Freelancers can deliver on more than just brief…

People who work as freelancers make up 40% of the design and media workforce, according to the 2016 Labour Force Survey by the Office of National Statistics.

That’s a lot of people.

In fact, I’m sure if you’re reading this right now and work in an advertising, marketing, media or design agency and look around you can see at least one, if not two freelancers in your sight. Spot them? Give them a wave!

As a copywriter, I’ve been freelancing for 3 years now at agencies in London, Paris & Amsterdam. I have seen this well documented increase in freelancing, especially in London – more people are going freelance as well as more agencies seeking a more fluid work force. It works in everyone’s favour – it allows agencies to size up and down, as well as giving freelancers the chance to experience working on many different briefs, meet new people and tackle new creative challenges.

As a creative I come in, sometimes for a few weeks, sometimes for a few months and get to work on great briefs, as well as observe how different agencies and people work and interact. I can now suss out quickly the culture and style of an agency. In fact, I’ve worked at nearly 25 agencies, been briefed by over 40 different people, been welcomed by many talent managers, been giving the walk around (or, lack of) and have had tea breaks or beers with many perm staff members. It’s interesting how open perm staff can be with someone who isn’t employed there by the way…

So I ask you this - why don’t you ever ask freelancers what they thought of their experience at your agency?

Surely we’re the perfect fly-on-the-wall to what your perm staff are really thinking and experiencing? And, a hell of a lot cheaper than a business consultant. I’ve seen many, many creative briefings and from this can tell the ways that seem to work well for freelancers and ways that don’t, how the onboarding experience can help me instantly feel settled and ready to kick-ass on a job, or feel removed from the agency and want to just do the job and leave. These things are key to a freelancer, or a new member of staff for that matter.

Surely if you have a brilliant culture and planners who brief like rock stars, you’ll attract rock star freelancers and staff in return… and therefore create amazing output.

Happy freelancer/perm staff = Brilliant output = Happy Client. It’s simple.

So next time you’re grabbing a Friday beer with your freelance designer, give them a nudge and ask ‘So how’ve you found it here? Anything we could improve on?’. Trust me, this information is golden.

By Casey Bird, freelance senior copywriter & founder of The Freelance Circle. Follow her @caseyjbird