It’s a lifestyle that more and more career professionals are choosing. Freelancing, that is. And of course, there are many reasons for this – people have come to see lack of security and unattractive “cultures” in traditional organizations; they want freedom and flexibility; and they want to be in control of their own work lives.
How is the demand? In short, it is growing, especially among small businesses. And some experts predict that fully 50% of the workforce will be freelancers or temporary workers by 2020.
Using Freelancers is a Smart Move for Small Businesses
In short, if you have needs for expertise but lack the resources or the need for a full-time employee, then employing freelancers just makes sense.
Here are seven benefits in hiring freelancers:
Budget-Friendly – This is a no-brainer. A contracted freelancer does not require recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, training and development, or benefits. In short, there’s no overhead. And it allows you to get the best by offering better rates than your competition.
Flexibility on Both Sides – When the need arises, you employ a freelancer. You provide the tasks and the deadline. The freelancer works on his own time to meet that deadline. In essence, both of you have flexibility – you in terms of when you need the work and the freelancer in terms of when and how he completes it.
This is exactly how online writing services, such as Canada Writers, Write Load, and Onlinewritersrating work. All are small businesses that use freelance writers on an as-needs basis. Another company may have a need for a piece of custom software. Such an expert can be found on any number of sights – Upwork, Freelancer.com, etc. Further, many freelancers have their own websites and can be found through a Google search. You can then easily check out their portfolios and their references before making a decision – just as you would if you were hiring an employee.
Rapid Turnaround – This is perhaps the second-best benefit. Freelancers are motivated to please – this is how they gain a great reputation and repeat business. This is not always the case with an in-house employee who may be subject to distractions.
Tom Kennedy, Head of Content for Essay Writing Service, puts it this way: “We use only freelance writers. They understand that they must meet client deadlines and that exceeding expectations moves them up in the pecking order when tasks are assigned. It’s a big motivator.”
You Get Experience – Using a seasoned freelancer means that, in their niche, they have worked for a variety of businesses, organizations, and owners/managers. They are far more likely to have encountered your unique circumstances and can “hit the ground running.”
You May Get Greater Innovation – Freelancers are not “confined” by company policy and the attitude that “this is how it’s always been done.” They are not ingrained into your company culture/environment, and can, therefore, think “outside the box,” coming up with solutions that you may not have considered. This is an additional perk that you hadn’t planned on.
Long-Term Relationship – You may have a need for the same type of freelancing work over time. If you have found the perfect fit in a freelancer, then you know exactly who to go to in the future.
Veronica Wright, CEO of CV Writing Services, uses freelancers to help clients with their resumes and cover letters. According to her, “We are thrilled when we find an expert who meets our expectations and even goes above and beyond. And we develop a strong relationship with such an individual to both of our benefits.”
A Global Span – You are not limited to your own locale. If a freelancer with amazing expertise is available anywhere in the world, you can access that individual easily. And, especially in developing countries, there is specific technical expertise that can be had for less than you would pay at home.
It’s Growing – A number of studies and labor statistics show that freelancing is a growing market sector. Given the ability to find them, to communicate with them, and to keep open lines of discussion via digital means throughout the entire task-completion process, has made the use of freelancers efficient, valuable, and just smart.
Freelancing is truly the future of work. Small businesses who take advantage of this new work environment will realize all of the seven benefits listed above.