Over the years, business owners have come to appreciate the benefits of animations in advancing their business interests. They now see animation as a powerful tool for promoting their brand and keeping customers engaged. Whether you are creating a series of social media ads, an instructional video, or an entire series, you need a skilled and talented animator to bring your vision to life.
However, finding the right animator can be a difficult task. With so many animators out there, how do you know which one to hire? Guru is the one-stop-shopping platform for finding and hiring freelance animators.
Before you get started, it is helpful to learn more about the hiring process for animators and how to define job requirements and make an enticing offer to a professional animator.
Process for Finding the Right Animator
By following these steps, you can find the perfect animator to help grow your business and bring your ideas to life:
Identify the Animation Style
There are different animation types and who you hire should be based on skills specifically related to the animation style you need. Determine what animation style would be best for your business. Do you want a simple and inexpensive 2D animation, or do you need something more realistic to stand out from the competition?
Create a Budget
After deciding on the type of animation you want, look at the cost to hire animators. Generally, 3D animations are more expensive than 2D, and extra features will increase the cost too. So, you need to decide what type of animation you want, and then figure out how much money you are willing to pay.
Create a Detailed Brief
Animators are creative people, but sometimes they can get carried away and create animations that align more with their interests than with what you want. To avoid this from happening, you must give them a clear idea of what you want to accomplish with your animation in what is called a “brief.”
Some information that could be included in the brief is:
- Company logo
- Colors you want to use
- Words and language for the video
- The mood of the animation (e.g., fun, educational, serious, etc.)
- Length of animation (it is important to keep it under two minutes so viewers don’t lose interest)
- Deadline for submission
Search Freelance Recruiting Platforms
Now that you have a brief, it is time to search for animators. If you are looking for where to find animators, check out sites (like Guru) where you can get the best animator for your project.
Review the animator’s experience and skills. They should have examples of their work to share with you. Also, check reviews from their previous clients—this can give you a good idea of their quality of work and reliability.
Conduct an Interview
Once you narrow down your list of potential animators, it is time to interview them. Having an in-person or video conversation with potential freelancers will give you more insight than just emailing back and forth.
During the interview, ask about their experience, how long it will take, how much it will cost, and what they will need from you. Most importantly, pay attention to whether they are the right fit for your project.
Submit the Animation Brief
Give your chosen animator the brief you previously created. Make sure the animator understands exactly what you want to achieve, what is expected of them, and when they need to deliver.
Work With the Freelancer to Complete the Task
Remember, you are hiring an animator for their expertise. Try not to micromanage during the creative process. You can still collaborate with them on the project, but let them do what they do best.
Go through the animator’s concepts and drafts so you can give feedback and make sure everything is on track. If you notice anything that needs tweaking, you can redirect the project as needed along the way.
Make Sure You Are Satisfied With the Job
If you are happy with the work your animator did and would consider working with them again in the future, you can use the same framework and book them beforehand. This helps streamline the hiring process.
What happens if you need to make changes in the future? Make sure you communicate needed updates or changes to your animator as they arise.
Closing Thoughts
Hiring the right animator can be a game-changer for your business. A skilled animator can help you create engaging content that resonates with your audience and helps you stand out in a crowded market.
With Guru, you can find and hire the perfect animator, regardless if it is a large or small project. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can define your job requirements, review portfolios, and conduct thorough interviews to find the best professional for your animation project!
