Freelance Interview Series – Creating and Maintaining a Consistent Client Flow

Freelance Interview Series – Creating and Maintaining a Consistent Client Flow

by | Mar 21, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Bani Kaur is a freelance B2B SaaS writer for impressive clients like Klaviyo, Litmus, Dooly, and more. She uses design thinking to write research-driven and value-packed content for B2B SaaS brands. Below, she shares her tips and tricks on building and maintaining a robust client list – no matter the state of the economy.

Finding and Maintaining Consistent Client Work

What are your go-to sites or resources for finding new clients?

Superpath slack and Kaitlyn Arford’s community are great places to look for new clients.

Talk to us about your biggest client retention secret.

Go above and beyond for your pilot piece. A great first experience is hard to shake. That way, even if you stumble somewhere down the line, your clients will have faith in you to turn it around. If you read my testimonials, this is the one thing all my clients acknowledge.

Going above and beyond in the initial phases paves the way for a stronger, sturdier, and more interactive client relationship!

How has the current state of the economy shifted your processes for both finding new clients and maintaining your current client roster?

Ah, this is a tough one. The economy has shifted my processes quite a lot. Leads have been much slower than usual and follow-ups have been sparse.

Most of my clients have cut back on their monthly cadence moving into 2023, if not already having eliminated their content budget. A team I wrote for laid off 6 people (2 in-house, and 4 freelancers) and replaced them with just one content manager. Needless to say, he’s overwhelmed.

This is where having a great professional network has been tremendously helpful.

All of my clients who cut down on work have introduced me to others in their network who needed a writer.

This also reconfirms what I mentioned earlier about doing great work from the get-go. It leads to referrals, testimonials, and respect.

What tips do you have for getting in front of prospective clients as a freelance business owner?

Don’t be scared to DM the people you’d like to work with, BUT avoid a salesy approach. Unless they’re specifically looking for a person with your role at that moment, it’s often off-putting. Instead, talk about their work and their needs. And if you can exhibit critical reasoning and some nuanced takes during that conversation, I promise they’ll remember you and reach out when they’re ready.

Second, warm pitch aggressively. Follow freelance communities and newsletters and reply to all calls with a personalized, relevant, and thought-provoking pitch. Bonus points if you can fit it into LinkedIn’s ‘add note’ character limit.

Third, talk to other freelancers. Help them out. Offer to review their work. You never know when someone is looking to pass on an opportunity to someone they trust.

What advice do you have for new freelancers who are just building up their client roster?

Three words: Keep at it.

Perseverance will see you through the first few months.

And once you have that first client, work on that project like your life depends on it. Learn everything you need along the way. Upskill while you work.

When I got assigned my first piece with Klaviyo, it was a dream come true. I was elated for about an hour; then I set out to learn everything I could about Klaviyo’s product, target audience, and brand voice.

I signed up for 130 of their customers’ emails so I’d have relevant and unique examples to pull from. I reached out to 7 Klaviyo experts on Twitter and built relationships (most of which have lasted to this day!).

And all of the effort was well worth it because it opened doors to tremendous new opportunities.

Freelance Interview Series – Mastering Mindfulness as a Solopreneur

Freelance Interview Series – Mastering Mindfulness as a Solopreneur

by | Mar 21, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Jenni Gritters is a freelance writer, editor, and business coach who works with fellow solopreneurs and small business owners on writing projects and strategic business planning. Jenni also has a monthly newsletter called Mindset Mastery chock full of helpful content for those who want to prioritize their well-being and incorporate mindfulness into their day-to-day.

Mastering Mindfulness as a Solopreneur

Talk to us about what mindfulness means to you. Why is it important?

Mindfulness is one of those buzzwords that everyone seems to use, and it can mean 1000 different things to 1000 different people. For me, mindfulness means paying attention. I’ve spent a lot of my life working reactively – meaning, working on things as they land in my inbox, and responding to other people’s needs before my own. In the past 3 years, I’ve been forced (by illness and caretaking) to be much more intentional about the way I work. In this context, mindfulness means paying attention to what I need and how I feel in any given moment. It means listening to my brain, my body, and my intuition when I’m choosing my clients or planning my day.

In what ways do you incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine?

It’s going to sound cliche, but being mindful of my surroundings and my internal experiences has really changed my life. I spent so many years expecting that “success” (ie. money and recognition) would make me satisfied. It turns out, those things are hungry ghosts. What’s really made me happy is paying attention to the little things, and paying attention to myself.

I have a really chaotic life because of my two small children (who are 9 months and 3 years old). I’m not able to have a set routine, but I do have mindful patterns: I spend at least 30 minutes each day meditating and reflecting on what’s going on, what I need, and how I feel. I make it a priority to get outside every day, even if it’s just for a 15-minute walk; I try to notice the birds, the trees, and the people who walk by. I also try to take 5 minutes each morning to figure out how I’m feeling, so I can plan my day accordingly. (I recently wrote about this in my free newsletter.) And I wait 24 hours before responding to any client offer, so I can make sure the project is aligned with what I need during this season. It’s all very intentional, which is simple but not easy.

How has practicing mindfulness positively impacted the success of your freelance business?

I have a lot more control, and I’m able to take care of myself better. I’ve moved from being reactive – which means other people control my inbox and schedule – to being proactive. I’m making the choices. I do have times when I slip back into that reactive mode, and my workload suddenly starts to look like a chaotic mess. But this has happened enough times that I know how to pull myself out of the muck so I can realign. The reset is not pretty but it’s usually worth it. So much of my stress comes from working on projects or with people who don’t share my same priorities!

I also attribute a lot of my financial “success” (for years I’ve made six figures working 15-20 hours/ week) to being more intentional. I can’t work with clients who don’t pay the rates I need. Sometimes I wish I could! But when I take a moment to revisit my priorities, I can see clearly that the relationship isn’t going to be right for me. Being intentional means I stand my ground.

Taking a stand on intentionality is also why I have a coaching practice! I really do believe that becoming more proactive is a route to happiness and freedom in business ownership, which is such a tricky career path. I’ve had to do a lot of mindset work to give myself permission to step back from journalism – which was my original career path – and into coaching. I still do some of both but I would not have been able to grow both service lines without continual self-interrogation.

What are some of your favorite resources that have helped you along your mindfulness journey?

I love this question! Some of my favorites:

  • Insight Timer is a free app; you can search for short meditations + breathwork practices that slow your brain down enough to check in. Try the yoga nidra meditations before bed!
  • Stolen Focus is a great book that considers distraction and how to find moments of pause and/ or flow
  • Time Management for Mortals is a time management book that’s not a time management book! It’s actually more about what I’m talking about here – intentionality amidst the chaos that is work life
  • I love Damon Brown & Nisha Moodley’s work
  • The podcast On Being usually gives me interesting things to consider regarding the ways we work and live, and how we can integrate growth into our daily lives
  • Brad Stulberg is a cool Instagram follow; he talks about mindfulness & sustainable biz building

What advice do you have for small business owners who want to incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily routines but have limited time?

I, too, have extremely limited time! My advice is this: mindfulness can look like so many things. Essentially, it’s just about checking in with yourself as a daily ritual. You’ll need to find the best way to do that in your life; it should not feel like a frustrating effort! I have clients who reflect best on walks or while exercising. Some people need a piece of blank paper and a set of colored pencils. Some of us just need 3 minutes to take some deep breaths and close our eyes. Some of us will find it useful to talk to someone (a partner, a therapist, a coach).

Find the thing that works for you – which will take some experimentation – and then implement it in a tiny way. Start with 2 minutes before you open your inbox. It doesn’t have to be big in order to change the way you work. (This framework can be a really helpful way to check in with yourself!)

9 Discovery Call Questions to Ask Potential Copywriting Clients

9 Discovery Call Questions to Ask Potential Copywriting Clients

by | Mar 16, 2023 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post by Anushree Saxena, an independent lifestyle & mental health journalist. She is also a website and email copywriter for coaches & brands who want to build meaningful relationships with their ideal clients and customers.

9 Discovery Call Questions to Ask Your Prospect

Do you remember your first day of high school? How excited you were about the possibilities, while still feeling uncertain about what the future held?

My first few months as a new freelancer were exactly like that. I was posting content on LinkedIn in the hopes that someone would love my posts and hire me, but that didn’t happen for months. So, when people started booking discovery calls with me, I felt like I needed to take every one and convince these people to hire me. But I quickly realized that approach was a mistake. Taking on clients that weren’t the right fit impacted my self confidence and led me to developing imposter syndrome.

So here I am with a message to my other freelance peers: you have the power to choose whether or not you want to work on a project with a prospective client.

Here’s a list of discovery call questions you can ask to help you make the right decision for you.

1) What are your goals?

Asking this question will help you understand the vision of your prospective client. It will tell you what their core values are and if they align with your long-term business goals as a freelance copywriter.

2) What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)?

If your client doesn’t know what makes their brand/business unique, then it will be difficult for you to differentiate them from others who have similar offers.

3) What has your experience been like working with other freelancers?

Notice how they talk about their previous contractor. This is probably how they will talk about you after your contract is over. On the other hand, if they haven’t worked with a freelancer before, it’s up to you to set their expectations and show them what a good working relationship looks like.

4) Why do you want to work with me? Or why did you decide to get on a call with me today?

If the prospect reached out to you via referral or inbound channels, then chances are they already feel confident that you can help them solve their problem. When they tell you that during a discovery call, you don’t just get a confident boost — you will also understand the struggles they are currently trying to overcome.

5) What have you done in the past that has worked or not worked?

When your prospect has experimented with their content, you’ll have enough data and statistics to come up with strategies that might help them. Their answer to this question will also give you a sense of how open they are to experimenting with their content in the future.

6) What problem(s) are you struggling with the most?

This question will help you understand where their priorities lie. This is what you need to focus on first when you start working together, even if you guys want to tackle other problems too.

7) How much are you willing to invest to overcome this obstacle?

Knowing the client’s budget plays a big role in deciding if you want to take on a project. However, a prospect might insist on getting a quote without sharing their budget or revealing the complete scope of work. In this situation, you can simply share a range rather than give an exact number, saying you need more details to give a final quote.

8) Will you be available for meetings?

This question tells your prospect that working with you is a team effort — not a solo operation. They will have to make time to answer your questions, share briefs, and give feedback to achieve their desired goals.

9) When do you want to start?

If by the end of the discovery call, you both decide to work together, then ask the client when they want to kick off so you can block a spot for them on your calendar. If they aren’t sure or need to discuss it with their team, then ask them when they’ll have an answer and follow up accordingly.

The Takeaway

As a freelancer, you have final say on who you work with. Discovery calls are the time to collect the information you need to properly assess if a client is the right for you, so ask as many questions as you want before making your decision.

PS: You will still miss deadlines, mess up projects, and feel like an imposter at times. That’s all a rite of passage. But in the end, working with the right clients makes it all bearable!

 

Freelance Interview Series – Finding Balance as a Freelancer with Kaleigh Moore

Freelance Interview Series – Finding Balance as a Freelancer with Kaleigh Moore

by | Jan 19, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Kaleigh Moore is a freelance writer with bylines in publications like Forbes, Vogue Business, and Adweek, and a client list featuring some of the biggest brands in eCommerce. With an impressive portfolio comes a demanding workload. Below, she shares her personal experience with burnout and boundaries, and some hard-earned tips on cultivating balance as a freelancer.

How to Find Work-Life Balance as a Freelancer

Talk to us about what work-life balance means to you.

These days, I’m taking better care of myself and trying to avoid overworking, but… there’s a lot of room for improvement. Some background: In the first year or two I was freelance writing full-time, I worked a lot. These were long days with short breaks and *maybe* a 10-minute lunch. I woke up in the morning mad at myself if I’d overslept by even a few minutes, sweaty with panic and already worrying about whether or not I’d get everything done for the day.

The reason: FEAR.

Those first few years of full-time freelance writing were 100% fear-driven.

Fear that I wouldn’t make enough money and would regret leaving the security and stability of my full-time job.
Fear that I’d look like an idiot failure to my friends and family.
Fear that I wasn’t smart enough to manage running a business on my own.
Fear that my clients would think I was a charlatan or my work would suddenly dry up.

Lemme tell you: It wasn’t a great way to live.

Turns out existing in a constant state of low-grade anxiety isn’t all that healthy, either. I got really sick. Not only was I dealing with a variety of ongoing health issues, but I couldn’t sleep well and I had terrible back pain from so much sitting at the computer (even with a nice chair). I started doing some things to regain that work-life balance thing I’d heard so much about.

What is something you do regularly that helps you achieve balance?

Getting a massage every 3-4 weeks, drinking lots of water (the secret is lemon!), going to therapy, and implementing a sleep routine. The other big shift that happened was that I finally gave myself permission to chill. I toned down the self-competition and started asking for help when I needed it. I made myself get out of the house and go be around other human beings during the day. I stopped letting that fear dictate my days.

What boundaries do you set with clients to protect your time and capacity?

I instituted office hours (kinda).

I think a lot of people are lying when they say they don’t check email around the clock. I know I do. It’s just another app I open as I’m checking social channels. But by turning off push notifications, it put some of the power over that back in my hands. No more incessant DING! at all hours of the day. Now, I use flags to mark the emails I need to respond to when I’m back at my desk. And while I read emails outside my office hours, I don’t respond until the next day. It helps me mentally prepare for what’s coming and stay on top of messages without being pulled into reacting right away.

I learned to say NO.

If you’re a people-pleasing person like me that JUST WANTS EVERYONE TO LIKE HER, DAMNIT, this is a hard thing to learn. But I did, and it helped me be more selective about how I invested my time and energy… which also made me resent my work a lot less.

What are the signals that your work-life balance may be off-kilter? And how do you course-correct?

Sleep issues, constant stress/anxiety, resentment toward your workload, and general grumpiness are some top signals. You can course-correct by outsourcing some of your work, asking for a deadline extension, and making a plan to prevent overloading yourself in future months with a project planner.

What advice do you have for freelancers who are struggling to find balance?

Stop being so hard on yourself, and remember: You’re the boss in this situation! You set the rules.

Your Freelance Client Onboarding Checklist

Your Freelance Client Onboarding Checklist

by | Jan 10, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Bringing on a new client can be daunting, especially if you’re recreating the wheel every time. You have to gather lots of information to be successful and then organize your tasks to stay on deadline. It can be overwhelming, and we want to make it a bit easier. Here’s a list of client onboarding questions you can pull from to make sure you’re kicking off new client relationships on the right foot.

We used these questions when running our own freelance business. It made an incredible difference to collect this info upfront. Rather than chasing clients down for info well into our working relationship, we had a clear understanding of their vision and needs from the get-go. You can ask clients to respond to these questions via email or cover them all during a kick-off call. We recommend keeping the answers in a document that you can reference easily.

Your Freelance Client Onboarding Checklist

Get to Know the Product and Brand

  1. Who was your product or company built for?
  2. What are some common problems and stressors for your customers?
  3. How are you solving those pain points?
  4. How do you want your customer to view your brand?
  5. What brands, publishers, thought leaders, etc. are important to your target audience?
  6. What are some of the most common questions your customers have about your company or industry?

Align on Your Client’s Goals

  1. What are your short- and long-term goals?
  2. What is the primary goal (conversion) of your website? Do you have any micro-conversions?
  3. What are the top three KPIs you have been measuring?
  4. What is your business focus right now?
  5. What channels are you using to drive growth?
  6. What channels are you not using to drive growth?
  7. What do you want to accomplish in the next 3-6 months?

Uncover Their Competitive Advantage

  1. Who are your competitors?
  2. What are their key value propositions?
  3. What are your competitive advantages?

Learn About Their Pain Points

  1. What are your obstacles right now? (no strategy, product positioning, no resources, etc.)
  2. What strategies have you already tried to overcome them?
  3. What are you interesting in trying?

Nail Down the Details and Set Expectations

  1. What does the success of this project look like?
  2. Do you have success metrics in mind or should we build those together?
  3. Are there any additional needs that may arise down the road?
  4. Do you prefer weekly, biweekly, or monthly calls?
  5. How do you prefer to provide feedback?
  6. How quickly will you be able to provide feedback on my work?
  7. Are there any other team members who will be involved?
  8. Have you worked with freelancers before this project? What went well? What didn’t?

 

We encourage you to mix and match based on what makes sense for your own business and clients. We can’t stress enough how important it is to align with your clients upfront, gather the right information, and get organized from day one. You’ll thank yourself later!

4 Tips for Breaking Up Your Day to Prevent Burnout + Maximize Productivity

4 Tips for Breaking Up Your Day to Prevent Burnout + Maximize Productivity

by | Jan 2, 2023 | Blog, Resources

One of the greatest perks of freelancing is flexibility. You get to decide when and how you work. But, without a manager to keep you accountable, it’s easy to take on way too much work or let things slip through the cracks — especially if you’re new to the game and still learning what “manageable” really means.

Whether you’re procrastinating, burnt out, or just overwhelmed by tasks, here are four simple tips to help you optimize your productivity and operate as your best self.

How to Break Up Your Day to Beat Freelance Burnout

Tip 1: Determine when you work best.

As a business owner, flexibility is your greatest tool. You have the freedom to set your own hours, so why not make your schedule work for you? The key here is to determine when you’re feeling the most energized throughout the day. Are you most creative in the morning or after lunch? Practice tuning in with yourself, and use your most productive hours to knock out the projects that require the most brain power. Daniel Pink’s novel When is a must-read if you’re looking to optimize your days.

Tip 2: Make a daily plan.

As a chronic procrastinator, one of the greatest tips my therapist ever gave me was to plan out every day in its entirety. This sounds tedious, I know, but trust me. It’s a super easy lift and it makes a world of a difference.

Towards the end of your work day, pull out your favorite notebook and write down what you want the following day to look like. Start with what time you want to wake up and continue throughout the day from there. Here’s an example to help get you started:

Wake up: 7:00am
Feed dogs and make coffee: 7:15am
Take dogs for a walk + listen to podcast: 8:00am
Sign on for work + focused work session: 9:00am
Make breakfast: 10:00am

You get the idea. This visioning exercise helps you get ahead of tomorrow by laying out a practical plan today.

Tip 3: “Eat the frog.”

Hear me out… Imagine you have to eat a frog today. Yes, an actual frog. Would you do it first thing in the morning or would you wait all day long, slowing building more and more dread? Probably first thing, right? It’s like ripping the bandaid off.

The same thing goes for your tasks. Knocking out the toughest, most annoying item on your to-do list at the start of your day alleviates stress and helps you build motivation and momentum to carry you through the rest of your day. If there’s a blog post you’ve been putting off writing or clerical work you’re avoiding, try tackling it first.

Another method we love is called task stacking — you pull together related tasks and knock them out sequentially. For example, you might tackle all of your administrative tasks first, then move to your more creative tasks, then spend your afternoon conducting outreach. We like this system because by keeping related tasks together, you’re completing an entire section of your to-do list rather than going at it task by task.

Tip 4: Not feeling productive? Step away.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your productivity is to take a break from it. If you’re sitting at your desk and you’re just not getting anything done, it might be time to take a break. Pick up a book, take a walk outside, or make your favorite lunch.

While this switch can take some getting used to, especially if you’re still stuck in that hustle culture mindset, we promise it will help you create some of your best work. By stepping away when you’re not being productive, you’re making space for yourself to do other things that fill your cup. Your work will still be there when you get back.