Freelance Road Trip Podcast

If you're a freelancer working with clients, one of the best things you can do is implement a safety net in the form of contracts… especially written ones. That means you need basic knowledge of contracts and also copyright. In this episode (part 1 of a series on the topic) we cover three common types of freelance contracts: limited rights, buyout, and work-for-hire. 

Pricing creative services is one of the most common conundrums freelancers experience. In this episode I share 5 popular approaches to setting your fees: by the hour, by the project, retainer, package, and value. Take the guesswork out of pricing by standardizing your approach. This the first of a series of pricing discussions.

So many of us are afraid to talk about money with clients. We're fearful of the reaction we'll get when we state our price for a job. We're fearful the client will get upset, object, and even walk away. Talking money becomes easier and natural when we understand what money actually is and, what it's not. Shift gears in your thinking with these 3 concepts, and watch how your approach changes.

As with cars, your freelance business needs regular tune-ups to ensure optimum performance. If you don't do regular maintenance, you could end up running into costly trouble down the road. In this episode I share my 5-point business tune-up which you can use to keep your freelance business running smoothly.

Whether we have actually taken the time to write it down, most of us have a preferred or ideal future. We have a definition of success, and criteria to measure it. Many freelancers don't intentionally plan for success, but instead react to whatever comes along. In this episode I present a design approach to planning that can keep you on track toward success, and prevent you from wasting your most precious resource — your time.

Both leads and referrals are vital for finding new clients and growing your freelance business. They're not the same thing. In Episode 21 I compare and contrast leads and referrals, why you should pursue them, and how to obtain both. I talk about a better alternative to referrals, and share ways you can encourage leads and referrals by getting involved.

Nothing's accomplished by taking the easy road. We don't get anywhere simply by deciding. We become ready by taking action on our goals. In this episode I share the four sequential phases we cycle through over and over again to build excellence in our creative work and momentum in our businesses. 

Focus on the marketing activities you can control. In Episode 19 I share my own experience with resting heavily on referral business, and why relying mainly on word of mouth can be dangerous. I present four areas of outreach every freelancer needs to include in their marketing mix.

Success comes from mindset. Each of us has what it takes to succeed, but we hold ourselves back when we think the wrong way. Taking control of your own success begins by replacing lies with truth. I share 5 popular lies and the truths that overcome them so you can get free of "stinkin' thinkin' and gain momentum in your business. 

In this episode we're talking about using the language of business in your own business and with clients. The words you use matter. Not only that, but adopting a business vocabulary helps you make good decisions for your own business and create common ground with your clients' concerns.

Getting paid what a project is worth is challenging. This is especially true if you need to charge more but you feel bad for the client, or fear losing them because they might think you're overpriced. On this episode, I share several mindset shifts creative freelancers can easily make to position themselves as business owners, focus on the big picture, and stop apologizing for wanting to make a living.

If you're struggling with clients who don't respect your work or your value to them, the reason could be that you're not educating them in how you want them to relate to you. Overcome assumptions on their part and create an easier relationship by positioning yourself as a valuable creative partner in their success. Using the Golden Rule — which goes something like: Treat others the way you want them to treat you, I present an approach that includes understanding your value, establishing the values you want to work by, and positioning through pricing and service.

Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) is an expansion of California law making it more difficult to qualify as independent contractors. The law requires a 3-criteria test to determine whether a freelancer is considered independent or an employee. Certain types of freelancer–client relationships will drastically change when the law takes effect in January 2020.What does this mean for my fellow solopreneurs: freelance designers, freelance illustrators, freelance photographers, and freelance writers? Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. This information is offered in good faith for general education purposes only and is not exhaustive. It is not intended as legal advice or opinion. I do not make any warranty about the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of this information. Any action you take based upon this information is strictly at your own risk. I am not liable for losses and damages in connection with the use of this information. You should seek legal and other professional advice when establishing or conducting a freelance business.

The Copyright Alternative in Small-claims Enforcement Act — The CASE Act (HR 2426) — passed in the House on October 22, 2019, and moves on to the Senate (SB 1273). What does the legislation mean for freelancers, and why you should care. And I dive into the differences between pro bono and speculative work, how to manage pro bono projects, setting policies that are good for your business, and why you should avoid working on spec. 

In this week's episode we're answering two questions from freelance designers about doing favors and managing scope creep. How do you ask a friend to pay you when a simple favor morphs into a complicated project, and how can you make it work in your favor when clients add more work to a project already in progress? I share strategies for both scenarios, and the big idea is to set clear expectations in advance.

In baseball, when the team manager calls in a relief pitcher, he's hoping to save the game and walk away with a win. When a client calls you in because they're not happy with their previous designer, you're supposed fix everything that went wrong. In baseball, every game has a winner and a loser. But with design projects, you can pull off a win every time — if communication is established and expectations are clear.

To increase your rates and be able to charge more for your work, you need to bring more to the table than your talent and craft. You can either give a client exactly what they ask for and call it done, or you can participate in the client's vision and even build on it. I share 5 principles you can implement starting now to help you change client perceptions and their understanding of your role in their long-term success, so that you can raise your rates.  

Navigating large business networking events is made easier if you take the right approach. To make the most of your time and come away with a successful outcome, have a clear purpose for attending, and decide on some goals before you go. I share some suggestions you can use to improve your next networking experience. These tips are also useful for extroverts.

Keeping good clients isn't automatic. Most freelancers will agree that it's easier to hold onto an established relationship than begin a new one. And it's less work to retain a client than to pursue a new one. While it's necessary to market to potential clients, freelancers should make every effort to keep the good clients they have. Why? Profitability! They will spend far more time and money marketing to new clients than to maintaining their existing ones.

One of the banes of the freelance experience is the is the problem client who does not pay for what they order. Even with a contracted relationship in place, there's no guarantee that a client will follow through as agreed, and the freelancer is charged with taking the time to collect.  There are things you can do to ensure your clients pay you.  These are some pre-project, mid-project and post-project strategies.