Think Outside the Building: Why Outside Freelancers Can Be Your Secret Weapon
Your internal agency team is brilliant—they know your brand, your products, your challenges, and your goals like no one else. But for certain idea projects, where fresh thinking is essential, hiring outside freelance talent is less an expense than a shortcut to a big, valuable idea. Outside freelancers bring unique superpowers. And they’re not here to replace your team but to amplify your team’s efforts with inspirational idea injections.
Here are seven reasons thinking outside the building might just be the best idea you’ve had yet:
1. Outsiders question the status quo.
When you’re steeped in a company’s culture, it’s easy to accept things as they are. Outside freelancers aren’t bound by “the way we’ve always done it” and can challenge assumptions your team may not even realize they’re making. That kind of friction leads to fresh insights and disruptive ideas.
2. Outsiders think more horizontally.
Your team lives and breathes your brand every day, but that vertical orientation can sometimes limit creativity. Outside freelancers, accustomed to tackling diverse brands and industries, are free from the tunnel vision that can develop internally. They bring a more horizontal cross-category knowledge-base that can spark unexpected connections.
3. Outsiders are shielded from internal politics.
Sometimes, internal teams are too close to a project to evaluate it objectively. Outsiders approach challenges without emotional ties or internal politics, allowing them to focus solely on what’s best for the brand, not what’s been done before or who suggested it.
4. Outsiders amplify your team.
Outside freelancers aren’t here to compete with your internal team—they’re here to complement it. By bringing new energy and ideas into the mix, they help your team see challenges from a new angle, unlocking potential that might otherwise remain untapped. I’ve seen it a hundred times myself. We present 10+ ideas and the client’s internal creative team makes them even better with their knowledge of the business and the brand.
5. Outsiders deliver focus, speed and efficiency.
Because they’re focused entirely on solving the creative problem at hand, outside talent can dive in, ideate, and deliver without the distractions of day-to-day operations. Add to that their motivation to deliver. They know they won’t be asked back unless they kick ass on this project in front of them. This singular and motivated focus ensures quicker turnaround times and a streamlined creative process.
6. Outsiders create a culture of collaboration.
Hiring outside talent sends a message to your team: we value collaboration and innovation. It reinforces a culture that’s open to fresh thinking and encourages employees to embrace new perspectives, making your organization more dynamic and adaptable in the long run.
7. Outsiders are Temporary, but Their Impact Isn’t
One of the biggest advantages of bringing in outside talent is flexibility. You don’t need to add headcount or restructure teams. You can tap into the specific expertise you need, exactly when you need it—and then move forward with new ideas, refreshed energy, and a clearer vision.
You’re still hesitant, aren’t you?
Prospects with in-house agencies often ask me, “How can I bring Ideasicle X in without pissing off my internal teams?” It’s a good question, but my answer is this. Bringing in outside talent isn’t about replacing your internal team—it’s about empowering them. By leveraging the unique strengths of outsiders like us, you can elevate your team’s work, uncover groundbreaking ideas, and solve challenges in ways you never imagined. And your teams still get all the credit for the produced work (at least with us).
At Ideasicle X, we specialize in delivering the ceative outsider perspective your business needs. Whether it’s a team of four handpicked creatives brainstorming through our IX Concierge service, or tapping into our world-class talent pool with IX Freestyle, we’ll help you see what you’ve been missing—and turn those insights into extraordinary ideas.
Because when you think outside the building, nothing is unthinkable.
Will Burns is the Founder & CEO of the revolutionary virtual-idea-generating company, Ideasicle X. He’s an advertising veteran from such agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein, Arnold Worldwide, and Mullen. He was a Forbes Contributor for nine years writing about creativity in modern branding. Sign up for the Ideasicle Newsletter and never miss a post like this. Will’s bio.