Written by: Maria Rummel
Finding the right freelancer for your team can make all the difference when it comes to
driving seamless results. Adding a new marketer with specific expertise to your team can open up countless opportunities when it comes to implementing, optimizing, and managing your marketing technologies and campaigns. However, you can’t just add anyone to your team and expect it to be a success.We’ve spent the last three years matching hundreds of businesses with freelancers to help them fill skill gaps and elevate their marketing strategies. While our network of freelancers is thoroughly vetted, it is still important to ensure you’re choosing a freelancer who is the right fit for your team.If you’re considering adding freelance talent to your team, here’s a checklist of items you may want to consider when determining if a specific freelancer is the right fit:
Make Sure They’re a Full-time Professional
By partnering with a freelancer who has made freelancing their full-time career, you’ve completed the first step in vetting their expertise. Full-time freelance professionals put their livelihood on the line of their work and forgo many of the benefits of full-time employment such as regular and consistent pay and
healthcare or insurance benefits. Do a Quick Google Check
Website: Do they have a website? Does it look professional? Experienced digital marketers will have created, or invested in a modern website. Keep in mind that web-based software has made it painfully easy to look good, so don’t let your digging end here. LLC: While it may not be a make or break point, if a freelancer has evidently set up an LLC to conduct their business, you know they’re visualizing growth as an entrepreneur and are taking the appropriate steps to run a business and establish a brand. Social Media: Social media giants are empowering brands to run their businesses from their social media platforms with features such as customer reviews, chats, and even buy buttons. A quick search can help you find a freelancer’s social media sites – If you’re looking for a marketing professional to help you with your business, you’ll want to make sure you like how they are marketing their own.Related:
How Freelancers Help You Get the Most From Your Marketing Budget Ask for evidence
A good freelancer shouldn’t have a problem providing references or sharing work samples with prospective clients. Past work can be a great indicator of if you’ll be satisfied with the work they will do for you. Looking at past work that is similar to a proposed project also helps you clearly articulate exactly what you want to the freelancer.
Verify the technical skills needed
When narrowing down your list of possible candidates, it’s smart to ensure each is proficient in both your industry and the technology your team already uses or is trying to implement. Verify their experience level with any tools in question and ask about past experiences. When applicable, it’s good to ask about any certifications that the freelancer has.
Compare expectations
Before engaging with a freelancer, it is important to ensure you’re both on the same page. Do you need the freelancer to be present in your office or at events? How often will you communicate? If you’ll be working on retainer, what will happen if the freelancer needs to bill additional hours to complete a project? Be sure to have a written record of both your expectations and the freelancer’s expectations so that there’s no gray area.
Compare pricing
When it comes to pricing,
experts who value their craftoffer fair and competitive pricing for the work they do. True experts won’t work for cheap because they know that the work they provide creates value for your business.Vetting professionals might not be easy, but it is always worth it to do the background research and find an expert that is right for your team. By partnering with Torchlite, you can focus on checking the other items off your list while our resourcing experts find the right talent for your team.
Learn moreabout how to access and engage our network of top, digital marketing professionals today.
