Outsourcing to freelancers has become an increasingly commonplace practice in business circles. However, it is still not uncommon to for businesses to be skeptical when it comes to delegating work to outside freelancers.
Even if you plan to hire professional freelancers through B2B marketplaces and e-bidding platforms,
you may still be nervous about what sort of freelancer you’re getting, especially if you are not familiar with their previous work.
This is why you need to do two (2) things, that will ensure you successfully outsource your projects to quality freelancers:
(1) Research the freealancer
(2) Ensure safety in your dealings
Research about Potential Freelancers
Before hiring a professional freelancer, make sure you thoroughly research their background and prior work experience.
Google Them - Start by googling them online. A professional and credible freelancer should have a strong and established presence on the web, be it their own blog or website, profile on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and so on. This will help you determine whether they are a credible and legitimate freelancer.
Check their Portfolio – Browse through their previous work and projects within their portfolio and review the kind of work they have completed in the past. Check if they have expertise and experience in doing the kind of work that you want to delegate to them and check the quality of work they deliver.
Contact their Past Clients – The previous clients of a freelancer are the best people who can tell you about their work. Ask them about their experience of working with the freelancer. Ask questions about their availability, willingness to go an extra mile, ability to adhere to strict time lines and so on.
Make your Deal Secure
B2B marketplaces and freelance websites have a variety of tools that can not only help you locate a professional and credible freelancer for your requirements, but also ensure that your dealings with them run smoothly and efficiently. . Here are some things that you need to consider:
Reviews & Feedback Information – B2B marketplaces generally have a section for reviews and feedback information about registered freelancers. These are great sections to get information about what a freelancer’s previous clients thought of their work.
Request for Bids – Online e-biding marketplaces allow businesses to post project needs and request for bids from potential service providers. Freelancers and service providers can, in turn, place bids that you can browse through and then select the best bidder for your project. Remember, in addition to considering the cost effectiveness of the bid, always consider the quality and expertise of the freelancer before making a decision.
Use the Escrow System – Many B2B marketplaces have escrow systems that lower the risk in business transactions between a client and freelancer. These escrow systems are an arrangement wherein the client deposits the amount payable for the project into an escrow for safekeeping under the trust of a neutral third party escrow agent. After the completion of the project, if the client is satisfied with the deliverables as per the contract, the escrow agent delivers the payment to the freelancer. In case of any issues and disputes, the B2B marketplace mediates the situation.
The key to successful and safe business transactions is effective research and following some safety tips.
Disclaimer : Sabra Easterday is the founder and managing member of MatchB2B. Sabra is also a lawyer with a special interest in business issues and e-marketplaces. Notwithstanding that Sabra is a lawyer, nothing in this article and no services of MatchB2B or its website are legal services and no attorney-client relationship exists between any reader of this article or user, customer or potential customer of MatchB2B, and MatchB2B, its website or Sabra Easterday.
