Australia and that individual |
| they are in the more industrialized nations. This allows | | | | would need to charge more for the same amount of |
| you to keep your project budget low and save money | | | | work. |
| by keeping your full-time staff small. | | | | Do Not Hire Outside of Your Expertise. |
| So, how can you find this "diamond in the rough"? You | | | | But, you say, "If I was an expert, I wouldn't need to hire |
| know, that reliable individual who delivers quality work | | | | someone else!" While that may be true, you do need |
| on time and within agreed upon budget? There is no | | | | to be sufficiently familiar with the area of work to be |
| simple answer. The best you can do is using the tools | | | | able to accurately describe the project, to know what |
| provided by the freelance website to try and minimize | | | | and isn't technically possible and know whether the |
| your risk. | | | | bids you receive are reasonable for the amount of |
| Unfortunately, most of the existing freelance websites | | | | work involved. |
| use a very poor rating system that only allows a | | | | If Necessary, get advice from someone who does |
| webmaster to rate a freelancer on a scale from 1-10. | | | | know the area of work. Most sites provide a message |
| This system doesn't take any of the more important | | | | board for you to negotiate with the bidders |
| variables into account, such as the complexity of the | | | | anonymously before you select one of them for the |
| project. | | | | project. Pay careful attention the freelancer's reaction |
| The complexity of a project is important. A freelancer | | | | to the project. The ideal candidate is one who loves his |
| doing many simple and inexpensive jobs may have an | | | | work. Ask them to describe similar projects they have |
| excellent rating and do very good work for that kind of | | | | done in the past or to provide samples of their work if |
| project. But, there is no guarantee they can handle a | | | | feasible. Graphic artists, web designers and writers will |
| more complex project. Since the more complex | | | | be able to provide samples. Programmers and some |
| projects cost more to get done, at least one freelance | | | | others may not be able to provide samples but they |
| website has developed a rating system that takes | | | | may be able to provide references if they haven't |
| complexity into consideration by using the dollar | | | | already been rated by other webmasters. |
| amount of the project as part of the rating formula to | | | | Following the steps above and keeping the lines of |
| provide the webmaster with additional information. | | | | communication open will dramatically increase your |
| Thereby, hoping to make the webmaster's decision a | | | | chances of having a successful experience with your |
| little easier. | | | | chosen freelancer. It can save you both time and |
| Here are a couple of additional suggestions for hiring a | | | | money as well as help you manage your business in |
| freelancer: | | | | the most effective manner. After all, you face all of |
| Do Not Post a Budget !!! | | | | the same challenges in dealing with freelancers as you |
| "Why not?" you ask. If you post a budget, most | | | | face in dealing with any employee, plus the additional |
| freelancers will bid based on the budget amount. | | | | challenges created by being in different geographic |
| Unfortunately, a reasonable cost in one part of the | | | | locations. |
| world is insanely high or ridiculously low in another part | | | | Good luck. |