The Freelance Podclass

How do you leverage traditional and digital PR to land new clients and to grow your opportunities? Today thought leader Brittney Lynn shares important insights on how you can leverage PR to build your freelance business and add clients. Join us as we discuss tips for overcoming imposter syndrome and ways you can offer services in the PR space!

Podcast Outline:

[0:48] Introduction to Brittney Lynn and the topic of leveraging PR to build your freelance business and add clients

[1:47] Brittney shares her story - how she got involved in the PR space.

[5:40] What PR looks like for a freelancer in a digital age - recommendations for when you're just getting started and building your client list.

[9:54] How to overcome imposter syndrome - how it's common with successful entrepreneurs and steps you can take to lessen it.

[13:22] How PR could be a launching pad that leads to other opportunities that diversify your business and provide a more lasting, organic reach than paid advertising.

Steps to Move Forward with a PR Plan to Land New Clients

[16:55] Know where your ideal customer's audience is spending time - how to find the right podcast to pitch and how to focus on the audience. Brittney shares specific advice for making a pitch stand out.

[23:44] Some hallmark characteristics of a good pitch - how to make a pitch concise, personal, clear, and captivating. Brittney gives specific examples of ways you can form your pitch.

[29:06] How writers can prepare themselves to be published in a big publication - examples of ways you can showcase your work and network with other freelance writers.

[32:00] How building a virtual team is a big growth area - tips to know what topics are hot and what you should pitch yourself on.

[34:51] What VAs could do as a service for the PR space - how it's going to become more and more popular as podcasts grow.

[38:54] How to get to know Brittney Lynn

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Learn more about Brittney Lynn:

Brittneyllynn.com

On Instagram - brittneyllynn

On Pinterest - Brittney Lynn | PR + Media for Entrepreneurs

On Facebook - @brittneyllynndotcom

The Human Connection Podcast

Free pitch templates from Brittney Lynn

Pat Flynn Smart Passive Income

Huffington Post (HuffPost)

Forbes

Shannon Mattern

Facebook Ads

Google

Apple Podcast Charts

LinkedIn

Today we're talking about personal branding for freelancers — how do we brand ourselves in a way that attracts our ideal clients? Join us as Christine Lieu explains how to cultivate a distinctive and compelling personal brand for our freelance business. And discover how quirks are actually superpowers that help you stand out and define the key characteristics of your brand!

Podcast Outline:

[0:45] Introduction to Christine Lieu and the topic of personal branding

[2:24] Christine tells her freedom story - how she got started and built her own freelance branding business.

[4:55] The challenge of trading a corporate lifestyle for a lifestyle business - how it's not easy, but the benefits are immeasurable.

[5:41] The definition of a personal brand and why it's important for freelancers - how it's a process, but it takes refinement to make yourself distinctive.

[7:37] The benefits of freelancers spending time on their branding - Christine shares a list of intangible aspects that are often overlooked but should be included in branding.

[8:44] How building a brand is a progression - a helpful analogy to think about when deciding to invest in branding.

[12:08] Some common pitfalls or mistakes businesses or freelancers might make with their branding.

[15:11] How to meld your professional side with your personal side to attract certain types of clients to your business - how it's a controversial topic, but quirks are some of the biggest superpowers and magical traits that help you stand out and define the key characteristics of your brand.

[18:56] The role of social media in cultivating personal brands - how personal and business aspects blend together to create your brand.

[19:34] Steps and strategies to figuring out your personal brand - how to pause and audit aspects like visuals (e.g. color and font choices) and the experiential side (the customer journey).

[23:13] Quick tips for creating an About Page that attracts your audience and shines a spotlight on your brand - how to decide what's appropriate to share to make a connection point.

[27:32] How to learn more about Christine Lieu and her work.

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Learn more about Christine Lieu:

CL Designs christineldesigns.com

The Brand Party podcast

On Instagram - _clieu

Instagram IGTV Channel

Instagram series - 3 things to consider when creating for Instagram

Amazon

Airbnb

Pepsi

Instagram

Zoom

How do you turn a side hustle into a full-time VA or freelance business? Today Shannon Mattern shares her journey from side hustle to self-employed. She explains the mindset she needed to carry her forth and the skills that helped her diversify her income. Join us as we help you discover the traits that will set you apart and make the pivot to freelance freedom!

Podcast Outline:

[0:45] Introduction to Shannon Mattern and the topic of turning a side hustle into a full-time business

[2:15] Shannon tells her freedom story - how she started to build her own path and provide freelance work for clients.

[5:37] How working a regular day job sometimes serves as motivation to pivot back to the freedom of full-time freelancing.

[8:38] The mindset needed to shift from part-time to full-time as a self-employed entrepreneur - Shannon shares the mindset shift and boundaries she needed when she was transitioning to freelance work.

[12:48] The importance of having a positive attitude towards your day job - how it provides a longer on-ramp to freelancing.

[15:08] Signs to be aware of when it's time to pivot to full-time freelancing - Shannon describes the goals she set and signs of burnout she observed.

[18:07] The value of skills sets that help you start your freelance business - how the current need for remote work facilitates starting a side hustle.

[19:13] The steps Shannon took to build a full-time freelance design business - the advantages of WordPress and the lightbulb moment that led to her discovering she could earn more income through teaching and affiliate commissions.

[24:03] Some of the traits a freelance web designer must have to be successful now in 2021 - how your skills and solutions set you apart and let clients know you're the one for them.

[26:50] How skills are the currency that powers your success and diversifies your income - Shannon explains how everything she does now can be traced back to her WordPress skill, and Craig explains how the online learning niche produces diverse income streams.

[30:19] How to learn more about Shannon Mattern

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Learn more about Shannon Mattern:

ShannonMattern.com

"Pep Talks for Side Hustlers" podcast

WordPress

Google

Pat Flynn - Smart Passive Income

How do you make your self-introductions memorable in the context of a virtual world? Today I'm joined by Cynthia Trevino, who'll teach you a framework for making a good first impression. Join us as we explore five steps to creating a memorable self-introduction that stands out, repels non-ideal clients, and attracts your dream clients through online networking!

Podcast Outline:

[0:49] Introduction to Cynthia Trevino and the topic of making self-introductions memorable in a virtual world

[2:39] Cynthia's backstory and how she serves her clients right now

[5:11] Craig shares a story that illustrates the importance of preparing an introduction so people can grasp the business concept you're introducing.

[6:34] How to speak directly to the people you want to serve

[8:03] How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people network to find their ideal clients

Five Steps to Making a Memorable Self-Introduction

[9:53] #1 Decide what you want to accomplish with your self-intro - how to stand out to the right people, your ideal clients.

[11:25] #2 Choose a format - examples illustrating how to connect on a personal level and be intentional using stories that relate to your ideal clients' deepest pain points and desires.

[18:40] #3 Explore how to make yourself more memorable - ways to refine your story and online copy to position it in a way that relates to your clients' problems.

[22:55] #4 Be very specific and repel your non-ideal clients - how to appeal to the people you most want to serve as you niche down your business. Cynthia also shares an example of what to say if your niche is broad at the beginning of your business.

[26:18] #5 Test, rework, and refine - how to choose one of these ideas, practice them, and then listen for the clues (the "tell me more" moment).

[27:18] Recap of the five steps to making a memorable self-intro

[29:39] How your self-intro will morph and evolve over time as you grow in experience or niche down

[30:26] How to get to know Cynthia Trevino and access additional resources

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Learn more about Cynthia Trevino on her website: https://shemarketsmentor.com/

Blog post: "How to Polish Your Pitch and Connect with Ideal Clients" https://shemarketsmentor.com/how-to-polish-your-elevator-pitch-and-connect-with-ideal-clients/

Free Cheat Sheet: "21 Practical Tips to Become a Consistent Content Creator" cynthia123.com https://shemarketsmentor.mykajabi.com/Create_Content_Consistently

Cynthia's book: She Markets: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/She-Markets-Guide-Women-Entrepreneurs/dp/0990825299/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1615426582&sr=8-1

Zoom https://zoom.us/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com

Facebook Groups https://www.facebook.com/groups/

Facebook Ads https://www.facebook.com/business/ads

Facebook Messenger https://www.messenger.com/

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris's https://fourhourworkweek.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/

Today I'm joined by Sandra Booker, who shares her knowledge about running teams, managing teams, and teaching others how to build virtual teams. Especially in light of COVID, where almost every organization around the world has moved to remote teams, this topic has suddenly become even more relevant. We'll discuss how to build virtual teams well, so you can start thinking about building your own team or providing this as an in-demand service to clients!

Podcast Outline:

[0:42] Introduction to Sandra Booker and the topic of virtual teams - Sandra explains how she got started in the freelance and virtual assistant space.

[3:39] Why Sandra built a team - how bringing on more talent helped her expand her services and at the same time train virtual assistants to refer to other business owners.

[4:51] Indicators that it's time to build a team - Sandra and Craig give some important examples and explain why people may feel hesitant to hire a team.

[7:46] The growth opportunity - how spending money to hire people can ultimately bring in more revenue.

[9:49] The headaches of hiring people - how Sandra has worked through them and built a great team. Craig shares an example that shows how compatibility with a company's vision is important.

[13:42] Skills that are most important to have and develop - Sandra describes the skills and characteristics of a great team leader in this day and age. She also explains the concept of outsourcing an outcome rather than a task.

[15:08] Tools to manage a team - recommendations based on what's working well for Sandra's team right now. Sandra and Craig discuss the benefits of sticking with a tool that's working for you and your team.

[19:22] Initial steps to starting a virtual team - the importance of a time analysis to determine whether you're ready to build a team or just need to improve your time management.

[21:14] Suggested next steps - how to encourage business owners to start small at building a team and be open to changes and turnover.

[25:20] Where Sandra would have been if she didn't have a team - encouragement that you can benefit from team building.

[26:54] How to learn more about Sandra

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Learn more about Sandra Booker on her website:

• Any Old Task https://www.anyoldtask.ca/
• Facebook: Any Old Task (@anyoldtaskca) https://www.facebook.com/anyoldtaskca
• Instagram: @anyoldtask https://www.instagram.com/anyoldtask/?hl=en

Fiverr https://www.fiverr.com/

Etsy https://www.etsy.com/

Teamwork Projects https://www.teamwork.com/

Asana https://asana.com/

15Five https://www.15five.com/

Trello https://trello.com/en

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com

Kajabi https://kajabi.com/

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen digital content consumption increase like never before, leading to significant growth in freelance opportunities. Today I'm joined by Julia McCoy, who will teach you a 4-step process for building a content marketing system in your freelance business. We'll share important content marketing strategies so you can grow your influence, client base, and income streams!

Podcast Outline:

[0:47] Introduction to Julia McCoy and the topic of content marketing - Julia describes how she started her freelance journey and where she is today.

[5:40] How Julia's book Skip the Degree illustrates how passion and opportunities led to an important pivot in her career and freelance journey.

[7:02] How the freelance movement is growing exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic with increased digital content consumption - Julia and Craig discuss how this trend will continue with remote work going mainstream.

[12:25] How picking a content channel allows freelancers to leverage their expertise - Julia and Craig discuss the concept of mastery and share some important content marketing strategies (e.g. the website first approach) that build trust in your audience.

[18:17] The importance of consistency and how you'll see success with content over time - how content is a long game and builds an enduring freelance business.

[19:46] Getting started with a content marketing initiative - Julia recommends a process you can follow to achieve success and create your own self-started career based on your passion (the 4 L's).

[23:04] The value of mentorship - how students at Freelance University come for the courses but stay for the mentorship and support.

[24:11] Further steps to levelling up once you have the skills, the mentor, and the knowledge - how you can build a legacy and create something that's rewarding as you pick a channel and delegate the rest.

[26:44] Final insights for freelancers who want to have a great year in 2021 - how the freelance market and opportunities will help you thrive and how it's important to stay in your "zone of genius."

[28:41] How you can grow your freelance business and seek opportunities that bring other streams of income.

[29:52] Where to learn more about Julia McCoy

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Learn more about Julia McCoy on Twitter https://twitter.com/JuliaEMcCoy and Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/fementrepreneur/

Julia's websites:

Content Hacker https://contenthacker.com/

Express Writers https://expresswriters.com/

The Write Blog https://expresswriters.com/write-blog/

Julia's book on Amazon:

Skip the Degree, Save the Tuition https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S5SC61H

Upwork https://www.upwork.com/

Google https://www.google.com

Clubhouse https://www.joinclubhouse.com/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com

Facebook Groups https://www.facebook.com/groups/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/en

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

Instagram Reels https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/introducing-instagram-reels-announcement

IGTV https://about.instagram.com/features/igtv

Facebook Ads https://www.facebook.com/business/ads

How do you package your services into a product you can sell over and over again? Today I'm joined by Brad Hussey, who explains what productizing is and how it can benefit your freelance business. Whether you're new or have been freelancing for a while, the idea of productizing your services might be perfect timing right now. Join us as we share examples and quick steps for how you can begin the process in your own business!

Podcast Outline:

[0:38] Introduction to Brad Hussey - Brad shares how he got started in the freelance space and began teaching freelancers.

[7:06] Encouragement from Craig's and Brad's stories - how you're never too young or old to begin an entrepreneurial journey, even without an entrepreneurial background.

[10:02] Introduction to the topic of productizing your services - Brad explains the difference between products and services and how productizing relates to freelancing.

[13:08] The definition of a "productized service" - what it means and how you can apply it in your freelance business. Brad explains how it's different from responding to demand.

[17:05] The difference between a productized service and a package service - examples of how a productized service could be sold as a package.

[21:45] The benefits of productizing your services - how responding to demand can be exhausting and unsustainable, as opposed to creating demand by productizing your services.

[27:48] The concept of "choosing your people and ignoring everyone else" - Brad and Craig share examples illustrating the benefit of specializing and only doing one thing.

[33:53] A practical example - how to productize WordPress maintenance and management services. Brad lists questions freelancers can ask themselves to get more specific and create productized services.

[39:46] How a productized service can amplify - examples of other revenue streams that can spin off from the initial productized service. Brad explains the concept of "selling your sawdust."

[42:07] How productizing your services works well for those who want retainer relationships - an example illustrating the benefits of selling a repeatable outcome rather than selling your hours.

[48:13] How productizing your services gets you out of an employee mindset and amplifies your success

[48:54] Quick steps to productizing your services - questions to ask and methods for generating ideas.

[51:43] How to get to know Brad and learn more about what he's doing

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Brad Hussey's websites:

• Bradhussey.ca https://www.bradhussey.ca/
• FreelancingFreedom.com https://freelancingfreedom.com/

Zoom https://zoom.us/

ConvertKit https://convertkit.com/

WordPress https://wordpress.org/

WebFlow https://webflow.com/

MailChimp https://mailchimp.com/

One of the greatest challenges that most freelancers face, or will face, is the ability to sell their services and sell themselves. This can be a daunting challenge. We may love a lot of facets of freelancing, but many of us don't enjoy the sales process. Today I'm joined by Jay Clouse, who shares some effective strategies for selling your services without being salesy. Join us as we discuss how to negotiate and have genuine conversations with potential clients, especially during this global pandemic.

Podcast Outline

[0:51] Introduction to Jay Clouse - Jay tells the story of how he got into the freelancing space.

[5:17] How freelancers need to have an entrepreneurial mindset - the importance of treating your craft as a business to make it lucrative and successful.

[7:05] How do you sell your services without being salesy - reasons why the average freelancer dreads the sales and marketing piece of their business.

[9:58] Stereotypes we've seen around salespeople and top mistakes people make when selling their services.

[11:53] Imposter syndrome - how it pours into your messaging and conversations and makes you sell yourself short.

[14:04] The importance of negotiation and how it comes from a point of confidence - how the sale is often won before you even quote the price.

[15:26] Should freelancers start charging less because we're in the middle of a global pandemic? Jay gives advice for how to talk to a potential client, sell yourself, and negotiate.

[21:29] Some channels people can leverage right now to sell services - Jay describes three different routes and provides tips on how to use them.

[26:29] The importance of diversifying and building relationships when looking for clients - how we need to have the courage to be the first person to reach out.

[29:03] How business relationships don't start with a pitch - Jay explains how they start the same way friendships start and gives advice for how to have a conversation.

[29:51] How do we sell well without being salesy? Jay gives specific ideas for how to sell yourself and provides examples of strategies and conversation topics.

[34:52] The concept of pain points and having the confidence to communicate your ability to reach the client's goal - how you can go into the conversation with the mindset that the person wants you to be the solution to their problem.

[37:10] Jay shares some final tips about selling in the midst of the global pandemic.

[38:07] How to connect with Jay Clouse

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

The Freelancing School http://freelancing.school/

• Free course: "5 Ways in 5 Days to Make More Money Freelancing"

The Creative Elements Podcast https://thepodglomerate.com/shows/creativeelements/

Unreal Collective https://unrealcollective.com/

The Accelerator Program https://unrealcollective.com/accelerator/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/

LinkedIn Learning https://www.linkedin.com/learning/

Lynda.com https://www.lynda.com/

UpWork https://www.upwork.com/

FlexJobs https://www.flexjobs.com/

SolidGigs https://solidgigs.com/

Pat Flynn's SPI community https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/pro/

Facebook Groups https://www.facebook.com/groups/

It's fair to say that we have not had a year like we had in 2020. It was unprecedented on every scale. And I would imagine that 2020 has not been your only difficult year. You may have lost clients, you may have had spouses who lost jobs, and you may have dealt with health crises or economic crises. So, today we're going to discuss 10 tips to prepare your freelance business for a New Year. Join us and be encouraged as we get ready to welcome new opportunities with a sense of hope and gratitude!

Podcast Outline:

[0:35] Introduction to the topic of preparing our freelance business for the new year - how 2020 was an unprecedented year with adversity. Craig shares an example illustrating the importance of gratitude.

10 Ways to Prepare Your Freelance Business for 2021

[4:01] #1 Update Your Freelance Website - how to assess where it's at by auditing certain aspects that may or may not appeal to your target audience. Craig suggests important parts that should be updated and/or changed.

[6:22] #2 Leverage List-Building Opportunities - the importance of a free offer, how it showcases your knowledge and grows your network of potential clients.

[7:53] #3 Nurture Client Relationships and Past Leads - how to show appreciation and solidify your relationships with existing clients, reconnect with past clients, and check in on any promising leads.

[9:22] #4 Confirm Your Niche - three questions to ask yourself and reflect on the scope of services you'll offer in the New Year.

[10:56] #5 Identify New Learning and New Skills You Want to Develop - the importance of creating a learning plan that can grow your income opportunities.

[12:25] #6 Review Your Back End Systems - which systems to assess and recommendations for new systems to add or upgrade.

[13:53] #7 Review Your Tech - how to look at the suite of tools you're using and figure out what's working well, what can be added, and what can be eliminated.

[15:10] #8 Set SMART Goals, Not Resolutions - the problem with resolutions and the benefits of setting strategic goals. Craig suggests a challenge for you to map out your goals.

[15:55] #9 Prepare for Uncertainty - how our lives have been impacted this year and how the freelance movement has come to the forefront and created opportunity. Craig discusses the need to be flexible and shares examples of how FreeU students adapted to change.

[18:42] #10 Focus Your Mindset on a New Year Full of Possibilities - encouragement and inspiration to pursue opportunities and invest in your life and business.

[19:57] How Freelance University can help grow your opportunities in the New Year

[20:30] Recap of the 10 Ways to Prepare Your Freelance Business for 2021

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

SEO Yoast https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/

HoneyBook https://www.honeybook.com/

Freelance University's "Productivity Power" Course https://my.freelanceu.com/courses/productivity-power

FreshBooks https://www.freshbooks.com/

QuickBooks https://quickbooks.intuit.com/

Asana https://asana.com/

The 12 Week Year https://12weekyear.com/

Today's topic is of the utmost importance in these unprecedented times. I'm joined by Carol Tice, who shares insights about what it takes to become a recession-proof freelancer. Carol knows a lot about how to build a thriving freelance business in the midst of a major recession. She shares key strategies that you can employ right now to make sure you're building the best business, even in the midst of a global pandemic!

Podcast Outline:

[0:46] Introduction to Carol Tice and the topic of building a recession-proof business

[2:17] How Carol started freelance writing and became passionate about teaching writers to make a living online

[8:29] The lack of community and online training years ago - how Carol recognized and addressed that gap

[9:15] How many writers have a poverty mentality - what's necessary to overcome that vision. Carol explains how stasis is the bad scenario, but change brings opportunity.

[10:57] Introduction to the topic: How are we thriving as freelancers in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic that has economic implications?

[11:45] What Carol sees happening for the gig economy during this global pandemic - she describes the types of businesses that are busy right now, reopening and pivoting.

[13:39] The big things Carol learned in the past recession that are applicable now - who's currently positioned to be a winner

[14:27] Insights from Carol's ebook: The Recession-Proof Freelancer - Carol discusses the big things to remember during hard times and which industries are the winners.

[18:10] How to develop a marketing discipline and the importance of not taking clients for granted - Carol explains how to use LinkedIn and virtual conferences to find leads and quality clients

[20:58] How to avoid the "underworld of freelance writing" in a recession, leaving commodity clients and entering the world of value clients

[24:42] Should freelancers discount prices - how to do it strategically as a form of marketing or as an introductory rate

[26:40] The importance of big content creation projects - why book ghosting has boomed on sites like Reedsy as people think about the big picture and leaving a legacy

[29:50] How online education and digital products are fueling the need for writers and freelancers to power clients' businesses

[30:25] The big takeaway - how business is not going back to the way it was

[31:01] The importance of aligning yourself with people who are like-minded and have a long vision that the new normal could be better than you thought - Craig and Carol explain the importance of having a community of business-focused freelancers who are serious about what they're doing and have positive energy.

[34:34] How to get to know Carol and what she's doing right now

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

Carol Tice's blog: https://www.makealivingwriting.com/blog/

Freelancer's Writer's Den https://freelancewritersden.com/

Carol's free ebook: The Recession-Proof Freelancer https://www.makealivingwriting.com/ebooks/recession-proof-freelancer/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/

LinkedIn Pulse https://www.linkedin.com/company/pulse-news/about/

Upwork https://www.upwork.com/

Reedsy https://reedsy.com/

Forbes Business Council https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/

Medium https://medium.com/

Google https://www.google.com/

FlexJobs https://www.flexjobs.com/