Many freelancers think working anonymously for agencies is a waste of time. I completely disagree with that view.
For the past several years, I’ve maintained consistent monthly contracts with major creative firms. Everything is confidential - no portfolio pieces, no testimonials, nothing I can share publicly. But this behind-the-scenes work has been the foundation of my freelance success.
When my own clients went quiet, these contracts covered my bills. They provided reliable income and taught me how professional studios handle projects and communicate with their clients. The steady cash flow from these gigs allowed me to be selective with higher-paying direct clients and focus on the creative work I’m passionate about.
I’m sharing this because I wish someone had told me this when I started freelancing. Anonymous agency work isn’t glamorous, but it’s practical and it works.
for sure, mike! i’ve been in the same boat for a while now, it’s saved my butt during dry spells. people tend to want the glam clients, but that reliable cash flow from agency work is what pays the bills, am i right? lol
This hits home for me. Getting steady anonymous contracts completely changed how I dealt with clients. I stopped taking every crappy project just because I was broke and could actually turn down work that didn’t pay well or felt wrong. Watching how established agencies ran things taught me tons about setting up my own systems. Sure, these gigs never made it into my portfolio, but they gave me something better - the freedom to take on projects I actually cared about without stressing about rent. Trading some recognition for financial security? Totally worth it, especially when you’re starting out and everything’s unpredictable.
Anonymous contracts taught me discipline I never had working solo. When you’re stuck with an agency’s deadlines and quality standards, you build habits that carry over to your own projects. The pressure to deliver solid work without direct client relationships forces you to actually get good at what you do. What surprised me most? These contracts made me way better at negotiating with direct clients. Having baseline income meant I could quote what I’m actually worth instead of whatever desperate number popped into my head. Clients respect confidence, and nothing builds confidence like knowing your bills are covered whether they say yes or no.
Anonymous work gets a bad rap, but it saved my career when I was going from employee to freelancer. Had this agency that kept throwing backend projects at me for their big clients. Never saw my name on anything, but the money was good.
What really opened my eyes was their dev processes. These guys had everything locked down - code reviews, testing pipelines, client workflows. Got a masterclass in running a professional shop while getting paid.
Best part? When their main client wanted to expand, the agency recommended me directly. Became one of my biggest long-term contracts. Sometimes staying under the radar beats chasing the spotlight.
There’s a good discussion covering the contractor angle:
Bottom line - steady income beats portfolio bragging rights when you’re building something that lasts.
more freelancers should try this instead of burning out chasin “dream clients” that don’t exist. i’ve watched talentd people quit freelancing bc they thought anonymous work was beneath them. i’m paying my mortgage with boring corporate contracts. the stability lets you build a real busines instead of just surviving project to project.
