The freelance marketplace has become more competitive.  But just because there are more freelancers than ever before doesn't mean you have to succumb to competitive pressure. Not if you make key adjustments in how you position yourself ... and what services (and value) you deliver.  In this week's show you'll hear from someone who's done this successfully. His name is Tristan Kneschke and his company is Exit Editorial, a post-production company that does video editing and color grading...

For many of us, the initial conversation with a prospect can be stressful. Maybe you need the work. Or you really want to land this client. And you don't want to screw up the opportunity by saying the wrong thing.  In this episode, you'll hear from RC Peck, a seasoned pro at having productive and highly effective prospect conversations.  RC is not a freelancer. But I've brought him into the show because we can all learn from the mindset and techniques he's developed about these initial...

Michael Port's Book Yourself Solid was one of the most important books I read when I was freelancing part time while working my day job.   It was a big reason why I was able to grow my business so quickly.   I loved how Michael broke down the process of filling up your pipeline with high-quality clients. He described the process in a very methodical way that I could understand. But he also addressed the critical "softer" side of building a solo business.  In this interview, I get to chat...

I've always been a big proponent of investing in targeted conferences and events.  It's not just about what you learn, it's about the people you meet, the conversations you have and the insights you gain.  In other words, the intangible things no one can really put a price on. However, I'm the first to admit that I don't always get the most value from the conferences I attend.  Why? Mainly because of poor planning on my part. And many times I just don't know what I'm supposed to do!...

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Music has been a big part of my life since I was a kid. But for years I had the hardest time finding music that enabled me to focus on my work. I spent hours carefully curating playlists on iTunes. I tried dozens of Pandora stations. And, of course, I tried the old standby — classical music. Nothing ever worked consistently. And then in 2013 I discovered Focus@Will, an online service that plays music that's scientifically designed to improve and sustain your focus. After an hour of...

You don't hear much about value pricing (often called "value-based pricing") in the freelance community—at least not in the creative side of freelancing. But it's catching on with freelancers who are trying to shift to a more consultative approach to their services. I've been meaning to bring up this topic... But I wanted to bring in a guest who could speak to this from real-world experience—not from theory. I finally found the guy. His name is Kirk Bowman.  Kirk has worked as an...

We spend a lot of time on this show talking about how find and land better-paying clients, how to work smarter and how to develop the mindset you need to succeed in this business. You've heard from me and from fellow freelancers. You've heard from industry experts, well-known speakers and authors. But I've yet to bring on someone who hires freelancers. Someone who can speak to what it's like evaluating freelance talent and working with us. That's what this episode is about. In today's...

Made to order. That's what most of us do. We deliver customized services to our clients. It's simple and straightforward — at least on paper. The client describes what they need, and you turn around and deliver a customized, made-to-order product. This model works. It's what most clients want. And when done right, it can be very profitable. But is that the only way to deliver professional services? No. There are other models that can be just as profitable ... and even more scalable. And...

I remember when one of my female colleagues first told me about the struggles many self-employed women face. It was about 10 years ago. "Yes, there's discrimination," she said. "But much of it is self-sabotage. We just weren't brought up like men. We're not supposed to be driven and assertive." I was shocked. Yet the more I talked with other women freelancers and entrepreneurs, the more I realized that this is a huge issue. We've addressed this issue before here at the Academy. In fact,...

Is freelancing a growing trend or a fad? And if it's growing, who's really profiting from this massive shift in the labor force? If you've followed me for a while, you probably know that I'm a big "trend junkie." I even put together two comprehensive reports on the state of freelancing, back in 2011 and 2012. But I've never come close to the information and insights that MBO Partners has produced over the past few years, mainly through their State of Independence reports. Ever since...

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In the previous episode, I shared my recent experiments with habit development techniques ... and why I'm getting away from traditional goal setting. Today's show is the second part of this important discussion. I've brought in my colleague James Clear to delve deeper into the topic. James has done extensive research in the area of habits. He's also transformed his business and his life as a result of implementing cutting-edge yet simple habit-building techniques. In this interview, we...

I'm pretty much done with traditional goal setting. I'm talking about your standard "I'm going to get X result by this specific date" approach to setting goals. It's not that this approach doesn't work. It certainly does (sometimes). I'm doing away with it because it's missing a core element of making the goal a reality—the daily and weekly action that needs to happen in order for the goal to manifest. Without that key element, you're just shooting in the dark. In this episode, I...

Freelancing can be a very lonely business. Not just in terms of physical isolation, but also in the way of getting help to run your day-to-day operations. Most of us don't have staff to take care of business operations and administration. Or a CFO and legal team to deal with finances, payroll and regulatory hassles. Or an IT director to manage our tech infrastructure. We're expected to do it all. And that can be exhausting! That's where a company like MBO Partners can help. MBO Partners...

The biggest breakthroughs I've experienced in my business and personal life have come from taking what seemed to be big risks. Not the crazy, jumping-off-a-cliff-with-a-wingsuit kind of risk. I'm talking about stepping far enough outside of my comfort zone that I changed for the better. Even if the desired outcome never materialized. If you want to take your freelance business to the next level, you HAVE to start thinking differently about risk. Risk is a natural part of growth. And...

There comes a point when most freelancers wonder if (and when) they should find a good accountant. It's an important decision. And there's much more to it than finding someone to do your taxes. But when is the right time to look? Where do you start your search? What should you look for when evaluating potential accountants? My guest for this episode is Jason Blumer of Blummer CPAs — a firm that works with creative professionals and agencies. In this talk, Jason answers all these questions...

Who said you had to limit yourself to your core services as a freelancer? And who said you couldn't launch a separate side business that allows you to practice a hobby or passion? That's one of the beauties of self-employment. You can chart your own course and make your own rules. In today's episode, I interview my VP of operations, Crystal Coleman. Crystal has been instrumental in helping me grow my coaching and training business over the past 4-1/2 years. One of the many things I...

Do you typically quote prospects exactly what they ask for? Most freelancers do. But what if you gave your prospect more options? What if you proposed two or three variations on the original scope of work? Would that just create confusion? Or could it present an opportunity to serve the prospect better while potentially increasing your income on that project? In today's show, Ilise Benun talks in detail about a 3-tier pricing strategy that's working like gangbusters for freelancers who...

I'm really excited about today's show because I get to address what I believe is one of the most important topics in the freelance community—boosting self-confidence. This is a topic I've addressed before in my High-Income Business Writing Podcast (Episode #22: "7 Tips for Developing Stronger Self-Confidence." But for this episode, I wanted to bring in someone who talks about this subject every single week. His name is Jared Easley, and he's the host of the Starve the Doubts podcast. In a...

Suzanne Wesley was in a tight spot five years ago. She had just lost her job and had to find a way to drum up freelance business fast. But rather than trying the same methods other freelancers typically use (put up a website and do some cold calling, networking and email prospecting) she decided to try something different. She designed, printed and mailed a square-shaped brochure to more than 100 prospects. And it worked! In this interview, Suzanne explains why she believes this...

Many of my traditionally employed friends are surprised when I tell them that it's challenging to stay productive as a work-at-home freelancer. They automatically assume that being in control over your schedule is a solution to the productivity dilemma they face in the cubicle world. Not so. In fact, I'd argue that having more freedom and flexibility can be a curse. Especially when your work is deadline-driven. In this episode, I talk with Erik Fisher, a productivity junkie and host of...

Not all clients are created equal. Some are a true joy to work with. They value your expertise and experience. They never complain. And they happily pay you top dollar for your work. Then there are those who are just plain difficult. :( They complain. They beat you down on price. And they always want it yesterday. As a solo professional, your long-term happiness depends on what types of clients you work with. And the better you become at spotting bad clients BEFORE bringing them on...

Every new freelancer I meet wants to reach a comfortable income level as quickly as possible. Most of them will set one-, two- or three-year time horizons for getting there. But what if you HAD to ramp up quickly? What if a life event forced you to replace your full-time income within two months? And what if failure was not an option? That's what happened to Christine Parizo four years ago. In this interview, she shares her story of why she made the decision to leave her day job. And how...