If you haven’t yet discovered the ways in which hiring freelance and remote workers for ongoing or one-off projects can help your business, then you can read our case for it here. With over 16 years experience working freelance for agencies, clients and as KITSCH.inc, we’ve learnt a thing or two about getting the most out of our remote and freelance workers, as well as how to maintain good working relationships with our clients too. Naturally, we have a lot of freelance friends too and trust us we hear some total horror stories about freelance projects gone awry. In the hopes we can keep the freelance life sweet for remote workers and clients alike, let’s share some of the ways you can improve productivity and save money by making a few simple changes, perhaps some of these things you’re already doing?
Be open-minded about new ways of working…
One of the great things about mixing up the staff with a freelancer or remote worker is the wide variety of experiences and knowledge both parties can pick up along the way and share with each other. Many people choose freelance life as it offers a more flexible work/life balance, which is ideal for those who need time to themselves for health, family, side projects or personal reasons. This doesn’t mean they’ve less work experience, freelancers need to be quick to adapt and are used to having to hit the ground running, so they’ve seen different systems and working methods on a regular basis. Embrace this. Clients and freelance workers alike should take these chances to learn something new or try a new procedure, because you never know which ones might prove life changing for your business.
Create an agreement and stick to it…
This is a two way street, but something we’d recommend to everyone in any type of business. Before you start a project, ensure both parties are clear on what the deliverables and terms of service will be. This can be as simple or as detailed as you want or need, but having this on paper will save any confusion or misunderstanding from either side, saving endless headaches for all. Important things to include here are any deadlines, office hours, what assets will be delivered and payment terms. Get a representative from both parties to sign it, this allows clients to have a clear understanding of what to expect for their money whilst giving valuable remote workers a tiny bit of much appreciated security. There are some great contract examples on Emma Cossey’s blog The Freelance Lifestyle, her blog helped KITSCH.inc get started back in 2014.
Hire workers that you believe in…
You would think this was common sense, but it’s often not. If you are willing to spend money on paying someone to help improve your business, it’s essential that you find people that you connect with. To get the most out of freelance and remote specialist, it’s essential for clients to trust who they hire and to find people who share their passion for the project. Freelance and remote workers should be considered as an extension to your full-time staff, offering the same or a broader experience and knowledge set than your in house staff. Regardless of experience, keep an eye out for those hidden gems who share your enthusiasm for your particular niche, they are super valuable as personal advocates of your brand as well as being the ones who can bring energy and a positive attitude to the development of your project.
Respect each other…
Respect is underrated these days and in the fast paced living of many industries, freelancing included, it can often be forgotten. Being a freelancer or remote worker takes a lot of energy, time and knowledge to build up to a sustainable level, this in itself is a valuable skill. Each freelancer and remote worker is therefore a micropreneur, entrepreneur or business owner, just like their client’s are. Respect this. On the flip side, remember that client are also going through similar or bigger day-to-day business dilemmas as their freelance workers, we’re all stressed and we all worry. Show respect for each other and do your best to make paying the bills as painless as possible, because at the end of the day, that’s the basic goal we all have in common isn’t it?
Don’t be afraid to say no…
When we all continue to comply with convention and stick to the rules, most things get dull. As a freelancer or business owner, it’s important to learn when to say no; no to unreasonable requests, no to unnecessary expenses and so on. It may seem rebellious or risky at some times, but in our experience the most valuable thing you can have with a business relationship is transparency and honesty. But it doesn’t work unless both parties remember our previous points and combine saying no with also being respectful to other people’s differing opinions. Some of our most successful projects with KITSCH.inc were the result of us saying no to something along the way.
If you’re interested in opening your mind to new ways of conducting business in a more efficient and profitable way, we’d highly recommend giving some Tim Ferriss books a read, he has some great tips for all types of business owners. We’ll be sharing more of our experience and knowledge on our blog here, so be sure to follow us @Kitschinc on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. If you think we can help you business, be sure to check out our services via the homepage.
Jayne Robinson
Co-Creator @wearefoodscouts & @KitschInc. Digital Marketing & Creative Direction. Illustration, writing, creativity & style. Fan of films, TV, cartoons, colourful hair & clean beauty. Blogger since 2009.
