Author:  Ayandola Ayanleke

The agency vs. fractional team debate is currently a hot topic in the marketing industry.

The switch from agency to fractional team is gaining momentum as brands seek more flexibility, cost efficiency, and direct access to specialized talent. But making this transition can feel overwhelming without the right approach.

Whether you're looking to cut costs, increase agility, or gain more control over your marketing efforts, there are several fractional marketing team benefits. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to seamlessly hire and manage a fractional team— without the hassle.

Step-by-Step Guide On How to Hire a Fractional Team

Here is a step-by-step guide on how brands hire fractional teams.

Step 1: Define Your Needs and Goals

Before searching for a fractional team, you must clearly define your needs. This will prevent any delay to your project and ensure they can hit the ground running. Start by asking yourself key questions, such as:

• What is my problem, or what solution am I looking for?

As we already know, marketing is broad, and so are the goals. You need to clearly identify your problem and where you need help. Is your company struggling to attract or retain customers? Or are you a new company and you need a robust brand awareness strategy? Clearly defining your needs minimizes back-and-forth communication with the fractional team.

• What types of content do I need?

Do you need videos, blog posts, social media graphics or advertising graphics? Of course, your fractional team can offer suggestions based on your marketing goal, but you shouldn’t approach a team completely clueless. You should have some idea of what your company needs based on market research.

In addition to that, you should identify how often you would need content. Again, the team can provide suggestions based on experience, but having a budget-driven content plan in mind is beneficial.

• What is my brand’s identity?

Your brand should already have a brand identity, which includes colours, voice, tone, values and mission. All these will determine how the campaign will go. For instance, if you are big on sustainable solutions, that can be included in the campaign as it is a recent business trend. 

• What’s my budget?

Next, determine your budget to ensure you hire a cost-effective marketing team. The best process for hiring a fractional team will be getting quotes from different teams so you can know who best fits your price and requirements. Naturally, you need to have a budget (give or take) that you can afford or are willing to part with for that project hire.

Step 2: How to find content creators for any brand

Once you have answered the questions above and outlined the details, you can now start building a fractional team. There are different platforms or ways to search for the right fractional creator teams. You can decide to check all the platforms before making your choice or sticking to one so you are not overwhelmed. 

• Freelance platforms and creator marketplaces

There are several platforms such as Fiverr or Upwork who have an array of freelancers across the globe. However, if you want the feel of a team with different specialities, then you can build one with AMAKA Fractional Teams. 

• Social media 

Although it can be time-consuming, social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter are goldmines for finding skilled creatives.

• Networking and referrals  

Referrals are a great way to find talent as you will be getting suggestions that are likely tried and tested. So, ask around in your industry or join creative communities.

When evaluating candidates, don’t just look at their portfolio, have a quick virtual meet and ensure their style, tone, and personality align with your brand. The best teams aren’t just talented; they also need to understand your brand’s essence. Moreover, you should check their case studies or reviews to see if they can offer what they promise or have worked with similar brands. 

Step 3: Set Clear Expectations from Day One

You don’t want to make the mistake of giving vague instructions that confuse the team or cause unnecessary delays. So, make sure you are clear about what success means to you. And provide every detail that is necessary in achieving that success. 

Elements such as content formats, brand tone and style, deadlines, revision expectations, payment terms, and key performance indicators (KPIs) should be established from the outset.

Step 4: Sign a Contract

This is very important even if you are working with freelancers so you can have your agreement in fine print. Although oral agreements are enforceable, they are difficult to prove, making them inadvisable. A contract protects both you and the fractional team in case of miscommunication and, unfortunately, infractions. Again, AMAKA’s Creator Platform can help you create a contract, directly hire and pay content creators all seamlessly on the platform. For more information about AMAKA’s Platform and Fractional Teams, click here.

Step 5: Use the Right Tools for Seamless Collaboration

Since your creators are fractional, they’re likely juggling multiple clients. Besides that, they may need to work with your in-house team. Therefore, make it easy for everyone involved by leveraging tools for seamless collaboration, communication and project management. 

Consider project management tools like Asana or ClickUp, communication tools like Slack and file-sharing tools like Google Drive or Dropbox. Communication will not slip through the cracks when there is a central platform to follow and track threads of messages and project progress. 

Step 6: Pay Fairly and On Time

While fractional teams are cost-effective, it's essential to pay them fairly to retain top talent. However, they need to be paid their worth if you want to keep them around. If you want to go cheaper than the standard rate, you may not be able to keep top-tier talent around. So, pay fairly and on time because a well-paid talent is a motivated worker.

Step 7: Give Feedback the Right Way

Feedback is necessary to get optimal results from a freelance team. But you also need to deliver it the right way. Don’t give vague criticism that simply bashes the work they have done. You will be better off giving them constructive feedback that states what the problem is and what you need improved. 

Even though you're paying them, they are still your partners and collaborators. They will likely be willing to go the extra mile for you when you are clear and respectful. 

Step 8: Track Performance and Adjust

Regularly assess performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and necessary adjustments. The metrics will depend on your goal, but the team should be willing to review performances and make adjustments. 

Feeling inspired to hire a fractional creator team? Click the link here for more information.