Marketing Gamble: Free Products vs. Loan-Fueled Ads
Freelance Partnerships: How to Maximize Opportunities
In today’s dynamic business environment, small businesses increasingly turn to freelance partnerships to access specialized skills. Freelancers can manage workloads and drive growth for the business. They are the ones that provide the agility and expertise that small businesses need to stay competitive. Keep in. mind that optimizing these partnerships requires a strategic approach. This guide offers 8 practical tips on effectively engaging freelancers to maximize their contributions to the business.
Clearly Define the Needs
Start by identifying the specific tasks or projects that require external expertise. This could range from graphic design and content writing to software development and marketing, …etc. Outline the scope of work, deliverables, deadlines, and any specific requirements. A detailed job description will help attract the right talent.
Do this at the beginning of the search for a freelancer. Clear definitions prevent misunderstandings and ensure the business finds a freelancer whose skills match the business needs.
Choose the Right Platforms
Utilize freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, as well as industry-specific job boards and social networks. Look for platforms that have robust selection processes and provide reviews and ratings from previous clients.
Begin the search as soon as the job description is clear and ready. Being proactive can help find the best candidates before they get hired by others.
Evaluate Candidates Thoroughly
Assess freelancers based on their portfolios, reviews, and previous work experience. Conduct interviews and, if necessary, ask for samples or small test projects to validate their experience. Focus on their technical skills, reliability, communication abilities, and cultural fit with the business.
Do not rush during the evaluation process. Quickening the assessment step can lead to mismatches and unsatisfactory results.
Set Clear Expectations
Clearly communicate the expectations regarding work quality, deadlines, and interaction frequency. Establish clear guidelines for reporting progress and resolving issues. Ensure both parties agree on the scope of work and timelines.
Do this before starting any project. Setting expectations upfront can prevent conflicts and ensure smooth collaboration.
Foster Strong Communication
Use project management tools like Trello, Asana, or Slack to keep track of progress and maintain regular communication with freelancers. Schedule regular check-ins and provide feedback promptly. Encourage an open line of communication for any questions or concerns.
Implement this throughout the project’s duration. Consistent communication helps maintain alignment and address issues promptly.
Build Long-term Relationships
Treat freelancers as part of the team. Acknowledge their contributions, provide constructive feedback, and ensure timely payments. Invest time in understanding their working style and career goals. This can lead to more personalized and productive collaborations.
Focus on relationship-building from the beginning and continue nurturing it beyond the completion of projects. Long-term relationships can lead to better work quality and loyalty.
Offer Competitive Compensation
Research market rates for the required skills and offer fair compensation. Consider bonuses for outstanding work. Ensure that payment terms are clear and adhere to them. This builds trust and encourages freelancers to prioritize their projects.
Discuss compensation early in the hiring process and confirm it before starting any work. Regularly review rates to remain competitive.
Continuously Evaluate and Improve
After each project, conduct a review to assess what went well and what could be improved. Solicit feedback from the freelancer as well. Look at the efficiency of the processes, the quality of work delivered, and the overall collaboration experience.
Make this a routine practice after every project. Continuous improvement helps refine your approach and achieve better outcomes in future collaborations.
In conclusion, freelancers can be invaluable assets for small businesses, providing expertise and flexibility that full-time employees might not offer. By clearly defining the business needs, choosing the right platforms, thoroughly evaluating candidates, setting clear expectations, fostering communication, building long-term relationships, offering competitive compensation, and continuously evaluating the partnership, one can maximize the benefits of freelancer collaborations. Implementing these strategies will help create productive and mutually beneficial relationships with freelancers, driving the business toward greater success.
Grace Nasralla is the founder and senior business blogger at BizReflections. She is a Co-Owner at HUDDLESPACE which provides small business owners with offices for rent. This year (2024), Grace launched a loose leaf tea brand and named it Brew & Scone.
The Most Powerful Marketing Tool You’ll Ever Need!
Adriene Mishler is the producer and host of Yoga with Adriene. She dominates the online yoga space with over 8.53 million YouTube subscribers.
She is called the ‘People’s Yogi’.
But,
It wasn’t always like this.
Back in 2012 when Adriene got introduced to the online space and started uploading weekly yoga video content to her YouTube channel, little did she know that by 2020 she would have built a very successful business and an online global community of over 8 million people.
What was her secret?
The MOST powerful tool you can have in your marketing toolbox.
Consistency.
By sharing free high-quality yoga content on her channel every single week for over eight years she eventually became the online Go-To yoga instructor she is today.
Adriene is quick to point out that she was NOT an instant sensation.
For three solid years, she consistently uploaded weekly yoga videos – that’s 156 videos- with no love in return.
What she got instead were crickets.
Silence.
No subscribers.
Zero engagement.
When she eventually reached 100 subscribers, it was a moment of great jubilation.
Undaunted, Adriene stayed committed and consistently upload high-quality yoga videos every single week without missing a beat until she got to the tipping point, three years later.
That’s well over 600 videos in eight (8) years. Impressive!
Seth Godin Too
This level of discipline and consistency also reminds me of my personal marketing hero – Seth Godin, one of the world’s leading marketers, and Mr. Purple Cow himself.
If you subscribe to Seth’s newsletter, you’ll get an email EVERY SINGLE DAY, bar none. I mean 365 days of the year.
I guess that’s why he is worth millions.
So, it bears repeating.
CONSISTENCY is the MOST powerful marketing tool you’ll ever possess.
And, it’s FREE.
By harnessing the power of consistency, you outcompete, outsmart and outsell your competitors even if they are more talented and have more resources.
Consistency doesn’t mean you are always winning; what it means is that you are always taking action and moving one step closer to your goals.
Here is the flip side, inconsistency makes you stale, out of touch, and out of mind.
Just imagine if Adriene had thrown up her hands in despair during those three barren years when nothing seemed to have been happening.
What if she got frustrated and exited YouTube altogether? She would have missed the huge wins she now enjoys.
How about Joe Girard?
Considered a marketing genius and title holder of the World’s Greatest Salesman (conferred by the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records), Joe Girard sold a whopping 13,001 vehicles over the span of 15 years,
Joe was a car salesman at a Chevrolet dealership in the United States between 1963 and 1978.
In 1973 alone he sold 1,425 vehicles; an average of 127 per month or 32 per week.
In his best month, he sold 174 vehicles, and on his best day 18.
Let those numbers sink in for a bit.
Did Joe sell to the rich and famous?
Nope.
Did he sell wholesale or in bulk?
Nope.
He sold the old-fashioned way. One vehicle at a time.
Amazing! Right?
Are you wondering how could ordinary Joe accomplish such an extraordinary feat?
The secret to his mega-success?
Maybe he had a large team.
Maybe he had a HUGE network.
Maybe he wooed prospects with expensive gifts.
None of that was true.
For sure, he worked hard and was likable – so were his peers.
But what did he do that was so superior that propelled him to a league of his own?
He harnessed his marketing superpower. The power of consistency.
For 10 years, month after month.
Year after year.
Joe stayed top of mind without missing a beat.
Joe’s extraordinary system
Here is what Joe did extraordinarily well:
- Every month he would send a personalized greeting card to his entire customer list
- At the beginning of the new year (in January) he would send a card saying: “I like you”
- Every February for Valentine’s Day he would send a card saying: “I like you.
Just imagine the time and labour it took to send out 13,000 cards to his customers each month.
Eventually, Joe had to hire an assistant.
Every card was handwritten, addressed, and sent through the postal system.
Joe was so successful that eventually, customers had to book an appointment in advance to see him.
His sales pipeline overflowed while other sales associates paced back and forth, praying and hoping for foot traffic.
What if:
Adriene had given up in frustration after three barren years when nothing was happening?
What if she had exited YouTube altogether?
She would have missed the huge wins she now experiences.
Would Seth have become a multi-millionaire and be recognized as one of the world’s top marketing influencers?
Would Joe have been awarded the prestigious title of World’s Greatest Salesman if they decided to throw in the towel when the going got rough and tough?
What if this group of standouts got up one day and ‘didn’t’ feel like it’ or got so ‘busy’ they slacked off or caved to someone who ticked them off?
You see, this is what truly separates the mediocre from the extraordinary.
Staying focused and remaining consistent with your marketing.
How about you? Share your thoughts.
Submitted By:
Dorothy Vernon-Brown helps business owners and entrepreneurs grab attention, convert leads faster and scale more quickly by using a proven end-to-end digital automation solution. She is the owner of AKB² Small Business Marketing
BizExpo
Are You Aware of Subconscious Communication Tactics?
Awareness is the first step to making the subconscious conscious. Are You Aware of Subconscious Communication Tactics?
By Fazeena Haniff
Employment and Non-Employment Work Relationships: Navigating the Complexities
Understanding the complexities of the employment and non-employment work relationships that exist in Ontario.
By Roberts & Obradovic Law Firm
Hackers are Real: Are you Cybersecurity Ready?
Executive-level recommendations on how CEOs/owners can protect themselves and their businesses form cyberattacks.
By Michael Castro
Four Steps For Entrepreneurs To Get Out Of Your Own Way!
A growth mindset recognizes that skills and talents can be developed through effort, practice, and learning from mistakes.
By Puja Misra
Reasons versus Excuses
Often, we offer a reason or excuse when something didn’t happen, or is not done. Why is it we don’t spend as much energy on using a reason or excuse when something is successful, completed, or done?
By Cheryl Clark
Make A Lasting Impact
As business owners we drop the ball. As business owners we make mistakes. As business owners we screw up. As business owners our actions and our lack of actions has an impact.
By Cheryl Clark
What I Wish I Knew When I Started This Journey
Do you realize that entrepreneurship is a Journey? A journey which new entrepreneurs would benefit from learning more about. Here are three lessons that I wish all new entrepreneurs knew…
By Fazeena Haniff
Possessing the Radar For Opportunity
We truly need to know where we are going, what we want to accomplish, and what our core goals and values are to determine what opportunities are meant for us!
By Cheryl Clark
“Validation” a Game Changer?
I see content as being educational pieces, creating awareness, providing opportunities that lead to sales, sharing accolades and accomplishments, and branding one’s self as an expert.
By Cheryl Clark
Personal Vs Business Expenses: A Key Decision
The CRA has very specific guidelines on criteria that businesses should consider when making these decisions.
By Jonathan Carter
The Most Powerful Marketing Tool You’ll Ever Need!
Joe was a car salesman at a Chevrolet dealership in the United States between 1963 and 1978. In 1973 alone he sold 1,425 vehicles; an average of 127 per month…
By Dorothy Vernon Brown
Dimensions of Modern Accounting
Accounting as a discipline has evolved over a period of centuries. Let’s find out together some key dimensions of modern accounting.
By Baqar Bhatti
10 Essential Tasks for Year End
Avoid the stress and headache of scrambling for receipts when tax time comes around. Meet with your accountant to ask questions,….
by Sal Rezai
How Dark Is The Dark Web?
Let’s explore what the dark web is and what we can do to keep our data safe from bad actors within this hidden part of the web.
By Jonathan Bullock
A Leader’s Journey
What does management actually mean? Does it automatically make you a good leader? I mean just because you are gifted at what you do, doesn’t mean you will be able to step into your boss’s shoes, does it?
by Ritu Kohli-Sethi
As An Introvert You May Not Be As Different As You Think!
I knew I was not the most social individual on the planet, and I absolutely despised social interaction at my past job…
by Mel Ireton
Save Time And Money By Paying Your Taxes Online
Start experiencing the benefits of business tax filing & payments through your Canadian Financial Institution’s online banking today.
By TELUS Financial Solutions
WHY SHOULD I STOP MULTI TASKING?
Making the most of these productive hours is key to success in any arena -and also a key to work/life balance, which we all strive for!
By Tahira Bharmal
Setting The Grounds For Sales
With time and patience, our marketing tools become stronger until, at last, we’re selling regularly, having “transferred our feelings” to an ever-growing loyal clientele.
By Phyllis Cohen
Setting The Grounds For Sales
Inspirational Quote
Selling is essentially a transfer of feelings.
Marketing vs. Sales
Marketing! Argh! … Sigh … As a small business owner with little time and resources, I often find it exhausting and overwhelming to think about marketing. With so many social media platforms, which one is right for me? How do I choose my networking groups? Should I partner with someone to provide complementary services? Should I pay for advertising in print or online? How do I go about finding opportunities to present? Should I invest in pens, keychains, flyers, decals, and cards? Oh my goodness! It’s important to know your target market and to be strategic. Rather than spread ourselves too thin, it’s better to focus on the tools that are right for you – where you can present your best self. Marketing takes clarity and effort. Likely, we won’t make the most advantageous choices in the beginning. But that’s okay. As clear as we may be in our future goals, there will be trial and error along the way. Even as we stumble on the path, we’ll get back up with perseverance and fortitude. That passion for our business keeps driving us on. With belief in the quality of what we’re offering, the reliability of our service, and honesty and kindness in our interactions, we forge relationships over time. We market to create “awareness” and to pique “interest.” We market to make human connections and build trust. With time and patience, our marketing tools become stronger until, at last, we’re selling regularly, having “transferred our feelings” to an ever-growing loyal clientele.
Submitted by:
Phyllis Cohen, The Canadian Pronunciation Coach, works with clients to Speak English with Clarity. For more information, visit www.canadianpronunciationcoach.com, or contact me directly at phyllis@canadianpronunciationcoach.com.
3 WAYS TO REACH MOBILE USERS
One important business trend that is exploding these days is the increase in the use of mobile apps. New apps get added to Apple and Google stores every day. Is your business ready to reach out to mobile users? Do you, as a business owner, realize the importance of reaching out to a mobile app audience?
3 Ways To Reach Mobile Users
Get a business Mobile app
Invest in having someone create a business mobile app that reflects your company’s business identity and environment. That could be a more expensive and challenging option as you reach out to mobile users. However, it will open up new opportunities for marketing the business. Choosing to create an app requires a certain amount of creativity that will trigger handlers to download and use that business app.
Business Directory Apps
Subscription-based business directory apps help in creating a business presence among mobile users. Some mobile apps have local businesses pinned on a map; others may have them listed with search engine capabilities. And in some cases, some may have both features included. Make sure you subscribe to the local business directory apps as a reach out to mobile users.
Content
There are marketing services that feed into mobile apps. Podcasts are an amazing marketing tool that is easy to link as a feed. Subscribe to apps that feature existing podcasts that allow users to contribute content to their channel; that’s one way to increase business visibility among mobile users. Contributing content will definitely increase your business visibility, and in return, it will place you as a leader within your own industry.
The latter two ways are more cost-effective and doable for small businesses as they reach mobile users. There are plenty of apps that provide local directory listings. Find the app that is widespread in your area and subscribe to get your business listed there.