The Unseen Power of Freelancers: A Deep Dive into Their Benefits And Where To Hire Them
Imagine you’re running a business. You’re juggling multiple tasks – from marketing and sales to HR and finance. On top of all, you need to oversee a critical project that demands a unique skill set, not present in your current team. What do you do? Hire a new full-time employee? Not necessarily. The solution may lie in the growing gig economy – hiring a freelancer.
Today, the freelance economy is booming, with millions of skilled professionals opting for flexible, project-based work over traditional employment. But what’s in it for you, as an employer? Why should you consider this seemingly unconventional hiring method?
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the myriad benefits of hiring a freelancer, from saving you time and money to infusing your projects with fresh perspectives and specialized expertise.
Time-Saving: A Key Advantage of Hiring Freelancers
Immediate Availability
When a new project lands on your desk, time is often of the essence. Hiring a full-time employee can take weeks or even months, from crafting the perfect job description to sifting through resumes and conducting interviews. On the other hand, freelancers are often available to start immediately, reducing the time it takes to kick-start a project.
Platforms dedicated to freelancing have made finding and hiring freelancers faster than ever. You can view portfolios, read reviews, and even conduct interviews all in one place. Once you’ve found the right person, it’s just a matter of agreeing on terms and getting started.
The flexibility of freelancers also saves you time in project execution. They’re used to working on tight deadlines and, since they’re not tied down by a typical 9-5 schedule, they can often work at times when your internal team may not be available.
Freeing Up Internal Resources
Hiring a freelancer for a specific project can free up your internal team to focus on what they do best. Instead of spreading your team thin, you can delegate tasks that require specialized skills to freelancers. This not only ensures high-quality work but also reduces the risk of burnout among your staff. For example maybe you want to hire someone to help with your monthly newsletter, create social media posts or build out your online coaching course.
The nature of freelancing also allows for easy scaling. If you have a large project, you can hire multiple freelancers to speed up the process, and once the project is complete, you can end the contract with no strings attached.
Moreover, hiring freelancers can also reduce the administrative burden on your HR and payroll departments. Freelancers take care of their own insurance, taxes, and benefits, simplifying the hiring process.
Delegation and Project Management: A New Age Approach
Specialized Expertise at Your Fingertips
Every project has its unique requirements, and sometimes, these require skills that your current team doesn’t possess. Hiring a freelancer allows you to bring in an expert for the job, ensuring top-quality results.
Freelancers, by the nature of their work, are often highly specialized in their fields. They have honed their skills over multiple projects and can bring a depth of knowledge and experience to your project that would be hard to find in a generalist employee.
Plus, with the vast global pool of freelancers available, you’re not limited by geographical boundaries. You can find the perfect fit for your project regardless of where they are in the world, expanding your options exponentially.
Project Management Simplified
Freelancers are used to working remotely and managing their own time, which can streamline project management. They’re comfortable with project management tools and remote communication, reducing the need for micromanagement.
With clear communication and defined expectations, you can trust a freelancer to deliver the work on time and to specification, without constant oversight. This can free up your management team to focus on strategic decision making rather than day-to-day task management.
However, it’s essential to remember that successful delegation to freelancers requires clear communication. Be sure to define the project scope, deadlines, and expectations upfront to ensure a smooth working relationship.
Design: The Freelancer’s Forte
Fresh Perspectives and Creativity
Bringing in a freelancer can infuse your projects with fresh ideas and perspectives. Especially in creative fields like design, a freelancer can bring a unique style and vision that can take your project to the next level.
Freelancers work with a variety of clients across different industries, exposing them to a wealth of ideas and trends. They can bring this eclectic experience to your project, providing innovative solutions that you may not have considered.
Plus, since a freelancer’s reputation hinges on every job they do, they’re motivated to produce high-quality, creative work that stands out.
High-Quality Work, Lower Costs
Hiring a freelancer can often be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time employee, especially for one-off projects. You pay for the work done, without the ongoing costs of salary, benefits, office space, and resources that come with a full-time employee. Some freelancers offer monthly retainer options vs hourly. These freelancers are often more experienced and have specific skills sets.
Moreover, the competitive nature of freelance platforms ensures you get high-quality work at a fair price. Freelancers depend on good reviews and word of mouth for their livelihood, so they’re motivated to deliver top-notch work.
In conclusion, hiring a freelancer can bring numerous benefits to your business, from saving time and money to bringing in specialized expertise and fresh perspectives. So, the next time you’re faced with a project that’s outside your team’s wheelhouse, why not consider going the freelance route?
Here are five places you can hire a freelancer.
Upwork – You can post a job and let Upworks talent pool apply to work with you or you can search for specific freelancers and the types of services they offer. For example, I’ve been on Upwork since it was originally called Elance and Odesk before they merged. I offer assistance with newsletters, OBM services for coaches who are looking to scale and executive CEO support. I also offer monthly retainers if you prefer to skip the whole process of using a freelancing platform. Reach out to inquire about availability. Don’t worry If I’m booked, I’m connected to a whole talent pool of excellent OBM resources.
Toptal – Toptal is an exclusive network of the top freelance software developers, designers, marketing experts, finance experts, product managers, and project managers in the world. Top companies hire Toptal freelancers for their most important projects.
Fiverr – I have my favorites on Fiverr I hire to help me with my book covers or journal inserts. Fiverr has come along ways from the beginnings of $5 offers. You can find help with Ai services, video editing, design, consulting and so much more.
Remote.com – I haven’t personally tried this application but they do look promising. They feature talent from around the world offering assistance with payroll, HR management and more.
LinkedIn – Use the search bar and type in the position you are needing help with. Make a post with the desired assistance you are looking for and I bet you’ll be amazed and the resources that pop up simply within your network of friends on LI.
If you are in the process of scaling your business here are my top two favorite books/experts on scaling for women.
Scale or Fail: How to Build Your Dream Team, Explode Your Growth, and Let Your Business Soar
Thanks for stopping by my blog. To comb through all my pasts posts on hiring an OBM, dashboard designers, creating a personal brand and more. Start on my homepage.
About Carol Lawrence
Dreams do come true. I’m thriving in the mountains with my husband of 38 years, five chickens, and one dog, and relishing time spent with my granddaughters and family. I’m a best-selling co-author of Women On Purpose; 13 Women Share Their Journey To Living Their Highest Calling, co-author of my Intentional Conscious Parenting blog, and the book 10 Ways To Parent Consciously; Parenting In The New Paradigm. I’ve published numerous blogs, printed journals, and parenting printables. I have a passion for supporting the inner light of the children, helping my changemakers, mission-driven CEO’s and soulpreneurs behind the scenes in their businesses as an OMB, and writing on a variety of topics.
