6 Figure Creative

Every year, I'm going to bet that your niche is getting more and more competitive.There's always another music producer, photographer, designer, copywriter, developer, or videographer popping up out of nowhere... And the scary part is... They're actually really good at what they do.What can you do to stay ahead of the competition?Get better at your craft? Probably not...Instead, you need to become a "Full Stack Freelancer" if you want to be a successful freelancer in 2023 and beyond.There's a laundry list of other "noncreative" skills that will do so much more for the success of your business, and in this episode, I’m going to delve into 3 of my most essential skill stacks to put you on the road to becoming a competent full stack freelancer this year. 🤘In this episode you’ll discover: Becoming a full-stack freelancer The foundation of being a freelancer Honing your marketing skills Copywriting for small businesses Basic design for freelancers Understanding paid ads and funnels The strategy behind your business' marketing plan Confidence and conviction Persuading leads that you are the best option (because you are) FITFO in your full stack For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/235

What did I learn building a BRAND new 6 figure income stream last year?Of course, the idea of building a new 6 figure income stream sounds great right?… until you’re a year in and still not making the progress you wanted to.It feels like paddling toward an island that never seems to get any closer. Why not chuck the paddle and give up?The good news is you’re not alone! I’ve been there, and no matter how bad it feels, slow and steady still wins the race.“But Brian, you’re already successful, how can you relate to us beginner business owners?”Well, I just started a BRAND new income stream in 2022, and I want to let you in on 9 specific actionable lessons that I learned (and re-learned) while building it to 6 figures.Enough generic “here’s what I learned in 2022” talk, let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of exactly what I had to learn from $0 to 6 figures revenue in 2022!In this episode you’ll discover: Why slow and steady wins the race Removing yourself from bad friendships Choosing the right pricing The wins paid advertising can provide Fixing the bottlenecks you're facing Keep growing your skills! Don't run your business alone Spend time creating a plan For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/234

It's officially 2023, and this is the time of year everyone starts looking to the future of what's possible. Is this the year you finally leave your day job behind? Is this the year you finally crack $100k in revenue? Is this the year you finally break $100k in profit? Whatever your goal, one of the most helpful things I can do as a podcaster is show you someone who's accomplished all of these things in a relatively short amount of time.Lydia Kerr of Telltale Design Co made the transition from "side hustle" to $20,000 per month in less than 4 years of starting her design business. In this interview, you'll hear her story of how she launched Telltale Design Co while working a full-time day job, and she replaced that day job income within just a few months of freelancing, and ultimately how she made the shift from "low-dollar $500 project" freelancer to a "premium-priced $10k project" business owner.In this episode you’ll discover: How Lydia went from 0 to full-time in a few short months Growing your business to multiple six figures in under five years The difference between living in a small town or big city Why your $500 client will never be your $5,000 client Using social media to promote your business Working within clients' budgets Being honest with your clients Creating mutual respect with clients What tools to use for your business For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/233

I'm sure you already know how easy it is to get bogged down by the day-to-day tasks and admin work that comes with running a freelance business. You probably don't know all of the amazing tools out there that (when used correctly) will help you focus on what you do best... Create.By leveraging the right tools, you can increase profits, reduce frustration, and create a sense of calm in your workflow. From project management and invoicing tools to marketing platforms and collaboration apps, we'll discuss my top 11 favorite tools every creative freelancer should have in their toolkit.Whether you're just starting out as a freelancer or you're looking to take your thriving business to the next level in 2023, this episode is for you.Listen now to learn how these tools can help you streamline your workflow, stay organized, and grow your business.In this episode you’ll discover: Why you should invest in the tools you need The toxicity of the blue-collar mindset Solving internal communication for your team Staying on top of client relationships the easy way How to keep productivity high as a freelancer Bookkeeping made simple Choosing the best payment provider Saving hours per week on audio/video editing Using your external brain to stay organized For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/232

The sad reality for most freelancers is that they're just offering the same "copycat" services as everyone else around them. Because of this, they're stuck in a competitive hell.This is called a "commoditized service".Think about how you buy a commodity like salt and pepper... You look at the shelf and buy the first thing you see that matches your pricing expectation. As far as you're concerned, all the options are pretty much the same.This is what it's like for freelancers. Anyone who's looking to hire a freelancer can literally "shop" Fiverr.com for dozens of different creative services where thousands of freelancers are competing with each other.In the perfect world, you'd find a way to stand out and become a "monopolized service", but that takes a LOT of time, effort, and energy to develop the necessary skills.The good news is that you can still thrive in an extremely competitive industry, and this week's episode will give you 6 ways to get more clients even as a copycat freelancer.In this episode you’ll discover: Why you need to stand out as a freelancer The dangers of rock bottom pricing in commoditized services Reviews vs. testimonials Providing a premium service for your customers Finding clients who know, like, and trust you Digital relationships The value of good copywriting for your business Funnels for freelancers For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/231

Have you ever checked a price for a flight, only to come back later and see that the price increased (or decreased) significantly?This is something called "dynamic pricing", and it's what some of the largest businesses in the world do to maximize their profits.This is a technique I learned in 2015 when using a new "dynamic pricing" tool on my Airbnb, and it added a 20% boost to my rental income.It worked so damn well that I brought the same idea to my freelance business that same year.If you're looking for clever ways to give yourself a pay raise, maximize your income, and fight against inflation by using supply and demand to your advantage, this episode is for you.In this episode you’ll discover: Why you should go fill out our feedback form right now Using dynamic pricing to make the most profit for your business How to determine your pricing based on timing and schedule Why it's ethical to charge annoying clients more Why last-minute projects are often the worst to work on Filling your last-minute schedule gaps with "fire sale" rates Who to blame if you get called out (hint: it's Brian) Why you deserve this! For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/230

The message of this week's episode is simple...Raise your gosh darn rates. There are way too many dangers of perpetually undercharging for your services (which we discuss in this episode).There are also so many benefits to your life/business when you charge more that you can't keep putting off rate increases.You might even need to completely restructure your services so you can charge more, but the effort is worth the result.In this episode you’ll discover: Why low prices are a red flag for clients Low rates = bad clients The threshold of raising your rates Lifetime client value and your business Why being business-savvy makes you a better creative The importance of understanding your market and clients DON'T RUSH your work Why ignoring people outside your network is a fatal mistake For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/229

If you've been stuck at 4 or 5 figures per year as a freelancer, there's likely one ingredient that is holding you back from growth.Without this ingredient, it is 100% impossible to get clients, grow your income, and get past the 6 figure mark (if that's your goal).In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, my buddy Mark Eckert and I map out the path you can take to overcoming all of the hurdles between you and this incredibly important missing ingredient.In this episode you’ll discover: How to move from four/five figures to six figures+ Why you aren't full time yet How to revamp your entire public-facing identity as a freelancer The difference between advertising vs. content marketing and why this matters for freelancers Why you should be producing more than consuming How sticking to a schedule or routine can tie all of this together For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/228

Is your income in a constant feast-or-famine cycle? Some months might look great... But then all of your projects seem to dry up, and you're left scrambling for clients.This sort of cycle can be brutal for your business, personal life, and mental health, but this cycle doesn't have repeated for the rest of your life.There are likely 3 things keeping you trapped in this vicious cycle, and this episode breaks down how to finally break the cycle.If you're ready for more consistency, dependability, and stability in your monthly income, add episode #227 of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast to your podcast queue ASAP!In this episode you’ll discover: How Brian scored $12,000 flights for $200 Why you're comfortable in your day job Taking responsibility for your business' success (or lack thereof) What's keeping you on the feast-or-famine rollercoaster The best solution to an inconsistent business How to work smart, not hard The key to consistent client acquisition For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/227

So you made it to $100,000+ per year... Congrats. Too bad you made so many sacrifices that you're constantly stressed out, you're missing out on time with friends and family, and you resent your business.The irony is that you became a freelancer because you hated your day job and you wanted to work for yourself. Now, you feel like you have 50 "little bosses", and you hate your life a little bit more with each new client you gain.If this sounds like you, it may be time to put boundaries into place to get to that sweet spot between hitting your income goals while also enjoying your life and business.In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I give you 6 different boundaries you should have with your clients so you can actually stay happy, healthy, and profitable.In this episode you’ll discover: Maintaining mental and physical health while you're running a business How to handle revision requests without losing your mind Eliminating one of the most painful freelance experiences How to keep your clients from taking advantage of your kindness Boundaries for corporate/agency clients Using boundaries to avoid scope creep Avoiding stress with payment issues How to learn more about building your client acquisition machine For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/226