A freelance or freelancer is someone who works outside full time employment for different clients. This article covers the main benefits of hiring a freelance web designer and touches upon other points that you may wish to consider during your selection process.
But First a Warning (or Why Marketing Comes First)
Rather than being the last thing that you consider marketing should be the first consideration when designing a site. Designing a site with no thought to marketing will lead to a site that is without focus; and a site without focus is unlikely to work in the way that you wish.
Furthermore Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) (if it’s important to you) is a process that needs to be considered before, during and after a site is being designed. Beware of anyone who suggests that online marketing is free and begins and ends with on page or onsite elements alone. SEO takes time and is an ongoing process and as such is certainly not free.
A Freelancer is Cheaper than Hiring Full Time Staff
Hiring a full time member of staff is expensive and inflexible, especially in terms of web design as once a site is finished it’s unlikely that a full time position can be sustained on just site updates alone. A freelancer on the other hand can scale down their involvement with your site, or there involvement could cease entirely in favour of someone with a different skill set depending on your needs and the needs of your business.
A Freelancer is Cheaper than a Web Design Company
A web design company by its very nature has high overheads and requires support staff to help it run, so it is quite normal that a freelancer will cost a lot less than hiring a company or agency to complete the work on your website.
A Freelance Web Designer Offers Better Budgeting & Cost Control
A traditional Web Design company will be more interested in larger projects as their services are by nature less scalable, it simply isn’t worth their while to take on smaller projects. In contrast a freelance web designer values projects of all sizes and can offer bespoke services to suit the ideas and needs of the individual client. A good Freelance Web Designer will help you to manage the costs of the project, suggesting ways to cut costs if appropriate.
Freelancers can Offer Alternatives to Bespoke Content Management Solutions
Content Management Solutions (CMS) allow a client to easily add to their web site after it has been developed, the normal way to offer CMS is via a bespoke solution. As freelancers are more flexible they can offer alternative solutions to managing web based content, such as cheap third party solutions (depending on the technical ability of the client) and low cost ongoing site management.
Freelance Web Designers have to be Good
Freelance Web Designers have to be good and must work to keep your business, after all you pay their bills and put food on the table.
Freelance Web Designers have to offer Good Service
Freelancers are directly dependent on the work that you provide, so a freelance web designer is more likely too; care about each project, treat you with respect, return your calls, notify you promptly if problems arise, keep in contact and deliver the project on time.
Freelance Web Designers have a Fresh Perspective
A Freelancer will approach your company afresh without preconceived ideas and with plenty of enthusiasm. A good freelancer will try to add value beyond the site design and will strive to leave a good impression, as their reputation is in the balance.
Freelance Web Designers are more Flexible
Freelance web designers are by nature more able to offer a flexible service to suit the needs of their clients, they are usually able to choose their work schedule and have the ability to work out of normal office hours if required.