Given that you’re here reading this article, we can assume you’re experiencing an expansion in business and are in need of a helping hand. The boom in Print on Demand as a way to customize and sell your artwork has taken the design world by storm. Now, creatives are able to sell and promote their personal design work, create merchandise, advertise or even start their own unique brand using POD. Customized printing opens up great opportunities for generating a stable, fun way to earn a passive income.

For more information on POD and how to start selling your designs online – make sure to visit our article that is sure to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

No matter the stage of business you’re in, its undoubtedly useful to know how to hire freelance help for whenever you may need it! Expanding your business’ team can be fun, but there are a number of important things to note to make sure that you’re hiring a freelancer that best suits your needs.

Why you need a freelancer

There are a number of reasons you may require a freelancer; you need more hands on deck handling the admin of your business, you may need some creative help, or you might need someone to create a brand identity etc. No matter what your reason may be, we’re here to show you how its done.

Although the process of hiring a freelance designer may seem simple, it can be difficult to find the right fit for you. Hiring a freelancer can also be substantially cheaper than reaching out to creative agencies – however, depending on how fast your business is booming, that may be your next step! Creative agencies often possess all the necessary tools, products and are ideal for large scale business ventures.

Once-Off Hires and Contracts

First, you should consider whether you’d like to hire someone on a once-off, project by project basis, or in the form of a long term contract.

Pros and cons on hiring for a one time project

Both come with their own pros and cons. If you decide to take on a freelancer for a one time project, you’ll usually receive your work back in a timely manner and with limited back and forth communication. There is also the added benefit of flexibility, as the project is short term. A con of this however, would be that the freelancer has minimal context, background or commitment to your business.

If the freelancer you hire is unfamiliar with your business, you may need to sufficiently inform them beforehand. Once off projects are usually outlined in the initial interaction, during which an agreed upon fee is discussed too. Once the freelancer returns the work requested, you’ll be able to review it and make payment once you feel satisfied with the outcome.

Pros and cons on hiring on contract basis

When hiring a freelancer on a contract basis, you’re more likely to form a relationship with them, which will ultimately result in an increased dedication to your business.

Given that you find the right fit, you’ll also learn how to communicate efficiently with them in a way that maximizes the experience on both ends. Investing in a long term freelancer to add to your team could be a great choice, but make sure to evaluate which is best suited for you and your business needs. Payment for contracts are usually arranged on an hourly basis, or in some cases using ‘milestones’. You and your freelancer can negotiate a fair hourly rate to work on, from which you’ll consistently receive work as it is completed.

Setting expectations

Once you have found the right freelancer for you and your needs, you’ll need to make sure to set some boundaries, deadlines and expectations. You’ll also need to make sure that you provide a clear structure regarding what you need done, how you expect it to be done, the mood or feel you’re going for, and any technical specifications – like colour, font, order etc. These will vary depending on the type of freelancer you hire of course.

If you’re strictly hiring for graphic design needs, you can also consider creating a mood board to better present a vision you may have.

Now that you’ve hired a freelancer, you’ll need to ensure that they cover the right area of expertise based on the task they’ll be taking on. You should also make sure to check if they have the necessary qualifications, experience or disposition you’re looking for. Because the freelancer won’t have any prior knowledge surrounding your particular job/project, you may need to provide some sort of brief or training before taking them onto your team.

The training process itself can also serve as a test run for what it’s like working together! During this buffer period you can check whether the freelancer aligns with you and your business ideal in terms of vision, communication, expectations, demeaner etc. It’s also important to note that most freelancers have portfolios or references of past work to present to prospective clients – so make sure to check those out to get a better idea of whether you’ll receive a result you’re looking for.

Where to find the right freelancer for you

Now onto how you can go about finding the right freelancer for you and your business.

Hiring a freelancer at Fiverr

There are a number of freelance websites available that all operate differently – so you’ll be sure to find one that suits you! Fiverr, is an online marketplace for a number of different freelance services. Using Fiverr you are able to browse through the portfolios of different freelancers, narrow down your search via filters and ultimately handpick a freelancer that appeals to your needs.

Hiring a freelancer at Upwork

Alternatively, Upwork works in a slightly different way. On Upwork, you’ll be required to submit a job post with all the relevant details and descriptions.

Freelancers will then be able to apply for your job by submitting a proposal. Upwork also has the functionality to specify what skills are required, the necessary level of experience as well as any other specifications you may have. Once you’ve gathered a few potential freelancers, you can conduct one-on-one interviews using the chat or call feature.

Hiring a freelancer at 99designs

Other hiring platforms include 99designs – that offers freelance services with over 90 design orientated skill sets.

Alternative platforms

You can also check out AwesomeWeb, Toptal and Freelancer.

Is it safe?

It’s important to note that freelancing sites are designed in a way that protects both freelancers and clients. Additionally, payments are only released once you have reviewed the work and are happy with the end product. Our number one tip would be communication. Active and clear communication between freelancer and client from the start is extremely important to ensure the management of expectations as well as the ability to achieve satisfaction on both ends.

We hope this article has been helpful! We trust it will serve as a great guide on how to go about hiring the perfect freelancer for you and your business!

Hiring a freelancer for branding or logo design?

If you’re thinking of hiring a designer to take on the task of branding or logo design, make sure to check out our article on the importance of colour theory in business branding and why it plays a crucial role in the success of your brand.