Will hiring freelancers become the new normal?
Firstly, apologies for using the phrase “the new normal”. It’s a term I usually eschew, but the past year has seen new dictionary entries: furlough, Covid 19, Tiers and the new normal.
What’s been more surprising this year is that the ranks of freelancers have swelled and it’s little wonder why. A good freelancer in any niche area – logo designer, writer, web designer, marketing, online tutoring, VA – is in demand. I’ve seen business soar during the pandemic for SEO, copy, digital marketing but mainly web design.
Freelancers save you money
Any company sets out to make a profit. They want income to exceed outgoings and I think, judging by demand, that many small to medium enterprises have cottoned on to the fact that paying a group of freelancers a fixed sum is far better value in many ways than employing someone to come into work to do it.
If your profit margins are medium and you’re not making in excess of £1 million a year, it makes more sense to hire a freelancer to write or create social updates than employing someone on £20 to £30k a year.
Why?
Providing you do your homework and check Google reviews and look for proof on socials, you can pay a freelancer for a month or three to complete a project and if you find them incompetent, lazy, you can say bye without bringing in capability (and the dreaded HR) to get rid.
In teaching, safeguarding concerns and support plans were used to force teachers out, and if you find someone you’re paying £1997 net to each month (£30k gross), you may end up paying even more for training and support.
I use freelancers and remote support
Let me clear this one up.
I practise what I preach.
My accounts and VAT returns are managed remotely by a superb firm in Hull, Whitethorn Accountants. Link here. Chris is one of the best people I’ve come across in business.
When I hit glitches with website issues, I have two trusted freelancers to call on: Gareth and Tiago. Both great friends and both excellent at their work.
If demand for writing exceeds my capacity, I pass writing (with client agreement) to other trusted freelance professionals like Jamie, Eli and others.
Logos are designed by another friend who charges reasonably and he gets the full agreed amount that clients pay.
I’ve built a freelance network
Now none of the aforementioned are on salaries with me. I pay Chris to manage my accounts and others for completing projects or solving problems, but my point is, in five years of operating, I’ve never felt compelled to employ someone. Why would I? I know who does what well and I trust each one of them. None let me down, and I don’t let them down.
What has been great about the past few weeks is I’ve landed about 6 new contracts for social, blogging and SEO. Each client is paying me from £250 a month, with no tie in (in case we hate each other) and 2021 looks sweet.
I always know though that with retainers, they can all stop with little notice.
When lockdown started in March 2020, 5 companies pulled the plug on me running social as they went into closure with furlough. Three have since taken me back on.
I used to get annoyed when I was dropped – but now I accept it’s part and parcel of being a freelance web designer, marketeer and copywriter.
Next year, my focus is shifting
Given that I’ve designed and launched so many websites in the past 3 years, I’m now moving my focus back to content marketing and SEO. Websites are brilliant to design and create but they can become an albatross in terms of workload and maintenance.
2021 will obviously see me launching new websites for clients, but in my 56th year on planet earth, I’m moving back to creating blog posts, social media updates and marketing copy for SMEs.
If you’re looking for someone reliable, creative and intelligent to move your business forward and get more sales from your website, give me a shout.
We can agree a retained package and you can judge whether I get you online results – higher search visibility, greater engagement and MORE sales.
Have a great 2021,
Stuart and Tricia Walton (new partner from 1st Jan 2021)
PS my wife is fluent in French which may be useful for your business.
