Have you noticed that the demand for freelance services has increased noticeably these days? And even large companies began to involve more often in their projects not web-studios, and private specialists remotely.
No, I’m not going to tell you which of the specialists is better. The one who works from home, or the one who sits in the agency office. But since I relate exactly to the freelancers, I want to give some reasons in our favor.
I can perfectly understand customers, how difficult it is to make a choice in favor of one or another performer. I myself have more than once acted in this capacity. So I understand very well what you expect from a person.
So that he does not fail on time, and the quality is not screwed up, and that the price is adequate. This is of interest to everyone.

Quality

Let’s start with quality – the most important thing is the result. For quality people are willing to pay more and wait longer.
At this point, the market for web design on so much grown that to find a specialist in freelance is no longer a problem, as it was a couple of years ago. Former newbies are savvy, trained, have built up a portfolio and know how to create great products. Not worse than the web studios.
Enough to go to any freelance market and flip through the first few pages of rating. Or just type in a search engine phrase “to order a website design”.

Speed of execution

Deadlines (design time) – another important factor. A responsible freelancer, whose orders are the main source of income, is interested in deadlines no less than the customer. I know about it from my own experience.
For example, more than 2-3 orders at a time, I never take. And if this is a major project, it is better not to be distracted by small and medium ones. And I want to complete the project on time or earlier, to get full payment and move on.
In agencies, things work differently. Several specialists work on a project. And web design is only one stage of development. At best the deadlines are observed, at worst they increase. Depends on the banal organizational structure and the normalized schedule of employees.
Freelancers often work nights, and holidays, and weekends. Not all and not always… But the fact that we work more than 8 hours a day, that’s for sure.

Prices

You can find super expensive studios and very expensive designers on freelance. The same goes for the cheap ones. There are both new low-cost studios and freelancers with low prices.
But if we take a specific budget let’s say $1000, and start choosing, studio or freelancer. Then the choice will be between an average agency and a specialist with above average experience. I think you get the analogy.
Another advantage in our favor is transparency. The studios often sin by increasing the price in the process. And on the sites of agencies usually there is no indication of prices “from…”. And when it comes to calculating the project, the price rises by leaps and bounds for each modification and detail.
Phased payment can also be more flexible with a personal agreement.

Bonuses

When you negotiate a price with a specific person, it usually does not change. Well, with rare exceptions. And some small requests, freelancers often do for free, as a bonus.
Again, I do not claim, but judge by myself. In almost every turnkey project, I add some useful things for free, for which the customer would have to pay in the studio.

Edits

If, when working with the agency, you forgot to stipulate some details in the terms of reference, you may have problems with modifications. Studios are not always eager to make extracurricular edits and revisions. Freelancers are more loyal in this matter, too.

Friendship and further cooperation

You can only cooperate with the agency. After completing the work, even if everything went perfectly, it is difficult to be friends, because a whole team is working on the project, and all communication occurs through the art director. And the next time you call, there is a chance that the design will be handled by another employee.
With the same with a specific performer, you can establish a relationship of trust. And if the person did not let you down and did the job well, you can always go back to him. Especially if you plan to develop its project in the future.

Who order the design, a freelancer or a studio, you choose.
On the sites of agencies, I’ve often seen similar articles such as why it is better to order the design and development from them rather than from freelancers.
There are described moments about how deadlines are broken, how freelancers disappear with money, not finishing work and so on. But I want to say that such situations are possible both with unscrupulous individuals, and with web agencies.