Freelancers and contract workers can be valuable additions to any project, but they need the right tools to succeed. Get started with these guidelines.
1. Overcommunicate the project's context.
Freelancers aren't looped into internal discussions of where your organization is going or why things are done a certain way. Clearly communicate how their contribution fits into the bigger picture.
2. Set expectations and deadlines up front.
Your idea of a reasonable timetable for deliverables may not match the contract worker's expectation. Get on the same page for deadlines and workflow expectations from the very beginning.
3. Budget time for iterations.
It may take a few revisions to get a deliverable exactly where you want it to be, so give earlier deadlines to creative freelancers such as writers and graphic designers. That way, you have time to nail down the project's tone or vision with them.
