High demand for freelance marketing managers

Forbes recently reported that "freelancers are likely to find themselves in more demand in the future, with 47% of hiring managers more likely to hire independent professionals since the COVID-19 crisis than they were in the future, according to new research by the giant freelance platform Upwork."

People Per Hour, the UKs leading freelance platform informed Employer News that during the first 26 days of March 2019, the platform gained 25,673 new signups. During the same period in 2020, signup numbers surged to a massive 96,123, signalling an almost four-fold increase year on year. 

The update also reported that requests for marketing management rose by 140% between February and March and with the many benefits a freelance marketer can bring, it could be a trend set to continue.

Many SMEs are often cautious about hiring marketing staff for a number of reasons. 

Business owners and managers lacking in marketing experience may not know how to get the most out of their marketing staff. And without a clear strategy in place, their desired outcomes may not be achieved. 

Sometimes a junior is hired as a low-cost option but without the expertise of a marketing manager to guide them, they often feel under pressure and unable to cope with the unrealistic expectations that are being put upon them.

Steve Brennan, in his book Build your digital marketing strategy outlines five different mindsets of business owners with regards to their digital marketing efforts. These range from the recognition that they need a digital presence and then attempting to do it themselves, businesses that hire an agency and those that prefer to employ in-house marketing staff.  And many businesses flitting from one mindset to another.

This has been a common thread throughout my marketing career, and I have to agree with Steve that where I have experienced the best outcomes is where an agency is employed to work alongside a designated in-house person, be it in a marketing executive or marketing manager capacity.

And with the advancement of digital marketing technology, many business owners need the direction, strategy, knowledge and experience that a marketing manager can bring. This combined with the expertise and skillset of an agency will almost certainly deliver the best results.

But what if the budget doesn't allow for a full-time marketing hire?

Freelance marketing can be a perfect solution for SMEs, so it comes as no surprise that demand is on the increase.

if you are in a similar situation and need a marketing manager in your business, hiring a freelance can be the perfect solution. You will benefit from the expertise of a marketing professional, as and when you need it, without having to put them on the payroll.

Freelance marketing is flexible, affordable and effective and definitely worth considering.

Lynne Rawlinson