| If you have your own business and there is a | | | | provide examples of work for and a portfolio |
| specific project that you need done, how do you | | | | may not be as necessary but if you are looking |
| go about finding the right person to do it? In the | | | | for a freelance writer, web designer, artist or a |
| past there has always been the traditional route | | | | number of other fields then a portfolio should be |
| of hiring permanent staff but today more and | | | | vital. Take a look at their portfolio and consider |
| more people are choosing to work with | | | | whether they are offering the type of work you |
| freelancers because of the benefit that | | | | are looking for. If the person has a well presented |
| freelancers provide. How should you go about | | | | portfolio that displays the kind of work you are |
| finding a freelancer who has the necessary skills | | | | looking for then you are a lot less likely to |
| you need, what should you look for and where | | | | encounter problems with them down the line or |
| should you be looking. | | | | have to require too many revisions from them. |
| One of the easiest places to find a freelancer | | | | Try sending them a couple of messages before |
| these days is on freelance jobs boards such as | | | | deciding if they are the ones you want to choose |
| freelanceworkexchange.com, and To find a | | | | for your project and see how quickly they reply. |
| freelancer on these websites you will need to | | | | Good freelancers should be easily contactable. If |
| start with your project description. The more | | | | you prefer other methods of communicating with |
| specific your project description is, the more likely | | | | your freelancers then you should include this |
| you are to find the right person for the job. Your | | | | information in your project description and ask |
| project description should be well written and | | | | your prospective freelancers how they will be able |
| should include exactly what you are looking for, if | | | | to communicate with you. Communication is a |
| you have a time frame you will need the work | | | | vital aspect of any working relationship and |
| done in and what this time frame is as well as | | | | perhaps even more so when working with a |
| any requirements you are seeking from the | | | | freelancer. |
| freelancer. | | | | The easiest place to find freelancers is using |
| Once people start responding to the project you | | | | freelance jobs boards, however when using these |
| posted you should carefully consider each | | | | boards there are a number of things you will want |
| application as you would if you were hiring | | | | to look at when choosing your freelancer. The |
| permanent staff. Take a look at the wording of | | | | first thing you should consider is the proposal itself |
| the proposal as well as details that may be | | | | along with any reviews, feedback and details of |
| available regarding feedback about this freelancer, | | | | amount earned. You should also take a careful |
| how much they have earned, etc. There are | | | | look at their portfolio - are they offering the kind |
| unfortunately a number of freelancers bidding for | | | | of work that you want your freelancer to do? |
| projects on these boards who do not know what | | | | Lastly, once you have eliminated a couple of |
| they are doing but this is usually evident from the | | | | prospects through the above methods try |
| first project proposal. If possible take a look at | | | | communicating with some of your prospective |
| some other proposals they have submitted to the | | | | freelancers, make it clear that you are still |
| website. Freelancers who do not know what they | | | | selecting a freelancer but see how quickly they |
| are doing are more likely to submit exactly the | | | | respond to your messages as communication is |
| same proposal for each project, although the | | | | vital for any business, particularly when working |
| price may vary, the wording will remain the same. | | | | with a freelancer. If you follow these steps when |
| Professional freelancers know how to adapt their | | | | choosing your freelancer you are more likely to |
| proposal to each individual bid that they place. | | | | find a freelance partner that is able to offer work |
| Another very important factor in most cases is | | | | of a high standard and give you what you are |
| the portfolio of work. If you are offering an | | | | looking for. |
| administrative position this is sometimes harder to | | | | |