We recently caught up with Dan Nash, Creative Strategist and good friend of Rafiki, to hear about his experience in freelancing, working in agency, tips to aspiring freelancers, and trends he’s noticing in the space.
Dan is former Head of Marketing at Sneaker LAB, Digital Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather, Director of Content at REW Canada, Head of Marketing Stone Three, and creator of multiple award-winning blog, Bangers & Nash.
More recently, Dan was one of 4 freelancers who worked alongside Rafiki to bring Mack Brand’s to life earlier this year.
Why did you become a freelancer?
I became obsessed with business problems and strategy. I loved being in an agency, but I didn’t like the Creative Director box. I wanted to work closer with other parts of a business on strategies that pulled the classic ad land ‘golden thread’ through the entire company. Working with predominantly owner-run businesses and startups allowed me to do that, so I started my consultancy with the idea of working deeply within businesses.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring freelancers?
It sounds unoriginal, but just do it, and don’t worry about leaving the agency world. There is so much work out there. There’s no traffic system or process to spoon-feed you though. Make sure your client management is excellent, even if it means partnering with someone. Treat your offering as a business and provide a great customer experience, and you’ll never run out of work. If you haven’t worked in an agency I suggest you do. You’ll learn valuable lessons on structures, processes, and client service that you can apply to your business.
What’s your favourite plugin, tool, or software right now?
I’m a massive fan of Miro and Figma, they allow me to paint much larger pictures for clients or teams, and collect and manage ideas and strategies in a far more intuitive way. I hardly pitch or present using slides anymore. I’m also super impressed with Claude and how much it’s expanded my capacity.
What’s one trend you’re noticing within freelancing?
Thanks to Covid, clients are way more trusting of people who don’t work in ‘traditional’ structures. I think that’ helped mature or validate the space, and the lifestyle attracts top talent. And, you know, people just find out that they can make way more money and control their own time working for themselves.
What does freelancing look like in 10 years time?
There will always be a place for people who can step in and effectively solve a business's problem. Freelance communities and platforms will continue to grow and attract top talent, giving businesses that can't afford agencies access to specialists they can tap into when needed without having to lock into long-term contracts with large agencies.
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If you're interesting in becoming a Rafiki freelancer, or looking for help with any freelance or fractional resource, please get in touch.
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Original LinkedIn post here.
