Is that freelancer who just popped into your inbox worth your time?
This is a question you should always ask yourself before picking up the phone or dragging out your wallet.
That’s because a great freelancer can make you look like a star… but a bad freelancer can tank your image faster than a conference coffee station runs out of cream.
To continue this edition of “Worth It or Walk Away” we’re going to look at the four-step process I use to decide if a freelancer is any good.
Let’s use the example of “Sebastian,” the speaker-one-sheet designer who I told you about yesterday. His promotional email slid into my spam box, and it made me wonder…
“Hmmm… is this guy worth it… or should I walk away?”
Step #1:
Evaluate the Initial Pitch
A freelancer is only worth pursuing if they clearly understand your business and the speaking industry as a whole. In other words, he’s gotta know what actually makes for a decent speaker-one-sheet that would appeal to event organizers.
Of course, maybe the freelancer in your inbox isn’t offering a one-sheet—they might be pitching a speaker reel or a brand redesign.
Do they know what makes a good speaker reel?
Do they have a clear idea of what makes for strong presentation design?
Do they know the difference between a social media post that sizzles and one that sucks?
Look for a freelancer who tailors their pitch specifically to your speaking needs and your brand. This shows they took the time to get to know you before shooting off that message.
It’s clear that Sebastian didn’t do this. Otherwise, he would have seen online that I think speaker-one-sheets are a marketing relic that should be relegated to the history books.
Definitely walk away if…
- The pitch is vague or generic.
- It’s overly salesy, or they are trying to layer on the pressure to get your business.
- Their message uses poor grammar, is hard to understand, or they make outrageous promises they couldn’t possibly keep.
Step #2:
Verify Their Work—Without Relying on Their Portfolio
Sebastian-the-Freelancer actually shared some examples of his work with a portfolio link, but I always try to look beyond just what they’re willing to share. Instead, look for examples of their work that are in use by credible speakers out in the wild.
It just so happens that Sebastian included a portfolio sample from a speaker I know – Alan – who used his services.
So, I wandered over to Alan’s website to see if I could find evidence of the speaker-one-sheet in use. Now, it’s a little tough with one-sheets, but easier to verify if the service is something more public facing – like a website, video reel, or branding elements.
If they don’t send you any samples, they might list names of people they’ve worked with. Look for names you know and then try to independently verify that their work is indeed being used successfully.
Immediately walk away if…
- The portfolio examples aren’t verifiable, aren’t visible, or they aren’t being used by the speaker. If they claim they edited such-and-such speaker reel, but that reel is no longer in use, chances are it wasn’t very good.
- The freelancer relies primarily on testimonials rather than real world examples of their work. Testimonials are easy to get, and people never list poor reviews of their work. Overall, a long list of testimonials gives you a skewed idea of the quality of their work.
