{"id":48052,"date":"2026-03-30T10:16:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/?p=48052"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:16:19","slug":"podcast-episode-26-matthew-knight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/podcast-episode-26-matthew-knight\/","title":{"rendered":"How Smart Companies Build a Freelance Network &#8211; Episode 26 with Matthew Knight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Most freelance engagements start the same way: there\u2019s a gap, a deadline, and a quick search for someone who can help. But what if that approach is exactly the problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode, we\u2019re joined by Matthew Knight, an<strong> award-winning independent strategist <\/strong>and Chief Freelance Officer at The Independency Co., and we unpack why reactive hiring often leads to disappointing results and how companies can shift from one-off freelancers to building a network they can rely on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-5af9ddba658a9259482985c8cc1ad0ce\" style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#49376f\">Companies that work with freelancers gain <strong>speed, flexibility, and specialised expertise<\/strong> without increasing permanent headcount. Whether you&#8217;re launching a new project or scaling your team, working with independent experts can help you move faster.<br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/freelancers-directory.html\"><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Browse 70,000+ freelancers on freelancermap<\/strong><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/registration?ref=blog-com-podcast-matthew-knight\"><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Sign up and post a project to start receiving proposal<\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/registration?ref=blog-com-podcast-przemek-glosny\">s<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Freelancers<\/strong> are becoming a core part of how companies <strong>build and scale teams<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>poor freelancer experience<\/strong> frustrates people, and it quietly <strong>drives up costs and slows down delivery<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The companies seeing the best results are <strong>building trusted networks over time<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The future of work is a mix: employees, freelancers, and AI working together<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Small improvements, like better <strong>onboarding or faster payments<\/strong>, can have an outsized impact<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f5f5f5\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: \ud83e\udd13 How Smart Companies Build a Freelance Network | The Independent Workforce | Matthew Knight\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"624\" height=\"351\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" data-src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/27yE82akK8iMh7wpwZ2X9C\/video?utm_source=oembed\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Enjoyed this episode?<br><\/strong>Subscribe now on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@freelancermapinternational6860\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creators.spotify.com\/pod\/profile\/freelancermap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/the-independent-workforce\/id1840173073\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple Podcast<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-Independent-Workforce-Episode-26-Matthew-Knight.pdf\">\ud83d\udce9 Download the full transcript \ud83d\udce9<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where the Future of Work Actually Takes Shape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It was never about \u201cfilling a gap\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For a long time, companies have approached freelancers in a very transactional way: there\u2019s a gap, there\u2019s pressure, and someone needs to step in quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that framing misses the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Matthew Knight explains: <strong>freelancers aren\u2019t there to plug holes<\/strong>. They\u2019re there to bring in expertise that doesn\u2019t exist inside the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that distinction matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because when freelancers are treated as temporary fixes, the outcome is usually just that temporary. But when they\u2019re brought in as <strong>partners, contributing real expertise, the impact is much more meaningful<\/strong>. That\u2019s where companies start to move from simply getting work done to actually creating value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The hidden cost no one tracks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201c20% of a project can be lost just because someone doesn\u2019t know how your systems work.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>On the surface, hiring a freelancer feels fast and efficient. You find someone, agree on a scope, and get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what happens next is where things often fall apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No proper onboarding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited access to tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unclear expectations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It doesn\u2019t seem dramatic, but it adds friction from day one. And over time, that<strong> friction becomes expensive<\/strong>. In some cases, a significant portion of a project is lost simply because the freelancer is trying to navigate systems and processes that were never designed with them in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So the issue isn\u2019t the cost of freelancers, it\u2019s the cost of not setting them up to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From one-off hires to trusted networks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another pattern that comes up again and again is <strong>reactive hiring<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A role opens up, a quick post goes live, profiles are reviewed, and a decision is made under time pressure. It works sometimes. But it\u2019s far from reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The companies that are getting consistent results are taking a different approach. Instead of starting from scratch every time, they build their own <strong>network of freelancers: people they know, trust, and have already worked with<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-66d03053e6f57a7ef494c206fadb30ea\" style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#49376f\"><strong>Building a reliable freelance network doesn\u2019t happen overnight, but freelancermap can help!<br><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/freelancers-directory.html?excludeDachRegion=false&amp;sort=1&amp;placeOfWorkMode=travel&amp;countries%5B%5D=2&amp;countries%5B%5D=39&amp;countries%5B%5D=46&amp;countries%5B%5D=87&amp;countries%5B%5D=147&amp;countries%5B%5D=133&amp;countries%5B%5D=52&amp;countries%5B%5D=1&amp;countries%5B%5D=120&amp;countries%5B%5D=55&amp;countries%5B%5D=56&amp;countries%5B%5D=14&amp;countries%5B%5D=60&amp;countries%5B%5D=93&amp;countries%5B%5D=12&amp;countries%5B%5D=72&amp;countries%5B%5D=8&amp;countries%5B%5D=90&amp;countries%5B%5D=94&amp;countries%5B%5D=97&amp;countries%5B%5D=106&amp;countries%5B%5D=114&amp;countries%5B%5D=115&amp;countries%5B%5D=117&amp;countries%5B%5D=15&amp;countries%5B%5D=126&amp;countries%5B%5D=192&amp;countries%5B%5D=7&amp;pagenr=1\">Connect with 110,000+ freelancers in the EU ready to help you with your projects<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, that network becomes a real asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because at that point, you\u2019re no longer \u201chiring a freelancer.\u201d You\u2019re activating a group of people who already understand how you work and can deliver faster, with less friction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cYou\u2019re not hiring someone. You\u2019re activating your extended workforce.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The shift is already underway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How companies find and work with freelancers is evolving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It used to be about personal networks: Who do I know?<br>Then came marketplaces: Who&#8217;s available?<br>Now, we\u2019re seeing the rise of private talent ecosystems: <strong>Who do we trust and can rely on<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And increasingly, this is expanding into something broader: <strong>communities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spaces where freelancers aren\u2019t just brought in for projects, but stay connected, engaged, and visible. Because freelancers don\u2019t operate in isolation. They exchange experiences, recommend clients, and remember how they were treated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201c97% of freelancers won\u2019t return after a bad experience \u2014 and they tell others.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>A single bad experience doesn\u2019t just end one collaboration, it can ripple outward. Not as a branding issue, but as a real limitation on future access to talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The future is hybrid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead, the structure of teams is changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of fixed roles and static teams, companies are moving toward more flexible setups: <strong>a mix of employees, freelancers, and AI working together<\/strong> depending on the problem at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matthew described the future with a simple model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>40% employees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>40% freelancers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>20% AI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal shifts from filling positions to building the right combination of skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that unlocks something powerful: you\u2019re no longer limited to the people you\u2019ve already hired. You can assemble the best possible team for each challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The human side that gets overlooked<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For all the talk about strategy and systems, there\u2019s also a very human layer to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Freelancers don\u2019t have the same safety nets as employees. There\u2019s no guaranteed income, no built-in support structure. Which means that everyday issues (e.g. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-late-payments-as-a-freelancer\/\">late payments<\/a>, unclear briefs, lack of communication) carry more weight than companies often realise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not because companies intend to create a bad experience, but because the experience was never really designed in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And those small issues add up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cAlmost half of the negative impact on freelancers\u2019 mental health comes from clients.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The simplest shift that makes a difference<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s striking is that improving this doesn\u2019t necessarily require complex systems or major investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, it starts with something much simpler: a conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asking freelancers how they prefer to work.<br>What they need to deliver their best work.<br>What has worked well for them in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s an easy step to skip, but also one of the most impactful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because freelancers already know how to work effectively. They do it every day, across different clients and environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The real question is whether companies are willing to tap into that knowledge and actually listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start every project with a 45-minute \u201chow we work together\u201d conversation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build a simple list (even in Google Sheets) of freelancers you trust and reuse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure 3 basics: clear scope, fast onboarding, and on-time payment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/registration?ref=blog-com-podcast-matthew-knight\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"274\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-1024x274.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47751 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-1024x274.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-300x80.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-768x206.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-1536x411.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-2048x549.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-1920x514.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-720x193.png 720w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-580x155.png 580w, https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/banner-right-expert-320x86.png 320w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/274;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most freelance engagements start the same way: there\u2019s a gap, a deadline, and a quick search for someone who can help. But what if that approach is exactly the problem? In this episode, we\u2019re joined by Matthew Knight, an award-winning independent strategist and Chief Freelance Officer at The Independency Co., and we unpack why reactive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48054,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3008,4189],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-podcast"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Smart Companies Build Freelance Networks | TIW Podcast<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How leading companies build trusted freelance networks? 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