What to Expect When Working With a Freelancer

By Kate Harold | February 17, 2025

Your choice to work with a freelancer might be because of time constraints, a burgeoning workload, or staffing issues. Regardless of the reason, your goal is to fill a need. And I’m guessing you’d like the process to be as easy as possible for you.

Here’s some good news: It should be!

You’re paying a freelance writer, editor or proofreader to provide a service. It doesn’t need to be difficult or unpleasant. Rather, it should be a collaboration where you each appreciate what the other person brings to the table. When this takes place, the client-freelancer relationship can become a solution that makes your life easier, takes some of the load off of your shoulders, and—best of all—makes you look good.

When you choose to work with a freelancer, you should expect that they will:

Image of a woman on a yoga mat in nature, calm and relaxed

This is how working with a freelancer should make you feel: calm and relaxed. (Photo source: Pixabay)

 

  • Talk with you about clearly defined project parameters before beginning a project
  • Take your direction and guidance and follow through on it
  • Be open to making requested revisions
  • Use their background to bring up ideas, suggestions or questions that will help solve your problem
  • Value the work you and your organization do
  • Turn assignments in on time, and/or give advance notice and explanation if a project is in jeopardy of being late
  • Adhere to your organization’s preferred or in-house style guide

When the freelancer you choose checks all those boxes, you should be in a place where you can breathe a sigh of relief. In fact, maybe that should be the first question you ask them: “Are you going to make me breathe a sigh of relief?”

The resounding answer should be “Yes!”

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Check It Out: Updates from AP

With recent geographical name changes in the U.S., AP has weighed in: It’s Gulf of Mexico and Mount McKinley when you’re following AP style. Learn more here.
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Something You Might Not Know About Me…

I enjoy convenience store hot chocolate. Very much. ☕️

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  • When is the last time you breathed a sigh of relief?
  • What type of hot chocolate is your favorite?
  • Have you ever curled?

 

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