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Episode 327: FS 315: Late Paying Whale Clients
Panel: Jeremy Green Erik 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 this may be due to not getting to know everyone in the business and getting the invoice to the right person who responsible for paying invoices. 10:30 - Erik says it is important to get the invoice to the right people because invoice sent to the CTO might not be high on his the priority list. Get it to accounts payable or find out who accounts payable are. 13:30 - Jeremy says to recognize the difference between late payments and laggy payments. Erik talks net 10 or net 30 payments. 15:40 - Jeremy talks about stopping work and getting some kind of payment on late paid invoices. 17:28 - Erik talks about how some clients play games to keep putting your invoices off. Erik talks about techniques to de-prioritized work for the client to understand they have unpaid or late payments. 20:30 - Jeremy mentions knowing your worth. Erik talks about possibly talking legal actions. But asks Jeremy about how he handled not getting paid from a client who owed 80k. Jeremy shares a story on how he structured things to take the lost. 24:00 - Erik talks about thing to do to avoid legal actions. Jeremy shares how he switches to upfront payments. Jeremy explains his explanation to employers for upfront payments. Erik talks about asking them to put some skin in the game or sharing the risk. 29:00 - Erik talks about getting push back and adding fees to those who push back on upfront payment. Jeremy talks about discounts to upfront payments. Erik talks about how these strategies are about de-risking your payments. 31:00 - Erik mentions another strategy to tack on 5% late charge and mention to the client that it is accounting thing. This should serve as a reminder that they are late. 34:00 - Erik says this might be a sign to avoid working with whale clients. Jeremy says you might want to get several smaller clients and having multiple sources of income. 36:00 - Jeremy continues with how to get paid upfront with reengagement with an old client. Jeremy says to look for the structural flaws int system and get new people in the company to help you get paid. 37:50 - Erik says to hope is not a strategy and try to figure out where the issues is to get paid. Jeremy continues to understanding when to pull the plug on working for this kind of client. Sponsors/affiliates Get a Coder Job Freshbooks Picks: Erik Semantic Merge Hit Subscribe Jeremy Rock & Roll with Ember Serverless
Episode 326: FS 314: Starting Freelancing While Employed
Panel: Jeremy Green Erik 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 nature of the work. Erik about work at Hit Subscribe. Erik shares more about working with the company to reform the agreements. 8:50 - Jeremy and Erik talk about moonlight on the “clock” which is a big issue and non-compliance. Jeremy continues to talk about the issues of doing this under the rader. 10:30 - Erik talks about doing a bad job at your full-time job because of moonlighting. Don’t do it while you are at the office. Erik talks about people at the office who know you are running a side business and how to let it be known properly. Make sure your niche is not conflicting with your employer. 14:00 - Jeremy talks about stealing clients from your employer and how that can cause employment issues within the full-time company. Jeremy talks about transitioning from employment to freelancing. 18:00 - Erik talks about bargaining for perks over salary for time or freedom to freelance with your full-time job. 20:00 - Erik shares about signing with the company or letting your employer know about your freelancing work. This will allow you to do more if it is out in the open on social media and Linkedin. Jeremy talks about this could hinder your freelance marketing. 22:00 - Erik talks about masking your identity with a brand, or working under a brand to keep from your employer from knowing about your side hustle. 24:00 - Erik says if freelancing is going to be serious, then freelancing has to be out in the open with your employers. Erik asks Jeremy about when to know to make the switch to freelancing. Jeremy shares about his strategy and mistakes in making this transition. Jeremy talks about working with loan money to fill that gap and building his business. 28:00 - Erik shares about making his jump from full-time salary to freelancing. Jeremy talks about mistakes in full-time salary and comparing that to freelancing work. How do you adjust the hourly rate or salary? Jeremy says this is selling your night and weekends. Jeremy says you will need to work on your business, not in your business. Jeremy also says you need to make more freelancing. 32:00 - Erik talks about the pricing of service and freelancing work. Jeremy talks about delivering values to the client. Erik talks about experience and moonlighting within the company. 35:00 - Erik talks about how freelancing on the side is going to mean more time working. Do what you need to do side hustling, but don’t make it a problem. Jeremy shares about his agency and how they handled moonlighting within the agency. 40:00 - Erik talks about kind of acting as an agent and bringing in moonlighting work. Erik says this is set up is not very common. 43:00 - Make sure your contractually ready to moonlight and don’t charge too little is the takeaway. Also, have a bailout condition. Sponsors/affiliates Get a Coder Job Freshbooks Picks: Erik The North East USA during fall for the amazing views A Hrefs Jeremy Remarq - Now with emoji support
Episode 325: FS 313: When Your Clients are Wrong
Panel: Jeremy Green Reuven Lerner Erick 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 horrible then maybe you can. You have a solution to a problem (you know how to solve this problem!) and your client says, “no.” What then? 3:59 – For me, the arrow in my quiver would be I believe in this so much let’s try it for free and run an experiment, if that’s a cost concern. 4:45 – You are willing to invest in it? 4:53 – Nothing is coming to my mind right now. For my blogging business... If it were years worth of blog posts than I wouldn’t do that for free. 5:47 – When I was doing consulting projects I would recommend: we should store things this way, or...Sometimes my clients will say “NO” this is not the way I want to do it. I was working with a company in Tel Aviv, and I wanted to have a bunch of different columns in the database. The CEO was like you are using all of those columns?! Right, that would work if you were living in the 1960’s! I presented my case to him, but it was the beginning of the end. He still saw himself as the CEO but also a brilliant software guy he didn’t want me second-guessing his brilliant decisions. 7:51 – It’s worth throwing it out there – you always do have the option of going on with idea. Pick your battles – live to live another day. 9:05 – If you come in and say: “I am right and this is why...” they will not go for it. It’s not good to win that argument. Kind of tease it out – let’s look at time and cost. Maybe overtime the customer will see what you are trying to do. 10:02 – It’s a good opportunity to say: Let’s take a step back and see the goals of this project. Maybe we have a mismatch of what our goals are or the current state of the project. I thought you were concerned about X but I see now that you are actually concerned with Y. I see now – maybe I misunderstood your situation. That could help the client refocus. 11:29 – They brought on this team of 40 people in Rails and then realized nobody knew Rails. I had a blast, but the way it worked if something wanted to change something then they would do a change request to the... Panelists go back-and-forth. 15:49 – “I hope I am wrong” mentality might be better than: “Man that is horrible, you are going to fall down on your face.” He talks about a credit card issue and showing that this case had to be implemented with this specific client/company. 18:00 – Advertisement – Digital Ocean! 18:41 – There is a wide range of “wrongness” where clients aren’t in the best place and the level of “wrongness”. We aren’t going to steal a logo for you. Are they asking you to do something wrong or is it a difference between 1% to 2%? 20:20 – This would be a better play vs. something illegal vs. something in-between. If a client is trying to roping you into plagiarism don’t do it. 22:08 – You can say I am turning down this work b/c we won’t be a good fit or I really can’t fulfill what you want me to do and that work can come back to you from another avenue. 22:50 – If you just can’t find anything else, but I know there are people that specialize in x, y, and z. They will finish the work better than me and I would recommend these people for those reasons. They respected that. 23:42 – Blood money – I wouldn’t want to help you for the specific reasons. People will respect that b/c they will see that you have their best interest at heart. Panelists continue to go back-and-forth. 25:47 – Was the client a cheapskate? 26:57 – Engaging with a client and see where they are. Predict future 28:05 – I have a client with a small business and their business in teetering on the edge of collapse. I have been clear with them and they tell me their budget. We just are adding duct tape to the problem just for a quick fix. 29:00 – It would be ideal that you had money but let’s figure out the next, best thing. 29:15 – Okay what do we want to do in 6 months or in a year so that way we can pay for things in installments that is less painful that way. I am trying to think – has anyone asked you to do something truly unethical? 29:48 – Yeah the logo thing was a family dispute. 29:56 – For our blogging agency I was asked to misrepresent something on a website. They asked if we could post a commercial and we were ghost writing it. Anytime that comes up I can pass. It hasn’t come up too much over the years. I cannot stress enough DON’T DO UNETHICAL THINGS. 31:16 – What can you do setup the relationship so this possibly isn’t an issue in the future? 32:00 – Panelist talks about clients and more. The more consultative a relationship is the more they will listen to their expertise. Getting paid for your brains and less for your hands. 32:30 – Most times clients disregard your advice b/c they just see you as a pair of hands. 33:22 – In my initial calls with training people... 34:00 – Panelist talks about his 4-day training course and how companies try to squeeze the program out in only 2-3 days instead, because their workers are “smarter than the average person.” 35:28 – I can point to this data to show that I AM an expert. The more narrow I am with my focus the more they are inclined to hear me out and trust me. 36:11 – I have been doing this for years now I know how long it will take. Other things that we can say about this? 36:32 – General piece of advice would be if the client is disagreeing then it can be a real gut check and it’s important to keep a cool head and you don’t want to fight with your client. 37:35 – Advertisement – Fresh Books! Sponsors/affiliates: Get a Coder Job Digital Ocean Freshbooks Picks: Jeremy Splice Erick: GoodRX Manatee Trello Reuven: Podia The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker
Episode 324: FS 312: The Care and Feeding of an Email List
Panel: Jeremy Green Reuven 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 scheduled type email tasks. 7:20 - Reuven talks about what a broadcast email list is according to Drip, as well as Drop Campaigns. Reuven explains how these email campaigns work and how they function to market a product. Reuven explains how to gain or collect emails. 10:00 - Reuven explains how to write up emails to keep your audience or lists in the loop of your products or whatever you are doing? 11:00 - How to get people on these mailing lists? Reuven explains how to collect emails for your campaign. Reuven talks about how Lead Magnet work to collect emails. Reuven continues with Content Upgrades, Email Courses, and other clever ways to collect or build up a marketing list. 14:00 - Reuven explains opting out, and how this email market is a cost-free way to market. He also talks about Lead Ads on Facebook as another way to market, but it is not free. 17:00 - Some talk about the trials of unsubscribes. Reuven concludes his setup of his email lists 20:03 - Jeremy asks about reusing content and the extent of creating content. Reuven explains that this leads to people creating a book or ebook our of all the content that create for their email lists. Reuven talks about engaging with the audience or lists. 23:00 - Reuven talks about reusing content in his training material and how is cross pollenates. 24:00 - Jeremy ask about how Reuven goes about pruning his list of those who are not activate with the email content. Reuven explains open rates and other analytic measures and how to read those numbers. Jeremy says he is anti-pruning of his lists. 27:00 - Reuven talks about messages going into junk mail, and other kinds of undefined or unopened emails. 29:00 - Jeremy talks about overcoming personal views on email and putting out content to people. Reuven talks about the response email to this subscribers. 32:00 - Jeremy ask about compiling with GDPR. Is this important to know about email lists. Reuven talks about how he takes care of this GDPR compliance action. Reuven talks about ways to workaround those who want to resubscribe. Jeremy explain his actions with GDPR compliance. 35:00 - Small business and privacy verses huge corporations. Daily messages. Revue talks more about writing and hiring to write content in place of himself to product content. As well as hiring to guest post and generate sales. Sponsors/affiliates Get a Coder Job Digital Ocean Code Badges Links Drip: getdrip.com Mailchimp: Mailchimp.com Content Upgrades: http://rightmessage.io/ RightMessage: http://rightmessage.io/ Sumo: Sumo.com Picks: Jeremy RightMessage Reuven Blind Ambition, by John Dean
Episode 323: FS 311: Choosing a Specialty
Panel: Jeremy Green Erick Dietrich Reuven 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 in a few things rather a bunch of general bunch of things 6:20 - Reuven shares how he got into specializing starting from Pearl to training in Ruby. Reuven talks about how know Python led his to training more often, then eventually decided to work from Israel and working on the training/consulting platform. 10:25 - Erick talks about back into the specialty or finding what you are naturally great at. Jeremy talks about finding prospective buyers and getting in the door with them easier. 12:00 -Turning down work that is out of your specialty but take the work if you need it. 14:00 - Look around and find out what is working. Focus on what you are good at, but think more about what you are hearing people need. Listen for the demand. Reuven talks about choosing something you like and interest you. 17:10 - Noting is permanent. You can change your specialty if you need too. Marketing yourself to different people in different ways. Reuven talks about niche AB testing. 20:00 - Reuven talks about Phillip Morgan’s book on specializing. Phillip Morgan consulting. 23:00 - Erick task about listening to the pain points of your clients to find opportunities. Reuvnen talks about making his want to a consultant to a trainer. Branding yourself and people will call you up for work. 27:00 - Erick asks - Is there an organic way to find your specialty? Reuven says people he know that people just “fall-into” their speciality. Reuven gives Andrew Madsen as an example with credit unions. 31:00 - Reuven talks about the roles of peoples jobs and getting exposed to what kinds of jobs are out there. Reuven talks about going to conferences. Going to conferences of potential clients as an idea to market. 34:00 - Erick talks about gaining expertise by writing about it and seeing who contact you about it. Jeremy talks more about writing and bring in business for your business. 40:00 - Jeremy talks about when it is time to find something else. Reuven that your niche is similar to marketing yourself. 43:00 - Reuven talks about establish what you don’t do as anti specializing. Reuven talks about trying several things to understand what you want to specialize in. Erick says not to procrastinate or indecision to put of life or career goals. Sponsors/affiliates Get a Coder Job Digital Ocean Code Badges Picks: Erik Guideline Hit Subscribe authorship Jeremy Phillip Morgan consulting Reuven WeeklyPythonExercise.com From Cold War to Hot Peace, by Michael McFaul) War on Peace by Farrow
Episode 322: FS 310: Working with Recruiters
Panel: Jeremy Green Erick 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 recruiters What recruiters are looking for - full-time employees The preferred way of working - W2 employment Not being seen as worth recruiter time as a contract worker Placement for staff augmentation and freelance The downsides of working with recruiters Successful placement with recruiters Intro projects via recruiters Recruiters taking a percentage Job boards Organizations over recruiters Working as a sub-contractor via agency Flipping a full-time offer intro a contract Labor laws Wasting an employers time with a switch from W2 to Contract Make your intentions clear as a freelancer Working with trusted recruiters and much more. Picks: Erik: Hit Subscribe authorship Hubspot Jeremy Mirror Placement Robert Half
Episode 321: FS 309: The Essential Consultant Library
Panel: Reuven Lerner Jonathan 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 learning Books that help in various ways for business Value-Based Fees by Alan Weiss The Positioning Manual by Philip Morgan Selling to Big Companies by Jill Konrath The Secret of Selling Anything by Harry Browne How to Measure Anything by Douglas Hubbard Just F Ship by Amy Hoy Double Your Freelancing Rates by Brennan Dunn Hourly Billing is Nuts by Jonathan Stark The Brain Audit by Sean D’Souza Patrick McKenzie website Getting Things Done by David Allen And much more! Sponsors/Affilates FreshBooks Digital Ocean Picks Jonathan Little Nightmares Jonathan's Reading List The Pricing Seminar Reuven Lerner We Chat MEET
Episode 320: FS 308: Getting Into Your Clients Heads with Josiah Mory
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 clients Freelancing Learning from podcasts Offering up skills Allowing the conversation to flow Their frustrations in the business Building relationships with customers Just ask “How is business” Finding out where clients are at Optimizing Sales What steps would you take after finding out where your prospects are at? Business happens over the phone Cash flow And much more! Links Kickinbahk Productions Joisah Mory’s LinkedIn Picks: Jonathan The Pricing Seminar Canon EOS M50 Josiah ONKRON Monitor Desk Mount Josiah's 5-day email course Josiah's website
Episode 319: FS 307: Dealing with Inbound Communications
Panel: Jonathan Stark Erik 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 enough Needing better ways to manage inbound communication Very difficult to manage when there is a lot coming in Do you mean just email or multiple channels? What are your channels of inbound communication? Working on ways to optimize Moving urgent client communication to Slack The difference between Slack and Email Declaring email bankruptcy The ability to ignore email inbox Gmail plugins to help Buffering emails Only checking slack for paying customers Go in once a day to clean up your incoming communication Not knowing an email is there VS strenuously trying to avoid it The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss Getting Things Done – David Allen Triaging your inbox Only focus on the urgent to-dos Be honest with yourself so your to do list doesn’t get too long If you don’t feel the need to get to it within a week, it’s not that important Suffering from inbox overload To get less email, you can respond less frequently And much, much more! Links: The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss Getting Things Done – David Allen Sponsors: FreshBooks Linode Picks: Jonathan Calendly Guide to Winning Clients by David A. Fields The Pricing Seminar Erik Getting Things Done SiteGround Calendly
Episode 318: FS 306: Vacations
Panel: Reuven Lerner Jeremy 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 failure Take vacations and enjoy them! Deep misunderstandings on the idea of too much work and no play The need to recharge Harder to not take vacations when you have a family Actually taking a vacation when you go on vacation Stress with dealing with clients while on vacation Your business won’t collapse if you step away for a few days Hustle culture Unhealthy cultural baggage College started these bad habits It’s okay not to make 100% of the money you could if you stayed up till 2 every night It’s better to make less and have a better life Forcing yourself to stay in work mode Working mothers Getting more sleep makes your more efficient Encourage yourself to stay on topic at work and you will have more free time for yourself How do you tell your clients you won’t be available? Boundary setting Prepare your clients before you leave And much, much more! Sponsors: FreshBooks Picks: Reuven Weekly Python Exercise Jeremy Melodics
Episode 317: FS 305: Making a Good Impression
Panel: Reuven Lerner Jeremy Green Erik 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 you Where you should and should not put your effort In many cases, potential clients don’t look at your website Your website isn’t make or break Unless you show your website to people, no one will be going there Having a website vs a blog How to get exposure on the internet Hooking blog up to aggregation engines Getting the content out on your website is the most important step Make sure your content is aimed at your customers, not your peers Why people are contacting you Giving people weekly reminders When you get clients from referrals, how do you hit it off with them? Point people to your site Having a syllabus on your website Pointing to a portfolio Using testimonials from past bosses, clients, or peers Where else, other than your website, can you promote yourself? Building business off your open source contributions Walking the “line” Building a strong image of yourself And much, much more! Sponsors: FreshBooks Picks: Reuven Can Democracy Survive Global Capitalism? by Robert Kuttner Robert Kuttner Talk Jeremy increaseyourconsultingfees.com Erik Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port Microsoft Azure
Episode 316: FS 304: Writing Better Project Proposals
Panel: Jonathan Stark Jeremy Green Erik 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/service Don’t present yourself as a commodity Write project proposals in a “language” that people can understand Not always the proposal is what is bad Giving the clients useless updates Fear of being called to the carpet of your pricing Trying to educate clients when they don’t care Simple ways to get your point across to clients Not understanding the customer Having multiple types of customers Feeling like you’re being talked down to Most clients’ main priority is that you get done what they need done Value pricing Clients who like to nickel and dime you Clients who fight you every step of the way People will hire you because you are the expert How to be treated like an expert Target clients who don’t specialize in what you do Value-based proposals versus labor based proposals Sanity checks Why conversations And much, much more! Sponsors: FreshBooks Picks: Jonathan Goliath Jeremy Remarq Erik Diablo 2 Capital One
Episode 315: FS 303: Genesis of a Course
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 courses Allows you to upsell Offer a wider variety of courses They (Business) see you as an authority Where to get Ideas for new courses Working with clients to get ideas Learning about demand Title of the course Sending the course syllabus to companies ROI of the course Teaching a months worth of information? Competition means there is a market Starting off with the course, targeting, etc Using Keynote Slide decks Time put in to build out a course Preparation equals 3-4 days for each day of teaching Creating exercises Practice adding exercises Resistance on a new course Give material out as Webinars Where and how to announce the new course This is going to take weeks and months to create And much more! Links: https://lerner.co.il https://twitter.com/reuvenmlerner?lang=en https://il.linkedin.com/in/reuven https://github.com/reuven Sponsors/Affiliates FreshBooks Picks Reuven Lerner Bluedio T4S
Episode 314: FS 302: Business Cards and Other Items
Panel: Eric Dietrich Jeremy Green Reuven 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 approach Putting your business cards in peoples hands and clarifying what you do Taglines on your card What you do information on your card ROI on cards Make connections with business cards LinkedIn over business cards Marketing assets that lead to a digital funnel Mail Things that stand out and make your business card memorable Jump drives QR Codes The main point it for someone to remember you and want to do business with you Digital products Coupons for books T-Shirts Useful things to have to market yourself And much more! Sponsors/Affiliates FreshBooks Picks Eric Dietrich Scishow Amazing headphones Jeremy Green Rock and Roll with EmberJS Reuven Lerner Naked Statistics
Episode 313: FS 301: Chaos Clients
Panel: Reuven Learner Jeremy Green Erik Dietrich Jonathan 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 client Maybe fire them if you can’t see them changing Have individual fire-drill pricing Wait to address the situation in a low-emotion time Try to become more proactive in the future with them Higher price tags for these clients Price tag for your misery vs getting rid of these clients Be careful with just raising prices Push back in ways that make the client revise their priorities Understanding that not everything needs to be done ASAP Part of your job is to calm clients down Helping a client with an actual emergency vs helping a client who self-inflicts problems Chronic chaos clients Preventing these “fire drills” in the future Only push off other projects when talking with the person of authority on the project Pricing can be used to discourage clients from doing things And much, much more! Sponsors: FreshBooks Linode Picks: Jonathan The Expert Video Flawless Consulting The Freelancer's Roadmap by Jonathan Stark Reuven Everybody Lies by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Weekly Python Exercise Jeremy Remarq The Key to Increasing Your Consulting Fees Erik Horkey Handbook