The online freelancing platform has seen rapid expansion. As space evolves the best practices and expectations also change over time. We have a look at the best practices and expectations in this article.
Best Practices
The freelancers should aim towards meeting the project deliverables with a clear emphasis on client satisfaction. To be effective and successful, they should follow some best practices which are provided below:
Clear Understanding of the Project
The freelancer should clearly understand the requirements and expectations of the employer. If something is not clear, they should clarify with the employers. Clarity on the project is critical before starting the work. It also results in better quality of work.
Adhere to Milestones
Discuss the milestones and the timelines with the employer. Once these have been agreed upon, the freelancer should ensure that they are met.
Regular Communication with Employers
Regular communication with the employers is important in any project. It gives an assurance to the employers on the progress made. The freelancers also get inputs from the employer which helps them take corrective actions and ensure that the project is being done as per the employer requirement.
Incorporate Feedback
The freelancer should incorporate the feedback of the employers in the project. This will result in systematic project implementation and will ensure that the final output is as per the employer expectations.
Meet Project Deliverables
The success of any project is dependent on achieving the mutually decided deliverables. Hence it is imperative that the freelancer should accomplish the project deliverables within the timeline and of the agreed quality.
Expectations from Employers
The employers should be in a position to manage the hired freelancers in a way that they deliver the expected results. Following are the key expectations from the employers:
Provide Clarity on the Project
Employers should provide complete details and clarity on the project. This results in the freelancers developing clarity on the employer expectations and deliverables along with the deadline. This also contributes towards achieving better project outputs as both the parties are clear on the specific deliverables to be accomplished.
Provide Precise Feedback
Employers should provide clear and concise feedback to the freelancers on the project. This helps the freelancers in understanding what corrective actions are needed in the project to ensure it is compliant with the employer expectations.
Avoid Micromanaging
It is expected that the employers do not start micromanaging the freelancers. Freelancers work primarily as they prefer flexible work schedules and independence in working and not being bossed. They should be provided with flexibility while working and the focus should be on achieving project deliverables with quality.
Appropriate Pay
The employer should pay the freelancer fairly. They should think of him/her as a short-term vendor and should not exploit them with low wages. This helps in keeping them motivated and getting quality work out of them.
The online freelancing space is evolving rapidly. There are lots of opportunities for freelancers and employers to come together and create a win-win scenario for each other. The above employer expectations and best practices for freelancers will go a long way in creating a mutually rewarding professional relationship between them.
