Seconds away…

I must state early on that I have enjoyed, and still do enjoy working with a number of agencies that utilise my talent to work on specific projects and brands because they do not have the skills internally or their own resources are overstretched. I am more than happy to work with agencies as myself or seamless as part of their internal team. There will always be clients that will not want to step outside of their agency comfort zone to experience something different. These are often the clients that need consultancy help the most.

The bigger the agency – the bigger the overhead. Telesales, Salesman, Account Manager, Brand Strategist, Marketer, Studio Manager, Creative Director, Designer, Artworker, Photographer, Copywriter and Proofreader – the list goes on. Is it any wonder you can’t get a straight answer to a simple question – how’s my project coming along?

On the one hand this false sense of security may be presented as a benefit with all these people looking after your brand, but in reality the communication often breaks down through a series of Chinese whispers and the brief you deliver is a far cry from the brief the actual designer works on.

When you work with me, you get me (not a middle man). To share and bounce great ideas.

To pick each others brains, to share ideas, to share dreams and to share the rewards. From start to finish and throughout the project you get to work much more closely with me, instead of relaying everything through a salesman or account manager. Because I have lower overheads (sales staff, middle men, oversized premises) I can pass the saving directly to my clients, so we both benefit. If I am working on a project that requires specific knowledge or talent outside of my remit I always collaborate with close friends and colleagues with that desired skill. I never pretend to be something I am not. I know my skill set and I am happy to collaborate with others when additional skills are required. Transparency with my clients is very important to the way I work.

An agency can often look attractive to a client thinking that there is a time saving with distribution of tasks across a project to work on several things simultaneously. Whilst this may look good initially, in reality, the fact is that at some point the client or the agency has to decide which elements are deemed to be less important. This is where the mistakes happen. In any campaign, every stage is important – no matter how small it may be. The devil is always in the detail.

As a freelance consultant I can get the shot with a clear idea in mind or make instant changes to copy on page to suit the layout or improve the message. And when it comes to ideas, I can sit in on your marketing meetings, brainstorming sessions or customer focus groups and deliver ideas direct for instant debate and feedback. I rarely turn up for a meeting with out my trusted pencil and paper and as for my strategic ideas and creative, well, my clients tell me they’re knockout too!

An agency will rob you blind – I’ll work with you and your budget

If it all comes down to price and value for money – a freelance consultant wins hands down. Why pay for expensive offices, middle management, account directors, sales staff and the rest of the board? I guess the choice is yours. But before you make it, get in touch with me and let’s talk about your ideas and objectives. Only then will you be able to get a feel for the way I work and how it will directly benefit you. Plus I get to meet you too. If we are going to be working together it is just as important to me to work with like-minded people. It will make for a much better outcome and create a profitable working relationship for both or us. All I can promise is that I will shed blood, sweat and tears to make sure you and your brand come out on top.