Free Lancers are more than temps

by Ed Camp

We all find ourselves in a bind for good help from time to time, and it's not just because your staff had a bad case of Mondayitis.  A big client . . . really BIG . . . has a great new project for you, one that requires the full attention of a marketing staff that you really don't have.  Or, you have a very short-term need for some work that is very long-term, meaning it's pretty important that it be done with great care.  In other cases, you have a marketing project that requires more talent than you can really afford to support on a long-term basis.  Keeping a bench full of talented copywriters, graphic designers and event planners is probably not in the budget, and just doesn't make sense.

Enter the free lancer!  He or she would look something like this:

• Penetrating Eyes.  These are the type of eyes that see every potential hazard and help you avoid them, mostly because the free lancer bounced around those pitfalls before.  The eyes have a sense of Yoda-like all knowing and all seeing, in a very comforting way.
• Hair in Place.  That's because the experience free lancer doesn't get ruffled too easily and enjoys using his or her talent to the fullest.  Nothing really throws them because they've seen it all before.
• Sporting a Wide Smile.  Why smile in the face of a challenge?  Because great free lancers love what they do.  They have found an area in which they specialize and know exactly how to excel.
• Running Shoes Laced Up.  Free lancers hit the ground running, and know exactly how to get to the task immediately.  They know what questions to ask and use the answers wisely.
• Heavy Knapsack Over the Shoulder.  The knapsack would be filled with samples of projects that worked, and the free lancer can share those concepts with you.  Re-inventing the wheel can be fun, but is not always needed.
• Sporting an Accurate Watch.  Understanding timelines and key milestones helps the free lancer keep the priorities in the proper order and the projects running smoothly.  Knowing how long it takes to do certain aspects of the project helps manage time much better as well.

When you are faced with a challenging project, picture this person in your mind's eye and remember the free lancer. The best person to handle your challenge may not be a permanent staff member lacking any of these traits. 

By the way, the time to find a great free lance creative resource is not when you need it.  Think about the talent that may be lacking on your current marketing staff and find a resource that can help you when the time arises.  Then, of course, let the mental picture be your guide.