Finding the right person for a project is not entirely straightforward. The hiring process is hard when looking for full-time employees and hiring freelancers is no different! In order to attract good talent, you need a meaningful project description with clear requirements and as many details as possible.
- How to write the perfect freelance job description
- Guide & tips to write a good project description
- A real example on how to publish a free job ad
- Project description examples
How do you write the perfect freelance job description?
Since freelancermap focuses on connecting IT talent and companies worldwide, we’ll be focusing on writing IT freelance project descriptions. In this particular field, finding talented developers, cloud experts and other IT specialists can be overwhelming.
There is a high demand for experienced professionals and you’ll need to stand out from other companies in order to attract the right talent.
What are no-gos for freelancers in project descriptions?
Freelancers need job descriptions that speak professionalism. There are many companies that might not be so sure about what they need from a developer to build what they require.
So if this is the situation you find yourself in, we recommend asking someone with technical skills or a mentor who can help you define what technology stack you would need.
Once you know what you need from your developer, bear in mind some signs freelancers consider as a no-go on a job description.
1# Rates
Freelancers prefer projects that state the client’s budget. Freelancer rates that are too low for what is expected, is one of the main reasons for freelancers to ignore a job posting or to decline a project.
#2 On-site work
Many companies still require freelancers to work on-site. If the work location is too far away and the project doesn’t allow remote work, around 55% of freelancers would pass on the offer (Source: 2023 freelancermap Freelance Study).
#3 Not enough information
Freelancers need to understand the client’s needs and want to see as much information up front as possible to see if the working relationship is something they would be interested in. Some details to consider:
- Company industry and background
- Detailed tasks description
- Starting date
- Time zone required
- Allocated rate, etc.
#4 Reasonable project deadline and start date
Sometimes clients fail to consider the complexity of a project and set up unreasonable tight deadlines for freelancers. This is a sure way to scare off talented freelancers!
Find IT experts on freelancermap & connect with them at zero commission fees
> Browse the newest freelancer profiles
How to write a good project description
First off, let us understand what a project description is.
Project descriptions provide all the details of a project in writing and also define the idea and goals behind that particular project.
Ideally, the project description should make clear for the reader what the problem to solve is and consequently, what needs to be done.
So, how do you get the reader to understand exactly what needs to be done?
Here are some tips and information a good project description should include:
#1 Project title
The job title should specify as much as possible about what you’re looking for.
A clear and informative title shows freelancers you know what you need doing and it’s the first touchpoint to build a relationship with the freelancer. This allows you to show that you’re a great company to work with and build some initial trust.
Some project title examples that could work:
Build an Android application for a freelance platform
Seeking Senior Ruby on Rails Developer to build a CRM
Looking for a designer to redesign an online shop (make-up) built in Shopify
Web Designer to build responsive HTML/CSS using Bootstrap (Designs provided)
# 2 Project brief
This is where you can briefly introduce your company and what you have been doing and what you need now on this particular project.
The first lines of the project description will allow freelancers to see if they are a good fit and also if it’s worth it to continue reading the whole job ad.
Define what the goal of the project is and the technology stack required but also what kind of engagement you’re looking for:
- Is it an ongoing project?
- Short-term or long-term?
- Part-time or full-time?
- Are freelancers required to work on a particular time schedule?
An example of a project brief could be:
A UK-Based startup is looking for a full-time UI designer to help us manage ongoing projects for clients. This offer is for a 6 month period subject to renewal at the end of the contract. We are looking for designers familiar with <insert technology stack requirements> who are able to work at their own pace while meeting necessary deadlines.
#3 Detailed project description
Now it’s time to expand on the nitty-gritty and provide more information about the project.
You can detail here if the project has already started or if it’s brand new, what kind of assets (designs, wireframes, etc.) will be provided, what the project scope is and timeline to complete it, etc.
This is also the time to list the required skills. As we said before, if you have a tech-savvy person on the team who can help you with listing the tasks and project requirements, it can greatly add a lot of value to your project.
If you don’t have the technical skills yourself and you can’t find anybody who can help you with this, don’t worry. Freelancers also know that this is sometimes the case and ultimately, that’s the reason why you are looking for a specialist 😉
However, you’ll need to go the extra mile here and clearly define which functionalities you are looking for.
For example, if you are looking for someone to create a website for you, you need to let them know:
- What sections does the website need?
- Are forms required?
- Do you need a back-end connected with the front-end for dealing with CRM?
- Will you be selling products/services (payment gateway required)?
- Any additional requirements
Sometimes it can be useful to link to examples of existing websites, apps or products that you like so that freelancers can better understand your requirements and aesthetic.
It’s also important that you state the languages required to complete the project. If you are looking for English speakers, specify what level you require.
#4 Timeline and budget for the project
When it comes to timelines, freelancers can get pretty annoyed if clients set unreasonable deadlines for the project.
If there is a deadline, write it in the project description but if there is no particular deadline, feel free to ask the freelancer for a realistic schedule.
The same goes for the budget. Freelancers appreciate clients who are open about their budget so that they can understand if it’s worth sending in a proposal or not.
If you’re unaware of how much the budget for the project should be, do some research. For example, you can use freelancermap’s freelancer directory to get an idea of how much freelancers are charging in a particular field and a specific location.
Here is an example of a search for a web developer in Belgium – the freelancermap rate index shows an hourly rate of $68 / hour:
Of course, you can also invite freelancers to send in their own rates.
#5 Call to action (CTA)
Invite suitable candidates to apply for the project and send you their portfolio. You can ask them for examples and references of past related projects they have completed before. Also, ask them about their history as freelancers or how long they’ve been working with the technology stack required for the project.
You can also ask specific questions that must be answered in the first contact. This will allow you to identify freelancers who actually paid attention to the job description.
It can be as simple as including a word in their proposals or actually asking them a couple of questions related to the job.
Examples of closing CTAs in job ads:
If you think you can help XY look better and allow our users to have a better user experience, we look forward to receiving your portfolio.
Please attach any case study or past experience that shows us you’re the perfect fit.
Please email us your most recent samples of previous work with an explanation of the parts you completed.
Publishing a job ad on freelancermap
freelancermap is a free job posting site for your IT requirements. With over 200.000 users worldwide, we help companies connect with talented IT professionals without intermediaries or commission fees.
This means if you are looking for an AI engineer, a developer, an e-commerce manager, or a project engineer, freeelancermap can help!
So what are the steps to post a free job ad at freelancermap?
First of all, go to the form to post a new job ad and follow the 3-step process to get your offer online.
Step 1: Project description
You have space here to apply all the tips we mentioned before. Be as detailed as possible, create an appealing job title, add your budget (if possible), etc.
Now it’s time to enter more general information about the project.
Select the job type you’re considering, the duration of the project that you plan and when should the project start. You can also define here how long should your job ad be online.
On the 3rd step, you just need to select the main categories and your project is ready to get published!
Our system will automatically detect some relevant keywords extracted from your project description.
Once the project is published our system will suggest suitable freelancers. Use our mass inquiry to easily invite them to check out your project!
Ready to publish your own job description?
Really informative article. Project description is one of the key things for any project. Thanks