virtual outsourcing: advice for clients and freelancers/consultants
DESCRIPTION
Want to hire a virtual freelancer or start your own freelancing career? Working in this model as both a marketing freelancer and a hiring client for my business as well as client projects has allowed me to learn a few things. This post provides some tips based on my experience which both clients and freelancers new to the world of virtual outsourcing may find helpful. For more context and the full narrative visit http://goo.gl/DpmhLs. Image Credit: Nicholas_T via photopin cc About Lydia's Marketing: I help companies develop (and execute) effective marketing and communication strategies & plans. Affordable B2B marketing and communications consultation and support for startups, small and medium businesses, and marketing agencies across the globe. -Brand, marketing and messaging strategy -Marketing planning and implementation (inc. digital marketing and social media) -Content and communications -General advice and guidanceTRANSCRIPT
Advice on Virtual Outsourcing... For Both Clients and Freelancers
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Want to hire a virtual freelancer or start your own freelancing career?
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
According to Forbes, the size of the global online work industry is expected to grow to $5B by
2018 and it’s expected that more and more corporate teams will
include virtual members.
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
As both a marketing freelancer and a hiring client I have
learned a few things.
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Some tips based on my experience...
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
FOR CLIENTS
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Do as much as you can to figure out exactly what you
need help with and what the scope of work will be.
1
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
2If you are unsure of the scope
or the exact skills needed, do some research to try
and figure them out. Set yourself up for success.
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
If you’ve never looked for virtual talent before,
test and learn before bogging yourself down in endless
profiles and resumes.
3
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Talk to people in your network; they may know someone
that fits the bill. Also browse freelance platforms like Elance, Guru, and oDesk.
4
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Consider the investment you need to make to get a good
return vs. how much it’s going to cost you.
5
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Be nice to candidates; be a grownup; treat others as you want to be treated. What goes
around comes around. Keep that in mind.
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©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
FOR FREELANCERS
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Know what you want, what you’re great at and how you can help people. Figure out
who your target client is and map your messaging, resume
and profile to that.
1
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Work your network; brand and market yourself; find leads;
build relationships.
Freelance pla*orms are but one way to find projects and I don’t recommend depending on them as your sole source, par<cularly if you are just star<ng out.
2
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Allow for a startup period where you may not get any
business and/or need to undercut the market temporarily to get work and a track record.
3
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Be confident in your skills; stick to your guns on what
you want from your freelance career.
It’s OK to make it about you.
4
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Similarly, work diligently to get projects that suit your goals (as
well as the client’s). Try and build your pipeline based also
on what you want.
5
©Lydia’s Marke.ng Consul.ng | www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com | Contact: [email protected]
Consider this a baseline and general food for thought.
For more context and the full narra.ve visit the complete blog post at Lydia’s Marke.ng Blog:
Advice on Virtual Outsourcing — For Both Clients and Freelancers
Lydia’s Marke.ng & Communica.on Consul.ng Visit www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com Contact informa.on: LYDIA VOGTNER [email protected] 415-‐672-‐1870