Podcast
Should Freelancers Work with Startups?-EP070
Welcome to the 3rd episode in the reboot of this podcast. The focus of this podcast is now Advanced Freelancing. If you haven’t gotten caught up on this change then jump back two episodes and find out why I rebranded this podcast and what you can expect from it.
Five Things I Wish I’d Known When I Started Freelancing-EP069
I’m now seven years into my freelance journey, and the last six of those have been as a full-time freelancer. I’ve been through the beginning stages, the ups, the downs, the struggles, and the successes.
In this episode, I’m reflecting back on what it was like when I was just starting my business and what I’ve learned since then.
Welcome to Advanced Freelancing: Podcast Reboot-EP068
Hello, and welcome… again! I’m relaunching my podcast, and if you were a listener a few years ago, you’ll notice this podcast has a completely new name and approach.
What Might Happen if You Don’t Have a Freelance Contract-EP67
Hello fans of Better Biz Academy!
Today’s episode is inspired by numerous posts I have seen in various Facebook groups and emails that I tend to get about whether or not people really need a freelance contract and how on earth you find one and what should I put in there etc.
So, today I am only going to focus on one particular aspect of the whole contract debate, which is: what happens if you don’t have one.
The Tools I Use to Produce My Podcast-EP66
Welcome to this episode which is going to be quick, action-packed and all about the tools that I use to make podcasting easy. By the time you’re hearing this episode, I’ve had my podcast and have been recording for over a year and there have definitely been quite a few things that I’ve learned in that process. I have tried a number of different tools in the process of having a podcast. Some of them I loved, and others I eventually let go of, but I now have a few favorites — to record, edit and publish my podcast with minimal fuss.
Retainers: How they work, What to expect & How to land them-EP65
Join Laura on this episode to learn about retainers – what they are, why many freelancers love them, and more importantly, how to make the most out of working on retainer.
What to Expect from Better Biz Academy in Fall 2017 and Beyond-EP64
Episode number 64 promises to be an interesting one because Laura talks about how she achieved four $20k months in a row over the summer, and what it took to get her freelance business there. You’ll hear about how she’s had to critically assess the different parts of her freelance business and focus her attention only on those projects and clients that were a good fit. She also reflects on the tough decisions that come with on-boarding bigger clients. Have a listen.
6 Ways Graduate School Helped Me Become a Better Freelancer-EP063
I’m excited about this episode because I’m going to do something a little bit different and I’m going to talk about six ways that graduate school, in particular, has made me a better freelancer or a better freelance writer. I decided to do this particular episode because there are a lot of people that I know in graduate school – and there’s just a lot of people in graduate school in general – who could really benefit from thinking about developing a freelance career as an editor or writer or honestly as anything else that they are passionate about. And all too often, these opportunities are never presented to people in that scenario.
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Proofreading: Complementary Services-EP062
Laura is back for an episode that goes into the complementary services that you can add on to your menu of services either at the beginning of your freelance journey or as you take your company and writing skills to the next level.
Preparing for the Back to School Freelance Busy Season-EP61
In this solo episode, we are tackling the feast or famine cycle almost every freelancer is familiar with. It doesn’t matter what you do in the freelance world – whether you’re a virtual assistant or a writer – it can be hard to view the slow seasons positively today, Laura talks about how these down times are the perfect opportunity to up your game and prepare for the busy season (which will come!) or even to get all the pieces of a big marketing push together so that you are ready to take advantage of the upward swing when it happens.
You’re Doing it Wrong: Freelance Writing Project Pitching-EP60
Having just reviewed over 200 freelance writing applications for a client project I am managing, it was shocking to see the kinds of mistakes freelancers were making in the pitching process that was costing them the opportunity to land a new client.
When you write and submit a proposal to a new client, you could be the only person who’s sending them an email, or one of many others. Either way, you really need to stand out from the crowd and avoid these freelance pitching mistakes.
Upwork in 2017-2018: Still Worth It?-EP59
As we transition out of the summer and into the fall, I think now is the perfect time to talk about successfully riding the feast or famine cycle freelancers typically experience at different points in the year and which marketing strategies are still the most effective for those in the industry. One of those is Upwork. In this episode, I discuss my thoughts on whether the online job site is still worth it going into 2018.
Retainer Work and Magic-EP58
Laura returns to walk her listeners through a critical shift she made in her freelance business that had a massive impact on her ability to earn money and only work with her ideal clients. If you are new to the freelance world and are still juggling ten, or event twenty client projects, this episode is for you. In it, Laura explains how one-off and retainer clients are different, as well as how you might start the process of converting one-off clients into retainer arrangements.
Top Mistakes New Freelance Writers Make-EP057
Laura returns with another solo podcast to share the most common mistakes made by freelance writers. She offers advice in several areas of freelance basics, including the way you position yourself and your services to potential clients, as well as managing your own expectations going into the freelancing world.
Learn from the best as Laura shares her personal experience as both a freelancer and a project manager, hiring and managing other writers. If you’re just getting started in the freelance writing business, this podcast is a must-listen!
Automated Marketing to Your Ideal Clients with Oguz Konar-EP056
Oz is an expert in the area of results-driven marketing strategy, and today he explains why automation is essential, the seven marketing strategies you need to know, and the function of a small business website. Listen in as Oz reveals his greatest challenge in building his consulting business and how to get your product or service in front of its target audience!
A Framework for Action with Business Strategist and Energy Ninja Jill Ethier-EP055
Jill Ethier is a personal strategist who combines her passion for business with the power of energy to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs who want more in every aspect of their lives, from business to relationships to health and personal growth. Her online programs provide the framework to shift your mindset, reclaim your power, and fulfill your purpose.
Jill spent a number of years as the Director of Marketing for SIGA, managing four casino marketing departments. After the passing of her young daughter, she knew she wanted to live her life differently, and Jill began to study Feng Shui and other energy disciplines. In 2000, she united her love of business strategy with the study of energy to found Jill Ethier Consulting. Today she shares tactics around cultivating the right mindset, tackling resistance to change, and avoiding distractions. Listen in to understand the importance of a strong WHY and how to prioritize daily actions as you work toward a meaningful life.
Choosing the Right Clients with Elizabeth Thompson of House Style Editing-EP054
Liz Thompson earned her undergraduate degree in communication, then pursued master’s degrees in English and literature. She worked in editing and communication in the corporate world for 15 years before taking the leap into entrepreneurship. When Liz got married two years ago, the timing was right to start her own firm so that she would have the flexibility to stay home and raise her new blended family.
Liz is on a mission to help writers find and refine their voice and share their stories with the world. She takes on fiction and non-fiction projects, and she loves to edit cookbooks. Today Liz shares her secrets around building a clientele, online networking, and pricing her services. Listen in and learn how Liz approaches scheduling clients and the process she employs to choose clients who are a good fit.
Choosing the Right Coaching Program with Executive Leadership Coach Susan Barber-EP053
Susan Barber has 20-plus years of experience as an IT and Leadership Executive. While working a traditional job, she pursued coaching as a side hustle, earning a certification in leadership coaching. When the company was going through a merger, she took a package and a leap of faith – and Susan M. Barber Coaching & Consulting was born.
Susan is passionate about helping her clients build confidence, grow as leaders and find their authentic voice. She also seeks to bring coaches together to support each other and share resources as entrepreneurs. Today she explains the differences among one-on-one, group and mastermind programs, the advantages of a structured group coaching environment, and how to choose a program that is the right fit for you. Listen in as Susan reveals what to look for in an executive business coach!
Building Your Audience with Nathalie Doremieux of New Software Marketing-EP052
Nathalie Doremieux and her husband, Olivier, spent ten years working as software engineers in Silicon Valley before returning to their native France and founding New Software Marketing in 2006. But they made the mistake of thinking that if they built a quality piece of software, people would find them. Because of their inexperience in the marketing realm, the business struggled.
Down to their last $2,000, Nathalie and Olivier invested in a coach who changed their perspective, pushing them to focus on skills they might leverage to monetize quickly. It was then that they niched down to web design and membership sites, and New Software Marketing took off. Five years later, the multi-six-figure business serves entrepreneurs and public figures including Kimra Luna, James
Five years later, the multi-six-figure business serves entrepreneurs and public figures including Kimra Luna, James Wedmore and Kate Northrup. Today Nathalie shares the importance of ‘the hustle’ early in your entrepreneurial journey, how she and her husband approach working together, and the biggest mistakes people make in building websites. Listen and learn how to build an audience that will make your product launch a success!
Designing an Intentional Life with brb Yoga Founder Catherine Middlebrooks-EP051
Catherine Middlebrooks began a yoga practice in college. Ten years ago, she earned a certification to teach and began a successful corporate yoga business. After a move to Nashville, Catherine transitioned into a ‘regular job,’ using her master’s in experimental psychology to work in market research. But when her daughter was born in 2012, Catherine and her husband made the decision to be more intentional about their lives and start their own online business.
At the same time, Catherine was struggling to find time for yoga. As a new mom, she didn’t have 75 minutes to spend at a studio, but she knew she needed the mindfulness and calm a yoga practice provides. So Catherine developed a program of shorter, precisely designed classes to pull her out of the overwhelm and help her embrace her new life and body. She created brb Yoga to help other moms make time for self-care and restore their core strength. Today she discusses how she niched down to serve a very specific population of new moms, the challenge of maintaining her relationship with her husband as they build a business together, and her upcoming family RV adventure! Listen and learn how to employ Facebook ads to generate traffic and apply a project management system to make the best use of your time.
An On-Air Strategy Session with Better Biz Student Susan Cabezas of Being More Social-EP050
Susan is also a blogger, helping busy moms live happier and be more present with their families at The Mama Resource (formerly Modern Frugal Mom). Today she shares her best tips on organization and time management as well as her vision for the future of her business. In addition, Laura offers some on-air coaching to help Susan strategize next steps as she works to position herself as a social media expert, write effective proposals, and take Being More Social to the next level.