Mark your calendar for a live Client Success Week Twitter chat with the Executive in Sweatpants, Matt Keener, on Thursday, June 15, at 10:30 a.m. PT. We will be using the hashtag #UpworkChat.
Freelance business owners contribute to Upwork’s growth and success every day. Our in-house employees regularly partner with freelancers for their expertise and perspective on projects such as our recent radio campaign.
So we asked inside Upwork: What tips for success would you give to a client who is getting ready to post their first job to engage their first freelancer on Upwork? Here’s a look at what they had to say.
“Take advantage of the protections built into Upwork. You can choose to do a fixed-price job, where you deposit the money [in escrow] at the beginning of the project, review the milestones, then release the money when you’re satisfied. With an hourly job, you can agree to a weekly hours limit and see billed time using the Work Diary. Keeping all your messages and interviews on Upwork can help in case of a dispute.
“Review proposals carefully and trust your gut. You want to work with someone who understands your project and with whom you can communicate well. Decline those you don’t like and narrow it down to a few candidates, then review their profiles and either do interviews or get started with your favorite.
“Add a lot of detail in your project description and verify your payment method. Hundreds of thousands of freelancers log in to look for projects every day. Post what you need so qualified freelancers can come to you and tell you exactly why they can do your job well. If you don’t know how much your project should cost or how long it should last, say so in your post; freelancers who are experts in your project field will advise you.”
— Katrina Benjamin, Sr Director Conversion Rate Optimization
“Conduct a test project with a few top candidates and then select the person who works out best for the longer-term work. To create the test project, determine a discrete portion of the project that can be used as an initial milestone. That way you get a jumpstart, and having multiple people attempt it can even serve as a virtual brainstorm in some cases.”
— Shoshana Deutschkron, VP, Communications
“Before I post my job, I prep the project so the freelancer can jump in quickly. With Upwork, there is a breadth and depth of talent, so I know filling will be pretty fast. Being prepared helps me (and the team) quickly transition from post to project without losing steam.
To start:
- Create a list of tools or apps the freelancer will need access to (e.g. Google Docs, etc.)
- Determine who they will need to meet
- Develop a content or project brief (so the person will know what is expected)
- Collect related articles or information they may need to read through
Prepping the project does two things:
- Forces me to clarify the job and the talent I need
- Organize things on my end (and with the team) so the project is smooth and efficient”
— Lisa Oda, Director, Content Marketing
“Set clear expectations and create milestones to check in on progress. This will make sure both you AND your freelancer have time to ask and answer any questions. The most important thing is to check in early. It’s one thing to ask, “Do you understand what I’m asking for?” It’s another thing to see their work in action.
“Communicate, communicate, communicate! This isn’t online shopping: You’re working with another professional, so don’t expect to ‘select the color and size’ and wait for the perfect deliverable to arrive.”
— Kevin Bechtel, Director, Product Marketing
“I would encourage a client to keep in regular contact with the freelancer, particularly during the first few weeks. Checks via Messages are a great way to clarify any questions and course-correct on deliverables and time spent. Work quality and prioritization can often be corrected with clear, short, regular communication.”
— Garnor Morantes, Director, Community
Ready to get started? Create an awesome job post that attracts the freelancers and skills you need.
If you need help, please feel free to reach out! Our support team is available 24/7 at support.upwork.com and will be happy to assist with anything you may need.
The post Hiring Your First Freelancer: Tips from Inside Upwork appeared first on Upwork Blog.
from Upwork Blog http://ift.tt/2t1SGrh
No comments:
Post a Comment