There are many ways in which a freelancer could offer their services. They may only take work through word of mouth, they could have a website dedicated to their work, or they might work through a freelancing platform. Let’s look at each and talk about their benefits and setbacks.
Word of Mouth
Word of mouth marketing is when you speak directly to the freelancer or, more likely, someone who has used their service before. The nice thing about this is you, as the client, can get a recommendation from someone you trust who has used the freelancer’s service. You can ask them to be honest about the outcome of the work, the cost, and their overall satisfaction with the freelancer’s work.
The downside of finding a freelancer this way is that your options are very limited and it’s time-consuming. You have to ask around to everyone who might have used a freelancer for the service you’re looking for and just hope that someone has something good to pass along.
It also provides a narrow view of what that freelancer is capable of. You might know someone who worked with this freelancer to complete one type of job, but your job is slightly different. How do you know if that freelancer can meet your needs?
Website
You can use a search engine to find websites for freelancers who offer services that you need. This offers you direct contact with them, usually through an online contact form, a phone number, or an email.
Websites are great because freelancers share a portfolio of their work and reviews from past clients. This gives you a better idea of what they’re capable of and whether their skills meet your needs.
It’s important to note that the freelancer has complete control over what is on this website. It’s highly unlikely that they will share negative reviews or put poor projects in their portfolio. So if you’re on their website, all their reviews are five stars, and their portfolio is very small, proceed with caution. They may still be a great freelancer, but it’s smart to contact them and ask a few more questions.
Freelancing Platform
Freelancing platforms are great places to find freelancers because the reviews are honest, you can find hundreds of options in seconds, and communication and payments are handled through a secure platform.
When you connect with a freelancer on a freelancing platform, you can see the true reviews of clients just like you. The freelancer does not get to decide which reviews are or are not shown, so it’s unbiased.
You also have added security because the freelancer does not have your personal phone number or email address; you’re communicating through the platform. This same security applies to payments. For instance, on Aider, you don’t give a freelancer your bank account or debit/credit card information directly. Instead, you pay the platform when you agree on a contract, the freelancer completes the contract, and the funds are released when the job is completed to your satisfaction. This way, your personal information is safe and the payment will not go through until the job is done.
There are many ways to find a freelancer, and none of them are necessarily bad. However, finding and hiring freelancers through a freelancing platform is one of the easiest ways to find a lot of freelancers, see honest reviews of their work, and communicate and pay in a safe and secure system.
