No matter what time of day it was, a certain wiseacre client would call me and invariably ask “Did I wake you?”  Ha, ha, ha, (sigh). Little did he know (or care) that I got up at 5:30 am. He was joking, of course, but that kind of stereotypical view of freelancers is pervasive.  The reality is, to be in business for yourself, raise a family, and supply them with decent shelter, food, and transportation, you’ve got to be pretty good at what you do and serious about it too.

So, in this difficult economic time when your company may be struggling, it might be worth noting that there is a solution to mediocrity, dwindling profitability, and high overhead: the seasoned freelance writer.

Here are four times when a career freelancer is your best bet for quality, speed, and affordability.

1. When you want experience and skills you couldn’t otherwise afford. The best freelancers are independent for a reason; they can make more money freelancing than they can working in a salaried position, and they have more freedom and flexibility, to boot. They’ve worked for the broadest range of clients and delved into the greatest variety of subject matter. Chances are they know how to best meet your communications objectives because they’ve been there before.

2. When you want a writer who welcomes the work. The harder a freelancer works, the more he makes. That makes for a happy worker. Throw extra work on a salaried writer and what happens? Oppression. Irritability. And if it doesn’t result in reduced productivity and lower quality, then it results in covert job searches. And, really, when you think about it, if you were going to make the same money whether you took on another project or not, wouldn’t you be tempted to work at your own comfortable pace and say, “I’m working to capacity?”

3. When you want a writer who doesn’t cost a dime. Sometimes it’s hard to know who works for whom these days. If you are looking for work to keep your salaried employees busy, then you are working for them! A freelancer requires no upkeep, no desk, no space, no benefits. You don’t have to pay him to chit-chat with co-workers, keep up on Facebook, go to the bathroom, or pick his nose.  Think of all the time an employee can waste.  Think of all the time YOU can waste making sure he doesn’t waste his!

You can use a freelancer only when it will be profitable for you, when there’s a budget for it, or when you can bill the time to a client. In the end, a good freelancer doesn’t cost you money; he makes you money. The ratio of “hours actually worked” to “hours paid for” is always 1:1 with a freelancer. What is it for a salaried employee?

4.  When you want a lasting, long-term resource. Some people see freelancers as the option of last resort, folks who can’t get real jobs, who are unreliable and sleep until noon. I am sure this type of hippy-go-lucky writer exists. But he won’t last long. Having been in business for 23 years, I can tell you that a reliable independent writer can be found. The trick is to find a good writer with whom you can form a lasting relationship.  That way he looks to you for ongoing projects,  and you can look to him as a reliable source of creative services. It’s a nice symbiotic, permanent relationship.  The company account stays balanced. The quality of the work is high. Deadlines are met. The boss or client is happy. And you get peace of mind. What’s that worth?

Your marketing and communications materials are like a three-legged stool supported by writing, graphic design, and production. If any one of those is weak, the whole piece collapses. A seasoned freelancer can help make sure your communications stand up and stand out.