Website | Manujarch's Weblog

How to hire freelancers and create an asset out of them.

23 07 2008

: Image via CrunchBase

Going to freelance sites like elance.com and expecting a good work is what is desired. Here’s a list of how you can hire:

1. Know what you want to achieve in work. Put down points and make an estimate of how many hours the job can be done.

2.The posting shall consist of identifiable sub-works. Ask your freelance site how these sub-works can be posted-whether as a single project or multiple.

3.The best way to identify core competencies of providers is to draw circles and list the prospective providers. If the circles overlap, it’s good for interactive co-ordination.

4.Start with a small job-$10, then $25, then $100 and so on. Sample an assignment and give a detailed description of what is the goal of the project and technically, what and what not is ti be done. Assigning $10 job to 3 prospective freelancers is not a bad choice-you can always catch up with the faster one.

5.Be clear in identifying deliverables. If you miss a deliverable and you presumably ask it for granted, the freelancer can sway you towards his range and press you for inflated amounts.

6.Use freelancing for services first and then for goods.

7.Keep records of messaging on website, enabling mediation. Emailing and chatting may not be a good choice. Unrecorded phone conversations aren’t since it is very difficult to retrieve memory based commitments.

8.Walk through orientation videos on websites and chat in the forums for subject related queries.

9.Asking for a paid 10 minute demo ($5) to every provider is not a bad choice.

10.Go clear on the size and type of deliverable. e.g. a walk through with 240×480 pixel resolution 16 frames per second. Movie length 10 seconds. Number of revision sessions-3. Time required-1day. Budget $100.

11. Don’t hesitate to ask for the time sheets in advance if you anticipate that the work would prolong.

Remember, ask full questions and answer to the provider’s queries, than coaxing him to ask reactive ones “What is your qualification?”,”Where are you located”,”Hey hey”, ” R U there” or any question which is described on provider’s profile. You might miss out a good, quick & economical provider.

Remember, a freelancer doing a good work truly requires $25 per (billable) hour to cover his expenses and save for his future. If it is a company or consortium it can be more than $200 per hour.

I wish you a happy posting and benefiting.

Related articles by Zemanta