15 Minute Freelancer

When was the last time you took a whole week off from your business, switched off your emails, and relaxed?

We all need time off to recharge our batteries, but as freelancers, many of us find it really difficult to take a proper break. 

In this solo episode, I share my tips for how to take time off without worrying that your business will disappear while you're gone, including;

• How to plan for your break
• Budgeting for a pause in income
• How to tell clients you will be away
• How to step away from those emails and enjoy your well-earned time off

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

A podcast episode about podcasting! Have you ever considered appearing as a podcast guest to share what you do with a new audience - or even start your own podcast as a way to get freelance clients?

My guest is Anne Claessen, founder of Podcast Babes, and in this episode, she shares with us her tips and tricks on how to use podcasting to grow your freelance business.

In our conversation, we cover:

• How podcast guesting is an underrated way for freelancers to grow their businesses
• How to pitch yourself as the perfect podcast guest (and who to pitch!)
• How to prepare and be a great podcast guest
• What it takes to build a successful podcast

Say hi to Anne:

Website:thepodcastbabes.com/
Instagram: @thepodcastbabes
Facebook: @thepodcastbabes
Pinterest: @thepodcastbabes

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

How to position yourself in the market and set your rates can be one of the biggest challenges as a freelancer.  If you can't describe your services, process and value in a way that resonates with clients, you'll struggle to charge the rates you'd like.

Maybe you know you're undercharging, or you want to move away from using an hourly rate that you KNOW isn't working for you, but you just aren’t sure how to sell your new pricing to your clients.

In this episode, I chat to Samantha Anderl and Andrea Wildt, who are the founders of Harlow. Harlow is an all-in-one freelancing tool to provide the resources, templates and workflows that you need to run a thriving freelance business.

In our conversation, we cover:

• The pitfalls freelancers can fall into with pricing
• How to demonstrate the value you bring to a client
• Why you should set project rates than an hourly rate
• When you should (and shouldn’t) compare your rates to other freelancers
• How consistent messaging and a compelling story can help you charge more.

Resources on pricing:

https://meetharlow.com/guides/freelancer101/how-to-figure-out-your-pricing/
https://meetharlow.com/blog/when-to-raise-your-freelance-rates/
https://meetharlow.com/blog/how-to-discuss-freelancer-fees-with-your-clients/

Say hi to Samantha and Andrea:

Harlow: meetharlow.com

Twitter: @MeetHarlow
LinkedIn: Harlow
Instagram: @meetharlow
Facebook: MeetHarlow
TikTok: @meetharlow

Samantha’s Twitter: @SamanthaAnderl
Andrea’s Twitter: @thelittlestflea

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

In this episode, Louise is joined by Fi Shailes to talk about what it's like running a freelance business while also holding down a full time job. Fi works at award-winning B2B marketing agency twogether as a social strategist, and is a part-time freelance content writer. Here, Fi shares:

• The advantages and disadvantages of having a foot in each camp
• How she balances her workload and manages her time
• Thoughts on marketing yourself and finding freelance clients while still employed
• How to manage client communications and expectations
• What to tell your current employer about your freelance work

Mentioned in this episode:

Content Club UK: #ContentClubUK

Say hi to Fi:

LinkedIn: Fi Shailes
Twitter: @WritefulCopy
Website & blog: https://writefulcopy.com
LinkedIn newsletter: Content Therapy

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. All donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated!

When SaaS writer and content consultant Annabel Fay lost almost all of her clients overnight at the start of the pandemic, she wrote to 200 of her LinkedIn contacts and asked for a favour... 

On this episode, Annabel shares her steb-by-step approach to LinkedIn referral hacking and how it might help you grow your freelance business:

• How to decide who to contact (it may not be your actual target)
• What to say in your initial message (and what not to say)
• How to keep track of hundreds of responses and conversations
• Should you offer a referral fee to people who put in a good word?

Connect with Annabel on LinkedIn: Annabel Fay

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

On this episode, Louise is joined by freelance podcasting royalty! Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland are not just co-hosts of the brilliant Doing It For The Kids podcast, but they've also been co-mentoring each other as freelance business owners (with kids and mammoth side projects) over the last few years. Here, they share their experience of co-mentoring and the impact it's had on their businesses and their lives. Listen in to hear:

• What is co-mentoring and how it can change your business (and your life!)
• Why it's so important to have someone to cheer you on and challenge you
• Frankie and Steve's top tips for structuring a co-mentoring session
• Where to find the right co-mentor (and how to ask them)
• Pros and cons of co-mentoring vs. masterminds

Say hi to Frankie and Steve:

Frankie Tortora is a freelance graphic designer and founder of Doing It For The Kids, a community for parents who work freelance. Steve Folland is a freelance video and podcast creator and founder of the Being Freelance community.

Doing It For The Kids

Website: https://www.doingitforthekids.net/
Podcast: https://www.doingitforthekids.net/diftk-podcast/
Facebook group: Doing It For The Kids: Community
Instagram:  @doingitforthekids_

Being Freelance

Website: https://www.beingfreelance.com/
Podcast: https://www.beingfreelance.com/the-best-freelance-podcast
Course: How to get started being freelance
Facebook group: Being Freelance Community

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. All donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated!

Who's on your imaginary board of directors? In this episode, Louise shares a fun strategy for figuring out business problems with a little help from your (imaginary) business friends).

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. All donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated!

In this episode, freelance copywriter and LinkedIn superstar Dave Harland shares his unique approach to making marketing fun. Dave's known for stirring up trouble on LinkedIn, poking fun at self-acclaimed thought leaders and brightening up the feed for the rest of us. Here, he breaks down his strategy and tells us:

• How he uses humour and parody to stand out on LinkedIn
• How he creates content and manages his time on social media
• Selling silliness to serious stakeholders
• How his marketing has changed over the years
• What he'd do if he was just starting out
• Uncle Tony's response to clients that shift the goalposts

Discovery calls – those introductory conversations with prospective new clients where you size each other up and decide if you want to work together – are often seen as an essential part of securing new business. But for some freelancers, they're a major source of stress, wasted time and frustration. 

Imagine if you could skip them altogether! In this episode, PR expert Kerri Watt shares how she sets up her processes to avoid time-consuming discovery calls and focus only on her most valuable leads:

• How to avoid time wasters who are just after free advice
• When you *should* take the call
• How to make it easy for people to buy from you
• Why you should write your own business rules and take ownership of your time

Mentioned on this episode:

Get your copy of Kerri's free checklist, PR in 15 Minutes: https://mailchi.mp/1b9144ae70fc/pr-in-15-minutes-freebie

Say hi to Kerri:

LinkedIn: /kerrilwatt
Twitter: @KerriLWatt
Website: https://www.kerrilwatt.co.uk/

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. All donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated!

As a freelancer, it's lovely to get that little ping in your inbox from someone saying you've been recommended as the number one person to help with their next project.

But those referrals don't just happen by accident. There's plenty you can be actively doing to make sure that you are making yourself as referrable as possible.

In this solo episode, I talk about:

• How you can become the first name that comes to mind for a referral
• My five top tips for getting referrals
• What not to do when requesting a referral
• How to stand out from the crowd and make sure it's YOUR name that is passed around.

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. All donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated!