How to write a project ad that will attract qualified and experienced freelancers?

Recruiters can find it challenging to find the right freelancers for their projects. However, there are many steps that you can take if you want to identify and recruit qualified, experienced professionals who can help you meet your goals. In this guide, we’ll talk about the best ways to craft job and project descriptions that stand out and help you attract the right freelancers.

Let’s take a look at some of the steps that you can take to recruit reliable, talented freelancers who will make a great contribution to your projects and your business right now.

Writing an effective job description

Before you start writing a job description or project description, it’s essential to gain a clear understanding of what your project requires. Think about the skills, experience and expertise that you need to achieve success. This will help you ensure that your description reflects your needs accurately.

Create a clear and concise title

Start by crafting a title which accurately describes what you need from the project. The title should include the kind of freelancer you’re looking for, such as "graphic designer” or "content writer” and the kind of project you want them to work on. This could be something like "articles about e-commerce” or "web design for a recruitment site”.

Introduction and company overview

You also need to include a brief introduction to your company. Talk about who you are, what you do and what your values are. This will help you attract freelancers who share your values and are enthusiastic about working with you.

Project overview

You’ll need to include a detailed overview of the project’s objectives as well as the outcomes you’re aiming for. Make sure the role and responsibilities of the project are clearly outlined to prevent confusion. This will encourage freelancers to bid for the work with confidence.

Qualifications and skills

Talk about the kinds of qualifications and skills that are required for your project. You may need to divide these into qualifications and skills that are "essential” and "desirable”.

Experience

Specify the level of experience you are looking for. Some projects can be carried out by people who are just starting their careers, but others may require many more years of experience.

Milestones and deadlines

Clearly state when you would like the work, or parts of the work, to be delivered by. You may need to provide a breakdown of milestones if you’re advertising a large project that will take several weeks or months.

Budget details

Be transparent about the budget that you have available for your project. If you feel there is potential for ongoing work, make sure you mention this in the job or project description. This can help you to attract talented freelancers who wish to collaborate on a long-term basis.

Application process

Make sure freelancers know what they need to do to apply for the task. If you would prefer to see a portfolio or relevant samples of their past work, say this in the description so they can get them over to you before you make your final decision.

Deadline for applications

Including a deadline for submitting applications to encourage freelancers to apply as quickly as possible.

How to recruit freelancers effectively

Choose the right platform

There are many freelancer platforms to choose from, but some have better reputations than others. Some of the most popular platforms for freelancers and recruiters online today include People Per Hour, Upwork and Fiverr. You can expect to find people with a wide range of skills on these sites.

Optimise your profile

Before you post a job, make sure your company profile is complete and reflects your brand well. Talk about projects you have worked on with freelancers before and highlight any positive interactions with freelancers. You can also include targeted keywords to help freelancers find your project online. Think about the kinds of terms freelancers would use if they were looking to bid on a project like yours.

Attend industry events

Another way to find and connect with talented freelancers is to attend industry events. Networking gives you the opportunity to start long-term mutually beneficial relationships with freelancers. If you can’t get to an event in person, you may be able to participate in a virtual one.

Utilise social media

Social media can be a very powerful tool for recruiters seeking to source the best freelance talent for their needs. Consider announcing job openings on social media platforms. You can also join freelancer groups to connect with potential candidates directly.

Create a freelancer database

It’s a very good idea to keep a record of the freelancers you have successfully worked with or encountered. You can refer to this database when you have suitable projects lined up in future. This can dramatically speed up the process of filling roles further down the line.

Seek referrals

Another great step that you can take when looking for talented freelancers is to encourage freelancers to connect you with colleagues who might be able to help with future projects. For instance, a content writer you have used in the past may be able to point you in the direction of a talented web designer if you need one in future.

The interview process

From time to time, you might need to conduct interviews rather than just having short chats with freelancers to get projects underway. Interviews can be very useful when it comes to assessing communication and collaboration skills. Video calls have become increasingly popular over recent years as they can help you forge a more personal connection.

Establish quality communication

Make sure details about the project, your expectations and deadlines are communicated clearly from the start. Check in with your freelancer or freelancers regularly to ensure problems or concerns are quickly overcome.

Completing the recruitment process

Show freelancers that you value their time by coming to a decision quickly. Let freelancers know you want to go ahead with a project as soon as you reach this decision so they can get started promptly.

Finding the right freelance talent doesn’t have to be a difficult process. By taking the steps outlined above, you can source quality freelancers for your projects within a short time frame and get your projects underway within just a few days.