Hiring a freelancer in Nigeria can be difficult sometimes. Due to the remote nature of the work. Many problems can occur between the client and freelancer, during and after the project.
things to know before hiring a freelancer in Nigeria
Freelancers not meeting deadlines, delivering blow par projects, or going AWOL after the initial payment are a few things that might occur.
When it comes to the client-freelancer relationship, there are a lot of things that can go wrong, but how do you minimize this client-freelancer ‘issues’, have an excellent working relationship, and get timely delivery of the project.
Here are some things to know before hiring a freelancer in Nigeria;
- Be clear with what you want
- Talk is cheap, portfolio and good recommendation is perfect!
- Be clear about the deadline
- Put it in writing!
These tips will help you minimize many of these issues and help build a profitable relationship with a relationship…
1. Be clear with what you want
Before reaching out to a freelancer, make sure you have a clear idea about what you want, be very specific in your demands. Aside from this saving you time and money, it will also ensure that you hire the right freelancer.
Sometime, you might not know the exact technology to accomplish your goal but at least know what you want to achieve.
Freelancers are not magicians, they can’t just wave a magic wand and fix your problem, neither can they read your mind.
When you are not sure of what you want, take out some time to talk to an expert or a consultant to map out your exact next step, and gain clarity.
For example, when you want to improve your sales by converting your blog reader into paying customers. Now, that you know your aim, hiring a content writer, setting the deadline, and project key performance Index will become easier.
2. Talk is cheap, portfolio and good recommendation is perfect!
Before you hire any freelancer in Nigeria, it is necessary to know their level of competency.
There are many people in the freelancing world, posting as an expert website designer after watching a 2 hours video tutorial on YouTube without any experience installing WordPress in C panel talk-less of designing a website.
The fastest way to confirm any freelancer credibility is through their portfolio, which consists of their past projects and recommendations/reviews by their previous employer.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a sample of their previous project. Some will say something about the Non-Disclosure Agreement, don’t fall for that! They should be able to point to a project done by them or a recommendation, commendation, endorsement, or praise by a previous employer.
It is okay to give newbies a chance with your project, but not with the incredibly important and time-sensitive ones, that if poorly executed, it might harm your business considerably.
Give a newbie a chance on your project with the awareness that if it goes wrong, there will be little or no harm to your business.
3. Be clear about the deadline
Another thing to know before you hire a freelancer in Nigeria is Deadline – Be Super clear about the deadline of the project. When hiring, make sure you CLEARLY state the delivery time and date.
“I need the project in a week’s time” is not a deadline, “I need the project by 12:30 pm on 12/03/1978” is better.
Due to the paralytic internet service, electricity supply, server downtime, and other things (like SARS, *smiles* ) that might affect their ability to deliver as scheduled. When possible, make sure the deadline for the project is a few days before you need it, like two to three days before you actually need it.
Although an experienced freelancer has a contingency plan for all these uncertainties, there are times that things really get out of control.
Also, make sure you frequently maintain communication with the freelancer to make sure that he is on set to make the delivery as well due. This will allow you to prepare for any imminent disappointment before it happens.
4. Put it in Writing!
It is hiring a freelancer in Nigeria, make sure that everything is clearly written in black and white.
Any experienced freelancer should have a contract that both parties should sign, before the commencement of any project.
This contract should contain vital information like:
- The delivery date.
- The amount for the project.
- Method of payment.
- The deliverable,
- and any other important information concerning the project.
It is necessary to have almost everything clearly written down to avoid any ambiguity and bad feelings.
You don’t want to argue about the price, deadline, or the deliverable of the project, right? Then make sure you document everything and put it down in writing.
These are a few things to know before hiring a freelancer. There are still many more, knowing these four should prepare you for working with a freelancer.
Have you hired a freelancer in Nigeria before? How was your experience? What do you think we should know that’s not covered in the article?
Also, do you want to hire a freelancer in Nigeria? What’s stopping you? What are your fears? Kindly share your experience with us in the comment box.
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