Working with Other Freelancers

I’ve kind of been having a little love-fest here lately when talking about how we have been able to start working with a freelance marketer here in our own town. Work is progressing on that front, and we’ll hopefully soon be able to share our new logo and the facelift our website has received. We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to support another work-at-home parent, and so far we’ve developed a good relationship.

So, when a client of ours recently asked about marketing services, I immediately thought of referring our marketer to her. I mentioned this in a recent phone conversation, and Billie and I got to talking about the possibilities that teaming up might offer. We can see how doing something like this can add value to both of our businesses.

Working with other freelancers can be a great way to build on the business you’ve already started, and it can actually make things easier for you, too. Some of the advantages:

Someone else bringing in the gigs. Most freelancers would rather spend their time engaged in the creative aspect of their business than chasing down new clients. When you’re teamed up with someone else, you’re both bringing in clients. This takes some of the pressure off and leaves more time for doing the actual work.

Frying bigger fish. Two freelance businesses can obviously offer more services than one, which means that the partnership can attract bigger projects than one could alone. A freelance web designer, for example, could benefit from working with a freelance writer, as the two could create a complete website without the client needing to seek each out individually. Add a freelance photographer to the mix, and you could create one heck of a custom website.

Finding new interests. Not everyone has the same interests, and the person you’ve teamed up with is likely to accept gigs you would have never considered. This gives you the opportunity to try new things and can open new areas of revenue.

Networking. Many freelancers work from home and don’t necessarily have a lot of interaction with others throughout the day. Teaming up is a great way to add some adult interaction to your day. There’s another bonus, too. If someone asks them if they know of a good writer/designer/photographer/etc., and you already have a good relationship, your name is likely to come up.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind before you jump on someone else’s bandwagon:

• Make sure you actually like the other person’s work.
• Start with smaller projects while you get a feel for the other freelancer’s commitment and work ethic.
• Make sure that you are someone who can be relied upon. The other person’s reputation is on the line, too.
• Plan the project out well, as you’ll be dealing with more than one person’s schedule. Communication is key.