The freelance and gig economy has exploded over the past few years and while this can be great it can also be challenging. There are many people on the freelance sites who are FOS and not who they say they are.

As businesess owners, we don’t have time OR money to waste so it’s impoerative that you set yourself up to win when it comes to hiring freelancers online. I’ve made many mistakes doing so and this is what I have concluded.

Hiring freelancers online can be an efficient way to get tasks done, especially when you need technical help or creative services. However, platforms like Fiverr come with their own risks.

The allure of quick results and low prices may sometimes blindside you into making hasty decisions or trusting the wrong individuals. My experiences hiring freelancers have taught me some valuable lessons, and I’m sharing them with you to help navigate these tricky waters. From rushing into decisions to avoiding unnecessary upsells, here’s what you should keep in mind to protect your time, money, and your website.

Take Time to Think Before Making Decisions

Whenever you’re in a position to make a significant decision, especially if it could potentially harm you or your business, always take a moment to reflect.

It doesn’t matter how urgent the freelancer makes it seem—your response should be, “Let me give that some thought, I’ll get back to you.” This simple phrase will buy you valuable time to think through the situation thoroughly. More often than not, you’ll arrive at a better conclusion by not rushing the process.

For instance, I recently hired someone from Fiverr who claimed that an emergency required immediate attention on my website. They pressured me into making a snap decision because they supposedly had other clients waiting. I later realized that this was merely a tactic to force a decision. Avoid making decisions based on someone else’s timeline if it’s not going to benefit you directly.

Never Give Full Administrative Access

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to never give freelancers complete administrative access to your website. Handing over the keys to your site is like giving someone your debit card with the PIN and hoping they only take what they said they would take.

Trust must be earned and if you MUST fork over this important information, create a sub account for them and NEVER give them YOUR log in info. At that point, a complete stranger could own your business.

This is not to say all “developers” are bad but I’ve come across more bad ones than good ones, even when they have great ratings. It is imperative that you know.. they could drain your affiliate income, steal traffic, or even inject malware into your system.

Always insist on limited access. If they need admin rights to fix something, arrange a Zoom call where they can walk you through the changes instead. If they say no, they are letting you know all that you need to know. They want access to your entire business but they won’t let you see what they are doing or will do?

I once made the mistake of granting a freelancer full admin access, only to find that my affiliate earnings plummeted after they “fixed” something. When I reverted their changes, my earnings went back to normal, and I realized how risky giving away full control can be.

Be Wary of the Upsell

Some freelancers may try to upsell services that you didn’t ask for, making your simple job unnecessarily complicated. This happened to me when a freelancer, after gaining access to my site, suggested they could set up something that would require 15% of my profits.

Not only was this an annoying upsell, but after allowing them to implement their changes, my earnings significantly dropped. Upselling often benefits them, not you. Always stick to your original plan, and don’t get pulled into unnecessary business partnerships.

Investigate Beyond Reviews

Reviews are helpful but not always reliable. Some people may leave great reviews simply because they didn’t want to deal with the hassle of complaining, while others might be silent out of frustration.

I personally make sure to leave detailed reviews, especially when a freelancer didn’t meet my expectations. Good reviews don’t always guarantee good work, so take the time to investigate why someone may have left a glowing review.

I learned that even if someone has stellar reviews, if they don’t do a good job for me, I’m going to make sure my feedback reflects the reality of the situation. This not only helps the next person but ensures freelancers remain accountable.

Insist on Video Calls

If you’re working with a freelancer, insist on having a video call before they start work. A red flag is when they refuse or give an excuse like a “broken camera.”

If someone is unwilling to be seen, it’s usually a sign that they are hiding something. Trust your instincts in these situations. There have been countless times when freelancers told me their camera was broken, which made me question their credibility.

In one case, I did a video call with someone, and their refusal to turn on the camera made me uncomfortable. From then on, I made it a rule: if they can’t be seen, I’m not hiring them.

Always Negotiate Pricing

Never accept the first price a freelancer offers. Always try to bring the price down and tell them that if they do a good job, you’ll continue to hire them for future work. This approach protects you in case the freelancer turns out to be unreliable, buying you more time to figure out the situation.

I can’t count how many times a freelancer promised they could do a job only to later admit they didn’t know how to do it after I’d already committed to paying them. When this happens, it’s a complete waste of time and money. By negotiating upfront, you set the tone for the project, making sure they respect your time and resources.

Don’t Hesitate to File Complaints

If a freelancer doesn’t do what they promised, don’t hesitate to file a complaint. Fiverr has a customer service system in place for disputes, and you should absolutely use it if needed. Even if you’re frustrated, don’t just give up—get a refund or reach out to Fiverr’s support. Additionally, leave an honest review to ensure other users don’t fall into the same trap.

A freelancer I worked with once tried to upsell me, completely derailing the project. After the job was done, I left an honest review, despite their good ratings from others. By doing so, I helped protect others from going through a similar experience. It’s essential to hold freelancers accountable, especially if they are trying to take advantage of customers.

Conclusion

Hiring freelancers from platforms like Fiverr can be an effective way to get work done, but only if you take the necessary precautions. Don’t be pressured into making hasty decisions, always limit access to your site, and be wary of upsells. Investigate freelancers thoroughly and insist on video calls to establish trust. Most importantly, negotiate pricing and don’t hesitate to file complaints if things go south. By following these guidelines, you’ll minimize risk and increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.