

The Content Byte
Rachel Smith
Hosts Rachel Smith (from Rachel's List) and journalist and content writer Lynne Testoni are serving up weekly short bites of advice, tips and strategies, plus special guests, for freelancers who make a living from using their words. We're shooting for 15-minute episodes, but can't promise anything because we can both talk the leg off a chair.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 21, 2020 • 33min
Talking JobKeeper with accountant Holly Shoebridge - what you need to know right now
JobKeeper payments are changing in the coming weeks, and many freelancers know what a minefield it can be! If you're relying on it to prop up your income right now, accountant Holly Shoebridge shares all the information you need to know in this week's episode.

Aug 30, 2020 • 24min
Series 4, Ep 12: Your starter guide to sourcing images
Today's writers often need to provide more than just words - they need to be multi-skilled. This week hosts Rachel and Lynne talk all about sourcing the best images to accompany your text, offering advice and tips on where to find great free and paid stock photos, as well as how to commission photographers.

Aug 23, 2020 • 16min
Niches: Yes, they're important AND can help you charge more
Can being very specific about the niches you operate in help bring you higher-paying clients? Especially when it comes to content marketing? Many experts in this space say yes, and today we're talking about how to isolate your niches and market yourself more effectively.

Aug 16, 2020 • 22min
On-boarding systems for clients and why you need them
We know, on-boarding doesn't sound like the sexiest topic - but if you're putting new clients on your schedule, having seamless systems in place will save you time, money and a world of pain down the track. We talk about how we devised our own on-boarding systems, the mistakes we made and why it's essential to keep tweaking and making your systems better.

Aug 9, 2020 • 36min
Starting a content business, with Nigel Bowen
It's been nearly a decade since journalist Nigel Bowen left magazines to carve out a new path in content marketing. In this episode, we chat to him about how he started his business, Content Sherpa and why he loves being 'captain of his own ship'. Nigel also shares some tips on finding clients and dealing with the never-ending hustle, and his advice for freelancers starting out.

Aug 3, 2020 • 16min
Series 4, Ep 8: Internships...good for your career, or exploitative?
Are you starting off in your career and looking at an internship? This week Rachel and Lynne talk about unpaid internships - and share tips on how to find the good ones and how to make them work for you.

Jul 26, 2020 • 36min
We chat to Wendy Moore about moving from print to TV
Do print journos have transferrable skills for broadcast? In this episode, we put that question to Wendy Moore, the head of Foxtel's Lifestyle Channels, a former House Rules on-camera judge - and a highly experienced editor and publisher with over 20 years in print herself. (She's also the sister of one of us!) Find out why print journos are 'doers', the skills you need to work in TV and much more.

Jul 20, 2020 • 18min
Mentors: Finding one, using one, being one
If you're at the start of your career, having a trusted mentor to advice and guide you can be invaluable. But mentors aren't just for when you're starting out; even experienced freelancers may benefit from different mentors at various stages of their career. In this episode, we talk about the ins and outs of mentoring, what mentoring is and what it isn't, and where to find a good one.

Jul 13, 2020 • 20min
Pricing: different methods and what works for us
How DO you price projects as a freelancer? Should it be by the word, by the hour, by the day? What's value-based pricing? And when do you opt for a retainer agreement? In this episode, we run through some common pricing structures freelancers use (and what we use) to help you out.

Jul 5, 2020 • 42min
How writers can get results on LinkedIn, with guest John Espirian
Want to know how to harness the power of the LinkedIn platform in order to get noticed / find more clients? In this episode, self-confessed LinkedIn nerd and technical copywriter John Espirian shares a heap of valuable tips and tricks. Listen in for essential profile tweaks, the kind of content to write (and why the algorithm favours comments), the dangers of automating posts, whether premium accounts are worth it, tapping into the silent jobs market, finding clients to reach out to and much more.


