Most freelancers and solo marketers focus their marketing efforts on prospecting, networking, or LinkedIn.   But guesting on podcasts that your target audience listens to? Not so much.   And that’s too bad, because appearing on podcasts can be a powerful way to build your brand, meet and network with great people, generate leads, and establish yourself as a thought leader in your market.   In this episode, I sit down with Angie Trueblood, a seasoned podcast publicist, to explore how freelance writers and solo marketers can harness the power of podcast guesting.   Angie shares her unique journey into the world of podcast publicity and breaks down why being a guest on the right shows can make a huge positive difference in your business. We dive deep into actionable strategies, including:   Why podcast guesting is an underused but highly effective strategy for freelancers How to identify the podcasts that will bring real value to your business Insider tips on crafting a genuine, irresistible pitch Practical advice on preparing for your podcast debut to maximize impact How to track and measure the success of your podcast guesting efforts   Whether you’re looking to expand your client base, increase your visibility, or simply explore new avenues for growth, Angie’s insights will open your eyes to the untapped potential of this marketing strategy.

A growing number of writers are incorporating AI tools into their workflow.   Those who’ve kept an open mind and experimented with different approaches and ways to increase their productivity and scale their creativity have seen remarkable improvements in both the quality and quantity of their work, allowing them to stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry.   The current models are powerful out of the box. But what if there was a way to take things a step further and create personalized AI tools tailored to your unique needs?   In this episode, I sit down with Erynn LaFlamme, founder and CEO of Ethic Agency, a marketing agency based in Metro Atlanta. Erynn and I discuss how writers can harness the power of custom GPTs to handle nuanced parts of their client workflow.   Erynn has become an expert in using AI for content creation, and she walks us through the process of building Custom GPTs and shares real-world examples of how her team is leveraging this technology to produce better work.   We dive deep into:   The difference between Custom GPTs and using standard ChatGPT Key steps involved in creating GPTs for specific clients Challenges and ethical considerations in AI-powered workflows How to refine and improve Custom GPTs over time Deciding when to use a Custom GPT versus a general AI tool   We also explore what this means for the future of freelance writers and content professionals—will AI replace us, or will it become an essential tool in our toolkit?   Whether you’re curious about integrating AI into your business or looking for ways to refine your processes, this episode offers some very practical ideas, insights and tips.

I was doing an exercise the other day where I looked back over the past 3 decades of my career to think through every major breakthrough I had and every big move I made.   Not only was this a fun trip down memory lane, it also made me realize a few very important things.     One of them is that nearly every breakthrough happened during a very challenging moment in my career. And in a few cases, they happened when I was desperate—when I was in a very tight spot and desperately needed things to turn around.   And that got me thinking, “You know ... desperation can lead to some very powerful breakthroughs!”   That’s the topic of this week’s short podcast episode below.

In this episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges freelancers face: the dreaded feast-or-famine cycle. Whether you're a seasoned freelancer or just starting out, the strategies we’ll discuss can help you create a steady stream of work and avoid the panic that comes with dry spells. The Growing Urgency of Client Prospecting The freelance world is facing increased pressure. With a challenging economy causing many businesses to put projects on hold, freelancers who’ve enjoyed steady work over the past few years are now finding themselves in a tough spot. The solution? A strategic and consistent approach to prospecting that can keep your pipeline full, regardless of external conditions. Recognizing Marketing as a Core Role As a solo business owner, marketing isn't just something you do when you need work—it’s a critical role that you must prioritize. Freelancers often come from environments where work is handed to them, but when you’re running your own business, you’re responsible for every function, including marketing and sales. If you’re serious about building a sustainable business, you need to accept this responsibility and make marketing a consistent part of your routine. The 10% Rule: A Simple Strategy for Consistent Marketing To ensure marketing becomes a habit, I recommend the 10% Rule—dedicating 10% of your weekly work time to marketing activities. This approach is flexible, achievable, and essential for maintaining a healthy pipeline of opportunities. Whether you're booked solid or facing a slow period, this rule helps you stay proactive in your marketing efforts. Building Marketing into Your Routine Consistency is key. Just like brushing your teeth or going for a walk, marketing should become a habitual part of your weekly routine. When you make marketing a non-negotiable habit, you’ll find that opportunities start to flow more regularly. This doesn’t mean you have to cold prospect constantly—staying in touch with your network, engaging with past clients, and maintaining visibility on platforms like LinkedIn can all contribute to keeping your pipeline active. The Priority Pyramid: Focus on High-Probability Opportunities First When your pipeline is dry, it’s important to focus your efforts on the highest-probability opportunities first. That’s where the Priority Pyramid comes into play: Current Clients & Open Proposals: Start by following up with current clients and open opportunities. This is the highest-probability area where you can secure quick wins. Past & Dormant Clients: Reconnect with past clients or those who have gone dormant. They already know, like, and trust you, making it easier to reignite the relationship. Dead Leads: Reach out to prospects who showed interest in the past but didn’t convert. Often, circumstances change, and they may now be ready to move forward. Cold Prospects: Finally, if you’ve exhausted the previous three categories, turn to cold prospecting. This can be time-consuming, but it’s a necessary part of maintaining a full pipeline. The Importance of Reps and At-Bats Cold prospecting can feel daunting, especially when you face rejection or silence. But remember, like a slot machine in Vegas, the more you play (or in this case, prospect), the higher your chances of hitting a jackpot. The key is to keep going, even when it feels tough. The more reps you do, the better your chances of landing a big win. Unwavering Commitment: The Foundation of Success Freelancing comes with its challenges, and it’s during these tough times that your resolve will be tested. It’s crucial to have a strong sense of purpose—your “Big Why”—that keeps you motivated. Like the American colonists fighting for their freedom, your commitment to your business and your goals will carry you through the toughest challenges. Upcoming Workshop: Build a Powerful Prospecting Habit in 21 Days If you’re ready to take your prospecting efforts to the next level, I’m excited to announce a new prospecting workshop starting next week. Over 21 days, you’ll receive daily lessons and assignments designed to help you build effective prospecting habits that stick. This workshop is all about action, accountability, and results—perfect for freelancers who are ready to transform their business. This is the last time I’m running this workshop in 2025. To join us, send an email to [ed at b2blauncher dot com], and we’ll get you all the details. The workshop begins on Monday, September 16, so don’t wait! Final Thoughts Breaking free from the feast-or-famine cycle requires a strategic and consistent approach to marketing and prospecting. By embracing your role as a marketer, following the 10% Rule, and focusing on high-probability opportunities, you can create a steady flow of work and build a sustainable freelance business. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the High-Income Business Writing podcast. I hope you found these strategies useful. Until next time, keep pushing forward and stay committed to your success.

As freelancers and solo professionals, we often (unknowingly) sabotage our own success from the very first interaction with a prospect.   We present ourselves and our services in a way that works against us. It erodes trust and diminishes our perceived value before we even begin working with a potential client.   It often starts the moment we ask our clients, "What can I do for you?"   This simple question can unknowingly shift us from being experts in our field to mere order-takers, losing control of our own business direction.   From there, it shows up in what we say to clients and prospects. What we offer. How we price our work. How we position ourselves in the market. And how we talk about what we do and the value we deliver.   In this episode, we're diving deep into this critical issue. My guest is , an experienced freelance professional and entrepreneur who has mastered the art of positioning herself as an expert rather than an order-taker.   Amy shares invaluable insights on how to regain control of your freelance business, build authority with clients, and establish yourself as the go-to expert in your field.   We explore a number of important topics, including:   Recognizing when you've fallen into the order-taker role and how to break free Practical steps to shift from order-taker to expert (and yes, you ARE more of an expert than you realize!) Building and demonstrating authority—even if you’re shy or introverted Setting boundaries and managing client expectations Developing the communication skills and confidence needed to position yourself as an expert   Whether you're a seasoned freelancer looking to level up your business or still in the early stages of growing your practice, this episode offers valuable insights to help you take back the power in your business and truly thrive as a freelance professional.   I hope you find our conversation enlightening and actionable!

Freelancing can be a lonely journey. But it doesn't have to be.   Many freelancers struggle to find consistent work, navigate client relationships, and stay up-to-date with industry trends. They often feel isolated, and unsure where to turn for support or guidance.   Not Rachel Smith, my guest in this week's episode. Rachel is the founder of , a thriving jobs board and community for Australian freelance writers that has been going strong for over a decade.   But here's the kicker: Rachel's List started almost by accident.   Early in her freelance career, Rachel found herself frequently recommending other freelancers when she couldn't take on projects. This informal network of referrals gradually evolved into a highly successful business that has transformed the freelance landscape for countless writers.   These days, Rachel's List isn't just a job board. It's a vibrant community where freelancers share information, find overflow work, and access practical skill-building masterclasses. The success has even spawned a popular podcast (The Content Byte) and an annual conference — .   I was thrilled to bring Rachel on the show to share her insights on how freelance opportunities have grown and changed over the years. We go deep into this idea of building a small community of your own. And we discuss the skills freelancers need to thrive in today's market.   Whether you're a seasoned freelancer looking to expand your network or a newcomer trying to find your footing, you’ll find a number of valuable insights on building a supportive freelance community and turning connections into business opportunities.

When you’re starting to offer advisory engagements to clients and prospects, it’s very common to get nervous.   Say you’re talking with a prospect and you can tell that they need help beyond writing. In fact, you can see that it doesn’t yet make sense to go right into a writing project — mainly because they need to make some other decisions first.   But you’re nervous ... because you’re not sure how to think about what they’re telling you.   Or you’re not sure how to explain that they need to do something else first before creating that marketing asset.   Here’s what I do to help me get better clarity quickly and calm my nerves. It’s a bit of a decision tree or decision flow chart. A powerful heuristic, if you will.   I ask myself the following questions:   Does it sound like they need help coming up with the right solution or intervention? In other words, the right solution is not well defined yet. And you can’t really move forward with anything until they figure that out (hopefully with your help). Do they have the right intervention BUT need help improving how they’ll produce that intervention? For example, they have the right idea for how to solve the problem. But as you listen to them talk about it, you realize the topic, theme, or approach they want to take is flawed. Do they have the right intervention AND the right approach ... but they need help bringing that intervention to life? For example, they want to interview 15 subject matter experts, which is way too many. Or they want to do too much too quickly.   Why are these internal questions valuable? They’re valuable because they can help you categorize the exact type of need the prospect has AND how you’ll steer the conversation and how you’ll offer to help them.   And if you can determine this quickly and efficiently during that prospect conversation, you’ll have more mental and creative bandwidth to listen more attentively to what they’re saying AND end the conversation by stating your case confidently.   So give this heuristic tool a try next time you go into a prospect or client conversation where you notice that they may need help beyond just writing.

Life can often feel like a never-ending hustle — especially when you feel like you’re working harder than ever but getting poorer results.   Deadlines loom. Responsibilities pile up. And the bills keep coming.   It’s so easy to get swept up in the daily grind and feel like you’re constantly in the middle of a storm that just won’t let up.   Before you know it, the love you once had for your work starts to dim. And frustration and burnout take hold ... leaving you with a persistent feeling that you're merely going through the motions.   Sound familiar?   If so, I think you’ll really appreciate this episode. My guest today is my mentor, teacher, and good friend Peleg Top.   I’ve known Peleg for 14 years. He’s had a huge influence on my life and my business. And he’s the person who encouraged me many years ago to become a coach. I’ve learned a ton from him over the years, and much of that inevitably seeps into the work I do with my own clients.   I wanted to bring Peleg on because what I’ve been seeing in our business over the past year troubles me.   I’m seeing a level of frustration, burnout, doubt, fear, and uncertainty among creative professionals that I haven’t seen in a very long time. So many solo creative professionals are feeling rudderless and uninspired.   They’re tired and deeply in burnout territory. They want to change. And they’re trying their best to improve their situation, reinvent themselves, and create something new. But they feel plagued with a lack of clarity, fear, and self-doubt.    Peleg believes that these symptoms are a clear sign that your inner muse is inaccessible. It’s locked up in a prison cell made of routine, stress, and self-doubt. And in order to break through and create the change we want, we must unleash this inner muse so we can tap into our core creative potential.   I couldn’t agree more.   In this conversation, we get right into this. We explain what this inner muse is all about. And how we can start embracing it to open up pathways to new ideas, emotional healing, and a profound sense of fulfillment—both in our professional and personal lives.   An Invitation   One more thing. A few months ago, Peleg and I felt called to do something about the challenges we’re seeing among creative professionals. We wanted to do something more profound and life-changing than a podcast episode.   Don’t get me wrong. You’ll get a lot out of listening to this conversation. But we’ve also decided to co-lead a retreat this September in Santa Fe, New Mexico. And it’s something I’m super-excited about.   We’re calling it the Unleash Your Inner Muse retreat.   This is a 5-day event where we'll work together to help you rediscover and nurture your creative spirit, unlock your full creative potential and craft a compelling vision for your personal and professional life.   You'll reconnect with a profound joy and exhilarating freedom that will make you wonder how you ever lost touch with this divine spark within.   And by the end of our journey together, you'll walk away with:   Practical tools to reignite your creativity A renewed sense of motivation and direction A process that nourishes your authentic self and reconnects you to a creative energy you haven't felt in years   If what we share in this episode resonates with you, I invite you to listen to the end, where we talk a bit about that event. I’m also including a link with all the details on the show notes page for this episode. Or you can go straight there by visiting .

In this transformative episode, I discuss the importance of setting boundaries and being selective with opportunities through practical tools and methodologies. Borrowing from Greg McKeown's book, *Essentialism*, I introduce two powerful concepts: the 90% Rule and the Extreme Criteria Exercise. These tools are designed to help you master the art of saying no, enabling you to focus on what truly matters in both your personal and professional life.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s especially relevant given the current global climate: finding stability in your business amidst chaos. Are you feeling more stressed, burnt out, or anxious? Are you questioning your path as a solo professional more frequently?   If so, you’re not alone.   The Ever-Present Chaos   Life is full of uncertainties. Whether it’s the economy, AI advancements, elections, or geopolitical tensions, there’s always something that can induce fear and anxiety. However, history shows that this is a recurring pattern, and often, things are better than they seem when viewed through a historical lens.   Reasons for Optimism   Despite the chaos, there are many reasons to be optimistic:   -          Technological Advancements: We live in an era of unprecedented technological growth, from healthcare advancements increasing life expectancy to technologies that connect us globally in an instant.   -          Improved Standards of Living: Global poverty rates have significantly declined, and more people have access to education and essential services than ever before.   -          Greater Awareness and Action on Social Issues: There’s increased awareness and robust discussions around social, environmental, and political issues, driving actions towards equality and sustainability.   -          Resilience and Adaptability: Humans have consistently overcome challenges, often emerging stronger and more united.   -          Access to Information: The vast availability of information today allows us to make more informed decisions and educate ourselves better.   -          Scientific Understanding and Rationality: Our improved understanding of the world through science helps us address problems more effectively.   The Hedonic Treadmill   We’re all subject to "hedonic adaptation," where we quickly normalize our experiences. This can make it easy to lose perspective during setbacks. Recognizing this can help us maintain a more balanced outlook.   Personal Reflections   I’ve been self-employed for 18 years, experiencing many difficult periods that made me question my career path. Recently, my business revenue has trended down, partly by design and partly due to uncontrollable factors. These challenges led to a period of grumpiness, fear, and anxiety.   However, through coaching, self-reflection, and a shift in perspective over the past 18 months, I’ve managed to address and manage these feelings much more effectively. My journey included soul searching, which has intensified and brought about positive changes this year.   Questions to Guide Your Reflection   If you’re in a funk or questioning your path, revisiting your core principles can help. Here are key questions to ponder:   ·       Why do I do this work?   ·       What do I do better than most people?   ·       As I look back at my career, what activities or parts of my work tend to put me into a state of flow? What have clients and colleagues commented very positively about before (i.e., When have they said, “Wow, you’re really good at this!”)   ·       Why does my business exist beyond making money?   ·       What are my top-3 core values? How well is my freelance business enabling me to live those values? And if I’m not happy with the answer, what do I need to change about my business so it’s better aligned with those values?    ·       What are my biggest financial fears as a freelancer?   ·       Reflect on a time in your business when you were really fearful? Did that fear materialize? And if it did, how did you deal with the situation? What did you learn about yourself in the process?   ·       What am I fearful about right now? How is fear and anxiety guiding my actions?   ·       If you find yourself in a really bad situation right now, ask yourself... How much worse could this be? What would be the worst possible thing that could happen here? And what would I do if that happened—how would I address it?   ·       Reflect on a time or two when adapting to change led to unexpected opportunities. How can I apply those lessons to my current situation in freelance writing?   ·       How can I leverage AI and new technologies to enhance my value proposition to clients rather than replace my services?   ·       What is the vision for my business, and how does the current situation match that vision?   ·       What would a perfect workday look like for me? Make it up! Design it however you want and describe it in detail, hour by hour. Use your imagination. No rules, restrictions, or constraints!   ·       If I’m seriously looking for full-time work, what am I trying to run away from? And what do I honestly feel a full-time job would give me that my current business can’t?   ·       Who do I need to become to have a business that brings me joy again?   Find a quiet space, open a journal, and think through these questions. Let the words flow, then take a walk to clear your mind. Answers might not come immediately, but they will. This process of thinking and connecting with your Higher Self is an act of self-love.   A Request   If you found this episode helpful, please forward it to a friend or colleague. I suspect that many solo professionals out there could benefit from these reflections.

Think back to when you first went out on your own.   Remember those first few projects? Getting paid for your writing felt like magic, didn’t it?   You put in, say, 10 hours of work, and the client paid you $750.   Wow!   What made it magical was that the $750 was all for me. And I loved the idea that a few units of effort in would translate to a few units of compensation on the other end.   Eventually, we all get used to this kind of reward ratio. And we (rightfully) start expecting more. We may even get to a point where one hour of our time is often worth $300, $400, or more. Especially when a project goes real smoothly.   And for some solo professionals, this can start feeling odd. We feel a bit guilty that we’re earning that much on some or all of our client work.   Impostor syndrome kicks in. And that inner critic starts taking over our internal chatter.   In this week’s (short) podcast episode I get into these feelings of guilt and how to address them.   This is important stuff. Because if left ignored, these feelings will create a cascading effect of guilt and negativity that inevitably leads to self-sabotage.   I hope you find it useful.

Freelancing is amazing. Until it isn’t.   You wake up one morning and you realize that you’ve created a very demanding job for yourself.   And chances are, you take LESS time off than you ever did in any previous job you held.   Sometimes it even feels like you’re working for a tyrannical boss who makes you feel terrible any time you ask for a small break.   That boss, by the way, is YOU.   Sound familiar?   Not to Wendy Helfenbaum, my guest in this week’s episode. Wendy is an established freelance writer out of Montreal. And for the past 18+ years, she has taken 4 months off every year.   And when I say “time off,” I mean real, non-working time off. No client work. No working on the business. No marketing. No nothing.   Just time to be with her family. To decompress. To enjoy life. And to savor the freedom freelancing is supposed to afford us.   Just as impressive, Wendy has consistently maintained a 6-figure income for years—even while taking a full third of the year off.   I was super-excited to bring Wendy on the show to tell us how she does this. It was a very lively and insightful conversation. I learned so much, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.   This is a great follow-up to the where she discussed how she was able to take a 4-month maternity leave recently. If you haven’t listened to that episode, I urge you to give it a listen, because it complements this week’s episode really well.

I’ve heard this argument hundreds of times:   “I don’t have a specific target market, Ed. I’m a generalist who works with all kinds of businesses. So I’m having a really hard time narrowing things down, and I’m not convinced I should.”   When I ask them about their motivation for continuing to do things this way, I typically get a response along the lines of, “I want variety in my work. I don’t want to be writing for just one industry.”   And that right there is the crux of the problem. Most people who view themselves as generalists use the “work and client variety” justification.   I don’t blame them. I want variety too! But that’s a logical fallacy.   There’s a way to have your cake and eat it, too. But you have to look at this challenge differently.   In this week’s (short) podcast episode, I explain how to do that. And how to arrive at a well-defined target market that works for you AND keeps things open and flexible for unexpected opportunities.

For most freelancers, the concept of taking an extended break—be it for maternity leave, personal health, or a sabbatical—has been shrouded in trepidation.   We love the idea of a long break, especially if we’re experiencing burnout. But we immediately dismiss it as unrealistic because we don’t think we can afford to lose the income. Or we fear losing momentum, falling behind, and not being able to seamlessly re-enter the business on the other end of our break.   This week, we're challenging that narrative head-on, with a deep dive into how you can navigate maternity leave (or any extended break) without missing a beat. Not only is this possible, it's an opportunity to strengthen your business and come back stronger.   My guest is a very successful freelance writer and content marketing strategist, Satta Sarmah Hightower. Satta is a previous coaching client of mine. And while we were working together, we put together a plan for a successful maternity leave.   Of course, not every plan works seamlessly. So I wanted to bring Satta into the show to tell us what she did, how it all went, what she learned from the experience — and what advice she has for other freelancers who are thinking about taking an extended break like this but aren’t sure how to make it work.   Satta didn't just manage her maternity leave; she mastered it. From planning and preparation to execution and the transition back into the business world, her journey is a blueprint for any solo professional contemplating a similar break. I’ve been particularly impressed with how she’s managed the work/life balance upon her return—especially with two little ones.   We also spent quite a bit of time discussing her secrets to success. Satta has built a very impressive, high-six-figure business where she’s almost always fully booked. So I asked her to share the biggest factors that have made that possible.   Even if you’re not contemplating a maternity leave or an extended break, I urge you to give this one a listen. You’ll get a glimpse into how a seasoned solo professional runs a very successful business that enabled her to truly exercise the freedom freelancing is supposed to give us.

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.

As I record this episode in March of 2024, we’ve yet to feel the effects of generative AI in our solo businesses.   So why are so many writers, copywriters, and solo marketers losing business?   Everything that I’m hearing and seeing points to other factors for the challenges many creative professionals are experiencing. And the main factor seems to be the softening economy.   You wouldn’t know it by the state of stock market, unemployment rates, and economic growth. All those factors seem to be pointing to a strong economy. But the marketing profession is seeing something very different.   It’s no secret that marketing is one of the first things to get cut during challenging times. It makes no sense, but it is what it is. And that seems to be the biggest reason behind cancelled content marketing initiatives, marketing team layoffs, and clients that can’t seem to make a decision on pending projects.   AI is certainly starting to have an impact on our work. But where that’s been happening is not where we want to be. You’re seeing it in the lower tiers of the market—SEO content mills, small companies, and lower-budget organizations that wouldn’t be viable clients even before ChatGPT entered the picture.   However, that’s going to be changing. And the changes will be palpable.   Joining me today to explain why—and to dive deep into the issue—is Kevin Surace. Kevin is the CTO of Appvance.ai and is a renowned futurist, disruptive innovation keynote speaker, and pioneer in the AI space since the 1990s.   This guy is the real deal. He’s the recipient of INC Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year (2009), he’s built multiple startups from ground zero to $1B+ valuations and has been awarded 94 worldwide patents, including the groundbreaking technology behind Siri and other virtual assistants.   I wanted to bring Kevin on the show because I’ve had multiple discussions in this show about AI and its impact since early 2023. But most of these discussions have been with fellow writers and marketers.   And as fascinating and practical as those conversations have been, I wanted to bring in someone who could bring in an outsider’s perspective. Someone who could explain what’s really happening outside our marketing ecosystem and share his perspectives on what’s coming and what we can do to prepare.   Or better yet, what we can do to profit from the tsunami that’s coming our way.   Kevin did not disappoint. We dive deep into the issue in this conversation. Some of what he shares might feel uncomfortable to some. It may feel disheartening. And I’m sure it will ruffle some feathers.   That’s OK. I’m a big believer in hearing all voices. I hate echo chambers, especially when it comes to big, important issues. And Kevin is an important voice with a perspective you’re going to want to hear.   I hope you enjoy our conversation.

For many years there has been a myth among journalists that journalism and content marketing can’t coexist.   You either have to focus on journalism work or on content marketing, but not on both.   But this belief is based on false assumptions and outdated beliefs. And in this week’s episode, you’ll hear why you can do both very successfully as a freelance writer.   And, in fact, why you may actually WANT to focus on both.   My guest is Lindy Alexander, an award-winning freelance food, travel, and lifestyle writer and content creator living in the vibrant goldfields town of Castlemaine in central Victoria, Australia.   Her work has been published in numerous digital and print publications including Sunday Life, The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, Travel + Indulgence, Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, delicious, Good Food, The Saturday Paper, SBS Life, Dumbo Feather, Peppermint, Essential Kids, Essential Baby, Modern Farmer, Jetstar magazine and Homes+.   I had Lindy on the show a few years ago, where we discussed . This time, we're directly tackling the age-old myth that content marketing and journalism are incompatible.   You’ll hear exactly how Lindy has navigated these waters like a champ. How’s she maintained solid journalistic standards and ethics throughout. And how you can combine both to create real synergies in your business.

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!

We truly don’t talk enough about money and prosperity in the freelancing community. And that’s too bad, because the more we talk about this issue in positive and productive ways, the greater the chances our businesses will succeed.   I mean... imagine companies like Microsoft, Apple, Walmart or Ford Motor Company ignoring money discussions and decisions. It would spell disaster!   Many solo professionals avoid the topic because they were raised to believe that money is a taboo topic. Or because of other long-held beliefs about money that no longer serve them (and perhaps never have).   Or because they’re overwhelmed and not sure where or how to even start to address the issue of earning more (and more consistently), keeping more of what they earn, and giving more to causes they care about.   In this week’s episode, I’m joined by my good friend Austin L. Church, founder of FreelanceCake.com, a freelance marketing strategist and copywriter, and author of the brand new book,   We dive deep into the topic of financial prosperity and how to achieve it. Among other things, we discuss:   Where our beliefs about money come from Why most of them don’t serve us How we can achieve real and lasting financial success as self-employed professionals Why our pricing is a key lever to getting there Why reaching financial prosperity is about much more than just making more money Austin’s thoughts about the future of freelancing   The episode is packed with useful ideas and powerful reframing. I think you’ll really enjoy it.

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.

Earning more in less time is not just about getting higher fees for your work. It’s also about being more productive and approaching client projects more efficiently.   And a key part of writing productivity is effective editing.   Editing is one of the key phases of any writing assignment. Yet I find that most of us don’t have a step-by-step process for the editing phase. We tend to approach editing in a somewhat haphazard manner. And don’t always know when we’re truly done making the piece as good as it can be.   My guest today is writing coach , author of Your Happy First Draft: A Practical and Painless Guide to Obliterating Writer’s Block. Daphne is no stranger to this podcast. She was on the show over 10 years ago, and she came on again in 2019 to discuss .   In this episode, Daphne shares the 5 biggest editing mistakes she sees writers make—and why avoiding them is so important. She shares some really practical strategies and tips for avoiding those mistakes and making your editing much stronger and effective.

When we’re in a challenging economy, most of us operate from a place of fear. And fear causes us to either keep our fees the same or to lower them. But I have a different recommendation for you today. I’m going to challenge you to RAISE your fees—starting today! Now, before you start thinking I’m crazy and out of touch, hear me out. Because there are many ways to do this wrong ... and only a few ways to do it right. The way most writers attempt to raise their fees is by going to existing clients and telling them that their fees are about to go up across the board. And yes, if you do it that way, you probably won’t get very far. I’m not suggesting you completely avoid this approach. But I’m suggesting that this method has the most risk and the most limited upside. You may get a few clients to agree to the increase. But it’s a very stressful process to go through. And frankly, there are much better ways. What do I recommend instead? I’ll share my specific recommendations in today’s short episode below.

The real test of the strength of your own positioning, messaging and marketing is when the economy is challenging. Not when clients are flush with cash and enjoying overinflated marketing budgets — as they were over the past three years. That’s why it’s so important to continually improve your own marketing skills and habits. And that’s why the topic of marketing your business will be a recurring theme in this podcast and in my newsletter for the next few months. Because, frankly, the past few years have made us soft. It was too easy to land work. My guest in this week’s episode is Amy Suto, a freelance memoir ghostwriter and Amazon KDP publishing expert. What I find impressive about Amy’s business is that over the course of a few short years she’s been able to go from earning $30 an hour as a freelance writer to earning a whopping $750 an hour. Not only that, but she’s continually booked solid at that rate. And she does this while spending a big part of the year traveling and working from beautiful locations all around the world. It almot sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? In this episode Amy explains where she started, how she got to her current level of success, what she does to continually attract her ideal clients, and how she can command these ultra-high-end rates. (Hint: narrowing down your focus is a big part of her secret!) We talk a lot of strategy, but we also get tactical. It’s a great conversation for any writer, regardless of where you are in your journey.

Last month I had the pleasure and honor to keynote The Content Byte Summit in Sydney, Australia, along with my friend and colleague Jennifer Goforth Gregory. The conference was top-notch. And by the end of the first day of the two day event, Jennifer and I knew we had to record a joint episode of this podcast to share our biggest takeaways from all the information-packed sessions.

How do you know if (or when) you’re pricing yourself beyond what the overall market can bear? That’s the question I address in today’s short podcast episode. I talk about this idea of “what the market can bear,” ... and why that shouldn’t be your main factor in pricing decisions. Instead, I offer 3 other factors to help you arrive at your best fee.

In this episode, I explore this idea further and offer advice for how to be a more effective coach to yourself. And I include examples of what I do in between engagements with my own coach.

In this week’s short podcast episode, I detail 3 ways to raise your fees effectively ... even in a difficult economy. It’s all about thinking of the challenge differently and in a more creative way.

In this week’s short podcast episode I share some powerful insights from a world-renowned music producer on how to have more breakthroughs in your business and personal life.

In this week’s episode, I discuss this all-too-common scenario. And I share some ideas for how to turn things around... starting with your mindset.

This week’s episode is the next installment in this series on AI. We focus on the impact of this technology is having (and will have) on the business of content marketing and copywriting.

In this conversation, Shane details how he and his wife have built and grown a very reliable income stream in the span of a couple of years. He talks openly about all the mistakes they made and how they learned from them. And he details the best model freelancers can use to build a reliable income stream.

Have you given thought to what weekly and daily rhythm works best for YOU? That’s what we’re discussing in this week’s podcast episode. I’ll share how I structure my week and how you cand find your own natural flow.

In this week’s podcast episode, I discuss the four different scenarios you might be in right now, and what each of them asks of you. I then lay out three high-level strategies for shoring up your business and becoming stronger, better and more resilient.   The episode is titled “The Resilient Mindset—What It Takes to Thrive in the Face of AI and Economic Uncertainty.”

Working on the business is about anything related to improving the business. It includes everything from thinking about the vision and direction of your business to brainstorming, strategizing, professional development, implementing new strategies, working on new initiatives that will improve the business (e.g., an info product, a new productized service or a new offer), and even marketing yourself.

In this week’s podcast episode, we’re going to get tactical. My guest is my good friend and colleague Jennifer Gregory. Many of you know her as a very successful and accomplished freelance writer and the author of the excellent book The Freelance Content Marketing Writer: Find Your Perfect Clients, Make Tons of Money and Build a Business You Love.   In our conversation, Jennifer lays out five specific areas where writers and copywriters can use AI to become more productive, get unstuck, generate better ideas and produce better writing.

A coaching client recently asked me what she needed to do to start going after and landing well-known clients. In today's podcast episode, I’ll share the advice and guidance I gave her.

In today’s episode, I talk with someone who’s doing this right now. Her name is Jaclyn Schiff, and she’s the founder of PodReacher — a content agency that’s exclusively focused on helping B2B tech companies repurpose recorded content into articles, blog posts, white papers, ebooks, case studies, lead magnets, and other powerful content formats.

Joining me in today’s podcast episode is my colleague Jonathan Stark, a sought-after coach, and consultant in the software development space.

In this conversation, we dive right into the ChatGPT controversy. Sarah brings in analysis and opinions from a wide range of industry experts on the issue.

In this short podcast episode, I share what the club owner told Steven. Why it was a pivotal moment for him. And how you and I can use this bit of wisdom to reframe our own “failures.”

Here’s a much healthier and authentic way to approach the selling process as a writer or copywriter. You’ll discover how to approach prospect conversations much more effectively and with greater confidence.

My family and I have been buying from White Oak Pastures for a number of years. We’ve been very impressed with how they run their farm and their business. They’re true innovators who are making a hugely positive impact on the way food is produced.

In this latest episode of the podcast, you’ll hear from my friend and colleague Patti DeNucci, an expert in the field of making stronger connections and leading more enjoyable conversations ... and the author of the upcoming book, More Than Just Talk: The Essential Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Enjoy Better Conversations.

What the Appalachian Trail can teach us about overthinking our businesses.

In this latest episode of the podcast, you’ll learn a painless way of (finally!) developing that marketing habit ... and how you can finally put an end to the damaging feast-or-famine cycle. We’re talking practical stuff you can apply starting today.

How to overcome your resistance to implementing new business strategies.

In this latest episode of the podcast, we discuss the opportunity of growing and selling a writing business or a content website ... what that looks like ... and what it could mean for you.

Why finding the right weekly workflow is essential to your productivity—and happiness.

In today’s podcast, I’m going to be talking about the importance of pushing yourself in your business. Not because of some desire for greater income or some other external reward. But because of the person, it makes you when to push yourself to be better ... to take chances ... to try new ideas and approaches ... and to enjoy every last bit of the process—including falling down and scraping your knees.

Why copywriters and content marketers stay stuck in their routines—and what they lose when they don’t question them.

Eight areas of your business that you should evaluate once you’re consistently booked solid.

Three sets of questions that can help you consistently get through your to-do list.

How copywriters can grow and thrive in this competitive and uncertain market, with Kira Hug and Rob Marsh.

Use this criteria to make an objective, strategic decision about which clients to keep and which to let go.

Two clues to help you decide whether an opportunity is worth pursuing—or not.

The dangers of blindly following what others are doing—using investing as an illustrative example. 

Dave Snyder of CopyPress explains how he succeeded in a market filled with content agencies.

Watch out for these two cognitive biases. They can trick us into doing the wrong thing in our business. 

Why we undervalue our client work, and how we can better support each other as we pursue higher fees.

Five different ways to create recurring revenue—and what you need to do today to make more of it.

The problems with perfectionism—and what we should aim for instead.

Adam Kimmel describes how he build his six-figure content writing business on the side while working full-time as an engineer.

In today’s podcast episode, business journalist Elaine Pofeldt to offer her ideas and advice for successfully creating a microbusiness—that is, a business with no more than 20 employees (including yourself) and a handful of independent contractors.

Discover the two-part question I ask during every discovery call to qualify prospects—and land those that are a good fit.

Chrissie Zavicar describes how you can use LinkedIn newsletters and other new features to gain exposure and generate targeted leads.

Discover the value of not-yet-ready prospects, and why they’re an important—yet often overlooked—part of any successful business.

Learn why Stoneyfield decided to partner with Walmart—and what it can teach us about our own business decisions.

My thoughts on courage, fear, risk and perfectionism—and why everyone needs to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Learn why you need to stop lowering your fees to get in the door with clients—and how you should approach them instead.

What you should (and shouldn’t) do when your business hits bottom.

Our businesses are as susceptible to single points of failure as any engineering project—unless we take steps to find and mitigate them.

Michele Linn talks about how she got into original research, what the work entails, how she finds clients, and how much these projects command in fees.

Respond thoughtfully—instead of reacting emotionally—to negative client feedback by following these five steps.

What a passage from media mogul Peter Barton’s book can teach us about how we perceive our unobtained goals.

Three pieces of advice that will help you finally solve your most complex and stubborn business problems.

Teresa Huff, a grant-writing coach, and nonprofit strategist, explains how you can add grant writing to your list of services.

Enjoy a free-flowing conversation about you can live a life of abundance with a teacher, coach, and wonderful human being, Peleg Top.

A powerful quote from habit expert James Clear reminds us why saying yes can be a problem—and why saying no can have a big upside.

Freelance writer and mom to six children, Linsey Knerl, describes how she’s hiring her kids in her freelance business.

In today’s podcast episode, I explain why your hesitation to go after bigger clients probably isn’t about a lack of qualifications—and has to do with giving yourself permission.

Discover what the movie Moneyball can teach you about how to succeed as a freelance writer, copywriter, or marketing consultant.

In today’s short podcast episode, I’ll explain why you can’t escape the fundamentals—and where you should put your efforts instead.

In today’s podcast episode, you’ll hear how and why Austin transformed his business to make it more profitable by going deeper with his clients.

In today’s podcast episode, I walk you through my process for brainstorming solutions to big, complex problems. 

In this podcast episode, I’ll describe when it does—and doesn’t—make sense to post your fees on your website.

In today’s podcast episode, my guest Will Henshall, CEO, and founder of Focus@Will, explains what we can do to get and stay focused.

In today’s podcast episode, I share how you can open yourself up to transformative ideas, practice detachment, and take inspired action.

In today’s podcast episode, I detail three important ways to set expectations and boundaries with your new clients.

Stefan Georgi, one of the top direct response copywriters in the world, shares his story of landing better clients, raising his fees, and multiplying his options.

In today’s podcast episode, I talk about why—and how— to dig deeper before responding to common requests and questions from clients and prospects.

Ask yourself these three big questions to change the way you think about the problem of how to scale your business.

In today’s podcast episode, I talk about the importance of trusting your gut.  

In today’s podcast episode, I brainstorm ideas to syndicate one of your current services.

In this podcast episode, Gordon Graham (That White Paper Guy) and I discuss the six main reasons why white paper projects fail.

In today’s podcast episode, I explain the difference between a custom and productized service using a surprising metaphor.

In today’s podcast episode, writer Kaleigh Moore gives four concrete reasons why she commands strong fees for her blog posts

Barbara Huson, financial therapist and wealth coach, joins us for today’s podcast episode.

In today’s podcast episode, I make the case for not nickel and diming your clients—and I describe where you should put your energy instead.

In today’s podcast episode, I boil down the thousands of ways you can grow your income into five core factors.

The lessons I’ve learned through my complex relationship with money—lessons you can draw from to improve your own financial health.

In this podcast episode, I delve into how we should think about the year ahead—and whether we can still set goals when the future looks so uncertain.

In this short podcast episode, I relay Josh Groban’s story—and explain what it can teach us about the role preparation plays in “lucky breaks.”

In today’s podcast episode, Karen gives simple tips and ideas we can all implement to reduce stress and anxiety and have more effective video calls.

In today’s short podcast episode, I talk about the dangers of making business decisions based on what your writing colleagues say about the market.

In this podcast episode, legendary marketer Brian Kurtz describes the seven critical success factors used by direct marketing legends — and how those principles still apply today.

In today’s short podcast episode, I talk about the power of exclusivity—and how you can leverage it to attain higher fees and book your schedule as a writer or content marketer.

In this podcast episode, learn how to lead sales conversations with confidence — and land more projects — by following Nikki Rausch’s five-step selling process.

In today’s short podcast episode, I explore why you’re better off improving what you’ve already built than building something entirely new. 

In today’s short podcast episode, I give a different way of making decisions that will help you come up with better, smarter solutions—with a lot less drama.

In today’s short podcast episode, I share how to overcome shyness and fear by taking smart, calculated risks.

In today’s short podcast episode, I explain how to approach projects where the scope of work or solution isn’t immediately evident.

Discover how you can harness the power of video storytelling to differentiate yourself from competitors, with guest filmmaker, Jude Charles.

In today’s short podcast episode, I review four critical success factors you MUST have in place for email prospecting.

In this short podcast episode, a comparison between music producers and content marketers or writers and the lessons it holds for how we perceive the value of our work.

In this short podcast episode, I reveal the dangers of letting preconceived notions about what’s “reasonable” set the parameters for pricing client projects.

In this short podcast episode, I explain how shifting your mindset from working for yourself to working for your clients can get you what want.

In this podcast episode, I walk through an exercise that can help you recognize your value and approach prospects and clients with greater confidence.

In this episode, I share two ways to get prospects to respond to your final follow up attempt by creating a pattern interrupt.

In this podcast episode, I outline my new approach to project pricing — and how a simple mindset shift can make all the difference in the growth of your income and business.

In today’s podcast episode, Danielle Hughes gives you the tools you need to create content that sounds like YOU and stands out in a world of sameness.

In this podcast episode, I tell the story of the 17th-century Dutch painter, Sir Peter Lely to see what it can teach us a lot about outsourcing — and where we bring the greatest value.

In today’s podcast episode, my guest and I reveal a simple, 12-month financial action plan you can use to get your financial house in order.

In this short podcast episode, I relate the story of our washing machine repairs — and what it can teach us about pricing our services and understanding our value.

In today’s podcast episode, my guest Romi Neustadt describes how you can have it all by setting priorities and figuring out where to put your focus.

In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by Mike McDerment, co-founder and CEO of FreshBooks, who has a message about pricing that we all need to here.  

In this podcast episode, I reveal what you can to stop prospects from “ghosting” you.

In this podcast episode, I describe three levers you can pull to become an indispensable resource to your clients and foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

In today’s short podcast episode, I share two imperatives that you can use to guide your thinking about finding and acquiring clients.  

In today’s podcast episode, PR powerhouse Kelly Glover reveals how writers can use podcasting to get more clients and build their brand.

In this podcast episode, we have a father who explains why he wrote a letter to his son in the midst of the pandemic.

In this podcast episode, freelance writer Kaleigh Moore reveals how she minimizes stress while keeping work fun and rewarding.

In this short podcast episode, I encourage freelance writers to take a chance and rewrite their own rulebook.

In this podcast episode, Cole Shafer describes how he landed clients such as Google, FreshBooks, and other brand name companies — and how he did it in less than three years.

In this short podcast episode, I talk about why it’s important to emotionally detach from the outcome of your project proposals. And what can happen when you don’t.

In today’s podcast episode, my guest Laura Khalil discusses how women in tech can succeed with the help of courageous leadership.

In this short podcast episode, I use the restaurant industry to illustrate that even when commoditization has taken hold of a market, you can still separate yourself from the pack.

In this podcast episode, I bring in two experts from the Professional Independent Consultants of America to shed light on California’s AB5 law.

In this short podcast episode, I relate how Tony Robbins expresses the value he brings to his clients and how we can apply the same technique to our own businesses.

In this podcast episode, Pamela Wilson of Big Brand System explains how to create your own content faster, more consistently and with less stress.

How to Work at Home with Kids During the Coronavirus Lockdown ... Without Completely Losing Your Sanity

In this podcast episode, Jessica Abel addresses how to create the freedom you need to work on non-urgent endeavors and overcome procrastination and self-doubt.

In this short podcast episode, I reveal an easy way to get more prospects to say “yes” to your proposals — and how to follow up when they don’t.

In this podcast episode, you’ll learn why public speaking is such a valuable skill to have and why you do NOT need to be extroverted to do it well.

In this podcast episode, I examine a different way of framing the services you offer to clients — and what you can learn from how a fast-growing nationwide wellness franchise.

In this podcast episode, Diane Gardner, a certified tax coach, shares how to maximize your tax deductions, make your tax planning easier, and minimize your tax liability.

I’ve rarely seen equity arrangements or payment by the percentage of profits work out for the writer. Here’s what you can do instead.

In this podcast episode, my guest is bestselling author Joanna Penn. Our conversation will expand your thinking about passive income streams and spark ideas about assets that could pay you dividends for decades.

In this short podcast episode, I discuss what you need to consider when deciding whether to let go of a client — and the best way to do it.

In this episode, Sarah Greensonbach explains what original research is, what clients can do with it, and how you can pitch it as a service.

In this podcast episode, I discuss a cash management strategy I’ve been using that’s completely revolutionized my finances — and the way I feel about my business.

In this episode, I'm delving into this topic of survivor bias — and how we can use the study of failures and struggles to avoid it and gain deeper insights.

Complaining at length about low rates is fruitless (and dangerous). In this episode, I explain why low rates aren’t the problem you think they are. And how you should start thinking about them instead.

In today’s episode, Daphne Gray-Grant explains why you need a crummy first draft, how to use mind mapping for inspiration and tips to stop editing as you write.

In this episode, personal trainer Steve Beck describes how to get started with a simple exercise program if you’re currently at “zero,” and how to build on your current fitness routine if you already have one.

In this podcast episode, I explore a variety of ideas and approaches to drive higher quality leads to your website.

When a qualified prospect asks to meet you in person, respond with “yes, and…” to get the most out of your time.

In this interview, Chris Orzechowski explains why he decided to write a book, how he settled on a topic, and how he got it done quickly. He also shares the massive results he’s enjoyed from the effort.

In this mini-podcast episode, I explain how a recent scare in my business proved the importance of clearly communicating your value to prospects when presenting your pricing.

Many writers will hire another writer when they’re ready to scale their business. But often, a better first step is to hire a virtual assistant.

In our culture, we sometimes think that if we’re not scaling our business, we’re failing in our business. I dispel that myth in this episode.

Clients and prospects will sometimes toss you a problem to solve. But that doesn’t automatically mean you have to deal with it. Sometimes you should toss the problem back to them.

In this episode, guest Ross Simmonds explains what Fortune 500 clients look for in a writer, how you can generate a steady stream of high-quality corporate leads, and how you can command higher fees.

If you want to work more productively — and feel less overwhelmed — you have to make real changes to your business. In this podcast episode, I’m looking at actions you can take to work more efficiently and reduce feelings of overwhelm.

Hilary Jastram was forced into entrepreneurship when she became chronically ill a few years ago. In today’s podcast episode, she explains how she’s built a successful business and used her illness as a motivation to keep going.

To overcome procrastination, you have to admit that you do it and find ways of dealing with it. In today’s podcast episode, you’ll learn why procrastination is a serious problem and what you can do turn things around.

Hannah Bower is a content marketer with a background in PR. In this conversation, you’ll learn what freelance PR work entails, how it’s changed and why Hannah decided to get out of it.

Running a freelance business becomes exponentially more challenging when you don’t have the support of your friends and family. In this episode, I share 10 practical tips that will help you if you’re in this situation.

Podcast guest Alex Nerney explains why adding a blog to your freelance writing business is a great way to supplement your writing income and add more predictability to your business.

Following up with prospects is the activity writers dread the most — topped only by prospecting.  It feels odd and unnatural. We worry that we’re bothering people or being disrespectful.   And then we start crafting crazy stories in our head.   We imagine that the prospect is mad at us or shocked at our fees. “They think we’re a fraud!” “They never want to speak with us again!”  But the vast majority of time, this isn’t what’s going on with prospects at all.  I spent years in corporate sales and following up with prospects was a big part of my job.   It wasn’t easy, and I never particularly enjoyed it.   So I understand why you don’t like it much either.  I never completely perfected the art of following up in those years. But I do have some ideas that will make the whole process a lot easier. 

For the past two years, Liz Farr has been writing bylined articles for trade publications and content platforms to generate inbound leads and land great new clients — while also getting paid.

It’s hard to find businesses that don’t use some form of content marketing. That’s a big shift from even five years ago. But as its popularity has grown, the fees for content marketing projects have suffered. Upwork and other job platforms have gotten better and more popular. You even have AI technology entering the writing fray. All these factors have combined to create a situation where many clients want content NOW... and they want it cheap! Does that mean that we all need to start looking for a new way to make a living? Not at all! In this week’s podcast, I address one element of the solution: bundling and productizing your service offerings.

Most of us leave a ton of money on the table when quoting client work. This is no small thing! Commanding 20-40% more per project could have a huge impact on your business and your life. Think of the freedom it would give you! So what’s stopping us from asking for more? In this episode, I’m going to show you how to put your value on the table. Because by providing context for your quote, you can greatly influence the prospect’s response.

Many introverted writers resist marketing their services and avoid doing what they need to do to grow their businesses. Does that mean you’re doomed to fail as a self-employed writer if you’re an introvert? Not at all. My guest this week is Winnie Anderson, a coach for introverted service-based professionals, as well as the host of The Courageous Entrepreneur podcast.  She teaches people how to resolve the tug-of-war between needing to stand out but not wanting to stand out. In this episode, she explains why so many writers resist taking consistent action to stand out, and to do it in a way that feels good to them.

Content marketing has officially gone mainstream. It’s a “must do” for most businesses in today’s trust economy. While this increased demand has created huge opportunities for writers, it has also commoditized a lot of our work and given rise to content mills and rock-bottom fees. We’re not doomed. But to succeed, writers have to become a higher-value resource for their clients. In this episode, I speak with Sonia Simone, founding partner of Copyblogger Media (now Rainmaker Digital) and seasoned content marketer. In the course of our conversation, she shares how you can position yourself as a strategic partner and build stronger relationships with clients.

Have you ever had a prospect ask for an in-person coffee meeting shortly after connecting? You’ve barely gotten past “hello” and they already want to put something in your calendar! This raises a red flag for me. In this podcast, I reveal a two-stage process you can use to evaluate requests for face-to-face meetings. This process is a great way to protect your time and energy — without discouraging good clients.

  Today’s podcast guest provides a classic illustration of the benefits of going deeper with existing clients. Her name is Lindy Alexander. Lindy started freelancing full time in 2017. By the end of that year, she grossed more than $100,000 in income! Even more remarkable: in 2018 she scaled back her hours to part-time and maintained the same income level. In this episode, she explains how she did it. It’s an amazing story I think you’ll really enjoy, regardless of where you are in your journey.

Do you ever get so busy that you forget to invest in yourself? It’s one of the pitfalls of being self-employed. There’s only so much time every week., right? Then again, if you don’t take time to “feed the goose,” you’ll soon have no golden eggs. My guest for today’s podcast has seen both sides of this problem. Liz Sheffield is a freelance writer with a background in human resources. As an HR professional, she understands the benefits of taking time to improve your knowledge and skills. And as a freelancer, she understands the challenges we face in finding the time and resources to do this consistently. In this episode, she explains why she’s a huge proponent of investing in yourself and your freelance business, and how you can do it without wasting your time or money.

I’m just going to come right out and say it. Search engine optimization (SEO) has a horrible reputation. For years, SEO companies scammed clients with big promises of boosting their search engine rankings, only to fall short or fail altogether. Even now, information on this subject continues to be confusing, contradictory and misleading. For this episode, to learn what SEO best practices you should implement for your own website, I wanted to talk to someone who doesn’t do SEO for a living, but who’s had good success with SEO nonetheless. And I found that person in Matt Olpinski. Matt is a freelance UX designer who boosted his own search engine rankings like crazy with some simple adjustments. Adjustments you can make on your own website, even if you don’t have a lot of technical knowledge. Listen in to find out how...

Casey Hibbard is one of the best case study writers in North America. She’s literally written hundreds of case studies for dozens of companies. Many of them big names you’d recognize. On the occasion of her 20-year business anniversary, I asked Casey to come on the show and share some of the most important lessons she’s learned about writing powerful case studies. In this interview, she shares 5 specific tips that will make you a stronger case study writer… and help you command higher fees for these projects.

Most commercial writers see themselves as just that: a commercial writer.  They describe themselves as writers. And they pitch themselves as writers.  Nothing wrong with that! But that’s not the only way to make a living as a freelance commercial writer or copywriter.   In this episode, you’ll hear from Maureen Farmer, founder of Word Right Executive Career Management. Much of what she does for clients involves writing, but she packages her services differently. As a result, her clients view her more as a strategic resource than a writer — and are willing to pay her accordingly. Find out why...

I firmly believe that habits are the key to successful execution. Execution is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to making positive changes in our lives. And habits are THE most important element in execution. A few months ago, I had James Clear on the show to talk about his new book . And one of the things that really stood out for me is his discussion of identity. Specifically, how your habits shape your identity — and how your identity shapes your habits.   In this episode, I take a closer look at this concept … and explain how you can leverage your identity to make new habits stick.

When you’re in a leadership position, the people you lead sometimes put you on a pedestal. They think you have everything figured out. That you have no flaws. No struggles. I’m in a leadership position in that people often look to me for ideas, advice and mentorship. But let me tell you ... I’m not perfect by any means. I have my own struggles and imperfections. And in this episode, I come clean on 9 of those things...

This is an exciting time to be alive. The opportunity to make a great living as a self-employed professional has never been better. Changing economic trends, shifting attitudes toward self-employment, cheap technology, and the ability to leverage talent from around the world have all combined to make this opportunity possible. My guest for this week’s podcast has been tracking these changes for years. Her name is Elaine Pofeldt, and she’s the author of the book The Million-Dollar One-Person Business (Random House, 2018). In this episode, Elaine introduces us to some of the people behind these million-dollar solo businesses.

I’ve found that maintaining a high level of productivity is one of the top challenges we face as self-employed professionals. Chris Bailey is an expert who will share a different take on the topic. In this episode, Chris brings some fresh perspectives to this discussion. Perspectives I don’t often hear. He also describes how to drastically reduce distractions and improve your productivity with a few simple changes...

November 2017, I dedicated a podcast episode to the topic of alternative healthcare insurance options. A year later, in this episode, I circle back to the topic. I asked my listeners to share their experiences with healthy indemnity plans and/or medical cost sharing over the past 12 months — both good and bad. The feedback I received was enlightening … and might help you with your own healthcare coverage decision making...

One of the things I focus on with my coaching clients is improving their productivity. Because if you can’t get your work done efficiently, you’re going to struggle. You won’t meet your full earning potential. And you’ll be stressed and unhappy. My guest for this podcast episode is Jordan Baker, a personal productivity expert and the creator of , an auto-scheduling calendar app. You’ll walk away from this conversation with practical ideas that will help you get your most important things done—without stress or drama...

As a freelance professional, your habits and systems will directly determine your level of success and happiness.  But how do you develop and sustain the right habits? Are there tricks and strategies for doing that successfully? That’s the topic of this episode. My guest is James Clear, an expert in the field of behavioral science and habit transformation ... and author of the book Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones James thinks about these topics day and night. He’s spent years applying the science of habits to everyday situations you and I face regularly in our businesses. I think you’ll find his tips and strategies fascinating and helpful!

I had a friend who was married to a lawyer. She joked that when she was having trouble falling asleep, she’d ask her husband to talk about copyright law. Apparently, it worked way better (and faster) than taking a melatonin supplement. ;-) In all seriousness, copyright law is an important topic when you’re a freelancer writing for clients. For this podcast episode, I’ve brought in Internet business lawyer Richard Chapo to give us the scoop on how we can protect ourselves from the most common (and avoidable!) copyright pitfalls. As dull as this topic can be, Richard makes it interesting, relevant and engaging. He also illustrates many of his points with specific and useful examples, which I found extremely helpful. So I urge you to give this episode a listen.

You can earn a very handsome income working on “transactional” assignments for clients. But for some writers, this model starts to get old. And they often wonder if there’s a better way of doing things. That’s exactly what happened to my guest. Maggie Patterson was making a very good living as a freelance writer. But she was burning out. So she began to offer more comprehensive services that included her own proprietary processes. The idea took hold. In a big way. In this episode, Maggie explains how she transitioned from the traditional freelance model to an agency model … and how she uses it to differentiate her business and deliver more value to clients.

In this episode, I’m covering a topic that’s extremely relevant and practical for a big part of my audience: How introverts can turn more prospects into clients. My guest is . Matthew is an internationally award-winning blogger and contributor to CEO, Entrepreneur, and Top Sales World Magazine. He is a recurring guest on FOX and NBC, and has appeared on top-rated podcasts including Entrepreneur on Fire and Eventual Millionaire. He’s the author of the bestseller The Introvert’s Edge: How the Quiet and Shy Can Outsell Anyone, and he has five multimillion-dollar business success stories to his name, all before the age of thirty. This is solid stuff. Check it out...

Should you give your clients a gift? If so, when is the best time to do this? And what should you give them? Holidays? At the end of your first project? Some other time? This episode is a great conversation with my colleague Sarah Greesonbach on this topic. Sarah gave me some great ideas for how make this decision ... which clients you should put on your list ... and how to give gifts that make a huge impact without spending more than $20 or $30. She’s a true gift-giving master!  In this interview, she explains when to consider giving clients gifts (hint: there are other great opportunities outside the holidays) ... which clients you should give gifts to ... how to do it right ... and how to pick gifts that will make a big impact without spending more than $20 or $30.

I love to look for patterns. And recently I’ve been looking for patterns as I’ve talked with coaching clients and peers who’ve reached the six-figure income level. Through those conversations, some interesting patterns emerged. In this episode, I give you a peek into those patterns—because they’ll give you a good idea of what six-figure writers do differently when compared to lower-income writers...

LinkedIn has quickly become one of the most effective marketing tools for writers and copywriters. But one of the downsides of this social platform is that it can feel overwhelming. How should you use it? Where should you start? How should you search for prospects inside? And how do you connect with them?   My guest for this episode is Chrissie Wywrot. Chrissie works with clients on their LinkedIn profile and strategy, as well as their online brand, to establish them as experts and resources in their fields. She has a very simple process she uses to get the most out of LinkedIn. Listen in to get the details...

Having a well-defined target audience is a critical first step to freelance success. But it doesn’t end there. Because once you’ve identified your audience you now need to find some prospects to contact. That’s where many writers get stuck. If you’re in that situation now (or if you’ve ever been there), you’re going to get a ton out of this week’s podcast episode. My guest is the brilliant Jennifer Gregory. In this interview, Jennifer details her three-step “Audience First” method for finding potential clients. Her approach is both simple AND incredibly effective — and it’s something you can start using right away.

Interesting fact... The biggest reason writers become (and stay) self-employed is freedom and flexibility — not money. Unfortunately, way too many freelance writers are worse off today than they were when traditionally employed. Too many are struggling to earn a good living. Or they’re working with bad clients on projects they hate. Or they’re working longer hours than they ever have. That’s not freedom! How can you turn that around? It all starts by setting some “standards” for your business. And in this episode, I explain exactly how to do that.

When it comes to pricing, the most common question I get is, “How much should I charge for _________?” But no one has ever asked me, “What should my floor rate be?” In other words, the bare minimum you should be charging on any given project to make sure you cover your full costs as a freelancer. I’m not a fan of that kind of thinking. But there’s one exception. And that’s when you want to know and understand what your “all in” expenses are ... so you can make better overall pricing decisions. Knowing your “all in” expenses can bring some serious clarity to your pricing decisions. It can help you negotiate better and feel much more confident about quoting higher fees. In this week’s episode my colleague Robert McGuire from Nation1099 will show you how to calculate your own number. And he explains why knowing this is so important—regardless of where you are in your writing business or how much you currently earn.

Many writers I know struggle with analysis paralysis and over-thinking. I see it at all levels of experience and with all types of decisions. It often causes a great deal of stress and anxiety, which leads to poor performance and results ... which reinforces the need for overanalyzing things. And so the cycle goes. If you struggle with analysis paralysis, this podcast episode will help. My guest is Shelley Row, a speaker and consultant who works with leaders who must make fast, insightful decisions in the face of uncertainty and rapid change. Shelley is an engineer and a recovering over-thinker herself. And her work is based on neuroscience research and detailed interviews with dozens of executives who struggle with this issue.

Ever thought about writing a book? Maybe a thought leadership book, a lead generator for your writing business ... or even a novel? If so, this week’s podcast episode will be right up your alley. My guest, Susan Baracco, explains what you need to know before you go down that path. It’s part reality check, part encouragement and inspiration. GREAT stuff!

I just published a podcast episode I think you’ll really enjoy. My guest is copywriter Jared Kessler. Jared  just went freelance two years ago. But he’s been able to grow his business like crazy since then! In this interview, he explains how he’s done it. And why “positioning” has played such a critical role in his success. You’ll get some good insights no matter where you are in your journey. But if you’re an established writer or copywriter, this one’s a must-listen!

Say you can handle about 25 hours of work per week. But your best client suddenly needs your help with a major product launch. And two new clients just hired you to work on some big projects. Oh, boy! When it rains, it pours... Great problem to have, right? ;-) If you’ve been freelancing for some time, you’ve probably experienced this challenge at some point. You know how difficult this situation can be. It’s fun ... until it isn’t. In this interview, Atlanta-based writer Don Sadler explains what he does when he’s booked solid ... and how he retains his sanity and his health. Even if you’re nowhere near experiencing that problem in your business, I still encourage you to listen. Because you’ll learn how to get to this level ... and what to do once that happens...

One of the most confusing and frustrating aspects of launching your freelance writing or copywriting business is looking for clients. Clients don’t just show up at your door. You have to find them. And when you’re new, you have to work even harder to find a few clients who will give you a chance. Fortunately, there are a few proven ways to land clients faster. And in this episode I’ll share the 6 approaches I teach my coaching clients to prospect for clients when they’re starting out.

I’ve been a big proponent of using a lead magnet in your writing business as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy. It’s no panacea. It’s not going to replace your prospecting efforts. At least not overnight. But it can help you generate a steady stream of quality leads. And that’s reason enough to consider creating one for your business. In this episode you’ll hear Ana Gascon Ivey, a copywriter and copyeditor who wrote and published her own lead magnet a few months ago. She explains how this lead magnet has helped her land clients ... and how it’s helped elevate her authority and open all kinds of doors...

As your business grows, it’s important that you begin attracting prospects and building your authority. There’s nothing like having prospects knocking on your door! Especially when the prospect has read some of your articles or blog posts ... and liked what they saw. In this episode you’ll hear from someone who built their software business on this idea. He’s not a freelancer. But the ideas he shares are directly applicable to what we do ... regardless of your experience level.

I’m often asked about freelance writing opportunities in the public sector . I know the opportunities exist. But until I talked with this week’s guest, I didn’t know what these opportunities looked like or how to go after them. That’s why I’m so excited about this episode. My guest is Katie Taylor, CEO of Untold Content, a writing consultancy based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Katie works with clients in government, healthcare, engineering, industry and science. And a big part of their work over the years has been with government agencies. In our conversation, you’ll learn about the opportunities writing for the public sector, including government agencies. Katie gives us a great primer on what these contracts are about, what they look like and some practical steps for getting started.

I recently had Joanna Wiebe on the show to talk about . And today we’re continuing that conversation with my colleague Nick Usborne. Nick has written copy for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Citibank, Apple, Chrysler, MSN.com, New York Times, WebEx, the U.S. Navy and others. So, yeah. He’s the real deal. And he attributes much of his success to a copywriting approach he recently defined as “conversational copywriting.” It’s not what you think. This goes beyond the “write like you talk” advice we’ve all learned in copywriting books and courses. In this chat, Nick explains what this approach is all about ... and how you can adopt it to write more persuasive and effective copy for clients.

You’ve heard it before: People do business with people they know, LIKE and trust. But what exactly does it mean to be likeable? Is it a personality thing? Do you have to act or look a certain way? Do you have to be charming, wear designer clothes ... or have a perfect smile and beautiful teeth? Not at all! According to my friend and colleague Michael Katz, anyone can be likeable. In this fast-paced interview, Michael explains what you need to do to be perceived as a true likeable expert

As I talk with fellow copywriters about what’s happening in the business, one theme keeps coming up: How increasingly difficult it’s becoming to write persuasive copy. That’s long been an issue in the ultra-competitive direct response industries of financial newsletters, natural health and business opportunity. But it’s also becoming a big challenge in other less aggressive settings—even in B2B content marketing. To get some insights and answers on this topic, I recently turned to one of the top conversion copywriters in the business, Joanna Wiebe. Joanna is the founder of Copy Hackers and of Airstory, a new content creation platform for marketing teams and educators. You don’t have to be a direct response copywriter to get value from this episode. If you write any kind of persuasive content, I think you’ll find some great insights and ideas here.

Many of us spend time at the end of the year setting goals for the months and year ahead. But have you ever sat down to figure out what you value most in your business and personal life? And more specifically, the values, criteria or rules that will guide most of your decisions?   In this episode, you’re going to hear from Trevor Mauch, a very successful entrepreneur who started just a few years ago like many of us did: as a freelancer. He eventually founded a software company that’s grown into a multi-million dollar business. Along the way he had a series of challenges and epiphanies that changed the course of his life. Listen in as he explains how clarifying his own set of non-negotiables made all the difference in the world.

Given the choice between prospecting for clients or having prequalified prospects come to YOU, I’ll take the latter any day. Prospecting is an essential part of marketing your writing business. But getting prequalified prospects to come to you via attraction marketing is much more efficient in the long run.   In this episode you’ll hear from my good friend and colleague Derek Lewis. Derek is a very successful book ghostwriter who commands $50,000 to $75,000 per book. And one of the many things I love about his story is the fact that he relies 100% on attraction marketing. He explains how he does this so well, and how you can start implementing some elements of attraction marketing in your own writing business.

I remember the blank stares I got in 2006 when I told friends and relatives that I quit my day job to go freelance. Back then, very few people understood what freelancing was ... or that anyone could earn a living writing from home. Boy, has that’s changed! Over the past 10 years, there has been a ton of information published about the freelance economy. Freelancing and consulting no longer mean “I’m between jobs.” And experts and economists are finally recognizing that we’re a real (and growing) segment of the labor force—not a temporary fluke. But exactly how many people are freelancing? Are the big numbers we’re reading an accurate representation of the freelance workforce? And what do these numbers and projections mean for us? That’s the topic of this episode. My guest, Robert McGuire, is going to pull apart these numbers and predictions and give us his take on what’s really happening in the gig economy.

Today we’re talking health insurance for freelancers. More specifically, we’re exploring two unconventional options to traditional health insurance. This is an extremely hot topic given our current political environment. But I don’t want to give you the same information everyone else is publishing. “Where can I get affordable health insurance?” is the wrong question to ask right now. The better question is, “What are my options?” For many of us, getting the same coverage from a different source (and for the same price) isn’t a real solution. If your premiums are no longer sustainable—or if you have pre-existing conditions that you’re concerned about—you should look beyond the usual offerings. In this episode, I’m focusing on two options most people don’t even know exist...

I think every freelancer should work on building a secondary income stream. Doing so diversifies your income and takes some of the pressure off your client work. It can also help fund some really important things in your life... Your kids’ college tuition ... your parents’ long-term care ... or even nicer vacations and experiences (the bucket list beckons!). In this episode, I detail two different approaches to doing this with an info product (such as an online course or training program).

Freaking out about your niche and how to pick the right industry or topic? Or even basically how to position yourself for success? While I have a very specific process for making the best possible decision about your niche, specialty or target market, there comes a point where you just have to go with what you’ve got and start taking action! In this interview you’ll hear from writer Holly Helscher, a coaching client of mine and a fabulous writer and all-around super person. In our chat, Holly opens up about how she made her “niche” decision, and how she changed and refined that idea once she got out there and started knocking on doors. It’s a fun, inspirational and very helpful conversation for anyone who’s struggling with this “niche” decision.

Without an attraction marketing strategy in place, you’re missing out on a proven way to generate quality prospects—one that can work for you 24/7 and help position you as the obvious choice.

Denise Kiernan transitioned from journalism and commercial writing into writing books for a living. Denise is the New York Times bestselling author of , as well as a number of other books. In this interview, Denise gives us a behind-the-scenes look into what it’s like transitioning from a freelance writer to a full-time author. She explains what it’s really like to come up with book ideas, pitch the best ones, land a book deal, research and write that book for months ... and deal with far-off deadlines, procrastination and negative self-talk. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the habits, rituals and challenges of a successful author.  

Prospecting for clients is not on the list of things most of us love to do. We want to do it. We know we should do it. But we just don’t do it as consistently as we should. Sound familiar? If so, I have some very practical and simple ideas today for getting your prospecting DONE...

Freelancing continues to grow like crazy. More and more professionals are choosing to leave traditional employment for a more flexible work arrangement. And platforms like Upwork have enabled millions to offer their talents to anyone around the globe. So you have to wonder... Is this influx of new freelancers making it harder to command professional-level fees? The short answer: yes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re doomed to work for less. The key to maintaining and growing your income as a freelancer is to be very deliberate about how you differentiate yourself. And that’s the topic of this week’s episode. My guest is freelance copywriter and business coach Steve Roller. Steve is the author of the upcoming book The Freelancer Manifesto: 11 Big Ideas to Stand Out and Thrive in the New Economy. And in this interview he shares several smart ways you can sustainably differentiate yourself in this increasingly competitive marketplace.

All of us are born with a great sense of wonder, courage and boldness.  As toddlers, we have tremendous curiosity. And we’re not afraid to explore and to express our creative spirit. But somewhere along the way, fear begins to rule our lives. Fear of looking stupid. Fear of rejection. Fear of criticism. Fear of failing. We begin to lose our confidence. We stop taking chances. We start playing small. At times, we may even start to feel like a fraud. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to turn this tide and regain our confidence. And one of them is to get into the habit of doing more of what scares us. In this podcast episode, you’ll hear from writer and copywriter Leilani Haywood. Leilani explains how she deliberately does things that scare her in order to grow personally and professionally. And she talks about how this practice has enabled her to launch and grow a thriving freelance business.  

Over the past few years LinkedIn has become an incredibly powerful lead-generating and prospecting tool for freelancers. We’ve talked about it before on the show. And for Steve Maurer, LinkedIn has been an indispensable business-generating tool. Steve is an industrial manufacturing and safety copywriter. And he’s figured out how to turn LinkedIn into his most productive and reliable lead generating vehicle.  In this podcast episode you’ll hear exactly how Steve does this...

Ever go weeks prospecting for clients without something to show for it? You “knock” on what seems like a ton of doors. But no one seems to be interested. And when you finally get a response, it’s something along the lines of “I’ll keep your information on file...” It’s exhausting, isn’t it? In this week’s episode I explain why this happens... and what you can do about it.

Millennials tend to get a bad rap. The stereotype is that of a spoiled, unemployed and highly educated 25-year-old living in mom and dad’s basement... playing video games, spending inordinate amounts of time on social media, binge-watching Netflix and just trying to “find their way.” Sure, they may not have the spending power and wealth of Boomers. But it’s also unfair to lump them all into one category and assume they don’t matter. Because they do! And as a writer and copywriter, there’s a good chance that you’ll soon have to write for this demographic. In this episode you’ll hear from my friend and colleague Kelly King of the 80-20 Agency. Kelly is a talented marketing strategist who has built a marketing firm that helps companies connect with Millennials. She’ll explain how Millennials think differently... what their attitudes and values are... what they look for in a product or service... four common myths about this generation... and what writers and copywriters need to understand if they want their message to connect with them.

My guest this week is Jeanne Noorman. Jeanne faced a number of challenges when she decided to start her freelance writing business after being a stay-at-home mom since 1985. She had little in the way of a career she could draw from—and no professional network. Yet she overcame the odds and today is a thriving freelance writer. This is Jeanne’s uncut story. You’ll hear about her struggles... the number of times she thought about giving up... what she did to push through all the obstacles... and the five recommendations she has for new freelancers...

If you’re starting out as a freelance writer or copywriter, you’re going to love this podcast interview. My guest is Hannah Glenn, a Los Angeles–based freelance writer. Hannah went through my coaching program a while back. And she’s a perfect of example of someone who didn’t rely on luck to get ahead. She had to work. And she had to work hard. A few important points you’ll hear in this interview: You don’t necessarily need to have a previous career in a specific field in order to work in that field as a freelance writer or copywriter. You will make changes and adjustments to your positioning and your niche once you get out there—even if you spend months pre-planning. Steady and deliberate action are key. So are baby steps. Serendipity only happens when you start taking action. Don’t have samples? Or may your samples are not that impressive? That’s OK, start where you are with what you’ve got! And get creative. Be resourceful! (You’ll see what Hannah did.) And much, much more...

I’ve been fascinated by why some people do consistently well and why others seem to struggle. And why so many fail despite the fact that they’re smarter than average... have more financial resources than the average person... have better skills... a great personality... or great looks. After working with more than 300 freelancers at all levels (from newbies to six-figure earners), I’ve reached some very interesting conclusions...

Writing sales pages, landing pages, long-form content or detailed articles is not easy. Getting started can be a drag. Writer’s block is often a problem. And even when you get going, it’s difficult to get and maintain momentum. But what if you started writing the piece from the bottom up? What if that bottom-up method helped you create a quicker and far superior product? In this episode, New Zealand-based marketing and persuasion expert Sean D’Souza explains his bottom-up method of writing... and why it’s more effective than the traditional top-to-bottom approach many of us use.

There’s no denying that smart creative professionals are finding unique ways to drum up quality leads and build trust with good prospects online. My guest this week is a perfect example of this. Her name is Kaleigh Moore. She’s a freelance writer, and she’s experienced great success as a freelancer in a very short amount of time. In this interview she explains how she generates prospects online. How she builds relationships and trust by adding value. And how she leverages these wins to create a positive domino effect in her business.

In this week’s episode we’re going to talk about crappy clients — or “clients from hell,” as my guest calls them. ;-) My guest is Bryce Bladon. Bryce is an award-winning writer, creative consultant and strategist, and editor-in-chief of Clients From Hell, a blog that collects anonymously contributed client horror stories from the front lines of the freelancing industry. He also hosts a podcast of the same name. Yes, we’ll vent a little. But we’ll also talk about how you can identify these “problem children” before they unleash hell. More specifically, how to handle these difficult situations with grace and professionalism.

Engaging with freelancer professionals (across different industries) brings many benefits to freelance writers. Designer and freelancer Emily Leach explains in the HIBW podcast.

Many authors, speakers and coaches are great at what they do. They often teach life-changing strategies and ideas. But most of them can’t write copy to save their lives. Worse yet, they don’t even know where to find a good copywriter. In this eye-opening interview with my friend and colleague Casey Demchak, you’ll learn: Who these people are What they need from copywriters How you can find the best-quality clients What you can charge And much more...

Have you ever tracked your prospect inquiries over a period of time? You’d be surprised how many insights you can get out of this simple exercise! In this interview, my good friend Dianna Huff shares her results from her own inquiry-tracking effort. And she details the eye-opening insights that came out of this.

If you’re planning your marketing efforts for the year, you don’t want to miss this episode. I’ve brought back my friend and colleague Ilise Benun to talk about how you can market your business more effectively this year. I love how Ilise has broken this down into six tools or strategies to focus on. And how she’s grouped those strategies into: Things you should deploy or refine Things you should do a regular basis These interviews with Ilise are some of our most popular on the show. And this will be no exception...

If you struggle with productivity, this episode is for you. First of all, you’re not alone. Productivity is a big challenge for creative professionals. Working from home means that you’re exposed to a ridiculous number of distractions. And when you’re in front of a computer all day long, the temptation to check email, social media or crazy cat videos can be paralyzing. Yet if we’re ever going to do great work, we have to be productive. We know that intellectually. Making it work on a day-by-day and minute-by-minute basis, however, is challenging. So as we kick off the New Year, I wanted to bring in my friend and colleague Mark McGuinness to the show. Mark has a number of very practical and tactical tips for improving your productivity very quickly...

This is my favorite time of year. Not just because of the holiday cheer, festive mood and time spent together as a family. But also because of the opportunity to look back at the year. This is a great time to pause and reflect. To take stock of where I am. What went right. What didn’t go the way I expected (and why). As part of my planning process for 2017, I’m doing something a little different. I’m asking myself 21 tough questions. I’m using these questions as journal entry starters. And what I’ve uncovered so far by thinking about (and answering) these questions in detail is ... well, eye-opening! That’s the topic of this week’s podcast episode. Join me to see if you find these as helpful as I have...

We all have one. A nagging inner critic that won’t go away. The one who keeps telling us we can’t. Or we shouldn’t. Or we’re not good enough. Or we don’t know enough (or have enough experience). She has a name... And the secret is NOT to try and silence her for good (not going to happen!). The key is to learn how to tame her.

According to a recent comment on our Facebook page, it’s impossible to earn a great living as a writer. Unless, of course, you get lucky and publish a bestselling novel. I don’t bother arguing with people like him. They just don’t get it. But I also recognize that there are doubters everywhere. And there are doubters who want to believe. But they have good reason to be skeptical. If you’ve been freelancing for years and never come close to reaching six figures in annual full-time income, I can understand why you may have given up on this high-income idea. Trouble is, I know too many people who make a high income doing this work. So while I understand and respect your doubt and skepticism, I have to tell you — this high-income thing is entirely possible. My guest this week is a perfect example. Her name is Chelsea Baldwin, and she started freelancing on the side six years ago. But it wasn’t until two years ago that she quit her day job and went completely solo. This past July, Chelsea had her first five figure month...

There’s a pattern I’ve seen in virtually every freelance success story. It goes like this: As you begin to move steadily in the direction of your goals, all kinds of serendipitous events begin to happen. (Side note: When I say “begin to move steadily,” I don’t mean casual activity. I mean steady, deliberate, persistent and laser-focused action. Even when you don’t feel like it. And even when you think all hope is lost!) Of course, those synchronicities don’t always happen immediately. And they’re not always obvious. But as you look back at your success, it all starts to make sense. And you realize that taking steady and massive action despite the odds (and despite the obstacles) really paid off. That’s why I love the story I’m about to share with you. Because it’s yet one more example of this fascinating pattern of success...

Need more clients? It helps to get exposure to your business via publications your audience consumes. In today’s episode you’ll hear from Marcie Hill, a freelancer writer, blogger and author. Marcie explains how she landed a guest post in Forbes.com to drive a steady stream of qualified clients to her business. And how that traffic continues two years after the publication of that post...

In this episode, we’re going to focus on an industry and a market opportunity you may not have previously considered: copywriting for eCommerce companies. Full disclosure: My guest has a company that hires freelance copywriters and places them with eCommerce clients. His name is Nathan Hirsch, and he’s the founder of . (Note: I have NO affiliate relationship with Nathan or his company.) This opportunity is NOT for everyone. And frankly, it’s not the path I would recommend if you’re trying to follow the “smarter freelancing” objectives of earning more in less time doing work you love for better clients. However, if you’re a good copywriter and have some experience with this type of writing, this might be a good way to either kick start your freelance business or to fill a temporary gap in project work...

Most of us view freelancing as a way to make a living. It’s a way to pay the bills by doing work we enjoy — and doing it on our own schedule and on our own terms. And that’s pretty much where it ends. Nothing wrong with that. But there are some professionals who look at freelancing a little differently. They see it as means to fund exciting adventures. They choose this work model because it enables them to travel the world and create life-changing experiences. These folks don’t live to work. They work to live. My guest this week is a great example of this mindset and approach to freelancing. His name is Kevin Casey. He’s a freelance copywriter based in Australia who travels for four to five months every year. And he uses his freelance income to fund every dollar of these experiences. Whether or not you enjoy traveling the world, I think you’ll find Kevin’s approach to work and leisure inspiring and thought-provoking.

If you have a day job, what would you do if you got downsized? Would you look for another job? Or would you use the opportunity to launch your freelance business? That’s exactly what happened to Tanya Brody a few months ago. Tanya has been a copywriter for years. But until recently, she was traditionally employed as a copywriter — she wasn’t a freelancer. In today’s episode she explains how she got started as a copywriter, why she decided to work for someone else, why she chose the solo path when she lost her job... and what she’s learned so far in her freelance journey.

This is the most common question I get from new freelance writers and copywriters: “Where do I start, Ed?” In today’s podcast episode, I give you my detailed answer to that question. I reveal my big-picture checklist for getting your business off the ground faster and more safely. If you’re struggling to get your B2B / commercial writing business off the ground, this episode is for you.   

I’m always looking for different and clever ideas to land clients, earn more for the work we do and enjoy more time off. So when I heard from Mojca Mars about the Twitter strategy she used to build her freelance social media marketing business, I knew I wanted her on the show. I met Mojca last year at the Double Your Freelance Conference in Norfolk, Va. I was very impressed with how quickly she grew her solo business after getting laid off. It’s a great example of being resourceful and putting in the work, even when you experience occasional setbacks. In this episode, Mojca talks specifically about the Twitter strategy she used to get her business off the ground and into extremely profitable territory. This is something you can easily replicate IF you’re willing to put in the work and maintain the discipline necessary to develop momentum...

I don’t enjoy having difficult conversations with clients. I bet you don’t either! But just because it’s not a fun pastime doesn’t mean we should always avoid these conversations. Very often the way to solve (or even avoid) big problems with clients is to do what we fear: confront the issues head on. And to do that effectively and with confidence, you need to be prepared to handle these situations. In this week’s show you’ll hear from Mele Williams. Mele specializes in writing scripts for sensitive business and personal conversations, such as delivering bad news and saying no. She’s a real pro at this. And in this interview she shares some very practical techniques for handling these difficult situations with grace.

Most copywriters understand the power of storytelling and humor in copy. But how do you use these elements appropriately? My guest this week explains how to do this right. His name is Kevin Rogers. Kevin is one of the top copywriters in the biz. He’s the Amazon best-selling author of The 60-Second Sales Hook and founder of , a thriving community of the world’s top online marketers. Kevin spent years traveling the country as a dead-broke stand-up comedian until he discovered how a simple joke formula could be used as a powerful marketing hook. He began to teach that formula to marketers. And these days, entrepreneurs and business owners all over the world use Kevin’s techniques to grow their profits and their businesses at record pace. Today he’s is one of the most in-demand sales consultants online, working closely with high-volume information marketers, corporations and local brick and mortar businesses alike to turn around sluggish ad campaigns. And in this interview, he reveals the formula he uses to inject humor and storytelling effectively in copy.

I always assumed that food and travel writing didn’t pay well. It just seemed crowded with writers. And as media companies started to fold, this category felt like a starving artist’s (no pun intended) worst nightmare. But I recently met someone who challenged these assumptions. Her name is and she’s my guest in this week’s show. In this interview Kate will explain why there’s still a very good income opportunity in food and travel writing...

For a long time, it seemed like WordPress was the only way to go. It certainly wasn’t the only option for freelancers who needed a website. But it seemed as if it was the only practical option. And then suddenly a whole group of website builder platforms started gaining serious steam. Platforms such as Squarespace, Strikingly, Weebly, Wix and others. At first I thought it was a passing fad. Or maybe an option for people who were dabbling or needed an extremely simple, one-page website. But the more I looked into these options, the more I realized that there was something to this movement. My guest this week is Lisa Mullis. Lisa is a principal and director of marketing and outreach at , a design communications firm. I’m not an expert in this area, so I wanted to bring in someone who works with both options every day.  There’s a lot of passion in each camp—the Wordpress camp and the website builder camp. So I suspect this episode will create some controversy...

North Carolina–based freelance writer Jennifer Gregory has had quite a ride over the past 18 months. She took her business to the six-figure level in 2015. But then shortly after, she lost some of her anchor clients. And things started to fall apart. Jennifer didn’t sit around for very long. She quickly went back to the drawing board, drafted a turnaround plan and took massive action. Within weeks she was booked solid. And 2016 is shaping up to be a banner year for her. In this interview, Jennifer details her wild journey to the $100,000 income level. She reveals the 6 things she did that enabled her to get there. And she walks us through the plan she executed to replace her lost anchor clients.

If you’ve listened to , or of this podcast you already know that I consider myself to be a spiritual person. I believe there’s a big spiritual component to succeeding in any endeavor. It’s not all about brute force, or persistence, or hard work and long hours. At the end of the day, there’s only so much you can do. You can’t do it alone. And when you’re trying to go after something big, you need the help of a higher power (call it God, the Universe, the Divine or whatever you feel comfortable with) to help you get there. If you believe that there’s a connection between the spiritual and the physical—even if you don’t fully understand it—then I urge you to give this a listen...

When I launched the High-Income Business Writing podcast in April 2013, I was stepping into the unknown. I was excited. And I was nervous. I was excited because I’d successfully launched other services and products, such as the International Freelancers Academy and a . Not to mention my own freelance writing business. So I knew I could do this. But I was still nervous for many reasons. On the occasion of our 101st episode, I'm thrilled to report on the response to the High-Income Business Writing podcast...

The most serious problem facing U.S. taxpayers is the complexity of the Internal Revenue Code. That’s not just my opinion. It’s an actual statement from the IRS! According to the same IRS report where I found that statement, an analysis of IRS data uncovered that U.S. taxpayers and businesses spend about 7.6 billion hours a year complying with the filing requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. And that figure does not even include the millions of additional hours that taxpayers must spend when they are required to respond to an IRS notice or an audit... Since we’re stuck with the system we currently have (for now!), we have to figure out how to navigate the ins and outs. My guest is Trevor McKendrick. Trevor started Salem Software, and just recently created an accounting essentials course for entrepreneurs and freelancers. 

I’m all for efficiency. And I’m all for tools and systems that help us become more efficient. The problem is that it’s too easy to get caught up in the efficiency game and lose sight of the end goal: to get better clients, higher fees, more rewarding work. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to become more efficient at getting crappy results! In this interview, Kai Davis, a business development coach for freelancers and consultants, shares his step-by-step system for managing prospecting in a way that saves time and yields better-quality prospects.

One of the biggest fears/concerns of new freelance writers: “Who’s going to hire me?” That fear is based on the following assumption: that you need to impress “IBM.” But that’s an incorrect assumption. You can’t be everything to everyone. I’ve met very few successful freelancers who got a very impressive start and didn’t struggle to get to where they are today. Most success stories are messy! The hero spent most of their journey getting “No’s” and barely scraping by. But all we hear is the end result. So who’s a good prospect for you right now...?

Self-employment is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because we get to chart our own course. We get to pursue projects and clients that are interesting to us. And we can adjust our workload and schedule however we want. But that kind of freedom can also lead to lack of discipline and motivation if we're not careful. How do we stay on track? How do we find the motivation to do the work we know we have to do, even when we don't feel like doing it...?

James Chartrand is the owner of Men With Pens, a web design and copywriting company. She's also the creator of "Damn Fine Words," one of the best and most popular writing courses in the business. Yes, I said "she." If you're not familiar with James, he's actually a she. The story behind that is pretty interesting. So is the story of how she came clean. In this episode, James and I talk shop about the latest trends in freelance copywriting... different ways you can improve your craft... practical business tips for introverts... And a simple, 200-word-a-day exercise that will improve your copywriting muscle.

Are Elance, Upwork and other online job boards a good place to land freelance work? Yes and no. It really depends on a number of important factors. And it's certainly not for everyone. But there's no denying that some people have figured out a way to launch their freelance business with these platforms. My guest for this episode is one of these people. Her name is Laura Pennington, and she has a great story about how she used Elance to kickstart her freelance business—despite the fact that she had little work experience, no samples, no ratings or reviews and no clear guidance on how to make it work.

This week's episode is shorter than usual. It's also different. I take you on a random journey of what I'm doing, what I've been up to, what I'm currently enjoying ... and a few things I'm planning this year. Follow along at your own risk...

This is part two of a two-part series on money and freelancing. In part one Dianna Huff talked about how to when you have a variable income. Today's episode is a bit different. We get into the mindset of earning more as a freelance professional. My guest is Rhonda Page. Rhonda is an ideator, clarifier and forward thinker. She’s worked at top graphic design and branding firms for 25 years, and brought them hundreds of thousands of dollars in new business along the way.

As freelancers we don't have the luxury of a fixed paycheck.  Even when you're booking work like crazy, your cash flow is going to be irregular.  Sometimes unpredictable.  This is an issue that financial experts and money-management books rarely address. They're geared to helping people with steady paychecks—NOT self-employed professionals.  In this episode you'll hear from my friend and colleague Dianna Huff. Dianna has been trying to solve this cash flow dilemma for years. And she's come up with some very specific and realistic strategies for those of us who earn a variable income.  This is part one of a two-part series on the topic of money—something we haven't addressed enough in this podcast until now. 

You've heard the advice before... Position yourself an authority in your field ... and business will start coming your way. I think many of us understand this idea conceptually. But it can be hard to figure out exactly how to become that authority. And the negative self talk and self-sabotage doesn't help ("Who do you think you are? You're no expert! You're no authority!"). Sound familiar? This is a big topic, and it's one I'd like to cover in more detail over the next few months. But today, I wanted to at least kick-start that discussion. My guest is Scott Aughtmon, a consultant and blogger who writes about content marketing, and the author of the book 51 Content Marketing Hacks: Extraordinary Lessons on Creating Content That Will Help You Sell More and Gain More Customers. Our conversation may not answer all your questions. But I hope it gets you thinking in the right direction — and that it sets the stage for additional episodes on this important topic.

There's a growing interest among freelancers in the idea of "value pricing." The concept of pricing your work based on the value it will generate for the client is interesting. But it still feels theoretical and pie-in-the-sky to most creative professionals. In this podcast episode, we discuss how to make the idea practical — including three simple ways you can start transitioning to this lucrative model. You'll find the full audio (and detailed show notes) here:

Do you sometimes feel like a bit of a fraud? Are you sometimes surprised that clients pay you to do your work? Do you feel unworthy compared to many of your colleagues? Like you will be found out soon enough ... and all your success so far is undeserved? You're not alone. Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Jimmy Fallon and many other people many of us consider incredibly talented — they often feel the same way. I talked about this back in episode 22: But what I'd like to do in this episode is give you a taste for how common this "impostor syndrome" is. Because part of overcoming it is awareness. Awareness about how many talented professionals struggle with self confidence and self worth. I feel so much better when I realize that I'm not alone. And if the best people in their field often feel this way, then that gives me hope. It helps me realize that it's perfectly natural.

In this episode I interview Cesar Abeid, author of the newly published . Cesar and I focus our discussion not on client projects, but rather on all those internal projects we all keep meaning to do ... but never get around to doing. He shares plenty of simple and practical tips for breaking down these projects into doable tasks. All in plain English!

I love to read. In fact, I have more books I want to read than I have time to read them. Sound familiar? Yes, I've tried some speed-reading courses. They helped, but I've yet to reach a level where I can read 50+ books a year. So when I came across Brandon Hakim's techniques on how to read and absorb dozens of books a year, I was intrigued. Just by applying a few of his simple ideas, I've read two books in the past two weeks — something that would have normally taken me two months to accomplish. In this interview, Brandon will explain how he reads over 300 books a year. He describes a key mindset shift you need to make in order to get to this level. Plus a handful of practical techniques to help you get through nonfiction books much faster.

If you're in the U.S., this is an important interview. It's about your health insurance options as a self-employed professional: The ins and outs Where to shop What to look for How to make the best decisions for you and your family With open enrollment coming up soon ... and fines going up significantly for those who don't enroll in a plan ... this is the time to get educated and to investigate your options. It's all here, including detailed show notes:

In today's episode, you'll hear from my friend and colleague Michael Katz. Michael is an authority on launching, publishing and leveraging a newsletter to grow your service-based business. 

"How do I successfully transition out of a day job and into full-time freelancing?" That's one of the most common questions I get asked  by aspiring freelance writers and copywriters. And in today's episode, you'll get yet another perspective from someone who's made the leap successfully and coached many others on how to make this challenging transition — Michelle Ward, a.k.a. the When I Grow Up Coach.

Trying something a little different this week. I'm doing a  Q&A show with questions you submitted through a recent survey.   I'd love to get your feedback on this format. If you like it, I'll do more of these in the future.  

Over the past three years, I've worked with hundreds of new freelance writers and copywriters.  I enjoy mentoring and coaching these new and ambitious freelance professionals, helping them build and grow their businesses.  But through this process, I've uncovered a disturbing trend.  This is not something I enjoy talking about. Mainly because it requires that I be blunt about some issues.    But it's time to shine a light on this painful truth — and what you can do about it if you find yourself in one of these situations.

If you've been freelancing for a few years, chances are you've had trouble getting paid at some point.  The client was slow to pay. Or they lost your invoice. Or they held your payment for some weird and unfair reason. When that happens, you have a choice. You can rant about it. Foam at the mouth. Call Tony Soprano. Lose sleep.  Or you can use that as a learning experience. And change what you do in order to prevent that from happening again (or at least to prevent it from happening as frequently).  As passionate as I about my business and as much energy as I put into my clients' work, I've chosen to focus on the latter.    Not only has it been more effective, but it has also enabled me to retain my sanity and peace of mind. And in this episode my guest,  will share some very practical ideas for preventing these nightmares from happening. 

The process of picking a niche can be extremely stressful. But I've found that most of that stress and frustration is the result of bad advice.  In fact, most of what I read and hear on the topic of picking a niche is misguided. It treats the issue as a simple, one-dimensional decision. But in reality, this is a complex, multi-faceted topic that requires you to think about your business at a deeper level.  At the same time, it requires you to take action, even before you feel 100 percent comfortable with you decision. Because in most cases, your best niche ends up finding YOU.    . But in this episode, we're going deeper. My guest is Ilise Benun from . Ilise is a frequent guest in my podcasts and classes. And in this interview, she'll share some practical ideas to help you solve your niche puzzle.

Do you use a creative brief when working with clients?  Have you thought about using one but not sure what to include?  Do you even need one?  You'll get direct answers to these important questions in this week's show.  My guest is Pam Foster from and . Pam is a seasoned marketer with extensive corporate communications experience. She's a big believer in using a creative brief when working on client projects.  In this episode, she explains:    Why you need a creative brief What it should contain How to use one when working with a client How to customize it for different scenarios How to use them to deliver more value to your clients

Email is dying.  Not really. But that's what some social media pundits are claiming.  Fact is, it really doesn't matter how much texting, tweeting and "Facebooking" people are doing these days ... email is not going anywhere.  Love it or hate it, email is a wonderful tool. It's convenient and dependable. It's ubiquitous.  The trick, however, is knowing how to keep it under control.  In this week's session, we'll address the issue head on. You'll hear from Twyla LaPointe, a productivity expert and an email management consultant. Twyla will share a mix of strategy, workflow and simple tools to help you tame the email beast  

Growing your income as a freelancer doesn't need to be that difficult.  In fact, there's a very simple way to do that. I've used it for years to multiply my income. And I've taught it to many of my coaching clients who have used it successfully.  But there's a problem. The idea is so simple, it's often dismissed and never put to use.    So before I reveal too much, I'd like to give you some context. 

As a freelancer, there are few things more frustrating than a prospect who suddenly disappears for no apparent reason. He reached out to get some information, indicated a high level of interest, was fine with your ballpark fee — maybe even gave you a verbal confirmation that he was going to move forward.   But then ... nothing! You can't get him to return calls or emails.   You have no idea why. And now you're wondering if you said or did the wrong thing.   Sound familiar?   In this week's episode, my friend and colleague Ilise Benun and I tackle this common issue head on. We look at the different flavors of this problem. We examine why this happens so frequently. And we offer some concrete advice for how to deal with these frustrating situations.  

Many of us have been brought up to believe that talent and hard work are the keys to success in business.  But as competition stiffens and clients find it harder to distinguish freelancers from each other, you need a different strategy. You need to capitalize on (and communicate) your unique perspective and knowledge.  My guest for this episode is Dorie Clark, author of two business books, a consultant and speaker. Dorie worked as a journalist, so she knows our world very well. When she lost her job in a round of layoffs, she had to reinvent herself. Since then, she’s worked as a spokesperson for gubernatorial and presidential campaigns and executive director of a nonprofit.    In this interview, she explains why hard work and talent are no longer enough. And how you can position yourself as a trusted expert to set yourself apart—even if you don't quite feel like an "expert" in your field.

There's plenty of advice about what you should do when starting and growing a freelance writing business. But not too many people are openly talking about things you should avoid at this critical early stage. My guest this week is Diana Scheidman, a freelance writer and researcher specializing in the insurance and asset management industries. Diana has developed a reputation for helping people who want to land well-paid freelance and consulting work quickly. And she recently wrote a book on the subject titled . In this episode, Diana shares 10 things new freelance business writers must avoid if they want to get their freelance business off the ground faster.

One of the things that I've tried to be very mindful of is painting a very realistic picture of what it's like to launch and grow a freelance writing and copywriting business today. In fact, I take great pride in being transparent about the hard work required. You'll hear that in most of my interviews, as well as in shows such as: ? ? Today is no exception. My guest is Mark Stone, a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada. Mark is still in the early stages of growing his business, and he has an interesting story to tell about finding his way through this business. You're not going to hear a talk about rainbows and sunshine. Instead, you'll get more of a status report from Mark. You'll hear how Mark is landing progressively better and higher-paying clients. And how he's pushing past fears and insecurities to improve his business and his income. If you're just starting out or are in the first two or three years of your freelance venture, I think you'll get a lot out of this interview.  

Just last week I received a call from a friend who owns a small marketing agency. She had recently lost three solid opportunities—deals she should have won. She couldn't figure out what went wrong. So she did what most of us do: assume it was her own fault. Maybe she said the wrong thing. Or her pricing was way off. Or she didn't have the experience the prospect wanted. But I've lost enough deals to know the truth. She was basing her conclusions on the wrong assumption. More specifically, she was assuming that every opportunity has the same chance of success. More than likely, it wasn't something she did or didn't do. It was simply that these opportunities weren't really "winnable." In this episode, I'll tell you what I shared with her ... and how that shift in thinking made an immediate impact on her business.

Over the past seven years, I've had hundreds of conversations with new and aspiring freelancers who are 55+. Perhaps the most common concern I hear from this group is, "I'm afraid that my age will prevent me from getting clients." I can understand this fear. Especially if you've experienced age discrimination in the workplace ... or been laid off or downsized because of your age (something an employer would never admit). Here's the good news—you have more to offer your clients than you realize. In fact, you have a serious competitive edge over younger freelancers — experience, wisdom and perspective.   And that's not just me saying that. I've heard this from several freelancers who launched their solo business later in life. In fact, you'll hear from one of them in this week's episode. Her name is , a California–based web content developer and SEO writer who went solo 12 years ago at the age of 54.

Today's show is about two topics that didn't warrant their own episodes: Why you must be careful when emulating the "rock stars" in our business Why you should NOT diversify too much in terms of the services you offer I'm also going to introduce a somewhat "silent" co-host of this show (someone you might have heard a few times before). I'll tell you about two upcoming industry events you may want to check out. And I'll explain how you can be a part of a future episode of this podcast.

Yes, I really believe freelancing or contingency work is the way of the future. But if you're fresh out of school and have no contacts and no relevant experience, how can you possibly get started as a freelancer? In this episode, I interview two young freelancers who faced the same dilemma just a few years ago.

  Today we're talking about SEO copywriting. And to get the full scoop on what's happening with SEO these days, I've brought in one of the world's top authorities on the subject: Heather Lloyd Martin. Heather has been writing, studying and teaching SEO copywriting for years. In fact, she got started way before SEO copywriting went mainstream.   In this interview, Heather is going to give us an overview of this opportunity, including:   What SEO copywriting entails How it has changed over the past 10 years How Google's big changes have impacted our ability to optimize web page How you can manage clients' expectations in an environment of unscrupulous SEO practitioners? The best sources of information for SEO copywriters The best opportunities for SEO copywriters today   And much more!  

Fully 90% of my income these days comes from teaching, training and coaching freelancers to earn more in less time, doing work they love for better clients. But what does that say about me, when so little of my income comes from working directly with freelance writing clients? It's a great question. And in this week's episode, I address the issue head on.

It's hard NOT to be somewhat spiritual when you're self-employed. That's because so much of what we do as a freelancers is based on faith — faith that things will work out ... that another good client will come along ... that you're doing the right thing by raising your fees... In fact, I've learned to understand that thoughts DO become things. (Of course, you also have to take steady and deliberate action. That's the part many people conveniently forget about. ;-) But is this there science behind this idea? Can we really manifest a new client on command? Can we turn things around by "creating" them in our minds first and asking for them? The answer is "Yes!" And in this episode, international bestselling author Pam Grout explains why that's the case ... and how you can prove it to yourself, even if you're a skeptic.

Article writing is one of the most fun and lucrative ways to make a living as a freelance writer. The variety of work is significant. For instance, ytou can write blog posts for a client. Or you can focus on the growing trend of brand journalism. Or maybe specialize in writing placed articles. In this episode, veteran freelance writer and founder of , Carol Tice, details five ways to earn a great income writing articles for clients. She describes each opportunity in detail. She explains who's hiring writers in each category. And she discusses the earning potential for these projects.

This week we're going to talk about yet another little-known opportunity for writers and copywriters—scripting and producing what are typically called "explainer videos" for clients. Explainer videos are nothing more than 1- to 2-minute simple and engaging explanations of what a product does and how it solves a key problem. They're not "demo" videos. Rather they're high-level presentations, usually involving some sort of computer animation or live action. And they've become incredibly popular! To discuss this opportunity in great detail, I've brought in Kathy Cabrera from Red Clip Video. As you'll hear, Kathy has a unique background that has enabled her to build a growing business around explainer videos. She'll explain what this type of work is all about. What it involves. The different opportunities for writers. And what you can charge, depending on what you choose to offer your clients.

It's not every day that I come across an idea in the freelancing world that gets me super excited. But when I recently sat down with freelance ghostwriter Derek Lewis, I found myself taking a ton of notes ... and thinking of ways I could shift my writing business to do what HE does!Derek is a very successful business-book ghostwriter. He's also the author of the new book The Business Book Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Write a Good Business Book. And in this interview, he gives us a detailed and very exciting look into the world of book ghostwriting. What it isWhat it involvesThe best target markets for this workWhat you can chargeHow to find clientsAnd who's best suited for this type of writingThis is a realistic six-figure opportunity for strong writers who enjoy longer-format projects and working closely with a client for an extended period of time. And as you'll see, the rewards go way beyond the financial.

Michelle Hiskey doesn't have a traditional freelance writing business. For one, she has a full-time job. So she works her freelance work on the side. Also, her clients are NOT the traditional businesses and nonprofits many of us work with. Instead, they're high school students who need help writing their college application essay. In this interview, Michelle explains what this type of writing is all about. What's involved. What she charges. How she approaches the work. And what type of writer this specialty is well suited for. She also talks about how she's giving back to her community in a creative and meaningful way. This is an inspiring and fascinating discussion — perfect if you're exploring different ideas or business models.

One of the biggest reasons freelancers love being on their own is the flexibility it affords.When you're your own boss, you set the schedule. You pick whom you work with and what projects you take on.And, ideally, you pick where you work.Unfortunately, most of us don't take full advantage of our business portability. Some people have young kids. Others have aging parents to take care of. Or a medical condition that limits travel.Recently, after talking with my colleague Steve Roller from , I realized that (for me, at least), it's mostly an issue of both commitment AND fear.I haven't made this a priority. And I'm a bit fearful of the unknown.There's a third reason that stops many solos...The belief that you have to go to an exotic location — and that you have to do it for an extended period of time.If you're even remotely interested in travel, I urge you to listen to this episode. Steve talks about his motivation for getting out of his daily environment and seeing more of the world. He explains how he's able to make it work. And he offers many useful tips and tricks for successful "vagabonding."

If you enjoy learning new and clever strategies for landing more work from better clients, you definitely need to check out this episode. Freelance writer Amy Dunn Moscoso has been using a unique and very effective strategy for landing work from trade shows. Not just a project or two. In many cases, we're talking about a TON of work. Enough to keep her busy for months. The best part? She doesn't even have to attend the show! In this episode, Amy explains what this strategy is all about, why it works so well, and how she's implemented it so effectively. Get ready to take some notes!

Think podcasting is for celebrities, authors and speakers?Think again!Podcasting is rapidly becoming one of the most effective and popular mediums for self-employed pros to attract high-quality leads, build trust and create rock-solid client loyalty.I know that sounds like hype. I didn't believe it myself — until about 18 months ago, when I reluctantly started my own show and saw the immediate impact it had in my own business.In this interview, you'll hear from my friend and colleague Cliff Ravenscraft, the "Podcast Answerman." Cliff eats, breathes and lives podcasting. He's probably helped more people start and grow a podcast than anyone else. And he explains why every service professional—including freelancers in all disciplines—should start their own show.If you're very selective about the shows you upload to your phone or mobile device, I can assure you that this one is a MUST-LISTEN!

I recently had the opportunity to interview legendary copywriter Bob Bly.We talked for almost an hour. What a fascinating guy!Among other things, I asked him:What his typical day looks likeWhere his income comes fromHis thoughts on social mediaHow to get lead-gen copywriting work in B2BHow to get your income to the $200,000 level and beyond I even threw him a surprising question towards the end. And he replied with an equally surprising answer.

Do you have a healthcare background or an active interest in the medical industry? And do you have a knack for explaining complex topics in simple language?If so, you'll love today's episode. My guest is medical device copywriting veteran Casey Demchack. In this interview, Casey spills the beans about this fascinating field of commercial writing. He explains:What's involvedWhat types of writing projects are in demandWho the best clients areWhat they look for in a writerAnd how you can break into this market, even if you have limited (or zero) industry experienceCasey also shares his thoughts on having multiple specialties or target markets and how he juggles seemingly unrelated niches.

Successful freelance business writers often get to a point where they have to make a difficult decision: Should they keep operating as a one-person shop? Or should they scale and build something bigger?If you know you're not cut out to be an entrepreneur, you're probably better off as a solo business. Nothing wrong with that!But if you think you'd love the challenges and rewards of building a mini content-development agency, it might be worth exploring.In this episode, I interview Paul McKeon, founder of The Content Factor. Paul is a B2B tech-marketing veteran who has built one of the most respected and successful marketing content agencies in the Southeastern U.S.In our talk he shares how he built his agency, how he works with writers, what challenges he's faced over the years, and how to determine if this business model is for you.

  The biggest reason I became self-employed was to have more control. I wanted to have more control over the kind of work I did, when I did it and how I went about it. And I especially wanted to have more control over the people I worked with. I wanted to choose my clients more carefully. Because as a freelance writer I was, essentially, selling a relationship. And I didn't want to have a relationship with people who didn't appreciate me or my work. Or who weren't fun work with. If we were going to work together closely, I wanted to do that only with people I enjoyed, doing meaningful and engaging work. That's what we're discussing in today's episode. And to do that, I've brought in one of the leading authorities on getting clients in the professional services arena: C.J. Hayden. C.J. is the author of the classic book , a book I read, studied and applied in my early years as a freelancer. It has served me very well over the years. So I feel honored to finally have her on the show to talk about finding and working with ideal clients.  

Getting some of your articles published in an industry newsletter, blog or publication has a number of benefits. For one, it helps position you as a thought leader—as an expert in your industry, niche or domain. It also helps expose you to prospects who may not have heard about you otherwise. Yet I find that most freelance business writer shy away from this strategy. Some don't understand the benefits of writing these pieces without direct compensation. Others think they're not qualified. And many of those who try give up way too early. In this week's podcast I interview Julia Borgini, a freelance writer and web content specialist who writes for technology companies. Julia recently landed a huge publicity win which has given her great exposure. And in this discussion, she explains how she went about it, what it took to get her article accepted, and what she's learned from the experience.

If you want to generate a high income as a freelance writer, you won't get there by doing lots of $500 projects for small clients. Sure, you can work long hours and bring in some big numbers. But it won't be long before you burn out. To earn a comfortable six-figure income AND have the freedom and flexibility to enjoy the fruits of your labor you HAVE to start working with bigger clients. One big client can easily replace two, three or even four smaller clients. Plus, they're often easier to work with. They have more work. And they're not as price-sensitive as smaller clients. So why do so many freelance writers avoid them? One word: FEAR! We might tell ourselves that it's other things. But at the core, the biggest reason we don't go after bigger fish is just plain, old-fashioned fear. In this episode you'll hear from Mary Rose Maguire, an Ohio-based freelance writer who recently broke through these fears and insecurities to go after (and land!) her largest client ever. She explains how she did it, how the overcame her fears and insecurities, and what she's learned about herself in the process.

The premise of this show is that earning more in less time should be one of your key drivers. That kind of approach to your business (when done in a spirit of balance) enables you to have more time, more freedom and live a richer life ... without sacrificing your income. Freelance writer Kathleen Fink recently contacted me with a different twist on this idea — one that's particularly suited for retiring boomers who don't need to make "income" their primary goal. And in this episode she shares some great insights that may change the way you think about writing during retirement.

When it comes to prospecting and selling, most of us want the easy way out. The gimmick that will put our prospecting on autopilot. But at the end of the day, if the trick, gimmick or technique is not based on strong fundamentals, it will have a VERY short shelf life. One of the many things I love about my colleague Jill Konrath is that all her advice is based on strong fundamentals. She understands human nature. She understands what decision makers want—what keeps them up at night. And how to continue the conversation already going on in their heads. In this episode, she explains: Why selling has changed drastically in the past 10 years Why you need to adopt a different approach to your own marketing and selling And how simple shifts in the way you approach prospects can have a dramatic impact on your income.

What are the biggest pros and cons of working with agencies? What types of writers (and personalities) are best suited for working with agencies? What do agencies look for when hiring a freelance writer? What would you say are the best ways to attract and land agency clients? How can you avoid payment nightmares and other typical agency/freelancer challenges? You'll get the answers to all these questions in this week's podcast! My guests are Caryn Starr-Gates and Shanna Kurpe — two seasoned freelance writers who built their businesses through agencies and marketing firms.

What makes some freelance business writers more successful than others? And why are some of them continually successful while others struggle in the feast-or-famine cycle for years? In this episode I share some of the most important things successful B2B/commercial writers have in common. What else would you add to this list? Please let me know in the comments area below.

If you've ever been laid off or downsized, you already know what a crappy experience that can be. Especially when it's unexpected and it catches you off guard. But for Don Sadler, getting laid off from his job in 2009 was one of the best things that could have happened to him. Don was able to turn this "misfortune" into a six-figure freelance business. And in this interview, he shares how he did this and what he's learned along the way. Lots of great ideas and insights in this episode -- even for those of you who've been freelancing for a while The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of the show. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in . 


Creating a smart prospecting strategy is very much like assembling a solid, diversified investment portfolio. And just like the world of investments has countless options, there are many prospecting and self-promotional tactics available to today's freelance writer. Too many, in fact! But one tactic that we don't talk about enough is public speaking. And more specifically, delivering talks to groups and organizations. In this show, I interview someone who's landed a great deal of freelance work with this idea: my colleague Steve Slaunwhite. Steve shares what he likes best about this particular type of self-promotion, whom this strategy is best-suited for, the steps to take to make this work, and how you can get started today.

In this week's show, I'll share 3 smart ways to boost your freelance income by outsourcing tasks that others can do better, faster and more cheaply. It may not make sense to do them all at once. It depends on where you are in your business and what kind of work you're doing. But at some point, you should seriously consider delegating some of these functions. I'll explain what these tasks are, how I outsource this work, what companies I use and what my experience has been.

Today's show covers a topic many of you have asked me about... Contracts. Should you use a contract when working with a client? What should it include? And should you write it up yourself, or is it best to hire an attorney? I'm not an attorney. And I don't even play one on TV. So I decided to bring in a lawyer to the show — someone who works with freelancers and entrepreneurs. In this interview, attorney Mark Mauriello explains: The benefits of using a contract What your contract should include When to use it When to hire an attorney And much more.

I occasionally hear from writers who are on the verge of giving up their freelance dream. They've tried for months (or even years!) to make a go of it. But they haven't been able to achieve the level of success they expected. So they come to me for advice. In this episode, I share some of my thoughts on this issue. And, no—it's not all "rainbows and sunshine" advice. In fact, some of these ideas may surprise you.

Wouldn't it be great to have most of your business come to YOU? Referrals and word of mouth sure beat having to chase every opportunity on your own. Unfortunately, they don't just happen­ — you have to make them happen. In this episode I share some practical ideas to getting more referral business — and how to do it in a way that feels right and becomes habitual.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of the show. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in . To leave a voicemail with a question for Ed, go to: . Please keep your question to under a minute, and keep it focused and detailed. What job titles should I look for when looking for content marketing projects in software companies? Look for “marketing managers” and all the variations: “digital marketing,” “marketing communications manager,” “social media marketing manager,” etc. You can also look for “marketing director.” This level of management has hiring authority. If you approach VPs of marketing, you’re counting on them to pass your name along.

Working for yourself often means that you're working BY yourself. If you're tired of long commutes, office politics and cubicle hell, that may be a blessing. At least at first. But for many freelancers, this can often lead to a feeling of isolation — of being disconnected from the rest of the world. Fortunately, there are many creative ways to combat isolation when you work at home. And in this podcast, you'll hear from Hannah Braime, a freelance writer and self-emplyed professional who has learned how to cope with this common challenge. Hannah shares 10 very practical and effective ideas for dealing with isolation. And she explains why each idea can work so well, even if you consider yourself an introvert.

Freelancing is booming. And the competition has never been fiercer. But while tens of thousands of independent professionals fight over $5 gigs, many others are thriving. The reasons for their success vary. But most of these solos have one thing in common... They're positioning themselves differently. You see, what's really being commoditized in today's gig economy is the words, the design, the software code, the photography. In other words, the work itself. If all you do is talk about your writing — how great it is, how clear and compelling — you'll do what everyone else is doing: focusing on the features of your product. But what if you talked about your unique perspective? Your experience writing in a certain field. Or your background in the accounting industry. Or maybe it's your 12 years of bedside nursing. Your 15 years' experience as a high school teacher. The2 years you spent backpacking and working odd jobs in Spain and the South of France. That's hard to duplicate. Because you've just added your DNA to the discussion. You've added your unique story. My guest for this week's show is Pam Slim, author of the new book, and . And in this discussion, Pam expands on this important idea. She explains the importance of searching deep within your background to find the golden nuggets that will help you attract better clients. And she'll give you some ideas on how you can look beyond just the work stuff and find and communicate your gifts, passions and purpose more effectively. The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

One of the many things I love about being an entrepreneur (yes, even if you're a solo business owner you ARE an entrepreneur!!) is the magic that often happens along the journey. I love how challenges often turn into great opportunities. And how ideas that originally seemed insignificant (even silly) will often end up saving our business! Great companies such as Apple, Starbucks Zappos are filled with this kind of folklore. Most of us have heard the stories. But I recently came across one such story that is not as well known yet has a strong parallel to successful freelancing. It's the story of Chipotle Mexican Grill. And in this episode I explain what we can all learn from the company's founder as we launch and grow our own solo businesses.

I'm NOT a fan of websites like Elance or oDesk. But occasionally I'll meet a writer who has launched a successful freelance business using these services. Nathan Collier is a perfect example. Nathan launched his freelance writing business on the side last summer. And in just a few months he's been able to land a handful of decent-paying clients using Elance. Here's the really impressive part. He's done this by "Grouponizing" his services. In other words, rather than subscribing to the notion that every project must be at least somewhat profitable, Nathan is willing to work at a loss in order to prove himself to the client. Once the client sees the quality of the work, he then proposes other projects at higher margins. In this interview, Nathan details his strategy and how it works. He explains how to pick the right prospects to work with. And how he builds the value and makes it almost irresistible to hire him at higher rates. The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of the show. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

I come across a lot of writers who love the idea of developing passive income streams. Problem is, they just don't know where to start! It's not surprising. The world of Internet marketing is filled with hucksters promising overnight riches. Then there's the multitude of technology and product options. The "you gotta do this" and "you HAVE to do that." It's overwhelming! That's why I recently reached out to one of the truly great guys in this business of internet marketing: Mark Mason of the . And in this episode, Mark talks about the best opportunities to develop realistic and viable passive income streams ... how "passive" is passive ... where to look for opportunities ... how to better determine if there's a strong demand for your idea ... and much more!

If you're going after small businesses, entrepreneurs or solo business owners (such as consultants), there's a very lucrative opportunity many writers don't even know exists:   Writing "lead magnet" books or eBooks.   Lead magnet books are informational tools used for marketing purposes. They typically outline the methodology, approach or formula the business uses to produce results for their clients or customers.   Many businesses and entrepreneurs have found that sharing their insights and systems through a book is a great way to build credibility and turn many cold prospects into hot leads and customers.   Fortunately (for us!), most of these business owners aren't writers. They know what they want to say, but they're not skilled at putting these ideas down on paper.   That's where you come in.   In this episode, I interview Susan Anderson, president of and the author of . Susan has created a thriving writing business that's focused on writing and producing lead magnet books.   She explains what these projects are all about, what types of clients to go after, how to approach the work, how much you can charge — and much more!   The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of the show. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

Happy New Year! In this episode I discuss seven simple and proven strategies to put more money in your pocket and to make your writing business more enjoyable in 2014. Here's to having your best year ever! The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in .

  NOTE: This is part 2 of a two-part episode on the spiritual aspects of freelance success. If you haven't yet listened to part 1, make sure to do that first. The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in . To listen to part one of this conversation, please go to Episode #033. Question #4: Am I letting my outer circumstances, and not my vision, influence my thoughts and feelings on the subject? If you don’t have a strong vision of the outcome you want, you’ll always be in reaction mode. If you have a vision, it will guide you in your thoughts and actions. Example: Joseph Murphy, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind.  

  See if this sounds familiar... You try your hardest to launch your business. Or to get to a certain income level. Or to land that high-profile client you've been chasing for months. But no matter how hard you try, you can't seem to get there. You've followed the formulas. You've toiled day and night. You've given it all you've got ... to no avail. What's going on here? You've played by the rules. You've worked your tail off. In part one of this two-part episode, my good friend Pete Savage (from ) and I explore this issue. And we talk about the missing link in this complex puzzle: the spiritual side of freelance success.

I'm not a fan of going after small local businesses for writing work. Most of them don't understand the value of great copy and content. Or if they do, they can't afford professional-level fees. But I recently came across a writer who proved me wrong. Her name is Shawndra Russell, and she's earning a six-figure income writing for small clients in her hometown of Savannah, GA. Oh, and get this -- she just started freelancing a couple of years ago! In this episode she explains how she does it and how she keeps the work coming in. The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for the coaches and mentors I've worked with over the years. These individuals have enabled me to accelerate my progress, avoid costly mistakes and grow both personally and professionally. In today's episode, I share some of the most valuable lessons I've learned from these coaching relationships. And I'll tell you how you can get the most value from a business coach, if you ever explore that option. I also share my thoughts on gratitude and how making thanksgiving a daily practice helps attract wonderful things, people and circumstances into your business and personal life.  

SEO is one of those topics that I have a love/hate relationship with. It can be fun to optimize a website for the search engines. But the constantly changing rules drive me nuts! What worked yesterday will get you in trouble with Google today. It's a maddening cycle! Yet I have to admit that there is great value in knowing how to optimize your OWN freelancer website. And fortunately, the time to do that has never been better, thanks to the big fundamental changes Google has made over the last couple of years. To explain these changes and how you can use them to your advantage, I've brought in my good friend Dianna Huff to the show. Dianna is a seasoned SEO pro who works with small business owners and midsize companies drive more traffic to their websites, generate more leads and get more business. If you're already an SEO expert, this may not be for you. But if you want to better understand what's going on with SEO and how it will impact you as a freelance business writer, then I think you'll find this interview interesting, practical and helpful.

Impatience has been a recurring theme in my life. Once I decide to pursue a big goal, I can't WAIT to make it a reality. This goal-centered mindset has served me well. But it has also caused me to miss many of the little moments that make up that exciting journey. Moments I can't ever get back. They're gone forever. In this episode, Jeff Goins, author of The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing explains why moments of breakthrough are NOT where life's greatest transformations happen. Instead, they happen in the "in-between" moments. Waiting in the checkout line, waiting for our first big client, waiting for that big trip to Europe... This is an important discussion for all freelancers, regardless of where you are in your journey. I hope it's as helpful to you as it was for me.

Why do so many writers avoid networking as a marketing strategy? Some will tell you that they just can't find the time. Others claim that there are no good networking opportunities where they live. And many will admit that they put it off because they're shy and introverted. These might be true to a certain extent. But I've found that you can overcome any of these challenges when you follow a simple, proven framework. Without a framework or roadmap, it's very difficult to navigate the networking waters — especially if networking is something you're afraid to do. My guest this week is , a writer turned solo attorney who developed a simple framework for networking more effectively. His approached has worked so well that it landed him a staff writer position at the Clinton White House and a speechwriting gig in the California Governor’s office during the Davis Administration. He attributes these achievements to his methodical yet authentic approach to networking. And in this episode, he details this approach and how you can use it to network with greater confidence. The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in .

It's easy to talk about achieving a healthy work/life balance. But it's much harder to put it into practice. And that's true no matter where you are in your freelance journey. In this week's episode, freelance writer explains why she's decided to set clear boundaries in her business. She talks about her daily routine, her experience outsourcing some of her tasks, and the expectations she's learned to set with clients. Rachel is a Toronto-based freelancer who helps B2B marketers improve their response rates, clearly communicate complex messages and generate high-quality leads. She shares her insights on B2B marketing in her articles for the Content Marketing Institute, Business 2 Community and her . The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in .

Peter Bowerman -- the author of The Well-Fed Writer and other "Well-Fed" books -- is one of the most influential mentors in the world of commercial writing. One of the many things Peter does very well is generating strategic partnerships with freelance designers. Through these arrangements, Peter gets a well-paid writing gig, the designer lands work she may not have won otherwise, and the client benefits from a turnkey service solution. In this episode, Peter reveals how this strategy has added tens of thousands of dollars to his income over the years. He explains how to contact designers ... how to find them ... how to structure these opportunities ... how to price your work ... and much more! The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in .

One of the biggest, untapped prospecting opportunities is our own personal and professional networks. But many of us are reluctant to do it. Why? Most common reasons are because you: 1.      Have a fear of rejection 2.      Don’t want to sound stupid 3.      Don’t want to mix business and friendship 4.      Don’t want to feel awkward 5.      Believe there's no value in it 6.      Don’t know how to explain what you do to a lay person None of these have to be true. They’re only true if you believe them — or if you’re not prepared to address them. Let's analyze each of these reasons...

Do you have professional liability insurance? Do you even need it? I mean ... do freelance writers really get sued? In this episode of The High-Income Business Writing Podcast I interview Jared Kaplan, CFO at , a national online insurance company for freelancers and other self-employed professionals. Jared explains the types of insurance policies available, what they cover, when they're worth considering, and what they'll cost. This may not be the most exciting topic in the world ... but it's a hugely important one. So try to carve out some time today to listen to this discussion.   The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in .

I firmly believe that establishing yourself as a content writer is the surest way to freelance writing success. It's the most realistic opportunity in the world of writing. Especially if you go after the corporate market. That's because the fundamentals of content writing are stronger than ever. Content marketing has gone mainstream — and is not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon. In this episode, I interview Joe Pulizzi, founder of The Content Marketing Institute, Content Marketing World and Chief Content Officer magazine. Joe is also the author of the newly released book  : How to Tell a Different Story, Break through the Clutter, and Win More Customers by Marketing Less. Joe explains why content marketing is hot and getting hotter ... why businesses need writers desperately ... and how to get hired at top rates.   The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in .

Lack of self-confidence is one of the biggest silent killers of freelance writing careers. As an independent professional, you have to believe in what you’re doing and what you’re going after. But when things go wrong, how can you take yourself from self-doubt to self-confidence? How can you manufacture that experience? How can you turn things around quickly? Even with his success, Ed still struggles with self-doubt at times. And in this podcast, he shares his own tips and ideas for getting out of a funk and developing stronger self-confidence. The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in .

Most freelance writers I talk to never want to go back to a regular job. But many of them do miss the steady paycheck. (Usually that's the only thing they miss!) Which begs the question: How can you add more predictability to your freelance income? I'll be showing you several ways to do that over the next couple of months. Because, frankly, there's no single way to ensure predictability. It requires smart strategy and hard work. But let's get started on that discussion by addressing one potential solution to the income variability dilemma: adding email newsletters to your list of services. My colleague Michael Katz has made a great living over the last 13 years writing, producing and managing email newsletters for clients. He's also taught many freelance writers how to do the same. And in this lively interview he details the opportunity — including what it entails, what you can charge, how to lock yourself in with great clients who can pay you $700 to $2,000 every month. The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of our interview. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. And you can also subscribe to this podcast series in .

If you've followed me for a while, you already know that I'm NOT a fan of quoting hourly rates. At least not when you're a freelance writer. There are many disadvantages to the hourly rate model, and I still believe that in most cases it's much better to quote flat project fees. However, there ARE some situations where it makes more sense to quote project work by the hour. And if you do it right, you can still earn a great living and keep your client happy. I recently corresponded with web content writer and SEO specialist Katherine Andes. Katherine quotes most of her work by the hour. And one of the many things I admire about her is how successful she's been with this model.   In this episode, Katherine explains why she's chosen the hourly rate model. How she makes it work for both her and the client. And how she handles pricing objections and pushback.

Many freelance writers get to a point where they want to scale their business in some way. Or they want to diversify their income stream by launching a new side venture or project. Mike Stelzner is a classic example. From 1996 until just a few years ago he was a freelance writer. Today he is the founder and CEO of Social Media Examiner (SME), an online magazine for business owners and marketers who are trying to figure out social media. In less than 4 years, SME has attracted 222,000 email subscribers and 800,000 website hits per month. And Mike's podcast, , has 21,000 listeners! As if that weren't enough, Mike recently launched a new website: -- a site for parents looking for fun things to do with their kids. We’ll come back to this one later.

It's great to have a formal prospecting system in place. But sometimes the best opportunities come to us through unconventional means.   In this episode of The High-Income Business Writing podcast you'll hear from Angus Stocking, a successful business writer who specializes in the infrastructure industry.   Angus has had great success landing good-paying writing clients using low-cost "guerilla-style" methods.   The notes that follow are a basic, unedited summary of our interview. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. And you can also subscribe to this podcast series in .

Over the past few years, LinkedIn has evolved into one of the most important social media platforms. The site boasts more than 225 million users as of this recording. Even though much of the conversation about LinkedIn revolves around drumming up business leads or new jobs, there's an opportunity for business writers that's not often discussed: writing profiles for LinkedIn members. Who in the world would pay a writer to write their profile? Turns out that many business professionals do! Not only do they pay handsome fees for this work, but it can also become a great way to build trust and land additional projects. To learn more about this opportunity, I interviewed Victoria Ipri. Victoria started as a copywriter in 2006, and her business has evolved over the years into Ipri International, a Linkedin training consultancy providing telephone coaching and on-site group training. What follows are some notes summarizing the information in this week's show. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. And you can also subscribe to this podcast series in .

One of the biggest factors that holds back new and aspiring freelance writers is the idea that they have to find their niche before they launch. This "niche quest" tends to do more damage than good. It creates confusion, stalls progress and kills momentum. Don't get me wrong. Having a niche or a specific target market is a good idea. But it's not a prerequisite for launching your commercial writing business. In this episode I give you a simple framework and a series of questions to determine if you should define a niche ... how to find one that makes sense ... and what to do if you can't come up with anything viable.

Blog posts, articles, white papers, case studies, marketing collateral. These are some of the most common pieces business writers come across. The bread-and-butter projects that pay the bills. But occasionally you may come across a project that's so massive, it requires a different set of skills to execute. Your writing chops alone won't save you. My friend and colleague Denise Kiernan knows this firsthand. Not only has she written dozens of books and large-format pieces, she recently finished the largest and most complex writing project of her career: Touchstone/Simon & Shuster), now a New York Times bestseller. (Side note: This week marks the 68th anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.) To tell this true story of the women who helped build the first atomic bomb, Denise spent years conducing intense research all across the U.S., doing live interviews, writing and rewriting. It was the kind of assignment that required flawless project management, excellent organization skills ... and unshakable faith in a story that had to be told. I recently sat down with Denise to learn more about how she approached this massive project. She shared some excellent tips, insights and advice that apply to ANY writer facing a large-scale project.

  If you've ever bought a product online, at a store or through a catalog (OK … if you've ever bough anything!), chances are you read the product's descriptive copy before making your final buying decision.  And guess what? That copy didn't just write itself. The manufacturer or distributor hired a copywriter to put it together.  What's involved in this type of writing? How well does it pay? How do you land projects? And are there any opportunities in the B2B arena for this type of work?

Did you know that entrepreneurs are willing to pay writers $3,000 - $6,000 (and even more!) to write a business plan for them? There are many reasons why. But one of the most important is that most banks and investors need to see a well-written business plan before they even consider investing in a business.  My guest for this episode is Jessica Oman, founder of Write Ahead and an expert on writing business plans. In this interview, Jessica explains the opportunity in writing business plans for clients.

One of the fastest ways to propel your writing business to the six-figure level is to become a MUCH more efficient writer. And in this week's show, you'll learn 8 simple steps to boosting your writing speed by 30% or more. My guest is Daphne Gray-Grant — an authority on writing faster. Daphne's strategies are a big reason why I earn $200++ per hour when I write for clients.

Networking. The very thought of it makes many writers break into a cold sweat! But who said networking events and opportunities have to be so nerve-racking? In this episode I interview Ilise Benun, an author, consultant, national speaker and co-founder of . Ilise shares how to choose the right event, and how to prepare to make the best of your time. Additionally, she tells us some smart things you can do to stand out, get noticed and increase your chances of starting some dialogue to continue after the event.

You have a full-time day job.  >:( It's not something you love, but it pays the bills. Unfortunately, it also leaves very little time for launching and growing a freelance side business. So, how are you supposed to make the transition from cubicle hell to full-time freelance writing? That's the dilemma Kathryn Messer faced a few years ago. As a well-paid executive, she couldn't afford to simply walk away from her day job to pursue her dream of full-time freelance writing. Yet she knew there HAD to be a way. Using Ed's customizable transition action plan as her guide (detailed in ), along with a heavy dose of hard work and persistence, Kathryn finally made the leap. Not only that but by the time she made the transition, she was already earning more as a freelancer than she was in her executive position! In today's interview, Kathryn details her journey during this transition. And she provides solid advice for those who are trying to make the leap to part-time or full-time freelance writing.

According to the comprehensive , the biggest challenge facing freelancers is landing clients: 37% named that as their top challenge. Other surveys we've conducted at International Freelancers Academy show similar results. One of them revealed that attracting more, better, and higher-paying clients was by far the top challenge for 53% of freelancers. I wanted to address this pressing issue in this episode, because I believe that the common view and attitudes about attracting and landing quality clients are simply misguided. They're based on a limited view of reality, and they're destroying freelance businesses every day.   In this episode I will: Explain why the common view and attitudes about attracting and landing quality clients are completely warped. Discuss why a new view or paradigm about client attraction is desperately needed. Show you what this new view and model are all about and why you need to adopt the mindset that comes with it.

For many writers, the idea of having to negotiate with a client makes them break out in a cold sweat. But negotiating is a critical skill. It can help you land more work at better fees. And it can protect you from savvy clients who know how to negotiate well. Fortunately, you don't need to be an expert negotiator to reap the benefits. Even basic negotiating skills will take you far. And in today's episode, freelance writer Carol Tice will show you simple and practical tips for negotiating more effectively as a freelancer. About This Show The High-Income Business Writing podcast is a production of B2B Biz Launcher. It's designed for business writers and copywriters who want to propel their writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent). To learn more about negotiating smarter, I interview Carol Tice for this episode of The High Income Business Writing podcast. Carol is a freelance writer for publications and businesses. Since 2005, she has been a full-time freelancer writing for a lot of different clients. Before that she was a staff writer for the Puget Sound Business Journal writing about retail, ecommerce, restaurant, nonprofits, higher education and more. She spent five years at National Home Center News (now Home Channel News) learning how to sell merchandise at 100% markup while covering home improvement retailing for the trade publication. Carol also teaches other freelancer writers how to grow their income. In this episode, Carol explains how to negotiate well and make the most money possible for each gig. Frequently, freelance writers just take what they the prospect says they want to pay or expect the prospect to take what they tell them. From past work experience as a paralegal at the William Morris agency, Carol learned negotiating is normal. It is done in all industries; it is a part of business and most importantly, it is expected. Nobody is insulted or going to walk away when they ask if there is more money in the contract!   When someone doesn’t want to negotiate with you, they probably are not a good prospect anyhow.

Today I'm continuing my story of how I went from corporate sales professional to freelance writer — and to a combination of freelance writer and coach/trainer. This is a departure from the type shows that I've been publishing. But I'm constantly asked about my business, how I spend my time, where my income comes from and how I got to where I am today. I've addressed these questions individually and in different training episodes I've published. But I've never told my full business-launch story in detail. And I thought this podcast format would be the ideal way to do that. If you haven't listened to , you probably want to check that out first.

Today, I'm taking a departure from the types of shows I've been doing since I launched this podcast. Instead of doing an interview, I'm going to share my story with you. The story of how I stumbled into freelance writing and how I've turned it into a six-figure business. I've shared parts of my journey in articles and video trainings. But I've never shared the whole thing in one place.   I'm going to do this over two episodes. I'll share both the successes AND the struggles. I'll show you why I truly believe that any writer with solid skills can do this. And I hope to satisfy much of the curiosity out there about what I do day to day, how I spend my time and where my income comes from.

Have you ever wondered how freelancers are using LinkedIn to find and land clients? Is LinkedIn truly a valuable prospecting tool? Does it live up the hype? Are there practical ways of using it to drum up business? About This ShowThe High-Income Business Writing podcast is a production of B2B Biz Launcher. It's designed for business writers and copywriters who want to propel their writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent).To learn more about leveraging LinkedIn (LI) to grow your writing business — I interview Jill Konrath for this episode of The High Income Business Writing podcast.Jill is the author of two bestselling sales books and is a popular speaker who helps sellers crack into new accounts, speed up sales cycles and win more business. She has conducted extensive research on how top professionals use LI to build a professional platform.In this episode, Jill explains how to turn LI from a dull career/job finding site to a powerful business-building tool.

Have you every written a short article for a magazine, newspaper or trade journal? Not the most profitable work these days, is it? If you're looking for a better way to leverage your storytelling skills, case studies are a great way to do that. To learn more about the opportunity in case studies — and how to approach these projects — I interview Casey Hibbard for this episode of The High-Income Business Writing podcast.   About This Show The High-Income Business Writing podcast is a production of B2B Biz Launcher. It's designed for business writer and copywriters who want to propel their writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent). In this week's episode I interview Casey Hibbard, a successful freelance writer who specializes in writing customer case studies (also known as "customer success stories"), and author of the excellent book, Casey explains what case studies are and how they're used by clients. She gives us a primer on the basic components of case studies, including what elements you should include in order to make them more effective. And she explains why they continue to be so popular in the marketing communications arena. Casey also talks at length about: How she manages these projects What key deliverables you should include Guidelines for pricing case studies Different types and formats of case studies What makes a great case study writer What to do if you have no samples but want to get started

  In part two of this two-part episode (check out part one here), I interview one of the most knowledgeable and experienced white paper writers in the business: Gordon Graham. Gordon is the author of the newly released book White Papers for Dummies, a must-read book if you're considering writing white papers — and an invaluable resource if you've been writing white papers for years. White papers have been critically important in my writing career. They gave me a serious income boost when I needed it most (in fact, this is the type of project that first propelled my income to the six-figure level). White papers are also fun to research and write, and they're one of the first types of assignments clients outsource to freelance writers. In this session you'll discover: The three "flavors" of white papers and how to determine which one you need, when. A detailed discussion of each white paper type, including length, tone and how much you can charge as a freelance writer. How to effectively approach a white paper project. Potential pitfalls and landmines to watch out for when writing a white paper. How to keep white paper projects on track and within scope. Dealing with difficult clients and edit-happy reviewers. What a Google executive told Gordon about white paper writers they've worked with (this one's a shocker!). So, you want to write white papers for a living? Here's where (and how) to get started.   And much, much more!

In this episode of The High-Income Business Writing Podcast I interview one of the most knowledgeable and experienced white paper writers in the business: Gordon Graham. Gordon is the author of the newly released book , a must-read book if you're considering writing white papers — and an invaluable resource if you've been writing white papers for years. White papers have been critically important in my writing career. They gave me a serious income boost when I needed it most. They're also fun to research and write, and they're one of the first types of assignments clients outsource to freelance writers. In this session you'll discover: A detailed explanation of white papers, including what they are, who uses them and how they're used. Why white papers continue to rise in popularity in a world of new media and an ever-growing stream of shiny objects. The opportunity for writers today. Plus, the future of white papers and how it will impact white paper writers. The industries that represent the hottest white paper opportunities for writers (and why). How much you can charge for a white paper. Gordon will reveal what he personally charges and what you can quote when starting out. Why marketers are struggling to find good white paper writers. What makes a good white paper writer, and how to know if this type of writing assignment is for you. What if you have no white paper samples? How do you get started? And much more!

Pricing is a tricky thing. If you price your work to high, you'll lose the prospect. But if you price too low, you'll look like an amateur. How do you get it right? In this session of The High-Income Business Writing Podcast I'll show you how to approach your pricing more systematically. I'll share a simple process that will take much of the anxiety out of the equation. And I'll give you smart questions to ask your prospect before you quote.