What are the biggest challenges companies face when looking for a freelancer? This question was recently presented to Rainer Kurz, the Strategic Advisor of Freelancing.hk, during a blog interview. Here is his answer:

It can be a challenge choosing a freelancer with the appropriate skills and experience. You have to consider their hourly rate, location, language, and availability. In any case, you should take the time to find an optimal service provider with provable experience, and not only make a hire based on their educational background. A marketplace like Freelancing.hk, which clearly compares each freelancer’s features and experience, can be of great help during your virtual hiring process.

Even if you have found a freelancer who matches the specifications of your job post, there is still the issue of building mutual trust between freelancers and clients. Can the freelancer really accomplish what they promised? Is the client reliable? Should the freelancer deliver something first or receive upfront payment before submission? This is where Freelancing.hk’s escrow payment services help to build trust between both parties (“escrow” is defined as making a payment via a trusted third party). At Freelancing.hk, we try to help both the freelancer and the client by providing a free-of-charge secured transaction method to alleviate and mitigate any concerns.