Shows
Freelance Road Trip PodcastApplying Tips, Tactics, and Strategies In Your Freelance BusinessSome key business challenges for freelance creatives include overcoming recurring problems and ensuring that daily practices are aligned with long-term strategy and purpose. We often resort to applying quick fixes which can be superficial rather than working to discover why the problems recur. Alvalyn Lundgren discusses the differences between tips, tactics, and strategies in growing a freelance business, and shares her experience of transforming her freelance business from serving low-value clients to high-value clients. She emphasizes that while tips provide quick fixes, they are superficial and short-term, whereas tactics are planned actions based on a strategic plan to achieve long-term g...
2025-10-3020 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDo You Want To Be The Cheapest Option?How do you create high-value perception with a skeptical client? Why do so many clients think creative work is worth so little, or that we're charging too much? It seems they tend to look for the cheapest option. Attracting high value clients you can work with over the long term requires a change in focus and approach. While platforms like Canva and tech like AI are impacting opportunities for new projects, what we creatives need to focus on is how clients perceive our craft and our roles. In this episode Alvalyn tackles ways freelancers can position and differentiate in...
2025-09-2519 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastScams and Other Money TrapsA decades-old scam involving bogus high money design projects continues to target freelance creatives. Alvalyn shares how she first experienced the scam and almost became a victim. Through that, she learned the clues to watch out for. The tactics are varied, but the structure of the scam is the same. In this episode, she shares what to watch out for so you won't be deceived, and also describes some legitimate business services that can save you time but cost you double. Are they worth it?
2024-11-1416 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastAn Attitude For SuccessIn this episode, Alvalyn discusses the importance of establishing and maintaining an "abundance" mindset for achieving career and creative success. She emphasizes how success is not limited by resources, but is instead created through taking action, setting goals, and plotting strategies. It's necessary to maintain an "unlimited" mindset during times of adversity because it affects outcomes. If you don't adopt a success mindset you can end up handicapping your future as a freelance creative.
2024-03-2120 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWho's In Control?If you're a freelancer you're not an employee. Yet many independent contractors position themselves as an employee for all practical purposes when working with clients. This approach can end up costing you in a number of ways. The difference between independent contractorship and employee status lies not only in your intention but also in your actions. You have to make a very clear distinction about who's in control of your working relationships — you or your clients. In this episode I present three points of control the IRS looks at to determine if you're an independent contractor or a misclassified emp...
2022-04-2221 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastSales Taxes, Income Taxes, and Freelance CreativesOne aspect of freelancing is that you get to deal with different kinds of taxes. In this episode, which is sparked by a conversation with one of my coaching clients, I discuss income taxes and sales taxes, and your responsibilities as a freelance business owner. Treating your freelancing as a business, and taking care of business, frees you up to focus on your creative work.
2022-04-0725 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Protect Your Work During A Creative ReviewAs a follow-on to a recent episode, I go in-depth into why and how it's important for both our clients and us to ensure our work isn't used before it's ready. Creative reviews — those work-in-progress presentations with the client — can be opportunities for the client to take hold of the work before contract terms are fulfilled. How can you prevent that from happening? Here's how I do it.
2022-03-1612 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastMake Your Marketing EasierMarketing is a necessary part of any business, but creative freelancers aren't always comfortable doing it. Kick the "I hate marketing" catchphrase to the curb with a practical approach that looks at marketing, branding, and messaging as a way of giving value to your prospective clients.
2022-03-0716 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhen Your Client Treats You Like You're Their EmployeeWhat do you do when a client wants to treat you as an employee rather than an independent freelance business owner? I answer two questions from freelancers dealing with this conundrum: the first centers on a retainer agreement and the second is dealing with a performance review. I present the case for why you're not an employee, and ways you can respond if you find yourself working with a client who wants control. A third question deals with how to protect your work during a creative review.
2022-02-0524 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Crush Those Freelancing FearsWe all have them... those fears and uncertainties that restrict our forward motion. In this episode I share some insights about fear, risk, and consequences, and how you can accelerate through your own freelancing fears and leave them in the dust cloud behind you.
2022-01-2821 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThe Value Of Our Creative WorkOne of the things that is often disregarded is the value of creativity, and especially the value of creativity to business. There's the mindset that, "You're doing what you love to do. It's creative, it's fun. You shouldn't expect to be paid much for it because your payment is in the enjoyment of what you do." That's true to some extent — we should enjoy our work. The thing is, though, that we need to look at what we do as having value beyond just the enjoyment. In Episode 101 I state the case that commerce and media need what we cr...
2022-01-2014 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHelping You Navigate A Changing LandscapeThe landscape is changing for freelancers. How do we navigate successfully? I share an update about the ABC Test that's in California's AB5 law and it's big brother, the PRO Act which has passed in the House of Representatives and is being considered in the Senate, and how freelancers have been and can be adversely affected by new labor laws. To maintain your independence, develop your business skills. I created Freelance Road Trip to teach you how to earn your living from your creative work.
2021-08-1515 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast3 Criteria Creatives Use To Solve Business ProblemsBy way of a true story to illustrate the point, I share a mindset shift for visual creatives who want to elevate their status, pricing, and creative leadership when working with clients. That's by understanding what it is we really do which is far more than making things look good. The true value in what we do as creatives is in how we combine these 3 criteria in our work for clients.
2021-08-0920 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Say No To Problem Clients, Scope Creep, and Bad IdeasIt seems counter intuitive to turn down a project when you need the income. But saying NO is sometimes the best thing to do for the sake of your future. Turning down a client may in fact be the best business decision you make in a day. Here's why, and how to say no to prospective clients, scope creep, and bad ideas.
2021-07-3128 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast4 Time Management Principles To Transform Your Work WeekWhether you freelance full-time or part-time, these time management principles will help you win the struggle to juggle the professional and personal aspects of your life.
2021-07-2526 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhat We Have Here Is A Failure To CommunicateBased on a true account of a miscommunication between me and one of my design students, I discuss the importance of being specific in what we communicate to clients, getting to the point, and diagnosing their needs accurately. It's also important that your client accurately receives what you're communicating. Both parties are responsible for communicating well. Good communication saves you time, builds trust, manages expectations, and reduces wrong assumptions.
2021-07-1716 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThe Designer, the Infographic, and the Unhappy ClientDon't have conversations on the back end of a project that you should have had on the front end. When things go south with a client because they were expecting one thing and you were expecting another, it can ruin your relationship but also your reputation with future clients. Using a true story as the basis, I share how and why we freelance creatives need to manage expectations.
2021-07-1120 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastMark-ups, Minimums, and Managing MoneyHow do you create a budget when your freelance income isn't steady? Can you mark up project-related expenses without feeling guilty? In this episode I answere these and other money-related questions submitted by readers and listeners.
2021-07-0320 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Craft Your Professional PortfolioYour portfolio isn't just about getting you your next client. It's a springboard into your future. It's a primary means of attracting clients you're best suited to serve. I share specific how-tos for creating a high quality, consistent portfolio that best represents your expertise, and the critical thinking behind the tips. The episode includes an excerpt from my online course, Crafting Your Professional Portfolio, which I've taught at design schools and is available to members inside the Freelance Road Trip program.
2021-06-2724 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastMake Your Portfolio A Marketing ToolIf you're a self-employed professional creative, you offer solutions to business and life problems. Your portfolio then, isn't a showcase of art, design, or photography, but a collection of creative solutions. The most effective portfolios demonstrate how you solve clients' problems. I share some practical, professional tips to help you sharpen your portfolio to attract the kinds of clients and projects you're best suited for.
2021-06-1916 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastMaster the Client Discovery CallA prospective client discovery session allows you the opportunity to manage expectations before you enter a working relationship. By asking the right kinds of questions you communicate to your client your expertise and empathy, and your ability to solve their business problem with your creative solutions. In this episode I outline proven tactics for a successful discovery call and subsequent project.
2021-06-1324 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast10 Red Flag Warnings Freelancers Shouldn't IgnoreIt's no fun being trapped in a bad working relationship with a difficult client. We can put filters in place to screen out prospects who aren't a good fit for us, but what do we do when things begin well but go sour in the middle of a project? It's important to recognize the "red flags" and deal with them so that you can maintain a comfortable working relationship with your client. I break out 10 red flags that can pop up before and during a project. Why should you be aware of warning signs? Because these types of problems can...
2021-06-0619 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDetours Are Not Your DestinyMany freelance creatives deal with having to do things to pay the bills while we're developing our freelance careers. The usual thinking is that these jobs are holding us back from doing our preferred work, stepping into our callings, and reaching our destinies. Rather than being deterrents, detours can be useful in a variety of ways, actually preparing and training us to do our best work.
2021-05-2924 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcastbusiness, creative, design, designer, freelance, freelancing, mindset businessplan, goals, goalsettingYou may not need a business plan to start your freelance business, but once you get a few clients under your belt you'll want to create one. A business plan acts as compass to keep you focused on the important things. It helps you control and manage outcomes. It helps you make good business decisions. Your business plan doesn't need to be a lengthy doc. I outline what to include in your plan and how those elements support your decisions and long-term success.
2021-05-2228 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Care For Your SuppliersNo freelancer ever does a project entirely on their own. A reliable support network is crucial to getting the job done. Freelance creatives focus more on attracting and working with clients but often neglect to invest the same level of relational care into their supplier network. In this episode I share why we need to apply the "Golden Rule" with our suppliers, a couple true stories from my own experience, and unpack specific areas to watch out for in keeping those relationships respectful and mutually beneficial.
2021-05-1426 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhy Strategy Trumps TacticsIndependent creatives are known to seek out quick-win tips and tactics to fix their immediate problems. But if you want to build a sustainable business around your creative work, you need a strategic plan that acts as both a compass and an anchor. While both strategy and tactics are necessary and useful. This episode introduces the concept of strategic thinking connected to your larger purpose, and attaching your goals and action steps.
2021-05-0718 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastYour Client Is Not Your EnemyEver have a client relationship turn sideways or go south? If you've been freelancing awhile you've likely experienced when a client shifts expectations or makes an odd request. Poor relationships with your clients can affect not just your freelance business, but your creative drive, your household, your friendships, your loved ones, and even your future success. Using a true story shared by a fellow freelancer, I unpack a strategy and share what, in my experience, is the number on reason why good working relationships take a wrong turn and freelancers find themselves fighting their clients rather than partnering with them t...
2021-04-3020 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast5 Practical Steps To Shift From "Artist" To Owner of a Freelance BusinessThe allure of freelancing... Why do we do it? And then, how do we do it? The freelance economy is growing across all sectors. According to a Gallup–Upwork poll, there are around 57M independent contractors in the US currently. The majority of those is creatives. To freelance successfully means you're taking care of business so that you are free to focus on your creative work. How can you avoid fizzling out and having to return to a soul-crushing day job that's not a good fit for your creativepreneurial spirit? There are 5 steps you can take that will empower you...
2021-04-2422 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastUse Creative Briefs To Build TrustAre you using a creative brief, also know as assignment or design brief, in your project development process? A brief can help you build trust with your clients for a variety of reasons. In this episode I share what a brief is and how your client relationships and freelance business as a whole can benefit by using them.
2021-04-1622 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastCultivating Limitless SuccessHow you think affects how well you do creatively and business-wise. What you think either hinders or promotes. We all struggle with limiting beliefs and negative thinking, but we don't have to embrace them. In this episode I share for your consideration a mindset shift through the analogy of gardening and farming. This may make a difference for you if you're struggling as a freelance creative.
2021-04-1031 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow The PRO Act Will Make Life Worse For FreelancersThe PRO Act, which is now included in the massive infrastructure bill, and the Worker Flexibility and Small business Protection Act, will make things very difficult for freelance creatives if it becomes law with the ABC test intact. If freelancing and independent contracting is no longer considered legitimate, and we all have to be employees, what do we lose? Whether or not an employer is a union shop or not, what do we lose? Don't take this discussion as a rant against unions or the trades, but as a genuine concern for the fallout we get to deal with if t...
2021-04-0230 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastBudgeting Smarts For FreelancersMoney is a necessary tool in business and life, and freelancers can embrace the budgeting process creatively. Budgeting is good stewardship, and enables you to maintain momentum when your income fluctuates month to month. A spending plan can help you become more profitable because it gives you more control. I share an approach to your spending plan that's flexible, practical, and immediately actionable. Feast or famine income isn't an excuse to not have a budget.
2021-03-2625 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastContracts, Spec Work, and the Friends & Family PlanFreelance creatives can often get stuck on smaller problems, odd requests, and indecision. To that end, I offer insights to questions listeners and readers have asked regarding working on spec (speculatively), contracts, legal business structures, and when your clients are family members or friends.
2021-03-2024 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDoes Formal Design Education Matter?A young designer asked me if formal education makes a difference in becoming successful. Having earned a degree, and having taught part-time in a design program for 25 years in addition to my design work, I have some bias about this topic. I frame my response with my bias in mind. The designer who posed the question is not formally trained. Her question was if formal education makes a difference and not if it is necessary for success as a creativepreneur.
2021-03-1115 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhy the PRO Act Should Scare YouFreelancers of all types should be concerned about pending labor legislation. The ABC test to determine independent contractor vs. employee status in California's independent contractor law is being pushed forward nationally in the forms of the PRO Act and the Worker Flexibility and Small Business Protection Act. I share what the ABC test is, why it should be a huge concern for you, what it's done in California, how it will affect your business and income if these bills pass, and what you can do about it.
2021-03-0533 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThings They Don't Teach You In Design SchoolTalent, passion and a portfolio will get you through school, but you can't build a business on them. There's a gap between school and making a living. The gap exists even if you didn't attend design school. Now more than ever, freelancers need to get serious about business skills if they hope to attract clients, increase their profits, and support their lives through their creative work. Lack of knowledge is the problem Freelance Road Trip fixes. Part 1 of a 3-part series on filling the knowledge gap.
2021-02-2622 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastFor Better Results Add Pliability To Your PlanningThings don't always go the way you planned, especially when it's more than just you involved. Clients and colleagues will surprise you. Responding well whether you're in the middle of favorable or unfavorable happenstances requires anticipating the possibilities. I share my experience preparing to be a guest on a popular podcast, and what I learned from it.
2021-02-1911 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastShould Freelancers Work With Family and Friends? Friends and family should not be in your "ideal client" description. Why? Because all sorts of unexpected things happen that can suck your time, stress you out, and make you wish you'd never said "yes." In the episode I share what happened with one of my client/friend projects, and how you can avoid problems in any working relationship simply by implementing and following through on your own business policies. Avoid drama and resentments by keeping your professional boundaries intact.
2021-02-1110 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastBetter Clients Through FilteringDo you accept every client and project that comes your way? Have you ever worked with a client where things began well but soon went sideways? Every freelancer who's been in it for a few years has at least one story to tell. If you'd prefer not having stories to tell, start filtering out less desirable projects and clients so you can say yes to your best kinds of clients. In this episode I share my filters and non-negotiables for qualifying prospective clients, along with a few true stories. It's okay to say "no".
2021-02-0416 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastAesthetics, Your Clients, and YouA book review and discussion of why aesthetics matter in business, commerce, communication, and branding. I describe the difference between aesthetic principles — the form (or visual) language — and the idea of personal or corporate style/aesthetic. And I explain why the work you create for your clients is valuable and your "job" as a creative pro is legit. The book: "Aesthetic Intelligence: How To Boost It and Use It in Business and Beyond" by Pauline Brown. Published by Harpers Business.
2021-01-2821 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow Setting Goals Helps You SucceedAs a freelance creative, you get to design your own success. Your whole life relies on your ability to achieve your professional objectives, so success isn't optional. Setting significant goals is one of the most powerful things you can do to accelerate your business. Here are essential insights and a strategic approach to goal-setting that can help you ensure success and longevity.
2021-01-2120 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDon't Fall For This ScamScammers are highly creative in who and how they target. No one is exempt. This creative project scam, in which the scammers pose as businesses or start-ups to target independent creatives, has been circulating in various forms for more than 15 years. I share my first experience with this scam, what I learned, and how to spot the scam so you don't take the bait.
2021-01-1517 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast12 Rules For Freelance SuccessI share a few of my rules and business policies which have helped me build a successful freelance business. These have kept me from making bad decisions. Some have been formed on the fly and others have been established as the result of a sad situation. Some are simply common sense. No matter what the impetus is for creating a rule, the purpose is to protect my creativity and livelihood.
2021-01-0722 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast7 Things You Must Do To Start FreelancingDo you want to build a business our of your creative work? Stop thinking like an artist and starting acting like a business owner. Start with these 7 easy-to-do things to set up a firm foundation for your freelance design, photography, copywriting, or illustration business.
2020-12-2518 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastIs It Time For A Rest Stop?My 3 dogs, who enjoy lying around in puddles of sunlight all day, are the inspiration for this discussion about the importance of rest to you success, overall well-being, and creative energy. On any road trip, rest stops provide a welcome respite. It's no different for your freelance journey. I present two ways to think about rest and 3 reasons you need to take it seriously as you launch and build your freelance business.
2020-12-1821 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Listen To Your ClientsListening belongs before you begin and and all the way through to the end of a creative project. It's possible to win better clients and maintain healthy working relationships through active, focused listening. Effective listening helps you to frame a premise that you can use as the basis for your creative solutions, and build trust with your clients. Practice these 5 tips for listening in all of your business and client conversations. Listening well is the foundation for great working relationships and successful creative work.
2020-12-1016 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastPlanning For A Prosperous YearIt's annual planning season! Where have you come from? Where are you going? In this episode I unpack a successful planning process. Planning gives us a road map to follow. Instead of launching the new year with a few nebulous resolutions, we can have clear goals, strategies and tactics in place that will empower us to make a difference. In planning you define your purpose and bench marks. With a solid destination and purpose — and if we've written them down and schedules — we're far more likely to achieve our goals than if we choose to wing it.
2020-12-0535 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhy Clients Don't PayMost clients will pay you — on time. But it happens that some don't. There are a variety of reasons why some don't pay. No matter what the reason, non-payment is one of the most frustrating and commonplace problems freelance creatives deal with. When it happens, what's your response? You need an easy and effective response so that other projects aren't compromised. In this episode I start out with policies you can implement to reduce the likelihood of non-payment, walk through a 3-part follow up sequence, and wrap up with a litany of 10 common reasons why clients don't pay.
2020-11-2721 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastProject Management For Creative FreelancersHow do you manage your creative projects from beginning to end? How do you keep track multiple, concurrent projects at various stages of development? Basic project management skills are essential for your success as a freelance creative. In this episode I share methods to manage project details to ensure an organized workflow, effective results, and, ultimately, satisfied clients.
2020-11-2122 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhy Clients LeaveOne inconvenient truth about freelancing is the fact that, no matter how well you get along with your clients, no matter how effective your work is, or how smoothly a project is going, clients will leave you. Even long-term client relationships come to an end. I lay out 12 reasons why clients leave, and most of them have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of your relationship or the effectiveness of your work. And, I share a 4-point approach to working with your clients to keep them returning to you.
2020-11-1424 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThis Will Keep You GoingEvery freelance creative needs a vision — a reason to look beyond their current circumstances. Our work has to be about more than simply making a client happy or earning a living. Vision keeps us moving forward toward a better future, helps us make good decisions, and set meaningful goals. Without vision, we will falter and even given up. In this episode I explore the important of vision and share how to craft a vision statement you can hang your hat on.
2020-11-0819 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast4 Keys To Success for Freelance CreativesWhether you serve clients by offering creative services and creative results are your clients, or you create a product that you sell to customers, you won't accomplish anything without addressing four aspects of success. I describe these as mission, mindset, mechanics, and marketing. These all work in unity to support and grow your freelance business.
2020-11-0221 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastEthics, Motives, and Responsible CreativityWhat's the end result of our creative efforts? What responsibility do we as creative professionals have toward the end user? What responsibility do we have to uphold the public good? What do you do when your ethics and your client's ethics clash? Creative work involves more than proper function, ease of use and visual appeal. There's a bigger horizon we can't lost sight of, both in the work we create and in how we serve our clients.
2020-10-2422 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastAre You Idling? Or Accelerating?To realize success as an independent creative, we need to move forward consistently, even if we think we're not yet ready. Forward motion jump starts us into an ongoing cycle of increasing capability and confidence. Taking action often takes courage. In this episode I explain a process I call the "Four Cs of Acceleration": Courage, Commitment, Competence, and Confidence. Understanding how this operates can help us take charge of our creative and material growth. We build our futures one step at a time, but we have to step out.
2020-10-1717 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDo Freelancers Have The Right To Work?AB5 took effect in California in January 2020. It narrows the definition of independent contractor, and the type and amount of work a person can do for a client without being classified as an employee. While freelancers in CA battle to pass Proposition 22 and overturn AB5, HR2474, threatens to restrict freelancing. In this episode, we break down what these all mean for freelance creatives, and what you can do to ensure you meet the criteria to remain an independent contractor.
2020-10-1028 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThis Is Entirely The Wrong ApproachThere are good and poor approaches to how you work with clients. In this episode I answer questions from freelancers, both of them graphic designers, about working with clients. We're talking about how to be sure a client doesn't run off with your work without paying, what to do when your client won't give you ideas, and how to gracefully end a working relationship that's not working out. Not that we ever want that to happen, but it does.
2020-10-0319 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastPricing Tip: When Should You Name Your Price?Freelancers, are you getting paid what you're worth? Are you working with the right kinds of clients? Your pricing strategy attracts either low-value or high-value clients. This is the final in a 3-part series on pricing creative work. We compare tactics for negotiating with low value and high value clients, why high-value clients are easier to work with, and how hourly rates prevent having the value conversation.
2020-09-2522 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastPrice, Value, and AnchoringIf you're a freelance creative who's in it to make a living and especially if you're in it full time, and for the long-term, you must have a strategy for how you set your creative fees. Here are 5 hard truths about valuing your work, pricing and negotiating.
2020-09-1925 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastPricing Your Creative ServicesPricing creative services is one of the most common conundrums freelancers experience. In this episode I share 5 popular approaches to setting your fees: by the hour, by the project, retainer, package, and value. Take the guesswork out of pricing by standardizing your approach. This the first of a series of pricing discussions.
2020-09-1222 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastAre Creativity and Business Really Compatible?When creatives put business first, they alleviate myriad problems typically experienced by freelancers. In this episode I share some of my story, what I learned, and how the way you think about your work and purpose directly impacts your ability to thrive, and why your creativity has a larger purpose than self-expression.
2020-09-0522 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastYou Can't Enforce Boundaries You Haven't Set & Answers to Other QuestionsIn this Q&A session, I respond to 4 freelancing conundrums about communicating with clients, enforcing business policies, working on site, and steps to launch a freelance business. I also share how what's "under the hood" at Freelance Road Trip helps creativepreneurs become confident owners of their independent businesses.
2020-08-2933 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast3 Questions To Ask In Your Marketing ResetHow will clients find you? If you want to work with a certain type of client, you'll need to define who they are and why you matter to them. You need a marketing plan, and an effective marketing hub that communicates What, Who, and How. I present 3 key strategic questions dealing with promotion, positioning, portfolio, and prospecting that you need to answer to attract your ideal clients. Why is right now the time to design or revise your marketing plan.? Because new opportunities are waiting for you.
2020-08-0614 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastLet's Talk About MoneySo many of us are afraid to talk about money with clients. We're fearful of the reaction we'll get when we state our price for a job. We're fearful the client will get upset, object, and even walk away. Talking money becomes easier and natural when we understand what money actually is and, what it's not. Shift gears in your thinking with these 3 concepts, and watch how your approach changes.
2020-07-3118 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhy Freelancers Need To Go BoldThe lie says, "If you build it, they'll show up." The truth is, nothing's going to happen if you build it and let it sit there. No one's looking for you. How do get seen if no one's looking for you? Get yourself in gear and do the work of being found. I share a 3-pronged strategy to help you become obvious to the right clients.
2020-07-1021 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastYou're Never Really Out Of IdeasGot creative block? Have you run out of ideas? Where do ideas come from, anyway? How do creativepreneurs and freelancers create on demand? In this episode I share how curiosity, collection and curation inspire creative solutions. You're never at a loss for ideas. You just need to understand and apply the mechanism of creativity and inspiration.
2020-06-2518 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastAre You Your Client's Cheapest Option?Different people don't value the same things in the same way. One client may understand the value of your work to their increase and prosperity. Another may simply be looking for the cheapest option. Do you want to win the client by being their cheapest option? In this episode I offer a value-based approach to winning your next client.
2020-06-1324 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastIs It Demeaning To Call Yourself A Freelancer?Is freelancing one step away from unemployment? Can you succeed in freelancing with an employee mindset? Do freelancers have as much right to work as employees? Becoming an owner of your freelance business is how to overcome objections and misclassification. In this episode I share 6 reasons freelancers need to shift gears from individual creative to independent business owner.
2020-06-0730 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDo You Have A Profit Motive?It's necessary for a self-employed independent creative to turn a profit. Profit motive legitimizes your freelance practice as a business. In this episode I define what profit motive is, why it's important for your success, how to know if you have a profit motive, and what the IRS looks at to determine if you're running a business or pursuing a hobby as a creative.
2020-05-3119 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Communicate Your Value To Get Better ClientsTo attract better clients, position yourself as a high-value creative partner. How you approach a client discovery meeting, how you price, how you approach your process, the risks you're willing to take… all of these, and more, work together to establish your value in the eyes of your client.
2020-05-2428 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastSelf-Promotion Strategies for Freelance CreativesA strategy-level discussion about reach, frequency, momentum, and risk as an all around approach in your self-promotion and marketing efforts.
2020-05-1630 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastAre Local Business Listings Good For Getting Freelance Business?Freelancers have so many options for self-promotion and marketing online. Are local business listings like Yelp, YP.com, Manta and Alignable good for getting more business? It depends. I unpack some pros and cons of signing up with local business directories, share my own story, and number of alternatives that might be better options for you as a freelance designer, photographer, or illustrator. Consistency and frequency are important for your marketing, no matter what platforms you use.
2020-05-0926 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastShould You Charge for Your Work During a Crisis?Are you feeling pressured by influencers, businesses, and your clients to stop charging for your creative work during the crisis? In this episode I expand on 3 reasons why giving away your creative services for free is a horrible idea: economy, resiliency, and value. States are beginning to open up. Are you ready? As much as possible, do business as usual. Find creative solutions that will carry you through and set you up up to accelerate when the economy is opened again. Here's how you can respond when others put on the pressure.
2020-05-0119 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhen Clients Ask For Your Working FilesProtect your (intellectual) property rights. Although it's a common assumption, clients are not automatically entitled to a designer's working files. The client pays for and receives the end product, not the elements that went into creating it. In this episode I cover really good reasons — legally and ethically — for protecting your property rights as an independent creative. I also contrast property rights when you're a freelancer with when you're an employee.
2020-04-2423 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast10 Items On My Don't-Do-It ListManaging time and being effective in work and personal life lies as much in what we don't do as in what we do. Creating boundaries help you focus and respond to problems and glitches. You can define your boundaries in terms of a don't-do-it list. In this episode I share my don't-do-it list, why having this kind of list is important for your well-being, and some proven ways for respond to interruptions and urgent demands that waste your time and drain your energy.
2020-04-1726 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastOf Discounts, Charge Backs, and Junk Drawer DesignWhat do you do when a client does a charge back? Should you discount during a crisis? How do you convince a client to stop demanding junk-drawer design? In this episode I answer 3 questions from freelance designers, share real-life answers by looking at how to solve the problems right now and ways to avoid dealing with them in the future, to help you respond well.
2020-04-0925 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Downshift When Things Go DownhillFrom finding new ways to generate income to reducing expenses and budgeting, these tips are specifically targeted towards creative freelancers who want to maintain momentum in their businesses during a crisis. Take control of what you can control. Hit up the show notes for links to resources.
2020-04-0228 min
Freelance Road Trip Podcast7 Things you must do to start your freelance businessIn addition to your business plan, marketing, website, social media and, of course, portfolio, there are foundational steps you need to take to legitimize your creative enterprise as a real business. In this episode I share 7 things you must do to start your business and ensure long term success.
2020-03-2715 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Respond Creatively To CrisisThis isn't about COVID-19. This show is about responding to turbulence and storms, and things beyond our control. I share ways to make the most of this time of trouble, what your top priority should be, how to lean in and apply your creative problem-solving to the situation. You have the ability to thrive in these perilous times.
2020-03-2016 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow To Build a Better PortfolioUse your work to get better work. No matter where you are in your freelance career, your portfolio is your most important marketing tool. In this episode I share pro tips, strategy, and tactics you can start using today to help you level up your creative portfolio to attract your best freelance clients.
2020-03-1219 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastIt's All In Your HeadThe best mindset for developing a relationship with success and maintaining your creative drive is abundance. How you look at the world matters in your attitude, how you think, how others relate to you, and how successful you become as a creative freelancer. Here is a strategy for maintaining your momentum no matter what season you're in — feast or famine.
2020-03-0622 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastHow's That AB5 Thing Goin' For Ya?California's AB5 law — the Opportunity to Work Act — took effect on January 1, 2020. Since its implementation, it's essentially killed the creative economy in California by denying freelancers the right to work as an independent contractor. This is an update about the fallout, response, and gear shifting as a result of the law, why you need to wake up about legislation that affects your livelihood, and what you can do about it.
2020-02-2931 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWorking For Free Is Not A Sustainable Business ModelNeither speculative nor pro bono work generate income for you. With each, you're working for free. In this episode I compare the concepts of spec and pro bono work, lay out reasons why you should pursue one and entirely avoid the other, and offer a safe approach to accepting and managing pro bono projects.
2020-02-2224 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastFirst Impressions Happen On Both Sides of the TableNot all projects and clients are a good fit, and you can figure that out during the very first conversation you have with a client. Freelancers often approach a prospective client hoping the prospect will like them and want to work with them. What if the tables were turned? In this episode I share about one client discovery meeting where I came away relieved I didn't get the job, and the kinds of red flags you can look for to decide if your next prospect is a rightful for you.
2020-02-1519 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastQ&A: Sketchy Prospects, Side Gigs, and Getting PaidWhat do you say to a prospective client who won't commit? How do you manage part-time freelancing and a full-time job? How do you prevents clients from using work they haven't paid for? In this episode, I give practical, easy-to-do answers to three questions from working freelancers at various stages in their careers.
2020-02-0825 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastUnpacking the Freelance ContractUsing written contracts should be routine and a regular part of your creative freelance business. In this episode I deconstruct the four aspects to include in every contract: copyright, legal concerns, the working relationship, and getting paid. This is part 4 of a four-part series on contracts.
2020-01-3131 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastFour More Contracts Creative Freelancers Need To KnowThe working relationships you have with your clients should be built on a foundation of trust and agreement — written agreement. In this episode (part 3 of a 4-part series about freelance contracts) I describe 4 less-known contracts you will have good use for as a creative freelancer: purchase order, letter of agreement, retainer, and the oral agreement.
2020-01-2430 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhy You Should Always Get It In WritingIn this episode we're continuing the conversation about freelancers and contracts. The work you create is your intellectual property. It's valuable. You work hard to create it. Why would you ever let it go unprotected? Did you know the majority of freelancers don't use written contracts? I present some reasons why they don't, and argue why they should.
2020-01-1823 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastGot Clients? Use Contracts!If you're a freelancer working with clients, one of the best things you can do is implement a safety net in the form of contracts… especially written ones. That means you need basic knowledge of contracts and also copyright. In this episode (part 1 of a series on the topic) we cover three common types of freelance contracts: limited rights, buyout, and work-for-hire.
2020-01-1022 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastA 5-Point Tune-up for Your Freelance BusinessAs with cars, your freelance business needs regular tune-ups to ensure optimum performance. If you don't do regular maintenance, you could end up running into costly trouble down the road. In this episode I share my 5-point business tune-up which you can use to keep your freelance business running smoothly.
2020-01-0321 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDo You Want To Succeed? Make A Plan!Whether we have actually taken the time to write it down, most of us have a preferred or ideal future. We have a definition of success, and criteria to measure it. Many freelancers don't intentionally plan for success, but instead react to whatever comes along. In this episode I present a design approach to planning that can keep you on track toward success, and prevent you from wasting your most precious resource — your time.
2019-12-2835 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThe Difference Between Leads and ReferralsBoth leads and referrals are vital for finding new clients and growing your freelance business. They're not the same thing. In Episode 21 I compare and contrast leads and referrals, why you should pursue them, and how to obtain both. I talk about a better alternative to referrals, and share ways you can encourage leads and referrals by getting involved.
2019-12-2018 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastAre You Idling Or Accelerating?Nothing's accomplished by taking the easy road. We don't get anywhere simply by deciding. We become ready by taking action on our goals. In this episode I share the four sequential phases we cycle through over and over again to build excellence in our creative work and momentum in our businesses.
2019-12-1325 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWord Of Mouth Marketing Is Bad For BusinessFocus on the marketing activities you can control. In Episode 19 I share my own experience with resting heavily on referral business, and why relying mainly on word of mouth can be dangerous. I present four areas of outreach every freelancer needs to include in their marketing mix.
2019-12-0525 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastStop Believing These Limiting LiesSuccess comes from mindset. Each of us has what it takes to succeed, but we hold ourselves back when we think the wrong way. Taking control of your own success begins by replacing lies with truth. I share 5 popular lies and the truths that overcome them so you can get free of "stinkin' thinkin' and gain momentum in your business.
2019-12-0118 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastA Vocabulary Lesson For Your Freelance BusinessIn this episode we're talking about using the language of business in your own business and with clients. The words you use matter. Not only that, but adopting a business vocabulary helps you make good decisions for your own business and create common ground with your clients' concerns.
2019-11-2329 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhat Business Owners Do That Most Freelancers Don't (but should)Getting paid what a project is worth is challenging. This is especially true if you need to charge more but you feel bad for the client, or fear losing them because they might think you're overpriced. On this episode, I share several mindset shifts creative freelancers can easily make to position themselves as business owners, focus on the big picture, and stop apologizing for wanting to make a living.
2019-11-1431 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThe Golden Rule of FreelancingIf you're struggling with clients who don't respect your work or your value to them, the reason could be that you're not educating them in how you want them to relate to you. Overcome assumptions on their part and create an easier relationship by positioning yourself as a valuable creative partner in their success. Using the Golden Rule — which goes something like: Treat others the way you want them to treat you, I present an approach that includes understanding your value, establishing the values you want to work by, and positioning through pricing and service.
2019-11-0918 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastWhat California's AB 5 Means For Your Freelance BusinessAssembly Bill 5 (AB 5) is an expansion of California law making it more difficult to qualify as independent contractors. The law requires a 3-criteria test to determine whether a freelancer is considered independent or an employee. Certain types of freelancer–client relationships will drastically change when the law takes effect in January 2020.What does this mean for my fellow solopreneurs: freelance designers, freelance illustrators, freelance photographers, and freelance writers? Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. This information is offered in good faith for general education purposes only and is not exhaustive. It is not intended as legal advice or opinion. I do no...
2019-11-0124 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastThe CASE Act plus Why You Should Avoid Spec WorkThe Copyright Alternative in Small-claims Enforcement Act — The CASE Act (HR 2426) — passed in the House on October 22, 2019, and moves on to the Senate (SB 1273). What does the legislation mean for freelancers, and why you should care. And I dive into the differences between pro bono and speculative work, how to manage pro bono projects, setting policies that are good for your business, and why you should avoid working on spec.
2019-10-2627 min
Freelance Road Trip PodcastDo Business, Not Favors. Make Scope Creep Work In Your Favor.In this week's episode we're answering two questions from freelance designers about doing favors and managing scope creep. How do you ask a friend to pay you when a simple favor morphs into a complicated project, and how can you make it work in your favor when clients add more work to a project already in progress? I share strategies for both scenarios, and the big idea is to set clear expectations in advance.
2019-10-1829 min