Shows
The Content ByteThe 2025 Wrap-up with Rachel and Lynne It's the end of 2025, so Rachel and Lynne take a reflective look back at the year, delving into both the good times and bad. We are both big believers in a little self-reflection, so it makes sense to look back at what was certainly a tumultuous year in the world of freelancing. We share tips and lessons learned, new tools we've explored, and our biggest professional and personal achievements, using prompts from YearCompass. We talk about: The risks we took and decisions we made during the year Lynne's year of 'yes' Rachel's personal writing re...
2025-12-2130 min
The Content ByteIlise Benun on how to use AI to find clientsThis week Rachel and Lynne talk about how to find clients using AI with their guest, Ilise Benun, a business coach for creatives. In a practical and inspiring chat, Ilise takes us through (step-by-step) how to utilise AI for client acquisition, showing how to find your perfect clients and then how you can reach out. It's a great conversation, talking about: Why you still need to build relationships in real life Identifying target markets with AI Crafting effective AI prompts Approaching new markets and understanding pain points Networking and engaging with people How to us...
2025-10-2642 min
The Content ByteSteven Lewis on using ChatGPT as your marketing brainIn this episode of The Content Byte podcast, hosts Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni discuss the impact of AI on freelance writing and marketing with guest Steven Lewis. Steven, a seasoned journalist and copywriter, offers a deep dive into using AI, specifically custom GPT, to streamline marketing tasks for freelancers. He explains: the practical steps to creating a custom GPT how it can maintain consistent client communication how it can give feedback on your copy to ensure it is on-brand how it can help freelancers focus on high-value creative tasks the ethical considerations of...
2025-07-1348 min
The Content ByteBehind the podcast - Lynne & Rachel talk about their partnership This week on The Content Byte, we have something a little different, but hopefully still useful. This episode was originally recorded as part of Austin Church's Growth Without Burnout Summit held recently. This virtual event was inspiring and useful and featured speakers from all across the world talking about how to grow a thriving freelance business without burning out. As part of his amazing summit, Austin asked Rachel and I about our friendship and how and why we started this podcast. We first met Austin when he was the keynote speaker at the Content by Summit in 2024. We...
2025-06-0851 min
The Content ByteHow to earn more as a freelancer without ruining your life with Sarah GreesonbachThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat with B2B writer and coach Sarah Greesonbach. We reached out to her after seeing her great comments and funny posts on LinkedIn and we love her approach to freelance writing. We should point out that Lynne had some Internet issues near the end and had to drop out. Luckily Rachel and Sarah were able to complete the chat! During our chat we talk about: Why she loves B2B content work How she came back from burning out Why you need to master three parts of the client-getting process...
2024-10-2741 min
The Content ByteMaking business finance accessible with Justine McLeanThis week Lynne and Rachel chat with Justine McLean, who is on a mission to help small business owners and freelancers understand their finances. Her new book, Business Money Magnet, is all about how to master your money, boost profitability, and be the boss of your financial destiny. Justine talks about: How to be less anxious about money How to manage your tax How important financial goals are for freelancers What success looks like for many of us Creating a business mindset So much inspiring and practical information! Connect with Justine and her co...
2024-06-2342 min
The Content ByteWriting your first novel, with Siobhan O'BrienThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat with writer Siobhan O'Brien, who has just released her first novel to much acclaim - All the Golden Light - details here: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460762004/all-the-golden-light/. Siobhan talks about the writing process and how writing fiction was so different from her previous non-fiction projects. She talks about the realities of being a first time author, including: Learning to market your book Meeting your readers How much you really make as a writer in Australia Doing the research for a historical novel Editing your book and learning how to...
2024-06-1743 min
The Content ByteAll about LinkedIn and how to make it work for you, with Cathy AndersonThis week on the podcast, Lynne and Rachel are speaking with Cathy Anderson, a senior editor at LinkedIn Australia. Cathy shares her inside knowledge on how LinkedIn works, and how to make the most of the platform. It's a valuable and revealing conversation. We talk about: The special courses available for journalists through the platform How to increase your reach on LinkedIn How the LinkedIn news team works and what they are looking for How the LinkedIn Premium accounts work As Cathy explained, they are always looking for great posts to be featured by the...
2024-06-0946 min
The Content ByteAll about pricing for freelancers with Jasmine ParasramThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat with the Pricing Queen, Jasmine Parasram, and talk all things pricing, an issue that we know freelancers, both new and experienced, struggle with. Jasmine talks about: How to price your work Hourly pricing vs value and project-based pricing When (and if) to discount Charging with confidence How to attract high-paying clients It's a great episode with lots of a-ha moment that will help you rethink the way you value your work and the clients you work with. Locate the resources that Jasmine mentions here: https://creativebusinesskitchen.com...
2024-06-0253 min
The Content ByteLouise Milligan on storytelling, investigative reporting and her new book, Pheasant's NestThis week Rachel and Lynne welcome investigative journalist Louise Milligan to the podcast hot seat. Louise talks about her work on Four Corners and her previous non-fiction books, Cardinal, The Rise and Fall of George Pell and Witness, An Investigation into the Brutal Cost of Seeking Justice, as well as Pheasants Nest, her newly released novel. The discussion covers: The creative process of Louise's first novel and how it differs from journalism and non-fiction How the book expands on the usual way we consume a crime story Covering confronting issues in both fiction and journalism Gendered vi...
2024-05-2647 min
The Content ByteCombining freelance writing and news journalism with Caroline RichesWe just love to meet freelancers who have managed to combine different types of writing into a successful career. This week, Rachel and Lynne chat with Caroline Riches, a news journalist for 25 years who works in the SBS newsroom part time and then does freelance writing work for the rest of the week. We talk about: Balancing the two roles Why she loves the flexibility of casual work What newsrooms are looking for from casual journalists and how to get a foot in the door The stress of covering big news stories How great it is to be...
2024-05-2035 min
The Content ByteStories from our audience: when freelancing kicked you in the assThis week, Rachel and Lynne are doing something different! They have turned the microphone over to some of their listeners. In this great compilation episode, listeners and former guests share some of their stories about difficult times as freelancers and how they recovered. It's all about real-life experiences and resilience - and learning from our mistakes. Thanks to the following people for contributing (and those who aren't listed here as they preferred to stay anonymous): Anf Chansamooth https://www.anferneec.com/ Rebekah Lambert https://unashamedlycreative.com.au/ Belinda Weaver https://www.c...
2024-05-1253 min
The Content ByteJessica Mudditt on leaving journalism to start her own publishing companyThis week Rachel and Lynne have a return guest - Jessica Mudditt. A journalist and author, Jessica has embraced risk and adventure to start her own publishing business, Hembury Books, which provides coaching and ghostwriting services to non-fiction authors. Jess talks about what helped her decide to make this career shift, how and why self-publishing is a great option for many authors and some of the challenges of working in today's publishing industry. We cover: What it's like to have your own book in your hand Writing her own memoirs The publicity machine How t...
2024-05-0655 min
The Content ByteFrom magazine editor to content creator on the tools: Meet Natasha DickinsThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Natasha Dickins, a former magazine editor who has carved out a great career creating content for DIY clients. Natasha talks about her love of good tools and DIY projects and how she has turned this into a career. She talks about: Her career writing in magazines Her love of being 'on the tools' Setting up her workshop on the mid-north coast of NSW How she uses her skills to create content for brands How she prices her content and includes package rates Connect with...
2024-04-2852 min
The Content ByteUsing evergreen marketing to avoid slow seasons as a freelancer - with Prerna MalikThis week on The Content Byte, Rachel and Lynne have one of the founders of Content Bistro, Prerna Malik. Prerna and her husband Mayank are copywriters and specialists in the area of evergreen marketing. In a fascinating chat, Prerna talks about: Mistakes freelancers make with their marketing How to create a constant flow of work The power of storytelling in email marketing Creating packages and using them to grow your business Finding clients in slow times ...and how to work with your spouse! Connect with Prerna and Mayank and do their quiz https://contentbistro.com/quiz/
2024-04-2143 min
The Content ByteCombining journalism with media training – with Theresa MillerThis week, Lynne and Rachel are chatting with TV journalist turned media trainer, Theresa Miller. Theresa has a great story of creating a new career in media training and coaching, working with corporates and training senior executives in how to deal with the media. Her story is fascinating and inspiring and covers: How to use journalism skills as a media trainer Working with companies and individuals to put a journalism lens on issues How she finds clients How she packages and prices her services How introverts can thrive in the media ... and why women need t...
2024-04-1451 min
The Content ByteLisa Almond on copywriting and life-or-death crisesThis week on the website, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Lisa Almond, a copywriter and paramedic. We thought it was such an intriguing combination that we just had to get her on the podcast! We chat about: Her background in writing and journalism What appealed to her about being a paramedic Training in a new career while balancing existing work and family How she juggles both roles How she plans to include her paramedic knowledge into her writing Some of her stories from the frontlines of emergency first aid Connect with Lisa via her w...
2024-04-0735 min
The Content ByteNicole Webb - journalist turned media expert and book publicistThis week Rachel & Lynne are chatting with media expert and publicist Nicole Webb. Now based in Singapore, Nicole has had a diverse and exciting career and she talks about her new service of book publicity, the challenges of modern publishing and how it came about. In our chat, we cover: Nicole's career as a TV journalist, presenter and producer Travelling around Asia and working remotely Writing her own book and using her contacts to publicise it How this developed into a new service What new authors need to know about publicity The importance of maintaining contacts
2024-03-2431 min
The Content ByteWorking with freelancers with Rounded's Grant McCallThis week Rachel and Lynne are chatting with the founder and head of product at Rounded - our sponsor. A former freelancer, Grant tells the story of how the company was founded and what it's like dealing with sole traders as customers. His inside tips are valuable! During our conversation, he talks about: How businesses often ignore the potential of freelancers as customers How he created a product he needed - and then took it to the next level Common mistakes freelancers make Why multi-disciplinary freelancing is the future The freelancer skills we will need in 2024...
2024-03-1746 min
The Content ByteSpecialising in email marketing with Eman IsmailThis week Rachel & Lynne are super excited to have Eman Ismail on the podcast. Eman is a specialist in email marketing, which is such a growth industry and she shares her tips, tricks and the story about how she ended up working in this niche. During our conversation, Eman talks about: What it takes to create a great email campaign Mistakes that business owners and copywriters often make when creating email campaigns How to not sound sales-y in your emails Using storytelling in emails to create more powerful and memorable campaigns Where she finds her clients
2024-03-101h 03
The Content ByteWeb 3 and content marketing with Bec HaddadThis week on the podcast, Rachel & Lynne are looking to the future - and helping us all to understand what's in our pipelines. We are chatting with writer and content creator Bec Haddad, about her career and Web3, which is the next iteration of the Internet. So fascinating! We talk about: What Web 3 is and how it relates to content marketing The tools you need to understand it How it affects freelancers How to prepare yourself for this new frontier Working with agencies Find Bec through her website: https://www.rebeccahaddad.com/ And, d...
2024-03-0340 min
The Content ByteSuccessful freelancers: stylist, writer and photographer Jessica BellefThis week on the podcast, Rachel & Lynne chat with a freelancer who keeps adding more skills to her arsenal - stylist, writer and now photographer Jessica Bellef. Specialising in lifestyle and interiors, Jess has carved out an enviable career that includes working with beautiful things and creating amazing work, including a beautiful coffee table book. Jess talks about: How beginning as a visual merchandiser influences her work Discovering writing later in her career How relationships help to build a pipeline of steady clients/editors Why she wanted to branch into photography How her book came about...
2024-02-2539 min
The Content ByteSuccessful freelancers: Julie Lee and the Medium Rare storyThis week Rachel and Lynne are chatting with successful freelancer (and tree-changer) Julie Lee. Julie was one of the first employees at Medium Rare Content, a highly successful content agency with lots of high-profile clients. Julie talks about her years with Medium Rare - what it was like building up the business and working with clients as well as some of the secrets of the agency's success. She talks about: Moving from consumer magazines to content work What makes a successful freelancer Offering strategy to clients What she's learnt as an editor and then...
2024-02-1834 min
The Content ByteWhy blogging isn't enough for SEO - with Abbey of the Duo CollectiveThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne revisit SEO. We think that it's been a little overlooked lately with all this talk about AI and it's so important. Our guest this week is Abbey, half of marketing experts, the Duo Collective. In a wide-ranging chat, Abbey talks about: Domain authority with search engines and what that means Keywords, search traffic and backlink strategies And why you absolutely need a backlink strategy plan to supplement your content strategies in order to grow with search engines It's a great way to understand new developments in SEO and to...
2024-02-1145 min
The Content Byte6 types of collaborations freelancers can do to get workThis week's it's just hosts Rachel and Lynne as we get back into the swing of things - and set ourselves up for a new year of freelance work. And, as the saying goes, it's not what you know, it's who... so this week we are talking about collaboration. We believe in an abundance mindset - that there is enough work to go around and that it's good to share tips and tricks on securing solid, well-paying gigs. We share our tips (and real-life examples) of how collaborations with other creatives can bring you extra w...
2024-02-0426 minThe Content ByteSpecialising your way to higher rates with Abi PrendergastThis week Rachel and Lynne have a special guest talking about how nicheing down (or specialising) can bring you higher income clients and a more successful and resilient business. Funnel strategist and conversion copywriter Abi Prendergast shares her story on how she found her niche of working with course creators and why specialising works for her. We talk about: Why she loves the 'laptop lifestyle' Working with Copyhackers and how it set her up for success Going viral in the copy world Why she loves working for herself How solving problems for clients is the key t...
2024-01-2144 min
The Content Byte6 things freelancers need to start doing on LinkedIn in 2024 with Adam FranklinAnd we are back for 2024 - and with such a useful episode! This week Rachel & Lynne chat with LinkedIn expert Adam Franklin on how to use this super-helpful and useful social media tool to get more work and improve your visibility. He shares his top 6 tips on starting the year by optimising your LinkedIn profile and ways that you can make the medium work for you (and it's much easier than you might think!). Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfranklin/ Bluewire Media can be found at: https://www.bl...
2024-01-1549 min
The Content ByteOur takeaways from 2023As the year draws to a close, hosts Rachel and Lynne chat about our favourite episodes of the year - and some of the things we have learned from our marvellous guests. We chat about: What we learned from organising our first Summit Our favourite guests from the year Keynote speaker Ed Gandia's concept about 'moving up the value chain' in our content offering What we love about podcasting The powerful lessons we learned from Emma Grey's novel about grief Charlotte Wood's chat about her novel and how an award helped her to create a viable...
2023-12-1724 minThe Content ByteFreelance work in podcast producing, with Kim Kerton from Unemployed and AfraidThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with Kim Kerton of Unemployed and Afraid, talking about the growing opportunities in podcast production. We chat about all thing podcasts, including: Owning a business from a young age Creating branded podcasts How do you serve an audience Realism in storytelling for brands Being prepared for change as your business grows Resources she mentions: Podcast Workers Aust - https://www.podcastworkersaus.org/ Her two favourite resources for podcast industry insights: PodNews https://podnews.net/ Sounds Profitable https://soundsprofitable.com/ Connect with Kim: The Unemployed & Afraid pod: unemployedandafraid.com.au Kim's w...
2023-12-101h 01
The Content ByteUsing Copywriting to Attract Leads with Krystle ChurchThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with copywriter and coach Krystle Church, who is living her best life in tropical Mauritius doing work she loves. We chat about all things copywriting, including: Writing great copy The best courses to learn about copywriting Creating great landing pages Email marketing Being a digital nomad Mistakes she made in her early days of running the agency Connect with Krystle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystle.church/ or through her website: https://krystlechurch.com/ Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Find Lynne www.lyn...
2023-12-0445 minThe Content ByteClare Fletcher on balancing a part-time comms role with writing and eventsThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with communications professional and novelist Clare Fletcher. Clare talks about juggling all her roles, how she found time to write her novel (and what got her started). We chat about: The difference between writing commercial fiction versus literary fiction How a course helped her start writing Why she started her own podcast And all about her deep love of rom-coms Find Clare on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarefletcherwriter/ Listen to Clare's podcast (with Karina May), That Rom Com Pod https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/th...
2023-11-2644 min
The Content ByteFreelance writer Alley Pascoe on long-form features and ghostwritingThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with writer Alley Pascoe. Alley has just completed her latest ghostwriting project, My Mother's Eyes with Shanelle Dawson. She talks about ghostwriting, working with celebrities and the special bond she shares with her authors, as well as how she maintains a successful freelance career as a feature writer. We chat about: How she secured her first ghostwriting project How to channel someone else's voice Dealing with the publicity machine Long-form feature writing Why she loves living in Darwin and how she works remotely Connect with Alley on Instagram...
2023-11-1928 minThe Content ByteTips for new and veteran copywriters by copywriter, trainer and podcaster Bernadette SchwerdtThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat with Bernadette Schwerdt, one of the legends of the copywriting world. Bernadette is also a trainer of new copywriters and in this valuable episode, shares her copywriting tips on what you need to know if you want to add copywriting to your freelance arsenal. We chat about: Writing persuasive copy and how it's a mindset The sales journey and how copywriting fits in How to use AI tools in a constructive way Mistakes new writers make Essential courses and skills that can keep copywriters up to date and relevant Connect with...
2023-11-1257 min
The Content ByteHow to put yourself out there (even if you're a die-hard introvert), with Carlii LyonThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne talk with branding expert Carlii Lyon about how to increase awareness of you and your work, without making you feel uncomfortable. Carlii chats about: Why personal branding is important How it can grow your business How to reduce the 'ick' factor How introverts can survive networking functions How feeling confident comes after 'confident action' Carlii's website is: https://carliilyon.com.au/ Her LinkedIn page is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carliilyon/ Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Rachel's List www.ra...
2023-11-0539 minThe Content ByteSocial media for freelancers: Tips for getting leads and building your business with posts that workThis week Rachel & Lynne are chatting with Anfernee Chansamooth, a marketer and social media guru, talking about how you can use social media to build your business and get more leads. We chat about: His favourite social platforms for freelancers Mistakes that freelancers make Why targeting a broad market doesn't work How consistency pays off on social media How much you should share on your social channels Anfernee's website is here: https://www.anferneec.com/ He has compiled a bonus page of resources for listeners of The Content Byte here: https://theauthenticmarketer.com/thecontentbyte/ ...
2023-10-2952 min
The Content ByteFinancial writer and freelancer Michelle Bowes on how to run a successful freelance businessThis week Rachel and Lynne have successful financial journalist Michelle Bowes on the podcast to talk about creating a business mindset with your freelance business. Michelle has successfully juggled the worlds of words and money and she shares her tips on common mistakes freelancers make, how to earn more and how to cut down your business costs. She talks about: Finding confidence to talk about money How to quote and invoice without fear How to set up your freelance business the right way Superannuation made easy Dealing with contracts Running financial literacy events for young women
2023-10-2247 min
The Content ByteCharlotte Wood on her new novel, being a successful author and having her work adapted for the stageWe are back after a short break - and we have a great episode to share today. This week, Rachel and Lynne chat with award-winning novelist Charlotte Wood about the ups and downs of writing literary fiction. Charlotte shares her early days as a writer, including how she supplemented her income before she found success. We chat about: What literary awards mean and if they help your career Choosing the right publishing team Working with difficult topics Going on the publicity trail for your books Social media for novelists Having her work adapted for the stage. It's...
2023-10-1557 min
The Content ByteKey learnings from The Content Byte SummitThis week, Rachel and Lynne are recovering from our first-ever The Content Byte Summit. It was a whirlwind of two and a half days of learnings, connections and aha-moments. This week, before we both take a break, we are going through our favourite tips and tricks from all the speakers and panels - and what we are taking to our own freelance business. We talk about: Ed Gandia's keynote talking about how to charge for the value that you add to your clients - not strategy, but advising The panel with Lindy Alexander and Jennifer Goforth G...
2023-09-2424 min
The Content ByteThe Content Byte Summit - why you need to be there!This week, in the midst of last-minute preparations for our exciting event - The Content Byte Summit – Lynne and Rachel take you behind-the-scenes for a sneak peek into some of the presentations and panel chats that are occuring during the two days of the Summit. The Summit will be held from September 14-16 at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney and we wanted to share some of the highlights that we are really excited about, including Keynote speaker Ed Gandia - moving up the value chain and not taking orders How skilled interviews give you nu...
2023-09-0419 minThe Content ByteCreative business consultant Monica Davidson on building a successful creative businessThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with award-winning creative business consultant Monica Davidson on building a successful creative business. Monica works with creatives of all types to help them build their businesses and gain confidence. We chat about: Practical business advice for creatives Common mistakes freelancers make Working with government departments and agencies Helping people convert a hobby into a professional business Working with and training mentors Managing staff and growing a business. About Monica + Creative Plus Business Find out more about Monica here: creativeplusbusiness.com Connect with her on Li...
2023-08-2852 min
The Content ByteWriter Eagranie Yuh on white papers, branded podcasts … and having a chocolate side hustleThis week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with writer Eagranie Yuh, who's had an interesting career journey (but isn't that all of us, really?). Eagranie chats about about how her background brought her to working on her own, writing white papers and doing branded podcasts for clients. She shares lots of fabulous ideas and tips, including: How a career coach helped her turn her passion for writing into a career What it's like to work for big international brands What white papers are and how to make them useful How she moved from Canada to Tasmania...
2023-08-2042 min
The Content ByteLiterary agent Lou Johnson about what agents do, whether you need one, and how to find oneThis week Rachel and Lynne chat with literary agent Lou Johnson, who has just launched her own agency, Key People Literary Management with agent, publisher, and author Jeanne Ryckmans. With more than 20 years in publishing, Lou shares her knowledge on all things book-related. In our discussion, she chats about: How publishing has changed over the years What agents do How to find one How to get a publishing deal How to market your book And whether you can really make money as a novelist in Australia Key People Literary Management is still setting up a website, but y...
2023-08-1440 minThe Content ByteRE-RELEASE! Finding content marketing clients with Jennifer Goforth GregoryThis week on the podcast, Lynne has been unwell so we thought it would be a great idea to re-release one of our favourite episodes from a few years ago. This episode, from June 2020 (so we chat about the pandemic a few times) is with content marketing queen Jennifer Goforth Gregory about moving from journalism to content marketing, why it's so important to have niches, positioning yourself to clients and agencies as a subject matter expert and her three-pronged approach to marketing yourself. She also shares a rough script on how to write an LOI (and why...
2023-08-0647 min
The Content ByteRebecca Lowrey Boyd on embracing digital mediaThis week on the podcast, Lynne and Rachel chat with one of our digital heroes - Rebecca Lowrey Boyd. Rebecca is the digital managing editor of Better Homes and Gardens, Australia's leading homes website. She also founded Wee Birdy in 2007, a London-based blog devoted to London shopping and design, an innovative site in the heyday of blogging that we both loved. Rebecca talks about working on the digital side of a large media brand and the move towards omnimedia channels of print, digital and TV - and how the print and digital teams now work together. She t...
2023-07-3130 min
The Content ByteSusan Horsburgh on writing Two Of Us columns, freelancing for big-name mags and why profiles are her thingFreelance writer Susan Horsburgh has an enviable CV and portfolio, writing for some of the country's most prestigious titles, including the Australian Women's Weekly, The Good Weekend (in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age) and Qantas magazines. She has written more than 30 Two of Us columns for The Good Weekend, which we know is a highly read and sought-after commission for freelancers. In her chat with Rachel and Lynne this week, she talks about: Her career to date (lots of great stories!) What she loves about writing profiles How to interview subjects to get the best story...
2023-07-2334 min
The Content ByteSourcebottle's Bec Derrington on creating a resource for journalists and content creatorsThis week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting to a different style of guest - Bec Derrington from Sourcebottle. Sourcebottle is a fabulous resource for journalists, writers and content creators and one we both use regularly. Bec shares the story behind Sourcebottle - why she started it and how it works. During our wide-ranging chat we talk about: Her background in PR and how she saw the gap in the market The challenges in running a small business The changing media landscape How she connects journalists with sources and industry experts Some of the weird and wonderful ca...
2023-07-161h 02
The Content ByteNew to freelancing? Here's how to get your first clientsThis week, hosts Rachel and Lynne are responding to a question we had on Instagram from an entry-level writer asking how to get her first clients. So we are sharing our 12 tips (6 from each of us) on how to land your first freelance writing client when you have no experience. We talk about: Finding your niche Using that niche to target clients in that area Partnering with freelancers who are a little bit ahead of you and might be able to sub-contract to you, so you start to get some clippings How short-term contract work will he...
2023-07-0218 min
The Content ByteDilvin Yasa on working as a freelance travel writer and authorThe life of a freelance travel writer sounds like a dream gig (and one we have always wondered about) - so this week Rachel and Lynne are chatting with freelancer and columnist Dilvin Yasa. Dilvin talks about the reality of working as a travel writer. In our chat, Dilvin talks about: The challenge of getting your foot in the door if you live in the 'wrong postcode' How men's magazines taught her how to write well The reality of spending weeks on the road How she juggles the demands of a weekly column with family life How and w...
2023-06-2531 min
The Content ByteJodie Spiteri-James from the ASA on literary speed dating and getting publishedThis week, Rachel and Lynne welcome Jodie Spiteri-James from the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) to the podcast. Jodie is the Professional Development and Events Manager at the ASA and responsible for one of the society's most successful programs - Literary Speed Dating. With more than 20 years experience in publishing, Jodie talks about: The rise of e-books and audio books How the industry works How to get published How the speed dating events work Mistakes prospective authors make Learn more about the ASA here: https://www.asauthors.org/ Connect with Jodie here: https://www.linkedin.co...
2023-06-1840 minThe Content ByteMelanie Hansch on moving to New York and working for magazines in the USMagazine editor and writer Melanie Hansch joins Rachel and Lynne on the podcast this week talking about her work as deputy editor of the prestigious Food and Wine magazine in the US. Melanie shares her career journey, starting as a food writer and critic in Australia and being mentored by publishing legend Donna Hay before moving to the States. She shares her observations on the differences between magazines in each country, why print is not dead and what it was like proving herself all over again when she moved to the US. It's an inspiring story and one that...
2023-06-1141 min
The Content ByteHannah James on how to secure work from print magazinesDespite the move to digital, there is still some allure about glossy magazines. This week Rachel and Lynne chat with Hannah James, the deputy editor of Country Style magazine about what print magazines look for from freelancers, how to pitch ideas and, importantly, what they pay. She also takes us through the workload of magazine staff, how it has changed over the years - and why many editors aren't great at answering their emails. It's an episode packed full of ideas on how to get your byline in a glossy! Connect with Hannah via LinkedIn...
2023-06-0441 min
The Content ByteEd Gandia on AI, strategy and The Content Byte SummitThis week on the podcast, hosts Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni chat with Ed Gandia, a business-building coach and successful podcaster. Ed is also one of the two keynote speakers at our conference, The Content Byte Summit, being held in Sydney in September this year, flying in from the US just for us. We talk to Ed about building a resilient business, dealing with the threat of AI, why strategy helps to set you apart and command a higher rate and, of course, what he's looking forward to doing on his trip to Sydney. It's...
2023-05-2828 min
The Content ByteDex Randall on beating burnoutThis week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with burnout coach Dex Randall. We know that when you work for yourself, the to-do list can be long and the pressure can be immense, which is why we felt this topic was really important. In our chat with Dex, we cover topics such as: what burnout is who gets it and why how you know you are in burnout and not just dealing with workplace stress where freelancers are particularly vulnerable how you fix burnout if burnout is the same for men and women Connect with Dex at https://de...
2023-05-2136 min
The Content ByteEverything you need to know about The Content Byte SummitThis week, it's just Rachel and Lynne as we discuss our big event for the year - The Content Byte Summit! We are keen to share our excitement about the event, which is coming to Sydney in September - from the 14 to 16th, in fact. We chat about: Why we decided to do the summit What writers and content creators will get out of attending How keen we are to meet our keynote speakers - Ed Gandia and Jennifer Goforth Gregory How we feel about challenging ourselves to take the podcast to the next level What or...
2023-05-1419 min
The Content ByteStephanie Wood on a career in long-form journalismThis week on the podcast, hosts Rachel and Lynne chat with freelance writer and author Stephannie Wood. Stephanie shares her journey moving from being a staff writer to freelancing, the challenge of creating a viable career in long-form journalism as well as her journey to publishing her first book, Fake: A Startling True Story of Love in a World of Liars, Cheats, Narcissits, Fantastists and Phonies. During our chat, we discuss: How to get a pitch over the line with editors The challenges of managing an over-flowing inbox What's involved in creating a popular newsletter S...
2023-05-0744 minThe Content ByteShannon Molloy on balancing a journalism career with non-fiction booksTRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains some distressing content, including discussion about child sexual abuse. This week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with journalist and author Shannon Molloy. He talks about his two books, including his latest, You Made Me This Way, a powerful, yet harrowing tale that talks to male survivors of child sexual abuse. He talks about interviewing the men who are the core of the book, sharing his own story, and how he managed to cope with such challenging material. He shares how his journalism background helped him to write the b...
2023-04-3048 min
The Content ByteSarah Spence on selling strategy as a service and being neurodiverse in the copywriting worldThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat to copywriter and agency owner Sarah Spence. She shares her journey from freelancing to setting up her own agency, managing rapid growth and what she looks for when she's hiring freelancers. She also talks about what it's like being neurodiverse and how it helps her create a supportive and inclusive culture at her agency, Content Copywriting. Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-spence-7413b930/ Learn more about her agency here: https://contentcopywriting.com.au/ We are also thrilled to launch our newest venture...
2023-04-2341 min
The Content ByteHow to specialise in arts writing with Emma FinneranThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat with artist and arts writer Emma Finneran. She shares how her writing career started, how she works with artists to translate their visions into words and what it's like dealing with the egos of the art world. Another fascinating writing niche - another fascinating freelancer! Emma shares her philosophy about making art accessible through words and sharing the vision of artists through statements and galleries. We loved this peek into another world! Connect with Emma here: https://artistprofile.com.au/emma-finneran/ We are so thrilled to launch o...
2023-04-1632 min
The Content ByteOpinion writing with Vivienne PearsonThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne are joined by Vivienne Pearson, who specialises in Opinion Writing. Vivienne talks about: What makes opinion writing different from regular journalism How and when to pitch to editors The topics that work for opinion writing Whether you can make a living from this style of writing Find out more about Vivienne at https://viviennepearson.com/ Information about her course with the Australian Writers Centre is here: https://www.writerscentre.com.au/store/courses/opinion-writing/ Don't forget... If you're an Aussie freelancer, please take our new pa...
2023-04-1025 min
The Content ByteHow to specialise in award writing with Erin HuckleThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat with PR consultant and writer Erin Huckle of Chuckle Communications. Erin specialises in award writing and shares her knowledge. She talks about: Where she finds her clients What she likes about award writing How winning awards can help small business What makes this type of writing different from content writing The secret to being a successful freelancer Connect with Erin at: https://chucklecommunications.com/ (where you will find her amazing awards calendar) Don't forget... If you're an Aussie freelancer, please take our new pay rates survey here: https://www...
2023-04-0231 min
The Content ByteHow to bust out of a slow patchThis week it's just hosts Rachel and Lynne as they share their best-ever tips on how to find work if you are facing a slow patch in this super-practical episode. We get it! All freelancers have quiet times and sometimes all you need are some simple solutions to help you get back into the flow and have the clients or editors come running. We talk about how to reach out to your network (and how to create one if you don't have one) and how to work LinkedIn to your best advantage. Don't forget... If...
2023-03-1921 min
The Content ByteKerri Sackville's career journey as a blogger to columnist and authorThis week hosts Rachel and Lynne chat with columnist and author Kerri Sackville about her writing career. We talk about how being an early adopter on both Twitter and as a blogger helped to launch her career, how she chooses what to share about her life and how she secured both a weekly magazine column and all her five book deals. You can pre-order Kerri's new book, The Secret Life of You (How a bit of alone time can change your life, relationships, and maybe the world), here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-secret-life-of-you-kerri-sackville/book/9780645412949.html
2023-03-1244 min
The Content ByteFrom the World Economic Forum to running your own content agency – with Mike HanleyFormer freelancer, now agency owner, Mike Hanley joins Rachel and Lynne on the podcast this week. Mike talks about moving from Bondi to Geneva to take a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the World Economic Forum and how it helped him grow and develop as a writer and leader. He shares the difficulties of moving his family halfway around the world and how the pandemic led him and his wife to make the huge decision to return home. He also talks about the pressures of starting and running your own business and how tech tools help him keep on top of...
2023-02-2740 min
The Content BytePip Harry on the secrets to success in book publishingThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with writer Pip Harry, an award-winning children's author, journalist and copywriter. Pip talks about: all the different marketing channels that a modern author needs to be across how awards make a huge difference to sales (especially with children's fiction) how she juggles writing her novels with journalism and copywriting how rejection is part of the writer's journey how long she had to wait before she could create a picture book The social media training she talks about is: https://thetandemcollective.com/ Ginger Gorman and Sue White's media bootcamp is: htt...
2023-02-2040 min
The Content ByteHeather Smith on blending accounting services with a career in contentThis week on the podcast Rachel and Lynne's guest is accountant Heather Smith. As well as consulting with small business, Heather has created a side hustle as a writer, creating content and writing some successful 'For Dummies' books. She is also a columnist for Acuity magazine. She talks about creating a career that uses her professional knowledge and how she's honed her writing skills, often using AI to help her in terms of ideas and a framework. We talk about: The tough editorial demands of the 'For Dummies' brand How she splits her work between accountancy...
2023-02-1230 min
The Content ByteCreating a career as a freelance subeditor with Leigh LivingstoneThis week Rachel and Lynne chat with subeditor, writer and podcaster Leigh Livingstone about creating a successful career as a freelance subeditor (sometimes called a copy editor). We talk about: the role of a modern subeditor where and how she finds her work working with regular clients and maintaining those connections how it gives her a good mix of work how subediting helps your writing Connect with Leigh here: https://leighlivingstone.com/ Listen to her podcast, Popcorn Podcast, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/popcorn-podcast/id1461702059 Where to find us:...
2023-02-0625 minThe Content ByteLee Tran Lam on building a career in the food mediaThis week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne talk to freelance writer, podcaster and multi-tasker Lee Tran Lam about food, podcasting and trying to carve out a career as a freelancer, while still doing what you love. We talk about: The need to support young journalists Why podcasting is the future - and how you can make it pay Creating a podcast with the Powerhouse museum Her favourite meals and why writing about it helps to capture those moments forever How her early days as a subeditor informed and helped her writing Where to find Lee...
2023-01-2950 minThe Content ByteOdette Barry on self-promotion without the 'ick'This week, Rachel and Lynne are talking to publicist, PR mentor and founder of Odette & Co, Odette Barry, about promoting yourself and raising your profile without the 'ick'. It's a fun conversation with lots of practical tips. We talk about: How to handle networking events as an introvert How and where to show up on social media What it's like operating out of a regional city Why you need a good website How to 'hack' your own PR The tech tips you didn't know you needed Find Odette at: https://www.odetteandco.com.au/ Where...
2023-01-2239 minThe Content ByteWhy brand voice is so powerful - with Brooke HillIn this age of AI and the associated panic that many writers are facing, content creator and agency founder Brooke Hill talks to Rachel and Lynne about Brand Voice - why it is important and how it can be the differentiator for writers. We chat about: What Brand Voice is Why it can't be replicated by bots How AI can be an effective tool for writers, without compromising our livelihood How to deal with cost-conscious clients How she finds work And why she wrote her first children's book Where to find Brooke: https://thecontentedcopywriter.com.a...
2023-01-1644 minThe Content ByteCharlotte Dallison on writing about fashion and lifestyle – plus securing a book contractRachel and Lynne's guest this week – our first for 2023 – is Charlotte Dallison. Charlotte's mantra is Blonde not Beige and she has built a successful career as a writer, podcaster and vintage fashion aficionado. We chat about: How she built her vintage fashion business and used that following to leverage her writing career Using Substack for her newsletter and how the platform has grown The story behind securing her book deal, which is coming out late in 2023 Being a digital nomad Working on her book thanks to a creative residency in Sardinia Connect with Charlotte here: http...
2023-01-0834 minThe Content ByteOur Best-ever Set-and-Forget Tips for the HolidaysThis week, Rachel and Lynne are preparing for the holiday break - and we share our best-ever tips on how to manage cash flow, clients and set yourself up for a great 2023. We talk about: Taking on lots of work in November and December to build up a financial buffer Creating an Out-of-Office message for clients Working inhouse to take the pressure off the hustle Pre-scheduling social media Writing SEO-optimised blog posts ahead of time Thanks as always to Rounded for sponsoring The Content Byte. Connect with us: Rachel's List for job-seekers: w...
2022-12-1313 min
The Content ByteNavigating the job search and recruitment process with career and interview coach Leah LambartWhat happens when you're freelance... and you keep getting distracted by cool permanent jobs passing you by? When you're a bit over the hustle, and want to go back to the 9-5 - even for just a year or two? It happens, as we talked to Joh Leggatt about in this recent episode. So, for a bit of a follow-up from that, we're talking to career and interview coach Leah Lambart about what happens next: + how to get into the 9-5 mindset when you're used to being your own boss + how to show employers you're serious about...
2022-11-1433 minThe Content ByteSuccessful freelancers share their tips – Annie ReidThis week Rachel and Lynne chat with copywriter and ghost writer Annie Reid about her career writing copy for the architectural, design and property industries. She shares how she finds clients, how she started in her niche and what she loves about writing the words in beautiful coffee table books. Find Annie at https://atrium.media/ Connect with us: Rachel's List for job-seekers: www.rachelslist.com.au/jobseekers Lynne Testoni's website: www.lynnetestoni.com Rachel Smith's website: www.rachelsmith.com.au Thanks, as always, to our sponsors w...
2022-11-0837 min
Building Better with CSRLighting on The Block with Beacon Lighting's Mandi KontosThis week on Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni talks with architectural lighting designer Mandi Kontos of Beacon Lighting, who worked with Omar and Oz on The Block this year to help light their winning home. Mandi talks about her role on The Block, and how much The Block influences new homeowners. She shares her knowledge of lighting trends, seven-star rating and what it's like to work under pressure. This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most trusted and recognised brand names in providing building products...
2022-11-0620 minThe Content ByteWhy social proof is so powerful, with Kirsty FantonThis week Rachel and Lynne chat with launch copywriter and psychotherapist Kirsty Fanton about 'social proof' - what it is, why it's an important (and powerful) part of your marketing efforts and how to get it. An inspiring and informative discussion. Find Kirsty at https://www.kirstyfanton.com/ Connect with us Rachel's List for job-seekers: www.rachelslist.com.au/jobseekers Lynne Testoni's website: www.lynnetestoni.com Rachel Smith's website: www.rachelsmith.com.au Thanks, as always, to our sponsors www.rounded.com.au. Easy accounting and invoicing software, m...
2022-10-3134 minBuilding Better with CSRStyle on The Block with CSR’s Kate DeeganThis week on Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni talks with Kate Deegan of CSR, an interior designer and one of the team members working with the contestants this season to help them choose their bricks on their houses. Kate talks about her role on The Block, and how homeowners can find their own style with their new build. Check out the PGH Style Quiz here: https://www.pghbricks.com.au/inspiration/styles/stylequiz This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most trusted and...
2022-10-3019 minBuilding Better with CSRThe Block’s favourite plasterer, Sam of Getting You PlasteredThis week on Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni talks with Sam Badenhop of Getting You Plastered, known as The Block's favourite plasterer and one of the team members working on Scott Cam's house this season. He shares why he loves working on The Block, and what he's learnt over his career as a plasterer – plus his favourite Gyprock products. Connect with Sam via Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getting_you_plastered This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most tr...
2022-10-2317 minBuilding Better with CSRHow to add style to your home with Bree LeechThis week on Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni talks with Dulux colour forecaster and stylist Bree Leech. Bree talks about her role as a trend forecaster, where interior trends originate, sustainability and how styling adds a personal touch (and personality) to your home. Connect with Bree via her website: http://breeleech.com/ Or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/breeleech/ This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most trusted and recognised brand names in providing building products for residential and commercial construction.
2022-10-2231 minBuilding Better with CSRReal estate and The Block - with Jesse RaeburnThis week on Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni talks with real estate agent and former Block contestant, Jesse Raeburn. Jesse talks about his passion for The Block, his involvement this year and why he keeps coming back. Connect with Jesse via WhiteFox https://whitefoxrealestate.com.au/ or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse.raeburn/?hl=en This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most trusted and recognised brand names in providing building products for residential and commercial construction.
2022-10-2224 minBuilding Better with CSRReturning to The Block with Spence ThomsonThis week on Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni talks with Spence Thomson, a contestant from 2018, who returned to The Block in 2022 to be one of the builders on Scott Cam's house. He shares why he loves working on The Block (especially now he's away from the cameras), how he has embraced sustainable building projects and what he's learnt over a multi-decade career in building. Connect with Spence via his 4Sheds project: https://www.4shedsproject.com.au/ Or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/4shedsproject/ This podcast was brought...
2022-10-0219 minThe Content ByteHieu Nguyen on moving to New York and creating a successful freelance careerIn this episode, we delve into the successful freelance journey of creative director Hieu Nguyen, who moved from a busy print publishing career in Australia to working in New York and starting his own design agency. Find out about: + Hieu's early years, including coming to Australia on a boat from Vietnam + How he got into graphic design and some of the amazing brands he's worked with, including Gourmet Traveller, The Australian Women's Weekly, Amazon Publishing, AT&T and many others + His tips for creatives keen to move to New York - from visas and sponsorship...
2022-09-2638 minBuilding Better with CSRBeing a builder on The Block with Matt Menichelli of Elevate Building GroupThis week on Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni talks with Matt from Elevate Building Group, the builder for House 2 (Rachel & Ryan’s home) on The Block. He shares why he loves working on The Block, how it helped him launch his own building company and how he manages to build a whole house in a tight timeframe (a room a week!) amongst all the cameras. Connect with Matt at the Elevate Building Group website: https://elevatebuilding.com.au/ This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most...
2022-09-2528 minThe Content ByteSuccessful freelancers: Meet journalist and editor Grant JonesContinuing on with our successful freelancer series, we're chatting to journalist and editor Grant Jones, a former TV producer and newspaper section editor who now runs his own content agency and communications company. He's also cowritten the recent book, A Caring Life: What fifty years in nursing has taught me about humanity, compassion and community, by Keith Cox with Grant Jones. Find out how Grant had to reinvent himself during Covid, the skills he's picked up since starting out as a journalist so many years ago, and his tips for freelancers starting out. Connect with Grant...
2022-09-1935 minBuilding Better with CSRThe Block’s favourite tiler, Adrian of Cursio TilingThis week host Lynne Testoni talks all about brick flooring with The Block's favourite tiler, Adrian of Cursio Tiling. Adrian talks about the fun and challenges of working on The Block, being part of The Block family, why he was honoured to be chosen by Scott Cam to work on his home and why he loves the Manhattan collection by PGH Bricks. Connect with Adrian at the Cursio Tiling website: https://cursiotiling.com.au/ This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most trusted and recognised...
2022-09-1922 minBuilding Better with CSRWomen in Construction with Rebeka Morgan of BuildHerInspired by The Block’s first ever female tradie, Jenny, this week host Lynne Testoni talks all about careers for women in construction and building with someone who knows all about this – Rebeka Morgan from BuildHer Collective. Rebeka talks about empowering homeowners to build their dream home, what it's like to be a woman in the building industry, and how The Block inspires Australians, as well as practical advice on managing your next build. Connect with Rebeka at the BuildHer Collective website and take a look at some of her free educational tools here: https://www.b...
2022-09-0829 minBuilding Better with CSRCollaboration and logistics on The Block with CSR’s Mark ThomasonThis week on our new podcast, Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni chats with CSR's own Mark Thomason, who is a major project manager with the company and responsible for the logistics behind the supply of building materials to The Block. He shares what it's like to work on a major building project amongst mud, strict timelines and lots of cameras. This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most trusted and recognised brand names in providing building products for residential and commercial construction. We h...
2022-08-2919 minBuilding Better with CSRAdding light to The Block with Carl Swanson of VeluxThis week on our new podcast, Building Better with CSR, host Lynne Testoni chats with Carl Swanson from Velux, which is the company behind the many, many skylights used in the houses on The Block this year and how they work with CSR products, particularly Gyprock plasterboard. Find out more about Velux here: https://www.velux.com.au/ This podcast was brought to you by CSR, the name behind some of the market's most trusted and recognised brand names in providing building products for residential and commercial construction. We have a special competition...
2022-08-2216 minThe Content ByteSpecialising in grant writing with Martina DonkersThis week Rachel and Lynne chat with successful freelancer Martina Donkers, who is a specialist grant writer. In an inspiring talk, Martina shares her story about finding her niche, how grant writing works and why she loves being a digital nomad - all from a hammock in regional Western Australia! You can connect with Martina via her website: http://www.martinadonkers.com/ Lynne's website https://www.lynnetestoni.com/ Rachel's website https://rachelsmith.com.au/ Rachel's List https://www.rachelslist.com.au/ Many thanks to Rounded for sponsoring this episode...
2022-08-2139 minThe Content Byte5 templates you need as a new copywriter or content producerIf you're setting yourself up to write copy or content for clients, it may be tricky to figure out the most important templates you need to have in place and why. These will be things you'll learn about, tweak and hone as you go, but in this episode we save you time and hassle by distilling it down to five templates we recommend you have from the start - and why they're so useful. Many thanks to Rounded for sponsoring this episode! Rounded offers user-friendly accounting and invoicing software, made just for freelancers and sole traders.
2022-08-0816 minThe Content ByteWhat agencies really want from freelancers with Renee FrancisEver wanted to work with agencies? Lynne goes it alone this week with guest and agency owner Renee Francis, who talks about how freelancers can secure agency work, why she likes working with freelancers and the skills you need to secure good paying work. Renee's agency, The Bubble Co, is here: https://thebubbleco.com.au/ Connect with Renee via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-francis-7480a233/ This podcast is sponsored by our good friends at Rounded, easy accounting and invoicing software, made just for Australian freelancers and sole traders. It's everything you...
2022-07-2421 minThe Content ByteFuture-proofing your career with Dr Marcus BowlesThe pandemic may have changed the way we work forever, says Dr Marcus Bowles, Rachel and Lynne's guest on the podcast this week and he feels freelancing might be the way of the future. In this thoughtful and far-ranging discussion, he chats about the careers of the future and all about micro-credentials and why they are important. Prepare to be inspired and challenged! Dr Bowles' website is here: https://marcbowles.com/ This podcast is sponsored by our good friends at Rounded, easy accounting and invoicing software, made just for Australian freelancers and sole...
2022-07-1730 minThe Content ByteHow to build your contacts book Savvy writers and freelancers all know that it's who you know, not what you know! A solid contact book is a huge asset for journalists, copywriters and content writers and this week Rachel and Lynne talk about how to find and nurture your contacts - and how to organise them so you can find the right expert at the right time. This podcast is sponsored by our good friends at Rounded, easy accounting and invoicing software, made just for Australian freelancers and sole traders. It's everything you need to make freelancing easier! Find out more a...
2022-07-1126 minThe Content ByteHow to beat freelancer fatigueThis week - the end of our financial year - Rachel and Lynne talk about fatigue. Ever since we spoke to Madeleine Dore about the cult of productivity, we've been mindful of not ignoring our fatigue levels and trying to be kind to ourselves. We recognise when we're at our best and when we're just pushing through to feel a bit ahead the next day. We share our tips about how we stay fresh, relevant and how we both avoid burnout. This podcast is sponsored by our good friends at Rounded, easy accounting and in...
2022-07-0423 minThe Content BytePersonal branding with Emma LovellBuilding a personal brand may sound a bit 'ick' to some writers, but it is a vital marketing tool for your freelance business. Branding expert Emma Lovell takes the awkwardness out of branding with her fun and practical approach. She is Rachel and Lynne's guest on the podcast this week, showing why creating your personal brand is important and how it can bring you more business - and the right clients. Find out more about Emma through her website: https://lovellycommunications.com/ Rachel's List is here: https://www.rachelslist.com.au/ Rachel's own w...
2022-06-2741 minThe Content ByteCampbell Mattinson on wine writing and finally publishing his 30-year-old manuscriptSuccessful freelance writer Campbell Mattinson talks about how he secured the perfect gig - wine writing. In his chat with host Lynne Testoni, he also shared: How he copes with the delivery of 30 bottles of wine a day The changes in wine writing over the years How he finally published the novel that had been in his bottom drawer for 30 years How photography has made him a better writer Get in touch with Campbell via his website: https://www.campbellmattinson.com/
2022-03-2026 min
The Content ByteEverything you need to know about virtual assistantsEver thought of using a virtual assistant (VA)? This week on the podcast, Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni chat with Fiona Campbell, who runs Thought Penny, an Australian team of VAs, as well as the VA Lead Network. Fiona talks about why you might not need a VA and how to automate your processes instead, all about opportunity cost and how to find the perfect assistant for your creative business. We cover: How to be more efficient with your time Automating processes When you don't need a VA Types of projects a VA might help with How to...
2021-08-1643 min
The Content Byte7 Things you must have on your websiteThis week Rachel and Lynne are talking about your biggest marketing tool – your website! We are constantly surprised how many writers don't have a website, or have one that misses crucial pieces of information. This week, website developer Jude Love from Love Communications talks all things websites and what creatives need to include. Her 7 tips on what to include are: A sales mindset – make every page a sales page. This means a clear definition of your audience/clientele, the problems you solve, social proof and clear call to action. Your Unique Value Proposition above the...
2021-04-1232 minThe Content ByteWhat we learnt from 2020 - and what we'll do differentlyHosts Rachel Smith from Rachel's List and journalist and content creator Lynne Testoni talk about what we have learnt during 2020 – and how it has made our work better. Last year took us out of our comfort zones, but it wasn't all bad. We each share our tips on what we are doing differently because of the pandemic.
2021-01-1720 minThe Content ByteWhat freelancers need to know about Instagram with Sara TaskerHosts Rachel Smith from Rachel's List and journalist and content creator Lynne Testoni talk to Sara Tasker of MeandOrla and Hashtag Authentic about Instagram and how to make it work for you as a freelancer. About Sara Sara is an Instagram Expert and Creative Business Coach, best-selling author and host of the successful podcast Hashtag Authentic where she shares Instagram strategies and support. She runs courses and retreats on Instagram and has more than 200,000 followers on the platform – last time we checked. In this episode we talk about: How Inst...
2020-10-1237 min
The Content ByteRE-RELEASE! Finding content marketing clients with Jennifer Goforth GregoryThis week on the podcast, Lynne has been unwell so we thought it would be a great idea to re-release one of our favourite episodes from a few years ago. This episode, from June 2020 (so we chat about the pandemic a few times) is with content marketing queen Jennifer Goforth Gregory about moving from journalism to content marketing, why it's so important to have niches, positioning yourself to clients and agencies as a subject matter expert and her three-pronged approach to marketing yourself. She also shares a rough script on how to write an LOI (and why i...
2020-06-2247 min