A Blumer's view: How to get the best out of freelancers

Are you the client you’d like to be? I’m asking because managing contractor relationships can be tricky. Some work out better than others. It’s not always clear why. Maybe the freelancer didn’t have the right skill set. Perhaps they weren’t a good fit in terms of workplace culture.  

Or maybe there’s something else going on… As a freelance copywriter myself (both on Blume and in the wider world) I believe that you’ll only get truly good work out of a contractor if you’re also a good client yourself (whether in the copywriting field or more broadly).

Of course, there’s no single blueprint for being a good client. But, as with many things in life, it revolves around being a good human being. And I think it’s possible to identify a core set of characteristics that flow from this behaviour that form a strong foundation for a positive client/contractor relationship: showing respect, communicating effectively and treating your freelancer fairly.

Let’s dive into these behaviours in a bit more detail.

1. Think carefully about the brief

Blumers need clear instructions to deliver their best work. Without them, they may struggle to understand your overarching goals and the specific purpose of the project. And they may have to make some brave assumptions about how to proceed.  

So, wherever possible, be clear about the challenge you’re hoping to tackle, the context for the work, the shape and form of project deliverables, and your expectations by way of outcomes. And all will be well!

But I appreciate we live in the real world. And it’s not always possible to nail things down as tightly as we might prefer at the outset. So, don’t worry if there’s some fuzzy edges to the shape of the task or an element of uncertainty about precise outcomes. Your Blumer will treat the project as a collaborative exercise and will be happy to work with you to clarify options. 

In this connection, it might be useful to remind ourselves of the words of French man of letters Montesquieu who wrote ‘Le mieux est le mortel ennemi du bien’ (The best is the mortal enemy of the good!).  

 2. Deal head on with the (inevitable) changes as you go along

It’s often noted that change is the only constant in life. So, it’s perfectly reasonable to want to introduce minor changes to a project as the work proceeds, learning as you go. 

And if you need to make major changes midstream, because new challenges or opportunities have arisen, bear in mind that this may mean extra work for the Blumer which will likely add to their costs and undermine delivery dates.  

 So, if you do need to undertake a significant change of direction, consider it in collaboration with your Blumer and, if necessary, change the terms of the task and negotiate a new financial package.

3. Be responsive

Blumers will understand you’re busy. They get it. But when they ask for contextual materials, comment on draft strategy or copy, or a decision about moving to the next stage, please respond as quickly as you can (or at least alert them as to when you can respond so they can build this into their planning). 

This prevents them getting stuck in a ‘holding pattern’ and helps ensure project deadlines are met. 

4. Respect your freelancer’s craft

Respecting the knowledge, skills and experience that your Blumer brings to the table is essential to the formation of a constructive working relationship. 

It means negotiating a price for the job which reflects the value that they will add to your charity. In which connection, rest assured, the Blumer will offer a day or project rate for the task which reflects industry norms and their ranking within their particular sector. As the saying goes, ‘you get what you pay for’! 

It also means resisting the temptation to micro-manage your Blumer. Stay focused on the big picture and avoid getting lost in the weeds. After all, part of the benefit of hiring a Blumer is getting somebody qualified to do the work for you, who can be relied upon to get on with the job.

5. Observe boundaries

We all expect a reasonable work-life balance. So, you can’t usually expect a freelancer to respond to calls, texts or emails outside normal working hours. But, if speed is essential and you do need somebody to be particularly responsive for a task, then make sure that is understood at the outset.

Also, be aware that freelancers are usually working on several projects simultaneously. This can entail some juggling of priorities as they seek to manage their time to the best effect and might mean your Blumer isn’t always available at short notice for a particular task, discussion or meeting. But they will always aim to respond as quickly as is practicable.  

6. Establish clear lines of communication

Having muddled lines of communication where different people in the client organisation offer up alternative, potentially conflicting, perspectives as the work proceeds, can cause problems. Your Blumer won’t know which views take precedence. The solution is to provide a single point of contact through which all client/freelancer communications are routed. 

7. Remember, it's a partnership

The best client/freelancer relationships are those based on a shared understanding of your goals. That take a collaborative approach to problem-solving, are based on open communication and which allow both parties to develop a high level of trust.  

8. Don’t forget your sense of humour

This might seem like an odd thing to mention. But showing a sense of humour can be a really useful communication tool. It helps strengthen the client/freelancer bond. And is particularly helpful if any differences or tensions arise in the course of the project, perhaps because of mismatched expectations or poor communications. It also makes the work more fun!

9. Show your appreciation

Hopefully, your Blumer has done a good job! In this case, show your appreciation by dropping them a ‘thank you’ note and leaving a review on the Blume website. Yes, getting paid for a job is compensation in itself. But nothing beats being told by a client how much they appreciate the time, energy and skill you’ve put into their project. And, who knows, this might be the basis for a long-term business relationship that benefits both of you.  

Of course, if they haven’t met your expectations, you’ll want to have a conversation with them. But constructive criticism is never a problem. Feel free to challenge work when it’s not up to scratch. Trust me, a good freelancer will understand that this is for everyone’s benefit!

10. Pay on time

Paying your freelancers on time is important. So, remember to mark the work as complete and release funds when you’re both satisfied that a task has been finished to the required standard. 

Final thoughts

So, there you have it.

Good clients are a joy to work with. They recognise that the best professional relationships are a two-way street, based on mutual respect, trust and honesty. Creating a shared commitment to the successful completion of a project. 

I’m sure you already fall into this category!  And just in case you occasionally might not, I hope you find the post useful. 

Chris is a freelancer copywriter and bid writer. He has been working on Blume for four years and completed more than 50 projects for his (mostly wonderful!) clients. He is currently available for work. You can find his Blume profile here.