Freelance Cake

Wudan Yan, journalist and freelance writer, shares her journey from journalism to freelance narrative writing. She discusses the importance of negotiation, reframing it as a conversation rather than a confrontation. Key topics include negotiating for a raise, rush projects, and rush fees. Wudan also shares a simple tactic to become a master negotiator.

The podcast explores the last two stages of freelancing: Lifestyler and Diversifier. It discusses the motivations, challenges, mistakes, and questions at each stage, as well as the key breakthroughs and financial goals. It helps freelancers figure out where they are in their journey and what to focus on next. It also explores the concept of diversification in freelancing, including creating non-service revenue and career progressions.

Podcast explores the career progressions of freelancers. The episode discusses the motivations, challenges, and questions of moonlighters who freelance part-time. It also delves into the motivations and challenges of hustlers who aspire to make money while they sleep. The main breakthrough for moonlighters is growing confidence, while the main financial goal for hustlers is to achieve financial stability. The episode offers practical insights for freelancers at different stages.

Explore the root problem faced by freelancers and consultants, the solution to the freelance focus problem, and how to get more done without burning out. Discover the importance of creating an actionable plan and making minimum viable progress. Get a free 30/60/90 day plan template and learn about the Business Redesign Group Coaching Program.

What if you could charge four times what you do now by making small changes to your freelance packaging?The freelancers who win consistently aren't always the most skilled or the hardest working. They’re the ones who focus on finding the right advantages, or “levers.”Packaging is one of those levers. If you've been in the freelance game for a while, you already have insight into your clients’ pains and wants. You’re already fixing their problems.But do you have juicy offers that set you apart from other freelancers?When you package up your services and outcomes and communicate the value as a juicy offer, you make it easy for your target audience to get excited.In this episode, Austin shares an early coaching case study. Robert is a business consultant who signed up for Business (re)Launch, Austin’s freelance coaching program. With Austin’s help, he developed a new offer. The offer enabled Robert to charge four times what he had previously.If you’re curious how they were able to do that, be sure to grab the 10 quick steps Austin shares at the end to help you rethink your packaging.Key pointsIntro (00:00)The Path(s) to Freelance Success (00:36)It’s All About Pulling the Right Levers (02:23)Doing Less (Not More) Helps You Grow Freelance Income Faster (04:19)Better Packaging Communicates Higher Value (07:27)When Is the Last Time You Really Considered the Packaging of Your Freelance Services? (09:21)Notable Quotes"The freelancers who win the game consistently aren't necessarily the most skilled or the hardest working.""Better packaging communicates higher value.""If you are already creating significant value for your clients, small changes to your packaging can have a huge impact on your earning."Resources mentioned in this episode:Million Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss: https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Consulting-Alan-Weiss/dp/0071622101 Business Bootcamp for Freelancers: https://freelancecake.com/coaching Listen, rate, and subscribe!For specific beliefs, principles, and practices you can use right away to make the freelance game more profitable and satisfying, subscribe to Freelance Cake podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Explore the importance of selling outcomes instead of hours in freelancing. Learn how freelancers are paid for delivering valuable outcomes similar to surgeons and pilots. Discover the power of shifting the conversation to focus on desired outcomes. Get insights on successfully implementing outcome-based selling and raising rates, along with a nine-word response to reframe conversations. Hear about the Freelance Cake Coaching Program.

One month, you're swamped with freelance work. The next, your project pipeline is dry. You try all the tactics you can think of. You cast your marketing net far and wide. You come up empty-handed. Meanwhile, those bills keep coming. It's no surprise that a lot of freelancers develop money anxieties! Irregular income and anxiety makes it difficult for freelancers to do their best work and harness their creativity to score freelance projects.In this episode, Austin shares his 7-step freakout protocol. It will come in handy when you’re staring down the end of the month and freaking out a little about your lack of freelance clients. Austin also gives away free email templates that you can use to follow up with past clients and silent prospects without getting on their nerves. Key pointsIntro (00:00)The Perennial Needs of Freelancers? (00:36)The 7-Step Freakout Protocol (02:00)Notable Quotes“Anxiety about money can cause our creativity to contract like water when the temperature drops. We really have to fight harder to open up that creativity, to expand it, and think, “Maybe this is an opportunity to go after a dream client.""Share what you’re building online. Give the play-by-play. Invite people into the mess. Show the work while the sawdust is still on it.”Resources mentioned in this episode:Lead Tracker TemplateListen, rate, and subscribe!For specific beliefs, principles, and practices you can use right away to make the freelance game more profitable and satisfying, subscribe to Freelance Cake podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Can you be successful at art and business? Can you sell your work without compromising your artistic integrity?We’re all familiar with the identity of the starving artist.The assumption that artists and freelance creatives must forego financial stability to preserve their creative integrity usually goes unchallenged. It’s taken as a fact of life, like gravity. Art and commerce don’t mix. They’re fundamentally at odds. You’d better love what you do because passion don’t pay, pal. This mentality runs rampant in art schools, creative writing programs, and even the online creator community.But what if that way of thinking is wrong? What if art and commerce can mix and always have?You don't need to struggle with money just because you want to keep creativity and craft front and center in your life. The truth is, you can make exceptionally good stuff while also creating a great livelihood for yourself. You can put an end to the starving artist mentality and embrace the reality that the right people will place a high value on your work.In Episode 007, Austin discusses the false dichotomy between art and commerce. He then breaks down the Japanese concept of “ikigai. Finally, he encourages freelancers to overcome self-limiting beliefs about money by viewing it as a tool – rather than a goal – that allows them more creativity, freedom, and generosity.Key pointsIntro (00:00)The "Ikigai" Concept and How It Relates to Freelancers (00:35)The False Dichotomy Between Art and Commerce (02:43)How Do We Define Artistic Integrity Anyway? (06:52)Notable Quotes"None of us can really make the case that financial struggles somehow make you a better artist, or that not struggling financially means you're bound to compromise your artistic integrity.""Being paid to use a skill does not make you a second-rate artist, and not getting paid does not make you a first-rate artist.""If we learn how to make more money in less time, we can serve our customers better, have more freedom, and give more generously without burning out or becoming people we don't like.""Let’s toss out our false dichotomies into the wind and come up with some more robust and durable beliefs about the relationship between art and commerce. Once we upgrade our beliefs, we'll find it easier to build freelance businesses that we really love."Listen, rate, and subscribe!For specific beliefs, principles, and practices you can use right away to make the freelance game more profitable and satisfying, subscribe to Freelance Cake podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!

To niche or not to niche, that is the question.Many freelancers have the "jack of all trades" mentality. To survive in the freelance business, we take on a variety of projects in a variety of industries. That's what Austin did for 6 years. As a generalist, he made freelancing harder on himself. After adopting more of an abundance mindset, Austin specialized in content marketing for tech founders and SaaS companies. Specialization simplified his marketing.When you study freelancers or consultants who make six or seven figures, you’ll notice they provide only a handful of services or outcomes for a narrow slice of a single market or industry. Picking a niche can help you make more money as a freelancer and find more satisfaction from your work.In Episode 006, Austin shares 16 benefits of finding a profitable and sustainable nice niche and explains why so many freelancers still choose not to specialize despite the apparent benefits. He also tackles 4 myths about niching down to encourage more freelancers to take the leap.Key pointsIntro (00:00)Identifying Your Niche (or Is It Even Necessary?) (00:36)The Difference Between Being a Generalist and a Specialist in Marketing (02:17)So, What Are the Benefits of Niching Down? (03:47)And Why Doesn’t Every Freelancer Specialize? (10:08)Debunking Niching Down Myths: I Want To Tell You What’s Really True (12:28)Real Niche Product Examples That Found Success in Specializing (15:10)How Do You Know a Nice Niche When You See One? (21:05)Things (Lenses) To Look Out for in Finding Your Niche (23:10)Resolving Two Long-Standing Disputes in Freelancing (27:05)You’re the Boss, You Make the Rules (28:31)Notable Quotes“When you’re a generalist, you believe that anyone can be your client. When you’re targeting everyone, you target no one.”"If there's one thing in your freelance business that you should put some work into, it's scarcity mindset."

Austin shares the 20 Stories Exercise for predictable freelance income. The importance of consistent marketing and the power of simplicity. The Principle of Variant Strain and its impact on growth. The speaker's personal story of persistence in freelance marketing. Building a successful joint venture and the importance of systems and relationships.