When you have a limited-time project that requires specialized expertise, hiring a freelancer makes sense. Your organization gains a specialist with broad experience, and you only need to pay them for the project’s duration. Your company can keep its costs low, hire top talent and complete the work quickly.
Knowing how to access talented, reliable freelancers can be challenging, though. However, the following platforms make the freelance hiring process easier and can help you find valued, on-demand team members.
Best websites for finding freelancers to hire
Companies choose freelancers over full-time employees to outsource project-based jobs and cost-effectively build their team’s skill set. Consider the following top sites for freelance services when seeking talented, on-demand workers to grow your business.
1. LinkedIn
If you have a robust network on LinkedIn, you may be able to find qualified freelancers in your expanded network (first-, second- and third-level connections). You can also look within relevant LinkedIn groups or network on LinkedIn to ask your connections for recommendations.
“As an employer, freelancers who are active on LinkedIn, posting and commenting regularly, are typically better at marketing themselves,” said Benjamin Goodey, founder of Spicy Margarita. “[That’s] a great signal that they’re smart and engaged in their career.”
Additionally, LinkedIn has an entire section dedicated to freelance work called Services Marketplace. You can find it under the For Business tab at the top. In the Services Marketplace, you can view a potential freelancer’s overall rating, entire résumé, degree of separation and recommendations. You can also search in your area if you’re looking for someone local.
Visit LinkedIn online to get started finding freelancers.
2. Upwork
Upwork has thousands of freelancers from all over the world with myriad skills. Unlike LinkedIn Services Marketplace, the site facilitates both freelancer and hiring company posting. So, you can post a job with detailed requirements and let potential freelancers come to you.
“Upwork is great when looking for ongoing projects or tasks where you can get to know the person you are hiring and what they are capable of,” said Tiffany Banks, CEO of Nevada REALTORS. “I recently hired a social media manager [on Upwork] … Once she had a solid grasp on what to do and not do, she has been an excellent option at a fraction of the cost of hiring someone internally.”
If you don’t find the right person for the job that way, browse freelancers’ profiles, check out their portfolios and invite them to bid on your project.
Upwork also includes a payment platform, which adds some cost but provides security for both parties. For more complex projects, you can sign up for the Plus Program; it gives you a dedicated account manager for an additional fee.
Visit Upwork online to start your freelancer search.
3. FlexJobs
If you have a remote company or your freelancer can be remote, you can find highly qualified candidates via FlexJobs. FlexJobs is an employment site for remote and hybrid workers that also showcases job opportunities for freelancing, seasonal and temporary work. FlexJobs lets organizations post jobs and view prospective freelancers’ full résumés.
Many job seekers are looking for full-time or steady part-time work. So, you might be able to find an experienced professional with a very specific skill set who’s willing to freelance until they find a permanent position. You’ll also find plenty of dedicated freelancers with a breadth of experience.
Visit the FlexJobs website to post job opportunities and view résumés.
4. Fiverr
Fiverr started with the idea that you could pay freelancers $5 to complete small projects. While those opportunities are still available, most projects have custom pricing based on the project’s details and scope. Unlike some other platforms, work on Fiverr is project-based, not hourly. So, your cost is fixed once you accept a bid. Any changes in scope must be approved along with the associated additional costs.
“This platform excels at offering highly specific skill sets, from graphic design to video editing and even niche development tasks,” said Xan Hong, lead consultant at Drive Phase Consulting. “I particularly appreciate Fiverr for its ability to provide examples of freelancers’ exact capabilities, making it easy to evaluate their fit for a project before hiring.”
Freelancers on Fiverr tend to work more quickly than on other platforms because they give you a time estimate upfront. Fiverr shows you how many jobs each freelancer has in the queue, so you can judge whether they can do your job by your deadline or are too busy.
In addition to the regular Fiverr (Fiverr Marketplace), there is also Fiverr Business. This is for more complex projects that involve multiple freelancers and people from your internal team. It provides a collaboration platform and a dedicated Fiverr Business Success Manager; the latter helps you find and sift through the best freelancers for your project to enhance workplace teamwork.
Visit Fiverr’s website to find your project-based freelancer.
5. Scripted
Scripted is a great place to find web content writers. In addition to having many freelance writers to choose from, Scripted narrows down writers by subject matter. It also provides a menu of artificial intelligence-driven tools; they can optimize your content strategy, generate the best headlines, research keywords, create optimized content briefs and analyze content performance. Actual human writers write all content.
Scripted screens its writers to ensure they’re actually skilled. The screening process involves reviewing their LinkedIn profiles, personal websites and writing samples, including one given by Scripted in a timed format. The platform claims that only 4 percent of writers who apply successfully make it through its rigorous review process.
Visit the Scripted website to find skilled freelance writers.
6. Indeed
Indeed is a traditional job board where employers post jobs and job seekers post résumés. Employers can post freelance opportunities, along with full-time and part-time jobs. Like FlexJobs, you can find career freelancers and traditional job seekers willing to pick up freelance work as a side hustle.
A significant benefit of using Indeed is its huge user base: more than 63 million people use the platform monthly. To help you narrow your search, include screener questions before reading through résumés. Indeed also allows you to message job candidates and do free live virtual interviews.
Visit Indeed online to evaluate a vast array of freelancers.
7. Specialized sites
Some websites are freelance marketplaces for specific work types. If you’re seeking a particular freelance niche, you’ll find a more focused group of candidates on one of these platforms.
For example, if you’re seeking a virtual assistant with a high level of experience or specialized skills, go to Boldly online.
Are you looking for talent or production people for television or film? Try The Mandy Network website.
Companies that want to outsource customer service to freelancers can filter candidates by industry on the Workana website.
8. Guru
Guru was one of the original freelance sites, so its user base has a vast amount of freelancers and employers. Although Guru has freelancers in various fields, it is best known for marketing professionals, software developers, graphic designers and writers. The platform is similar to Upwork, allowing you to post a job or search the freelancer database for matches. Freelance work on Guru can be project-based, hourly, task-based or recurring.
The platform allows you to review and compare freelancer quotes, hire a freelancer, collaborate during the project and pay.
Visit Guru’s website to learn more.
9. Toptal
When your project demands a freelancer with deep experience and expertise, consider Toptal. Unlike many other freelance platforms where any freelancer can create a profile, Toptal institutes a rigorous screening process that only 3 percent of freelancers can pass.
Toptal subject matter experts screen candidates for communication skills, personality characteristics like passion and drive, technical knowledge, and problem-solving.
Toptal freelancers are limited to specific jobs, including software developers, designers, finance experts, product managers and project managers. You work with a Toptal contact who searches for you and presents the freelancers that best fit your requirements.
Once you make a hiring decision, you’ll work with the freelancer on a trial basis to ensure it’s a good fit.
Visit Toptal’s website to learn more about this platform.
10. Contently
Contently is focused on freelance content creators. It provides a network of vetted content writers, journalists, videographers and designers to offer a one-stop shop for all your content needs. You can also drill down to find freelancers with industry-specific experience. Its in-house editors oversee projects and train freelancers in content best practices.
In addition to human content creators, Contently has technology tools to analyze and predict the content that will connect with your target audience. Its platform also analyzes your content’s performance to ensure it aligns with your audience’s interests. Plus, it’s optimized for SEO, brand guidelines and is plagiarism-free.
Visit the Contently website to find a freelance content creator.
11. OnlineJobs.ph
OnlineJobs.ph is focused on linking employers with freelancers in the Philippines. It includes various freelancing types, including virtual assistants, SEO experts, software developers and specialists in Amazon, Shopify, eBay and Google Ads.
Generally speaking, the freelancers on this platform are longer-term and less project-based, providing ongoing offshore support at an affordable rate. OnlineJobs.ph lets you track your freelancer’s time; you can even get a background data report before hiring.
Visit OnlineJobs.ph online to find your next freelancer.
Source: How to Find Freelancers: Best Freelance Websites
