The freelance economy is booming: 57 million people, about 36% of Americans, now do freelance work – that’s up from about 42 million in 2004 and that number is expected to grow over the years to come. And that trend especially holds true in the creative economy where digital marketing, UX/UI design, and software development professionals are taking advantage of the benefits freelancing has to offer, such as the freedom to work remotely, set their hours, and improve their work-life balance.
For businesses, hiring creative freelance talent also presents some compelling advantages. Here are four reasons to consider hiring a freelancer:
FLEXIBILITY
Your website needs revamping, your SEO needs optimization, or your social media content is sparse – all projects that require creative talent, but perhaps your budget is tenuous, or you’re not sure if you have enough work to justify bringing on a full-time employee. Legitimate concerns for sure, but that shouldn’t stop you from investing in the talent you need to grow. By hiring a freelancer, you can test the waters with a candidate while having a fixed end date.
If you’re happy with the value your freelancer brings value to your business, fantastic – you can extend their contract or even wrap them up with a full-time offer if they’re really killing it! However, if your budget changes, project work wanes, or their performance doesn’t match your expectations, you can let their contract expire.
COST
When you hire a contractor, you cut out expenses that come with hiring employees Including FICA taxes, Unemployment, Workers Compensation. If you’re a smaller company, limiting your payroll size can also help you manage healthcare costs. As of this writing, businesses with under 50 employees are not subject to penalties if they do not offer health benefits under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Having eliminated commute-related costs, freelancers who work from home can also save you money by offering you a lower rate, especially if they’re living outside high-rent areas.
EFFICIENCY
Creative freelancers have expertise in their field and are used to working with minimal supervision, which minimizes the amount of time you’ll spend training them. In addition,because a freelancer’s income depends on the number of projects they do, there is a bonafide incentive for them work as efficiently as possible so they can move onto the next project.
QUALITY
Top creative professionals are increasingly choosing to avail themselves of the flexibility offered by freelance work. What’s more, they have a strong incentive to produce stellar work on each project, since their reputation and ability to generate repeat business depend on it.
Top freelance marketing and creative talent is out there, however, finding them can be tedious and frustrating. If you’re currently looking to hire digital marketers, UX/UI designers, Front End Developers, or other creative professionals, and want to save yourself time and energy, consider working with a boutique creative and marketing recruiting agency that has their finger on the pulse of the industry.