Better Biz Academy Podcast

Are your finances captured, organized, and planned out for the future? Whether you are a beginner or advanced freelancer, finances are typically the biggest pain point in your business.  In this episode, my guest Meagan Hernandez shares her top five business finance tips for business owners.  She shares how to get on top of your finances and why setting your finances up from the start will benefit your business in the long run. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How to start organizing your finances How to get on top of your finances once and for all 5 Business Tips for Online Entrepreneurs When you should move from a sole proprietorship Who to have in your financial corner Why you need a business bank account The advantages of setting up finances right from the start Why you should use finance software versus a spreadsheet How often you should look at your finances What is tax-deductible for your business How much money you should set aside for savings, expenses, and taxes The benefit of havin

Do you know your worth? Laura and Ashley discuss why mindset is the most important tool to scale your business. Ashley shares “My worth doesn’t come from the hours that I put towards tasks. My worth and I should be compensated based on the value that I provide as a business owner and a strategist.” In this episode, you will learn how to combat imposter syndrome and discover what happens when you realize your own potential. Here are some things we covered in this episode: Why your mindset is the most important tool to your scale your business How to reframe negative thoughts about your business Know your worth Identifying the limiting beliefs about your business potential How to combat imposter syndrome Three most important things an aspiring Facebook ads manager should know when they are getting started The difference between working alone or with a team as a Facebook manager How to think strategically around the services that you provide After listening to this episode, share your action steps and take-awa

Are potential clients excited to work with you after presenting them your offer?  In this episode you’ll learn how to create an offer that your client cannot refuse, make it a win for you and a win for the client, and increase your ability to charge a little bit more for your package. You’ll hear examples of irresistible offers and learn how to use them to keep existing clients happy and continuing to renew their contract. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How irresistible offers tip the scales in your favor and make clients want to work with you Eliminate the psychological barriers clients have to overcome to work with you that very first time Creating an upsell product in your offer Why you should think strategically during the sales call and when packaging your offer How to map out your irresistible offer Ways to thank ongoing clients for their long service together Why you should talk over your offer with another freelancer or your business coach After listening to this episode, share you

Are you a solopreneur ready to grow your team?  Outsourcing some of the backend tasks of your business to an assistant or strategic partner will allow you to flow in your zone of genius and take your business to the next level. But who should you hire first?  In this episode of the Advanced Freelancing Podcast, my guest Katelyn Hamilton shares the difference between an online business manager, virtual assistant, and project manager.  We discuss which you should hire first and at what stage of your business you should bring them onboard. Here are some things we covered in this episode: What is the difference between an OBM, a virtual assistant, and a project manager? What does an OBM or VA actually do? Should you hire an OBM or VA first? At what stage of your business should you hire an OBM? What you should expect from each type of service provider An example of a typical contract and monthly retainer The value of long term contracts After listening to this episode, share your action steps and take-aways wit

Do you get nervous about sales calls? I did too as a new freelancer, but now I love them! In this episode, you will learn how to show up to these confidently and effectively. The more you can master sales calls and look forward to them, the better you're going to be in your business overall, because this is where deals are closed.  Here are my top five tips for sales calls: Make it easy for clients to book sales calls with you Don’t get nervous if a client has to cancel or reschedule a call Do your research before the call Do the call standing up Take notes as you go Here are some things we covered in this episode: Learn how to show up confidently How experimenting with mock sales calls can help you show up confidently Why you should put energy into learning the sales call process Why you should think of sales calls as opportunity calls The importance of using a calendar tool The benefits of a CRM tool, such as Dubsado The value of the cold pitching method What to research before the sales call How to list

Have you developed a toxic working relationship with yourself?  In this episode, I discuss the power of rest and share the importance of time off, both scheduled and unscheduled, where you're able to just decompress from your business. You’ll learn how taking time off allows you to feel rejuvenated and recharged and show up as strong as possible for your business and your clients. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How to avoid burnout by taking time off Why taking time off is essential for you to be able to grow your business Taking time off gives you the mental and physical capacity where you're excited to work on your clients' projects Why you should keep track of your time Discover how you are really procrastinating on a lot of projects or taking a lot of time on things that didn't need to take so long The importance of establishing creative ways to step back from your business How to know if you are treating yourself like a boss or a worker Discover if you have developed a toxic working re

Are you sending tons and tons of pitches, but converting no clients? I see this so often, and today I am sharing the things that you need to keep in mind when you are talking to clients. You’ll learn why the phone call with a client is a crucial pinch point in your ability to be successful, and when to listen or lead the call.  I will teach you how to address what the client needs to hear, deal with potential objections, and create a sense of urgency that will get them to take immediate action. You will discover the value of nonbillable time, calculate your return on investment, and how to collect your data and make data-driven decisions to improve your conversions. Here are some things we covered in this episode: Things that you need to keep in mind when you are talking to clients Why the phone call with a client is a crucial pinch point in your ability to be successful When to listen or lead the sales call How to turn a potential client’s language around, into a persuasive and conversion based conversation

Don't underestimate the power of your work samples, and you'll learn why in this episode and how you need to be concerned with your work samples and the way that you send them to clients. I share examples of mistakes that many beginner freelancers make, including sending irrelevant work samples.  I will also explain why I feel it is a waste of time to send custom work samples. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How to avoid beginner mistakes with your work samples How good work samples can help you overcome lack of experience How to make the client feel like the work sample is a win for them Why you shouldn’t create custom work samples Why work samples should be related to what the client is asking for Have just enough samples to repurpose them Why you should never overwhelm a client with too many work samples Why you should not direct people to your website for work samples How to deliver work samples The importance of reading into what your client says How often you should update your work sa

Are you losing clients?  Do you have clients decreasing the packages and projects you are working on? Especially during the pandemic, you have to be adaptable and ready to pivot. Being proactive and communicating with your clients and knowing what is most important to your client right now can prevent them from pulling the plug. In this episode, you will learn how to stay ahead of your client and be clear about the accomplishments you are making and the return on investment that you are delivering. Here are some things we covered in this episode: What clauses you should have in your contract When to give your clients grace When to expect your clients to pull back Why you should be proactive in how you communicate with your clients The importance of sharing wins with your clients Sharing reports with your clients to explain their return on investment When to reach out to clients for contract renewal Be adaptable and ready to pivot during the pandemic Be strategic and specific in what you offer to your clients