Being Freelance

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEMeet Phil Matthews, a seasoned freelance web designer celebrating an impressive two decades of independent business.Based in Weymouth on the UK’s South coast, Phil's journey started when an unexpected request came in whilst working in a computer game shop. Now we get to hear how he levelled up his freelancing career over the 20 years from there.In the days before Fiverr and UpWork, we hear how Phil went from creating websites advertised as eBay listings to building a loyal client base through word-of-mouth and stellar SEO practices, Phil shares his freelancing story - offering valuable insights on client relationships and the importance of recurring revenue streams.We hear his experiences balancing client work with family life, and how being freelance has allowed him to be present for his children's milestones. We also explore his approach to gathering and leveraging client reviews, a key factor in his business growth. Speaking of which, if you enjoy this podcast, please do leave a review 😘 Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEIn this episode, we meet Desire Lacap, a freelance filmmaker and content creator who took the leap into freelancing just a year ago. Desire talks about how she grew her social media following by sharing filmmaking tips and tricks, which led to brand partnerships and exciting opportunities like working with Adobe. We hear the challenges of balancing passion projects with paid work, the importance of avoiding burnout, but very much not-avoiding making real life connections in your industry. And here's a great freelancer philosophy -"passion over profit." If you follow the passion... the profit will come.We also have  insights into building a personal brand, managing client relationships, and staying true to your creative vision whilst keeping the customer happy as a freelancer. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEEttie struggled with traditional education systems due to undiagnosed ADHD and felt out of place in the normal working world. It all changed when she started her own freelance business - literally creating a job title for herself.Determined to make a difference in the inclusive language and accessibility space she set about educating others through content creation. Using LinkedIn posts, her in-depth ‘Fighting Talk' newsletter on Substack, and speaking engagements.Ettie shares her approach to flexible pricing, balancing pro bono and low bono work with paid projects, and maintaining work-life balance.Ettie also talks about crafting her freelance business around her values, the importance of branding and photography, and the autonomy and freedom that comes with freelancing. Through freelancing, Ettie’s created a role that draws on her neurodivergent strengths, whilst using the flexibility of freelance life to set a work schedule that protects her.She emphasises the need to set boundaries, take care of yourself, and embrace the opportunities for creativity and personalisation to suit your own needs that freelancing offers.   JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEMeet Brennan Gilbert, a seasoned designer based in Colorado - who after years of freelancing on the side went full time freelance in January 2023.Multiple roles in agencies and tech startups gave him a tonne of knowledge in marketing, sales and processes that are paying off now. Brennan discusses the importance of time management, client expectations, and the intricacies of various business models, including subscription-based pricing. Yep, ‘subscription’ instead of ‘retainer’ - we dig deep into that one.A self professed geek, Brennan’s leaning into the business as much as the design. Not many freelancers create an ‘annual report’, or have frequent ‘Straturdays’ to strategise at the weekend. But, maybe we should? See/hear what you think. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEHear Hannah's journey to becoming a successful freelance social media manager, marketer and then beyond into running a membership and courses.She founded her business, HI Communications (when your initials spell HI you go with it right?) eight years ago. She quickly built her client list through word-of-mouth. Then things exploded when she moved to a new town where she new one person, but with the plan to become 'famous' there. Hannah knocked on doors. Started a local magazine, organised local networking events and even put together the first Barry Pride festival.Recently, Hannah transitioned away from social media management to focus on her membership program 'The Best 90 Days Ever', which offers daily prompts to help business owners. She's also written a book of the same name, which will be our next Book Club read in the Being Freelance Community!Hannah shares insights on balancing various projects, the importance of community in business, and her belief in taking the plunge into new ventures sooner rather than later.Above all, it feels like Hannah doesn't take no for an answer. If she thinks 'wouldn't it be cool if...', then she'll make it happen. And once it exists she won't stop shouting about it. Because if she wants to keep being a freelancer, she needs to keep visible and telling people what she can do.Such a huge lesson. Hope you enjoy the podcast! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time we're following Kirth Noel's journey from starting photography as a hobby to turning it into a freelance business. Initially worked doing side gigs to fund his passion for photography (all that equipment soon adds up). Then as he became a father, Kirth transitioned to baby and maternity photography - delving into video production to help promote it.We hear how Kirth switched his niche again, following his interests whilst being very aware of what might work as a business. His freelancing shift to corporate videography, the strategic investments in equipment, and adapting to COVID-19 by focusing on product commercials. In the past year he's gone from a home studio with little risk, to working from a big rented studio where he can set up as a robotic video specialist focussing on 'visual engineering'. Using his experience as as an engineer on London's trains to tinker, experiment and solve problems that create incredibly inventive, specialised videos. All the time sharing his behind the scenes process to show what's possible, just as he did with the maternity photography years before.Kirth discusses his continuous learning, relationship-building within the industry & local area, and marketing strategies, including developing his presence on LinkedIn and plans for live events.There's a lot to Kirth's freelancing story for us all to take away, whether you're a videographer or not. Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

This time we're off to South Africa to hear the freelancing story of writer Shea Karssing.Shea was changing jobs every couple of years. Boredom setting in again.Taking freelance projects on the side to keep things interesting, she eventually realised she didn’t need a ‘job’ after all.In this episode we chat about- setting boundaries- building a business without relying on social media- working from home- building a one-on-one network- the benefit of writing her own book- being ‘niche resistant’.Because now the freelancing side hustle has firmly become the main income. Boredom banished thanks to Shea resisting the advice to niche. Her flexibility has become her calling card - it keeps her interested, learning, and happy - keeps her a freelancer. PODCAST SPONSORThis episode of the Being Freelance podcast is supported by Lulu.Printing your book on-demand, around the world, with you in control. Sound good?- Stand out as an expert- Land new opportunities- Diversify your income- Have the best business card everAnd of course a whole lot more when you write & publish your own book.Your words, your images and you’re in control.Join the millions who have already published with Lulu (a B Corp - hello!) & take your freelance career to the next level.Discover what Lulu could do for your business using this link. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Meet multifaceted designer and illustrator and one-person agency, Andy Hau. Andy shatters the typical freelance mold by sharing his unique journey from architecture to the wide world of design, revealing how a chance encounter with musician Imogen Heap kickstarted his career in a new direction. Andy discusses the challenges of marketing yourself, the evolution of social media in bringing him opportunities, and the importance of speaking to actual humans in the noisy digital age. Andy thinks the human touch distinguishes his work and approach in an era of AI and digital saturation. We also explore how the illustrations of ‘Quinn The Fox’ that Andy created to convey his own emotions have now turned into a successful homeware and print side business.It’s an inspiring and fun conversation filled with practical advice, heartfelt reflections, of goals realised or reworked and a deep dive into what it means to be truly freelance. Even if you don’t realise that’s what you are. Because sometimes ‘you have to be a bit cringe’ to be successful. Whether that be reaching out to people on LinkedIn, or talking about yourself to a popular freelancing podcast.   PODCAST SPONSORThis episode of the Being Freelance podcast is supported by Lulu.Printing your book on-demand, around the world, with you in control. Sound good?- Stand out as an expert- Land new opportunities- Diversify your income- Have the best business card everAnd of course a whole lot more when you write & publish your own book.Your words, your images and you’re in control.Join the millions who have already published with Lulu (a B Corp - hello!) & take your freelance career to the next level.Discover what Lulu could do for your business using this link. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Age doesn't matter.Until it does.Until you get the feeling people won't hire you anymore because you're too old.For Mary, she was 58. From New Zealand, but having spent 30 years in Australia in 'normal' full time jobs.Faced with ageism, she realised maybe it wasn't just that the interview panels didn't want her. Maybe she didn't want them anymore either. Maybe it was time for a change. To reinvent herself.Someone suggested being a freelance copywriter. She didn't know what that was. But here are.10 years later. 'The Wrinkly Writer'. Owning, literally as a business owner, her age. Turning it to her advantage.Mary now lives in France. We chat about- building long-term client relationships- turning age to her advantage when business mentor Kate Toon suggested her new working name- continuous learning and passing on to the next generation as a mentor- her relocation to France, working as a freelancer in a different country with many clients overseas- achieving work life balance, prioritising her physical and mental health across the day and weekIt's such a fun conversation. Full of the joy of life and work life.  JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Logo designer James Barnard shares how he transformed his freelance business through niche specialization and social media. He discusses the importance of effective pricing strategies and using CRM tools to attract the right clients. James reveals how content creation on Instagram and TikTok has shaped his success and confidence. He emphasizes time management and the benefits of hiring assistants for creative tasks. The conversation also touches on finding work-life balance and the journey of freelancing while staying engaged with family.