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You posted a project and received some top-notch proposals from freelancers. Now you need to choose the freelancer who’s the best fit to get your project off the ground.
In some ways, choosing a freelancer for a project on Upwork is similar to choosing a local service provider, but in other ways it can be very different. We’ve pulled together a number of resources with tips to help you navigate the hiring process and learn what to expect—so you can choose the best freelancer and solidify that relationship by being a great client.
Review proposals
The first step in finding the right freelancer is to review the proposals you have received and create a short-list of candidates.
Take the information from their profile, portfolio, and proposal into account: If this first screening shows a freelancer isn’t the right fit for your project, you can immediately decline their proposal and remove it from the list.
For freelancers who look like they might be exactly what you’re looking for, send a message to discuss aspects of their proposal and set up a time to talk.
If a lot of freelancers have caught your attention, narrow your short-list to just a few names; you can archive the rest for future reference should you need to revisit.
Learn more about what to look for in a freelancer’s profile >>
Conduct an interview
The interview portion of the hiring process is an important one. At this stage, consider doing a video or audio chat in order to get a feel for how the relationship will proceed.
Prepare for the interview by listing questions that you will ask, and think about how you want the freelancer to answer them. Consider asking more about:
- Their approach to your project
- Their experience
- Work logistics
Our hiring guides have sample questions you can reference for some of the more in-demand skills in the Upwork marketplace.
Start with “9 Interview Questions to Find the Perfect Freelancer Online” >>
Start with a smaller project
If you are looking at an in-depth or longer-term project, or if you have many candidates that you can’t choose between, it is a good idea ask each of the freelancers to do a small, paid project to see what you think of their work.
One way to do this is to choose the first milestone from your larger project and have several people complete it. This not only gives you a head start on the larger project, it can also serve as a way to test different approaches and uncover other ideas you never thought to include.
Formalize the contract
Once you have decided on the freelancer you wish to engage for your project, it is time to push the “make offer” button and set up the contract.
When you first posted your project, you were asked whether you wanted to create a fixed-price or hourly project. What if you and the freelancer you’ve partnered with decide to go with a different approach? On the “offer details” page, you can confirm final details, including whether you want to go with fixed-price or hourly structure.
If you choose a fixed-price project, you will be prompted to set up milestones and fund escrow for the first milestone. The payments may qualify for Upwork Fixed-price Protection.
Discuss the milestones with the freelancer; they may have examples of how similar projects they’ve worked on were divided and can help you decide.
If you chose an hourly project, the freelancer can bill their time using the Upwork Desktop App. The app takes care of invoicing automatically and may qualify for Upwork hourly protection.
How does weekly billing for hours work? On Mondays, you will be invoiced for the previous week’s work and your billing method will automatically be billed for the amount owed; you have until Friday of the same week to dispute if there is an issue.
Communicate and collaborate
Clear communication is key to a successful project. There are a number of collaboration tools you can use to help the project run smoothly. Chat and share files with Upwork Messages, work together on documents using Google Drive, and track milestones and to-dos with project management apps such as Asana or Trello.
When going over the details of the project, be as specific as possible about what you want delivered. Give concrete examples of what you are looking for and avoid using abstract words that could mean something else to another person.
For example, if you’re working on a design project that isn’t as engaging as you’d like, avoid asking for something that’s “more cheerful” or “friendlier”. Instead, be as specific as possible: Ask the freelancer to use “brighter colors” or images with “people who are smiling”. Concrete terms are actionable and involve less guesswork, which results in a better project experience for everyone.
Effective communication can help foster a great professional relationship—but remember that when it comes to online communication, tone is hard to capture and communicating with tact and grace can sometimes be difficult. If there is a conversation you feel might be better suited to a video or voice call, do not hesitate to set one up. Freelance business owners care about how you feel about their work. They want your business to succeed and the more they feel they understand what you’re looking for, the more invested they will be in your success.
Finally, remember that professionalism goes both ways. If there is a hold up on your end, realize you are not the freelancer’s only client and let them know as soon as you can so they may adjust their schedule. By being courteous, you can help ensure you receive the same consideration.
Ready to get started? Create an awesome job post that attracts the freelancers and skills you need.
The post How to Find an Awesome Freelancer (and Be a Great Client) appeared first on Upwork Blog.
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