Freelance Interview Series – Community & Connection with Elise Dopson

Freelance Interview Series – Community & Connection with Elise Dopson

by | Mar 15, 2022 | Blog, Resources

Elise Dopson is a freelance writer and the co-creator of Peak Freelance, a community for freelance writers who want to scale their businesses and make a real living from freelancing. Elise has written for SaaS and e-commerce clients like Shopify and CoSchedule, and she created Help a B2B Writer to connect writers with sources.

We asked her for her tips about finding and cultivating community as a freelancer.

Community and Connection

1. When you first started freelancing, how did you go about building your community?

Twitter was my go-to place for finding freelancers to connect with. I searched for freelance writers with clients in my space and scheduled virtual coffee chats (30-minute Zoom conversations) with people in my space.

Throughout that period, I made friends with people who later became my freelance support system—folks like Marijana Kay, Andra Zaharia, Michael Keenan, and Kaleigh Moore. (I even met Marijana IRL at two conferences off the back of our Twitter conversation. Fun!)

 

2. Do you have specific communities or freelancers you go to for advice and support on a regular basis?

Yes! My Twitter network is still a key place for me to connect with other freelancers, purely because the community knows what it’s like to work from home. It can be isolating. Twitter fills that gap. People call it a “virtual watercooler” for a reason.

Where I spend most of my time, though, is in the Peak Freelance community. I made it back in October 2020 in the middle of the pandemic because I needed a semi-private place (not in front of potential clients) to chat with people who “get it.”

We now have 250+ people in the Slack community. It’s a great place to chat through problems, get feedback from other writers, and find new job opportunities. I learn something new every day.

 

3. Can you give us an example of a time when community helped you propel your career?

When I first started freelancing, I didn’t know anyone. My old boss had introduced me to a handful of clients, but they weren’t in the niche I really wanted to build a name for myself in: SaaS and e-commerce.

I knew the only way for me to break into that niche was to start connecting with people in it. So, I scheduled a ton of coffee chats with other freelancers in the niche—some more experienced than me, others at similar stages in our career.

Those coffee chats never gave me direct work, but a natural byproduct of continuing a genuine relationship with the people I’d met meant I got a ton of referrals.

I got one of my biggest clients as a referral from Michael Keenan (back before he joined Peak Freelance). Another brand on my “dream client” list came from a conversation I had with Marijana Kay. In both instances, my freelance buddies were helping an existing client find new contractors. I was top of mind because they knew what I did, trusted me, and genuinely wanted to help.

 

4. Talk to us about the Peak Freelance community you and Michael Keenan are building and your goals?

Ooooh exciting question! We have big plans for Peak Freelance. Our goal is to make it the #1 place for freelance writers to scale.

We see a lot of content online about how to start freelancing. But once you’ve quit your job and hit $5k per month, it seemed the only way to discover how to scale was by asking outright—often in Twitter DMs or virtual coffee chats.

The problem with that? First, you had to be confident enough to ask. Second, you’re banking on finding the right people—those willing to share their experiences with other freelancers who may be seen as competitors.

At Peak Freelance, we try to uncover those conversations for you. We interview content managers to figure out what they look for in writers. We chat with successful freelancers to ask how they scaled. We have pro Slack channels to find gigs and get advice and premium digital products to help freelancers scale—like templates, courses, and more.

 

5. What advice would you give to freelancers looking to build their community?

Find people who get it. Most freelancers get a confused look when trying to explain their job to friends and family. It’s why working for yourself can be so isolating—no matter how hard we try to explain what we do, people outside the industry find it hard to understand.

Once you find those people, network in a way that’s honest and genuine. People are, in fact, people. The saying, “Treat yourself how you’d like to be treated” really comes into play. Avoid networking for the sole purpose of finding new gigs.

Granted, your chance of being referred increases when you make friends—but only if your contact trusts you. They’ll ruin their own reputation by recommending someone for a service that can’t actually do the job. The only way for them to know you can is by building a genuine relationship… not one that’s built on “Please find me work!”

One way to do that is by being honest. Share your income figures. Talk about your goals. Chat through any problems you still haven’t solved. Not only does it make for great conversation, but you’ll support (and get supported) through your community.

 

Give Elise a follow on Twitter or check out Peak Freelance to find out more about how to get involved in their community.

 

Advice From 20+ Experienced Freelancers

Advice From 20+ Experienced Freelancers

by | Mar 11, 2022 | Blog, Resources

When you’re just beginning your freelance journey, there are LOTS of questions. Things that were once taken care of for you are suddenly your responsibility. Some of those tasks are not so fun (like paying self-employment taxes four times a year).

But there are a number of perks: You get to name your own rates, determine who you take on as clients, and generally call the shots in your business.

As you start out, you’re probably craving a bit of direction from people who’ve been where you are. Well, we’ve got you covered. We asked #FreelanceTwitter for their advice for new freelancers: what to focus on, how to position yourself for success, and more.

Here’s a mash-up of the top tips we heard from the pros.

Tip #1: Plan ahead.

Quitting your job and jumping into freelancing may sound tempting—especially if you’re on the brink of utter burnout—but if you have the means to slow down and take it one step at a time, do. Build in a financial buffer so you can cover your expenses during any early slow months. Having an emergency fund allows you to gradually establish your business foundation. Create your LLC and register an EIN in advance of taking on new clients. You’ll look more professional and you’ll protect your personal finances from any liability (knock on wood). And start building your network while you’re still employed so you have a community to tap into for leads once you’re ready to jam.

 

 

Tip #2: Find your specialty and niche down.

You might be inclined to cast a wide net at the beginning, thinking it’ll land you more clients. But for the most part, the more specialized your services, the better. If you tick specific boxes for potential clients who are looking for someone with your particular expertise, they’re much more likely to want to do business with you. So, we (and almost all of freelance twitter) suggest finding your thing and going for it.

Tip #3: Make yourself visible.

This doesn’t have to be a massive, multi-channel marketing strategy. It can be as simple as clearly outlining your services and then determining which channels you’ll use to promote them. Do you have a strong community? Reach out and ask for referrals. Are you good at social media? Build out your profiles and start posting. You can expand your self marketing strategy once you’re making income and you have the time to widen your focus. For now, hone in on the channels that can help you land your first client as seamlessly as possible.

 

Tip #4: Stick to your word–deliver on time.

This one is important. They all are, but let’s put an asterisk here. Once you’re working for yourself, time management may become more challenging. When you’re working for yourself, you’re also your own boss. For some people, making the transition is easy. But for most of us, it’s tough to maintain boundaries and stick to the schedules we set for ourselves. So as you’re making promises to your clients about when and what you’re going to deliver, be sure you’re taking time to double-check that you’re setting realistic expectations. If you find yourself falling behind on the reg, it might be time to extend your deadlines or find a better time management system.

 Tip #5: Find your people.

Community is all the more essential when you’re working for yourself. Freelancing life can be lonely if you don’t have a strong support system. That’s why there are so many freelance communities cropping up to help people find the camaraderie and connection that we miss out on from not being in a standard workplace.

Tip #6: Seek out a mentor.

Freelancing is one of those things that gets easier and easier with time. You accumulate so much knowledge and wisdom that managing your business becomes intuitive. But most of us don’t want to wait years to feel fluent in our work. So tapping on experts who are well into their freelance career is a great way to accelerate the process a bit. Finding a freelance mentor can make all the difference in your early days. If there’s someone you admire who’s experiencing success in their career, try setting up a call and asking for their input.

Tip #7: Sell your value.

It’s easy to get stuck on the services you provide and diminish the actual value you offer. But the second part is what your clients really want to hear. How are you going to add value? How are you going to make their lives easier? What expertise do you bring to the table that they’re lacking? What kind of growth can they expect from working with you? Be sure to not sell yourself short by naming your abilities without advocating for your value. Remember that your unique background is a selling point. It’s just a matter of how you package it.

Tip #8: Know your worth (and never work for free).

Read that again. The word “free” may be in your job title, but it’s not in the description. You don’t have to offer any services for free. That includes—especially—working for free for people you have personal relationships with. It’s tempting, and it’s common for the people we know to ask for favors. You also don’t have to offer discounts. Once you name your rate, don’t feel like you ever need to negotiate. If you and a potential client aren’t aligned on rate and overall value, it might not be the right fit. Your work is worth your rate, remember that.

Tip #9: Always have a contract in place.

Contracts are the backbone of a business relationship. They establish your boundaries, protect you from legal action, and ensure you get paid. You can refer back to your contract if questions arise with a client about what you can and cannot do for them. And throughout your relationship, you can tweak and re-sign a contract if needed to make sure you’re always supported.

We’re constantly learning from the people who’ve come before us, and we encourage you to do the same, especially early on in your freelance journey. Follow the freelancers above on Twitter. They’ve been there. They know what’s up. And #FreelanceTwitter is a gracious community that wants to help other people succeed.

At Harlow, we want to help too! We’re all about encouraging freelancers to live their best lives. In addition to building freelance software to help you keep track of your clients and manage your day-to-day, we’re constantly publishing new resources and chatting about freelancing on Twitter and Instagram. Follow along to stay in touch. We’re here for you. You’ve got this.

Freelance Interview Series – Finding the Right Clients with Stefan Palios

Freelance Interview Series – Finding the Right Clients with Stefan Palios

by | Mar 11, 2022 | Blog, Resources

Stefan Palios is a freelance coach, writer, and creator of The Growth Blueprint. He helps other freelancers, coaches, and creators finetune their business practices and land more (great) clients. We chatted with him about his method for identifying and landing new business.

Read on to hear his pro tips.

Finding the Right Clients

1. How did you figure out what the “right” client meant for you?

The right client is someone who meets the following criteria:

  • They need the services you offer right now.
  • They have the budget to pay for your services (or at least a small/starter amount) right now.
  • They can articulate the larger goal or reason for needing your services. (For example: If you’re a writer, what is the content you’re writing going to be used for?).
  • They are willing and able to give you the information or time you need in order to get the work done.

This definition came from an exclusive focus on one thing: What do I need in order to deliver a high-quality outcome for my clients?

The right client isn’t any one personality or type of person. The right client is the one you can actually deliver for.

2. Do you have a method for qualifying clients and making sure they’re a good fit?

Yes! I use a process I built called The Wave.

The Wave has three key goals:

  1. Identify the business outcomes that a potential client is looking for.
  2. Build an understanding of how my work connects to their goals.
  3. Quickly build trust between me and the potential client.

It’s a series of questions in a very specific order: about them, about the business, about the project at hand, and about your work. Within each type of question, you start general then go deeper.

This is a key part of my coaching program, called The Growth Blueprint for Freelancers, Coaches, and Creators, where I teach not only the structure but share hard-hitting questions to ask that get clients to open up about what they truly want and need.

3. How did you get past the burden of feeling like you *needed* to take on any client that was willing to pay you?

The moment I had an emergency fund, I stopped taking on bad-fit clients.

But building an emergency fund was NOT just about making more money.

Here’s what I did:

  • I opened a business bank account and put all income from clients into that account.
  • I paid myself the smallest salary I could manage (covering my essentials and a little bit of personal savings).
  • I left the rest of the money in the account and accrued 4 months of essential pay.

Making money was a big part of it, but the foundation was opening a separate bank account and treating myself like an employee of the business. I got my salary, but the profits were kept in the business for a rainy day.

When you think like an entrepreneur in this regard — watching out for profits — you free yourself from having to take bad-fit clients just for the cash.

4. How did you build up your referral network in an authentic way to ensure a steady stream of freelance clients?

Building a steady stream of referral clients is a function of three things:

  1. Presence: You can’t expect to get referrals from any place you aren’t present in, both physical and digital. You need to be easy to get a hold of!
  2. Engagement: Talking to people in general (even if it’s just engaging on social media) is a powerful way to build a network before you need it.
  3. Asking: Don’t ask for referrals. (That’s just asking for a favor). Instead, offer to help people who might need your services.

My business is built almost entirely from networking and referrals, and I built a powerful framework that gets me new leads almost weekly. I teach the framework (and how to build it from scratch, even with a small or no network) in The Growth Blueprint for Freelancers, Coaches, and Creators.

5. How does the Growth Blueprint help freelancers earn more and do so while working with clients they enjoy?

The Growth Blueprint is focused on one thing: helping freelancers, coaches, and creators rapidly scale to six-figure revenues with full control over their schedule, clients, and work.

The program is six weeks long and features live 1:1 coaching from yours truly each week. You also get continued access to course content and coaching so you can always refer back when you need to.

Here’s what each week covers:

Week 1: The Mindsets and Behaviors of Success
Week 2: Introduction to Tools to Support Your Success
Week 3: Secret Weapons for Closing Massive ($10k+) Deals Quickly
Week 4: Closing + Proposals
Week 5: Social Media Marketing, Personal Positioning, and Client Funnel Creation
Week 6: Contracts + Accepting the Right Clients

You can check out more information here.

Or shoot me your questions on Twitter – DM me on Twitter!

6. Any additional advice for freelancers who need help identifying and closing the right kind of clients?

The best clients for other people are not necessarily the best clients for you, and vice versa.

Instead of worrying about other people’s clients, think about your TNN: Talent, Network, and Needs.

Talent – What are you good at that you actually like doing?

Network – Who do you know right now that might need your work (or know someone who does)?

Needs – What needs would someone have where your services would be valuable?

This framework is a simple yet powerful way to understand how you can stand out in a crowded freelance market. Even if you’re doing the same skill as someone else, your TNN encompasses everything that makes you unique.

 

Keep up with Stefan on Twitter or check out The Growth Blueprint to get more information on his 6-week course aimed at helping you find the right clients.

Freelance Interview Series – Self Motivation with Michael Keenan

Freelance Interview Series – Self Motivation with Michael Keenan

by | Feb 10, 2022 | Blog, Resources

Michael Keenan is a freelance content writer and SEO strategist and the co-founder of Peak Freelance, a community that helps freelance writers scale their businesses. With over six years of experience as a writer and marketing consultant, Michael knows what it takes to grow a thriving freelance business. We talked to him about his professional journey, his growth goals, and how he structures his days to be successful.

Self Motivation w/ Michael Keenan

1. What was your motivation to start freelancing?

I’m rebellious by nature. Ever since I started working in restaurants at 12, I never got along with my bosses and would often fight with them. In good spirit of course: I questioned why they did things the way they did, fought for equality amongst employees, asked for more money religiously. You know, all things most managers hate, especially in restaurants. I was a young punk trying to shake things up a bit.

My mom taught my brother and me the value of independence at a young age, which aided my rebellious self. I hated school, authority, and anyone that tried to keep me in a box.

I worked, saved, went to college—did the things I was supposed to do. Then I moved to LA, lived out of a backpack, and traveled outside the U.S. I still, however, always ended up working in restaurants and bars when I was settled. I had the chance to work a few office jobs, but I could not bring myself to settle into the 9 to 5. It would crush my spirit.

It was in 2016 when I lived in Portland that I started hanging out with a different group of people: designers, writers, creators (before they were the hot thing), business owners. I had a friend who worked whenever he wanted and made a good living doing it. I came to find out he was a freelance designer, working on projects like The Sims and other enterprise games.

He encouraged me to go freelance, claiming it was my only way to get out of restaurants without working an office job. So I picked up my first gig writing about yoga and meditation off UpWork for $25. It was a tough first few years trying to build a writing business. I had no help or community.

My motivation was fearless independence. I wanted to build a cool life for myself. A life I could be proud of and make good money living. A life that would allow me to do whatever and live wherever, and earn money for myself rather than some C-Suite.

 

2. Do you set business and personal goals for yourself? If so, do you mind sharing?

Always. My focus for the past three years has been relentless business-building. I’ve been pouring all my time, money, and resources into building a freelance business, as well as Peak Freelance, and various investments in art, crypto, real estate, and restaurants. My personal goals align much with my business goals. However, I put them aside until 2022. More on that later.

My business goals have always been income-based. For example, my income goal for 2021 was $250,000 and I pursued that aggressively. I ended up making $307,000 freelance writing in 2021. Hitting that income goal moved me to the next stage of my business for 2022, building systems to replicate my writing style and quality to scale production. You could say my business goals have moved away from income only and toward scaling. My goal for 2022 is to up production without sacrificing quality.

Personal goals are a must for me. Again, I’ve been focusing on investing these past few years. I want to retire at 40, so keep that in mind. I am pursuing that aggressively. I had a lot of fun in 2021 with my business, but I realized there were some things I was missing in my personal life for the sake of income. So this year, my personal goals are:

  • Take my pups hiking once a week during a “work morning”
  • Cook more dinners for my partner and me
  • Learn how to make vapor twitch / downtempo music
  • Ditch my phone past 8 PM
  • Spend more time alone
  • Call my grandma more often

Simple things, but meaningful after going heads down into work for a few years.

My personal goals for the year are to take a step back and take more time for myself to explore other things. I have many curiosities and creative pursuits to be met, so I’d like to see them through in 2022.

 

3. How do you structure your day as a freelancer?

I am a 5AMer. Mostly because I like to be awake when the world is sleeping. I feel more productive than in the afternoon or at night. My days start around 5 and I start hitting the task list I prepared the night before. I usually work for two hours or so then go for a run or exercise around 7. When I come back I check emails and slack for 15-20 minutes, then play with my dogs, do house chores, shower, and have breakfast until 9:30ish. After getting some fuel and refilling my coffee, it’s back to the computer until about 2 PM. I can do a number of things around this time: meetings, writing, editing, planning, interviewing, tasks. Whatever my list tells me to do.

We eat lunch later here in México. So at 2 PM, I break for lunch until 3:30 – 4. Then I work from 4 to 6, which is usually the most boring and tedious tasks. Because I don’t like using my brain in the afternoon, no writing takes place during these hours unless I’m desperate and trying to hit a deadline (which fortunately doesn’t happen much anymore).

Then I’m free. The rest of the night is spent walking the dogs, reading, watching Netflix, or going out to an event or friend’s house.

 

4. What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired or unmotivated?

I reconnect with nature. That’s really the only thing that works for me. I get so bored sitting at the computer all day, every day. So when I am not motivated, I head for the outdoors. It can be a long hike, a weekend trip, or even taking the dogs to the park. Depends on my mood.

Sometimes I just like to sit outside, listen to the birds sing, and feel the wind on my face. A little bit of sunshine can do great things when I’m uninspired or unmotivated. Maybe I’m a plant.

Another way I get inspired is by going to an art gallery or museum. It’s like a brain massage and can get the juices flowing again after looking at words for too long.

 

5. Do you find email and social media to be inspiring or distracting as a freelancer?

I keep my phone on Do Not Disturb all day and shut off email notifications. I find email so distracting. I really hate it. So I check it maybe twice a day. I 1,000% prefer to answer a Slack or WhatsApp message quickly. All my important decisions are made there.

I keep all Twitter and LinkedIn notifications off on my phone also, not because I hate it—just because I’ve found it works better for me. I don’t have Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Snapchat. So I don’t have to deal with those notifications either.

 

Keep up with Michael on Twitter or check out Peak Freelance to dive into their expert interview series, job board, and more – all aimed at helping you become a more successful freelancer.

Top Freelance Communities to Join for Support

Top Freelance Communities to Join for Support

by | Feb 6, 2022 | Blog, Resources

Freelancing can be a lonely venture. But it doesn’t have to be. The deeper we get into our own freelance journey, the more flourishing communities we discover that cater to every type of freelancer imaginable. We all need places to feel seen and supported, and to connect with people who just get it. Here are some of the top freelance communities out there.

We all need places to feel seen and supported.

Freelancers Union

Nothing spells solidarity like a trade union. If you’re looking for a community that is centered on advocacy and education, join Freelancers Union. They’ve been fighting for independent workers since 1995, working to give freelancers a louder voice in politics and access to many of the perks and benefits we miss out on by working for ourselves. Join their spark events, contribute to the community blog, or just sign up for free resources. You’ll get access to exclusive discounts, valuable resources, and the largest community of freelancers on earth. Bonus: It’s entirely free to join.

#FreelanceTwitter

Miss the water cooler? We’ve got the hashtag for you. Twitter is bustling with freelancers trading tips and supporting one another. Follow #FreelanceTwitter to join in the conversation and find cool freelance friends. You can also check out our list of must-follow Twitter freelancers to fill your feed with brilliance.

Peak Freelance

The Peak Freelance Slack is open to the public, but All-Access Peak Freelance members get access to pro channels, like #AMA, which features twice-a-month Ask Me Anythings with freelancers, content managers, and more. The #jobs channel gives you a live stream of the best freelance writing jobs out there, sourced by members. And #resources is the place to find handpicked tools.

Freelancing Females

The 60k-strong Freelancing Females Facebook group is a blessing for freelancers (not just self-identified women). The group was created as a place to post jobs, ask questions, and share knowledge about freelancing. It’s grown tremendously and now services as a major support system for people at all stages of their freelance journey. The Freelancing Females site also offers a job board and resources to help you along the way.

Superpath

Superpath helps content marketers all over learn and advance their careers. They offer a Slack community that brings kind, inclusive, “good vibes” energy to their members, encouraging meaningful conversations, resource-sharing, and supportive connections to help freelance content marketers thrive together.

Groove

Groove is a community of solopreneurs energizing each other to accomplish great things. You can join up to 3 other solopreneurs for a 50-min mobile focus session whenever you’d like. It’s like walking into a virtual coffee shop and everyone there is an awesome solopreneur paving their own path.

Workfrom

If you’re looking for all sorts of remote worker connections, the Workfrom Slack is the spot. This virtual coworking community hosts daily and weekly events to connect folks who work from home, from the coffee shop, or from anywhere, really. You pay once to join and gain access to a whole bunch of other great perks.

Freelance Academy

Freelance Academy offers courses, workshops, and community connections to help freelancers successfully grow their businesses. Their content is super supportive no matter where you’re at with your business. And a lot of it is free! You can also join their Freelance Growth Bite newsletter to get helpful content in your inbox.

Being Freelance

The Being Freelance Facebook group is a hot spot for freelancers all over the world. They host live streams, Q&As, and all sorts of community events for folks to connect and learn together. This group is an extension of the Being Freelance podcast and content site.

The Freelance Content Marketing Writer

The Freelance Content Marketing Writer Facebook group connects freelance writers, digital marketers, and journalists. The creator, ​​Jennifer Goforth Gregory, shares regular tips on making it as a freelancer. And the group is focused on helping writers earn a reasonable hourly wage and rally for each other as they go.

#FreelanceChat

Another hot hashtag to follow, #FreelanceChat features a weekly Thursday forum on Twitter, where host Michelle Garrett prompts freelancers with one question to kick things off.

Indy Hall

The Indy Hall online community is an incredible spot for freelancers to connect all over the world and jumpstart their freelance careers together. With daily micro-challenges, weekly members-only events, and a bustling Discord channel, they’ve helped thousands of freelancers stay connected and happy as they navigate their independent journeys.

Female Freelance Writers

If you’re looking for a supportive international community of writers, Female Freelance Writers is the jam. This Facebook group has over 9,000 members worldwide, and their mission is to offer compassionate support to women who write, sharing resources and promote each other’s work.

#WOMENXWORK

Looking for a weekly place to connect with other freelancing women and chat about your day-to-day? #WOMENXWORK starts the conversation every Wednesday evening on Twitter. Tune in for weekly questions that prompt deep-dives into freelance lifestyle, business management, and more.

Being Freelance

Being Freelance began as a freelance-focussed podcast until it transformed into a community full of courses and other resources for those kicking off their freelance journeys. The Being Freelance community has a home in Circle, where members are able to connect with one another on the platform to ask questions, celebrate wins, and more.

Fresh Starts Registry

Fresh Starts Registry is your one-stop shop for beginning again. They offer monthly office hours, workshops on important topics, many great perks, and more. You can even sign up for their Fresh Business Network to get access to their public-facing directory to sell your freelance services. Did we mention they even have home office bundles?

Pollen

Pollen is a professional development membership to help independent consultants build successful businesses through educational sprints, access to experts in residence, a vetted community, and a toolkit of practical resources. Join Pollen today to learn the strategies and tactics that will take your consulting business to the next level.

 

Remember: You don’t have to go it alone. You may be a solopreneur, but your social life as a freelancer can be full of connection and collaboration. One of the coolest parts of running your business is the opportunity to build relationships with other people who are also charting their own paths. You get to opt into the communities that resonate, cultivating spaces that make your freelance journey a whole lot more fun. Get out there!