Category: HIRING FREELANCERS ONLINE

Tips to success on hiring freelancers online

  • 5 Reasons You Should Hire Freelancers For Long Term

    If you are a client, the only way you can make a difference in a Freelancers life is hiring with a view of working with them for long term. It’s obvious, by the time you decide to hire, you have already done your due diligence and made sure that they have all that it takes to complete the job at hand.

    Watch video- 5 Reasons You Should Hire Freelancers For Long Term

    Unlike traditional way of hiring people where someone signs a contract for a given period of time- Freelance hiring terms are different. For you to succeed in hiring a freelancers to work for you, look at hiring for long term.

    But not every newbie client looks at it this way. Why? because, they have the liberty to hire and fire anytime. Also, you can opt to hire one on one-time fixed contract.

    I mean, even if you are working on a same project over and over again-you still have the freedom to end the contract after completion of a milestone and hire someone else to do the same job without any problem. In some occasions, the reason behind the decision may be valid.

    So how is this problem anyway? Well, initially it isn’t. Its fun doing so. It feels good to work with people from different countries and see what they offer. But as you go on, that excitement to ‘hire‘ someone new starts to fade. This is contributed by a number of reasons.

    In this blog-post I will be exploring long term unforeseen issues that will arise as a result of inconsistency in working with an individual freelancer.

    Broken Communication

    Sometimes, when you post a job, you get only one qualified freelancer. You may not have a problem during the interview process and you end up a hiring him/her.

    Mark you, when doing this, you already have 2 or 3 qualified freelancers in your contacts whom you had hired to work for you in the past and they did a perfect job.

    Now, when the deadline is due, the freelancer stops communicating and ghosts you for weeks. This is quite disappointing. While you may have the liberty to re-post the job and get new applicants, the project at hand may not be any useful depending on its intended purpose.

    Assuming you had consistently worked with one freelancer from day one, you could have been in a position to predict his behavior and find a resolve before the deadline reaches.

    Repeatedly Explaining What Your Expectations Are

    Unless you were disappointed by the first freelancer you hired, there is no point in hiring a new freelancer to do a similar job for you. Its wise to consult the first freelancer on if they can do the job at hand as well as their availability.

    Its more easier to work with a freelancer you had worked with before. You will take very little time explaining to them what to do as well as what you expect from them.

    Room to Negotiate on Charges

    While there is a probability of finding a new freelancer with a lower bid anytime you post a job on a freelancing platform, the quality and guarantees you get will vary.

    In this day and age, prices go along with quality. If your requirements are high and the amount you are willing to pay is low, only entry level freelancers will apply.

    This may lead to wasting a lot of time hiring and re-hiring with the hope of saving money only to end up loosing more.

    But when you repeatedly hire the same freelancer for the same skills- at some point – after several contracts, you will be able to negotiate for a discount.

    Sense of Security

    When a freelancer is assured of consistent work , they will give your project their all. Your project will be on top of their priority list. They will worry less.

    They will stop taking in new work because what you are offering to them takes care of their bills.

    Their life will eventually change because they will have time to think of investing their earnings. At the end, it’s not about the pay, its about what it does to their lifes.

    It feels good when you know that the job you are offering is helping someone live a life of their dreams.

    Consistency Means Trust

    When you are consistent in what you do, everyone around will trust you. It’s effect is symbiotic.

    The freelancer will trust you and you will trust them. If you are connecting with the freelancer through a gig platform, the platform will love you more.

    These are 5 reason you should hire a freelancer for a long term. I hope you learned something from this post.

    If you need help to edit videos or produce professional screen-cast’s tutorials, let me know here. Alternatively, you can send me an e-mail to connect@cheptiony.com

    Until next time, take care. Follow me on twitter @cheptiony

  • Signs You Are Being Lured to Work For Free During This Pandemic and Why Its Good to Say No

    Many prospective clients new to the ‘Freelance economy’ will use this season of pandemic to get the most from unsuspecting freelancers for less or even free.

    Watch video

    But does economy slowdown mean you should compromise with your regular rates and serve clients based on ‘their’ low budget that is below what you normally charge? Does this mean you should offer your freelance services for free?

    Since Freelancing is a ‘open’ economy dependent of the best bidder, its crucial that one is keen as a freelancer so as not to compromise with value by offering services at a lower price.

    It’s obvious, the level of spending by most clients as we speak has reduced due to fears that the pandemic may go for long.

    While your priority now is a sustainable source of income, you should also look at the long term effect of offering your services at a low fee. This is a question of being ‘productive‘ as opposed to being ‘busy.’

    Here are three things to to consider when before dismissing request for free work.

    Your Work History with the client

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    Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

    Have you been working with a client for some time? What kind of services are they selling? Which market are they serving? Have their markets or customers been heavily affected by the pandemic?

    Keenly answering these questions will help you understand how to respond to your clients need for a discount. If the services you are offering still takes the same time to complete, then declining to give a discount might be the best option. This way, if the client withdraws their existing contract, you will be in a position to accommodate a new client who is willing to pay you in the rates you are asking for.

    Nothing Changed. You Still work From home as Before.

    While Covid-19 pandemic is here with us, Freelancers who used to work from home still do so. Its just that now, they can’t have their regular meetings over coffee with their friends or local clientele.

    So, the point is; nothing changed. You still pay bills as you used to pay.

    This answers the question on whether to offer services at half the price or for free. It’s up to you to decide if it is worth. Don’t be ‘Mr. nice‘ expecting the client will love you. This is business. So, learn always to say no to something that you don’t agree with.

    Trust Your Guts. Be a Freelancer of Value.

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    Photo by Alexander Mils on Pexels.com

    The only way you can gain financial freedom is setting your value high and being firm on it. People perceive that freelancers who charge high rates deliver quality with little or no supervision. In a time when economy is not doing well, few people can afford to hire you. So does it mean you lower your rates to match the demand? Absolutely NO.

    Doing so is dangerous. In most occasions, when you lower your rates below your normal, you will have to do more work to meet your targets. At the end, quality will be compromised.

    Again, this is the other reason to say No, without explaining yourself. Any client who values quality work will respect your decision.

    And that is it from here. Do you get irritated when clients sends you an e-mail requesting you to do for them some work for free? How do you dismiss them in a professional way?

    Share your feedback in the comments section below.

    And if you need help to edit your videos or produce professional screen-cast video tutorials, let me know here.

    Until next time, take care. Follow me on twitter @cheptiony

  • 3 Steps To Closing Your First Deal as a Freelancer

    If you are starting up as a freelancer, you know how hard it is to close your first deal going by the fact there are hundreds of other freelancers out there who are 10x better than you.

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    Photo by Savvas Stavrinos on Pexels.com

    How do you get over fear that you will not succeed before you even take your first step? How do you compete with other qualified freelancers and emerge the best in the business?

    You see,

    At end of the day, you have to make more sales. With time, you will want to concentrate high value contracts. To get your feet on the ground, here are 3 steps to closing your first deal even if you have no experience at all.

    Research on Your Clients’ Requirements And Address them in Your Cover Letter

    This may sound obvious but most people fail to do it right. Serious clients searching for freelancers will prefer to work with someone who addresses the pain points of the problem in their cover letter. Stick to the topic of the job.

    In this day and age, or rather in the freelancing world, no one cares if you have 10 years of experience…all they want is someone who is ready to solve their problem faster- and get paid. Stick to that. Tell them how you are going to do it. Be brief.

    Offer to Speak to Your Prospect on Call

    This only comes in handy if a client shows interest in your proposal by messaging you. scheduling a call is convenient to someone who is busy and not ready to have e-mail exchanges back and forth. Demonstrate that you are confident enough about the job on offer by proposing to have a call. Majority of clients, are willing to get on call with you in the time that you propose.

    Ask Them to Close the Deal to Enable You Start

    Now, I know this sounds very unusual to many but it works. Don’t wait for the client to close the deal, ask them to do so once they have provided you with all the required information. Be polite while doing so. This works best when you set a deadline. Don’t let them assume and wait for you to work without a contract in place. It is risky as it may not end up well. Them putting money on escrow demonstrates commitment.

    And that is it from me today.

    If you need help to create professional screen-cast video tutorials, request a free quote here.

    Until next time, bye, bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • 5 Reasons Why a Prospect Will Kick Your Ass Just When You Are About to Close The Deal

    It doesn\’t matter if the project at hand is big or small – the psychology of closing a sale is the same. Now, if you are fond of copying other people ways of handling business-then this explains why you are always loosing/or getting your a** kicked just when you are about to close a sale.

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    It\’s a no brainier. If your prospect notices a little sign of desperation or display of fear, they will doubt your service and chicken out. All this can be interpreted from the conversations you have with them either on e-mail or call.

    I too, sometimes find myself as a victim. But, I have learn\’t a lot from them. Here are 5 common things that will make a serious client start procrastinating on whether to work with you or not.

    Lack of DEEP Understanding of Your Prospects Video Requirements

    Now, I am talking here of serious clients who are ready to buy your video services… Not the many \’internet window shoppers\’ who are just making inquiry with unclear needs. Serious clients are ready to spend if you clearly convince them that you have the capability of delivering the kind of video they are looking for.

    Watch Video – Deal Breakers in The Freelancing Business

    Now get this, there is \’shallow\’ understanding of the \’need\’ at hand and there is a \’deep\’ understanding of the need. Deep understanding can only be gained from experience of doing the same thing over and over for a very long time. And this goes hand in hand with \’high spenders.\’

    Poor English or Several Grammatical Mistakes in Your Communications

    Now, I admit, English is not my native language. But I had to learn how to communicate well in English. This way, I am able to show how serious I am in engaging with global collaborators. Now, let me explain why this can become the last thing in the list of your requirements. The first thing is usually the \’Skills, followed by timeline, then cost and finally communication.

    In occasions when I am hiring, I can quickly tell from the communication whether someone will be fun working with or not. Any client hiring is looking to reduce their workload. If they find that they are struggling to understand what you are trying to communicate to them, they will re-think on hiring you. I mean you are giving them double work.

    Greed for More Pay

    Again, prospects ready to spend will not look at the cost first. They will look at your skills. They determine this by sharing their requirements. Once satisfied, they will request that you give them a quote. When you provide a quote of say $500. They, will send you an e-mail, saying,

    \’Just to confirm, you say you will charge only $500 to create the video with revisions… Is that correct.\’

    The word \’Only\’ in that sentence will arouse greed in a freelancer. Most guys are tempted to start hiking the amount by introducing \’add ons\’ that was not there before.

    If you are the \’greedy\’ type of freelancer; go take a cold shower before replying that e-mail because you will end up loosing the business by allowing temptations to set their foot on your door:-)

    Too Slow to Meet the Deadlines

    Busy clients set their deadlines. When they contact a freelancer to work on their project, they need it like yesterday. Give them a reasonable deadline and inform them that on request, you can work overtime (in the evenings/holidays of-course), if it\’s urgent. Then tell them how much more you will charge them for overtime. You being honest, they will offer to pay you more if they need the video that FAST. Address them like a fellow human being but stick to the context. They are humans like you only in a different planet.

    Inability to Handle a Single Portion of The General Requirements

    This is what I mean when it comes to video production. Sometimes, a prospect needs someone who can handle everything from Scripting, story-boarding, voice over and video production. They don\’t care how you do it. They just need someone who can tell them they can and prove it. If you are a honest freelancer, tell them what you can and what you can\’t handle. This will help them decide and their decision may not be in your favor. That is fine. Joy comes when you do what you can do best.

    There are many other more reasons which will make a prospect choose not to work with you. One among those being uncertainty when explaining yourself in your e-mail. Always be yourself. Be confident in what you think you can offer.

    And That is it from me here.

    If you need help to create professional screen-cast videos, send a request a free quote here and I will get back to you.

    Until next time, bye bye and take care.

    You can follow me on twitter @cheptiony

  • 3 Keywords that will Attract Qualified Freelancers to Your Job

    Now, you might have heard that being very detailed in what you want when looking for a professional freelance video producer or editor is key. Sadly writing a long detailed job post may not help you find one. Irrespective of the freelancing site you use to find a freelancer, know that many other clients like you are looking for freelancers as well. This means that there is a huge competition to find a perfect freelancer. 

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    Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

    If you don\’t use the correct keywords, you may find yourself editing and re-posting the same job post after failing to find the right match. 

    Expert freelancers-while sifting through freelance jobs- read titles first and check if it has the keywords related to his/her skills. If it does, he clicks on it to read more with an intention of applying/bidding. 

    So why does other clients get over 20 applicants in an hour while others takes more than 10 hours to get 10 applicants for a job in video production? 

    Well, besides the skills, payment verification check and client past reviews; freelancers look at how keen the client is in cutting the BS.

    In this I mean, if you write a long detailed description of your job post- freelancers are most likely to skip your post. This means you have to summarize your post if you want many qualified ones to bid. Here are 3 things that will get freelancers bidding for your job; 

    Narrow in the category of video production service you want 

     In video production, there are many sub categories namely, screen-casting,  videography(shooting video), video editing, Animations, 3 D animation, motion graphics and more. As a client, you know the type of video you are looking for. Name that in your title e.g Animated demo video for my mobile app. A freelancer with good skills in animations and specifically animations for mobile apps will be more drawn to apply for it. 

    Find one \’word\’ that describes the purpose of the video 

    Videos are created for different purposes. And when you mention the video purpose in your title using the right word, it will trigger creative part of the brain of the person reading. e.g In the example I have used above in point No.1, \’demo\’ is the purpose. This thus means that when a freelancer reads this in the tittle, before applying, he/she will ask himself, is this what I can create? That means if he/she decides to bid, he will provide examples related to that. And you can use the examples provided to narrow in your search. 

    Mention the results you expect after someone watches the video created

    Freelancing has evolved from the year 2010 to now. So, it means that freelancing sites have their own algorithms to help clients quickly find suitable freelancers. But this only works if you use the right keywords from the word go. Using an opposite keyword is a total disaster. It\’s like searching for \’truck\’ on google when you are actually looking for a pick up truck. It won\’t work. The same applies when looking for a freelancer. 

    I have seen clients use the right keyword on their titles, and one paragraph in the description with a small budget and the post attracted over 50 candidates. Such clients are guaranteed to find and hire the BEST freelancer who require little or no supervision at all. 

    And that is it from me today. 

    In-case you need help with hiring a video editor or video producer, you can request a free quote here. 

    Till next time, bye bye and take care. 

     You can follow me on twitter @cheptiony 

  • 5 Common Things that Will Make a Client Request For Several Video Revisions

    When your client asks for video revisions the first time, you are excited because you know you are close to completing the project – and getting PAID. 

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    Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com

    But, after the first round of revision, you client sends you a longer list of revision requests and you are are like WTF! Why didn\’t she/he spot these issues the first time I shared the video? 

    Hold on, some micro (yet critical) mistakes in video are hard to spot when one is reviewing it for the first time. Here is why; 

    Clients Focus their Attention on Communication in their First Review

    When you share the first draft of the video, your client will want to see if the visuals conveys clearly the message according to his vision and script. Hence the initial comments will be based on this. He/she may also pick some other small issues that are common like sound issues and probably video resolution. 

    So, that means he/she will pick other small issues once sure that the message is being properly communicated. 

    So when creating the video, here are top 5 things that you should be keen with. 

    Spelling Mistakes 

    This is very common. For instance, misspelling someone\’s name, or grammatical mistakes on text graphics. This is very important. If not fixed, it may ruin the whole good vibe that the video has. So, to avoid back and forth after the first review, skim through your graphics before exporting your video. Make sure that they are grammatically correct. Also, counter-check names with your client to ensure that its written correctly. That way, you will save yourself a lot of trouble. 

    Jump Cuts/Blank Video Frame

    Each time you export or render your video, preview it before sharing. This way, you will be sure that the video plays smoothly from the beginning to the end. Sometimes, you accidentally move a clip 1 frame while editing and it results in a noticeable dark section when being played. Be careful and keen on this. Otherwise, your client will. 

    Export Settings 

    If you are exporting your draft videos in low resolution of 720P with lowest bit rate and smaller file, let your client know about this from the start. Tell them that the final video will have high resolution. Otherwise your client will assume the final video will look the same and may not like it. 

    Use One or Two Transitions Consistently 

    Several funky transitions are not only confusing, but on a marketing perspective, it displays a characteristic of someone trying hard to sell. This originates from a place of desperation. No one wants to be perceived that way. Thus, when you use transitions, try to be minimal. Use at least two different transitions, all through your video. Otherwise you client will tell you to do so. 

    Check With your Client on the Correct Color Themes 

    Many companies today insist on sticking to their company color themes. This is applicable on all video graphics that you create for them.  It is therefore good to consult with your client on the same. This way, they can send you their logos or probably their company color pellets. 

    If you assume this, you client will notice this probably when you are doing the final touches and being told to revise graphic colors the last minute may be irritating to you as the editor. 

    This are five among other many micro things that will make your client request for more revisions. It is therefore crucial to be clear from the start on the number of revisions you are willing to offer to your client. i.e Offering 3 rounds of revisions for free is ideal. Any additional revision will attract a fee, which you will suggest to your prospect. 

    And that\’s all from me today. Hope this article was helpful to you. 

    If you need any help related to creating videos, you can request a free quote here.  

    Till next time, bye bye and take care. 

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony

  • 3 Reasons Why You Should not Subcontract a Project you are Halfway Working on

    Lets say you are working on a project with a 5 day timeline. On your third day, you are done with the first draft of the video. You share it with your client. Your client is impressed but still need few changes.

    While you plan to make the changes, you receive a call from a different client who wants you to go out and film something for him/her for 2 days and it\’s urgent.  You don\’t want to disappoint the two because they trust your service. What will you do? 

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    Photo by Marc Mueller on Pexels.com

    In a scenario like this, you will have to forego one project and hire someone else to do it on your behalf. Now here comes the problem, some clients(especially in filming) insist that you be there yourself. This is where you have no option but to assign someone else the project you are currently editing.

    If you do so, you will be making a big and costly mistake unless you are assigning it to your assistant editor who works with you in the same office. Here are three reasons you should not hire another freelancer to continue with the project you started. 

    Delivery Time Will be Much Longer 

    Considering that it may take you 1 day to find a suitable freelancer to take over the project, having them understand the presentation style, idea and so forth will take you another 1-2 days. He/she will have to send you their version then you review it before sending it to the client. This will mean another 1-2 days back and forth. At the end, you will not have met the deadline. 

    Some Clients Will Notice the Change in Hands 

    Many online clients are very keen. By just watching the video, they will quickly notice that someone else made the changes/revisions. They ask questions like; The transition effect at 1.02 Minute is not smooth, did someone else edit this video? 

    You May End up Loosing Both Your Time and Money 

    Some freelancers are excellent at what they do but they lack one discipline- communication. They may communicate well during the interviewing process but end up taking more than 24 hours to respond to your messages when the delivery time comes. In such scenarios, you may resort to close the job and do it yourself bearing the pressure from your client. If you had made a down-payment, you will end up loosing both your time and money without any progress. 

    Conclusion 

    If you find yourself in a situation like this, it\’s important to discuss with your client on the possibilities of extending the delivery deadline. You will be surprised on how cooperative the client is in accepting your request. Such bold step displays your professionalism and honest. 

    And that is it from me today. Till next time, bye bye and take care. 

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony 

    If you need help with screencast video production or audio productions, go to Techtube videostudio and request a free quote.

     

  • Top Client Tips to Hiring a Professional Video Editing Freelancer

    Before hiring a freelancer to help you edit your video, have this in mind – Effective and impactful videos are simple and clean. A bunch of animations and VFX will not help anything if the video content is not clearly structured. This requires that the producer or writer spends a lot of time working on the video idea before proceeding to produce the video.

    If you are a newbie client with no idea on the video production process- and intend to hire a professional video editor-hang on. With 7 years of experience in the video production industry, here are my top tips to help you identify the right video editor for your project.

    Have in Handy Video Assets

    Video assets is everything when it comes to  video editing. It will vary depending on the kind of video you want the freelancer to work on. It ranges from logo, videos, images, music and audio recordings. This will help the editor understand the kind of message you want to pass on. If it’s screen-cast videos, they will ask for access to the app or software.

    Prepare Video Script or Hire A scriptwriter to help

    Script is very important as it gives a clear direction on how the video will come out. Script can be in text or storyboard format with images/video screenshots added on it. This can be created on PowerPoint with text inserted on the notes section of the presentation. If it’s footage being edited, you will need to supply the instructions in writing of time-codes you want cut out as well as sections you want retained. This will not only save the editor time, but it will save you time that you could have spent in back a forth revision requests with the editor.

    Set Delivery Timelines

    When planning to hire a video editor, you obviously have a timeline in mind. Professional freelance editors will advise you otherwise if your timeline request is not reasonable or is not fitting to their schedule. Anyone who is committed to delivering quality will rather forfeit the job than take it and deliver trash. It’s therefore important to check if the editor is requesting to know delivery expectation before accepting to proceed and edit.

    Pay in Milestones

    Don’t be scared if the freelancer asks that you make a milestone deposit before he/she starts working. Milestones motivates them to focus on your project besides strengthening the trust that they have for you as a client. Once you are happy to go with a particular freelancer, hire them and deposit funds on escrow. You can  release them when you are happy with the final video delivery.

    A professional video editor is someone who has produced videos similar to what you are looking for in the past. If you are looking for a particular style of videos, he will be in a position to provide links to related videos he/she has done in the past. This will not only speed up your hiring process as a client, but you will know how much you can ask for from the editor.

    Leave a Positive Review For The Good Job

    And finally, he will ask for a review when job is completed and your are happy:-).

    Don\’t hesitate to give him/her 5 stars for the good job. This way, you will help him attract more awesome clients just like you! Let’s continue making internet safe haven to do business.

    If you need professional help on video, you can chat and request a free quote here.

    Don’t forget to give this post a thumbs up and leave a comment below.

    Also, follow me on twitter @cheptionymutai

    Till next time, bye bye and take care.