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.   The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of the show. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google ..read more

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 the stock market, unemployment rates and economic growth. All those factors seem to be pointing to a strong economy. But the marketing profession is seein ..read more

For many years there has been a myth among journalists that journalism and content marketing can’t coexist.  You either have to focus on journalism work or on content marketing, but not on both.  But this belief is based on false assumptions and outdated beliefs. And in this week’s episode, you’ll hear why you can do both very successfully as a freelance writer.   And, in fact, why you may actually WANT to focus on both.  My guest is Lindy Alexander, an award-winning freelance food, travel and lifestyle writer and content creator living in the vibrant goldfields town o ..read more

This episode is very different from what I typically do on this show.  It’s a candid conversation between Sarah Greesonbach and me on a number of random topics.  Sarah is not only a very talented B2B writer, she’s also the founder of the B2B Writing Institute, an excellent coach to other B2B writers, a coaching client of mine and a friend.   We get into a number of topics, including where and how we face resistance … where we fall short … life experiences that shaped who we are today … how we make big decisions … fear … being kind to yourself … our pet peeves about the free ..read more

2023 has not been a great year for many writers and solo marketing professionals.   And when business is not great, one of the first things we ask ourselves is, Should I change or modify my offerings? Will that make a difference?  It’s a great question to ask yourself. But it’s important that you go about your decision in a more methodical way. So rather than just go with your gut, you’ll make better decisions if you take a more analytical approach to this challenge.  In this episode, we’re addressing this question head on. My guest is Nikki Rausch. Nikki is a selling coach ..read more

We truly don’t talk enough about money and prosperity in the freelancing community. And that’s too bad, because the more we talk about this issue in positive and productive ways, the greater the chances our businesses will succeed.   I mean… imagine companies like Microsoft, Apple, Walmart or Ford Motor Company ignoring money discussions and decisions. It would spell disaster!  Many solo professionals avoid the topic because they were raised to believe that money is a taboo topic. Or because of other long-held beliefs about money that no longer serve them (and perhaps never have ..read more

How do you feel about outsourcing some of your work?  Most writers I talk with are either completely against this idea. Or they tell me that they’ve tried it and it didn’t work out. Or that they like the concept, but it just wouldn’t work for them.   I get it. I used to feel the same way.  But there’s a big problem with that kind of thinking: it’s one-dimensional. It’s a “yes or no” thing. Purely binary.  I’ve seen enough successful outsourcing examples in the world of freelancing to know that there are many different ways of solving the problem.  And in this week ..read more

One of the most important capabilities you can develop as a self-employed professional is the ability to pivot and adapt as your business grows and your life situation evolves.  Not only is life full of surprises, but what worked for you 5 years ago may not be as palatable today. Whether it’s the types?of clients you work with, the type of work you, pursue or the side projects you take on.   Marjorie Turner Hollman is an excellent example of this. A long-time writer, Marjorie has faced a number of challenges in her life—including some physical disabilities—that have forced her to rei ..read more

There’s a story I’ve come across a few times, most recently in the excellent book Essentialism by Greg McKeown. When Steve Jobs was looking for a logo for his company NeXT, he turned to renowned graphic designer Paul Rand—known for his work on the logos of IBM, UPS, Westinghouse and other famous brands. The story goes that Jobs asked Rand to come up with a few options. But little did he know that Rand didn’t work that way. He told Jobs, “I’m not going to do that. I will solve your problem for you. And you will pay me. And you don’t have to use the solution. If you want options, go talk to othe ..read more

When your business gets really challenging, it’s very common to feel like you need to make a drastic move.   Like pivoting to a different target market. Or offering a totally different set of services. Or moving out of freelancing and into a traditional job.  These are very common feelings. And let me tell you … I feel this way at least two or three times a year.  Yes, I really do.   In today’s short episode I share my thoughts and reflections on this dilemma. Whether you’re happy where you are or you feel like a big change is in order, I think you’ll find it usef ..read more