We created a 5 part series for business owners, directors and marketers of companies big or small to help make an informed decision about which type of creative partner would be the best fit. Will it be a…
Freelancer? Design firm? Agency? Spec-work? Contests? Crowd-sourcing? Design mills? Oh my!
Please keep mind that these are generalizations. Like most things, there are exceptions. Brand Builder Studios, for instance, is a design studio with a focus on creating high quality solutions for small, medium and large companies.
Description:
A freelancer typically works by contract, retainer, or on a project to project basis. They are very versatile much like a jack of all trades. The freelancers’ pricing is usually pretty reasonable as well.
They are best at juggling a multitude of small continuous projects with a larger one here or there. They are terrific for micro startups and small emerging companies because of the flexible working arrangements they offer. If you find a great one, they can really deliver incredible value.
The Freelancer Benefits:
Freelancers, are typically very responsive and dependable offering terrific value. You’ll likely see strong designs that deliver to your expectation based on your budget. Also, often times you’ll be dealing directly with them so the potential for broken telephone is almost nil.
It can be a confident inspiring experience to know you have a guardian angel to call upon for any design needs that won’t break the piggy bank.
The Freelancer Drawbacks:
Good, in-demand freelancers can be spread pretty thin at times making scheduling a bit of a problem. This lack of little flexibility could be a point of frustration for some. Another challenge is to find a freelancer that has a particular specialty. Many of them tend to be jacks of all trades, but be masters of none. Also, the consistency of the quality of designs can waver at times when they are having to shift between many different projects. Finally, on rare occasions, projects can get cancelled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, leaving you hanging.
