Finding the most suitable freelancers to trust your work takes effort and time. Often hirers come by the best and most reliable talent after a lot of trial and error and in the process may face a few disappointments too.

So, as a business person, if you frequently hire freelancers to get your tasks done then you must learn ways to build a good relationship with your freelancers to keep the valuable ‘talent gem’ you have discovered. After all, they assist you with your important tasks and projects which cumulatively supports you in achieving your business goals!

Let’s discuss a few strategies that can help you work successfully with your freelancers.

Make A Legally Valid Contract

When you work with certain freelancers regularly, do not skip the important process of creating a written contract. It is a surefire way to safeguard both the parties.

The contract must outline all general terms and conditions, payment rate, schedule and terms, scope of service, copyrights and ownership of the executed work, termination terms, non-disclosure of the confidential information clause, indemnity clause, non-compete clause, etc. This contract must also be duly signed by both parties to make it a legally binding document.

This type of contact eliminates fears and insecurities on both ends and builds trust and confidence with each other. This eventually makes working with your freelancers smooth and successful.

Communicate Effectively

When working with freelancers there is no face-to-face communication going on. You are probably in touch with your freelancers through a messaging app, phone call, and sometimes even video call.

No matter which media you prefer, always ensure that you are communicating what you intend to do – clearly and to the point. Avoid ambiguous language, jargon, or local slang words especially when you are working with overseas freelancers.

Miscommunication can waste both your and your freelancers’ time. Often, they may have to redo the work which can cause vexations and disappointments on both sides and it eventually strains the work relationship with your freelancers.

It is always better to send written work instructions so that nothing gets misheard or forgotten. Create it in the points or list form, mention your expectations specifically, highlight the important directions to emphasize better, and put the notes, if any in the beginning itself.

Be Mindful Of Your Deadlines

When working with freelancers you have to consider the fact that they do not work only for you. They work with multiple clients simultaneously and have to balance their workload, prioritizing the deadlines. So, when you hand over a task to them, do not expect them to drop everything else just to work on your assignment.

Always set a reasonable and practical deadline, so that they can plan their schedule accordingly. You must understand that it is your responsibility to be aware of the deadline and proactively delegate the task.

Be Available

Freelancers may need to contact you to discuss matters regarding the project work or clarify related doubts.  It is not possible for you to be available all the times when freelancers want to talk to you. But ensure to get back to them as soon as possible to resolve their queries.

Similarly, review and scrutinize their work as well as provide regular feedback to your freelancers to ensure that your assigned tasks flow according to your expectations.

Your availability for interaction, meticulous support, and consistent feedback not only enhances the quality of the output while accelerating the time it takes to execute the task but also strengthens your connection with your freelancers. This ultimately leads to your overall work success.

Pay Your Freelancers On Time

Never delay your freelancers’ payments once they have fully completed the tasks or projects to your satisfaction. Pay them regularly according to the contract and pre-decided pay rate. Freelancers do not have a regular income stream and may be depending on your payments to get by.

It can be frustrating for them to run after their clients for collecting past-due invoices. Freelancers feel it unpromising to work with unethical clients who do not pay reliably, so avoid them.

Therefore, if you want to retain your freelancers and work with them in the future then build their trust by paying them as promised.

Appreciate Your Freelancers

Unlike your in-house employees, freelancers never get recognized and rewarded for their admirable work. When you appreciate your freelancers for their outstanding performance, they will feel immensely motivated and encouraged to do better on their upcoming projects. And they will always enthusiastically look forward to working with you.

Simple words of encouragement such as “Good work” or even a “thank you” can build a long-lasting relationship with your freelancers and inspire them to go the extra mile for you.

Build A Cohesive Team

Often a project requires hiring freelancers for a specific task with certain skills that the in-office team cannot offer. In such cases, do not keep the freelancers unidentified and distant from the pertinent team.

Because they all work on the same project it is better to introduce the freelancers and acquaint them with the team. Creating a hybrid team this way may help the freelancer to discuss and understand the nitty-gritty and requirements of the project deeply.

This can help the freelancers come up with new ideas and concepts and enhance their output and creativity while giving importance to the details and criteria – better than doing the task on their own.

Always source your freelancers from a trustworthy platform. It ensures that you not only find suitable talent for your business but also very reliable and accountable ones.