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Whether they’re writing content for your website or editing your social media videos, freelancers and contractors can be a major help to growing businesses. However, like any part- or full-time employee, they need to be set up for success to help your business achieve its goals. Whether through detailed communication or resources and support, treating freelancers like you would any permanent staff member ensures they’re able to do their best work.
For further guidance, consider the following advice from the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council. Below, they share useful tips for building positive working relationships with your freelancers and explain why doing so is essential to the success of your company.
Communicate Clearly and With Detail
Clearly communicate expectations and provide detailed project briefs. This ensures freelancers will understand your vision, reducing revisions and fostering a collaborative, efficient partnership crucial for the success of growing businesses. – Todd Boren, Alpen Group
Treat Contractors Like Valued Workers
Treat freelancers and contractors like valued workers, not content-generating machines. You will be able to form relationships with individuals who are a good fit for your brand voice, and they will be able to create better content and provide better services for you in return. – Evan Nison, NisonCo
Find Someone Who ‘Gets’ Your Style
Find the person or team that “gets you.” You’ll see that in how you communicate and their writing style. Does it flow? Is it cheeky? One person I know answers in what I call a diatribe — about five paragraphs each time. Another answers in bullet points, and then another answers with humor. You’re paying someone to speak for you. How you speak to each other should be effortless. – Susan Johnston, New Media Film Festival®
The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. Do I qualify?
Invest in Paid Onboarding
Paid onboarding for freelancers is a valuable investment that cultivates project success and lasting partnerships. Equipping them with in-depth knowledge of your company’s culture, goals and guidelines empowers them to deliver work aligned with your vision. By valuing their time and expertise from the start, you establish a mutually beneficial relationship that extends beyond individual projects. – Shirin Etessam, OML
Be Proactive
Being proactive is something we built our entire business around. For example, we book many artists for our clients on a weekly basis. Every artist gets a weekly automated reminder along with the standard operating procedure for that booking before going live. This allows for a more prepared performance and less room for error on site. – Kice Akkawi, Treblemonsters
Offer Resources and Trust
Ensure contractors have both tangible and supportive tools needed for projects. Assign a point person to gather assets, communicate and check in. Trust in yourself and them. You have selected your freelancers carefully, so sometimes stepping back and letting the process happen shows confidence in your team and allows the process to unfold organically and efficiently. – Cynthia Johnson, Bell + Ivy
Set Expectations to Ensure Alignment
Set expectations and communication channels with freelancers to ensure alignment and efficient collaboration. Clarity fosters mutual understanding, reduces misunderstandings and enables freelancers to deliver quality work that complements your business’s growth. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
Leverage AI Tools
Combine ancient intelligence with artificial intelligence. There are so many great AI tools that can set freelancers apart from small- and medium-sized enterprises and corporations. Add massive value, lock yourself in hard and grow your income. Go big, go niche or go home. – Igor Beuker, Igor Beuker
