Am I Ready to go Freelance?

The prospect of going freelance in the digital marketing or e-commerce world is tempting for many. The idea of setting your own hours, working on projects you choose, and ultimately controlling your career path is an appealing one. However, before you take the leap into freelancing, there is a strong argument to be made for gaining experience at an agency or with a big brand first. The fast-paced, high-stakes environment offered by these types of organisations provides crucial insights and experience that will set you up for long-term success as a freelancer. Here’s why.

The Power of Agency Life

Working at an agency is an intense experience. The sheer volume of work, diversity of clients, and range of challenges thrown at you can be overwhelming—but it’s also an unparalleled learning ground. In an agency setting, you are exposed to multiple channels, industries, and marketing strategies, all while managing the expectations of clients with varying needs and objectives. It’s this diversity that gives you a complete, 360-degree view of the digital marketing ecosystem, and the exposure you get in a short span of time is unmatched.

This kind of environment forces you to think on your feet and develop problem-solving skills quickly. You’ll learn how to adapt strategies based on client goals, budget constraints, and market conditions. More importantly, you’ll get to test different roles and disciplines within digital marketing—whether that’s SEO, social media, paid advertising, or content creation. This hands-on experience will help you identify where your strengths lie and what areas you genuinely enjoy working in.

Exposure to a Broader Ecosystem

Big brands and large organisations offer similar benefits. If you work for a big brand, especially one that frequently liaises with agencies, you gain insights into how the client-side of the equation operates. You see first-hand how brand goals are communicated to agencies, how campaigns are evaluated, and how partnerships are managed. This understanding is critical when you eventually go freelance and need to manage your own client relationships.

Additionally, the scale of work done by big brands introduces you to higher-level digital marketing strategies and complex e-commerce ecosystems. You’ll be working with more substantial budgets, broader audiences, and larger data sets. This provides a level of insight that you simply wouldn’t get from starting as a solo freelancer, where budgets and scope are usually smaller.

Finding the Right Discipline and Vertical

Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to gain experience at an agency or big brand before going freelance is that it helps you find the discipline and vertical that best suits your skill set and passion. The digital marketing industry is vast, and there are countless avenues you could specialise in—from technical SEO to creative content marketing, from B2B marketing to e-commerce. Without trying your hand at different areas, it’s difficult to know which path to take as a freelancer.

Agency work exposes you to various industries (or verticals) and gives you an understanding of the nuances that come with marketing to different audiences. For instance, working in a B2B setting will require a very different approach from working in B2C. Similarly, within B2C, marketing for a fashion brand is vastly different from marketing for a tech product. By exploring these areas in an agency or brand environment, you get a sense of where your passions and strengths lie, helping you make more informed choices when you go freelance.

Building a Strong Foundation for Freelance Success

It’s important to acknowledge that freelancing comes with its own set of challenges. You’ll need to handle not just the work itself, but the business side of freelancing—client management, contracts, negotiations, invoicing, and building your reputation. Without the foundation of experience from an agency or big brand, many freelancers find these aspects overwhelming.

Agency life teaches you how to work at a fast pace, how to meet tight deadlines, and how to deal with demanding clients—all essential skills when you’re working solo. You also get to build a network of contacts—whether it’s colleagues, clients, or industry peers—who can offer you referrals, advice, or collaboration opportunities when you strike out on your own.

Staying Updated with the Industry

One of the risks of going straight into freelancing without any agency or big brand experience is that you may miss out on the cutting-edge trends and innovations happening in the digital marketing world. Agencies and large brands are often at the forefront of testing new tools, platforms, and strategies because they have the resources to invest in innovation. Being part of that environment ensures you stay current with the latest industry trends, from emerging social media platforms to algorithm updates.

This type of exposure to innovation gives you an edge as a freelancer, where clients will look to you for forward-thinking strategies and solutions. Staying ahead of the curve in digital marketing is crucial, and working in an agency or big brand setting ensures you remain in the loop.

Overall

The allure of freelancing is understandable—freedom, flexibility, and creative control. However, jumping straight into freelance work without first building a solid foundation can be risky. By working in an agency or big brand environment, you gain invaluable experience, develop crucial skills, and discover where your strengths and passions lie. You’ll be better equipped to manage the complexities of freelancing and position yourself as an expert in your chosen discipline and vertical.

Ultimately, taking the time to learn, explore, and hone your craft in these high-pressure, dynamic environments will give you the confidence and expertise to thrive when you do decide to take the leap into freelancing.