When working on a project here is the key advice for both parties to follow to guarantee success:
1. Rules of Engagement
Make sure to read the Rules of Engagement so that you understand the respective minimum expectations for both Buyer and Freelancer.
2. Set clear expectations upfront
Things to make sure are explicitly agreed upfront in the WorkStream include:
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Scope: what is and isn't included. What are the expected deliverables at the end?
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Requirements: detailed requirements. If the project is for a creative service then make sure to give (or ask for) examples of styles so that the Freelancer good chance of meeting the brief.
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Dependencies: what does the Freelancer need from the Buyer along the way in order to complete the project successfully
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Timescales: does the Buyer have any firm deadlines/ timescales in mind. Note: for Offers the service is agreed to be delivered within the time specified in the Offer description once the requirements have been received.
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Any different ways of working specifics e.g. holidays/ periods where either party will be unavailable, agreeing on any milestones for reviewing progress/ getting a status report etc
3. Avoid "He said / she said"
Keeping track of everything that has been discussed and agreed on a project can be a challenge which is why we have the WorkStream on PPH. Here we strongly encourage you to track everything so that you both have the same record of events and can refer back to it.
In the rare cases that a project really goes astray, the information held in the WorkStream is key for PPH to assist you in resolving a Dispute.
4. Regular checkpoints
In addition to the basics covered in the Rules of Engagement around communication, we recommend regular checkpoints to review actual deliverable progress if the job is to run for more than a few days. This avoids either party having any surprises towards the end of the project and realizing that something wasn't understood. For example, if the project is a website build, then arrange for regular demos of functionality built to date.
5. Feedback & iterations
For most projects, it is very common that the work first delivered may have a few things that the Buyer would like amended. In design serv, in particular, it is very rare for even the very best designers to meet the brief spot on the first time. In keeping with the Rules of Engagement, the minimum is that Freelancers should provide, and be given the chance to provide, at least two iterations on the deliverables if at first, they don't hit the mark.
To help the Freelancer succeed, the more detailed the feedback from the Buyer the better.
6. Scope increases
It can be very typical for a larger project to incur some extra unforeseen scope increases if the Buyer's requirements have changed along the way. Scope increases should be explicitly defined in the WorkStream alongside agreeing on the associated increase in cost (if applicable). To avoid any disputes down the line, work on additional scope shouldn't start until the Buyer has explicitly agreed (in the WorkStream) to any extra cost.
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