This month we interviewed Maria Jordan, a Global PR Specialist orchestrating all facets of high-impact PR and communications strategies in the UK, US and Europe.

How long have you been a freelancer?

I have worked in PR for over 8 years but I took the plunge and went freelance ten months ago. I have loved every minute of it.

Why did you decide to go self-employed? 

Over the years, I developed a strong black book of media contacts from consumer tech to lifestyle, beauty and hospitality. I have also enjoyed dipping my toes into everything and having a million diverse projects to work on at once, so I thought, why not! Being self-employed has always appealed to me because it also puts you in the driver's seat, you can decide where you want to take your career and no day is the same.

How has The Work Crowd helped you as a freelancer?

For me, the Work Crowd platform has played a major part in going freelance. When you start out as a freelancer, it can be quite an overwhelming experience. There’s just so much to consider before you even approach clients however The Work Crowd takes some of that way by creating a very simple to use platform that allows you to create a profile and upload your portfolio. I was genuinely surprised by how quickly and efficiently everything was set up.

Do you think the pandemic has had an effect on freelancing?

Absolutely, when the pandemic first hit companies had to downsize their teams. Fortunately, this meant that smaller and larger companies were in need of more freelancers to complete projects in a timely manner. Some companies have seen that this is a really effective way to manage their business and are now seeking even more freelancers to fulfil time-sensitive projects.

What kind of clients/projects have you worked on through The Work Crowd?

I recently worked with a repeating client, MyHeritage. I was given a brief to promote a newly released AI feature (Deep Nostalgia™) that allows you to animate the faces in photographs of loved ones.

One of the main objectives was to secure broadcast coverage in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. I was able to work with Jimmy Kimmel Live, Hoda and Jenna on Today Show and many other top tier media publications to showcase the features of the Deep Nostalgia™ tool. Within 48 hours of the release, 4 million animations worldwide had been created and within two weeks, it jumped to 50 million + animations. The story went completely viral across the world. This particular campaign has really demonstrated the power of digital and PR amplification.

What one piece of advice would you give to a new PR freelancer?

Just go for it, due to the pandemic there are so many opportunities for PR freelancers than ever before. Use The Work Crowd to create a killer profile and engage with more clients and promote your services. Use LinkedIn to elevate your personal brand and engage with other brands and people in a similar field. Put yourself out there and attend LinkedIn lives by people you look up to. A great one is the Amelia Sordell Personal Branding Q&A and LinkedIn Hacks Live every Wednesday. When you go into the freelance world, your personal brand is more important than ever! And most importantly enjoy the ride :)