In 2020, there have been 59 million freelancers working in the US alone, and that quantity is more likely to develop with the onset of the Nice Resignation. Right here’s the excellent news: freelancers may help supercharge your content material operations by providing a chance to create content material at scale whereas minimizing the expense of hiring a full-time employee.
freelancer is value their weight in gold. They may help you shortly scale up huge tasks and are invaluable for creating high quality content material that lasts. However there’s undoubtedly a studying curve to including freelancers into your editorial workflow, so bear in mind these six guidelines for working with freelancers in essentially the most streamlined and environment friendly method attainable:
1. Get clear in your wants
First, ensure you perceive what sort of content material you’re making an attempt to make, and assess your present skills to create that content material in-house. The place are the gaps? The extra exact you’re by yourself priorities and limits, the higher you’ll be capable of discover the freelancer you want and clarify to them how they will greatest make it easier to.
“Be thorough,” says Anna Schults Held, an skilled freelance author, editor, and guide. “Set up expectations and methods of working upfront. Freelancers shouldn’t have to make strategic selections except that’s what they’re explicitly employed to do, so be as clear on scope as you possibly can. ”
Many content material managers discover success in creating detailed undertaking briefs that information the freelancer. Thorough undertaking briefs stop an excessive amount of back-and-forth, shorten the method, and lower your expenses for each events. Most significantly, everybody can refer again to it through the enhancing course of if there are any questions or disputes. Additionally clearly define (in writing) the deadline, flat price charge, and phrase rely as you deliver the freelancer on board.
2. Streamline Your Processes
Rent a freelancer as soon as, and chances are high, you’ll rent one other. So do your self a favor and set up your onboarding and off-boarding course of. When utilizing Contently, that could possibly be so simple as informing new writers about your viewers, model voice, and content material technique.
For those who’re not utilizing the platform, you’ll doubtless have to create a to-do checklist for the varieties, data, and key insights you want from new freelancers. You’ll additionally have to deal with sending out a contract, negotiating fee, and clarifying project particulars. And after the freelancer completes the project, keep in mind that you’ll have to find time for edits. You’ll additionally need to pay the freelancer on time. And for those who intend to present suggestions, add that to your customary working procedures as properly. You’ll thank your self later for the time saved.
3. Keep Versatile with Timelines
Most freelancers work for a number of shoppers. Except they’re totally on board for a undertaking along with your workforce, they’re doubtless juggling different deadlines that you recognize nothing about. So while you’re planning freelancer-created content material, make room in your editorial calendar for a barely longer editorial timeline than you’d require for a employees author.
“Legally, I can not inform a freelancer when or the way to work,” says Melanie Padgett Powers, a contract author and managing editor for membership affiliation magazines. “However past that, it’s about respect. I acknowledge that freelancers are working their very own companies. The most effective relationships are when either side see one another as companions.”
Talk with the freelancer upfront about deadlines to make sure that your turnaround time works for them. If you want to rush the project, contemplate providing a rush charge to account for the opposite work they could need to put apart to prioritize your undertaking.
4. Search for Constant and Communicative Freelancers
freelancer will present constantly good copy that meets the project particulars or content material transient standards. As well as, they may talk after they have questions, flip assignments in on time, and deal with edits in a well timed and easy method. In two phrases, freelancer is low drama.
“After all, I need a freelancer who has the experience we’d like, however past that, I would like freelancers who make my life simple,” says Padgett Powers. Maintain onto the freelancers who meet your requirements by providing them common work every month or offering suggestions that reveals how a lot you worth their experience and methods of working.
5. Present Actionable Suggestions
All the time keep in mind that a freelancer shouldn’t be a full-time employees member, and they don’t have the advantages of being on employees. With that in thoughts, you shouldn’t robotically count on them to attend employees conferences or work on the turnaround occasions required of staffers except beforehand mentioned. Suggestions ought to nonetheless someway stay a part of your system in managing freelancers, nevertheless.
Typically, it is smart to supply freelancers details about their efficiency and the way they will enhance, particularly for those who plan to work with them once more sooner or later. For those who discover a freelancer you like, ensure that to incorporate good suggestions in order that they know that they’re valued and appreciated. Talk this suggestions in a direct method through the enhancing course of after the freelancer completes their project. For those who select to spend money on a freelancer since you see them working along with your workforce long-term, train them the way to succeed inside your world.
6. Lean Into Strengths
Identical to you’d with a full-time staffer, take time to note a communicative, low-drama freelancer’s strengths. Many freelancers come to the desk with deep experience in sure forms of writing or design. Use that to your workforce’s benefit by tailoring assignments to their strengths and asking for (paid) memos that specify the way you would possibly combine their experience into your workforce’s workflow, even absent the freelancer’s presence.
The underside line:
Conserving good freelancers in your arsenal pays large dividends, however it’s as a lot about setting your self up for achievement as it’s about anticipating them to do their greatest work. Once you discover a good freelancer, maintain them shut by providing actionable suggestions and deadline flexibility. Supply mutual respect by acknowledging that they produce other assignments they’re doubtless engaged on. Watch for his or her strengths and lean into them. Arrange streamlined processes, and produce clear communication and direct necessities to the desk. All of it will set you up for a win-win.
