Non-profits and small businesses often need specialized skills that don’t exist within their staff. You may depend on content creators such as designers, writers, photographers, and videographers to help with your website and other communication channels. Often these outside people aren’t managed very well, and projects can become an unpleasant challenge. The key to great relationships with outside talent is understanding and empathy. This leads to better project outcomes and less stress throughout the process for all. This prevention shares research I’ve conducted with freelancers through interviews and surveys. Learn what content creators want from management!

1. FREELANCERS
Managing
Without Losing Your
melissa eggleston

2. Quiz:
Which freelancer said it?
• photographer
• videographer
• graphic designer
• writer
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3. “Ooohh, I really hope
they like it."
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4. “The client is trying to
make their story suck.”
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5. “I hope she likes them
— because they’re great.”
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6. “They hire me but
then don’t respect
my profession opinion.”
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7. Confidence Continuum
WritersVideographers Photographers Graphic Designers
High
Low
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8. Who am I?
• UX Specialist, Content Strategist, Author
• I’ve been paid to be all of these freelancers at
one time or another in my life.
• I now often manage these types of freelancers.
Photo courtesy of Advanced Aerial Photography because I would never get in a helicopter, ever.

9. Where did I get my information?
Interviews (10)
1.
2.
Surveys with open-ended questions (54)
3.
Secondary research (online, print publications)
4.
Personal experience (I’ve worn lots of hats.)
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10. Who have these freelancers worked for?
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11. Freelancer Experience (FX)

12. What is freelancer experience (FX)?
All interactions a freelancer* has
with you and your organization
while working on a project.
Technology
People
*writer, photographer, videographer, designer, etc.
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13. The Problem with Poor FX

14. The Problem
Picture 1!
Photo courtesy of Geoff Stearns

15. Photo courtesy of Tracy O

16. The Problem
Picture 2!

17. Companies that have caught n
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18. Our Goal
Everybody can keep
their minds—and have more fun!
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19. Self-Empathy Required

20. Resistance?
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21. Resistance?
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22. Did not lern it on the soccer field
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23. Exercise
Write down in one sentence a situation you
have at work involving another person that
really bugs you.
If your work life is super smooth right now,
congratulations! Think about a situation with
your spouse, other family member or friend.
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24. Exercise
• What am I thinking? (hand on head)
(examples: “This person is a jerk! This sucks. How am I going to
meet my deadline now? Lame, lame, lame, lame, lame. I’m
going to give him a piece of my mind, etc.”)
• What am I feeling? (hand on heart)
(examples: anxious, frustrated, upset, worried, irritated,
enraged, alone, tense, discouraged, dominated, lost, uneasy,
etc.)
• What am I needing? (hand on belly)
(examples: consideration, communication, awareness,
participation, cooperation, inclusion, independence, space,
clarity, understanding)
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25. Freelancer Empathy Needed

26. After we have self-empathy, we can move to...
• What are you, freelancer, feeling?
• What are you, freelancer, needing?
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27. “Empathy grows as we learn.”
– Alice Miller, psychologist
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28. • Picture of a graphic designer!

29. 1.
Ensure you are speaking the same language
by giving examples, (“elegant” varies).
Graphic Designer Do’s
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30. Give them the final text because small
changes affect the design.
1.
2.
Ensure you are speaking the same language
by giving examples, (“elegant” varies).
Graphic Designer Do’s
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31. Give them the final text because small
changes affect the design.
1.
2.
3.
Ensure you are speaking the same language
by giving examples (“elegant” varies).
Graphic Designer Do’s
Provide descriptive feedback with the WHY if
you don’t like something so they can solve it.
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32. Give them the final text because small
changes affect the design.
1.
2.
3.
Ensure you are speaking the same language
by giving examples, (“elegant” varies).
4.
Great design isn’t quick, e.g. logos cannot be
made in 2 hours.
Graphic Designer Do’s
Provide descriptive feedback with the WHY if
you don’t like something so they can solve it.
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33. Give them the final text because small
changes affect the design.
1.
2.
3.
Ensure you are speaking the same language
by giving examples, (“elegant” varies).
4.
Great design isn’t quick, e.g. logos cannot be
made in 2 hours.
Graphic Designer Do’s
Provide descriptive feedback with the WHY if
you don’t like something so they can solve it.
5.
Organize feedback (14 emails in 1 day = not OK)
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35. Give clear instructions and expectations.
1.
Writer Do’s
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36. Give clear instructions and expectations.
1.
2.
Talk to them in person or on the phone.
Writer Do’s
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37. Give clear instructions and expectations.
1.
2.
Talk to them in person or on the phone.
3.
Compensate them well or at least fairly for
their time.
Writer Do’s
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38. Give clear instructions and expectations.
1.
2.
Talk to them in person or on the phone.
3.
Compensate them well or at least fairly for
their time.
4.
Realize that sitting on a project will delay it.
Writer Do’s
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39. Videographer Do’s
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Photo courtesy of John Ben

40. Discuss (and have) a goal for the video.
1.
Videographer Do’s
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41. Discuss (and have) a goal for the video.
1.
2.
Know that tiny video changes take time due to
exporting, compressing, and uploading video.
Videographer Do’s
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42. Discuss (and have) a goal for the video.
1.
2.
Know that tiny video changes take time due to
exporting, compressing, and uploading video.
3.
Give videographers a clear deadline.
Videographer Do’s
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43. Discuss (and have) a goal for the video.
1.
2.
Know that tiny video changes take time due to
exporting, compressing, and uploading video.
3.
Give videographers a clear deadline.
4.
Be organized, great videos are the result of
careful planning not shooting on the fly.
Videographer Do’s
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44. Writer Do’s &Dont’s
Photo courtesy of Lynn Friedman

45. Understand the image and look you want.
1.
Photographer Do’s
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46. Understand the image and look you want.
1.
2.
Be clear on how and where you are going to
use the images taken.
Photographer Do’s
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47. Understand the image and look you want.
1.
2.
Be clear on how and where you are going to
use the images taken.
3.
Be specific about needs and ask questions.
Photographer Do’s
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48. Understand the image and look you want.
1.
2.
Be clear on how and where you are going to
use the images taken.
3.
Be specific about needs and ask questions.
4.
Expect that editing photos will take time. No,
you won’t get them tomorrow.
Photographer Do’s
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49. Photographers & Videographers Need You to Know
Time of day affects the quality of the shoot.
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50. Everybody
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The They all talk about .
Photo courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar

51. Everybody
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The They all talk about .
Photo courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar
✕

52. Be collaborative to get a better final product.
1.
All Freelancer Do’s
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53. Be collaborative to get a better final product.
1.
2.
Look at past work to see if you and the
freelancer are a good match.
All Freelancer Do’s
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54. Be collaborative to get a better final product.
1.
2.
Look at past work to see if you and the
freelancer are a good match.
3.
Do not add to their “To Do” list without
expecting to pay more.
All Freelancer Do’s
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55. Be collaborative to get a better final product.
1.
2.
Look at past work to see if you and the
freelancer are a good match.
3.
Do not add to their “To Do” list without
expecting to pay more.
4.
Respond promptly with feedback to stick to
the agreed upon schedule.
All Freelancer Do’s
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56. Be collaborative to get a better final product.
1.
2.
Look at past work to see if you and the
freelancer are a good match.
3.
Do not add to their “To Do” list without
expecting to pay more.
4.
Respond promptly with feedback to stick to
the agreed upon schedule.
All Freelancer Do’s
Ensure they don’t have to track down
payments.
5.
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57. Be collaborative to get a better final product.
1.
2.
Look at past work to see if you and the
freelancer are a good match.
3.
Do not add to their “To Do” list without
expecting to pay more.
4.
Respond promptly with feedback to stick to
the agreed upon schedule.
All Freelancer Do’s
Ensure they don’t have to track down
payments.
5.
Have one contact/point person for the project.
6.
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58. Questions about
keeping your mind?
melissa@melissaegg.com