| So - you're a business owner who wants to | | | | stages of posting your project online, you still |
| outsource some aspect of your business day and | | | | need to decide how you are going to pay your |
| don't know exactly what's required to post your | | | | freelancer once your project is completed - best |
| project online? You may have heard stories of | | | | to figure this out now and save any unnecessary |
| business people who have been burnt by | | | | hassles later on. The safest way is to use an |
| outsourcing and have ended up with something | | | | online escrow service. With these online services |
| very different than what they were expecting. | | | | your money is kept 'in escrow' until you have |
| Well fear no more as this article will outline the | | | | received all of your deliverables. Once approved, |
| steps you need to take to help you on the road | | | | the money is released to the freelancer. This |
| to ensuring that what you get IS what you were | | | | process also ensures that the freelancer knows |
| expecting. What you don't hear about those | | | | that they will be paid for the project as they |
| stories is that in most of those cases, the | | | | receive confirmation that the payment is being |
| business owner didn't provide enough detail to the | | | | held awaiting release upon completion of the |
| freelancer about what they were expecting. It is | | | | project. As some freelancers have delivered work |
| imperative when dealing with freelancers who | | | | for projects in the past and not received |
| may live across town, across state or across the | | | | payment for it, the escrow process alleviates the |
| world, that you strictly define what the | | | | worry involved in for all parties concerned. |
| outsourced work (henceforth called a 'project') | | | | Ownership of the final project deliverable: |
| you require doing is all about. This can not only | | | | Issues of ownership of the work completed can |
| give a freelancer a better chance of correctly | | | | be a major concern for business owners. You |
| quoting a price for your project (thus insuring | | | | need to make it clear in your project document |
| misunderstandings can be kept to a minimum), | | | | that the project is a work that is 'made-for-hire', |
| but it can also iron out any kinks in your project | | | | or include a clause in the contract transferring all |
| idea that you may not have previous thought | | | | rights relative to the project from the creator |
| about. Also, you have to remember that | | | | (freelancer) to the requestor (you). |
| freelancers aren't mind-readers - you may have it | | | | Communication preferences:You might want to |
| all perfectly worked out in your head, but if its | | | | include which form of communication you will |
| not written down concisely then | | | | prefer to use throughout the project process |
| misunderstandings between you and your | | | | with the successful freelancer. You may prefer to |
| freelancer can occur. | | | | communicate via e-mail, telephone, skype, instant |
| When you have decided on what aspect of your | | | | messaging, and its good to let people know from |
| business you want to outsource and you are | | | | the beginning the best way to contact you if they |
| ready to place your project onto a freelance site | | | | win the project bid. |
| it is always a good idea if you create a project | | | | A few more things to consider... |
| document that you can include along (with the | | | | Contracts: |
| brief synopsis of the overall project) so that | | | | Once you have chosen your freelancer from the |
| prospective freelancers can know exactly what | | | | bids you have received, it is important that you |
| they are quoting for. | | | | have a contract drawn up (or use an independent |
| The detail included in your project document is | | | | contractor contract template available online) that |
| not limited but should include the following things:o | | | | outlines what is expected from both you and |
| The Scope of your projecto Payment terms | | | | your freelancer. |
| (payment up front, installment payments or | | | | Confidentiality or NDA agreements: |
| payment at the end of the project)o Ownership | | | | If your project or business process that you are |
| of the final producto Communication preferenceso | | | | outsourcing is particular sensitive or confidential (or |
| Contract termination | | | | you simply don't want anyone knowing about |
| Project scope: | | | | your revolutionary idea) then you should have |
| Include a detailed description of the services you | | | | your freelancers sign a confidentiality or |
| want performed. For example if you want a web | | | | non-disclosure agreement (NDA). You can either |
| site designing, you need to go into some detail | | | | have your lawyer draft one, or find a general |
| about the type of features you want included, | | | | template for one on the internet. If you require a |
| the number of pages etc. Simply stating 'Need a | | | | confidentiality or NDA agreement for your |
| website about horses creating' doesn't give a | | | | project, then you will obviously need to keep |
| prospective freelancer a lot to go on, and could | | | | certain information out of your project document |
| mean that you don't end up getting what you | | | | so that no one else runs away with your idea. It |
| wanted for the price you were willing to pay. The | | | | may be that you have to walk a fine line |
| details should convey the objective of the job and | | | | between detailing your project document with |
| the information that may be required to receive | | | | enough information and keeping the juicy bits |
| an accurate and appropriate bid from a freelancer. | | | | back until you get your winning freelancer to sign |
| The more thought out this description is, the | | | | an agreement. As long as you are aware that |
| better quality of bid you are likely to receive. This | | | | prospective freelancers still need to know the |
| is will also help alleviate any misunderstandings | | | | extent of the work involved, so it may be that |
| between you and your prospective freelancer, | | | | you outline it enough for them to be able to |
| right from the beginning. Using the horse website | | | | adequately bid for the project, but not give away |
| design idea as an example, you would state how | | | | exact details. |
| many pages you want your website to have | | | | Alternatively you could look at splitting your |
| (home page, general info about horses, tips for | | | | project into different sections and outsourcing |
| looking after your horse, contact us page to | | | | them separately. That way no one person has |
| name but a few), whether it requires a shopping | | | | the full view of what the project entails. However, |
| cart to sell horse related items, a newsletter opt | | | | this avenue for the outsourcing beginner is fraught |
| in section for interested horse owners, etc etc. | | | | with issues as depending on the complexity of the |
| Already you can see that from the original idea of | | | | project this may be a nigh on impossible |
| 'wanting a website creating about horses' you are | | | | alternative without using the services of a Project |
| already progressing to provide a better idea of | | | | Manager to tie the project together. (You can |
| what you want as you add more and more | | | | even find your Project Manager via the freelance |
| information. With this example you can drill down | | | | website as well, if you don't have one within your |
| further if you wish and note any special features | | | | company to handle this process for you). |
| you may want to add to the site such as pop-ups | | | | Contract Termination: |
| or flash animation. This process also helps you | | | | Your project document should include contract |
| visualize your project and make note of anything | | | | termination details which briefly outlining what may |
| you hadn't thought of before. | | | | constitute as termination of the project. This can |
| Within the project scope you may wish to include | | | | include such issues as:o Late delivery of project |
| the deliverables expected at all stages of the | | | | deliverableso Poor workmanshipo Lack of |
| project, with milestone dates set out quite clearly. | | | | communication |
| It may be that your project is relatively small and | | | | Although the full details of contract termination |
| only one deliverable date and milestone is required | | | | would be discussed further with the freelancer |
| for the finished product. However, it is more than | | | | who successfully bids on your project, it is |
| likely however that you would want to set | | | | important to briefly make the freelancers bidding |
| several deliverable dates for the various | | | | on your project aware of your stance from the |
| milestones associated to your project. | | | | outset. This may also help to weed out the |
| Payment Terms: | | | | serious freelancers from the 'tire-kickers' if they |
| It is important that your project document states | | | | know that from the beginning. |
| your schedule of payment - whether you want to | | | | Conclusion: |
| pay in installments upon receipt of deliverables | | | | All in all, to successfully navigate the world of |
| along the length of the project, or whether to | | | | outsourcing, information is the key. As long as |
| pay the full amount upon completion and sign off | | | | everyone involved in the process is well informed |
| of the project. Also whether you simply want to | | | | then the way forward for your project is going |
| pay an hourly rate, if your project is ongoing | | | | to be a lot clearer than that of the un-informed |
| work such as data entry or internet research | | | | business owner who has a vague description and |
| work. | | | | no clear defined agenda of the project they have |
| Although at this stage you are still in the initial | | | | to outsource. |