Hire the Best Strategic Thinking Freelancers in California

Hello! I am a creative freelance graphic designer and video editor with a passion for bringing ideas to life through visually compelling content. With a strong background in marketing and operations, I combine strategic thinking with artistic flair to help brands effectively communicate their message. What I Offer: Graphic Design: I specialize in creating eye-catching designs for social media, websites, and promotional materials. Whether you need logos, infographics, or marketing collateral, I can help elevate your brand’s visual identity. Video Editing: I provide full-service video editing, from initial concept development to final post-production. My expertise includes color grading, sound editing, and effects integration, ensuring your videos are polished and professional. Why Work With Me? Client-Centric Approach: I believe in understanding your unique vision and goals. My focus is on collaboration and clear communication to ensure the final product exceeds your expectations. Quality & Timeliness: I am committed to delivering high-quality work on time, every time. I understand the importance of deadlines and strive to meet them without compromising quality. Diverse Experience: With experience in both the corporate and creative sectors, I bring a well-rounded perspective to each project. My background in marketing allows me to design with a strategic mindset, ensuring your materials not only look great but also achieve your business objectives. Let's Collaborate! If you’re looking for a dedicated designer and editor who can help you stand out in a crowded market, I’d love to hear from you! Let’s bring your vision to life together.

👉 Top Rated Plus and Expert Vetted - One of the top management consultants on Upwork 👈 Do you own an agency, consultancy, or service business? If your business can’t survive without you because... 😒 You play a major role in guiding client strategy. 😧 There’s no one in a high-level operations role on your team. 😖 You’re the main driver of revenue at your company. Then keep reading... Does the thought of a three-week vacation excite you... then fill you with anxiety about your business? I know how you feel. I’ve been there myself. ❌ You’re frustrated that your team can’t run your business without you. ❌ Your business is preventing you from living your dream life. ❌ Another year of anemic growth and you’ll pull your hair out! It doesn't have to be this way! You know this. You just don't know how to get there. You’re in luck. I’ve built a system that will level-up your business, shift your mindset, and deliver MASSIVE improvements in operations, revenue, and your quality of life. Are you ready for: ✅ A growth SYSTEM that pours rocket fuel into your business 🚀 ✅ Crystal clarity on how to put your business to work for you 💎 ✅ Overcoming the anxiety keeping you chained inside your business ⛓ (the thinking that got you here will KEEP you there!) ✅ OWNING a businesses instead of operating one 💪 I've delivered & implemented strategies that have: 💥 Scaled an agency from $150k to $4mil ARR in 10 months 💥 Increased a digital marketing agency’s productivity levels by over 450%, dramatically increasing profitability 💥 Streamlined a SaaS product’s roadmap, reducing development costs by 45% while increasing execution speed by over 25%. 💥 Developed and executing a repositioning strategy that landed a web development agency a long-term contract with a Fortune 100 company 💥 Repositioned of an app development agency that grew recurring revenue from 2% to over 50% of total revenue within three month 💥 Built a sales organization of 65 sales people in two years 💥 Orchestrated & executed a legal & and business strategy that lead to a sale of key assets of a SaaS platform for a significant premium over the market value of the company The results speak for themselves: “Working with Brian has transformed my business. And more than that - my outlook and perspective on life. Revenue... we skyrocketed 260% in just 90 days! A genuine, thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable coach who gets results!" "Brian is intelligent, well spoken, and a brilliant strategist. In a short time he helped me get crystal clear on the next steps in my business. Two months ago I was working 60 hours a week. Today I’m down to 40 hours and working towards 30! Worth every penny." Are you tired of small, incremental improvements? Are you ready to make a REAL change in your business and your life? Then let's talk. A bit more about the guy behind these achievements (me!): I'm a 15-year veteran entrepreneur, I've got three 7-figure exits under my belt, I've coached & consulted over 1000 entrepreneurs. I’m not corporate. I won’t make you corporate. I challenge convention and I will challenge YOU. DISCLAIMER: Upwork makes me use my first name - but no one else does. Most people know me as S. Brian Smith, or just Brian 😁

I have a history of high success in both the corporate and startup worlds: - Founded Hiperwall, grew it into a global multi-million-dollar business without investors - Managed Zetera global sales, marketing and manufacturing, helped raise over $20M - Part of the 4 person team that launched the Westinghouse line of LCD televisions - Oversaw a corporate turn-around at Premier mounts, restoring profitability and growth - Grew Canon computer sales by over 20% while increasing gross margin by 13% - Increased Compaq notebook sales by 50% to $500M annually in less than 1 year - Received a Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America, their highest award I began my career as a software engineer, working for large enterprises like McDonnell Douglass and Xerox, as well as startup Dayflo, named software company of the year by PC Magazine. Over time, I transitioned to a technical marketing role, then through product management, brand management, strategic planning and eventually into general management. In 2000 I shifted my focus to the world of hi-tech startups. Since that time, I have worked exclusively for emerging companies as a consultant, employee, advisor, board member or founder. I am an adjunct college professor, teaching start-up skills to would-be entrepreneurs. I hold multiple granted patents, with additional patents pending, and am a published author whose work has appeared in preeminent publications such as PC Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, PC Computing and Digital Signage Magazine.

I'm a B2B SaaS content marketer with over 10 years of experience helping companies turn complex products into content that earns attention and drives measurable growth. I look for ways to get the most mileage out of every piece of content I create, repurposing and adapting assets across formats and channels so the work compounds instead of starting from scratch each time. I've built content programs from the ground up, grown organic traffic and social engagement, and produced everything from webinars and videos to case studies and long-form SEO content. What I bring: Content strategy and execution across the full funnel. I've built blog, email, social, and webinar programs that connect to actual business goals, not just publishing calendars. At Conga (a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader), I grew blog engaged sessions by 105%, engagement rate by 56%, and total views by 34%, while doubling social engagement and launching an employee advocacy program. I also worked with the web team to optimize content for SEO, AEO, and GEO, so it performs across traditional search and AI-driven answer engines. Webinar programs and video content. I rebuilt a stalled webinar program at Conga from scratch, owning planning, speaker coordination, promotion, live execution, and follow-up, and I partner closely with stakeholders across the business to keep every campaign aligned. I've also produced SME video interviews, translating subject matter expertise into content audiences want to watch. SEO and organic growth. At VisualSP, I built and executed a content strategy that grew organic search traffic by more than 500% in a year, and increased LinkedIn visibility by 46% through a targeted thought leadership approach. When one piece of content significantly outperformed the rest, I used that signal to shift strategy and secure a co-marketing placement with Microsoft. Customer storytelling. I've written customer case studies and hosted live webinar roundtables built to let customers tell their own story, giving prospects proof instead of promises. Knowledge base and lifecycle content. At UNIFI Labs (acquired by Autodesk), I owned the entire knowledge base, writing every article and building two certification courses, while managing an automated onboarding nurture program that surfaced NPS scores for advocacy and upsell targeting. AI-assisted content production. I use Claude and Copilot daily and built a Claude-based brand voice tool that my team relied on to keep messaging consistent across contributors. I know where AI speeds up content work and where it needs a human hand. Team and freelancer management. I've directed teams of freelance writers, graphic designers, video designers, and ads specialists, from brief through final edit, keeping quality high no matter how many hands touch a piece. Background: Before content marketing, I spent close to a decade teaching college writing at UC Davis and Sierra College, helping students learn to adapt their voice and message to different audiences and purposes. That foundation shapes how I write today: always with the reader in mind. My freelance and agency experience spans healthcare, financial services, and B2B SaaS. I've written blog content and case studies for healthcare clients, and worked with financial services personas in a CLM/CPQ context. Long before my marketing career, I also spent about 10 years at UC Davis's Environmental Toxicology Department, communicating scientific research to lay audiences, so I'm comfortable making technical or scientific material accessible without oversimplifying it. Tools: WordPress, Mailchimp, Sprout Social, Semrush, Hootsuite, Canva, Google Analytics/GA4, HubSpot, Act-On, Marketo, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Suite, Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot Education: PhD in Education (Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition), UC Davis. MA in English (Composition), Sacramento State University. BA in English, UC Davis. I bring both the strategic thinking to plan a content program and the hands-on skill to execute it, from a single blog post to a full campaign spanning email, webinar, social, and video. If you need content that performs and a partner who can move fast without cutting corners, I'd love to help.

I specialize in end-to-end market research, analysis, and strategy execution, combining my expertise in project management, market intelligence, and copywriting. With a unique background spanning academia, venture capital, and project management, I bring a multidimensional perspective to my work. My process covers everything from conducting in-depth market and competitive research and analysis to presenting findings in a compelling and digestible way. I don’t stop at strategy development—I also handle execution, ensuring strategies are implemented effectively while continuously monitoring and refining them for optimal results. Whether you need actionable insights, strategic implementation, or ongoing performance evaluation, I provide a seamless process that delivers precision, professionalism, and impactful results. Let me help your organization translate data into decisions that drive growth and success.

🏆 TOP RATED TALENT 💯100 % JOB SUCCESS Need actionable insights to grow your business? I’m a proven market research analyst and business consultant with a track record of delivering 5.0-rated results for startups, e-commerce, and edtech clients. Specializing in market research, pricing strategy, go-to-market plans, and copywriting, I help businesses identify high-demand opportunities, optimize strategies, and tell compelling stories. Here’s what I bring to the table: ✅Market Research: Uncovered top-selling digital products for Teachers Pay Teachers and analyzed e-commerce trends (5.0-rated projects). ✅Business Consulting: Crafted go-to-market strategies for HR systems and provided pricing insights for startups (5.0-rated). ✅Copywriting: Delivered engaging case studies and content that drives results (active project with $250 budget). ✅Consultations: Provided high-value 30/60-minute strategy sessions with perfect client feedback (5.0-rated). Whether you’re launching a product, scaling a startup, or refining your HR strategy, I deliver data-driven solutions tailored to your goals. Let’s connect to discuss how I can help you succeed! Skills: ➕Market Research ➕Business Consulting ➕Pricing Strategy ➕Go-To-Market Strategy ➕Copywriting ➕Survey Research ➕Data Analysis ➕HR Consulting ➕Product Research ➕Startup Consulting Recent Portfolio: ➡️Market Research for Teachers Pay Teachers Conducted in-depth analysis to identify high-demand digital products for educators, helping the client target profitable niches. 🧑‍💼 Client Feedback: Ongoing project with strong collaboration. ➡️Go-To-Market Plan for HR Management System Developed a strategic plan to launch an HR system, including market positioning and pricing recommendations. 🧑‍💼Client Feedback: “Outstanding work, delivered actionable insights on time.” ➡️Market Analysis for E-Commerce Product (Glu Gun Holder) Provided competitive analysis and pricing strategies for a niche product, driving informed business decisions. 🧑‍💼Client Feedback: “Exceptional research, highly recommended.” ➡️Copywriting for Case Study Crafting a compelling case study to showcase a client’s success, blending storytelling with data-driven insights. 🧑‍💼Client Feedback: Work in progress with positive collaboration. ➡️Business Strategy Consultations (30/60-Minute Sessions) (5.0 Rating, Multiple Projects) Delivered quick, high-impact sessions) 🚩Business/Financial Planning and Marketing🚩 ✔I excel in developing strategic business plans, conducting market research, and crafting marketing strategies that drive customer acquisition and retention. ✔My experience includes creating RFPs, grant applications, and implementing effective business processes to enhance overall operational efficiency. ✔I have a deep understanding of eCommerce, SaaS, and technology sectors, enabling me to align business strategies with industry trends and best practices. 🚩Data Analytics and Visualization🚩 ✔Proficient in data analytics and using tools such as Excel and Google Sheets to extract valuable insights from complex datasets. ✔Skilled in data visualization techniques, I can create visually appealing dashboards and charts to communicate key findings and facilitate data-driven decision-making. ✔I have a keen eye for identifying patterns, trends, and opportunities hidden within data, enabling businesses to optimize their operations and drive growth. By combining my expertise in business planning, marketing strategy, and data analytics, I can help companies gain a competitive edge, improve financial performance, and make data-informed decisions. My collaborative approach, strong problem-solving skills, and commitment to excellence make me an ideal partner in driving business success. I am available immediately and flexible in terms of rate and working hours. Regardless of time zones, I am committed to building a long-term relationship and delivering exceptional results. Let's discuss how I can contribute to your business objectives.🎯