The future is flexible
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Your team
Your team
Your team
Design Support
Design Support
Eric
TOP INDEPENDENT
Eric
TOP INDEPENDENT
Eric
TOP INDEPENDENT
The agency
of the future
The agency
of the future
is flexible
is flexible
is flexible
is flexible
Replacing outdated agency models with skills-based, flexible hiring
Replacing outdated agency models with skills-based, flexible hiring
High-performing agencies need top talent. But do you need the best expert in every skill, every day?
High-performing agencies need top talent. But do you need the best expert in every skill, every day?
High-performing agencies need top talent. But do you need the best expert in every skill, every day?
High-performing agencies need top talent. But do you need the best expert in every skill, every day?
In this guide we’ll explore a new, more effective model for building a profitable and resilient agency: hiring skills-based, flexible talent.
Your team
The
marketing
landscape
is
undergoing
a
dramatic shift
The
marketing
landscape
is
undergoing
a
dramatic shift
The
marketing
landscape
is
undergoing
a
dramatic shift
The
marketing
landscape
is
undergoing
a
dramatic shift
Massive increase in new channels
Massive increase in new channels
Massive increase in new channels
Massive increase in new channels
61% of companies reported they’re increasing the number of marketing channels they use in 2024.
61% of companies reported they’re increasing the number of marketing channels they use in 2024.
61% of companies reported they’re increasing the number of marketing channels they use in 2024.
61% of companies reported they’re increasing the number of marketing channels they use in 2024.
Traditional channels are becoming obsolete
Traditional channels are becoming obsolete
Traditional channels are becoming obsolete
Traditional channels are becoming obsolete
Radio, tv, publishing, cinema, and out-of-home declined by 4.1% YOY in 2023.
Radio, tv, publishing, cinema, and out-of-home declined by 4.1% YOY in 2023.
Radio, tv, publishing, cinema, and out-of-home declined by 4.1% YOY in 2023.
Radio, tv, publishing, cinema, and out-of-home declined by 4.1% YOY in 2023.
New expectations from clients
New expectations from clients
New expectations from clients
Clients want project-based, not retainer-based, work. Project work is more variable and harder to plan for.
Clients want project-based, not retainer-based, work. Project work is more variable and harder to plan for.
Clients want project-based, not retainer-based, work. Project work is more variable and harder to plan for.
Clients want project-based, not retainer-based, work. Project work is more variable and harder to plan for.
In 2024
In 2024
Client
Client
Client
marketing
marketing
marketing
budgets
budgets
budgets
are
are
are
dropping
dropping
dropping
towards
towards
towards
pandemic lows.
pandemic lows.
pandemic lows.
Fall 2021
9.8%
Fall 2022
13.8%
Spring 2024
10.2%
Fall 2021
9.8%
Fall 2022
13.8%
Spring 2024
10.2%
Fall 2021
9.8%
Fall 2022
13.8%
Spring 2024
10.2%
Fall 2021
9.8%
Fall 2022
13.8%
Spring 2024
10.2%
The
The
The
The
outdated
outdated
outdated
outdated
production-based
production-based
production-based
production-based
agency model
agency model
agency model
agency model
is
is
is
is
putting
putting
putting
putting
even
even
even
even
the
the
the
the
biggest
biggest
biggest
biggest
players
players
players
players
at
at
at
at
risk.
risk.
risk.
risk.
Wieden + Kennedy’s layoffs represent a big shift in the advertising industry
Wieden + Kennedy’s layoffs represent a big shift in the advertising industry
Wieden + Kennedy’s layoffs represent a big shift in the advertising industry
Wieden + Kennedy’s layoffs represent a big shift in the advertising industry
Why agencies are quietly laying off mid-level and senior employees
Why agencies are quietly laying off mid-level and senior employees
Why agencies are quietly laying off mid-level and senior employees
Why agencies are quietly laying off mid-level and senior employees
With shrinking client budgets
based hiring.
Forward-thinking agencies are adopting a new talent strategy:
Flexible, skills-based hiring.
Companies with ambitious goals are adopting a new talent strategy: Flexible, skills-based hiring.
Companies with ambitious goals are adopting a new talent strategy: Flexible skills-
91%
agree that hiring flexible talent gives them more confidence to hit company goals.
94%
plan to continue hiring flexible talent over the next 12 months.
76%
plan to increase flexible talent hiring in the next 12 months.
91%
agree that hiring flexible talent gives them more confidence to hit company goals.
94%
plan to continue hiring flexible talent over the next 12 months.
76%
plan to increase flexible talent hiring in the next 12 months.
91%
agree that, hiring flexible talent gives them more confidence to hit company goals.
94%
plan to continue hiring flexible talent over the next 12 months.
76%
plan to increase flexible talent hiring in the next 12 months.
91%
agree that hiring flexible talent gives them more confidence to hit company goals.
94%
plan to continue hiring flexible talent over the next 12 months.
76%
plan to increase flexible talent hiring in the next 12 months.
Looking back
Looking back
The once-ubiquitous “agency of record” structure relied on deep, hierarchical teams.
The standard organizational structure of the past relied on deep, hierarchical teams.
The standard organizational structure of the past relied on deep, hierarchical teams.
The shortcomings of an agency with a large full-time team:
The shortcomings of quickly scaling a large full-time team:
The shortcomings of quickly scaling a large full-time team:
01
01
Limited by
Limited by
IN-house
IN-house
skills
skills
02
02
Difficult to
Difficult to
FLEX
FLEX
for
for
innovative
innovative
projects
projects
03
03
RESULTS
STALE
STALE
can get stale
Results can get
Results can get
04
04
Increased risk of being
Increased risk of being
OVER STAFFED
OVER STAFFED
for
for
project
project
load
load
FOR AGENCIES TODAY
FOR AGENCIES TODAY
It's key to weigh the costs of a large full-time team.
It's key to weigh the costs of a large full-time team.
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
$89,000
$51/hr
Digital Marketer
Digital Marketer
$113,000
$65/hr
Content Creator
Content Creator
$91,000
$55/hr
Copywriter
Copywriter
$96,000
$58/hr
Web, UX or UI Designer
Web, UX or UI Designer
$102,000
$60/hr
Social Media Manager
Social Media Manager
$71,000
$51/hr
Landing Page Developer
Landing Page Developer
$96,000
$61/hr
Video Editor
Video Editor
$62,000
$56/hr
Content Editor
Content Editor
$59,000
$55/hr
SEO Strategist & Manager
SEO Strategist & Manager
$105,000
$50/hr
*Average full-time salary reflects average US salaries.
*Average full-time salary reflects average US salaries.
Average hourly rate reflects average rates for these roles across Contra.
Average hourly rate reflects average rates for these roles across Contra.
THE future of hiring
THE future of hiring
THE future of hiring
THE future of hiring
the future of hiring
Innovative agencies are shifting to a small core team backed by flexible talent.
Innovative companies are shifting to a small core team backed by flexible talent.
Future skills based team structure
Future skills based team structure
“We hire independents for various roles: animation, digital development, video editing. Contra allows us to focus, bringing in the right talent at the right time to enhance our projects and create even more value for clients.”
Robert Laplante
Robert Laplante
Robert Laplante
CEO of
CEO of
CEO of
A flexible team
A flexible team
A flexible team
supports
supports
supports
agency
agency
agency
agility
agility
agility
by
by
by
providing
providing
providing
the
the
the
essential
essential
essential
skills
skills
skills
you need,
you need,
you need,
when
when
when
you
you
you
need them.
need them.
need them.
With
With
With
With
Contra,
Contra,
Contra,
Contra,
I've
I've
I've
I've
been
been
been
been
able
able
able
able
to
to
to
to
take
take
take
take
a
a
a
a
step
step
step
step
back
back
back
back
from
from
from
from
day-to-day
day-to-day
day-to-day
day-to-day
tasks
tasks
tasks
tasks
and
and
and
and
delegate
delegate
delegate
delegate
effectively,
effectively,
effectively,
effectively,
focusing
focusing
focusing
focusing
on
on
on
on
high-level
high-level
high-level
high-level
strategy,
strategy,
strategy,
strategy,
client
client
client
client
engagement,
engagement,
engagement,
engagement,
and
and
and
and
scaling
scaling
scaling
scaling
the
the
the
the
business.
business.
business.
business.
Cory Shoaf
Cory Shoaf
Founder of
Founder of
Hiring skilled experts
for specific projects
saves time & money
Hiring skilled experts
for specific projects
saves time & money
Hiring skilled experts
for specific projects
saves time & money
Hiring skilled experts
for specific projects
saves time & money
SUCCESS STORY
Framer uses a flexible talent
strategy to scale the support team for their growing product.
SUCCESS STORY
Barrel uses a flexible talent
strategy to scale a world-class ecomm web agency
Barrel uses a flexible talent
strategy to scale a world-class ecomm web agency
Barrel uses a flexible talent
strategy to scale a world-class ecomm web agency
75% time savings
75% time savings
75% time savings
75% time savings
by hiring project-based
by hiring project-based
9 agency members
9 agency members
9 agency members
9 agency members
hiring on Contra
hiring on Contra
74 contractors
74 contractors
managed on Contra
managed on Contra
Postponed full-time hires
Postponed
full-time hires
Postponed
full-time hires
Postponed
full-time hires
by hiring project-based
by hiring project-based
“Contra helps agencies like ours operate at a much larger scale with a vital platform to effectively manage and grow our network of freelancers.”
“Contra helps agencies like ours operate at a much larger scale with a vital platform to effectively manage and grow our network of freelancers.”
Peter Kang
Cofounder & CEO
“Contra helps agencies like ours operate at a much larger scale with a vital platform to effectively manage and grow our network of freelancers.”
Peter Kang
Cofounder & CEO
“Contra helps agencies like ours operate at a much larger scale with a vital platform to effectively manage and grow our network of freelancers.”
Peter Kang
Cofounder & CEO
A new solution built for modern agencies
A new solution built for modern agencies
A new solution built for modern agencies
Design Support
Copywriting
Social Media Content
Design Support
Copywriting
Social Media Content
skills-based flexible team
Dynamic access to expertise when you need it, enabling you to scale without limits
Scale
Build
Grow
Scale
without limits
Scale
Build
Grow
Scale
without limits
Scale
Build
Grow
Scale
without
limits
Scale your agency and thrive in today’s evolving market with a proven skills-based, flexible talent strategy
Scale your agency and thrive in today’s evolving market with a proven skills-based, flexible talent strategy
Ready to start building an agile, flexible agency built for project-based work?
