Freelancers, on the other hand, tend to have a very small marketing budget–if they have one at all. Instead, they rely on networking and word of mouth.
But, does a small business or a lone freelancer stand a chance when competing with a larger organization for a client?
I think they do. Bigger isn’t always better. In this post, I ‘ll list five unique benefits that freelancers can offer to their clients.
Benefit #1. Eliminate the Middleman
Miscommunication is a huge problem in many business transactions. Often, miscommunication is caused because the client has to deal with a middleman–a company sales person, a team lead, or even a receptionist–who then conveys the client’s information to the person who actually does the work for the client’s project. In the worst cases (in very large organizations), a client may have to repeat his or her request multiple times to many different people before actually reaching the person who can help.
In contrast, when dealing with a freelancer, the client can often speak directly to the person who does the work. Not only does direct communication reduce the chances of miscommunication, but it also allows the client to answer any questions the freelancer may have directly.
Benefit #2. Consistency
Because large companies often have many different individuals who perform the same type of work, the odds of the client getting the same individual who worked on the client’s last project to work on their next project are slim. He or she may have already been assigned to another project. This inconsistency of workers can lead to inconsistencies of quality and style.
However, when a client deals with a freelancer they can usually expect greater consistency. Unless the freelancer regularly outsources their projects, it’s likely that they themselves will work on all of the client’s projects.
Benefit #3. Agility
Freelancers are often more agile when it comes to getting things done quickly and on short notice. While I’m not a big fan of rush work, the truth is that an agency or larger business is much more likely to have layers of managerial approval that a client must go through before a new project can be started. Getting all those approvals can take time.
In contrast, a freelancer may be able to take on a new project on fairly short notice. A freelancer needs no approval from their management before he or she can start working because they are “the management.”
Benefit #4. Cost Savings
A larger business may have more resources than a freelancer, such as more personnel and a nice office space. But remember that those additional resources add to the organization’s overhead. In the end, additional overhead usually means higher cost to the client.
Many freelancers, on the other hand, work from home. Their overhead is relatively low. Often this means that they can charge less than an agency or other larger business would for doing the same work and still earn a good income. (Note: I’m NOT recommending lowballing here–just making an observation on how overhead costs are usually passed on to the client.)
Benefit #5. Personal Relationships
Working with a freelancer gives a client a true opportunity to develop a one-on-one relationship with the person who will be handling their projects. A strong relationship between freelancer and client is beneficial to both.
From the client’s perspective, developing a personal relationship with a freelancer increases the odds that the freelancer really understands the client’s needs. In fact, the freelancer may actually become sort of an “expert” in providing superior services to the client. Also, because the client is dealing with the same person each time, they will learn to understand what to expect from the freelancer.
From the freelancer’s perspective, having a good client relationship means that the client is much more likely to give them additional business and referrals. Also, dealing with the same client over and over again means that the freelancer will start understand the client’s needs in greater depth, which will actually make the freelancer’s work easier.
Your Turn
It’s easy to become discouraged when competing for work with larger organizations and agencies, but don’t give up. As a freelancer, remember that you can provide some unique benefits to your client that a larger business cannot.
What did I leave out? Can you think of any additional benefits that a freelancer offers over a larger company? Share your feedback in the comments.
Related posts:
- How to Find Your Unique Writing Style
- Dealing With Big Name Clients
- Which Business Structure Maximizes Your Freelance Tax Benefits?
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