How to Save Money by Hiring Freelancers

Have you ever worked with freelancers? Were you happy with the results? Hiring freelancers to handle certain aspects of our business, including PR & marketing, Web design, social media and copywriting/blogging, makes a lot of financial sense. For tasks we can't (or don't want to do), hiring an freelancer saves us time and money.

Business owners can save money hiring freelancers, rather than adding to their staff. When you hire independent contractors, you don't have to pay for:

- Social security and unemployment insurance
- Benefits
- Overhead (including a space for the person to work, the electricity used in that space, etc.)
- Office equipment

You don't even have to buy a freelancer lunch every so often (although if you live in the same area, it is a nice gesture to do so!)

Hiring a freelancer, such as a freelance writer, requires certain considerations you may or may not have with a staff employee. Follow these tips to ensure you get the most out of the relationship.

- Be clear about your needs and expectations. Encourage the freelancer to approach you with any questions during any phase of the project

- Provide a contract to be signed by both parties outlining your agreement, including deadlines, job duties and pay rates

- If revisions are necessary, determine if you will be responsible for paying for these revisions or if they are included in the cost of the project.

In my freelance writing and editing business, my policy is that revisions are included in the cost. If a client is not happy with the work, we will re-visit the project until the client is fully satisfied. Good customer service is paramount. However, it's common for many freelance writers to offer one revision free of charge and then have the client pay for additional re-writes.

- Expect to pay more for a freelancer who specializes in your field

- Expect to pay more for someone with extensive experience v. a freelancer just launching his or her career

Where to Find Freelancers

With the expansion of the work-at-home market and the growth of the Internet, it's easier than ever to find quality freelancers in nearly every field. You can find freelance writers by placing an ad on Craig's List, or using sites such as:

http://www.elance.com/
http://www.getafreelancer.com/
http://www.guru.com/

On these websites, hundreds (or thousands) of freelancers will bid for your project, ensuring you will receive the lowest prices. That's all I'll say about bid sites, for now, as the topic bears discussion in an entirely separate post.

Using Word-of-mouth to Hire a Freelancer
I firmly believe the best way to find a qualified freelancer, whether you need a Virtual Assistant, Web designer, SEO expert or freelance writer, is through word-of-mouth. Ask other business owners (locally and across the world through your social network) who they have used for these services and if they were satisfied.

A good freelancer should be able to provide samples of her work, as well as references from happy customers.

Dawn Allcot is the owner of Allcot Media, a full-service writing, ghostwriting and editorial firm with a staff of writers and editors capable of handling diverse writing assignments in a variety of fields. With 15 years experience as a writer, ghost writer and editor, Dawn specializes in niche markets such as parenting, technology, small business marketing, and paintball.