What are the benefits and challenges of working with freelancers or agencies for content creation?

Defining expectations of success is key, when onboarding a freelancer or content creator. From the very first meeting, you should be saying to your freelancer "This is what success looks like to me on this project". By being clear on the goals as early as possible, your freelancer knows exactly what you're looking for and can angle their strategy towards that. goal. It also helps everyone stay on the same page throughout the project.

In my experience, having a clear roadmap and communication style is very important. If you're starting out, you can do a SWOT analysis and determine what your audience is most interested in. Gather inspirations - what you want your content to look like and how it should feel.

What are your content creation goals? Who is your target audience? What type of content do you need? Clearly define your expectations for quality, tone, and style before starting the search.

But apart from that, you need to also know ask yourself is the ROI that you spend on freelancers and content creation agencies really worth it? There are many content creators with big numbers but when you get to know about their services, you know they have fake results. So it is better to understand the ROI you might get from a freelancer or an agency beforehand rather than regretting later

Working with freelancers or agencies can offer several benefits. Firstly, it provides access to a wide range of expertise and skills that may not be available in-house. This can lead to high-quality, diverse content that can engage your audience effectively. Secondly, it can be cost-effective, as you only pay for the work done and do not have to invest in full-time salaries or benefits. Lastly, it offers flexibility, allowing you to scale up or down based on your content needs. However, there can also be challenges. One potential issue is the lack of control over the work process, as freelancers or agencies may not be as invested in your brand as in-house staff.

Choose wisely. the wrong freelancer can be disastrous. The same goes for working with the wrong company. You should feel confident that your freelancer has a keen interest in your goals, is a right fit for the project, and (ideally) has experience with the subject matter. However, don't be afraid to try out new freelancers - we all start somewhere and we all make a career out of understanding different clients quickly.

When seeking high-quality work, opt for individual freelancers instead of agencies. Agencies often involve multiple layers before your content reaches the actual writer, potentially compromising the quality. Moreover, many agencies pay their writers minimal amounts and often work with general writers. In contrast, freelancers, especially those who specialize in your niche, tend to be passionate about the subject, which can result in a deeper understanding and more engaging content. Additionally, focus on choosing a freelancer based on their actual work and their eagerness to contribute, rather than solely on their follower count. It's my personal take on the matter, and I hope it brings some assistance! ??

In my opinion, this is one of the most crucial and important factors. Here you need to be practical and safe as well. Because a wrong partner would disrupt what you had planned. If your partner is understanding and cooperative, you can go a long way

I think what matters here is word of mouth. You must trust only those freelancers or agencies who have the best reputation via word of mouth marketing, and trust those freelancers or agencies the least who use paid ads to get clients. This has worked the best for me.

I agree with Lee Glynn that the partnership can make or break the campaign. As a content creator, it's also our responsibility to be authentic and speak out if the partnership doesn't align. There's been a few instances where although the pay was good, we simply didn't align on creative direction and I refused to create content that didn't resonate with me. Standing true to your values is extremely important for strong long lasting relationships. It’s also much easier to work with brands/agencies when you genuinely see eye to eye and they have trust in the creator to deliver the creative brief.

Something I find challenging working with an agency vs. with the freelancer directly: 1. You're building a relationship with the agency rather than the freelancer, which isn't as sustainable for branding. 2. Sometimes, I'd love to get to know the freelancers personally to get feedback on how we're doing as a company. We're learning with them. 3. Agencies vet the freelancers based on their criteria and may miss out on some great talent because of that.

One of the biggest challenges in working with freelancers or agencies is ensuring they fully understand the client's brand DNA. While collaborating, I've observed that no one comprehends the brand's look, feel, and vision as deeply as the client themselves. To mitigate this, it's essential to communicate clearly and consistently. By articulating the brand's visual language, messaging, and overarching vision, we can avoid misunderstandings and frustrations. When freelancers and agencies can intuitively recognize and align with the brand identity, the collaboration becomes much smoother, and the content produced is more cohesive and true to the brand.

I provide a Google doc that the client can see at all times. They can't edit it, but they can see what stage I'm at without asking. However, it's a good idea to check-in. A good freelancer will keep you updated weekly or monthly, but don't be afraid to check in with them too!

As a content creator, customer service is so important to your business. That being said there may be times where agencies/brands take advantage of creators and make the process extremely challenging due to communication and/or frequent changes. Here are me #3 tips: #1: State in your contract client is allowed 2X post-filming edits however re-filming and complex re-editing will come at an extra cost. #2: DO NOT begin filming without the client confirming your creative brief. Once this is approved there is no going back. It’s important to be as descriptive as possible in this brief so the client has a clear vision on what they will be getting back. #3: Don’t be afraid to ask extra-questions on what the client is expecting for content.

I love the last line. What might be a problem here is the time commitment the client wants to give. I've been a ghostwriter in the past, and it is fine if the client does not want to invest a lot of time in content creation and just wants to get everything approved real quick via messages itself. I think it is the responsibility of the agency or the freelancer to provide services as per the circumstances of their clients.

Getting feedback is essential for freelancers. We love to know what makes our clients tick. One of the biggest hurdles for companies is just finding someone who is nice to work with! Results can not always be placed on the head of the freelancer, as a business has many moving parts, but if they deliver on time, to a good standard, you should consider working with them. Sometimes results are a long game!

I agree. The ROI you want to measure should be fixed straight since day 1. It isn't easy to just keep changing the metrics you want to track. I track my newsletter subscription metrics most seriously, and someone else might just want more followers. It depends on client to client. But the most important metric to track must be set from day 1.

I use Notion to document my experience with each client. Let’s just say some of these clients will be getting a “Merry Christmas Email” and some I will never follow up with due to the nature of the experience and that’s ok! I understand that this is business but shifting your perspective that there is a human on the other side you can connect with, will set yourself apart from other creators. I love being able to shift my client relationships to virtual-friends where we can move past the professional language and speak casually. Focus on the relationships that are mutually beneficial and are simply a win-win rather than continuing to work with the one’s that were extremely difficult to work with.

From the perspective of a B2B SaaS content writer. You should evaluate your collaboration and the writer's work quality regularly. If you have an agency that assigns you a pool of regular writers, you might need to check how aligned the content is. It's ok for the content to sound like different writers, but it shouldn't sound like different companies. Check for brand voice alignment.

Track content performance and assess if it's meeting your goals. Evaluate the freelancer or agency's responsiveness, communication style, and overall effectiveness.

Love working with creative agencies! The best part is when we come together as a team for brainstorming sessions. It’s essential for any brand/biz to have cool ideas and having a bunch of creative geniuses to aid with coming up with ideas and seamlessly making them a reality with strategic planning.

I think what I want to add here is that agencies must work on making their offers more and more better, since the competition in the market is increasing really fast on a daily basis. Agencies must be ready to do whatever they can to help their clients get their outcome.

Budget, turnaround times, and contract terms are all important factors to consider when choosing a freelancer or agency. Clearly outline these points in your contract to avoid misunderstandings.

Dear Creators, Agencies and Brands it’s a two way street and there’s always one solution that benefits everyone: communication! It’s always best to hop on a quick phone call or even a zoom to discuss deliverables in detail. As a creator, it’s our responsibility to have an organized process meanwhile brands please share a detailed visual brief for the creators to have a better understanding of your vision.

In the realm of content creation, collaborating with freelancers or agencies can significantly amplify your messaging and outreach. - Establish clear communication channels to ensure alignment on project goals and expectations, minimizing misunderstandings. - Leverage diverse perspectives from freelancers to foster innovative content that resonates with your target audience. Remember, effective partnerships can transform your content strategy into a powerful tool for engagement and growth. As we navigate this landscape, let’s keep in mind: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." ??