What do you do when a client or prospect has a piece of long-form content they’ve written internally and they want your help finishing it?   What do you quote? What’s the right way to frame your fee for the client? And how do you approach this kind of project?   Check out my thoughts and advice in this week’s short podcast episode below.

Futurist Kevin Surace discusses the impact of AI on writers and marketers in a shifting economy. Exploring AI's role in driving market dynamics and the need for writers to adapt. Insights on AI tools enhancing productivity, podcast transcription, and addressing plagiarism concerns in the AI era.

Discover how freelance writers can successfully merge journalism and content marketing, as Lindy Alexander shares her journey and tips. Learn about navigating the transition, exploring adjacent markets, balancing on LinkedIn, and the complexities of freelance work. Gain insights into Lindy's courses and resources for writers.

This episode is very different from what I typically do on this show.   It’s a candid conversation between Sarah Greesonbach and me on a number of random topics.   Sarah is not only a very talented B2B writer, she’s also the founder of the , an excellent coach to other B2B writers, a coaching client of mine, and a friend.   We get into a number of topics, including where and how we face resistance ... where we fall short ... life experiences that shaped who we are today ... how we make big decisions ... fear ... being kind to yourself ... our pet peeves about the freelance industry ...   And even the songs we have on our playlists that we’re embarrassed to admit to. What we love. And what we feel is overrated.   After our interview, I then share a raw and open account of my business struggles last year—what happened, why, and what I’ve done to navigate these challenges.   If you’re only looking for straight up advice for your business, this is not really that kind of episode. So feel free to skip it.   But if you’re curious about how Sarah and I have struggled. What we’ve learned. And what makes us who we are, give this one a listen.   It’s a long episode. The longest, in fact, of any episode I’ve created in my 11 years doing this show.   But I didn’t want to hold back. I wanted this to be exactly the kind of conversation Sarah and I might have at a Starbucks. And I wanted you to have an opportunity to listen to us talk with no filter.    Hope you enjoy it!

2023 has not been a great year for many writers and solo marketing professionals.   And when business is not great, one of the first things we ask ourselves is, Should I change or modify my offerings? Will that make a difference?   It’s a great question to ask yourself. But it’s important that you go about your decision in a more methodical way. So rather than just go with your gut, you’ll make better decisions if you take a more analytical approach to this challenge.   In this episode, we’re addressing this question head on. My guest is Nikki Rausch. Nikki is a selling coach and the CEO of . She has over 25 years of selling experience. And her specialty is helping entrepreneurs, small business owners and solo professionals sell successfully and authentically.   This is Nikki’s third appearance in the podcast. She and I are very well aligned in our marketing and sales philosophies, and I love having these important conversations with her. I always walk away with a bit more wisdom and lots of new ideas to think about and implement.   We not only address the issue of service offerings in this conversation, we also get into the importance of lifetime client value, tracking and doubling down on your best marketing strategies, and the biggest mistakes solo professionals make in their sales process when they’re facing a difficult economy.   I hope you enjoy our conversation!

Freelancing is both a blessing and a curse.   It’s a blessing because you’re in charge. You call the shots — not some overpaid and incompetent boss who has no business managing people.   But freelancing is also a curse ... because you’re on your own. Which means that you have to wear all the hats. And when you’re pulled in so many directions, your income can suffer.   Fortunately, there are things you can do to help offset this. And one of the most important is to lower your cost of project acquisition.   When you lower the cost and effort required to land that next project, you can spend more time on billable activities and less time wearing all those other hats I mentioned earlier.   Or less time doing client work and more with your family or working on interesting personal projects—without negatively impacting your income.   How can you do that? That’s the topic of this week’s short podcast episode, where I walk you through 4 specific and practical ideas for earning more in less time.   Enjoy!

Guest Austin L. Church, an expert on money mindset, discusses achieving financial success as a freelancer. They explore beliefs about money, the importance of pricing, and the future of freelancing. They also discuss setting smart strategic prices, finding wealthy role models, addressing conditioning around money, and mastering pricing strategies. Additionally, they explore the future of freelance writing, the role of unique skills, and the competitive advantage of humans in ideation. The chapter ends with a discussion on therapy and an overview of Austin L. Church's book on freelance income.

How do you feel about outsourcing some of your work?   Most writers I talk with are either completely against this idea. Or they tell me that they’ve tried it and it didn’t work out. Or that they like the concept, but it just wouldn’t work for them.   I get it. I used to feel the same way.   But there’s a big problem with that kind of thinking: it’s one-dimensional. It’s a “yes or no” thing. Purely binary.   I’ve seen enough successful outsourcing examples in the world of freelancing to know that there are many different ways of solving the problem.   And in this week’s short podcast episode, I walk through a four-phase framework for making it work.   Enjoy!

One of the most important capabilities you can develop as a self-employed professional is the ability to pivot and adapt as your business grows and your life situation evolves.   Not only is life full of surprises, but what worked for you 5 years ago may not be as palatable today. Whether it's the types of clients you work with, the type of work you pursue, or the side projects you take on.   Marjorie Turner Hollman is an excellent example of this. A long-time writer, Marjorie has faced a number of challenges in her life—including some physical disabilities—that have forced her to reinvent herself and what she offers.   Her work has evolved from freelance writer to personal historian to book coach for struggling authors to the author of a nonfiction book series.   There are many things I love about Marjorie’s story, but I find her resilience, resourcefulness, and adaptability inspiring. And I think you will too.   The topic of accessibility and how we all use adaptive aids in everyday life is a concept Marjorie learned from Kam Redlawsk. She is a remarkable, articulate advocate for those with disabilities.   I hope you enjoy this conversation.   .   .

When your business gets really challenging, it’s very common to feel like you need to make a drastic move.   Like pivoting to a different target market. Or offering a totally different set of services. Or moving out of freelancing and into a traditional job.   These are very common feelings. And let me tell you ... I feel this way at least two or three times a year.   Yes, I really do.   In today’s short episode, I share my thoughts and reflections on this dilemma. Whether you’re happy where you are or you feel like a big change is in order, I think you’ll find it useful.