Matt Harrison of FreeUp shares strategies for hiring a freelancer to help with your Amazon business tasks in this guest article.
When you started selling products on Amazon, you were probably really excited about running your own business, right?
Of course! But over time, you’ve probably come to realize that not only is running everything on your own exhausting, but it’s unrealistic. Fortunately, outsourcing could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Through outsourcing, you can find balance and give yourself the time to focus on the big things. Ready to learn more? Keep reading to learn how to hire a freelancer to help with your Amazon business.
Simply put, outsourcing makes sense both from a logistical and a financial standpoint. Unlike hiring full-time employees, freelancers are more affordable because you’re not required to provide them the full government-mandated benefits.
All you need to do is pay them the rate you both agreed with which can be on a per hour or per project basis.
More importantly, they’ll be able to take some of the tasks off your plate so you can focus on growing your business instead.
It’s no secret that one of the biggest problems a business owner faces is the lack of time. With so many items on your to do list, taking on additional duties like product listing optimization or inventory management isn’t just going to work.
Another reason to hire freelancers is to fill in expertise your business badly needs. Sure, you may know the ins and outs of running an online store, but there are other tasks like graphic design or social media management that are beyond your capabilities.
Whichever the reason is, make sure to list these tasks down. Try to keep yourself out of the equation because you’ll be doing your business a favor if you focus on your “CEO tasks.”
Will you be needing help with search engine optimization (SEO)? How about an experienced customer service representative?
As soon as you determine the help you need, you should be ready to take on the next step.
The freelance market is filled with talented individuals who offer a unique set of skills that can help you grow your business. That being said, it’s your responsibility to filter out the best of the best, so to speak.
For this to happen, you need to have a good idea of the kind of freelancer you’re looking for. You need to at least have an avatar of the person because getting someone talented isn’t going to be enough.
Keep in mind that you’ll be working with this person remotely so try to be as specific as you possibly can when it comes to your requirements.
For the relationship to work, the freelancer needs to fit right in. He or she needs to fit your style or your team’s culture because good chemistry matters.
Are you looking for someone who’s a parent working from home or a single person who’s updated with the latest trends relevant to his specialization?
Keep in mind that you’ll be working with this person remotely so try to be as specific as you possibly can when it comes to your requirements.
Don’t just hire someone because they’re good. Hire them because their work attitude complements yours.
Once you have identified the tasks you’ll be needing help with and determining the kind of freelancer you’re looking for, the next step is to start looking for them.
The good news is there are dozens of freelance marketplaces you can choose from. For example, FreeUp is a marketplace that offers a variety of highly skilled and fully vetted freelancers to help ensure a good fit. Just do an internet search and you’ll be presented with several options. Most of these marketplaces have experienced and skilled freelancers who specialize in Amazon-related roles.
They also have their own systems in place. Some allow you to post your project on their website so potential candidates with matching skills can apply. Others offer pre-vetted freelancers which means they’ve already been filtered by the service so all you have to do is find the right match.
It all goes down to your personal preference. If you’re the more hands-on type who likes to be involved in the vetting process, then the first type mentioned will be best for you. If you’re too busy and would prefer for the company to do all the dirty work for you, then go for the latter.
It’s essential to understand how these companies’ systems work because they all have a deep and talented pool of freelancers to offer and you’d want to get the best one that fits in the shortest amount of time possible.
Hiring the right person is always the toughest part because of the factors you have to consider. While talent and skills are already a given, considerations like attitude, experience, rate, and reviews are equally important.
You want to get your money’s worth as much as possible because paying someone an hourly rate can become expensive if you don’t get this right.
Go back to your ideal freelancer list we discussed in step two and look for the candidate that closely matches your criteria. Once you’ve formally hired the freelancer, the marketplace should take care of everything to let you begin working together.
What’s great about these freelance marketplaces is that setting you up with a freelancer doesn’t take long. You’ll usually be able to start working with your new hire less than 24 hours after you press the “hire” button, which is very helpful, especially if your need is urgent.
It’s important to remember the hiring process doesn’t end after clicking on the “hire” button. In fact, this is probably the most critical aspect of the entire process.
You can’t expect the freelancer you hired to know what to do without providing them some much-needed guidance.
Before you begin working together, make sure to properly onboard the freelancer. Take the time to set up clear expectations because beginning on the right foot can make a huge difference.
It’s important to remember the hiring process doesn’t end after clicking on the “hire” button.
So what exactly do you do when you’re onboarding a freelancer?
First, lay everything on the table and try to be as clear as you possibly can. Some of the things you can discuss include work schedules. Do you need them to work alongside you or can they work on their own schedule?
This is crucial, especially if you belong to different time zones so make sure to clearly set your expectations right from the get-go.
Another potential topic you may want to bring up is about reporting. Do you need them to send you a written report weekly or will a monthly report suffice? Other things you can discuss are weekly budgets, deadlines, preferred file formats, and so forth.
Lastly, make sure to take this opportunity to provide them access to the different tools you use in your business. If you use a project management tool like Asana or Trello, or if you prefer communication tools like Slack or Skype, this is the perfect time to set it all up.
This is also the perfect time to grant them access to Amazon-related tools like Seller Central and Amazon Marketing Services. Just make sure to have them sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for your protection.
Once everything’s ready to go, you should be able to begin working together. While you’re paying them money to perform essential tasks for the business, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be totally hands-off.
Make sure to check in with them from time to time. Ask them if there are issues that are keeping them from performing their responsibilities or if you can be of any help.
Always remember that a good leader sets the team up for success so be there for freelancers without micro-managing them.
When you reach out, it doesn’t always have to be about work. Don’t hesitate to contact them even if you just want to say “Hi.”
You don’t have to wear all the hats when it comes to growing your Amazon business, especially when you have a deep pool of talented freelancers waiting for an opportunity to contribute.
While it does cost money to outsource tasks to freelancers, the time you will save, and the quality of the work they can provide makes it all worth it.
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to find the perfect freelancer for you!
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