The Freelancers' Show

Panel: Jeremy GreenErik Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Jeremy and  Erik, discuss “Late Paying Whale Clients.” The discussion covers how to assess situations where you are not getting paid on time in your freelancing business. Jeremy and Erik cover a number of common situations and how to navigate your way to getting paid and avoid further unfortunate situations. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 0:50 - Erik and Jeremy talk how to handle late paying client who is the major part of your income. Jeremy suggests ways to avoid the situation by determining a time of when payment is collected. 2:50 -  Erik says this is a right of passage for a freelancing way of employment.  Erik says this is common in freelancing. Jeremy share story with working in an agency and friendships on the line. 6:14 -  Erik shares a story about doing 10k worth of work and not getting paid. This want due to management changeups. 7:00 - Erik talks about asking them why you are not getting paid. Jeremy says thi

Panel: Jeremy GreenErik Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Jeremy and  Erik, and discuss “Starting Freelancing While Employed.” The discussion covers important topics on how to properly or successfully moonlight and transition into full-time freelancing while increasing your incoming and clients. This is a great episode on learning the ins and outs of moonlight on the side while maintaining a full-time job. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 1:00 -  Erik kicks off the topic about freelancing while you are employed. Erik starts with the questions form a forum form his place of work. Erik talks about the idea of moonlighting 2:00 - Reviewing your employment working about noncompeting work or conflict of interest to avoid restrictions. Jeremy says you should definitely check with the employment agreements. More talks about signing papers on agreements as a freelancer. 5:00 -  Jeremy talks about working with clients who want you to sign non-complete work or anything in the industry or na

Panel: Jeremy GreenReuven LernerErick Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Jeremy, Erick, and Reuven discuss the topic, “When Your Clients are Wrong.” The panel gives practical advice on how to work with different client/work situations that may not be ideal. They suggest to think about the situation logically, have a conversation with the client, and try to work out a win-win situation for both sides. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 1:16 – Let’s introduce this topic a little bit more softer than I did! 1:34 – After giving your clients some new / different options and they still aren’t satisfied. 1:58 – This is so difficult and delicate b/c it’s easier when you don’t need the money. If you only have 1 client or a handful of clients they are they only ones you can rely on for your income then it’s a lot harder and worse. Many times if a client asks you to do the wrong thing sometimes you can leave, but sometimes that’s not always realistic. If you can walk away if it really is horrib

Panel: Jeremy GreenReuven Lerner In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Jeremy and Reuven discuss “The Care and Feeding of an Email List.”Both Reuven and Jeremy cover their experience and insights with building an email list, software for email marketing, running a campaign, lead magnets, evergreen content creation, and much more. This is a great episode to understand how to integrate email marketing and lists building for your business. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 1:00 - Reuven talks about special software for an email list. Mailing for Marketing. Reuven talks about the things he learned with all the email lists. 2:00 - Reuven talks about Awebber, Drip and other types of email marketing software. Reuven continues to talks about evergreen lists, and issues with mailing lists. Reuven talks about how to write evergreen emails. 5:00 - Jeremy asks about the timing of sending out emails rather it is a regular list or evergreen emails. Reuven talks about email campaigns and other kinds of schedu

Panel: Jeremy GreenErick DietrichReuven Lerner In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Jeremy, Reuven and Erick discuss “Choosing a Specialty.” This episode covers the many different avenues of discovering your niche or specialty. Each Freelancer speaks about how they have become an expert in their field rather it was an organic transition or something that had to work and building. This is a great episode if you are apart of a company and want to separate yourself as an independent freelancer or entrepreneur. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 1:10 - Erick shares about a question he is asked often which is “How does one  figure out exactly what to specialize in if one is about to go independent?” Erick talks about his journey working his way up to being independent. Erick shares working in consulting, marketing, and the evolution of being a Freelancer. 3:45 -  Jeremy talks about his journey, working in Rails and Ember and other technologies via consulting with companies. Eventually, specializing i

Panel: Jeremy GreenErick Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Jeremy and Erick discuss “Working with Recruiters.” Both Erick and Jeremy describe their experience with how recruiters and agencies fit into the job search as a developer. This discussion brings light to the pros and cons of using a recruiter to acquire a job as a  freelancer or a conventional W-2 employee.  This is a great episode to learn the insights of what recruiters expect when helping one find a carrier in the software development platform. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Hit Subscribe -  and working with recruiters Changing relationships with recruitersWhat recruiters are looking for  - full-time employeesThe preferred way of working - W2 employmentNot being seen as worth recruiter time as a contract workerPlacement for staff augmentation and freelanceThe downsides of working with recruitersSuccessful placement with recruitersIntro projects via recruitersRecruiters taking a percentageJob boardsOrganizations over re

Panel: Reuven LernerJonathan Stark In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, the panelist, Reuven and Jonathan discuss “The Essential Consultant Library,” or the books you should read for consulting, marketing and business. Jonathan and Reuven share the exact books that helped them in the current area of business. Rather it is consulting, marketing, or entrepreneurship, the Freelancers share their favorites and much more. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: You should continue learningBooks that help in various ways for businessValue-Based Fees by Alan WeissThe Positioning Manual by Philip MorganSelling to Big Companies by Jill KonrathThe Secret of Selling Anything by Harry BrowneHow to Measure Anything by Douglas  HubbardJust F  Ship by Amy Hoy Double Your Freelancing Rates by Brennan DunnHourly Billing is Nuts by Jonathan Stark The Brain Audit by Sean D’SouzaPatrick McKenzie websiteGetting Things Done by David AllenAnd much more!      Sponsors/Affilates FreshBooksDigital OceanPicks Jonathan Litt

Panel: Jonathan Stark Guest: Josiah Mory In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Jonathan of the Freelancer’s Show speaks with Josiah Mory about getting into your clients heads. Josiah talks about how his company, Kickinbahk Productions, engages with customers to increase sales with marketing strategies. This is a great episode that uncovers marketing strategies and gives insight into marketing and much more! In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Josiah talks about Kickinbahk Productions.Strategies with clientsFreelancingLearning from podcastsOffering up skillsAllowing the conversation to flowTheir frustrations in the businessBuilding relationships with customersJust ask “How is business”Finding out where clients are atOptimizing SalesWhat steps would you take after finding out where your prospects are at?Business happens over the phoneCash flowAnd much more!      Links Kickinbahk Productions Joisah Mory’s LinkedIn Picks: Jonathan The Pricing SeminarCanon EOS M50 Josiah ONKRON Monitor Desk Mou

Panel: Jonathan StarkErik Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancers’ Show, the panelists discuss dealing with inbound communications, what to do if you’re getting too much and what to do if you’re not getting enough. They talk about how difficult it is to manage inbound communication, especially when there is a large amount coming in, the difference between using slack and email, and Gmail plugins to help organize incoming emails. They also touch on triaging your inbox, being honest with yourself as to what you actually will do on your to-do list, and more! In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Getting too much inbound communication VS not enoughNeeding better ways to manage inbound communicationVery difficult to manage when there is a lot coming inDo you mean just email or multiple channels?What are your channels of inbound communication?Working on ways to optimizeMoving urgent client communication to SlackThe difference between Slack and EmailDeclaring email bankruptcyThe ability to ignore email inb

Panel: Reuven LernerJeremy Green In this episode of the Freelancers’ Show, the panelists discuss vacations. They talk about the importance of taking time off for yourself, the fact that your business won’t fall apart if you take a few days off, and the unhealthy cultural baggage that makes people feel as if they can’t take a vacation. They also touch on the fact that it’s okay not to squeeze out every cent you can out of your business if that means you can live a happier life, how to set boundaries with your clients when you go on vacation, and more! In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Not taking vacations because you feel guilty/fear of failureTake vacations and enjoy them!Deep misunderstandings on the idea of too much work and no playThe need to rechargeHarder to not take vacations when you have a familyActually taking a vacation when you go on vacationStress with dealing with clients while on vacationYour business won’t collapse if you step away for a few daysHustle cultureUnhealthy cultural baggag

Panel: Reuven LernerJeremy GreenErik Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancers’ Show, the panelists discuss making a good impression with your clients. They talk about what you can do to make a good first impression, and a continuing impression, on your clients. They also touch on how to get the best exposure on the internet, what content you can put on your website to boost your first impression, where else you can promote a good first impression, and more! In particular, we dive pretty deep on: A lot of questions online about what you can do to get people to notice youWhere you should and should not put your effortIn many cases, potential clients don’t look at your websiteYour website isn’t make or breakUnless you show your website to people, no one will be going thereHaving a website vs a blogHow to get exposure on the internetHooking blog up to aggregation enginesGetting the content out on your website is the most important stepMake sure your content is aimed at your customers, not your peersWhy pe

Panel: Jonathan StarkJeremy GreenErik Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancers’ Show, the panelists discuss writing better project proposals. Freelancers constantly present product proposals to clients in a way that clients cannot understand, making the client not want to use them again for their product or service. They talk about the fear freelancers have about being called out on their pricing, forcing your clients to be educated about your line of work when they don’t care, not understanding your customer, and more! In particular, we dive pretty deep on: The right way to talk to clients about your good/serviceDon’t present yourself as a commodityWrite project proposals in a “language” that people can understandNot always the proposal is what is badGiving the clients useless updatesFear of being called to the carpet of your pricingTrying to educate clients when they don’t careSimple ways to get your point across to clientsNot understanding the customerHaving multiple types of customersFeeling like

Panel: Reuven Lerner In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, Reuven talks about the “Genesis of a Course,” or creating a new course. Reuven focuses on  creating training material for businesses and companies. Reuven covers how to come up with new material or courses, demands for a new course, naming the course, syllabus, the takeaway of the course, teaching, competition, and much more. This is a great episode to learn about all the key points to create and launch a new course. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Creating new coursesAllows you to upsellOffer a wider variety of coursesThey (Business)  see you as an authorityWhere to get Ideas for new coursesWorking with clients  to get ideasLearning about demandTitle of the courseSending the course syllabus to companiesROI of the courseTeaching a months worth of information?Competition means there is a marketStarting off with the course, targeting, etcUsing KeynoteSlide decksTime put in to build out a coursePreparation equals 3-4 days for each day of

Panel: Eric DietrichJeremy GreenReuven Lerner In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, the panelist discuss “Business Cards. The Freelancers talk about the uses of business cards in today's job market. This discussion covers the many different facets of how business cards could create networks and conduits for new business. This is great episode to learn about how to positions your business cards in the freelancing world to market yourself. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Do you have business cards?Bought a box several years ago - The lean approachPutting your business cards in peoples hands and clarifying what you doTaglines on your cardWhat you do information on your cardROI on cardsMake connections with business cardsLinkedIn over business cardsMarketing assets that lead to a digital funnelMailThings that stand out and make your business card memorableJump drivesQR CodesThe main point it for someone to remember you and want to do business with youDigital productsCoupons for booksT-ShirtsUseful

Panel: Reuven LearnerJeremy GreenErik DietrichJonathan Stark In this episode of the Freelancers’ Show, the panelists discuss chaos clients. Chaos clients are long-time clients who are disorganized, reactive, and constantly wait for things to blow up before “pulling the fire alarm.” These types of clients are disruptive to any business, and so the panelists discuss some things you can do if you have chaos clients. They also touch on how each of the respective panelists deal with these clients and their thoughts on the best and worse ways of dealing with a client’s self-inflicted problems. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: What is a chaos client?What can you do when you have a chaos client? Decide whether or not you want to keep the clientMaybe fire them if you can’t see them changingHave individual fire-drill pricingWait to address the situation in a low-emotion timeTry to become more proactive in the future with themHigher price tags for these clientsPrice tag for your misery vs getting rid of t

Panel: Jonathan StarkJeremy GreenEric DietrichCharles MaxwoodRueven LernerCurtis In this episode, the Freelancer show celebrates its 300th episode. The Freelancer show answers Q&A with past and new members to the panel. Topics cover best practices as a freelancer, making the jump into entrepreneurship, value-based pricing versus fixed pricing, and much more! In particular, we dive pretty deep on: How do you get potential clients to talk to you and see if it’s a good fit? Person 1’s Answer: You want to have some sort of process in place.A precursor for working with client.Free 30-minute call for both of us.Person 2’s Answer: Go out to business conferences and business world to meet people.Be willing to make the phone calls, and connect on LinkedIn.You will meet a whole lot of people, and not everyone will be a good fit for you.Then you can start weeding out those that won’t be a good fit.Person 3’s Answer: Phone call, proposal phase, and then contract.Person 4’s Answer:

Panel: Jeremy GreenJonathan StarkReuven Lerner Special Guest: Sherry Walling, Ph.D. In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, the panel discusses: “Beyond Burnout - How to Work Hard and Enjoy Life.” Dr. Sherry Walling is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience treating stress-related problems in high achieving people. She is an academic and professional powerhouse with master’s degrees in psychology and theology, formal training as a yoga teaching, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. For more biographical information, please checkout: https://zenfounder.com/about/. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: How to Prioritize Your Life Great start – you found something that you love to do as far as work!Have a variety of things going on in your life.Have backup strategies in play.“Make it big plan” is a low frequency event.Are there areas where freelancers chronically under invest in? SleepDietExercise It’s easy to neglect your body.Time with friends Connecting you

Panel: Jonathan StarkJeremy Green In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, the panelist discuss “Charging Differently.” Jonathan describes this as charging different clients differently for different reasons. Jeremy explains the separate reasons you would charge individual clients different rates, because of interacts, implications of the jobs, and the project requirements. The discussion covers why you would consider different hourly rates, weekly rates, monthly rates, and value-based pricing. This is a great episode to learn about the strategy behind optimizing revenue while charging different rates in your freelancing business. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Hourly Fee, Weekly rates, Monthly rates, and Value-based pricingImplications of the jobInteracting differently from client to clientExpertiseShifting your mindsetDelivering outcome for their businessIncreasing leadsRelationships and considering outcomesStrategically positioning yourself within your nicheThe “Generalist”Trying to value pri

Panel: Reuven LernerErik DietrichJeremy Green In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, the panelist discuss “Responding to RFPs( Request for Proposal).” Each panelist describes their experience with consulting clients and companies and working out RFPs. Eric Dietrich of episode 296 gives great insight on ways to communicate clearly with companies when approached for bidding on a job. This is a great episode to understand appropriate precautions and understanding the “others side” of RFPs. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Eric talks about his experience with RFPsJeremy describes his past encounters with RFPs.Jonathan’s experience with RFPs.Price droppersLearning about the budgetQualifications points of the jobIndividual to RFPsRisk competing with companiesLast resortIssues of RFPs - Not individual but by companiesQuoting a price Involving a phone callResumesChanging the conversationValue-based pricingAnd much more!      Picks Jonathan Stark Chris Do of BlindGorilla Clients valuepricingbootcamp.c

Panel: Reuven LernerJonathan StarkJeremy Green In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show, the panelist discuss “Negotiating with Clients.”  The panelist, Reuven, Jonathan, and Jeremy give strategies on how to accomplish a “win-win situation” when clients who are trying to bargain on price.  Each panelist provides their paths and actions to stand firmly on the price of their services. This is a great episode to get some insight on what at the professionals do to get appropriate pay on their services and many other facets of negotiations that are available. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: Do you negotiate on price?Discounts?Steering away from the pricesComparing your services to othersPolitely decline“Your prices are higher than the other companies”Losing clientsFinding a good fit and getting referralsProblems with giving one discountHourly rates vs. FixedCaving on prices once!Removing ScopeNew Proposals and re-quotingOther things besides money to negotiate onPayment options on servicePricing to guar