By: Guest Blogger (Lucy Wyndham)
Consumer behavior has changed drastically over the decades with more customers choosing to conduct their transactions using the internet. The shift to e-commerce and increased online competition has meant that a good website design has become more important than ever. As businesses begin to look at establishing their website design, most businesses will look to outsource it to design agencies or freelancers. Today, freelancers are more popular than ever, helping to businesses with their rebranding and online presence among many other tasks. According to the Rise of Self-employed Economy in Canada study in 2017, 44 percent of the workforce is expected to be freelancers and independent contractors by the year 2020. So, there is no doubt the freelance sector is growing, and rapidly too.
So how can you use this new labor market to your advantage? Well first, it is important you understand what a freelancer is and the reasons individuals choose to go freelance. They are usually self-employed persons that offer services to multiple businesses at the same time. Employed based on either contract or temporary basis, freelancers can offer any kind of service a business may need. 
Cost Conscious
The use of freelancers can be particularly useful to small businesses and can present huge advantages for growth. While not suited to every business, employing freelancers can significantly cut your costs. As a smaller business, those profit margins are an essential component. One of the more obvious reductions is the paying of a salary on a need basis. Many freelancers may charge a higher hourly rate but the bright side is, you only pay for the hours needed to get the project done. Freelancers do not exist on your permanent payroll and that is one less salary bumping up your costs every month.
Flexibility
Another key advantage is the flexibility that hiring a freelancer brings. Many small businesses choose to focus on niche markets as they start out and tend to have a very specific vision for their business. Choosing freelancers gives you the freedom to choose individuals with a very specific skill set including more experienced talent with no training needed or younger individuals with fresh innovative approaches. Another bonus is that most freelancers are very motivated and more than willing to put in the effort since they work on a self-employed basis. What is better for a business than an employee motivated and willing to work?
Experience
Finally, with the rise of online employment websites in Canada, the available talent pool is incredibly varied. Many workers work from home in other countries and may be more suited for the job and with the internet, small businesses are now able to access this talent. Many freelancers end up bring to the table a much more varied experience background because of the fact they go from job to job working with different companies in different industries that need their services. So your business gets the talent and experience for a fraction of the overheads. For small businesses, this is a win.
Although there are many perks for both businesses and freelancers of choosing this route, there are some pitfalls. For freelancers, there are some important tips to improve productivity and for businesses, it is important to follow a through process when employing freelancers. If you do choose to use freelancers in your business, it is important to get references and make use of the verified freelancer sites. Standard work contracts between business and freelancer are also important to prevent any misunderstandings.
If you are considering what freelancers could do for your business, consider these benefits and the many more you can harness from using this labour tool. You may find it is exactly what your business is looking for to grow.
Book a conversation with us to learn more. We’ve successfully completed some big projects with the help of freelancers, so we can help you find the partner you need to get work done. We’re also happy to talk to you about how you can employ our services for your business. We have a talented team of writers and graphic designers that we’d be willing to lend out to you.
