Over the past few years LinkedIn has become an incredibly powerful lead-generating and prospecting tool for freelancers. We've talked about it before on the show. And for Steve Maurer, LinkedIn has been an indispensable business-generating tool. Steve is an industrial manufacturing and safety copywriter. And he's figured out how to turn LinkedIn into his most productive and reliable lead generating vehicle. In this podcast episode you'll hear exactly how Steve does this...

Ever go weeks prospecting for clients without something to show for it? You "knock" on what seems like a ton of doors. But no one seems to be interested. And when you finally get a response, it's something along the lines of "I'll keep your information on file..." It's exhausting, isn't it? In this week's episode I explain why this happens... and what you can do about it.

Millennials tend to get a bad rap. The stereotype is that of a spoiled, unemployed and highly educated 25-year-old living in mom and dad's basement... playing video games, spending inordinate amounts of time on social media, binge-watching Netflix and just trying to "find their way." Sure, they may not have the spending power and wealth of Boomers. But it's also unfair to lump them all into one category and assume they don't matter. Because they do! And as a writer and copywriter, there's a good chance that you'll soon have to write for this demographic. In this episode you'll hear from my friend and colleague Kelly King of the 80-20 Agency. Kelly is a talented marketing strategist who has built a marketing firm that helps companies connect with Millennials. She'll explain how Millennials think differently... what their attitudes and values are... what they look for in a product or service... four common myths about this generation... and what writers and copywriters need to understand if they want their message to connect with them.

My guest this week is Jeanne Noorman. Jeanne faced a number of challenges when she decided to start her freelance writing business after being a stay-at-home mom since 1985. She had little in the way of a career she could draw from—and no professional network. Yet she overcame the odds and today is a thriving freelance writer. This is Jeanne's uncut story. You'll hear about her struggles... the number of times she thought about giving up... what she did to push through all the obstacles... and the five recommendations she has for new freelancers...

If you're starting out as a freelance writer or copywriter, you're going to love this podcast interview. My guest is Hannah Glenn, a Los Angeles–based freelance writer. Hannah went through my B2B Biz Launcher 2.0 coaching program a while back. And she's a perfect of example of someone who didn't rely on luck to get ahead. She had to work. And she had to work hard. A few important points you'll hear in this interview: You don't necessarily need to have a previous career in a specific field in order to work in that field as a freelance writer or copywriter. You will make changes and adjustments to your positioning and your niche once you get out there—even if you spend months pre-planning. Steady and deliberate action are key. So are baby steps. Serendipity only happens when you start taking action. Don't have samples? Or may your samples are not that impressive? That's OK, start where you are with what you've got! And get creative. Be resourceful! (You'll see what Hannah did.) And much, much more...

I've been fascinated by why some people do consistently well and why others seem to struggle. And why so many fail despite the fact that they're smarter than average... have more financial resources than the average person... have better skills... a great personality... or great looks. After working with more than 300 freelancers at all levels (from newbies to six-figure earners), I've reached some very interesting conclusions...

Writing sales pages, landing pages, long-form content or detailed articles is not easy. Getting started can be a drag. Writer's block is often a problem. And even when you get going, it's difficult to get and maintain momentum. But what if you started writing the piece from the bottom up? What if that bottom-up method helped you create a quicker and far superior product? In this episode, New Zealand-based marketing and persuasion expert Sean D'Souza explains his bottom-up method of writing... and why it's more effective than the traditional top-to-bottom approach many of us use.

There's no denying that smart creative professionals are finding unique ways to drum up quality leads and build trust with good prospects online. My guest this week is a perfect example of this. Her name is Kaleigh Moore. She's a freelance writer, and she's experienced great success as a freelancer in a very short amount of time. In this interview she explains how she generates prospects online. How she builds relationships and trust by adding value. And how she leverages these wins to create a positive domino effect in her business.

In this week's episode we're going to talk about crappy clients — or "clients from hell," as my guest calls them. ;-) My guest is Bryce Bladon. Bryce is an award-winning writer, creative consultant and strategist, and editor-in-chief of Clients From Hell, a blog that collects anonymously contributed client horror stories from the front lines of the freelancing industry. He also hosts a podcast of the same name. Yes, we'll vent a little. But we'll also talk about how you can identify these "problem children" before they unleash hell. More specifically, how to handle these difficult situations with grace and professionalism.

Engaging with freelancer professionals (across different industries) brings many benefits to freelance writers. Designer and freelancer Emily Leach explains in the HIBW podcast.