Can freelancers really be team players?
Can freelancers really be team players?
Sometimes you need a freelancer to finish a quick project. But other times, you may need them to work with your team over long periods.
In which case, you gotta ask: can a stranger you picked off the digital street really fit into your in-house family at work?
I can't speak for every freelancer, obviously. But I will speak for myself, a freelance copywriter, and others like me out there.
The truth is, contrary to what many people might think about freelancers being lone wolves, we're far from it and usually have tons of collaborative experience.
Here are the two biggest reasons why:
Freelancers were team members themselves once. Many freelance professionals, like me, were once in-house team players ourselves at agencies, company teams, and even back in the school days with group assignments. We've played the team game, and chose to freelance for other reasons that benefit our lives, but we still know how to work with others, well.
Freelancers work with in-house teams all the time. Often people forget that writing copy doesn't just boil down to the words, but the presentation, too. As a result, Copywriters often work with other creatives like UX or graphic designers and programmers to design and build the website, emails, and/or ads for your digital marketing efforts.
So if you're wondering whether your freelance copywriter can be a team player, the best thing to do is ask about their previous experiences working with teams. Ask them to describe the story of how they solved a problem or completed a task together with others, and try to envision them doing that with your team.
Does the image in your head appeal? Is that what you're looking for? Yes? Well, you have your answer. The freelancer in question does have the collaborative skills to work productively with a team.
Here are the qualities to look for in a collaborative freelancer:
Open-mindedness. Freelancers are highly-trained professionals, but if they follow a "my-way-or-the-highway" philosophy, give them directions to the freeway. The best freelance copywriters listen to the client and team members, always trying to integrate and improve on ideas. However, it's important to remember not to question or nitpick certain things you as a client may not understand entirely, and rather communicate and ask for explanations—everything we say or do is for a reason.
Isn't afraid to be honest. Working alongside in-house teams can sometimes feel like walking into the lion's den. We're the strangers and odd ones out. But the best freelancers won't dilute or be afraid to share their brutally honest opinion, because that's what you're paying us for.
A natural leader. The freelancer may not be the best person to lead the team, but they should have the drive to get things done and see them through from idea generation to completion while staying on budget and meeting deadlines.
Organization skills. Did you know that copywriters juggle multiple projects at once? We work with clients in different industries, on different campaigns simultaneously. Hiring a freelancer with excellent organization skills can help your team fluidly work together to meet deadlines and accomplish goals efficiently.
A willingness to learn. The best copywriters pride themselves in being the second-smartest person in the room on a product or topic, right behind the actual expert (like the founder or engineer). We can only create great, heartfelt copy if we understand the subject inside-out. Because of their open-mindedness, collaborative freelancers are always willing to learn new things about the client's business and share knowledge back with the rest of the team.
Remember that every freelancer has their own unique set of skills they bring to the table; your goal as a client or creative director is to find someone who can solve problems, not add complications.
All-in-all, freelancers can definitely be team players because their skills and success rely on working with other people. Their agency partners, clients, designers, and developers all contribute to whether or not a project's success, and the copywriter is always available to collaborate and work together if needed.
Cheers,
