We often look up to the biggest names in our field and think, "Wow, I want to be just like them", but we rarely consider the consequences.
While it can be great to take inspiration from others, it can also backfire...
Why?
Because the top 1% in our field are really, really good at some things (like taking the perfect photo or creating a memorable logo), but that doesn't mean they're experts at EVERYTHING.
In this episode, we dig into what I call "inbred businesses."
This is when everyone looks to the top 1% in their industry for how everything "should" be done... leading to a bland, tasteless copy of a copy of a copy of a copy.
We're all creatives, so we (of all people) cannot simply accept the excuse, "Well, that's just how it's done in my industry".
You need your own special sauce, which (much like the restaurant industry) is best found outside of your industry's bubble.
In this episode you’ll discover:

Why the top businesses in your industry aren't the businesses to learn from

The advantage of looking to other industries to learn and grow

The biggest cop-out you could make: "That's not how we do things in my industry"

What a website exists for

The difference between what you want and what you need

Using the "template of the internet" for your website

For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/273

#273: Why Freelancers Are Vulnerable To "The Inbred Business Trap" (And What That Means For You)

6 Figure Creative is a podcast that helps freelance creatives earn more money by doing what they love. If you’re trying to avoid the never-ending grind of a 9–5, or just want to earn more money doing what you do best (creating), 6 Figure Creative is your new favorite show! Join host Brian Hood and his guests as they explore topics such as mental health, finances, sales, marketing, time management, the digital nomad lifestyle, and more.

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Navigating life as a creative freelancer is all about balancing what you love doing with what pays the bills.
It's often framed as "selling your soul", but really, it's about making tough choices: do you follow your passion or chase the cash?
For creatives, this dilemma is pretty intense. You've got the classic 'starving artist' on one side. They're rich in satisfaction but often struggle financially.
Then there's the other side - the freelancers who focus mainly on what brings in money. Sure, they might be doing better financially, but at what cost?
This week's episode explores each side in a search for finding a healthy balance between money and passion or the seasons of life that may be the right time to focus on money instead of passion.
Whether you're the classic "starving artist" or the money-focused freelancer, this episode is worth a listen.
In this episode you’ll discover:

Hobbies vs businesses

Are you motivated by passion or profit?

The importance of focusing on what your clients want

Giving yourself more free time by being profit-driven

Reducing your stress by becoming a profit-driven creative

Why passion-driven creatives need to change

For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/305

#305: There Might Be A Good Argument For Selling Your Soul For $$$

Client acquisition is obviously an important part of running a freelance business because it’s how you make sure you keep getting paid every month.
Despite how obvious this is, many freelancers don’t take this seriously enough... and it shows when work dries up and you're back into the dreaded feast-or-famine cycle.
If you worked in a day job that decided to stop paying you for weeks or months at a time, you'd probably do something about it. However, many freelancers never do anything about this in their own business.
They just keep showing up to "work" week after week, month after month, accepting their fate.
If you'd like to be a better "boss" to yourself and actually make sure you get paid every month, this week's episode is all about avoiding some of the most common client acquisition mistakes
If you stop making these mistakes and start taking client acquisition seriously, you’ll have more stability, better projects, and fewer dry spells. What’s not to like about that?
In this episode you’ll discover:

Avoiding the basic mistakes that you make during client acquisition

Adding value as a freelancer

Why a high close rate is dangerous for your business

How to increase your sales with a high-quality follow-up sequence

Fix your pricing model!

For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/304

#304: The 10 Most Brutal Client Acquisition Mistakes That Are Wrecking Your Earning Potential

In the final episode of this 4-part series, we're diving into one of the most powerful but often misunderstood methods of standing out from the crowd.
I saved the best for last.
This has been the "secret sauce" behind my all of my successful businesses, from freelancing, to Airbnb, to multiple software companies, and even podcasting.
Without this last piece of the puzzle, nothing I've tried would have worked, and I'd likely still be working at Gamestop for minimum wage (missing out on millions of $ in the process)
If you're ready to become absolutely indispensable to your clients, listen to this week's episode to the 6 Figure Creative Podcast.
In this episode you’ll discover:

The importance of specialization

Why niches work better than others

Conversion-focused web design as a differentiation method

Niching down vs. niching out

The advantages of pushing bad leads away

For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/303

#303: How To Set Yourself Apart From The Other 500,000,000 Freelancers In The World | Part 4

Want to know the 3 golden rules for winning more clients than your competition?
First off, forget about competing on price. It’s a dead-end street. Instead, focus on adding value in unique ways that don’t undercut your worth. It’s about quality, not the lowest bid.
Second, make sure your stand-out factors are visible from the get-go. Qualities like a "great client experience" or a "cool vibe" are awesome, but they only shine through after you’re hired.
You need something that grabs attention before that stage, something that makes potential clients think, “Yes, THIS is the right person for us,” before they even talk to you.
Third, K.I.S.S. (keep it stupid simple). Focus on one differentiator at a time.
In a sea of sameness, one well-defined trait can be your ticket to standing out. It’s not about being a jack-of-all-trades but a master of one.
Last week, we talked about the ways you can differentiate by brute force, which can be tough and pricey.
This week, let’s get into something more accessible yet equally powerful: building trust and credibility, especially through social proof. It’s about showing, not just telling, that you’re the real deal.
Social proof, like glowing testimonials or endorsements, can be a game-changer. It’s about having others vouch for you, and showing potential clients that you’ve delivered 

#302: How To Set Yourself Apart From The Other 500,000,000 Freelancers In The World | Part 3

Why should someone hire you vs alllll the other options they have?
If you don't have a good answer to that question yet, it's time to start working on it before the estimated 500 Million freelancers come online by the end of this decade.
This week I broke down 5 "Brute Force Differentiators" you can use to set yourself apart.
If you're trying to find more ways to stand out, this is a great start!
In this episode you’ll discover:

The three rules of differentiation

Why lowering your price will never help you


When you need to stand out to close the deal

Focusing on one point so you aren't spread thin

Types of differentiators

Why being the best doesn't matter

Why gear is not a good differentiator

Growing a better network to stand out

For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/301

#273: Why Freelancers Are Vulnerable To "The Inbred Business Trap" (And What That Means For You)

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