At Graphite, we’re heavily invested in maximizing our clients’ success with the freelancers in our SH community. Here are some best practices we’ve observed that will help you get the most from your freelancer hiring experience.1. Scope the project in writing with as much detail as possible, defining all deliverables, milestones and completion dates. Both parties should sign this and retain a copy for future reference, should a dispute arise.2. Communicate early and often from the first day of the engagement. Early communication and feedback will help your freelancer calibrate, ensuring your project gets off to a good start. Lay out your expectations about the frequency, method, and mode of communication you prefer. If you like to do everything via email or via phone, say so. If Skype or some other IM platform is your thing, make that the forum. Whichever mode you choose, establish a regular time for check-ins.3. Define the freelancer's role with your company. Will the freelancer represent you in the public eye? Who should they communicate with within your organization and externally? What “job title” will they have with you for the duration of the project, and do they need a company email address? While these points may seem secondary, making sure your freelancer and the relevant folks inside and outside your organization have an appropriate understanding of the freelancer’s role will help assure the project’s success, and avoid roadblocks and miscues.4. Agree on your payment structure and payouts. Every freelancer appreciates on-time payment when they have completed work milestones. Further, paying on time upholds your end of the bargain and sets a professional tone for the freelancer to live up to. Agree in advance on a payout schedule, tied to completion of defined targets.5. Use good online collaboration tools. In this burgeoning freelance economy, there are lots of new productivity apps designed to make working with scattered teams a lot easier. Most of these project management apps help you arrange your calendars, set meeting schedules, track assignments, and store documents. Google Drive contains a whole suite of online document types with real-time editing and version archiving. Some, like Basecamp and Microsoft’s Sharepoint, have been around for several years. For a good list of available collaboration tools, go here.6. Have a clear feedback process. Clear and comprehensive feedback is critical in freelancing engagements. Unfocused, lengthy iteration will frustrate your freelancer and lead to high bills. Make sure you’re clear about telling them your expected review process, including who else on your team will review and comment on their work, and be clear about who will be the final arbiter to decide when a project is completed to satisfaction.7. Set clear guidelines about your expectations in terms of work product, deadlines, availability, etc. Request work-in-progress as frequently as needed and make adjustments early in the process, particularly for hourly projects so that your freelancer doesn’t end up going off track.Freelancers can be fantastic resources who bring different skillsets to the table and help you grow your business in a cost-effective manner. These guidelines will help ensure that your freelance project goes smoothly. Finally, it helps to get to know your freelance professional on a personal level. The best working relationships have their foundation in mutual trust and commitment!For any project financing needs, Graphite gives you an extra leg up when it comes to success with freelancers.All the professionals in our community are not only pre-vetted, but also come with professional freelancing experience that ensures they understand their end of the bargain regarding how engagements are conducted. Posting your project is easy with our step-by-step query process, and best of all you can post for free, right here.