Find out how you can use the best online freelance platforms to hire people who are specialists in their respective industries.
As remote work trends continue to increase, digital talent marketplaces are becoming an excellent resource for organizations to access the right talent in a short period of time. More and more individuals are preferring to work as freelancers, and finding people with specific skill sets and specializations is becoming a lot easier. However, as the freelance economy continues to expand, some can argue that it is no longer a niche part of the business world. According to Forbes, freelancers are predicted to account for almost 50% of the total workforce by 2025. A large number of people choosing to adapt to a more flexible method of work may sound like bad news for business leaders as they may lose talented full-time employees. Although if looked at it the right way, this change can give corporate executives access to an expanded and deeper pool of qualified, skilled, experienced, and highly motivated workers.
Another important aspect that must be considered is the size of the freelance marketplace. Since the number of freelancers is increasing rapidly, an issue that organizations might face is how to select and navigate the right marketplaces to access the right, most reliable talent. Some talent platforms are becoming so big that they are becoming more and more complicated. Many marketplaces are cluttered with individuals who may not have the right skillsets for many companies. Hence, the question is, how can companies find credible freelancers on digital talent marketplaces?
To start off, it is essential to know the basics, and the first step to consider is understanding the different types of freelancers.
Understand the different types of freelancers
Nowadays, the term freelancer is used to describe people who provide a plethora of services, and all types of gig workers can basically call themselves freelancers. Different platforms and industry reports give numerous names and categories to the different types of freelancers. However, for organizations looking to hire highly skilled individuals with proven experiences, independent contractors, freelance business owners, and interim executives are the 3 highly important types.
The independent contractors
They work with services done on an ‘as-needed basis’, meaning they take on work project by project. Because their hours and projects can vary greatly, their base pay is generally higher than that of those working in the 9 to 5 office environment. Independent contractors don’t have traditional Jobs and are often hired by organizations to supplement longer-term, large projects. This type of freelancer provides services either on a fixed-term contract or an open-ended agreement.
The Freelance Business owners
These small business owners are also self-employed professionals and generally work on a flexible basis. Simply put, they grow from being independent contractors. These individuals realize that they have a large amount and volume of work available in their selected fields hence allowing them to evolve into structured small businesses. Freelance Business owners can be easily accessed through specialized talent marketplaces, and they can be used to hired teams of freelancers to take on large-scale projects.
Interim executives
They provide temporary provision of management resources and skills. These individuals are skilled enough to take up the responsibilities of a proven overqualified and over-experienced top-level management. They help and lead organizations through digital transformations, business transitions, crises, or a change to unlock performance potentials.
Find a marketplace that is right for you
Freelance platforms are witnessing large-scale adoption in recent years as these help freelancers gain quick access to a larger number of potential clients, backed by dedicated vetting and sourcing capabilities. A study from Orbis research indicates that the global freelance platform market is projected to boom at a CAGR of 15.3% from 2021 to 2026. This projected growth shows great potential for freelancers; however, the growing number of platforms can confuse even the most knowledgeable companies. As some platforms are becoming too cluttered and big for companies to navigate, finding the right experts with the right specialization is becoming increasingly difficult.
One solution for this problem is the emergence of specialized, niche freelancing platforms. These platforms are smaller in size but provide access to the most experienced freelancers.
Specialized talent platforms have rigged vetting processes, and they also offer personalized and customizable services to fit the needs of different businesses. Platforms like ConsultXperts take care of all the hiring processes, from finding the right experts or a group of freelancers to the entire payments and work delivery services. Such platforms are much easier to navigate and are a lot less time-consuming to get work done.
Determining the proper payment structure
Most freelance platforms allow businesses to discuss the project rates and structures of payment directly with their chosen experts. Hence, deciding the right system of payments is an important decision to consider. Ultimately, companies must determine what is a fair rate and structure for the work that needs to be done, and they have some idea of the time it will take freelancers to complete the tasks.
It is also essential to discuss the payment structure of the freelance platforms. Some marketplaces keep a small percentage of the total payment either from the company’s side, the expert’s, or both. To cite an example, ConsultXperts charges a set rate from the freelancers that are hired from the platform.
Make sure you have all the requirements before hiring someone
Businesses always need to do a little presswork once they start hiring freelancers. One significant component of hiring freelancers and embracing the remote work transformation is having a proper hiring strategy in place. Companies have to make sure they plan ahead and have the right budget and policies in place to hire freelancers. Even though a specialized marketplace provides all the guarantees of work delivery and takes care of all the arrangements with experts, it is important to clearly explain the work, the expectations, and the procedures to the freelancers. Most businesses that hire freelancers on a regular basis assign managers to these external workers. One of the major advantages of hiring freelancers is that they are capable of working independently without any need for supervision. However, they need to have direct contact within the business who can explain all the requirements and can regularly interact with them regarding any changes a company might face. The assigned company contact is also responsible for having the paperwork done for the onboarding process relating to the marketplace itself and the freelancer. Lastly, it is extremely important to select a suitable method of communication. Most of the time, communication is done through the platform itself; however, freelancers may require tools on hand to inert act with the management team. Video chats, document sharing, and online security all need to be considered before finalizing the start of the work.
Create an account on digital talent marketplaces
Signing up on a freelance marketplace is the first step of entering the world of freelance. From the moment a business registers on a talent platform, it can start noticing the type and quality of services they provide. Specialized marketplaces offer direct communication with their talent specialists to find the right fit for companies. However, once the registration process is complete, it is important to browse through the different categories of freelancers and determine the right fit. In addition, it is wise to notice the years and types of professional experiences freelancers have on different talent marketplaces, and it is always recommended to know the vetting process these platforms have in place.
Hire someone! Be specific about what needs to be done
This is a major step to guarantee that the hired freelancers will deliver the expected work on time and with the highest quality. Sometimes a lack of or poor communication can lead to issues even with the most experienced and qualified freelancers. Ensuring that the correct agendas are being discussed and all the necessary information about the expected work is being discussed falls under the responsibility of the business. It is also recommended to set up milestones, especially for longer projects, and regular communication with the platform itself is also helpful to keep track of all the work being done.
As the remote work trend continues to overpower the businesses environment hiring credible freelancers has become a necessity instead of a choice. Innovative and forward-thinking organizations are already adopting hybrid, flexible work models to make room for independent workers and benefit from the skills they provide. We always recommend our clients to discuss all their requirements and ask as many questions as possible when they begin hiring freelancers through ConsultXperts. Navigating the talent platform market may have become complicated, but it is important to keep in mind that talent marketplaces are also evolving and becoming more and more advanced to meet the demands of the business world.