Want to hire a virtual freelancer or start your own freelancing career? Working in this model as both a marketing freelancer and a hiring client for my business as well as client projects has allowed me to learn a few things. This post provides some tips based on my experience which both clients and freelancers new to the world of virtual outsourcing may find helpful. For more context and the full narrative visit http://goo.gl/DpmhLs. Image Credit: Nicholas_T via photopin cc About Lydia's Marketing: I help companies develop (and execute) effective marketing and communication strategies & plans. Affordable B2B marketing and communications consultation and support for startups, small and medium businesses, and marketing agencies across the globe. -Brand, marketing and messaging strategy -Marketing planning and implementation (inc. digital marketing and social media) -Content and communications -General advice and guidance

1. Advice on Virtual Outsourcing...
For Both Clients and Freelancers

2. Want to hire a virtual freelancer
or start your own
freelancing career?
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3. According to Forbes, the size of
the global online work industry
is expected to grow to $5B by
2018 and it’s expected that more
and more corporate teams will
include virtual members.
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4. As both a marketing freelancer
and a hiring client I have
learned a few things.
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5. Some tips based on my
experience...
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6. FOR CLIENTS
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7. 1
Do as much as you can to
figure out exactly what you
need help with and what the
scope of work will be.
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8. 2
If you are unsure of the scope
or the exact skills needed,
do some research to try
and figure them out.
Set yourself up for success.
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9. 3
If you’ve never looked for
virtual talent before,
test and learn before bogging
yourself down in endless
profiles and resumes.
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10. 4
Talk to people in your network;
they may know someone
that fits the bill. Also browse
freelance platforms like
Elance, Guru, and oDesk.
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11. 5
Consider the investment you
need to make to get a good
return vs. how much it’s going
to cost you.
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12. 6
Be nice to candidates; be a
grownup; treat others as you
want to be treated. What goes
around comes around.
Keep that in mind.
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13. FOR FREELANCERS
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14. 1
Know what you want, what
you’re great at and how you
can help people. Figure out
who your target client is and
map your messaging, resume
and profile to that.
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15. 2
Work your network; brand and
market yourself; find leads;
build relationships.
Freelance
pla*orms
are
but
one
way
to
find
projects
and
I
don’t
recommend
depending
on
them
as
your
sole
source,
par<cularly
if
you
are
just
star<ng
out.
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16. 3
Allow for a startup period
where you may not get any
business and/or need to
undercut the market temporarily
to get work and a track record.
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17. 4
Be confident in your skills;
stick to your guns on what
you want from your
freelance career.
It’s OK to make it about you.
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18. 5
Similarly, work diligently to get
projects that suit your goals (as
well as the client’s). Try and
build your pipeline based also
on what you want.
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19. Consider this a baseline and
general food for thought.
For
more
context
and
the
full
narra.ve
visit
the
complete
blog
post
at
Lydia’s
Marke.ng
Blog:
Advice
on
Virtual
Outsourcing
—
For
Both
Clients
and
Freelancers
©Lydia’s
Marke.ng
Consul.ng
|
www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com
|
Contact:
lydia@lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com

20. Lydia’s
Marke.ng
&
Communica.on
Consul.ng
Visit
www.lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com
Contact
informa.on:
LYDIA
VOGTNER
lydia@lydiamarke.ngconsul.ng.com
415-­‐672-­‐1870