Author: Emily Crosby

We don’t need to tell you that effective marketing is crucial for success. Especially in today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape.

Whether you’re a seasoned retail veteran or about to launch your first start-up, you’re guaranteed to come up against all sorts of challenges. And often, you’ll lack the resources or the in-house expertise to handle all aspects of your business, whether it’s marketing campaigns or web development. This is where freelancers can be a huge asset. Hiring a freelance marketer or website developer can provide the expertise and flexibility needed to grow your brand without breaking the bank.

In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of hiring a freelancer and provide you with a step-by-step guide to finding and hiring the right freelancer for your marketing needs.

How to hire a freelancer in 7 steps

1. Define your goals

Before diving into the hiring process, it’s essential to establish clear marketing or business goals. Outline your objectives, target audience, and the specific tasks you require assistance with. Whether you need help with content creation, social media management, SEO optimisation, or overall strategy, a well-defined scope will help you find the right freelancer who fits your requirements.

2. Craft a compelling job description or brief

Crafting a clear and detailed job description or brief is essential to attract qualified freelancers. Outline the project scope, required skills, and deliverables you expect. Be specific about the level of expertise you are seeking and the time commitment required. Highlight any preferred qualifications or industry experience that may be relevant to your specific business needs.

3. Review freelancer profiles

Once you start receiving proposals from interested freelancers, you should take some time to thoroughly review their profiles, portfolios, and ratings. Look for freelancers who have relevant experience, positive reviews, and a portfolio that showcases their skills in your desired marketing areas. This step will help you shortlist the most suitable candidates.

4. Conduct interviews & assess communication skills

To ensure a good fit, conduct interviews with the shortlisted freelancers. Use this opportunity to assess their communication skills, professionalism, and overall compatibility with your organisation’s culture. Ask questions related to their experience, approach to problem-solving, and how they would handle specific challenges. A strong communicator who understands your goals will likely be a valuable asset to your team.

5. Discuss rates & project terms

Once you’ve identified a freelancer who meets your criteria, have a candid conversation about rates and project terms. Discuss their pricing structure, whether it’s an hourly rate, a fixed fee, or a retainer. Make sure you understand what’s included in the scope of work and if there are any additional costs for revisions or extra services. Negotiate and reach a mutually beneficial agreement that fits within your budget.

6. Establish clear expectations

To ensure a successful working relationship, clearly define project timelines, milestones, and deliverables. Communicate your expectations regarding communication frequency, progress updates, and reporting. Provide access to necessary tools, platforms, and any branding or style guidelines that the freelancer needs to adhere to. Setting clear expectations from the beginning will help avoid misunderstandings and ensure a smooth collaboration.

7. Monitor progress & provide feedback

Throughout the project, maintain open lines of communication with your freelancer. Regularly check in on progress and provide constructive feedback. Encourage them to ask questions and seek clarification when needed. Frequent communication will help you stay informed about the project’s status and address any concerns promptly.

Where to find freelancers

To find suitable freelancers, you need to identify the platforms where they congregate. While there are various marketplaces out there designed to connect entrepreneurs with freelancers, they pose a series of risks and challenges due to a lack of any vetting process. That’s where Flow comes in.

An exclusive network of top freelance ecommerce developers, designers, digital marketing specialists and business experts, Flow takes the hard work out of sourcing the right freelancers for your ecommerce business by carefully selecting the right person for the job, from a pool of fully vetted professionals. This means there’s no uncertainty about the freelancer’s credentials or skillset, you needn’t spend valuable time going through the recruitment process. Simply tell us about your needs and goals, and we’ll arrange a discovery call and connect you with a reliable expert. 

Simply fill out this form to get started.

Many businesses decide to outsource their marketing efforts at some point. From substantial and rapid growth to simply needing some extra help while your attention is needed elsewhere, there are many reasons why you may require additional support. 

And that’s when the agency vs freelancer debate comes into play.

There’s a lot of great marketing talent out there, in both the agency and freelancer spaces, and it can be difficult to determine which is going to be the best fit. Getting it wrong can lead to wasted time and wasted money, so it’s important to make an informed decision and weigh up your options before rushing to sign on the dotted line.

Agencies: the pros & cons

Pros

Comprehensive services: Marketing agencies typically offer a wide range of services, including branding, digital marketing, social media management, content creation, and more. They have a team of professionals who specialise in different areas, which means they can offer comprehensive solutions to businesses.

Experience: Agencies have a wealth of experience working with different types of businesses across industries. They have a proven track record of success, which can be reassuring for businesses looking for a reliable marketing partner.

Scalability: Marketing agencies have the resources to handle large-scale projects and campaigns. They can scale up or down based on the needs of the business, which is particularly beneficial for growing businesses.

Cons

Cost: Agencies are typically more expensive than freelancers. They have higher overhead costs, such as salaries, rent, and equipment, which are passed on to the client. This can be a deterrent for small businesses with limited budgets.

Communication: Agencies can sometimes be less responsive than freelancers, particularly if they have a large client roster. This can be frustrating for businesses that need immediate assistance or have urgent requests.

Lack of personalisation: Agencies often work with multiple clients at once, which can make it challenging to offer a personalised approach. Some businesses may feel like they are just another client in a long list, rather than receiving individual attention.

When should you hire an agency?

It may be time to hire an agency when:

• The project is complex, large and time-consuming (for example, a website build or re-platform)
• The project requires several areas of expertise, or more than one person to deliver it
• The deadline is tight
• You don’t have the time (or skills) to manage the project yourself or to manage a freelancer
• You don’t want to be very involved in the project

Freelancers: the pros & cons

Pros

Cost-effective: Freelancers typically charge lower rates than agencies since they have fewer overhead costs. This can be particularly appealing for small businesses with limited marketing budgets.

Flexibility: Freelancers can offer a lot of flexibility in terms of work hours and project timelines. They can often work around the schedules of the business, which is beneficial for businesses with strict deadlines.

Personalised attention: Freelancers can offer more personalised attention since they typically work with fewer clients at once. They can often provide a more customised approach to meet the specific needs of the business.

Cons

Limited resources: Freelancers have limited resources compared to agencies. They may not have access to the same tools, technologies, or team members, which can limit their ability to offer comprehensive solutions.

Limited experience: Freelancers may not have the same level of experience as agencies. While some may have a proven track record of success, others may be new to the industry.

Limited scalability: Freelancers may not have the resources to handle large-scale projects or campaigns. This can be a drawback for businesses that need to scale up quickly or handle a large workload.

When should you hire a freelancer?

While sometimes the right choice comes down to individual circumstances, in general, you should consider hiring a freelance when: 

• The project is relatively small
• You have the time or capacity to manage a freelancer (or multiple freelancers)
• You don’t have the budget to hire an agency
• You want to be fairly involved or hands-on with the project
• The project can easily be carried out by a remote worker 

Questions to ask yourself

Does my business operate within a niche sector or industry?

Marketing and ecommerce professionals are not one-size-fits-all. Many freelancers choose to operate within a particular industry or niche based on their past experience and clientele, which can help you decide if they’re the right person for the job.

How much am I willing to pay?

We’ve already touched on this, but budget is a huge factor when deciding between hiring a freelancer or an agency. Generally speaking, an agency is going to cost a lot more, so if you don’t have the funds then you could be wasting time seeking out agency proposals.

What do I want to achieve?

You need to consider your short and long-term goals. If you’ve got the budget then it comes down to what you’re looking to achieve. If you’re thinking about a long-term partnership that can accelerate business growth at a quicker pace, then you may want to begin working with an agency sooner rather than later. If you simply want an extra pair of hands to complete a few one-off projects, then this type of work is more suited to a freelancer, as you won’t be tied into lengthy contracts or costly retainers.

What do I want to get out of this?

An extension of your in-house team? A contact you can call upon as and when you need them? Make sure you know exactly what you’re looking to gain from this partnership before moving forward. 

Still not sure?

Ultimately, it’s essential to do your research and carefully evaluate your options before making a decision. Look for agencies or freelancers with a proven track record of success, and be sure to ask for references and portfolios.

If you’d like someone to do the hard work for you, Flow can assist with finding the best fit based on your specific goals and needs. We work with fully-vetted freelancers and can match your business with the right person for the job, based on their experience, portfolio and reviews. On the other hand, our sister brand is an award-winning ecommerce agency, so if we think you’d be a good fit for them then we’ll get the ball rolling and a proposal in the works. 

All you have to do is fill out a form and we’ll do the rest.