Looking for a freelancer? Here is an insight into the top 5 freelancing skills.

A long time ago, the word freelancer was synonymous with unemployment. No, not the Jurassic Era! Even 10 years back freelancing was not a career option for many but a fall back option in times of trouble. Not anymore. The digital age we live in today, has created a freelancing culture which is a tremendous boon to organizations and freelancers alike. Be it cost or quality, it simply makes better business sense to use this pool of talented, eager and market-savvy freelancers to give your business an edge over competition.

A mutually beneficial system always thrives even in adversity.

Which is precisely what happened with the freelance market. As the market evolved, experienced as well as young talent started considering freelancing as their primary source of income. Businesses, on the other hand, found freelancers to be more affordable, flexible in their working hours, offering better turn-around times and bringing a nice variety of experience to the table. The cherry on top was the amount of money they saved by hiring a freelancer. Truly a win-win situation!

Freelancing skills that organizations are looking for

While there might be very few skill-sets that are not being outsourced, there are some freelancing skills that are required by almost all organizations who utilize their services. Here are the TOP 5:-

Content writing

Online marketing is changing the way businesses advertise and creating push notifications or running a social media ad campaign is slowly giving way to a subtler and less aggressive marketing trend – Content marketing. Freelancers, possessing the skills of amalgamating the finesse of creating written content with a keen understanding of the psyche of netizens, are doing wonders for businesses worldwide.

Before hiring a freelance Content Writer, make sure that you ask for sample articles from the previous assignments to assess the freelancer’s writing prowess and industry or domain specific experience. A well-researched content writer will ensure that he is aware of your brand before establishing contact. You can also keep an eye open to ascertain his time management skills.

Lastly, remember that if you pay peanuts, then you will find only monkeys. Assess the writer well and ensure that you pay him enough to ensure maximum involvement and contribution to your brand.

Graphic Design

It is no secret that visual communication produces 500-600% higher user engagement as compared to text-based communication. There is a plethora of freelance graphic designers who have the skill of organizing different elements and creating a visually impactful design. These freelancers specialize in creating the visual material for magazines, catalogues, logos and illustrations to name a few.

Before looking for a graphic designer, spend some time documenting your project requirements. Once that is done, start looking for a freelance Graphic Designer and check his portfolio for previously designed work to understand his creative approach. You can also assesses the relevance of his experience with regards to the platform and the industry. Further, try to understand his attitude, mind-set and adherence to timelines.

You may choose to get a sample logo designed, commissioned of course to get a detailed understanding of the designer’s approach to creativity.

Social Media Marketing [SMM]

Even if one tries, it is impossible to list the number of social media platforms available to users today. Statista reported the number of Facebook users in India to be around 194.11 million in 2017. Couple this with a mobile phone in literally every hand, social media marketing has become an unavoidable process. Freelancers, who have spent years understanding and analyzing trends on social media and studying user behavior, can help you chalk out an optimal strategy for your online presence.

A SMM freelancer is like a brand ambassador who can help your business grow while maintaining a healthy image of your brand. Look at details of his previous assignments to understand the improvement of traffic or user engagement effected by the freelancer. Assess his understanding of the nitty-gritties of various platforms and look for analytical skills as a prerequisite for the task. Try to build a rapport and refrain from working with someone whom you don’t find likeable.

Search Engine Optimization [SEO]

A website optimized to rank higher in the search engine rankings seems to be the preferred mode of expecting more site visitors and a subsequent increase in the number of sales. It is an ongoing process and the professional designated to handle this element must be aware of the latest trends and tools required to analyze trends to help build a community in sync with the organization’s goals.

This is an important role as the response to the content created by you depends on how many people view it which in turn depends a lot on your SEO strategy. Look at the track and preferably do a reference check. Check for his understanding of your business as an industry. Be wary of SEO freelancers who claim to guarantee a first-page listing with any specific search engine.

Website Development

In the digital age, having a website is the basic requirement for a brand as it is the online address for people to visit and establishes genuineness of the brand. A good website can enhance the user experience and increase the average time spent on the website.

A good web developer can be the difference between a site visit converting to a sale and a non-returning customer. Look for historical performance and visit the sites created by him earlier. Tech savvy people can conduct some on-site analysis like load-time, code validity etc. Ask for references and talk to them about their experience with the freelancer. This is an important profile and you must determine if the developer had delivered as expected in his prior assignments.

The Freelance industry in India is still in its nascent stages and it might need some effort, initially, to separate the wheat from the chaff. Take time to understand the freelancer before employing his services and build a long-lasting relationship.

AUTHOR BIO

An engineer by degree, a businessman by blood, and a startup aficionado by choice – Kunal Modi is the co-founder of InstaTaskers. His strong business sense (honed by an MBA from the Narsee Monjee Institute) belies his childlike love for cars, food, and unending vacations. His first love – helping young entrepreneurs find the perfect freelancer for their business and solutions to their startup’s growing pains.