How to Find an Ad Targeting Pro on Freelance

1. Professional Communities on Social Media. You can look up professional communities on LinkedIn, Facebook, Telegram, etc. In these groups, customers post job openings or ask for personal referrals to proven ad targeting professionals. Typically, these groups consist of freelancers who take their work seriously, which increases the chances of finding a suitable candidate. However, it may time-consuming as well, as you research and reach out to these communities.
For example, on Facebook, groups such as Marketing and Sales in Social Media, Reputation Management and Secrets of Targeted Advertising can be useful. On Telegram, you can join channels like PPC.WORLD, myTarget PRO, and Target Practice.

2. Freelance Marketplaces. Any freelance marketplace is an access point to the global pool of talent where you can post jobs and browse resumes. Some platforms offer convenient functionalities. For example, the freelance marketplace EasyBusy not only allows you to find a specialist with the necessary skills and review their portfolio but also to communicate with them, transfer payments for orders to any country, and create closing documents.

3. Job Websites. You can find a targeted advertising specialist on platforms like HeadHunter, Indeed, JobisJob, etc. The principle is the same across any people-hunting websites: post a job and wait for applications or browse resumes. However, these platforms have a relatively modest database of freelancers compared to other channels. On top of that, there is no guarantee that you will find a good targetologist.

4. Themed Events. These events typically feature professionals, allowing you to make valuable connections, get recommendations, or find a suitable performer right away. You can find upcoming events on marketing websites or social media. The only downside is that you might find a professional who doesn't quite fit your project.

5. Recommendation & Referral. You can ask partners or acquaintances to recommend a good target specialist they have worked with. However, even in this case, there is no guarantee that you will work well together. You may find it uncomfortable to work with them, or their experience may not be sufficient to address your needs.

First, familiarize yourself with the general information about the freelancer, including their education, experience, and skills. Past experience of working with international clients is an advantage. Pay attention to the tools they use and how well they understand the topic.
Next, assess how well each candidate meets your requirements. If your request is related to setting up targeting on Linkedin, but the candidate's resume and portfolio are filled with cases from Instagram, the results may be unsatisfactory. It’s better to focus on candidates with relevant expertise in your field of interest.
Finally, evaluate the portfolio and reviews. The more detailed each project is, the better. Objectives, tasks, figures, work process, advertising budget, results, conversion rates, etc. speak volumes as compared to abstract verbal descriptions. If there are no reviews, very few, mostly negative, or they seem to be a paid promotion, this is a red flag. You can ask the candidate about the number or quality of their reviews and draw conclusions based on their response.
After selecting suitable candidates, you can move on to the interview stage. During the conversation, try to evaluate your candidate based on these features:
- Problems they faced in their work and how they solved them;
- Analytical thinking skills;
- Crisis management skills;
- Operational structure;
- How clearly they express themselves.
If they hide behind smart lingo, promise high results within an unreasonable short period without backing it up, the results are unlikely to meet your expectations.
At the end of the conversation, assess how pleasant it was to communicate with the person. If it was uncomfortable, the collaboration is unlikely to be productive.