In the last decade, thanks to prolific downsizing and outsourcing across the business landscape, Corporate America is doing more with less. Fewer people, less resources, smaller budgets. The creative, marketing and communication departments are being scaled back or eliminated altogether. As a result, many organizations rely heavily on well-paid freelancers to get their work done – and not just because they have to.

Corporations outsource for good solid business reasons: They pay for what they need, only when they need it. They get fresh “outsider” perspectives. No salaries, vacations or benefits to pay (as a freelancer, I’m more than willing to take care of those things myself). And given the wide variety of writing projects, a stable of talented freelancers, each with different strengths, ensures the best writer for the job. Contrary to what you might read in the paper, downsizing and outsourcing have created some phenomenal opportunities for the independent and entrepreneurial-minded out there.

Add the countless opportunities with smaller companies that don’t have budgets for either those creative departments or high-priced agencies, but nonetheless, still need to create a wide variety of marketing materials. Put it all together and it spells rich opportunities for freelancers.