Introducing...
Introducing...
A newsletter for listeners of the 15 Minute Freelancer podcast 😍
Hello there!
Thanks for joining me for the first official 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter.
Why have a newsletter about a podcast? If you create regular content, you may be familiar with the “build + bolt” phenomenon – you put all your effort into making something, and then bam! – as soon you press publish, your mind is already onto the next one.
I’ve done about 65 episodes of this podcast now, and I often rush from one to the next without fully digesting the ideas and insights that bubbled up while I was recording.
So this monthly newsletter is a chance to press pause.
Here, you’ll get a round-up of the episodes that have been released in the previous month (in case you’re not an obsessive Podcast Addict refresher like me), along with my reflections on each episode. What did I learn? What am I doing differently?
Maybe that’ll help you too?
We all know we have to work ON our businesses as well as IN them. I’m pretty sure we can make decent progress, even if we just have 15 mins.
So as you’ll see below, I’m pulling out one 15 Minute Action from each episode, to help you actually implement the ideas in that episode, without having to block out a whole day or hide from your clients in the safety of the local Starbucks.
There’ll be other resources, links, goodies along the way too.
These’ll be bumper emails so just skim for the bits that catch your eye. This is your time – you decide how to use it. Bit of an experiment, so hit reply and let me know what you think.
Ok, onto the meaty stuff!
June kicked off with some brilliant insights on positioning your freelance pricing from Sam and Andrea at Harlow. We covered when you should (and shouldn’t) compare your rates to other freelancers, why hourly rates are a no-no, and why telling a compelling story about your services makes it easier to land higher-paying clients.
If we can’t describe our services, process and value in a way that resonates with clients, we’ll struggle to charge the rates we’d like. I liked the reminder that clients don’t want to worry about being charged more every time they reach out to you, which can happen if you charge by the hour. Package/project-based pricing gets around this – just make sure you charge enough to feel comfortable with throwing in a few extra calls or questions.
🧠 Insight: Sell the transformation, not the deliverables.
➡️ 15 Minute Action: Think about the outcomes clients get when they work with you. Why should they choose you over someone else? Make sure your website tells potential clients about how you package your services, the value they’ll get from those services, and your pricing approach. (Note, I think sharing your pricing helps sift out the tyre-kickers, but if you don’t want to be specific, a ballpark range helps set expectations.)
62. How to use podcast guesting to attract freelance clients (with Anne Claessen)
Next, I got to geek out on podcast guesting with Anne Claessen from Podcast Babes. Being a guest on someone else’s podcast is a great way to get in front of a different audience. If your goal is lead generation, just make sure the audience includes potential clients or people who might refer you to potential clients.
Listen to this one for specifics on how to pitch yourself as the perfect podcast guest (and who to pitch!), and how to prepare so you don’t panic when the light goes red.
🧠 Insight: Don’t be scared to reach out to podcast hosts – most are keen to find guests who can bring something new and relevant to their audiences. Suggesting episode titles for your interview is a good way to catch their attention.
➡️ 15 Minute Action: Make a list of podcasts you’d like to appear on. Note down some stories or insights you can share and start putting together an outreach email that makes it easy for the host to book you in.
63. How to take a break as a busy freelancer
I recorded this one after I got back from my hols. I wondered if people would think, “oh, alright for some”. But this podcast is about designing a freelance career that works for you, which *hopefully* includes time off. It turned out to be a pretty popular episode. I guess we all need a break 🤷🏻♀️
That said, taking time off can be tough when you work for yourself. We worry about letting clients down, missing opportunities, and having to double our output on either side of our break to make up for lost time and money. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, I share 4 tips for taking a break without worrying that your business will disappear when you’re gone.
🧠 Insight: You deserve a break!
➡️ 15 Minute Action: Look at your calendar and block out all your planned holidays for the next months. Add in a couple of extra days as a treat. Future you will thank you.
64. A day in the life of a freelance copywriter
In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a typical day as a freelance copywriter, including:
Revisiting theme days as a way to structure your week
Do I really work just five hours a day?
Reducing decision fatigue and making the most of "shark mode"
Figuring out your anchor actions to get the important bits done.
🧠 Insight: Freedom takes discipline (sorry)
➡️ 15 Minute Action: Try time-blocking your day tomorrow. Think about your top 3 priorities and your anchor actions. Write out the hours in a list on the left side of a page, then block out chunks of time for the work you plan to do. If you don’t stick to it perfectly, it doesn’t matter – but it’ll help you see where you get distracted or over/underestimate how long certain tasks take.
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What was your favourite episode this month? Would love to know what your biggest takeaways were.
Watch out for tomorrow’s episode at – featuring a very special guest 👀
Louise x