Freelancers represent 35% of the global workforce. More and more companies work with independents to strengthen their internal skills or expand their team.
Still have reservations? Discover 19 reasons to work with one or more independent providers across the two main sections of this article:
Developers, graphic designers, copywriters, UX/UI designers, virtual assistants… Many freelancer profiles are on Codeur.com. Get quotes for free and quickly by posting your project today!
9 signs you need a freelancer
When you launch your young company, you are often the only one at the controls. That's normal — you don't necessarily have the means to hire someone.
However, you will inevitably end up needing support. How do you know it's time? Here are 9 signs that show it's high time to hire a freelancer!
1. You can't take on new clients
The survival of your business is tied to your ability to attract new customers each month. If, for several months, you fail to reach that goal, it should set off alarm bells. You may have reached your work limits. In that case, you need to call on the knowledge and fresh perspective of an external person to reach your sales goals.
2. You can no longer meet deadlines
Being alone at the helm is effective as long as the workload is manageable. However, as your business grows, you'll quickly become overwhelmed! Missed deadlines can cost you money. On top of that, your stress will increase and you'll have to encroach on your downtime, weekends and family time. You won't be able to keep up that pace for long!
It's time to say stop before burning out and, above all, before having to turn away clients. Set aside an hour to list the time-consuming tasks that can be delegated. The longer the list, the more urgent it is to hire a freelancer to lighten your load. Learn to delegate to a freelancer to regain a "normal" rhythm and increase your clients' satisfaction.
3. You're preparing a multichannel campaign
Putting together an advanced marketing strategy is a challenge you cannot tackle alone. A campaign that runs both online (across many channels) and offline requires perfect coordination and, above all, extensive technical knowledge.
Hiring one or more freelancers proves necessary to simultaneously run a campaign on social networks, in the press, with influencers, or even guerrilla marketing.
4. You're expanding into a new market
Launching your activities in a market that is entirely new to you is a valid reason to hire external resources. Your marketing strategy, which has worked until now, may prove ineffective with a new target audience.
What you need is a freelancer who particularly understands this new market and who has experience in business development.
5. You have an urgent project and no available staff
In a business owner's life, there are sometimes large contracts that arrive all at once. It's rare, but it's great! However, this will inevitably disrupt your organization and your employees are likely already fully occupied.
So it's time to call on one or more freelancers to absorb the extra workload and satisfy this important new client.
6. You have occasional needs
Do you need a graphic designer to work on your blog visuals? Are you looking for a virtual assistant to manage certain tasks? Do you want manage a Facebook page ? Do you have need 4 blog articles per month?
All these services require only a few hours per month and a full-time employee would not be cost-effective. Of course, there is part-time, but if you want to reduce expenses during slow periods or test the usefulness of a service, that type of contract is not suitable either.
So it's a good time to find an available freelancer! Depending on your needs and budget, they will be able to offer an appropriate package. You will then be free to increase or decrease their hours.
Pssst! All these freelancer profiles are on Codeur.com !
7. You need specific expertise
For your development or to meet the specific expectations of one of your clients, you may need a special skill. If the case is rare, this is the time to call on a contractor.
Many freelancers are specialized and offer their unique skills to companies that want to add, for a defined period, this exclusive expertise.
8. You're introducing a new business model
At the end of each year, leaders decide on the new directions to take for the coming year. If a radical change of business model is decided, a change in marketing strategy must follow.
Bring in fresh blood by enlisting the expertise of a freelancer who can approach these changes from another angle, and also provide the missing skills to launch this new business model.
9. You have profits to reinvest in business development
You have found your cruising pace, contracts are regular and your financial situation remains stable. The problem is that to expand your client portfolio and your revenues, you must free up time and rely on complementary skills.
So it's time to call on a freelancer to support you in your daily tasks!
Also read: 6 questions to ask a freelancer before hiring them
Why work with a freelancer?
1. The freelancer is motivated
Today, there are 3.2 million freelancers in France. Some of the best specialists admit they have a sought-after skill and want to put it to use for potential clients. These experts are trained in rapidly evolving fields like AI, data science, SEO, digital marketing... while being drawn to the freelance lifestyle!
They are therefore motivated to change their lives, become independent and live off their main skill by selling their services to small and medium-sized businesses.
2. The freelancer understands your needs
A freelancer is above all an entrepreneur, like you. They understand the importance of meeting your development and growth objectives.
Working with an independent professional means collaborating with someone who has an entrepreneurial mindset and a work culture similar to yours.
3. The freelancer is qualified
As mentioned, freelancing is increasingly adopted. That means competition is rising.
To stay competitive, freelancers specialize and continually train on the new challenges of their profession. Skills, knowledge and the right tools are their capital.
Working with an independent entrepreneur lets you benefit from sharp expertise that is constantly updated.
4. The freelancer supports you
Because freelancers take on multiple contracts, they have accumulated expertise useful for the development of your business. So they do more than simply complete their assignment.
They can bring a fresh perspective to your activity, offer informed advice and support you more broadly in your growth objectives.
5. The freelancer has professional tools
In addition to their qualities and experience, the freelancer uses their own equipment. Your company doesn’t need to invest in new tools to reach its goals, as these are often included in the freelancer’s offering.
6. The freelancer focuses on results
Why hire a freelancer? Because they are paid to achieve a specific objective. Their productivity is often measured by the work delivered each day (or during the assignment). They know that without results, the contract will be terminated.
Accordingly, independent workers give their best to meet your expectations.
7. The freelancer offers a high level of expertise
With a freelancer, you can access a high level of expertise. For example, you can work with a highly skilled software developer to build a complex application, or hire a recognized social media manager to take your community management to the next level.
For each project, you decide the level of expertise you need.
8. The freelancer backs up their results
Besides delivering quality work, freelancers substantiate their results. It's the key to showing clients that they are carrying out their assignment well, in order to satisfy (and retain) them.
At any time, you can track the progress of their work, as well as the results.
9. The freelancer helps you grow your business
Planning to expand? Whether in your country or abroad, you'll be able to tap into your freelancers' networks! That means you may need less time to implement your strategy.
Similarly, you may not be able to afford to hire staff immediately. Freelancers can therefore help you get started, or even test a project beforehiring a salaried team.
10. The freelancer is flexible
This may be the less exciting part for the freelancer, but for the company it's a real advantage! If your activity evolves, the independent provider can adapt by adjusting their offer upward… or downward.
You can even end the collaboration fairly easily, whether because of a poor relationship with the freelancer or a sudden drop in your activity.
Conclusion
How to choose your provider? Preferably, opt for a freelancer who will perfectly complement you with skills and knowledge you don't have. They can take over tasks where you feel less confident or that you cannot take on right now.
So, ready to hire a freelancer? Post an ad now, with your needs, on Codeur.com or find a qualified freelancer via thedirectory !
