Dear Marketing Leaders,
We need to talk. And by "we," I mean the collective freelance community that's watching you manage talent relationships like it's still 2003.
According to our 2025 Team Up survey, a staggering 78% of companies are still using "basic tools within the department to maintain a go-to list of proven freelancers and contractors (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets)." Let me repeat that: 78 percent. In the year 2025. When we have AI assistants that can practically run our social media campaigns for us, you're still tracking your most valuable creative partners in the same platform where you keep your holiday card addresses. That’s a lot of tabs. A lot of color-coded chaos. A lot of people who could accidentally overwrite the one cell that had the contact info for your unicorn UX writer.
It's time for an intervention.
Why Spreadsheets Are Failing You (and Your Freelancers)
Version Control Is a Spreadsheet's Evil Twin. Ever tried finding “THE most current version” of the freelancer list? Was it in “Freelancers_2025_v2_REAL_FINAL.xlsx”? Or maybe “Q3_Talent_Master_Copy_Maybe”? Either way, someone’s been ghosted because Susan in Procurement sent the 2023 list.
Freelancer Info Isn’t Static—So Why Is Your Tool? Freelancers evolve. They gain new skills, raise rates, and change availability. A spreadsheet doesn’t ping you when your favorite animator switches to full-time work or when your go-to copywriter picks up GenAI wizardry. You’re left in the dark while another company snaps them up.
No Collaboration, Just Confusion. Everyone adds freelancers in their “own style.” Bob from creative uses all caps and emojis. Marketing interns drop in personal notes like “good vibes.” Suddenly, your “database” looks like a Pinterest board. Searchable? Not really. Reliable? You wish.
What You Need Instead: An Actual System
You wouldn’t manage your customers in a spreadsheet anymore (hello, CRM tools). So why are you managing your freelance talent that way?
What you need is:
- A central spot where freelancer info updates automatically or with simple prompts.
- Filtering by skills, location, past project fit, not “Ctrl+F”
- Built-in collaboration: No more side Slacks about “Do you trust that designer that Sam used last March?”
- Automated invites, SOWs, and compliance steps: Because you didn’t get into marketing to become a contract chaser.
But “It’s Just Easier to Keep a Sheet…”
We get it. Spreadsheets feel safe. They’re already in your Drive. They’ve been your security blanket. But at what cost?
- Hours spent maintaining and cleaning data.
- Missed opportunities with ready-to-go talent.
- Frustrated colleagues trying to find “that video editor from last year.”
- A workflow which relies on institutional knowledge that falls apart the moment someone goes on PTO or leaves altogether.
Let’s face it: If Excel were a coworker, you’d have politely told them to stop showing up to meetings months ago.
There’s a Better Way (You and Your Freelancers Deserve It)
Your freelancers are strategic partners, not line items in a budget spreadsheet. They're the ones who help you scale during busy periods, bring specialized expertise to complex projects, and often deliver some of your best creative work. They deserve better than being managed like office supplies.
In addition, you deserve better than spending your valuable time playing digital detective every time you need to find a freelancer. You became a marketing leader to build great campaigns and grow businesses, not to be a spreadsheet archaeologist.
Spreadsheets were never designed to manage something as dynamic, nuanced, and mission critical as your freelance talent pool. The good news? You have far better options now—and they're built specifically for how modern marketing and digital teams operate.
Instead of hacking together a system across tabs, Slack messages, and outdated rows, imagine this:
A Talent Marketplace That Thinks Like You
Need a UX designer with fintech experience available next week? Done. Platforms like Wripple connect you with vetted freelancers and freelance teams based on skills, availability, and the needs of your project, and in real-time. No more digging through old emails or playing spreadsheet detective.
All Your Freelancers, All in One Place
Your trusted freelancers deserve more than a mention in a cell. Freelance management software (yes, including Wripple’s Private Talent Cloud solution) helps you organize your go-to talent in one central, searchable space. You can track availability, project history, hourly rates, and more, all without 47 follow-ups.
Built-in Workflows That Work
Say goodbye to chasing paperwork. The right platform handles everything from onboarding and contracting to automated SOWs and time tracking. That means faster project starts, fewer admin headaches, and happier freelancers (and legal teams).
A Real-Time View of Your Extended Team
Wripple, and tools like it, provide visibility across departments, so everyone from Creative to Procurement is on the same page. No more siloed lists or turf wars over “whose freelancer” is available.
To learn more about any or all of these solutions, contact your Wripple Client Lead, or
request a demo.Dear Marketing Leaders,
We need to talk. And by "we," I mean the collective freelance community that's watching you manage talent relationships like it's still 2003.
According to our 2025 Team Up survey, a staggering 78% of companies are still using "basic tools within the department to maintain a go-to list of proven freelancers and contractors (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets)." Let me repeat that: 78 percent. In the year 2025. When we have AI assistants that can practically run our social media campaigns for us, you're still tracking your most valuable creative partners in the same platform where you keep your holiday card addresses. That’s a lot of tabs. A lot of color-coded chaos. A lot of people who could accidentally overwrite the one cell that had the contact info for your unicorn UX writer.
It's time for an intervention.
Why Spreadsheets Are Failing You (and Your Freelancers)
Version Control Is a Spreadsheet's Evil Twin. Ever tried finding “THE most current version” of the freelancer list? Was it in “Freelancers_2025_v2_REAL_FINAL.xlsx”? Or maybe “Q3_Talent_Master_Copy_Maybe”? Either way, someone’s been ghosted because Susan in Procurement sent the 2023 list.
Freelancer Info Isn’t Static—So Why Is Your Tool? Freelancers evolve. They gain new skills, raise rates, and change availability. A spreadsheet doesn’t ping you when your favorite animator switches to full-time work or when your go-to copywriter picks up GenAI wizardry. You’re left in the dark while another company snaps them up.
No Collaboration, Just Confusion. Everyone adds freelancers in their “own style.” Bob from creative uses all caps and emojis. Marketing interns drop in personal notes like “good vibes.” Suddenly, your “database” looks like a Pinterest board. Searchable? Not really. Reliable? You wish.
What You Need Instead: An Actual System
You wouldn’t manage your customers in a spreadsheet anymore (hello, CRM tools). So why are you managing your freelance talent that way?
What you need is:
- A central spot where freelancer info updates automatically or with simple prompts.
- Filtering by skills, location, past project fit, not “Ctrl+F”
- Built-in collaboration: No more side Slacks about “Do you trust that designer that Sam used last March?”
- Automated invites, SOWs, and compliance steps: Because you didn’t get into marketing to become a contract chaser.
But “It’s Just Easier to Keep a Sheet…”
We get it. Spreadsheets feel safe. They’re already in your Drive. They’ve been your security blanket. But at what cost?
- Hours spent maintaining and cleaning data.
- Missed opportunities with ready-to-go talent.
- Frustrated colleagues trying to find “that video editor from last year.”
- A workflow which relies on institutional knowledge that falls apart the moment someone goes on PTO or leaves altogether.
Let’s face it: If Excel were a coworker, you’d have politely told them to stop showing up to meetings months ago.
There’s a Better Way (You and Your Freelancers Deserve It)
Your freelancers are strategic partners, not line items in a budget spreadsheet. They're the ones who help you scale during busy periods, bring specialized expertise to complex projects, and often deliver some of your best creative work. They deserve better than being managed like office supplies.
In addition, you deserve better than spending your valuable time playing digital detective every time you need to find a freelancer. You became a marketing leader to build great campaigns and grow businesses, not to be a spreadsheet archaeologist.
Spreadsheets were never designed to manage something as dynamic, nuanced, and mission critical as your freelance talent pool. The good news? You have far better options now—and they're built specifically for how modern marketing and digital teams operate.
Instead of hacking together a system across tabs, Slack messages, and outdated rows, imagine this:
A Talent Marketplace That Thinks Like You
Need a UX designer with fintech experience available next week? Done. Platforms like Wripple connect you with vetted freelancers and freelance teams based on skills, availability, and the needs of your project, and in real-time. No more digging through old emails or playing spreadsheet detective.
All Your Freelancers, All in One Place
Your trusted freelancers deserve more than a mention in a cell. Freelance management software (yes, including Wripple’s Private Talent Cloud solution) helps you organize your go-to talent in one central, searchable space. You can track availability, project history, hourly rates, and more, all without 47 follow-ups.
Built-in Workflows That Work
Say goodbye to chasing paperwork. The right platform handles everything from onboarding and contracting to automated SOWs and time tracking. That means faster project starts, fewer admin headaches, and happier freelancers (and legal teams).
A Real-Time View of Your Extended Team
Wripple, and tools like it, provide visibility across departments, so everyone from Creative to Procurement is on the same page. No more siloed lists or turf wars over “whose freelancer” is available.
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