Hiring Extra Help For Your Web Agency?

No matter how good of a business you are running...

You might come to a point where you have to delegate.

OR

You have to hire specialists in your team.

This was the case for a Web Agency we worked with recently.

The Agency specializes in creating websites and digital experiences for its clients.

But they needed to hire a skilled UI/UX designer to add MORE value to their team.

But this onboarding and collaboration had to be done right.

Mainly because there are a couple of challenges in place:

(1) The agency needed to clearly outline the UI/UX designer’s tasks, deliverables, and expectations to avoid misunderstandings.

It was important to clearly specify the designer's involvement in projects and their responsibilities within the team.

(2) Protecting the agency’s intellectual property was important, including the designs and work created by the UI/UX designer.

The contract needed to clarify ownership of the work produced during the engagement.

(3) We had to create a clear payment structure, including rates, payment schedules, and milestones.

This was necessary to ensure timely and fair compensation.

The agency also wanted to avoid disputes over payments and make sure the designer was properly rewarded for their work.

(4) Protecting sensitive information about the agency’s projects and clients was critical.

The contract needed to include confidentiality clauses to protect any proprietary information.

(5) We had to outline the terms under which the contract could be terminated by either party.

Including a dispute resolution mechanism that would help manage any conflicts that might arise during the engagement.

We knew what was needed to be focused on.

We knew what had to be done.

The only thing left was to work on the contract.

So here are the points we focused on.

(1) Clear Roles and Responsibilities:

We first drafted a detailed job description within the contract, specifying the UI/UX designer’s tasks, project involvement, and deliverables.

We also outlined the reporting structure and the designer’s interaction with other team members.

(2) Intellectual Property Rights:

We included clauses that clearly stated that all work produced by the UI/UX designer during their tenure would be the property of the agency.

And also added provisions to prevent the designer from using the designs for other purposes without the agency’s consent.

(3) Payment Terms and Milestones:

We defined the designer’s compensation, including hourly rates or project-based fees.

And added a payment schedule tied to project milestones.

This was to make sure the designer was compensated promptly upon completion of deliverables.

(4) Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure:

We drafted confidentiality clauses requiring the UI/UX designer to keep all proprietary information and project details confidential.

We included provisions for the return or destruction of confidential information upon contract termination.

(5) Termination and Dispute Resolution:

We outlined the conditions under which the contract could be terminated by either party, including notice periods.

We also included a dispute resolution clause that specified mediation or arbitration as the preferred methods for resolving conflicts.

That's all that was required in the end.

Now doing this, the agency owner had a couple of things going for him:

(1) The roles and responsibilities were well-defined, protecting both the agency’s intellectual property and the designer’s interests.

(2) There were clear payment terms for the designer to work properly within the agency.

(3) With termination clauses, any disputes that might arise could be sorted quickly.

All this just helped them focus on what was required to be focused on - the work.

Remember - you might also be in a position in the future where you will be required to hire extra help.

Now, how you do that becomes important.

Because a part of client work, or your agency's reputation will rest on someone else's shoulder.

Now if you need my help with the Contract, I got you.

Reply to this email with "HIRING" and I will send you details on how we can work together.

Talk to you soon!

-- Akhil Mishra