Better Biz Academy Podcast

Have you ever put yourself in your clients shoes to ensure that you are delivering an exceptional experience? You may be making mistakes with your clients that could become problematic.  My guest, Anthony Park, shares the following top five things that your client wants you to know: The time of your client is more important than money Good is better than fast Know your competition You have to be turnkey Level up to be a trusted advisor Here are some things we covered in this episode: Minimize the time your client spends explaining things to you Take the pressure off your client by reducing their decision-making time Why you should schedule your emails Make sure the experience you create with your client is more advantageous than not How to position yourself even when there are other solutions out there How think one step ahead of your client Know the style, brand, and needs of your client How to be a resource to your client Why you should step into the role of a strategic advisor What mistakes you should a

Have you ever considered using Thumbtack to find clients?  I confess until I interviewed Bianca Scott I didn’t realize what an awesome opportunity the platform could be for freelancers! This episode is a goldmine for tips and tricks that apply to any platform, but you will certainly learn the ins and outs of using Thumbtack to find clients and scale your business. Bianca shares how she got reviews before she landed paying clients, how to leverage social media to become a trusted service provider, and when to leave your 9-5 to work your side hustle full-time. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How to get clients on Thumbtack Why you should do pro-bono work How to use your family and friends to gain honest reviews Utilizing multiple platforms for the same client review When to leave your 9-5 to work your side hustle full-time Learn secrets to scale your business How to use social media to grow your business Contracts and payments through Thumbtack About Bianca: Bianca Scott is the CEO of BusyB W

Do you know how profitable your business really is?  Until I hired a bookkeeper, I had no clue how little income I was actually earning! I am thrilled to share financial tips from my guest Ean Murphy who will teach you the difference between a financial system and a budget.  Ean shares why you should hire a virtual assistant before a bookkeeper and how outsourcing your finances will help you to make more money in your business. Ean will share action steps that you can implement today to get your finances in order. Here are some things we covered in this episode: What does a bookkeeper do The value bookkeeper will bring to your business How to get on top of your finances How to determine if your business is profitable When to outsource bookkeeping How to set yourself up for a successful relationship with your bookkeeper How to select financial tracking software The difference between a bookkeeper and accountant Why you should hire a virtual assistant before a bookkeeper The importance of a financial system vs

In this episode my guest Sophia Dagnon teaches you how to write cold pitches that stand out from the crowd.  You’ll learn the best practices of writing an email and all the things that you need to research and do before writing your pitch. Sophia shares why building a relationship with your potential client is as important as making a sale.  Her tips will help you brainstorm which companies to pitch to and how to be authentic when doing so. You’ll also discover why sales calls are as important as your cold pitch.  Sophia shares what not to do during a sales call, how to prepare for the call and be confident in yourself, and steps to close the sale. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How to find companies to write a cold pitch Doing research on the company and person that you are pitching to How to stand out from the crowd How to sound authentic by adding personalization What to keep in mind when writing a cold pitch Capturing data in your email performance Best practices in writing an email Why

Are you stumped on the idea of using SEO to build your freelance website? In this episode, my guest Jason Berkotwiz, SEO expert and Founder & SEO Director of Break The Web, shares about SEO for your website, providing SEO services, having an agency, and using virtual assistants to stay on track with day-to-day tasks. You’ll hear how to utilize SEO for your website to get more traffic, leads, and make more sales.  Jason shares how to learn about SEO for free and the importance of using your testing your own strategies and using the results as case studies to land clients. We discuss why you should consider offering multiple niches to protect yourself during times of variations in the market and the benefits of having and agency.  Tune in to hear how you can make more money by offering your services as a strategist rather than just doing the tasks. Here are some things we covered in this episode: SEO tips for building your freelance service’s website Getting more traffic, leads, and sales Why you should co

In this episode, my guest freelancer Jordan Fox teaches you how to pitch, network with, and have ongoing relationships with high profile clients. You’ll learn how to stand out from the crowd and get through to the connections that will put you in front of celebrities.  Jordan shares what you can expect when pitching and working with high profile clients after the fact.  You’ll get a strategy for building a foundation, staying the course, and execution and delivery around what you are offering the client. Jordan shares how to offer a full service company by working with other freelancers that compliment your skill sets. He gives you the steps to build a network with experts in different lanes, team up and partner with them, and build out a world class team.  By bringing in referral fees and saving your clients time searching for other talent it becomes a win-win for you and your clients. Hear why Jordan feels that remote only work and freelancing is the future, and how diversifying your revenue streams is vita

In this episode, my guest freelancer Ellen Goodwin shares how she lost clients and almost lost her business due to procrastination.  We discuss how to work when no one is watching and being consistent to meet deadlines for clients.  You’ll learn about the different types of procrastination and why we procrastinate. Ellen gives tips on how to identify why you are getting distracted and how to address it.  You’ll get action steps to allow for time for distraction and then refocus to get things done.  Here are some things we covered in this episode: How to deal with the feast or famine cycles of freelancing Tips to prepare for downtime when you’re not fully booked Building confidence to prepare for times of insecurity How to overcome procrastination Why do we procrastinate? Different types of procrastination How to make a plan to avoid procrastination Stop blaming yourself and setting yourself up for failure How consistent mini-habits can get you on the right track Reward yourself for meeting productivity goals

In this episode, you’ll hear from freelance translator Maeva Cifuentes.  We discuss where to find clients, how to market your services, and networking on LinkedIn. The principles discussed here apply to any freelance business, no matter your services. You’ll learn what it really looks like to be a translator, beyond speaking the language. Maeva takes you through the day in the life of a translator, and how to be a leader in the industry. Here are some things we covered in this episode: What is the difference in translation and interpreting as a freelancer? What you need to know in the source language to be a translator? What does a typical day look like as a translator? Should you focus on a specialty or be a generalist? How to market your freelance translator services. Things you must do to stand out on LinkedIn. What you should know before deciding to offer translation services. How to prepare for a translation business, beyond speaking the language. How to build relationships with clients. Bio: Maeva has

In this episode, you’ll learn about content repurposing from expert Amy Woods.  We discuss how to take the guesswork out of posting on social media and show up consistently.  By focusing on quality over quantity you can become an industry leader and go-to person when your client has a problem. You’ll learn how to create several weeks’ worth of content from one piece of high-quality content, such as a podcast or blog post. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How to create lots of micro content from one piece of high-quality content How to create and spin one piece of content to fuel your marketing efforts How to create a plan for repurposing long-form content How to choose what you are going to do and staying in your comfort zone Creating content that solves a problem for your client Do at least one thing very consistently and create a system around it How to stay on track with one platform Why you should consider outsourcing and the expected cost Getting referrals from existing clients Content m

In this episode freelance copywriter and screenwriter Marc Isaacs shares what to look for in non-disclosure agreements, the legal implications, and how to grow your freelance business around the confidentiality restrictions. You’ll learn how to leverage the work you’ve done as a freelancer to get other clients while maintaining confidentiality. Here are some things we covered in this episode: What to look for in non-disclosure agreements Getting clarification in NDA’s Should you get an attorney to review NDA? Respecting your client and honoring your agreement Challenges of working around NDA’s and how it affects your freelance business Entering into client relationships when unable to disclose who your client is Leveraging the work you’ve done as a ghost writer to get other clients Getting testimonials and social proof with confidentiality restrictions Should you use an NDA in your own business? Protecting your brand as a freelancer Marc Isaacs is a freelance copywriter and screenwriter based in San Antonio

In this episode Michael Diettrich-Chastain, the CEO of Arc Integrated, talks about being resilient in times of change and uncertainty, and the questions that you need to ask yourself to create momentum in your business. You’ll learn the one thing you can absolutely count on, and how to utilize it to adjust to personal and professional changes. Here are some things we covered in this episode: How all life and work experience is totally relevant to entrepreneurship Using lessons you’ve learned and apply them to your business 7 major predictors of success Change is inevitable Common principles of change What to do in early phases of changes How to thrive in the new normal What questions do you need to ask yourself to create momentum Tools for determining what is holding you back from positive change Michael is the founder and CEO of Arc Integrated, an  Organizational Consulting and Professional Coaching practice in Asheville, NC. Through a focus on change management, emotional intelligence and leadership effec

In this episode Kimber Hill, the Founder and CEO of VirtForce, shares why she pivoted to remote work, and how she now coaches her military community to invest in their career and personal development that launches them into successful Virtual Careers.  She’s a military spouse on a mission to lower the unemployment rate for military spouses. You’ll learn how to gain the confidence and skills you need to work remotely.  We discussed the things that you need to do to prepare and market yourself to the virtual job market. Here are some things we covered in this episode on how to launch your virtual career: Why Kimber left a government contracting position and how she has created a 15 million dollar impact on the military community. What are the mindset obstacles around pivoting to remote work and how do you overcome them? What are the most in demand remote work positions? What is it like to work virtually? How to feel more confident about working virtually? Kimber shares how to break the mental block

In this episode, you’re hearing from another former teacher, Brittany. She’s now a pro in the online service world and helps other teachers break free of working in the long, slow grind that is a career for so many in the U.S. education system. You’ll learn more about Brittany’s big wakeup call and how that pushed her to have clarity in her online business. We discussed some of the challenges of being a modern teacher and why it burns so many educators out. Here are some other things we covered in this episode on moving from teaching to working for yourself: Why teachers make really good fits for running an online business and the personality traits that match that Why working online and helping other people can fulfill your helper mentality by building and serving your own tribe Brittany’s super-smart tip for getting your first couple of clients as a freelancer How to really provide help in Facebook groups without spamming the Internet with a pitch and actually getting clients Why Brittany has tried a lot o

If you’ve always wanted to work with nonprofits or if you’re a writer who wants to broaden your skillset, have you ever considered grantwriting? It’s a different form of copywriting when compared with things like sales copy, but nonprofits frequently don’t have the resources to write their own grants. These grants are key for their funding, so it’s vital they outsource to a freelance grantwriter. In this episode, you’ll hear from veteran grantwriter Teresa Huff so that you can decide whether or not you should be a freelance grantwriter and what it really looks like. We cover a lot in this episode as a teaser for you to consider your next steps and whether you want to learn more about becoming a freelance grantwriter. Some of the most important topics we covered in this episode include: What a grantwriter actually does in helping nonprofits achieve their missions. Why using a mentor was critical for Teresa to learn about something that’s both writing-based and somewhat technical and specific in nature. What y

In this episode, we chatted all things Facebook ads and how Brandi grew her business from service provider to rockstar empire owner. Brandi has does a lot of this without a team. Although there’s definitely a point where you need to outsource to someone like a virtual assistant, Brandi talks about how you can start and grow without the team. Brandi talks about so much in this episode to keep your business simplified and streamlined, including: What systems you really need as a freelancer and which ones you can skip Focus on what matters the most- what Brandi calls her marketing minutes Why niching as a high-end service provider might work for you How to determine when you need to niche down with your offerings or with the kinds of clients you help as a freelancer Why charging hourly can be a problem for you and how you can switch to a different process Why you want to explore your options when you begin your freelance business and why you want to keep looking into new things Why Brandi and her family started

Do you know some of the things that are holding you back from getting great results? Are you nervous about claiming the right pricing? Too many freelancers who are new to working for themselves automatically downgrade what they want to charge because they think they don’t have enough freelance experience. Meet Kelly Cochran, who launched her own work-from-home business after being in the corporate world. In our discussion, we talk about knowing that you’re not the right fit for a corporate or other traditional environment and how to use the experience and strengths you have in a freelance or entrepreneurship capacity. Here are some of the things we discussed in this episode: The mindset and practice pieces you need to do when you leave a corporate job and are now working for yourself. Why you can’t afford not to think of yourself as a CEO Pricing options and what works best when you’re moving from being in a traditional job situation making an hourly rate vs. doing project-based pricing instead. What goes in

In this episode, I talk with someone who founded a job board. We often interact with job boards when we’re applying to different gigs, but have you ever thought about what goes into setting up a freelance job board? Today’s episode guest is Lesley Pyle of Hire My Mom. Moms wanting to work from home and get more flexibility and Lesley was way ahead of the curve on recognizing the need to promote hiring mothers and parents. Not everyone’s path to becoming a freelancer looks the same, but many people are rethinking how and where they work. Starting a freelance side hustle is a great opportunity to explore new passions and decide what’s really best for you. People who want to work from home have a hard time getting started if they don’t have a pipeline for finding clients. In fact, it’s one of the most common hurdles people experience if they don’t have a solid marketing plan. If you’re a new mom or have children already, Hire My Mom might be the perfect site for you to learn about new opportunities! In this epis

In this episode, you’ll hear from two expert web developers and agency owners Jason Martin and Patrick Falvey. You’ll learn about how they made the decision to partner up and why a partnership and agency is the right choice for you so you can decide if this is the right fit for you. You’ll hear advice on how they knew it was going to be a fit because they had worked together and how that helped them decide that being partners set them both up for success in running a freelance agency. Running an agency is very different from working as a solopreneur, but you definitely have the opportunity to benefit from the “two heads are better than one” mentality. How do you choose a partner? How do you set things up from the beginning? How do you know what personality traits you should look for when you want to team up? In this episode, we discussed: Knowing complementary skills and how teaming up as freelancers can make things work The power of setting vision individually and with your partner How do you find a freelan

Did you know that you don't have to scale your freelance business up to a full-time job? Plenty of Freelancers have a goal of scaling their business to be able to replace their day job income, but others are perfectly happy with what they do from 9 to 5. If that's you, you'll love this episode with experienced freelancer and nurse Janine Kelbach, who purposefully keeps her freelance writing biz as a part-time venture simply because she loves her job. Deciding You Need More than Your Day Job If you're like most people, having a day job doesn't fulfill all of your creative or even entrepreneurial desires. This is what makes freelancing so unique as a business model, since you can scale it up or down as much as you want. Taking on the number of clients that is right for you is a very personal decision. Keeping your freelance side hustle, however, also give you peace of mind that if something were to happen to your job, or if you want to accomplish different financial goals more quickly, that you have alternative

It's time for your weekly dose of inspiration and strategy from the Advanced Freelancing podcast. Before I kick off today's episode, if you love this show and listen every week, please hop on over to iTunes and consider leaving the show a review. It helps other people interested in similar content be able to find this show and benefit from all of the great tips that you have already heard. Today's guest wants you to consider one question. What if you could determine who in your audience is your best client in 180 seconds? Juliet Clark is a dynamic and sought after speaker and podcaster, who has spent the last 20 years helping authors, coaches, speakers, and small businesses all over the world build expert platforms. She created a platform building tool that assesses audience obstacles, generates leads, and qualifies leads for businesses. And she says her simple technology can be used from the stage, on social media, and at workshops to create conversations that build long term relationships. She's also the ho