ilovecreatives’ Post

Unexpected team changes are rarely fun. But being down a marketing team member with Q4 KPIs around the corner might be one of the most stressful places a CMO can find themselves! Instead of dipping into next year's budget for a new hire, try this: Add contractors and freelancers to your team to help cover the gaps. At Freeman+Leonard, we can connect you with design pros, copywriting wizards, ad specialists, and even fractional CMOs who can step in and right the ship when it feels like everything is going overboard. Your team will have the breathing room to step up and acquire new skills - and they'll feel valued and supported by the extra help you've provided. Many of our clients have built relationships with contractors who are happy to be "on call" for these kinds of emergency (or otherwise) situations when you need a few more hands on deck. Interested in building a bench of your own? Reach out, and let's talk! #futureofwork #contracttalent #fractionalexecutive

When you’re at the start of your career, try and look at your strengths, rather than your deficiencies. No I’m not channelling my inner Steven Bartlett and trying to wow you with my cross-legged wisdom. When I started out as a freelance editor, I knew I still had some stuff to learn but I went to some post houses and told them that. I also set my daily rate accordingly so that I could get booked a lot and get my skills up, to be able to charge a better rate more quickly. When we set up Story, we would be pitching against much bigger agencies. When we spoke to the clients it became apparent that the big agencies we were against needed a few months lead-time to plan for the big video campaigns. The clients sometimes needed quick turnaround, ad hoc jobs doing. So that was our strength. We pitched ourselves as having that dynamism and picked up a steady stream of work. You’ve always got some strengths you’re probably overlooking. #work #findingwork #skills #positioning

Just a quick shout out to all those copywriters like myself. If you've felt a 'drop' over the summer with your bookings, it's probably not just you—i'd seen a serious increase in the demand over this last few months only to feel like i'd hit a wall. Wasted so much time applying for posts that were never going to happen, and it was starting to show. But here's the good news. Demand is up. Ghosting's down. The time-wasting experience is at an all time low. Here's how: I simply unfollowed all those folk posting roles they never respond to (I blame myself for following the popular recruiters). Doing this simple action has opened me up to having more time to talk with my current clients and the people I know and trust within my network. Now i'm booked with the work I want to do, without having to waste time wondering if my name will be plucked from the slush pile. Need a copywriter? Call me. We can always schedule in something in. #copywriter #brands #creativewithagency

Two years ago, I wrote a press release. It was so gorgeously compelling that one of Chanel's PR buffs "couldn't stop thinking about it" during her morning jog… 🙌 Apparently, she said at the time, "they [brand] can NEVER lose that writer". Two years ago, I was fielding new client requests left, right and centre – turning work away because I was always fully booked. I (oh so naively) thought, "I've cracked this freelance thing!". I was earning good money, flexing my skills, working for multiple clients at a time, five days a week. I suffered from chronic styes, thanks to the stress of juggling it all. But I had every freelancer's Golden Egg. I had financial security. This year, after losing one very long-term and reliable client (RIP MATCHES😭💔) and others falling away because of budget cuts, I'm scrabbling around for work like the elusive quid wedged between the sofa cushions, amongst the lint and stale crumbs. My sofa houses none of these things, by the way. I've looked for that quid. I'm reading LinkedIn every day like a group therapy session for mid to senior-level creatives who are in the same sinking boat. And I’m thinking to myself, what's going on? Is it AI? Is it Brexit? The covid fallout? Global politics? A perfect sh*tstorm of all four? There are far too many experienced, talented creatives out there struggling to land a gig right now, and it seems to have been this way since the turn of the year. Have we been put out to pasture like spent dairy cows? Is it time to hit up my local Office Angels and head to the front desk? There’s nothing wrong with reception work, just to be clear. I've managed to remain relatively chirpy these past few months. But with January's self-assessment looming, I'm starting to feel a bit deflated. The thought of continuing to send out endless speculative (unanswered) emails and replies to LinkedIn posts with 100+ applicants is a bit soul-destroying. I don’t mean to be a buzzkill. Look, here's a pic of me being merry 👇. I’m just out here, reading all the plights and feeling all the feels like countless others. And I know we've still got plenty of creativity to give. Good job I wrote all those ‘How to save money on your energy bill’ articles for one of the Big Six a few years back… #hireme #opentowork #jobsearch #freelancer #copywriter

Do you find it hard to answer the question, “Tell me about yourself?” I sure do and there’s no escaping it when exploring new opportunities, clients, and connections. So here’s how I’m tackling this question: I created a video about my career story to speak to who I am in less than 90 seconds! I also developed a website to showcase my work and launched my business, True Blue Copy & Communications, where I lend my career expertise in public relations, events and luxury brand marketing to elevate brands with copywriting services. Check it out: www.deannazemke.com. Please reach out if I can be of help to your business for job or freelance opportunities. And please share any tips on how to best introduce your own brand story! #tellmeaboutyourself #openforwork #freelancecopywriter #publicrelationsjobs #marketingjobs #communicationsjobs #marketingtools

FROM STRATEGY TO SECURING MEGA COVERAGE! WHY DOING IT ALL MATTERS!!! One of the reasons I went freelance was so I could keep doing outreach. As a strategist, staying hands-on with outreach is key to understanding what stories resonate, how journalists work, and how to build an authentic and credible backlink profile while driving brand awareness. It’s been great to see such great results this year as it confirms that the PR skills I learnt over a decade ago still works! Freelancing gives me the flexibility to do it all—strategy, training, and outreach - and that's why I LOVE IT. A snapshot of a few pieces I've secured this year - Happy Clients = Happy Me :) #FreelanceLife #PRStrategy #MediaOutreach #BrandAwareness #ClientWins

The biggest lightbulb moment I've had? Finding my distinct service was the game-changer. Why? Simply because competition is everywhere. But where's YOUR competitive advantage? In finding that delicate balance between your skills, interests, and market demand. That, dear friend, is your GOLDMINE. Look at it this way: ⇨ Are you a graphic designer who loves everything superhero? ⇨ Are you a copywriter with an uncanny knack for crafting compelling tech pitches? ⇨ Are you an HR consultant with a passion for thriving start-ups? Your distinct niche = your unique advantage. The truth is: The "super successful" freelancers found their ‘sweet spot’ and doubled down on it. Intrigued? Good. You’ve got my attention. Now, let's get to work. Define YOUR niche. Show up. Shine. Repeat. 💥

This!!! Unfortunately I just went through this myself. After 4 extensive interviews and spending 12+ hours of my time doing a full campaign assignment (unpaid of course), then another hour presenting it to the team, and making it to the final rounds- I really thought I had it in the bag. To say I was devastated when they told me they went with someone else would be an understatement. Regardless of whether it’s an in-house role or at an agency, it’s truly unacceptable the way companies are treating candidates. You have to bend over backwards trying to prove that you’re the right person for the job but they do nothing in return to show why you should want to work for their company. Most recently I was just ghosted by another company I was extremely excited about, after going through 4 thorough interviews and being told I really stood out during the process. Leaving people in the dark is not okay and these companies need to be held accountable and should be pressured to do better. I know I’m beyond fed up with the unprofessional, inconsiderate, and just plain rude behavior I’ve experienced over the last few months on the job market. If you take months stringing candidates along, putting them through rigorous interview processes, only to wind up back where you started- you should really look inward and reconsider how you go about your hiring process and how you treat others.

Your director's roster is not real. And maybe that's okay. But I'll choose a different path... Last year, we took our roster off the Current Resident website. What, why?! Because we are in a smaller market and, in my hot-take opinion, if they haven't signed the papers, they aren't on the roster. All of our directors were signed until they weren't. I believe directors should be working as much as possible. And if that means they are on a roster, working all the time, great. Sign 'em, put 'em on the site, do what you gotta do to keep them working and evolving as creatives. But... If directors are sitting on a site not seeing the boards or jobs you dreamed of, I think we are doing them, the industry, and frankly, the production company a disservice. Since day one, we have been a director-driven company. And I believe we still are. Which is why we took the roster down and replaced it with The Off-Roster. The Off-Roster is a chance for us to highlight freelance director talent in the advertising and entertainment industry. It's a newsletter, and it goes out about once a month to cool people around the WORLD 🌐 I want to continue growing and fostering amazing talent just like everybody else, and I could be sticking my foot in my mouth with all this, but until we can get these directors consistent, jaw-dropping, holy-shit work, I choose a different path. Subscribe to The Off-Roster in the comments. No spam, just 🔥 POV once a month. #commercialdirector #productioncompany #advertising #freelance #newsletter

💼 Are you hesitating between an agency, an in-house team, or a freelancer for your public relations? 🤔 Here's why a freelancer might be the ideal solution for you. (Of course, everyone is different, and these answers reflect my approach and working style) ⬇️ : ✔️ Agility and Responsiveness ⚡ : No complex processes – I'm available quickly to meet your needs, whether they are urgent or occasional. ✔️ Optimized Costs 💸: You benefit from my expertise without the fixed costs of an agency or the costs of an in-house hire. ✔️ Direct and Personalized Relationship 🤝: You work directly with me, without any intermediary, and I will be your sole point of contact. ✔️ Flexible Contracts 🔄: I adapt my services to your projects, whether they are short-term or ongoing. Agencies and in-house teams have their value, but sometimes the proximity and flexibility of a freelancer can make all the difference. ✨ -- 💬 If you're looking to give a fresh boost to your PR & communications strategy, let's talk. I’m Diane Loth, and for over ten years, I’ve been helping companies and leaders navigate the complexities of modern communication to build their media visibility. #Communications #MediaRelations #PublicRelations #Freelancer #PR #MediaStrategy