4 Warning Signs You've Hired The Wrong Freelancer

You’ve checked the balance sheet, and you know the CEO isn’t going to be happy. Something is missing in your marketing strategy. Maybe it’s the design. Perhaps it’s the copy. There’s also the social media accounts and newsletter…or maybe it’s not you at all. Maybe it’s the website design or development.

As a freelancer, I’ve had the pleasure to work with various international teams from the convenience of my home. Many of my remote colleagues have been the most ambitious and skilled professionals I've ever met. In fact, the reason I became a freelancer is because of the talented individuals I've met throughout my life.

But I’ve also seen clients who’ve lost time and money because the contractor they hired wasn’t a good fit.

Hiring a contractor can save you time and generate some serious revenue. But, if the numbers aren’t matching up on their end, sometimes you need to evaluate their work. And any good contractor will want honest feedback. After all, we want to get better, too.

But before we begin: These warning signs don’t just apply to contractors. My husband, who has done his fair share of hiring, has seen everything from lack of enthusiasm to pure plagiarism.

Here’s what you should do if you suspect you’ve made the wrong hire:

1. Do a regular spot check.

Warning Sign: They aren't fulfilling the contract's scope.

There’s no need to micro-manage. After all, you’ve hired them so you can move on to other projects! However, doing a quick spot check after a month or so doesn’t hurt. Please don’t make a thirty-minute call to discuss it right away. Just browse through the work.

For example, make sure your social media manager is adding hashtags, images, and relevant mentions. If you’re an accounting firm and your contractor is posting on LinkedIn about gun rights, you have a problem.

2. How do they respond to changes?

Warning Sign: They make excuses to avoid work within scope.

Having a freelancer who knows how to communicate is essential. But they should also be good at problem-solving.

Let’s say you have hired a website developer for a WordPress, and you want a specific widget on your landing page. If they start rambling about how they can’t do it, because of backend technicalities, this is – at the least – a poor attitude.

Yes, some things are impossible. Some things are out of scope. But refusing to complete tasks or offer solutions is a definite red flag.

One exception: If the change would make the product worse, a professional would advise against it. And this is different from refusing to do it because it takes time/is too hard. But if you still want a specific change, we would normally do so after giving a warning.

Pro-Tip: Most freelancers offer several or unlimited revisions, whether they are a designer or developer. After all, we want our services to work.

3. They aren’t keeping up with trends

Warning Sign: They don't have suggestions for improvements.

This isn’t a big one, because trends change rapidly, and you don’t want to spend all your time-shifting your strategy for every new fad.

That said, your freelancer should know about recent trends or new features that might benefit your business. You don’t have to implement them if they don’t match your marketing model. But if it could be big, don’t you want to know about it?

An experienced contractor will always be looking to improve your bottom line, because then theirs gets a boost, too.

4. Get a second opinion

Warning Sign: Someone else notices, too.

If your freelancer is regularly rejecting ideas for improvement, it may be time to conduct an audit. Yes, this can mean hiring a third party, but it can do more than put your mind to rest.

The problem could be that your freelancer is just new to the industry, and needs some guidance. This is especially true if you're paying less than professional rates. An outside audit can give them support while also providing an action plan. Everyone wins.

Making It Work

Before you start tearing up contracts, it’s good to reflect on if the problem is lack of support. Here are some ways you can help your contractor worker do their best:

• Let them know you are always there if they have a question about the job or the company
• If you've been a copywriter/designer/developer in the past, suggest resources that you refer to
• Simplify communication, and request weekly updates so you are both are on the same page
• Pay on time

Most freelancers are happy to take on any job and do it well – so long as you describe your company’s needs in detail. Professional freelancers, from San Francisco to Bangalore, typically:

• Invest in improving their craft
• Keep their notes and tracking their analytics
• Enjoy problem-solving
• Understand the long-term strategy
• Offer suggestions whenever possible (but won’t act on out of scope suggestions without contract adjustments)

It’s important to remember that not every feature, idea, or campaign will be a success. The best teams work together to move forward and learn from failures – whether they are traditionally employed or not.

Have a question about working with freelancers? Let me know below.