Podcast Recap: Four Lessons I Learned From Freelancers This February
February was a massive month for The Ambitious Freelancer. I got to speak with some seriously amazing freelancers and experts this month, and we talked about things like marketing, building a local brand, moonlighting, and productivity. I wanted to start a series called Podcast Recap, where I share some of the best snippets from the show. Are you listening to The Ambitious Freelancer? If not, what are you waiting for!
1) “I’m booked, but only to a certain extent.”—Latasha James
When I asked Latasha about how to prospect when you’re busy, I wasn’t expecting this gem. It makes sense, though. If you were given the contract of your dreams, you’d find a way to make it work, even if you were booked and busy. I love Latasha’s insight of punching up when you are booked. Many freelancers avoid those conversations because they are afraid of no, but if you are busy, what do you have to lose?
Our conversation as a whole was eye-opening. We talked about using video to grow your brand, raising your rates, LinkedIn, conferences, and more. If you are looking for tips on how to market your freelance career and create content, this is the episode for you.
Latasha is a freelancer that I wholeheartedly look up to. You’ve probably heard of Latasha because she is the podcaster behind The Freelance Friday Podcast. Latasha also shares amazing insight on her YouTube channel, and she just launched a fantastic membership called The Freelance Friday Membership. If you are a freelancer looking to up your game as a social media manager (or any kind of freelancing), you need to check out Latasha. I gain so much knowledge from her, even though I am a freelance writer.
Listen to the full episode with Latasha here.
PS: I was recently featured on Latasha’s podcast The Freelance Friday Podcast. Check out my episode where I talked about all things pitching clients.
2) “Employers or clients expect writers to have more skills than just the ability to write.”—Marisa Mohi
Marisa gives terrific insight into the power of being multi-talented as a freelancer. Our talents make us unique, and having various skillsets can only improve your chances of getting work as a freelancer. We live in a time where most freelancers are offering a variety of skills to their clients, so you need to be able to provide that too. Whether you are in a 9-5 or working from home as a freelancer, people are expecting more of you than your primary skill.
When I sat down with Marisa, our main point of conversation was creating a local freelance brand. I live in a small town, so working with local clients is a bit foreign to me, but Marisa makes her living working with local companies in her state. We talked about creating a name for yourself on Twitter, transitioning into being a full-time freelancer, feature writing, and more. Marisa shared many amazing tips and gems in this episode.
Marisa is a freelance feature writer based in Oklahoma. I virtually met Marisa last year when we took an online course together, and I am continually in awe of the great stuff she does. You can check out her website and YouTube channel that she updates regularly. If you’re into novel writing, you can check out her journal: The 90-Day Novel Planner.
Listen to the full episode with Marisa here.
3) “Make sure your clients know when you’re available.”—Leighann Blackwood
Leighann is newer to the freelancing sphere, but she is already making a significant impact on the community. Leighann has created content for years now, and she recently decided to take her freelancing career seriously along with her job as a social worker. I knew I wanted to chat with Leighann about her journey and get insight from her. While this tip seems simple, it’s imperative if you have a career outside of your freelance journey. Moonlighters are only available so many hours in a day, so they need clients who will meet them where they are.
Leighann shared a ton of wisdom on her podcast with me. We talked about content creation, creating content for Unsplash and Medium, using your skills to stand out as a freelancer, and more. I loved listening to her unique experiences in creating content, especially her thoughts on why she produces images for Unsplash.
Leighann was a delight to interview. I was so excited to get her on the show because her journey is different from most freelancers I know. Leighann recently got her LMSW, and she works as a social worker on most days. She recently decided to delve into her other passion of creating content online through her brand, Oh Leighann. Check Leighann out on Medium and Unsplash, too!
4) “We can’t improve on something that doesn’t exist.”—Sagan Morrow
As soon as Sagan Morrow said these words, I knew I wanted to share them with everyone I’ve ever come in contact with, my past and future procrastinating self, and anyone who would listen. I need to listen to this clip every time I fall victim to procrastination and putting assignments off. Drafts exist for a reason, and we can only improve on something once it’s written.
Sagan dropped a ton of knowledge on her episode “How To Be A Productivity Powerhouse.” I was blown away by her honesty and insight. We talked about a variety of topics like working with multiple clients, tapping into your source of discipline and motivation, toxic productivity, business partnerships, and more.
Sagan Morrow is a productivity strategist based in Winnipeg, Canada. She teaches time-crunched solopreneurs how to build a successful business based on productive strategies so that they can reduce overwhelm.
You can check out her website for a myriad of free resources. If you need some extra help, you can join her flagship course, Productivity Powerhouse, for all the productivity strategies you need to succeed.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this podcast recap sharing the stories I got to explore this month. I’ve grown so much as a podcast host this month, and I am already ready to share more stories and experiences in March. If you are a freelancer, expert, or person who hires freelancers, consider coming on the show! You can fill out my guest form, and I will get back to you ASAP if I feel like you’d be an excellent fit for the show.