Whether you are looking for application development, PPC management, legal process outsourcing or blog writing services, outsourcing is a great idea. If you can get a freelancer that works in harmony with your company, then you will be on a fast-track to increasing business productivity and capacity.
Before you actually decide and get a freelancer onboard, it is important to do a detailed examination of the freelancer or company that you are choosing. If you make the right choice now, then it will save a lot of hassle in the future.
Project Specifications
Understand that the process leading up to awarding the project, is just as important as when the project is delivered. Whether you are looking to get a freelancer for blog post writing, or SEO services, the same rules apply. How flexible are they? Do they offer help and advice that is honest and transparent?
If a company does not expect any brief, or a limited brief, don’t expect the project to be exactly what you want. A professional and experienced company will ask all the right questions in order to be able to deliver a quality end result.
Cost & Quality
Remember the aim here, an increase in productivity; streamlining your business processes. The aim is not to go for the cheapest outsourcing service provider on offer.
In fact, cheap is the wrong word. The cheapest hourly rate does not necessarily result in the lowest overall cost. Even when it does, the quality of service is usually compromised in order to reach this lower price. Find the balance between cost and quality that suits what you need.
Location
Some of the off-shore freelancers are amazing; truly amazing. The way the work, their quality, their pricing structure; everything! The problem is, finding this great freelancer is not as easy as you might think. Most US/UK and Australian companies try and keep their freelancers on their home turf.
Communication and time zones can also be an issue. Will they be online when you need them to be? Can you have a conversation on Skype easily, or are there language barriers?
Portfolio
When you are looking to get a freelancer, the portfolio is about all you have to go on when it comes to choosing a service provider. Don’t just look at their portfolio though, see their actual website as their presentation to you. If they are offering blog posting services, is their blog regularly updated with quality content? If they are offering SEO services, how do they rank for their keywords?
Style
Obviously this is only applicable to certain service providers. Most freelancers will be able to adapt their style, but on the whole, they do have a way they like to produce work. This is particularly true of designers and writers. If you are worried about how they might adapt, ask for more examples, or ask them to produce a short sample of what you want. You’ll need an abstract thinker that can work to your spec, rather than their preferred style.
Delivery Time
Most freelancers will give you an ETA for projects. What is that ETA? Is it reasonable? Do they have references from clients, stating that they meet these deadlines? If the service you require is closely linked to a tight deadline, this is something you might want to press hard for.
Test
The next step is to test the service provider out. Once you get a freelancer, don’t assume you need to use their services for eternity. These small tests act as an interview. Do they really meet up to your and your business’s standards? If not, start the search again.
Monitor
So, now you have chosen a freelance service provider, done, right? Wrong!
Constantly monitor the quality of service that you are receiving. This is especially important when using a company that employees, rather than a one person operation.
Employees will change, their motivation towards certain projects might drop, or prices may fluctuate. Constantly ask yourself, is this really the best service provider for me? Is there another option?
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