There comes a time in every business when its owner needs to hire some help. Often, that means bringing on some full or part-time employees, but often, that first hire is a freelancer.
First, what is a freelancer? A freelancer is a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. (source)
There are a couple of questions to ask yourself first when hiring a freelancer:
- What do I need help with? Be incredibly clear on what the freelancer will need to do to effectively help you. Instead of “I need help with social media”, think “I need someone to create and post content to my Facebook and Instagram feeds three times per week.”
- What’s the scope of work? More questions to ask: Do you need someone for a single project? An ongoing one? On a month-to-month basis? Only for a limited amount of time?
- What’s my budget for hiring a freelancer? Figure out how much you have to spend on this help as it will help narrow your search.
Now, it’s time to find available freelancers!
Start by asking others within your network if they have any recommendations. Word of mouth will always be worth its weight in gold, and referrals are the best gift anyone can provide a business owner, and especially a freelancer. This may include asking the members of networking groups you are a part of – including Facebook Groups!
If that doesn’t offer any viable options, consider one of these popular sites for finding freelancers:
- Black Freelancers Web Directory, which boosts the visibility of Black freelancers and calls attention to their work
- Fiverr
- Flexjobs
- Freelancer
- iWorker, especially great for finding virtual assistants
- Upwork
And don’t forget about LinkedIn! While it’s not typically considered as a direct source for finding freelancers, it is possible to search profiles for those offering those services.
From there, assess the freelancers you find and then hire accordingly based on your needs at the time. And it’s always a great idea to save the contact info of some backup options in case your first choice is busy or is not available in the time frame you need them.
So what are you waiting for – go find the help you need. Freelancers are waiting and are ready to work!
Alicia Hansen is a Cleveland born, raised and educated marketing professional, writer and event producer. Her event credits include work with Cleveland Magazine, the Arthritis Foundation, Playhouse Square, Great Lakes Theater, the Cleveland Metroparks and more. Previously as L’Nique Specialty Linen’s marketing director, she played an integral role elevating the brand awareness of the organization with recognitions like L’Nique’s Top Workplaces awards from The Plain Dealer in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She teaches yoga at GrooveRyde, Platform Beer Co. and at pop-ups around Northeast Ohio. You can find her spreading a realistic yet hopeful look on life on her social feeds (@aliciamhansen) and her blog, aliciamhansen.com.
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