Freelance Account Manager
A freelance account manager is responsible for managing and growing client relationships. They work with clients to understand their needs, build effective marketing strategies, roll out campaigns and manage the relationship as a whole. The freelance account manager’s craft is creative and results-driven. Let’s look at what the role involves and what you’d gain by bringing one in.
What is a freelance account manager?
A freelance account manager runs accounts and owns the commercial relationship between a company and its clients. Unlike a salaried account manager, they work autonomously and offer their services to several companies, often on one-off or long-term projects.
Their main mission is to make sure the client is satisfied, to grow existing accounts and to identify new opportunities for clients.
The missions of a freelance account manager
A freelance account manager’s missions naturally vary with each client’s needs, but some tasks are unavoidable:
Client relationship management
- Providing personalised follow-up and maintaining strong relationships.
- Understanding each client’s specific needs to propose the right solutions.
- Anticipating problems and solving them quickly to keep satisfaction as high as possible.
Business development
- Identifying commercial opportunities for the company.
- Building strategies to grow the accounts’ revenue.
- Strengthening client loyalty through tailor-made service and continuous improvement of the offer.
Project management
- Coordinating internal and external teams to make sure projects are delivered well.
- Meeting the deadlines and goals set by the client.
- Communicating regularly on projects’ progress and adapting the strategy when needed.
The skills an account manager needs
A good account manager needs excellent communication and client relationship skills. As the main point of contact between the company and the client, they must ideally (or rather, necessarily) communicate clearly and effectively. They must also be a good listener, able to understand and answer each client’s specific needs, and to build solid, trusting relationships.
Beyond communication, they also need project management skills, just like a project manager. The account manager is responsible for planning, executing and overseeing projects — so they are ideally well organised, able to juggle priorities and meet deadlines, solve problems and make informed decisions to keep projects on track.
Project management as a freelance account manager
Project management is one of an account manager’s key responsibilities. Running projects well means following a clear, structured process. Before starting, it’s essential to fully understand the client’s needs and goals: the account manager takes the time to talk with the client, ask questions and clarify expectations. As said above, this is a role where relationships and listening are key. With a clear understanding of the project’s goals, they can build the action plan: the project’s stages, the resources needed, the deadlines and the objectives.
The account manager measures the results against the goals set and identifies areas for improvement — so that, as a client, you learn from each project and refine your objectives.
Conclusion on the freelance account manager’s craft
The account manager’s craft offers many opportunities for those drawn to marketing and project management. The account manager has the freedom to work on varied projects, manage their own schedule and grow a professional network along the way.
The skills needed to succeed as a freelance account manager are: excellent communication skills, project management skills and a deep knowledge of marketing.
FAQ
1. How much does a freelance account manager cost?
A freelance account manager’s rate varies with experience, missions and clients. On average, daily rates range from €300 to €700, and more for specific missions.
2. What are the main platforms for finding a freelance account manager?
Networks such as digitags, Malt, Upwork or Freelancer are popular ways to work with freelancers. You can also find talent through LinkedIn or your own network.
Take action
Working with a freelance account manager via digitags.work
If you’re facing any of the following challenges, bringing in a freelance account manager can be the right move:
- Flexibility: a freelance account manager can step in on demand, for a few weeks or several months, depending on your account management and client relationship needs. That flexibility lets you adjust resources to your commercial projects without a long-term commitment.
- Immediately operational: a freelance account manager quickly joins your teams and gets up to speed fast. Their expertise lets them manage your client accounts effectively, optimise commercial relationships and keep your clients fully satisfied.
- Advisory: with experience across industries and companies, the freelance account manager proposes innovative, tailor-made solutions to improve your commercial strategies — and helps you spot new growth opportunities while strengthening client loyalty.
- Training: an experienced freelance account manager can also train your in-house teams, sharing best practices in account management, negotiation and client relationships, and mentor junior profiles as they grow.
digitags.work connects you with talented, experienced freelance account managers, ready to take on your commercial challenges and optimise your client relationships. Let’s discuss your needs!
