Freelancers worth it?

[CtrlAltDel]

Hi and thanks for this special forum,
I am in the need for someone to build me a small website,
I was wandering if anyone has experince using freelancers from all those sites, is it worth? if I hire someone how do I know he will do whatever I like, what happens if I am not happy with him?

[Shlepshitz]

Depends whom u hire - usually, he or she should have reference whom to ask.
I do websites - so if u need help - I can try…

[Chaim Hirsch]

After much trial and error I could say I have a lot of experience working with freelancers,
It’s defiantly not the same as hiring someone you know or you can ask around about,
I personally like UpWork,. If the freelancer has a very good reputation and you scroll through his past jobs and feedback’s and it looks alright it usually is fine (I’ve had crazy stories to).
It also depends much on the task, if it is something small then you usually don’t have what to loose out, but for big jobs I usually pick my 3-4 best picks and give them a small task to do and then i see with whom to go.

[Shlepshitz]

@Chaim-Hirsch Thanks

I also do web design and development and I most ppl have a bad experience that’s why I say make sure whom u trust - just off upWork anyone with good rating is not the best idea to my knowledge - but Hatzlacha in what ur doing.

[Chaim Hirsch]

@Shlepshitz I would definitely agree, as I said it takes time to get the hang of it,
And yes an Indian designer, wouldn’t understand what I consider Nice (Chasidishe) graphics

[Yitz]

Freelancers can do a great job but you have to be able to understand and review their work.
For example:

• Only hire a freelance web designer if you know web design yourself
• Only hire a freelance software developer if you understand and could review the code they write to ensure they do a good job

Else you will end up with a huge mess

[twist]

Which platformis better Upwork or Fiverr?

[Chaim Hirsch]

@twist said in Freelancers worth it?:

Which platformis better Upwork or Fiverr?

I would say it really depends for what kind of task, If your’e looking for a Voice Over artist, graphic designer or translator then go for Fiverr and if your’e looking for a programmer or architecture I would say UpWork.
I would sum it. Fiverr is meant for small gigs and UpWork is better geared for large and more complicated stuff.

[Manual]

I like Fiverr better I find there are more Americans there vs. Upwork they are mostly Indians and other Arab countries

[Chocolate]

@Manual said in Freelancers worth it?:

I like Fiverr better I find there are more Americans there vs. Upwork they are mostly Indians and other Arab countries

I don’t think that country of origin matters.

I have quite a bit of experience with Upwork, the most challenging part is finding the right people, I always first start asking them questions like,
How are you planning on accomplishing this task
What software and languages will you use
How many hours will it take you
etc.

Usually, those few questions will give you an idea who knows what he is saying and who is still a beginner trying to learn
e.g. someone saying it will take him 40 hours for a simple email template (happened 2 days ago) I right away nix him.

After you shortlist a few sift through their previous works and feedbacks I always sort from Low to High so I can get a feel what people don’t like about him, for example, you will find a lot of times a freelancer gets negative feedback because he never actually sticks with milestones, so I still know if I am not in a rush for the work I will still go ahead and hire him.

The most important is before hiring a freelancer WRITING out very clear instructions and what you expect of him,

[Chaim Hirsch]

Just adding on another point, some people might find Fiver easier, as you have fixed prices on UpWork you have to set and bargain your own pricing

[CtrlAltDel]

@Chaim-Hirsch said in Freelancers worth it?:

Just adding on another point, some people might find Fiver easier, as you have fixed prices on UpWork you have to set and bargain your own pricing

It is very true as a brginner I got lost right away I got propsals for the same work ranging btw $70-$480 what in the world should make me decide who to hire, I don’t think it’s made for everyone.