How to be an AWESOME Client... And Land & KEEP the BEST Freelancers

Turning to someone you have never met for help in making your business

succeed is a pretty terrifying move. By hiring a freelancer, specifically a customer-facing

freelancer, you are placing your reputation, your assets, your trade secrets and your

financial success in someone else’s hands. How can you possibly be comfortable in that

kind of situation? It’s not easy, but with the proper screening and hiring processes and

an open, nurturing business relationship with your freelancers, both your business and

your freelancer can thrive.


Just like hiring someone to work on-site in your business, it is essential to have

an effective screening and hiring process in place for freelancers. Determine what

you need from someone to successfully perform the job responsibilities. Figure out what

business behaviors, values and beliefs you want your freelancer to align with. Focus on

getting to know the person during the interview process and avoid focusing solely on

their resume and experiences. If you are looking to hire someone that will have access

to financial assets, it may be worthwhile to do a background check before officially

bringing the freelancer on board.


Once you have selected the right freelancer for you, it is important to immediately

make them feel included, informed and needed. Particularly after an extensive interview

process, a freelancer will be ready to work and begin making money. Get your

freelancer acclimated to your business by assigning them tasks that will allow them

to discover more about your business principles and offerings while helping

alleviate you of some extra work. One of my first jobs started me out with reformatting

and updating business documents, organizing Dropbox files and transferring information to a

new CRM platform. The great thing about these tasks was that they were fairly simple

tasks to get extra assistance from Google searches but they also allowed me to get

familiar with the business without having to ask a million questions.


As your freelancer gets comfortable with your business and you get comfortable

with your freelancer, you can begin assigning more in-depth, challenging, business

focused projects. The key to advancing your freelancer to this type of task is to have

clear communication. I had a client send me an email with a simple paragraph in it,

directed to one of her clients and she said “I need help developing a letter for

employees”. Fair enough, but what does that mean? I had just finished a few QC

projects for the same client, so I went through and proofed and reformatted the

paragraph, then sent it back to her, only to find out that what she really wanted was for

me to pull information from one of the documents I had proofed and combine that with

the paragraph she had written, then format that into a letter to send to employees

asking for them to complete a survey for management to hone in on areas of the

organization that need improvement. As you can imagine, it can be pretty frustrating for

a freelancer to get vague instructions, complete a project based on their interpretation

and then find out that the client wanted something completely different. The key

takeaway- be clear and communicate what you want up front and in detail.


Now that your freelancer knows what you want and how to do it, be realistic and

respectful. Be sure that the goals and deadlines you are setting for your freelancer are

attainable. Set your freelancer up for success. Make sure they have the tools and

resources to be able to succeed in what you ask them to do. If you want your freelancer

to book a certain number of sales, make sure they have all the information they will

need about the products, a list of warm leads to contact, any special deals you are

looking to run and a realistic goal to meet. No one likes to be faced with failure. Make

sure when you assign tasks to your freelancers that they are realistic. Along those same

lines, ensure your interactions with your freelancer are respectful. Your relationship with

your freelancer should be a professional relationship. It is important to maintain a

respectful, professional communication stream.


Freelancers are often taking on multiple jobs at once. I currently have three

clients I'm working with plus I am a work at home mom, a wife, a home renovator and a crafter. I am

more than willing to take on work, but be mindful that freelancers have other things

going on. We understand that things come up last minute sometimes, but try not to

make a habit of assigning last minute tasks with tight deadlines. It’s helpful to utilize an

online calendar with your freelancer, such as Google calendar, so you and your

freelancer can update your availability and both have access to the calendar to see

when the other is free.


Finally, pay your freelance what they are owed, on-time. Bottom line: freelancers

(just like everyone else), are working to make money. Your freelancer is expected to

complete tasks for you on-time, and you are expected to provide payment on-time.

Set up a payment schedule during the on-boarding process and be very clear, even to

the point of putting it in writing, when and how the freelancer will be paid. It is important

to determine if they will be paid per hour or per project. It is important to determine their

rate. It is important to specify how your freelancer is to report their hours/completed

projects to you and how you will deliver payment to them.


Taking on a freelancer can be a terrific business decision. Nurturing your

relationship with your freelancer by following the tips above can help both you and your

freelancer reach new levels of success.

Working FROM Home... without working AT Home

Seems like a pretty redundant concept, right? Quite the contrary... working FROM home is the same as working FROM an office or working FROM your place of employment. Working AT home is the same no matter where you perform the bulk of your work. It's putting in the extra time and neglecting to spend time with your loved ones or avoiding going out at night because you're "stuck" at home working. 

Separation of work and home is fairly simple when you have a designated "place" to work that's outside of your home. When your place of work IS your home, things can get a little more complex. It's important to realize that regardless of WHERE you work, you still need to allow yourself to have a personal life. Your family still needs you to be present and your productivity levels will actually improve if you allow yourself to take a break. 

So how can one do this? It's so easy when all you need to get your work done is a computer to just constantly be sucked in as soon as a new email pops up on your phone. It took me months of arguing with my husband about my working "too much" to realize that it wasn't benefitting anyone for me to be looking at my life as being constantly "on call".  

The first thing I did to "fix" my overarching work schedule, was create an ACTUAL schedule. Granted, depending on your industry of work your schedule may not quite reflect the typical "9-5" standard, but it's important for your own sanity, your family and your clients to know when to expect that you will be working and when you are NOT working. 

Next, stop treating your job like a hobby. Your job is exactly that, your job. I wish for you and PRAY for you that you enjoy your job as much as you would enjoy a hobby... but it's critical that you realize that your job requires dedication and, in most cases, routine. It is so easy when working from home to put off clocking in until after you vacuum the floors, do the grocery shopping, fold the laundry, weed the garden, etc. etc. etc. The trouble with this, is that you spend all day putting off work to take care of household chores, and then at night when your family is home, you're stuck finishing the work you put off all day. 

Another thing I have found incredibly helpful for making sure I'm spending time with my family when they're home, is to ensure we have dinner as a family. We either cook meals together (which I plan in advance to save us from the last minute "let's just have cereal for dinner" nights), go out to eat as a family, or plan a dinner with our parents/siblings/close friends/ etc. We make mealtime a priority. No computers allowed. No cellphones allowed. We spend time with each other. 

Along these same lines, we have begun a nightly "technological shutdown". After a certain point, technology gets turned off. This prevents me from checking those late night emails that flow in and feeling the need to jump on the computer right away to take care of it. If I happen to see an email come in on my phone (because let's face it... sometimes you just have to Pinterest yourself to sleep), I am way less likely to feel like I need to take care of it right away if I know I have to go fire up the computer and wait for it to restart. I simply flag the email in my inbox, and get to it when I clock in the next morning. 

Finally, don't let yourself become a hermit. It is SO INCREDIBLY EASY to sit at home on the couch, wearing your pajamas, not brushing your hair, working on the computer all day. This is dangerous. Not only for your physical health, but also for your family health AND your mental health. Inclusion is a basic need of humans. By forcing yourself to get dressed every day, do your hair and make-up, go for a walk, go to the gym and SCHEDULE recurring social gatherings with other people, you allow yourself the human interaction we (almost) all instinctively crave and you force yourself to step away from your computer.  

It's tough, especially when first starting out, to force yourself to turn down extra work and risk upsetting your new client by saying you'll get to something in the morning instead of right away, but in the long-run... it's critical to nourish your relationships with those closest to you and to allow yourself some "me-time" without feeling like you can't relax until all the work is done. 

Working from home is WONDERFUL... but don't let yourself fall victim to always working AT home. 

7 Myths about Remote Work

When I say “remote work”, what is the first thing that comes to mind?  For many people, the phrase brings out eye rolls, grunts of disdain and even a glimpse of agitation as they replay the latest interaction they have had with a telemarketer or “political poll” groups. My own family still has a hard time grasping what remote work actually is. Given the technological nature of remote work, we can’t be entirely surprised that many people, particularly those in generations prior to Generation X are a bit hesitant when it comes to the credibility of remote work.

For decades Americans have spent their days traveling to and from an office, putting in the 9-5 hours, sitting in business meetings, crunching numbers in their cubicles and fighting the “cake in the break room” syndrome that inevitably occurs after spending countless hours staring at the same walls, doing the same things. No doubt it’s going to take time, information and a bit of open-mindedness for Tom, Dick and Harry that have spent the last 40 years in an office to accept remote work for the legitimate career that it can be. So, let’s start that right now.

1.  “Working on the computer is a scam”.  While I’ll be the first to admit that there are plenty of scammers out there, there are also plenty of legitimate work opportunities. Check out some of the freelancing platforms out there that connect Freelancers with clients. Sites like Upwork handle payment for you, so you never have to worry about handing out your bank account information to clients or cashing a bad check.  As usual, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is, so you still have to use some common sense in accepting a contract.

2. “You work from home? So you’re one of those **** telemarketers that calls me 50 times a day?!?” No. No. No. The world of remote work has grown so incredibly far beyond telemarketing. While there are still many people employed in such positions (and power to you for having a job, telemarketers!), there is so much more out there. In my time as a freelancer, I have worked as business manager for a marketing firm, head of sales and marketing for a clothing company, associate consultant for a consulting and recruiting firm and a social media specialist along with a few other small, one-time gigs ALL from my couch!

3. “You’ve got a college degree, you should get a real job.”. Oh, contraire! Especially for people in tiny little towns like me, the opportunities available online reach so far beyond what is available onsite in my area. I use knowledge from my schooling every day with my online jobs and I get the opportunity to work with people across the country and even throughout the world!

4. “You can’t make a full time salary from the computer”.  When I left my job in the city to move to this little boondock town with my husband, I took a $16,000 cut to my annual salary. Now, after only one year of freelancing, I’m back at the salary I was making in the city. Take into account the extra bonus that I don’t have to pay for gas to commute, fancy clothes for the office or full time childcare, I’m pretty happy with where I’m sitting financially.

5. “I’m not a tech-savvy person, I can’t work online”. Nonsense. I would be lying if I told you I knew one bit of javascript, pixel composition, SEO or really anything beyond Microsoft Office and Gmail prior to getting my first job online. All you really need is the drive to find a job that fits your specific skills, the self-discipline to complete the job to do it well without someone hovering over your shoulder and the willingness to LEARN.

6. “I could never spend all day just sitting around in my house”. That’s the beauty of laptops and Wi-Fi (or 3G, 4G, hotspots, etc), my friends. You can work from where ever you want as long as you have a computer and access to the internet. Feel like heading to the coffee shop? Go for it! Want to go on vacation? Do it! Love feeling the summer breeze through your hair? Head outside! The empowerment you feel from the freedom of mobility will amaze you.

7. “It’s impossible to find a long term position online, it’s all just bouncing around hoping to keep work”. Wrong. I have had the same job since the very first day I started freelancing and neither my client, nor I have any plans to change that at any time in the near future. There are tons of people looking for short, one time jobs. But, there’s also a ton of people looking to find someone skilled, trustworthy and dedicated to growing with their organization. The key is in selecting the right contract for what you are looking for.

I’m 100% sure this is not an exhaustive list of all the stigmas that are constantly thrown around about remote work, but these are the most common ones that I have been hearing lately. If you’re interested in remote work, know someone who works remotely or are one of the people continuously throwing out statements like the ones listed above, I encourage to you make notes of these and open your mind to the beautiful reality that is remote work. 

Client Feedback

Here's what others have to say about their experiences with Jillian:


"Jillian did an excellent job on our... project. She is bright, a fast learner, is excellent at following up and works well independently. Highly recommended!"
                - Karla Donaire



"Jillian was very responsive. She did the project quickly and accurately. Thanks, Jillian!"
                 - Melanie Feltham


"I must say that Jillian has been the BEST freelancer that we have hired over the years! ... She went above and beyond every day she worked for us. We have had some really great workers help us but again, she was outstanding!!!"
                 - David Beinhacker


"Jillian, you did an outstanding job! "
                 -  Ole Didriksen


"Without a doubt, Jillian has my highest recommendation for any managerial position..., she would be a great hire and a wonderful addition to your company"
                   - David Rachau

5 Tips for Starting a Successful Freelancing Career

Stepping into the great unknown and making the leap into a new career path can be a scary thing. For many, the idea of working for someone who you may never meet, see their face or even hear their voice can be pretty unsettling. How do you possibly find a good job, avoid the scams, prove that you’re the best pick for the position and land the role? While there is no science, I’ve put together a list of tips that will definitely give you an edge!

1. Do your research. When you find a role, whether you are an independent freelancer advertising your skills through your own website and social media or if you choose to utilize a platform like Upwork to connect you with clients, it is important to know who you’re attempting to work for. I typically won’t pursue any position that does not list who the client is. If the client is listed, I will do a search for their company on Google, check their Better Business Bureau rating and do a scan of their social media profiles to get an idea of the public’s opinion of them. In addition to helping you avoid falling victim to a scam, this gives you insight into the company that can help you modify your resume, proposal and interview answers to be more applicable to the position.

2. Customize your resume and cover letter/proposal. After you have done your research and briefly familiarized yourself with the company that you are applying to work for, you need to focus on making the best impression possible with your first interaction. Customize your resume to reflect any duties you have had that are the most relevant to the role you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a position as a sales person and you have past experience as a bartender, don’t let your resume talk about taking inventory and complying with LCB laws or mixing a mean margarita. Focus on the sales aspect of your bartending gig. You may have been great at upselling (someone orders a beer and you persuade them to order a basket of wings with it). If you were a rockstar with customer service, mention that. Find the skills you used in your past roles that are transferrable to the position you’re applying for. Your cover letter needs to provide the client with an overall glimpse into your experience, qualifications, professionalism, personality and proof that you understand the job description and would be the best fit for it. Try to tie everything together by pulling key terms or phrases from the job description and finding where they apply in your resume, then highlight them in your cover letter. Many companies narrow their applicant pool by screening resumes and cover letters for key words, if you can make sure these are in your resume and cover letter, you have a much better chance of being considered in the process. Finally, make sure you do not have typos and grammatical errors in your resume and cover letter. You are applying for a professional position, make a professional first impression. If you are not a great writer, find someone willing to proof read for you. It may seem like a minute detail, especially if the job you are applying for does not include writing, but making a professional impression will transfer across every type of role.

3. Be realistic. One of the beauties and one of the major downfalls of working online is that the internet is worldwide. It is amazing that I can work for a company in Paris as I sit in my office in Pennsylvania. The opportunities and “places” the internet can offer to remote workers are incredible. However, you have to take into account that if you can see a job post, so can someone from a country with much cheaper labor. There are some clients that will hire the cheapest rate, regardless of experience or quality of work. If that is the case, the job is probably not for you. If you are looking to make a career out of freelancing, you need to be selective.  Find quality jobs that will pay you a realistic salary for your cost of living, skill set and experience and apply only for those roles. Wasting your time on a gig writing a 10,000 word paper for $5 is not going to provide you with the pay or satisfaction you need. On the flip side, if you have never been exposed to web programming, don’t apply for a web programmers job simply because it offers $60/hour. Working online is just like working on-site. You need to have the skills to do the role, and it needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship in order to be successful. Do not overpromise, but do not undersell yourself.

 4. Be mindful of your reputation. The internet allows anyone to see just about anything that is posted. To give yourself the best chances of a successful career online, be mindful of your online reputation and the image of yourself that you are putting forth. If a company is confident enough in their online abilities to hire a remote worker, they are probably savvy enough to dig up some information about you and find your social media pages. I am not saying you can’t have a personal life or state your personal beliefs or opinions publicly; I’m just saying that posting images of yourself posing like an adult film star or slandering your last employer publicly and covering their Facebook page with a bunch of profanity and hate messages is not going to give potential clients a very positive view of you as a person.

5. Set the scene for your interview. This does not work for everyone, but I have found that it makes a huge difference for me. Every time I have an interview, I treat it as though it will be a video. I ensure that my appearance is professional. I do my hair and make-up, put on nice clothes and yes, I even wear dress pants. If the interview actually is a video call, I test the background and the position of the computer prior to the call. I make sure that the lighting is good, the background is simple and organized and I check to make sure that the position of the screen is appropriate for the client to see me and for me to see them. I always ensure that I am doing the interview in a place that is quiet and allows me to have a notebook, water and writing utensils close by. Professionalism is easily detected in your interactions in an interview. Just like a person can detect if someone if smiling and happy when they talk, a recruiter can tell if you are feeling professional and confident during your interview.

Beginning a career as a freelancer can be difficult, but by following these tips, you can avoid some of the pitfalls many make as they start their journey.

About

Jillian graduated in the top 10% of her class at Penn State University with a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management. With over  10 years experience in sales and 7 years experience in management, Jillian has experience in sales and marketing, customer service, administrative support, reporting and document generation. She has played a key role in developing businesses from start-up to profitable operations.

After welcoming her first child into the world, Jillian shifted gears to put her experience and expertise to work in a remote work environment. She has spent the past year as Online Business Manager for an elite marketing firm and has earned certifications in Customer Value Optimization and Paid Traffic Marketing.

Jillian has worked with multiple companies in a remote capacity and has provided services ranging from daily task management and administrative support to process automation and recruitment. She has also developed reporting metrics for various businesses and streamlines on-boarding processes to optimize business growth potential.

A summary of primary services available by Jillian is available here.

To begin growing and improving your business today, please contact Jillian for a free consultation by completing our contact form or e-mailing JillianKelloggManagement@gmail.com.

Services

Services Offered: 

• Remote Business Management: 
  • Business Document Generation
  • Business Performance Reporting
  • Process Streamlining
  • Client On-Boarding Automation
  • Inbox Organization
  • CRM Set-Up/Maintenance
  • Invoicing

• Social Media
  • Social Media Interaction Management
  • Facebook Ad Campaign Development, Implementation and Tracking
  • Ad Campaign Statistics
  • Content Generation and Posting

• Blogging
  • Blog Post Creation
  • Post Editing
  • Traffic Monitoring

• E-Commerce
  • Amazon Seller Central Management
  • E-Commerce back-end Management

• Recruitment
  • Create appealing job posts to distribute
  • Actively recruit qualified candidates
  • Determine candidate fit by strategically asking questions that reveal the person behind the resume
  • Increase brand visibility to build interest among qualified candidates in preparation for future job opportunities

• Coaching
  • Thinking about a career as a freelancer? Ask me how!