High-income Business Writing: Freelance Writing | Copywriting | Content Writing | How To Freelance

Freelancing can be an exhilarating journey — building a business from scratch, gaining financial freedom, and securing prestigious clients. But what happens when the work that once lit you up begins to feel hollow?   If you've ever wondered if there's more to your career than just success, this episode is for you.   In today’s show, we explore the concept of “Halftime,” a mid-career pivot that shifts your focus from external achievements to deeper personal fulfillment and significance. Drawing from personal experiences and the transformative lessons of Bob Buford’s book Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance, this episode invites you to rethink your path and take actionable steps toward a more meaningful second act.   What You’ll Learn The concept of Halftime and why it’s a proactive, purposeful pivot—not a reactive crisis. How to identify the signs that you’re ready for a career transition. Strategies to realign your work with your core values and personal goals. Practical ways to leverage

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly dealing with the same frustrating challenges in your business?   Maybe you get stuck managing messy revisions from unexpected sources, or a client keeps hitting you with last-minute rush work.   In this episode, I discuss how we often react to these situations rather than respond thoughtfully—and why that difference matters.   We explore two key steps to improve your responses:   Taking a pause before making decisions. Asking yourself better, more open-ended questions that lead to more productive solutions.   This episode is all about how the quality of your internal questions can shift your perspective and help you navigate difficult situations with clarity.   Listen below or subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform.

As freelancers, many of us crave the freedom to explore new places without the financial burden that travel can bring. But what if you could fly in luxury without spending a fortune? That's where points travel comes in, and today's guest is a true expert in this game. Spencer Howard, the mastermind behind , has helped countless people book premium travel with points instead of cash—making dreams of business and first-class travel a reality. In this episode, Spencer shares his journey from a political career to building a freelance writing business to becoming a full-time freelancer in the world of points and miles. He dives deep into the strategies freelancers can use to leverage credit card rewards and optimize points for travel, breaking down complex topics like transferable points and airline-specific credit cards. And he explains how to do this without getting into debt or paying credit card fees that don’t make sense. I learned a lot from this conversation. I realized that many of my hang ups a

Have you ever had a client, prospect—or even an acquaintance—ask to "pick your brain"?   At first, it might feel flattering. But after the fourth or fifth time, it starts to feel like a burden.   You feel taken advantage of.   In this short episode, I talk about how I changed my approach to these requests. Instead of making excuses or feeling resentment, I started charging for “brain picking” sessions—and it completely transformed how I handle these situations.   I walk you through how I reframed these requests into a structured offer, how I set the price, and how you can do the same to ensure that clients and prospects value your time and expertise.   It doesn’t matter what type of work you do as a solo professional. If you get these requests regularly, this episode will give you practical tips on how to handle them with confidence.

Most freelancers and solo marketers focus their marketing efforts on prospecting, networking, or LinkedIn.   But guesting on podcasts that your target audience listens to? Not so much.   And that’s too bad, because appearing on podcasts can be a powerful way to build your brand, meet and network with great people, generate leads, and establish yourself as a thought leader in your market.   In this episode, I sit down with Angie Trueblood, a seasoned podcast publicist, to explore how freelance writers and solo marketers can harness the power of podcast guesting.   Angie shares her unique journey into the world of podcast publicity and breaks down why being a guest on the right shows can make a huge positive difference in your business. We dive deep into actionable strategies, including:   Why podcast guesting is an underused but highly effective strategy for freelancers How to identify the podcasts that will bring real value to your business Insider tips on crafting a genuine, irresistible pitch

A growing number of writers are incorporating AI tools into their workflow.   Those who’ve kept an open mind and experimented with different approaches and ways to increase their productivity and scale their creativity have seen remarkable improvements in both the quality and quantity of their work, allowing them to stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry.   The current models are powerful out of the box. But what if there was a way to take things a step further and create personalized AI tools tailored to your unique needs?   In this episode, I sit down with Erynn LaFlamme, founder and CEO of Ethic Agency, a marketing agency based in Metro Atlanta. Erynn and I discuss how writers can harness the power of custom GPTs to handle nuanced parts of their client workflow.   Erynn has become an expert in using AI for content creation, and she walks us through the process of building Custom GPTs and shares real-world examples of how her team is leveraging this technology to produce better work.   We dive deep into:  

I was doing an exercise the other day where I looked back over the past 3 decades of my career to think through every major breakthrough I had and every big move I made.   Not only was this a fun trip down memory lane, it also made me realize a few very important things.     One of them is that nearly every breakthrough happened during a very challenging moment in my career. And in a few cases, they happened when I was desperate—when I was in a very tight spot and desperately needed things to turn around.   And that got me thinking, “You know ... desperation can lead to some very powerful breakthroughs!”   That’s the topic of this week’s short podcast episode below.

In this episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges freelancers face: the dreaded feast-or-famine cycle. Whether you're a seasoned freelancer or just starting out, the strategies we’ll discuss can help you create a steady stream of work and avoid the panic that comes with dry spells. The Growing Urgency of Client Prospecting The freelance world is facing increased pressure. With a challenging economy causing many businesses to put projects on hold, freelancers who’ve enjoyed steady work over the past few years are now finding themselves in a tough spot. The solution? A strategic and consistent approach to prospecting that can keep your pipeline full, regardless of external conditions. Recognizing Marketing as a Core Role As a solo business owner, marketing isn't just something you do when you need work—it’s a critical role that you must prioritize. Freelancers often come from environments where work is handed to them, but when you’re running your own business, you’re responsible for every fu

As freelancers and solo professionals, we often (unknowingly) sabotage our own success from the very first interaction with a prospect.   We present ourselves and our services in a way that works against us. It erodes trust and diminishes our perceived value before we even begin working with a potential client.   It often starts the moment we ask our clients, "What can I do for you?"   This simple question can unknowingly shift us from being experts in our field to mere order-takers, losing control of our own business direction.   From there, it shows up in what we say to clients and prospects. What we offer. How we price our work. How we position ourselves in the market. And how we talk about what we do and the value we deliver.   In this episode, we're diving deep into this critical issue. My guest is , an experienced freelance professional and entrepreneur who has mastered the art of positioning herself as an expert rather than an order-taker.   Amy shares invaluable insights on how to regain control of yo

Freelancing can be a lonely journey. But it doesn't have to be.   Many freelancers struggle to find consistent work, navigate client relationships, and stay up-to-date with industry trends. They often feel isolated, and unsure where to turn for support or guidance.   Not Rachel Smith, my guest in this week's episode. Rachel is the founder of , a thriving jobs board and community for Australian freelance writers that has been going strong for over a decade.   But here's the kicker: Rachel's List started almost by accident.   Early in her freelance career, Rachel found herself frequently recommending other freelancers when she couldn't take on projects. This informal network of referrals gradually evolved into a highly successful business that has transformed the freelance landscape for countless writers.   These days, Rachel's List isn't just a job board. It's a vibrant community where freelancers share information, find overflow work, and access practical skill-building masterclasses. The success has even spa

When you’re starting to offer advisory engagements to clients and prospects, it’s very common to get nervous.   Say you’re talking with a prospect and you can tell that they need help beyond writing. In fact, you can see that it doesn’t yet make sense to go right into a writing project — mainly because they need to make some other decisions first.   But you’re nervous ... because you’re not sure how to think about what they’re telling you.   Or you’re not sure how to explain that they need to do something else first before creating that marketing asset.   Here’s what I do to help me get better clarity quickly and calm my nerves. It’s a bit of a decision tree or decision flow chart. A powerful heuristic, if you will.   I ask myself the following questions:   Does it sound like they need help coming up with the right solution or intervention? In other words, the right solution is not well defined yet. And you can’t really move forward with anything until they figure that out (hopefully with your help). Do th

Life can often feel like a never-ending hustle — especially when you feel like you’re working harder than ever but getting poorer results.   Deadlines loom. Responsibilities pile up. And the bills keep coming.   It’s so easy to get swept up in the daily grind and feel like you’re constantly in the middle of a storm that just won’t let up.   Before you know it, the love you once had for your work starts to dim. And frustration and burnout take hold ... leaving you with a persistent feeling that you're merely going through the motions.   Sound familiar?   If so, I think you’ll really appreciate this episode. My guest today is my mentor, teacher, and good friend Peleg Top.   I’ve known Peleg for 14 years. He’s had a huge influence on my life and my business. And he’s the person who encouraged me many years ago to become a coach. I’ve learned a ton from him over the years, and much of that inevitably seeps into the work I do with my own clients.   I wanted to bring Peleg on because what I’ve been seeing in our bu

In this transformative episode, I discuss the importance of setting boundaries and being selective with opportunities through practical tools and methodologies. Borrowing from Greg McKeown's book, *Essentialism*, I introduce two powerful concepts: the 90% Rule and the Extreme Criteria Exercise. These tools are designed to help you master the art of saying no, enabling you to focus on what truly matters in both your personal and professional life.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s especially relevant given the current global climate: finding stability in your business amidst chaos. Are you feeling more stressed, burnt out, or anxious? Are you questioning your path as a solo professional more frequently?   If so, you’re not alone.   The Ever-Present Chaos   Life is full of uncertainties. Whether it’s the economy, AI advancements, elections, or geopolitical tensions, there’s always something that can induce fear and anxiety. However, history shows that this is a recurring pattern, and often, things are better than they seem when viewed through a historical lens.   Reasons for Optimism   Despite the chaos, there are many reasons to be optimistic:   -          Technological Advancements: We live in an era of unprecedented technological growth, from healthcare advancements increasing life expectancy to technologies that connect us globally in an instant.   -          Improved Standards of Living: Global poverty rates have significantly

Think back to when you first went out on your own.   Remember those first few projects? Getting paid for your writing felt like magic, didn’t it?   You put in, say, 10 hours of work, and the client paid you $750.   Wow!   What made it magical was that the $750 was all for me. And I loved the idea that a few units of effort in would translate to a few units of compensation on the other end.   Eventually, we all get used to this kind of reward ratio. And we (rightfully) start expecting more. We may even get to a point where one hour of our time is often worth $300, $400, or more. Especially when a project goes real smoothly.   And for some solo professionals, this can start feeling odd. We feel a bit guilty that we’re earning that much on some or all of our client work.   Impostor syndrome kicks in. And that inner critic starts taking over our internal chatter.   In this week’s (short) podcast episode I get into these feelings of guilt and how to address them.   This is important stuff. Because if left ignored,

Freelancing is amazing. Until it isn’t.   You wake up one morning and you realize that you’ve created a very demanding job for yourself.   And chances are, you take LESS time off than you ever did in any previous job you held.   Sometimes it even feels like you’re working for a tyrannical boss who makes you feel terrible any time you ask for a small break.   That boss, by the way, is YOU.   Sound familiar?   Not to Wendy Helfenbaum, my guest in this week’s episode. Wendy is an established freelance writer out of Montreal. And for the past 18+ years, she has taken 4 months off every year.   And when I say “time off,” I mean real, non-working time off. No client work. No working on the business. No marketing. No nothing.   Just time to be with her family. To decompress. To enjoy life. And to savor the freedom freelancing is supposed to afford us.   Just as impressive, Wendy has consistently maintained a 6-figure income for years—even while taking a full third of the year off.   I was super-excited to bring Wend

I’ve heard this argument hundreds of times:   “I don’t have a specific target market, Ed. I’m a generalist who works with all kinds of businesses. So I’m having a really hard time narrowing things down, and I’m not convinced I should.”   When I ask them about their motivation for continuing to do things this way, I typically get a response along the lines of, “I want variety in my work. I don’t want to be writing for just one industry.”   And that right there is the crux of the problem. Most people who view themselves as generalists use the “work and client variety” justification.   I don’t blame them. I want variety too! But that’s a logical fallacy.   There’s a way to have your cake and eat it, too. But you have to look at this challenge differently.   In this week’s (short) podcast episode, I explain how to do that. And how to arrive at a well-defined target market that works for you AND keeps things open and flexible for unexpected opportunities.

For most freelancers, the concept of taking an extended break—be it for maternity leave, personal health, or a sabbatical—has been shrouded in trepidation.   We love the idea of a long break, especially if we’re experiencing burnout. But we immediately dismiss it as unrealistic because we don’t think we can afford to lose the income. Or we fear losing momentum, falling behind, and not being able to seamlessly re-enter the business on the other end of our break.   This week, we're challenging that narrative head-on, with a deep dive into how you can navigate maternity leave (or any extended break) without missing a beat. Not only is this possible, it's an opportunity to strengthen your business and come back stronger.   My guest is a very successful freelance writer and content marketing strategist, Satta Sarmah Hightower. Satta is a previous coaching client of mine. And while we were working together, we put together a plan for a successful maternity leave.   Of course, not every plan works seamlessly. So I w

What do you do when a client or prospect has a piece of long-form content they’ve written internally and they want your help finishing it?   What do you quote? What’s the right way to frame your fee for the client? And how do you approach this kind of project?   Check out my thoughts and advice in this week’s short podcast episode below.

As I record this episode in March of 2024, we’ve yet to feel the effects of generative AI in our solo businesses.   So why are so many writers, copywriters, and solo marketers losing business?   Everything that I’m hearing and seeing points to other factors for the challenges many creative professionals are experiencing. And the main factor seems to be the softening economy.   You wouldn’t know it by the state of stock market, unemployment rates, and economic growth. All those factors seem to be pointing to a strong economy. But the marketing profession is seeing something very different.   It’s no secret that marketing is one of the first things to get cut during challenging times. It makes no sense, but it is what it is. And that seems to be the biggest reason behind cancelled content marketing initiatives, marketing team layoffs, and clients that can’t seem to make a decision on pending projects.   AI is certainly starting to have an impact on our work. But where that’s been happening is not where we want