Running is booming and there’s a constant need for creative assets. So why are budgets sometimes so slim, and what challenges do digital marketers face when producing content?
This is amazing. Thank you for the thoughtful piece. I've definitely experienced a lot of what you've written about. I think there is a big opportunity for brands to work more closely with freelancers and athletes. Having a few trusted people on retainer or simply trained in the brand messaging who can work with athletes directly could go a long way.
Thanks so much for reading, Tony! I totally agree, huge opportunity for athletes and photographers to partner. We already see that with a lot of YouTuber/influencer types who bring on people full-time as their go-to creatives.
A great topic to bring to light. Great work Allison. I'd put #4 at the top of my list. In my experience, the inexperience of those leading creative/marketing budgets is the source of many of the problems. Keeping someone on retainer or bringing someone in house is a good option I rarely see used well/enough because it still requires the foresight to have a creative strategy and corresponding budget.
Thanks, Matt! Yeah I think most people can resonate with point 4. Production can also be so specific in terms of WHAT is needed to bring something to life. And totally agree on the retainer front, I’ve personally never worked with someone on retainer, but in house has worked very well in my experience. Especially when you have a really good social strategy.
I as a photographer see only benefits for both sides. As a freelancer you can have more predictable income. Usually the first project with a new client is never the best, because it takes time to understand what the client wants. Having to unterstand that everytime again and again when working with new clients is exhausting and takes a lot time. Usually projects come in on short notice because of some occuring events or because of the high amount of projects a brand has to handle - having a go to creative makes life much easier for the brand and the creative.
Thank you for putting your thoughts and experience down in words. The subject of budgets, content and usage needs to have a light shined on it from all perspectives. In my experience as a commercial freelancer, there is often a lack of knowledge on the client side when it comes these things, especially for smaller brands with teams who are more "green". Working with them usually involves some level of education around usage and licensing.
And that education goes both ways, as illustrated with your experience with a photographer who wanted a really large sum for a one-off photo, with limited reach. That's a lose-lose situation.
This is amazing. Thank you for the thoughtful piece. I've definitely experienced a lot of what you've written about. I think there is a big opportunity for brands to work more closely with freelancers and athletes. Having a few trusted people on retainer or simply trained in the brand messaging who can work with athletes directly could go a long way.
Thanks so much for reading, Tony! I totally agree, huge opportunity for athletes and photographers to partner. We already see that with a lot of YouTuber/influencer types who bring on people full-time as their go-to creatives.
A great topic to bring to light. Great work Allison. I'd put #4 at the top of my list. In my experience, the inexperience of those leading creative/marketing budgets is the source of many of the problems. Keeping someone on retainer or bringing someone in house is a good option I rarely see used well/enough because it still requires the foresight to have a creative strategy and corresponding budget.
Thanks, Matt! Yeah I think most people can resonate with point 4. Production can also be so specific in terms of WHAT is needed to bring something to life. And totally agree on the retainer front, I’ve personally never worked with someone on retainer, but in house has worked very well in my experience. Especially when you have a really good social strategy.
I as a photographer see only benefits for both sides. As a freelancer you can have more predictable income. Usually the first project with a new client is never the best, because it takes time to understand what the client wants. Having to unterstand that everytime again and again when working with new clients is exhausting and takes a lot time. Usually projects come in on short notice because of some occuring events or because of the high amount of projects a brand has to handle - having a go to creative makes life much easier for the brand and the creative.
Thank you for putting your thoughts and experience down in words. The subject of budgets, content and usage needs to have a light shined on it from all perspectives. In my experience as a commercial freelancer, there is often a lack of knowledge on the client side when it comes these things, especially for smaller brands with teams who are more "green". Working with them usually involves some level of education around usage and licensing.
And that education goes both ways, as illustrated with your experience with a photographer who wanted a really large sum for a one-off photo, with limited reach. That's a lose-lose situation.
Oh to get these rates as a writer L O L
On any given shoot I bring $10-$20k of equipment with me. That needs to be covered somehow.