How to hire a freelance copywriter like you've done it a million times

Let me start this blog post by congratulating you. If you’re trying to get better at approaching freelancers, you’re already a legend in my eyes. Now, let’s make you even more of a legend…

what’s in it for you?

If freelancers are there to help make your life easier, why bother learning to solicit them properly? Shouldn’t they adapt to your approach from the jump? I mean…yeah, they can and probably would, but putting them in that position might not be easier for you in the long run.

Hiring a freelancer without going through an established process could easily backfire. It increases the likelihood of hiring the wrong person for the job, of project delays due to clashing terms or policies, and of besmirching the working relationship from the word ‘go.’

Because it’s like you said — a freelancer should make your life easier. They’ll be able to work more efficiently if you set them up for success from the start. And after freelancing for more than a decade, this is the system I’ve found works best…

How to hire a freelancer like someone who regularly hires freelancers

1) Check out your freelancer before approaching

This first point is the one done least, although it makes the most sense. To me, at least. Look over the details of the project you’re hiring for and determine which skills, experience, and competencies are must-haves and which are nice-to-haves, and cross-reference those with the advertised specialisms and portfolios of your freelance candidate pool.

Check the ‘about’ page to gain an understanding of their circumstances, specialism, and experience. If they have published terms (mine are here), give them a read and make sure you’re happy with it all before reaching out. It’s fairly common for freelancers to have a dedicated page on their site which details the process of working with them (here’s mine), so keep an eye out for that.

2) Reach out with details

The main things a freelancer needs to know are:

• Your name and the company name (you’d be surprised how often this isn’t included!)

• How much availability you’ll need

• The project timeline or deadline

• Tasks you want help with (for example: email strategy or web copy)

It’s also incredibly helpful to include budget details, but that can be covered in the discovery call. In turn, you may want to ask them…

• Ballpark rates or quote for the scope of the work

• Availability

• Level of interest

• Relevant experience

3) Book a free discovery call

So, you’ve emailed your chosen freelancer, and they seem up for the job — nice one! At this stage, I typically book a free 20-minute discovery call with the potential client to go into the specifics and address any additional questions. It’s also a great way to explore cultural fit and vibe.

After this stage, your freelancer will likely send a quote or proposal that covers everything discussed and your pricing options. Which leads us to point four…

4) Thoroughly read the quotes/agreements/terms

Do not—I repeat—do NOT sign a quote or proposal for your project without reading it first. This happened to me once, and the fallout isn’t even worth getting into. It was a nightmare situation.

Go over the details, make sure you’re happy with everything and that nothing clashes with internal payment terms or policies. Can you commit to it? Are you happy with it? Does anything need to be discussed or renegotiated? Freelancers are often happy to make tweaks and adjustments for the right project or client, so it’s always worth asking.

5) Prep for project kick-off!

Once the agreement and quote have been signed off, it’s go time! Your freelancer will probably book in a kick-off call to discuss the brief and gather all the intel they’ll need to get the show on the road.

Congrats! You can now hire a freelancer like a seasoned pro

Ultimately, an onboarding process like this one can save both you and your freelancer a shedload of back-and-forth time-wasting. Everyone gets the intel they need up front, and you can reach out, safe in the knowledge that you did the necessary groundwork to verify the fit. Everyone’s a winnah!

If you still need a hand (or want to hire me), you can reach out here 🤘🏻