How to hire a freelancer safely in Algeria: a guide for businesses

Hiring a freelancer can save a business weeks of work and a lot of money compared with hiring full time. It can also go wrong: a logo that never arrives, a website half finished, an advance paid to someone who stops answering. Most of these problems are avoidable. Here is how to hire well, step by step.

1. Write a clear brief

The quality of what you receive depends on what you ask for. Before contacting anyone, write down in a few lines:

• What you need: "a logo and a business card for a bakery in Oran", not "a design".
• What it is for: who your customers are, where the work will be used, what you like and what you don't.
• Your deadline and your budget. Even a range helps freelancers make a realistic offer.
• Examples. Two or three references you like are worth more than a long description.

2. Choose between a service and a project

On Tamam, you can work in two ways. If what you need is standard (a logo, a month of posts, a video edit), order a service: the price, the delivery time and what is included are already fixed. If it is specific (a custom website, a full campaign), post a project: freelancers send you offers and you compare them.

3. Check the profile, not just the price

• Verified identity. A verified badge means the freelancer's identity was checked by the platform.
• Reviews. On Tamam, reviews can only be left after a completed order, so they reflect real work. Read what clients say, not just the stars.
• Level. Seller levels grow with completed orders. A new seller isn't a bad choice, but you will rely more on the portfolio.
• Portfolio. Look for work similar to yours. A great illustrator isn't necessarily a great web designer.
• Response time. A freelancer who takes three days to answer a question will probably take three days to answer during the work too.

4. Ask a few questions before you pay

Send a short message: how they would approach your project, what they need from you, how many revisions are included, in what format they will deliver. The answers tell you a lot about how they work. Be wary of anyone who promises everything, very fast, without asking anything.

5. Always pay through the platform

This is the most important rule. When you pay on Tamam, the money is held until you approve the delivery. If the work isn't delivered, there is a refund process. If you pay outside, by transfer or in cash, you lose that protection, and the freelancer can't receive a review for the work.

For larger projects, split the work into milestones: you pay for each stage once it is delivered and approved, rather than everything at once.

6. Follow the work and give useful feedback

Answer the freelancer's questions quickly; delays on your side delay delivery. When you ask for changes, be specific: "make the logo bigger and use the dark green from our shop sign" is easier to apply than "I don't like it".

7. Check the delivery before approving

• Open every file and check it works on your side.
• Ask for the source files if they were included (for example the editable logo file).
• Make sure you have the access and accounts in your own name for websites, stores and social pages.
• Use the revisions included in the package if something needs fixing.

8. Leave an honest review

Your review helps other businesses choose, and rewards freelancers who work well. A few precise sentences about the result, the communication and the deadlines are worth more than five stars with no comment.

In short

A clear brief, a well-checked profile, payment through the platform and precise feedback: with these four habits, most hiring problems never happen. And when you find a freelancer you trust, keep working with them: the second project always goes faster than the first.