Five Tips for Identifying and Collaborating with a Freelancer - Part 3 of 3

If and when you make the decision to hire a freelancer, the following tips can be helpful when identifying the appropriate freelancer(s) and collaborating with them to meet your needs.

1. Know your team’s strengths and weaknesses. Use a freelancer to fill in the gaps when necessary. For example, if your team is very good with the big picture, but needs help with the details, find someone that can develop a plan and timeline to deliver your vision and keep the team on track.

2. Develop a roster. Strategic versus nitty gritty. Specialized versus generalized. There is a time and place for different freelancers. Perhaps you need someone with 20 years of experience to help with your crisis plan, but they may not be the best use of your budget when you need a press release or media support.

3. Know what you want. A freelancer is not a mind reader. Be able to provide them with a good idea of what you’re looking for so there aren’t any surprises in the deliverable and you get the most out of your investment.

4. Provide details. A freelancer is most helpful when they have all of the details, good and bad, up front. If you’re not straightforward with them, the end result will not be ideal. Also, to save time and money in the future, once you’ve “company-ized” a document, let them know the changes you’ve made so they can keep this in mind next time.

5. Gain outside perspective. Take advantage of an impartial, educated perspective and ask for the freelancer’s opinion. A freelancer can sometimes provide an easy solution or unique way of doing things based on their experience or simply because they haven’t been as entrenched in the company or project.

Have any other tips to add? Please post them here as well.

Amy Smith is owner of Bear Smith Communications, LLC. Previously a managing supervisor at Fleishman-Hillard, she researched freelancing and started her own business after the birth of her first child last November. She can be reached at BearSmithComm@gmail.com.

The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing - Part 2 of 3

What to consider when using a freelancer

If tapping freelancers were so easy, companies would do it more often. Freelancers come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Below are some examples to consider.

Advantages

• No overhead. It’s possible to enjoy the benefits of a part-time, full-time or “no-time” employee, without worrying about their healthcare, 401K, billability, etc.
• No strings attached. If it doesn’t work out, you don’t need to use them again or work on developing their skills to get the most of your investment. If it does work, you have someone you can count on in the future.
• Availability. Most freelancers are used to working odd hours and meeting tight deadlines.
• Speed. Given an assignment, freelancers can focus on the task without typical work distractions and meet the deadlines they’ve provided.

Disadvantages

• Lack of business or industry knowledge. No one can understand your business like you do. Until you’ve worked with a freelancer for awhile, they may not fully understand your company, its brand essence, its industry, etc. As part of your business agreement, you may consider building in some non-billable research time so they can get up to speed.
• More ramp up and clean up time. To ensure you receive high-quality work, you need to provide relevant background and have a good idea of what you want. You will most likely also need to review the material to make sure it “sounds” like your company.
• Availability. Because a freelancer is not a member of your exclusive team, their availability also can be a disadvantage if they are on deadline for someone else or turn down a project due to prior commitments.

Please send me your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of using a freelancer.

Next week’s post will close this three part series with tips on how to best work with and use freelancers.

Amy Smith is owner of Bear Smith Communications, LLC. Previously a managing supervisor at Fleishman-Hillard, she researched freelancing and started her own business after the birth of her first child last November. She can be reached at BearSmithComm@gmail.com.

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Outsourcing is “In” and Increasing - Part 1 of 3

When to use a freelancer

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that over the past three years companies increased their outsourcing by 22 percent. Businesses are reaping the benefits freelancers provide without additional overhead.

In an industry where teams are staffed for the slow times, when is the right time to use a freelancer for public relations? The following scenario provides some examples, but in the world of PR, it is essentially whenever and wherever necessary.

New business. You and your team are swamped, but there is a new business deadline approaching. A freelancer can conduct initial research to help you prepare. Then, once you win the business, they can support the initial ramp up by creating initial background documents, conducting additional research, developing materials, etc.

Major projects. Part of the new win involves a national product launch, but you need additional arms and legs to get through the bulk of the project. A freelancer can provide additional support for projects that require assistance, such as material development or media relations, but may not warrant making a new hire.

Specialized projects. A component of the launch is a satellite media tour and you’d like to make sure your spokespeople are television ready. A freelancer specializing in media training can provide tips and tools to make sure the spokespeople are prepared.

Ongoing projects. New business wins are typically announced in your quarterly newsletter, but you don’t have time to keep up with this ongoing project. A freelancer can manage the development and production of this open and closed, but regular process.

Freelancers can make work easier if you find the right fit for your company’s needs and you know how to work with them. Next week’s post will provide some of the advantages and disadvantages of using freelancers. The three-part series will close with tips on how to best work with and use freelancers.

Amy Smith is owner of Bear Smith Communications, LLC. Previously a managing supervisor at Fleishman-Hillard, she researched freelancing and started her own business after the birth of her first child last November. She can be reached at BearSmithComm@gmail.com.