Many individuals and small companies try to find freelancers for their projects. This is mainly due to the reduced cost. But truly speaking it is little risky compared to general way of handing over projects (handing over projects to professional companies). I thought to discuss some important points which will definitely reduce the above mentioned risk.

When you select a freelancer there are certain things to consider before handing over your project. You can find freelancers through bidding websites or by other ways. First thing you must find out is the freelancer’s experience. And you must also check his previous work related to your project scope. Many freelancing websites provide these details. And you must do a small research on the past activities of the freelancer and his records. This will reduce the risk of abandoning your project by the freelancer without completion. You can reduce this by finding a freelancer from a reputed freelancing site like www.rentacoder.com which will save you legally.

Always don’t go for the lowest bid if you are finding a freelancer from a website. Sometimes the lowest bidder might not do your work well. You must check his/her profile and track records more than the amount of the bid. When you publish the bid request, publish your full requirement. Always let the freelancer to communicate with you to clarify his/her doubts. If you do changes when the project is underway, the freelance may reject your changes and sometimes he/she will stop it continuing further. And make your payments on time.

After handing over the project and the freelancer started his work it is a good practice to request weekly or daily reports on the progress of the project. By doing this you can track the progress of your project and check the freelancer’s ability. Then you can predict about the completion time of your project. Always remember to give time as much as possible for the completion of the project. Otherwise you might lose the quality of the completed project.

These are the main important factors that you must consider when handing over your project to a freelancer. I will add more posts if I find more. I Wish you good luck on your project!

Freelancing has become the main source of income for many people around the world. It has become popular as it gives a big freedom for the freelancer. A freelancer doesn’t need to work under someone else and the boss is himself/herself. He/she decides what to do and when to do. But there are certain things that you must be aware of if you are planning to become a freelancer. I will explain one by one which I feel that you must be aware of before stepping into the freelancing field.

The most important thing is that you must have a sound knowledge on the subject that you are planning to get freelancing jobs. For an example, if you plan to become a freelancer in software development, you must have a thorough knowledge in one or more programming languages and other related technologies. Otherwise there is a great chance that you will lose the project and your membership on the freelancing site and your reputation. And definitely you will lose your career as soon as you start. Therefore you must gain a sound knowledge in the relevant area before you step into freelancing even how much you are impatient.

Let’s assume that you have gained a sound knowledge on the area that you plan to become a freelancer and you are ready to start your career as a freelancer. Next thing you must do is identifying your scope. It means, you must have a good understanding on your strengths and weaknesses. You must try to overcome your weaknesses if possible. And you must also have a good skill of time management as it will definitely play a major role in your freelancing career. If you are not confident about time management, you must do a research in the internet and learn the basics.

Now you are ready to start your career. The next thing you must do is, finding a freelancing offer. The easiest and efficient way is finding a website which provides freelance offers. You will find many if you do a Google search. Some of them ask you to pay for your membership. Some provide free registration. You can choose any option. But before registering, you must read their payment policies and other related legal conditions. You have to make sure that you are properly paid without any cheating, safely. Most websites charge a percentage of your bid on the project as a commission. You have to agree with it as it is very hard to find good projects by your own. www.rentacoder.com is a good website according to my personal view. But you might not find projects which suits your area of expertise. There are many websites that you can go.

You have become a member of a freelancing website now and ready to bid on projects. First thing you must do is, read the project description and understand its requirements and decide whether you can complete it 100%. If you are not clear on something, contact the project owner and clarify your doubts and problems before bidding. Many websites provide message facilities between the freelancer and the job owner. Use it. If you are confident that you can bet on the project, then don’t go for a higher bet at the first time. You must build a good recognition in the community first. Don’t care much about your income from the first few projects. The most important thing is winning a bid. And keep in mind to use a professional way of communication with the project owner. And always, always deliver the 100% completed project on time or before the dead line. This will increase your recognition.

If you follow these guidelines, you will definitely start your freelancing career with a good start. Always keep in mind that you must be honest with your projects. Otherwise you won’t be able to continue with your freelancing career for a long time. Wish you good luck in your freelancing career.