A Client’s Guide to Working With Freelancers
Some companies — whether they are brand new, not graphically inclined, or just haven’t ever outsourced projects before — have no idea how to work with freelancers. When it comes to how to foster a successful relationship with a freelance designer and why these relationships sometimes break down, no one knows better than…well, a freelance designer… how to interact with a contractor. As the “employee,” a freelancer must sometimes swallow her pride (and sometimes frustration) in order to keep the relationship on good terms. However, both sides should learn the best ways to work and communicate with one another. Here are a few tips I’d like to offer companies looking to hire freelancers in the future, in hopes that whatever their projects are, they start off on the right foot.
- Be specific. If you have an idea of what you’d like to see in the finished product — whether it’s a certain look or feel, a type of photography or illustrations, specific colors or fonts — tell the designer from the beginning. Doing your research beforehand is just as important to you as it is to your freelancer. Show her examples of similar works you like. There is nothing more frustrating than being told to “use your creativity” only to find out your samples are nothing like what your client had in mind. Avoid generic words like “better” and “different.” If you want the designer to select a different photo for the cover of your brochure, don’t just say you want a better photo; give specifics on what you think would make for a better selection. The bottom line is, being specific will save time if you are up front about what you want with your freelancer from the get-go.
- Be clear. This goes hand in hand with being specific, it is worth mentioning separately. For example, you might provide copy to your freelancer to lay out in a tri-fold brochure. If your designer also happens to be a copy-editor, and you would like her to check the text for errors, say so; if not, be clear that she should leave it alone. She might think she’s doing you a favor and edit without being asked, but if she’s going to have to un-edit it, that’s only going to waste both her time and yours. Avoid these problems by being clear up front.
- Be responsive. You’re on a deadline — we get that. And trust me, we’re doing our best to meet that deadline, maybe even with time to spare. But in order to do that, we need your help. If we ask for direction, it’s because you know your company better than we do. And, the faster you respond, the faster we’re able to implement your feedback and turn around your product — which means you get what you need, when you need it.
- Be prepared. In order to fulfill your request and meet your expectations, we need the elements you want to include in your design. Be prepared to provide whatever photographs, testimonials, colors, logos, body copy, and any other materials that are necessary to complete the project. Without the essential elements, your designer will be forced to use placeholders, and you won’t get the full impact of the design. Furthermore, if the text ends up being longer or the photo larger, we’ll have to re-work the entire piece. Being prepared with all the supplies needed will save time and guarantee you get the big picture.
- Be willing to listen. While you are the expert on your company, we are the experts on design, writing, or whatever it is you’ve entrusted us to do. Sometimes our solution won’t match what you see in your head, but it may a better one. You tell us what you want to communicate, and we find the best way to do it. If you know better than we do, then you don’t need a freelancer, right?
- Be prompt. This isn’t quite the same as being responsive, but it does go hand in hand. I’m talking about payment. If you’re working with a smart freelancer (which I hope you are), you’re going to have to sign a contract and remit a deposit prior to beginning the project. Promptly agreeing to the terms (assuming, of course, they are agreeable to you) and handing over that first payment will get the process started lickety-split. And, hey, you’ve heard about karma, right? We’ll remember your prompt agreement and payment in the future when you need a quick turnaround.
- Be willing to invest. You know the old adage: You get what you pay for. Well, it’s true. You can try to get by with a cubic zirconium, or you can spring for the diamond — but it’s gonna cost you. If you’re paying the bare minimum, chances are good your designer is putting in only the bare minimum as well. In the end, though, remember investing in your brand is like any other investment: it will pay off in the end… if you choose the right broker.
- Be able to treat your freelancer like a client. Why do I advise this? For one, because your goal when interacting with clients is to keep them as clients, right? Everything you do, all your interactions, what you say to them, is designed with one thing in mind: to impress them so that you earn their business. The same can be applied to working with a freelancer. If you’re going to invest the time and money in someone — especially someone who’s going to boost your bottom line — you’re going to want to keep them around. In the long run, being amicable with your designer (complimenting her work, using common pleasantries like “please” and “thank you,” etc.) will pay off by leaps and bounds, because she’ll give you the same courtesy. (And everyone knows it’s so much easier to work with someone you get along with.) Not only that, but if it shows that you’re in it for the long haul, your freelancer will will be, too — and consequently, she’ll learn all she can about you and your company.
- Be open-minded. Chances are, once you explain your project and its goals, your freelancer will be full of ideas. Try not to stifle that creativity. You can provide certain parameters — like using the brand’s official colors or sticking to a certain font family — but allowing your designer to brainstorm and try new things will likely pay off in the end. If you’re hiring a freelancer, you’re probably looking for a fresh perspective, something new and different. Allow her to think outside the box and try those new things. You might be pleasantly surprised at the results.
- Be trusting. You interviewed a lot of people, and you made your selection. Trust your instincts by trusting your designer. If she didn’t know what she was doing, you would have known before you even started working together. Your freelancer’s personality, samples, and work ethic resonated with you. So trust her to meet your expectations.
Following these simple tips will keep the lines of communication open, let your freelancer know you have faith in her, and encourage her to provide only the best work possible. If any of these steps are too difficult or even impossible, then you’ve probably entrusted the wrong person with your company’s brand. Take the time to create and foster an open relationship, and you’ll work together in harmony now and in the future.
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