Posts Tagged ‘hiring contractors’

Hiring Freelancers and Contractors: Tips and Best Practices

Wednesday, November 29th, 2023

While Uber and Lyft have popularized the concept of the gig economy, the truth is that gig, freelance, or contract workers have been around for a long time. In fact, I’ve been one of these since 1981, when I first started writing business articles for a wide range of trade and business publications. I’ve worked remotely with publishers and editors for years—most of them I’ve never physically met! My interest in the gig economy, which traditionally had been referred to as telecommuting, led me to research and write a book on the topic some years ago. (more…)

Best Practices for Hiring Agencies, Contractors, and Freelancers

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022

There comes a point in the life cycle of many businesses when advertising needs outgrow the “homespun” and it’s time to call upon the services of a professional agency or consultant. Even small businesses can benefit from the third-party perspective and marketing savvy that experts can offer. There’s a misconception that agencies are too expensive for small companies. That’s not necessarily true. What you want, though, is to find an agency that focuses specifically on your needs.

Here are some practical considerations that you should take into account when looking for an agency or individual to help you with your advertising and marketing needs. (more…)

What You Should Be Looking For When Hiring Freelance Talent

Thursday, February 24th, 2022

Throughout my career, I have both been a freelancer, and have worked with various freelancers, initially in my role as director of corporate communications/marketing in the education, energy and healthcare industries and, since 2008, as owner of my own content marketing firm, Strategic Communications.  I have also researched and written a few blog posts on the topic, including input from other sources who have worked with freelancers:

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Hiring Marketing Talent? Why Strategy Matters.

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017

Hiring marketing or content marketing talent?So, you’re in the market for a strategic marketing professional. You’ve screened hundreds of applicants, and it’s down to the handful you’ve picked to invite in for interviews. But this is an inherently creative position, and cookie-cutter interview questions about an applicant’s past experience or about their evaluation of their own qualifications might not give you enough insight to pick the right man or woman for the job. (more…)

Creating an Exceptional Digital Team

Saturday, January 23rd, 2016

While many small business owners start out as jacks-of-all-trades, as the business grows, it becomes necessary to bring on talent to specialize in specific areas of the company. Digital marketing is no exception. Just as an entrepreneur will at some point need to separate the digital marketing duties from the operations duties, a more sophisticated company will eventually want to break up the roles of the digital marketing unit. Here are some tips and strategies for putting together an effective digital marketing team. (more…)

Ideas for Choosing and Working Effectively With Freelancers

Thursday, December 10th, 2015

According to a recent article in Harvard Business Review,  freelancers represent 34 percent of the American workforce. This includes more than fourteen million so-called “moonlighters” who have full-time jobs but use freelancing to supplement their incomes. The good news about this data for freelancers is that there are a lot of opportunities for freelance work. The downside is that there is plenty of competition as well. (more…)