A Conversation with Aaron Anderson and the Importance of Writing from an Executive Point-of-View
** This article started as a live conversation with Aaron and was condensed with the original quotes left intact for context.
Featuring: Aaron Anderson, CEO of FlexTal
In this SnoQap Spotlight, we talk with Aaron Anderson, CEO of FlexTal, a platform that connects companies with freelance talent across writing, design, and editing. Aaron shares his unique journey from professional editing to low-code automation and how he’s using these experiences to support freelancers and help businesses find the right talent.
"[Freelance writing] is really competitive. It takes a while to build an online brand and presence for yourself. So if you are not there yet, just pick a brand or a company that you really resonate with, and send a message to anyone there to say, “Hey, I really like your brand and I would love to write an article.” Or just write an article and post it on your LinkedIn and tag that company. So there's a lot of things that you can do to get yourself in there and start writing. I think there's so many options. You can write per word, per article you can get on an hourly basis. There's just a lot of variety. So test them out and put yourself out there!"
— Aaron Anderson
The Journey to FlexTal: From Low-Code Tools to Freelance Talent Matching
Aaron’s career began with a focus on low-code integration at his company Integrate, where he helped businesses streamline processes and reduce costs through efficient automation tools. This background laid the foundation for his current role as CEO of FlexTal, where he leads a team dedicated to matching freelance professionals—especially copy writers, marketers, and developers—with companies in need of their expertise.
Editing as a Foundation for Success
Aaron’s roots in editing go back to his college years at UC Santa Barbara, where he studied professional editing. He spent time editing the school newspaper and eventually worked with a nonprofit, helping people re-enter the workforce by writing and editing resumes and cover letters. This experience not only gave Aaron a passion for editing but also helped him realize how essential strong written communication is in the job market.
"I’ve always loved editing—taking something that’s good and making it great. It’s been amazing to see how effective editing can elevate a person’s resume, cover letter, or even a company’s content."
— Aaron Anderson
Adapting in 2024: The Changing Role of Resumes, Cover Letters, and LinkedIn
Aaron emphasizes that while traditional resumes remain important, the role of LinkedIn in career-building has expanded. He advises early-career professionals to maintain an updated LinkedIn profile and focus on authenticity in cover letters. With an increasing reliance on AI-generated content, the ability to write with a personal, genuine touch has become more valuable.
"Everyone still needs a resume and needs to keep it up to date. However, LinkedIn, is just as critical, if not a bit more critical. LinkedIn has social proof where you can see that people have recommended you, your work experience to showcase skills, and also groups that you're part of, key influencers that you follow, and networks. It allows you to really build out your profile. A LinkedIn profile is pretty much what's gotten me most of the jobs that I have had since 2014 onwards and has made most of the connections that I have in my professional network today."
— Aaron Anderson
The Importance of Writing for Career Development
Aaron stresses the critical role writing plays in both personal and professional development. For college students and early-career professionals, writing is a powerful tool that can be leveraged to express ideas, showcase expertise, and build a professional portfolio. Whether through school newspapers, blogs, or online communities like Reddit, Aaron encourages aspiring writers to start small and build confidence by sharing their work.
Aaron believes that engaging in writing activities, no matter how small, can lead to significant opportunities. By consistently writing and sharing content, individuals can develop their voice, gain valuable feedback, and establish a strong personal brand that resonates with potential employers and collaborators.
"This is your motivation for anyone who's reading this to get involved with your school newspaper. It took me until my senior year to do it, and I wish I would've started when I was a freshman… I didn't feel like I had the confidence or ability to, or I couldn't validate if I was actually good at [writing].
I think networking in a community is the best thing that a writer can have because you have so much to learn from other people's perspectives.So whatever you are writing for, I would say find a niche and you don't have to lock yourself into that forever for your entire career, but get something that you're genuinely curious about.
Look at one of the subreddits that you follow and that you keep going back to and start there because you should already know a lot about that particular topic or that subject. And then start to look at the types of links or posts that are going on there and post stuff. Reddit's a phenomenal opportunity for you to just put yourself out there. You don't make any money on it, but you get experience to just be comfortable putting stuff out there. And you also get direct feedback. You can see what people are up voting or not up voting. ust put snippets out there in the world to see what resonates. "
— Aaron Anderson
How to Stay in Touch with Aaron Anderson
To connect with Aaron directly, you can follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronjesseanderson/
Want to be featured in an episode of SnoQap Spotlight? Contact Ben at ben.chimento@snoqap.com
