Today’s guest is Annemie Tonken. Annemie lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has been a professional photographer since 2010 and is the owner of Megapixie Photography. She also teaches creative entrepreneurs how to run profitable, sustainable businesses they love, by focusing on how they can develop helpful business systems and strategies. And, she’s the host of a business podcast for photographers called This Can’t Be That Hard and the creator of the Simple Sales System, which is used by thousands of photographers worldwide to create in-person sales-level income and service in an automated way. In this episode, we talk about: How she became a photographer and later focused on family photography. How a surgery left her income and business vulnerable — and she vowed to change that. Her lightbulb moment that led to her membership program. Why we should think creatively about the business side — and not just the creative services we provide. The importance of listening to the challenges many of your clients continue to have. Tips on how to set up and sell your own membership program. Why this is a good model for branding photographers and writers, too. How to adopt this model to service businesses beyond photography. What freelance photographers struggle with and how Annemie responds. The three phases of business Annemie thinks about. Biz Bite: Conduct an audit of your business systems — with the goals of automation and outsourcing. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Annemie’s This Can’t Be That Hard website, podcast and courses Annemie’s This Can’t Be That Hard Instagram account Annemie’s photography website Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

Today’s guest is Abby Nieten. Abby lives in the Indianapolis, Indiana, area, with her husband and three sons. A year ago she launched her freelance business, Shining Waters Editorial, where she is a copy editor and proofreader specializing in business content and nonfiction manuscripts. Abby also recently launched a monthly newsletter called Stream of Confidence, which is for authors, writers and other business professionals who want to create and publish content that impacts other humans. It offers a steady stream of encouragement, inspiration, connection and quality assurance tips to help you publish your work with confidence. In today’s episode, Abby and I talk about: How a layoff led to her freelancing career. Feeling undervalued and burnt out in the corporate world. How she prepared for freelancing while still working full time. How she’s getting clients. Trying to figure out pricing. Four pivotal lessons she’s learned over the past year. Why she wishes she had taken a break between being an employee and starting her freelance business. Just do it — you don’t have to wait until you build the perfect structure and business plan before you start freelancing. The challenge of finding the right client mix to provide more stability. The importance of keeping a “sunshine folder” of evidence of your good work. Biz Bite: Explore the technology you’re already paying for before buying the new “shiny object.” Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Abby’s website: ShiningWatersEditorial.com Abby’s Stream of Confidence newsletter Abby on LinkedIn Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

Today’s guest is Brionna Ned, a former big-law lawyer and in-house counsel for tech companies. She is now a legal educator and a writer. Her company, The Everyday Lawyer, is a legal education and consulting service for small business owners that provides you with the legal knowledge you need to create solid foundations in your business. She also has a course: Contract Foundations for Freelancers. In this episode, we talk about: How Brionna went from lawyer to owning a legal education business. What she loves about her business. The basics of contracts. Why all service providers need a contract — and the reason is probably not what you think. How to put boundaries in your contract. Why it’s important to customize your contract and be sure you understand what it says. What to do if you — or your client — doesn’t want to use a contract. What to look for in a contract that a client sends you. How to explain to a client (and really, their lawyer) why certain contract provisions don’t apply to you and should be deleted. Why indemnification clauses are harmful and how to try to get them removed from a contract. If you can’t get indemnification clauses removed, know how to suggest changes to limit them in a scope. Don’t sign a non-compete clause. The difference between a non-disclosure agreement and a confidentiality agreement. How to be proactive in ensuring you will be paid and paid on time. What to do when you are not getting paid on time. Biz Bite: Not all money is good money. (Trust your instincts!) Resources: Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group The Everyday Lawyer website Brionna’s Contract Foundations for Freelancers course Brionna on Threads Brionna on Instagram Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

On today’s show, I discuss the current state of freelancing, which includes massive layoffs and shuttered clients in the media and tech world. But even if that isn’t affecting you — maybe you’re even having your best year yet — you need to be prepared for the lean times and to set up your business to lessen the risk of feast-or-famine. That includes setting yourself apart, diversifying, always marketing, and more. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: The number of layoffs in the media industry in the past year. The hits in the tech industry. The number of freelancers in the U.S. — the highest number in history. Should you panic — or investigate and embrace opportunities? How to be a “futurist” for your industry and why that’s important. Reflecting on whether your skills need to improve. How to set yourself apart from the competition. How to “bridge” to new projects and services. Why setting and tracking monthly income goals is crucial. At least 10 marketing ideas to try right now. When to raise your rates. Biz Bite: Organize your tasks into front stage and back stage. The Bookshelf: “Nightwatching” by Tracy Sierra Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Join the discussion in the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Episode #64 of Deliberate Freelancer: Using a “freakout” protocol to get work now, with Austin Church Episode #180 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Crush Your Fear of Self-Promotion and Get Clients Now, with C.J. Hayden Episode #116 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Create Case Studies to Land New Clients, with Emma Siemasko Episode #160 of Deliberate Freelancer: The Dreaded Feast or Famine! Episode #54 of Deliberate Freelancer: Think Digital First and Other Ways to Make Money Now Episode #53 of Deliberate Freelancer: Pivoting and Finding Resilience C.J. Hayden blog post “Avoiding the Feast or Famine Trap for Your Business” MBO Partners “State of Independence in America 2023” report “New Study Reveals Surge in Six-Figure Earners” Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

Today’s guest is Jenni Gritters, from Oregon. She is a business coach for freelancers and creators. She’s also a former journalist, and a current writer who runs a small content and community agency called The Riverwoods Media Group. Jenni is the former co-host of The Writer’s Co-op podcast and workshops. Be sure to check out Jenni’s group coaching program for freelancers, called SUSTAIN. In today’s episode, Jenni shares how she made a massive shift in her business, going from a freelancer; then part-time freelancer while raising two young kids, while her husband was a critical care nurse; then being the primary income earner while her husband took on the primary household and kid duties (and joined Jenni’s business). We talk about all that, but we also talk a lot about building a successful business, from Jenni’s coaching perspective, which I really appreciated and learned from. In this episode, we talk about: The many pivots and iterations of Jenni’s business. How, as a freelancer, she carried over the same negative work patterns she had as an employee. Going from reactive to proactive in our business. The decision for her husband to quit his nursing career and Jenni to become the primary income earner. Splitting her business between coaching and a content agency. How she structures her week — and why she takes Fridays off. How she makes money as a coach. How she switched from sole proprietor to an LLC to an S-Corp. Addressing the pushback against six-figure freelancers. How your identity as a journalist may be holding you back. How to evaluate and reflect on your business through a business audit. How to make micro changes to gradually change the structure of your business. Many freelance writers are experiencing a downturn — tips to find more work in this weird season. Biz Bite: Defining your “needle movers” every Monday Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Jenni’s group coaching program for freelancers: SUSTAIN. Jenni’s website Jenni on Instagram Jenni on Twitter Subscribe to Jenni’s “Mindset Mastery” free Substack newsletter Download Jenni’s free business planning workbook Gusto online payroll tool

In today’s episode, I am turning the microphone over to some of you, the listeners. Last fall I asked listeners to share their successful marketing tactics that landed them new clients. Today, eight listeners share their marketing wins with you. While each unique to the freelancer, there are a few themes. Often, the win originated from something simple, something that might not even have felt like marketing … and yet it paid off. Building relationships — which I talk about all the time — is also a theme here, as are staying curious and always looking for the opportunities in front of you. Here are the eight listeners sharing their success stories: Randy Ford Jonna Michelle Anja Lordanić Mustać Cat DiStasio Angela Myers Belinda Grace Fischer Nancy Keaton Pete Croatto Biz Bite: Do an energy audit The Bookshelf: “Northwoods” by Amy Pease Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Episode #180 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Crush Your Fear of Self-Promotion and Get Clients Now, with C.J. Hayden Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group

Today’s guest is business coach and author C.J. Hayden, who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. C.J. Hayden is the author of seven books and hundreds of blog posts, articles, and courses on marketing, self-employment, and productivity. Her bestselling book “Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants and Coaches” has become the marketing bible for thousands of self-employed professionals and freelancers. C.J. has been a business coach for several decades now, helping self-employed professionals and creatives thrive. Her newest book is “Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion.” Other books include “The One-Person Marketing Plan Workbook” and “50 Ways Coaches Can Change the World.” In this episode, we talk about: How C.J. helps her coaching clients by being a “thinking partner” How the pandemic changed how we connect with clients Why referrals are the best way to land clients — and how to cultivate a referral network How introverts and shy people can prepare for networking conversations and build business relationships Marketing mistakes people make when trying to land new clients Consistent tactics — and creating a marketing routine —to get new clients Why tracking your follow-ups is important — and how to do it 7 types of fears we may have when it comes to self-promotion How to discover which fears you have and learn how to overcome them How the fear of success might be holding you back Biz Bite: Shut Up & Write! (a community to help you get your writing done) Resources: Donate $5-$50 to support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Join the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Connect with C.J. at https://cjhayden.com Download C.J.’s free “Blueprint for a Thriving Mission-Based Business” ebook Episode #173 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Rethink — and Land More — Anchor Clients, with Wudan Yan Episode #167 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Use a “Cornerstone” Piece to Build a Content Marketing Plan, with Cassandra Le Episode #164 of Deliberate Freelancer: Using a “freakout” protocol to get work now, with Austin Church Episode #61 of Deliberate Freelancer: Getting Very Specific on Who Your Perfect Clients Are, with Eman Ismail Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

As we wrap up 2023, please consider donating $25 to this podcast. With more than 175 episodes and almost five years of content, I’m sure you’ve received at least one nugget of information or tactic that has helped your business. If so, please consider donating at Buy Me a Coffee. It really helps offset the costs of producing this show. In today’s episode, I’m counting down my top 10 books of the year — 8 were published in 2023. I’ll start with a few of my reading statistics, share my top 10 and a few superlatives, and give you a heads-up about a few books coming out in 2024. Please enjoy, my fellow bookworms! And join us in the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group, where we’ll be talking about our best and worst books of 2023! I don’t want to spoil where my top 10 books fell in the list, so the following books are ones I recommended during this episode, plus superlatives and upcoming releases. Books mentioned in this episode: Nonfiction: What the Dead Know: Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator by Barbara Butcher The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell Fiction: The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin Go as a River by Shelley Read Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash The Night Shift by Alex Finlay Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay Falling by T.J. Newman The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James Superlatives: Most deserving of the hype: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Least deserving of the hype: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim Hyped books that didn’t work for me and that I DNFed: Wellness by Nathan Hill; Shark Heart by Emily Habeck; Upgrade by Blake Crouch; The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon; and In Memoriam by Alice Winn Most disappointing books: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and What Have We Done by Alex Finlay WORST book: Silver Alert by Lee Smith Most unputdownable and tense book: Drowning by T.J. Newman Romances that made me like romances: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabelle Monaghan; The Last Love Note by Emma Grey; Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley A 2023 book I still want to read: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters My anticipated 2024 books: The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan, publishes January 2 No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall, publishes January 23 (mystery/thriller) Radiant Heat by Sarah-Jane Collins, publishes January 23 (for Jane Harper fans) The Women by Kristin Hannah, publishes February 6 (about Vietnam war) A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian, publishes February 20 (mystery/thriller) Murder Road by Simone St. James, publishes March 5 (mystery/ghost story) Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner, publishes March 12 (Book 3 in Frankie Elkin mystery series) The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, publishes April 2 (rom-com with magical realism ) Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh, publishes April 23 (mystery/thriller) If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay, publishes May 28 (mystery/thriller) Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee My admin status is back! Join us in the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Episode #151 of Deliberate Freelancer: My Best Books of 2022 Episode #122 of Deliberate Freelancer: My Best Books of 2021 (and Anticipated 2022 Releases) Episode #87 of Deliberate Freelancer: My Most Anticipated 2021 Books (and Fave 2020 Books) Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

It’s the end of the year! On today’s show, I give a recap of my fourth quarter (hint: things are looking up!) and then a recap of my entire 2023. What goals are you setting for yourself? Do you set an annual income goal or a word of the year? What are you most excited about for 2024 in your business? And what do you need to work on? Join me and fellow listeners in the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group to share your plans and ideas with each other! This is the last business-focused episode of 2023. Next week will be my Top 10 books of the year for all you bookworms. I’ll also give a few superlative awards to books I read this year and list some fiction and business books coming out in 2024. Then, I’ll be on hiatus in January. I plan to return with new episodes in February. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: How much I earned in Q4 My big win for Q4 How many hours I worked each week on average in Q4 How much I earned in 2023, compared to my goal The surprises I discovered when I evaluated who my clients were this year My 2024 income goal My 2024 word of the year Biz Bite: Plan now for future you The Bookshelf: “No One Can Know” by Kate Alice Marshall Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee NEW! “Alternative Language to Harmful Indemnification Clauses in Contracts” shared by Melanie My admin status is back! Join us in the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Episode #174 of Deliberate Freelancer: Wrap Up Your Year with These 5 Questions Episode #173 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Rethink — and Land More — Anchor Clients, with Wudan Yan Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

On today’s show I share my thoughts and answers to commonly asked questions I hear from freelancers of all levels and in all industries. These are questions that seem to come up time and time again. There is no one right answer, and each question may have different answers depending on the service, the client and so many other variables. That said, I hope my answers to the following questions help you and allow you to make a decision that is supportive of you as a freelance business owner. In this episode, I address these seven questions: How do I get steady clients? Do I need headshots? Do I need a website? (Do I need XYZ for my business?) How do I figure out a day rate? I have a client who is so critical of my work! They have tons of edits and comments. This can cause multiple rounds of editing. What do I do? My client owes me several thousand dollars. How do I get them to pay me? My client included XYZ in their contract. How do I push back? How many hours should I be working each week as a full-time freelancer? Biz Bite: Go on a field trip for office supplies. The Bookshelf: “This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are” by Melody Warnick Resources: Email a voice memo about your successful marketing tactic to melanie@meledits.com to be considered for a future episode. Please include your name. Jonna Michelle Photography’s video explaining so well who she is and who she serves. NEW! “Alternative Language to Harmful Indemnification Clauses in Contracts” shared by Melanie My admin status is back! Join us in the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Episodes About Finding Clients Episode #148 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Line Up January Work Now Episode #149 of Deliberate Freelancer: Evaluate—and Expand or Fire—Your Clients for a Strong 2023 Episode #161 of Deliberate Freelancer: Getting Very Specific on Who Your Perfect Clients Are, with Eman Ismail Episode #65 of Deliberate Freelancer: The No. 1 Way I Find New Clients Episode #173 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Rethink — and Land More — Anchor Clients, with Wudan Yan Episode #98 of Deliberate Freelancer: Six-Figure Freelancing: The Benefits of Selling Strategy and Outcomes, with Austin Church Episode #164 of Deliberate Freelancer: Using a “freakout” protocol to get work now, with Austin Church Deliberate Freelancer Episodes About Pricing & Getting Paid Episode #74 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Get Paid on Time & Charge Late Fees, with Wudan Yan Episode #91 of Deliberate Freelancer: All Things Pricing: Project Rates, Day Rates, Retainers and More, with Jennifer Duann Fultz Episode #136 of Deliberate Freelancer: Money, Money, Money, with Finance and Pricing Mentor Susie Jackson Episode #141 of Deliberate Freelancer: Real Talk on Managing Your Money and Paying Taxes, with Bookkeeper Sabrina St. Peter Deliberate Freelancer Episodes About Scope Creep & Other Difficulties Episode #36 of Deliberate Freelancer: Spotting Red Flags and Scope Creep Episode #129 of Deliberate Freelancer: A Script for Tough Client Conversations, with Treasa Edmond

Listeners, I need your help! Please contribute to an upcoming episode: Email me a voice memo of you describing a specific marketing tactic you did that landed you a client. Provide your name and helpful details of what you did that might have been unique or persistent that worked in securing new work. Email it to me at melanie@meledits.com to be considered for a future episode that will include tips from other listeners. Thank you! Today’s episode is from my other podcast, Association Station, where I interview people who work at and with membership associations about a topic related to content, publishing and media. Many of the Association Station episodes may be relevant to your work too since the main focus is creating strong content. But today’s episode, in particular, is relevant for anyone who creates content — this conversation can help us both in the content we create for our freelance business and the content we create for our clients. We can also learn how to be advocates for less harmful, more aware and more conscious language. Today’s guest is Crystal Shelley, of Salt Lake City. Crystal is the owner of Rabbit with a Red Pen. She edits fiction and is an authenticity reader. Drawing on her background as a social worker, she unites her love of language and passion for social justice by pushing for writing and representation that’s more dignified, intentional, and just. Crystal is the creator of the Conscious Language Toolkits for Editors and Writers — these toolkits are fantastic resources. Crystal also serves on the board of ACES: the Society for Editing and is an instructor for the Editorial Freelancers Association. In this episode, we talk about: What “conscious language” is, a term coined by Karen Yin, who also created the Conscious Style Guide. What the difference between “conscious language” and “inclusive language” is. Why using conscious language — and critically assessing the language we use — in our content is important. Style guides are just that: guides. The primary ones, such as the Associated Press Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, don’t always reflect the most updated and conscious language or the accepted language of a particular group. Some pitfalls when editing and striving for conscious language. How we can advocate for using more conscious language with clients. How we and our clients can respond to readers who criticize using “woke” or “politically correct” language or content. Why everyone should embrace and use “singular they” in their content. How to think about which words to use when identifying people by race and ethnicity. What ableism and ableist language is and how incredibly prevalent it is in our society. What “inspiration porn” is and why not to write so-called “inspiring” stories of people with disabilities. What an “authenticity reader” or “sensitivity reader” is and how we can use these experts to avoid stereotypes and harming readers. Resources: Crystal’s Conscious Language Toolkits for Editors and Writers Crystal’s website Crystal on Twitter Crystal on Instagram Crystal on LinkedIn Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Style Guides: Karen Yin’s Conscious Style Guide Trans Journalists Association Style Guide Native Governance Center Style Guide National Center on Disability and Journalism Style Guide American Psychosocial Association (APA) Style Lydia X. Z Brown’s Glossary of Ableist Phrases Authenticity reader directories: Editors of Color Database ACES–the Society for Editing’s Editors for Hire database Editorial Freelancers Association Member Directory Writing Diversely Sensitivity Reader Directory

Listeners, I need your help! Please contribute to an upcoming episode: Email me a voice memo of you describing a specific marketing tactic you did that landed you a client. Provide your name and helpful details of what you did that might have been unique or persistent that worked in securing new work. Email it to me at melanie@meledits.com to be considered for a future episode that will include tips from other listeners. Thank you! Today’s guest is Ericka Andersen, a freelance writer living in Indianapolis. She is the author of two books and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Good Housekeeping, Christianity Today, and more. Ericka coaches writers on how to make a living as freelancers and also how to improve their article pitches to land big bylines. In this episode, we talk about: Why Ericka became a freelance writer. Lessons Ericka learned as she improved her freelance business. How Ericka balances higher-paying anchor clients versus the more creative, passionate work she yearns to do. Successful ways Ericka found anchor clients. How Ericka improved her own pitching process. How Ericka coaches writers on writing better pitches. The importance of cultivating a good story idea. How to find the right editors to reach out to. What makes a good pitch. When to follow up and when to send a pitch to a different editor. How to become a “dream writer” for an editor to work with. How these skills can also help you provide “earned media” services for other clients. How writing an opinion piece for a newspaper can get your foot in the door. Biz Bite: Find solutions to problems your current clients are having. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Register for Ericka’s free From Pitch to Paycheck course Ericka’s business: Pitch&Publish Get Ericka’s “10 Proven Tips for Publishing Your Writing This Year” Pitch&Publish on Instagram Sign up for Sonia Weiser’s twice-weekly Writing Opportunities newsletter Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group — The “join group” isn’t working, so you can temporarily “friend” Melanie on Facebook so she can add you to the group (or anyone you know who is in the group can add you as a new member).

Listeners, I would love your help! Please contribute to an upcoming episode: Email me a voice memo of you describing a specific marketing tactic you did that landed you a client. Provide your name and helpful details of what you did that might have been unique or persistent that worked in securing new work. Email it to me at melanie@meledits.com to be considered for a future episode that will include tips from other listeners. On today’s show, I share five questions to help you wrap up your year to create a “fresh start” in January. I explain the difference between these five questions and larger questions to ask yourself later in a solo business retreat to set up your year for success. The five questions are: What do I need to do now to line up work in January? What do I need to do to wrap up the year? Do I need to raise rates or fire anyone? Where do I need to improve my marketing and networking? How much money did I make this year? Biz Bite: Front-load your week The Bookshelf: “Wandering Souls” by Cecile Pin Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Episode #149 of Deliberate Freelancer: Evaluate—and Expand or Fire—Your Clients for a Strong 2023 Episode #123 of Deliberate Freelancer: My 2021 Business Review and Questions to Help You Episode #148 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Line Up January Work Now Episode #3 of Deliberate Freelancer: Host a Solo Business Retreat Episode #162 of Deliberate Freelancer: My Solo Business Retreat Reminded Me to Always Be Marketing Episode #139 of Deliberate Freelancer: A Solo Biz Retreat After a Struggling Summer 16 of the best virtual gifts for clients and employees 25 fun corporate gifts for clients you want to impress Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group

Today’s guest is Wudan Yan, a narrative writer and independent journalist from Seattle. Wudan is also host of The Writers’ Co-op, a podcast, online community and learning academy for freelance creatives. In this episode, we talk about: The different ways to define an “anchor client.” Why and how Wudan is rethinking the concept of an “anchor client.” How the current economy is affecting freelance creatives. The importance of “offboarding” clients. How to turn current clients into anchor clients. The importance of building and maintaining business relationships. Why Wudan and I charge mostly project rates. How Wudan pushes for project rates in service areas that are traditionally paid by the hour. Why now is the time to start planning for January and the rest of 2024. Biz Bite: Do a business audit now at the end of the year Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee The Writers’ Co-op Register for the November 29 “The 2023 Business Refresh with The Writers’ Co-op” Linktree landing page of resources and events from The Writers’ Co-op Wudan on Instagram Episode #74 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Get Paid on Time & Charge Late Fees, with Wudan Yan Episode #92 of Deliberate Freelancer: Improve Client Relationships with Stellar Onboarding and Offboarding, with Kat Boogaard Episode #11 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Find the Right Anchor Clients Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group

It’s time for my analysis and reflection on how my third quarter of the year went. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: The many ways tracking my time helps my business. How I use Freshbooks and Toggl to help me analyze my progress. The steps I use to analyze my quarter: Calculated how much I invoiced for that quarter. Counted how many clients I worked for. Used time tracking data to see how many hours I worked on average each week. Did the math to see how much I earned per hour on certain projects by dividing the project rate by the hours it took to complete. Reflected and analyzed. The amount of money I earned in Q3 and how it compared to Q2 and my goals. How a delayed Indiana vacation derailed my schedule. How many clients I had in Q3 and the types of clients they were. How much I earned on certain article assignments. Anchor clients versus rock steady clients versus confetti clients. How I landed several of these clients. How was your third quarter? Have you hit your annual revenue goal? Have you started thinking about if and when you’re going to take off some days around the holidays? Biz Bite: Embrace whimsy The Bookshelf: “The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing” by Lara Love Hardin Resources: Help out Marvel artist Thomas Tenney via GoFundMe. Laura Vanderkam’s book “Tranquility by Tuesday” Episode #168 of Deliberate Freelancer: My Q2 Audit: It Can Only Go Uphill from Here, Right? Episode #115 of Deliberate Freelancer: Time Tracking Lessons from Deliberate Freelancer Listeners Episode #5 of Deliberate Freelancer: Track Your Time for Better Efficiency Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Melanie’s other podcast, Association Station

On today’s show I discuss how I think about freelance “dealbreakers,” which aren’t only the red flags I’ve noticed over time but also may simply be quirks of my personality or assumptions I’ve made. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: Rethinking “strategy” and whether saying “I don’t do strategy” is holding me back. What I learned from Ed Gandia’s thoughts on strategy. Why I like to create “bridge” projects. How I’m rethinking some of my more stubborn dealbreakers. How some dealbreakers are in my head and only cause me to beat myself up for not sticking to them. How you can evaluate your dealbreakers and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Biz Bite: Set a single goal for your day The Bookshelf: “In Light of All Darkness: Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America’s Child” by Kim Cross Resources: Help out Marvel artist Thomas Tenney via GoFundMe. Episode #166 of Deliberate Freelancer: Smart Advice from the Content Byte Summit Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Melanie’s other podcast, Association Station

This month, I am celebrating 10 years of full-time freelancing! I can’t quite believe it’s been that long, but I’ve loved nearly everything about it. 10 years of freedom! Here’s what I share with you in this episode: What the freedom of freelancing has meant to me and what it has allowed me to do. How I now realize I was never cut out for a desk job. How I adapt my work schedule around my life schedule. The freedom of not having to deal with the drama of a workplace! At least three lessons I learned as a freelancer. A few things I wished I had done sooner as a freelancer. Biz Bite: Make it easy for clients to find you! The Bookshelf: “Lone Women” by Victor LaValle Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Episode #1 of Deliberate Freelancer: Change Your Mindset: You Own a Freelance Business Episode #29 of Deliberate Freelancer: 3 Big Financial Changes I Made This Week Episode #18 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Set Higher Rates Episode #9 of Deliberate Freelancer: The Money Lessons I’ve Learned the Hard Way Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Melanie’s other podcast, Association Station

Today’s guest is Brian David Hall. Brian is a fellow freelancer who lives in Alabama. He focuses on website strategy for B2B clients. Specifically, he works on conversion optimization, which basically means trying to improve the experience of potential clients going to your website. Brian is the author “Your Website Sucks, Here’s How To Fix It,” and he has run hundreds of experiments across dozens of websites, which has generated millions of dollars in incremental revenue for his clients. In this episode, we talk about: How having a website can bring in clients. Why a blog can be helpful to attract clients. Common website mistakes and how to fix them. It’s time to improve my website — where do I start? How to use a five-second test to evaluate the usability of your site. Go through your site on mobile like a client would to make sure it’s easy to navigate. How to do a heat map analysis. How “hallway usability” testing can be helpful. Biz Bite: Work with other people in a co-working session online. Resources: Free resources from Brian: https://briandavidhall.com/deliberate-freelancer Brian’s book: “Your Website Sucks, Here’s How To Fix It.” Website builders: Wix and Squarespace Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee. Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group

On today’s show, I analyze how the second quarter of the year went for me. It’s delayed because of my summer hiatus, but the “delay” doesn’t really mean anything to listeners — just think of it as “how these three months in a row went.” Learn how many clients I had, how much I earned, and how many hours I worked. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: A quick update on a project I talked about in Q1. A sneak peek into something I figured out for my health in Q3. What was a huge mental health game-changer for me in Q2. How many clients I had and how much money I earned in Q2. Why cash flow is critical (hint: an issue with a significantly delayed payment). How many hours I worked per week on average in Q2 — and how that compares to past quarters. Two examples of how time tracking was helpful in Q2. Biz Bite: Use templates for everything. The Bookshelf: “Reef Road” by Deborah Goodrich Royce. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Melanie’s other podcast, Association Station Episode #158 of Deliberate Freelancer: My Four Client Wins and One Fail in Q1 Episode #160 of Deliberate Freelancer: The Dreaded Feast or Famine! How I Work podcast (September 20, 2023): Katy Milkman wants to leave things better than she found them Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group

Today’s guest is Cassandra Le, owner of The Quirky Pineapple Studio, a brand strategy and content marketing studio that works with Black, Indigenous and people of color, queer folks and intersectional feminists. Cassandra is originally from Virginia in the United States, but she now lives in Spain. For more than 13 years, she has been creating content across all mediums (written, graphics, audio, video, photography), and through her business. She works with mission-driven brands and thought leaders around the world in English and Spanish — helping them share their story, connect with their community, and drive brand awareness with content marketing that is enjoyable and anti-oppressive. Cassandra believes believe business and marketing can be fun AND be used as tools to dismantle systems of oppression. In this episode, we talk about: How Cassandra’s studio, The Quirky Pineapple Studio, got its name. How she went from freelance travel writing to running her agency. Why content marketing is important, even to those who traditionally are able to rely heavily on referrals. Cassandra recommends that you start your content marketing strategy with a “cornerstone” piece of content. Why you should plan your life before you plan your content. Some of the current content marketing trends. How to get started on TikTok (and do you need to?). Why you should use LinkedIn more. How content marketing has changed and why it’s now a long-term game. How Cassandra builds an inclusive content marketing strategy through cultural competency and why that’s important to her. The new app for Gen Z: BeReal. Biz Bites: Put phone on “do not disturb” mode. And, “group tabs” on Google Chrome. Resources: The Quirky Pineapple Studio website The Quirky Pineapple Studio on Instagram Cassandra on Instagram I’m lost, so what? podcast How to group tabs on Google Chrome NPR article: BeReal is Gen Z’s new favorite social media app. Here’s how it works Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group