Keeping Clients: Ongoing Clients & Agency Work

By definition, the word “freelancer” implies that you are self-employed take on several projects from multiple parties. Many freelancers find this sort of a glamorous life, but in a sense I have to argue against it. In fact, there’s not too much that is desirable about scraping for food. And until your business is built up—that takes years, not months—there’s got to be a better way.

On-Going Clients

Luckily there is. It’s called ongoing clients. By this, I mean that you get several projects from one client. Clients like this are usually marketing or advertising agencies and farm out work to contractors, but they can include creative agencies that help you get jobs directly from companies. Ongoing work can also be in the form of a part-time job, work you complete on a regular basis.

Are you still a freelancer if you work regularly for a client or work part-time, but not on a full-time basis? That’s up to you, but as someone who has several clients that provide continuous work, I can tell you that using this model makes things much more financially comfortable. And because money does matter (especially if you need to make a living off what you do) it’s only practical to consider this type of work. Add it to your roster of one-time clients and you’ve got yourself a budding business.

I’m always alarmed when I hear people that don’t think this makes you a “freelancer.” Actually, I find many people are caught up in the title—and are so picky about not taking anything that resembles their old 9-to-5 gig—that they forget about earning a viable living and making a name for themselves. No matter how you get there, being practical is imperative, especially if you’re just starting out.

Here’s the kicker: there’s nothing wrong with taking this approach. In fact, this is a great way to build up your business and keep food on the table so your freelance lifestyle has a chance at actually being glamorous.

Building Relationships

Another reason why I have ongoing clients? It helps you build relationships. You may get referrals from a one-time gig, but you don’t get to really cultivate working partnerships the way you do when you work with someone regularly. Without this, you don’t prove that you can retain clients. Plus, once you work with an agency, you’re likely to get work from larger, more well-known clients, which can do wonders for your portfolio. Sometimes just being able to be affiliated with these businesses makes you look better. Also, you know what to expect from a continuing client—you learn to work well together and in many cases, that familiarity is kind of nice.

Here’s a good example: I work for one publishing industry client on a fill-in basis when their other editors are out of the office. It requires some early-morning shifts every few months, which you likely hear me grumbling about on Twitter. Lots of people may not consider this part of my freelance work, but let me tell you: it’s nice to have money you can count on. Even if I’m swamped and these “shifts” come up, I take them because I’m not in the habit of turning down good work. I’ve networked with the team and that’s also helped me to build alliances and socialize more.

A few people I know say that they would never take a “job” and prefer to “only freelance,” but I say that even something like a regular job is part of my freelancing. Not every gig is perfect, even the one-timers. Not all projects let you work on your own terms, or your own time. By turning down those that don’t fit your mold, you can be hampering your business and earning bad reputation.

For me, my occasional morning job is just another project I have—this client sometimes makes me set an alarm clock but I can deal with that because they are giving me money and letting me work at home doing something I like. Win-win.

Consider Agency Work

Agencies can encompass employment agencies, which assign you to companies that need jobs filled (The Creative Group is a good example). Or you can work for marketing/design/ad agencies that make you more of a part of their contractor team. I’ve worked with both and tend to work for smaller marketing and advertising agencies. These are a great source of projects, and can offer part-time jobs, too.

Call them what you will—so long as you’re living the lifestyle you want, does it really matter if you’re not out nagging and pushing for every client? Nope. Where’s the glamour in that? For me, the draw to doing what I want is being able to work mostly from home. Your values may be different.

So, by all means, continue to market your services—after all, you didn’t start freelancing to work solely for one client. Take on those fun projects you love, even if you never hear from those clients after they pay up. But don’t rule out the kinds of jobs that still afford you the freelance lifestyle—and help you afford it, too.