In this podcast episode, legendary marketer Brian Kurtz describes the seven critical success factors used by direct marketing legends — and how those principles still apply today.

In today’s short podcast episode, I talk about the power of exclusivity—and how you can leverage it to attain higher fees and book your schedule as a writer or content marketer.

In this podcast episode, learn how to lead sales conversations with confidence — and land more projects — by following Nikki Rausch’s five-step selling process.

In today’s short podcast episode, I explore why you’re better off improving what you’ve already built than building something entirely new. 

In today’s short podcast episode, I give a different way of making decisions that will help you come up with better, smarter solutions—with a lot less drama.

In today’s short podcast episode, I share how to overcome shyness and fear by taking smart, calculated risks.

In today’s short podcast episode, I explain how to approach projects where the scope of work or solution isn’t immediately evident.

Discover how you can harness the power of video storytelling to differentiate yourself from competitors, with guest filmmaker, Jude Charles.

In today’s short podcast episode, I review four critical success factors you MUST have in place for email prospecting.

In this short podcast episode, a comparison between music producers and content marketers or writers and the lessons it holds for how we perceive the value of our work.

In this short podcast episode, I reveal the dangers of letting preconceived notions about what’s “reasonable” set the parameters for pricing client projects.

In this short podcast episode, I explain how shifting your mindset from working for yourself to working for your clients can get you what want.

In this podcast episode, I walk through an exercise that can help you recognize your value and approach prospects and clients with greater confidence.

In this episode, I share two ways to get prospects to respond to your final follow up attempt by creating a pattern interrupt.

In this podcast episode, I outline my new approach to project pricing — and how a simple mindset shift can make all the difference in the growth of your income and business.

In today’s podcast episode, Danielle Hughes gives you the tools you need to create content that sounds like YOU and stands out in a world of sameness.

In this podcast episode, I tell the story of the 17th-century Dutch painter, Sir Peter Lely to see what it can teach us a lot about outsourcing — and where we bring the greatest value.

In today’s podcast episode, my guest Tony Steuer and I reveal a simple, 12-month financial action plan you can use to get your financial house in order.

In this short podcast episode, I relate the story of our washing machine repairs — and what it can teach us about pricing our services and understanding our value.

In today’s podcast episode, my guest Romi Neustadt describes how you can have it all by setting priorities and figuring out where to put your focus.

In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by Mike McDerment, co-founder and CEO of FreshBooks, who has a message about pricing that we all need to here.  

In this podcast episode, I reveal what you can to stop prospects from “ghosting” you.

In this podcast episode, I describe three levers you can pull to become an indispensable resource to your clients and foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

In today’s short podcast episode, I share two imperatives that you can use to guide your thinking about finding and acquiring clients.  

In today’s podcast episode, PR powerhouse Kelly Glover reveals how writers can use podcasting to get more clients and build their brand.

In this podcast episode, we have a father who explains why he wrote a letter to his son in the midst of the pandemic.

In this podcast episode, freelance writer Kaleigh Moore reveals how she minimizes stress while keeping work fun and rewarding.

In this short podcast episode, I encourage freelance writers to take a chance and rewrite their own rulebook.

In this podcast episode, Cole Shafer describes how he landed clients such as Google, FreshBooks, and other brand name companies — and how he did it in less than three years.

In this short podcast episode, I talk about why it’s important to emotionally detach from the outcome of your project proposals. And what can happen when you don’t.

In today’s podcast episode, my guest Laura Khalil discusses how women in tech can succeed with the help of courageous leadership.

In this short podcast episode, I use the restaurant industry to illustrate that even when commoditization has taken hold of a market, you can still separate yourself from the pack.

In this podcast episode, I bring in two experts from the Professional Independent Consultants of America to shed light on California’s AB5 law.

In this short podcast episode, I relate how Tony Robbins expresses the value he brings to his clients and how we can apply the same technique to our own businesses.

In this podcast episode, Pamela Wilson of Big Brand System explains how to create your own content faster, more consistently and with less stress.

How to Work at Home with Kids During the Coronavirus Lockdown ... Without Completely Losing Your Sanity

In this podcast episode, Jessica Abel addresses how to create the freedom you need to work on non-urgent endeavors and overcome procrastination and self-doubt.

In this short podcast episode, I reveal an easy way to get more prospects to say “yes” to your proposals — and how to follow up when they don’t.

In this podcast episode, you’ll learn why public speaking is such a valuable skill to have and why you do NOT need to be extroverted to do it well.

In this podcast episode, I examine a different way of framing the services you offer to clients — and what you can learn from how a fast-growing nationwide wellness franchise.

In this podcast episode, Diane Gardner, a certified tax coach, shares how to maximize your tax deductions, make your tax planning easier, and minimize your tax liability.

I’ve rarely seen equity arrangements or payment by the percentage of profits work out for the writer. Here’s what you can do instead.

In this podcast episode, my guest is bestselling author Joanna Penn. Our conversation will expand your thinking about passive income streams and spark ideas about assets that could pay you dividends for decades.

In this short podcast episode, I discuss what you need to consider when deciding whether to let go of a client — and the best way to do it.

In this episode, Sarah Greensonbach explains what original research is, what clients can do with it, and how you can pitch it as a service.

In this podcast episode, I discuss a cash management strategy I’ve been using that’s completely revolutionized my finances — and the way I feel about my business.

In this episode, I'm delving into this topic of survivor bias — and how we can use the study of failures and struggles to avoid it and gain deeper insights.

Complaining at length about low rates is fruitless (and dangerous). In this episode, I explain why low rates aren’t the problem you think they are. And how you should start thinking about them instead.

In today’s episode, Daphne Gray-Grant explains why you need a crummy first draft, how to use mind mapping for inspiration and tips to stop editing as you write.

In this episode, personal trainer Steve Beck describes how to get started with a simple exercise program if you’re currently at “zero,” and how to build on your current fitness routine if you already have one.

In this podcast episode, I explore a variety of ideas and approaches to drive higher quality leads to your website.

When a qualified prospect asks to meet you in person, respond with “yes, and…” to get the most out of your time.

In this interview, Chris Orzechowski explains why he decided to write a book, how he settled on a topic, and how he got it done quickly. He also shares the massive results he’s enjoyed from the effort.

In this mini-podcast episode, I explain how a recent scare in my business proved the importance of clearly communicating your value to prospects when presenting your pricing.

Many writers will hire another writer when they’re ready to scale their business. But often, a better first step is to hire a virtual assistant.

In our culture, we sometimes think that if we’re not scaling our business, we’re failing in our business. I dispel that myth in this episode.

Clients and prospects will sometimes toss you a problem to solve. But that doesn’t automatically mean you have to deal with it. Sometimes you should toss the problem back to them.

In this episode, guest Ross Simmonds explains what Fortune 500 clients look for in a writer, how you can generate a steady stream of high-quality corporate leads, and how you can command higher fees.

If you want to work more productively — and feel less overwhelmed — you have to make real changes to your business. In this podcast episode, I’m looking at actions you can take to work more efficiently and reduce feelings of overwhelm.

Hilary Jastram was forced into entrepreneurship when she became chronically ill a few years ago. In today’s podcast episode, she explains how she’s built a successful business and used her illness as a motivation to keep going.

To overcome procrastination, you have to admit that you do it and find ways of dealing with it. In today’s podcast episode, you’ll learn why procrastination is a serious problem and what you can do turn things around.

Hannah Bower is a content marketer with a background in PR. In this conversation, you’ll learn what freelance PR work entails, how it’s changed and why Hannah decided to get out of it.

Running a freelance business becomes exponentially more challenging when you don’t have the support of your friends and family. In this episode, I share 10 practical tips that will help you if you’re in this situation.

Podcast guest Alex Nerney explains why adding a blog to your freelance writing business is a great way to supplement your writing income and add more predictability to your business.

For the past two years, Liz Farr has been writing bylined articles for trade publications and content platforms to generate inbound leads and land great new clients — while also getting paid.

It’s hard to find businesses that don’t use some form of content marketing. That’s a big shift from even five years ago.

But as its popularity has grown, the fees for content marketing projects have suffered.

Upwork and other job platforms have gotten better and more popular. You even have AI technology entering the writing fray.

All these factors have combined to create a situation where many clients want content NOW... and they want it cheap!

Does that mean that we all need to start looking for a new way to make a living?

Not at all!

In this week’s podcast, I address one element of the solution: bundling and productizing your service offerings.

Many introverted writers resist marketing their services and avoid doing what they need to do to grow their businesses.

Does that mean you’re doomed to fail as a self-employed writer if you’re an introvert?

Not at all.

My guest this week is Winnie Anderson, a coach for introverted service-based professionals, as well as the host of The Courageous Entrepreneur podcast. 

She teaches people how to resolve the tug-of-war between needing to stand out but not wanting to stand out.

In this episode, she explains why so many writers resist taking consistent action to stand out, and to do it in a way that feels good to them.

Content marketing has officially gone mainstream. It’s a “must do” for most businesses in today’s trust economy.

While this increased demand has created huge opportunities for writers, it has also commoditized a lot of our work and given rise to content mills and rock-bottom fees.

We’re not doomed. But to succeed, writers have to become a higher-value resource for their clients.

In this episode, I speak with Sonia Simone, founding partner of Copyblogger Media (now Rainmaker Digital) and seasoned content marketer.

In the course of our conversation, she shares how you can position yourself as a strategic partner and build stronger relationships with clients.

Today’s podcast guest provides a classic illustration of the benefits of going deeper with existing clients.

Her name is Lindy Alexander. Lindy started freelancing full time in 2017. By the end of that year, she grossed more than $100,000 in income!

Even more remarkable: in 2018 she scaled back her hours to part-time and maintained the same income level.

In this episode, she explains how she did it. It’s an amazing story I think you’ll really enjoy, regardless of where you are in your journey.

Do you ever get so busy that you forget to invest in yourself?

It’s one of the pitfalls of being self-employed. There’s only so much time every week., right?

Then again, if you don’t take time to “feed the goose,” you’ll soon have no golden eggs.

My guest for today’s podcast has seen both sides of this problem.

Liz Sheffield is a freelance writer with a background in human resources.

As an HR professional, she understands the benefits of taking time to improve your knowledge and skills.

And as a freelancer, she understands the challenges we face in finding the time and resources to do this consistently.

In this episode, she explains why she’s a huge proponent of investing in yourself and your freelance business, and how you can do it without wasting your time or money.

I’m just going to come right out and say it.

Search engine optimization (SEO) has a horrible reputation.

For years, SEO companies scammed clients with big promises of boosting their search engine rankings, only to fall short or fail altogether.

Even now, information on this subject continues to be confusing, contradictory and misleading.

For this episode, to learn what SEO best practices you should implement for your own website, I wanted to talk to someone who doesn’t do SEO for a living, but who’s had good success with SEO nonetheless.

And I found that person in Matt Olpinski.

Matt is a freelance UX designer who boosted his own search engine rankings like crazy with some simple adjustments.

Adjustments you can make on your own website, even if you don’t have a lot of technical knowledge. Listen in to find out how...

Casey Hibbard is one of the best case study writers in North America.

She’s literally written hundreds of case studies for dozens of companies. Many of them big names you’d recognize.

On the occasion of her 20-year business anniversary, I asked Casey to come on the show and share some of the most important lessons she’s learned about writing powerful case studies.

In this interview, she shares 5 specific tips that will make you a stronger case study writer… and help you command higher fees for these projects.

Most commercial writers see themselves as just that: a commercial writer. 

They describe themselves as writers. And they pitch themselves as writers. 

Nothing wrong with that!

But that’s not the only way to make a living as a freelance commercial writer or copywriter.  

In this episode, you’ll hear from Maureen Farmer, founder of Word Right Executive Career Management.

Much of what she does for clients involves writing, but she packages her services differently. As a result, her clients view her more as a strategic resource than a writer — and are willing to pay her accordingly. Find out why...

I firmly believe that habits are the key to successful execution.

Execution is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to making positive changes in our lives.

And habits are THE most important element in execution.

A few months ago, I had James Clear on the show to talk about his new book Atomic Habits. And one of the things that really stood out for me is his discussion of identity.

Specifically, how your habits shape your identity — and how your identity shapes your habits.

In this episode, I take a closer look at this concept … and explain how you can leverage your identity to make new habits stick.

When you’re in a leadership position, the people you lead sometimes put you on a pedestal.

They think you have everything figured out. That you have no flaws. No struggles.

I’m in a leadership position in that people often look to me for ideas, advice and mentorship.

But let me tell you ... I’m not perfect by any means. I have my own struggles and imperfections.

And in this episode, I come clean on 9 of those things...

This is an exciting time to be alive.

The opportunity to make a great living as a self-employed professional has never been better.

Changing economic trends, shifting attitudes toward self-employment, cheap technology, and the ability to leverage talent from around the world have all combined to make this opportunity possible.

My guest for this week’s podcast has been tracking these changes for years. Her name is Elaine Pofeldt, and she’s the author of the book The Million-Dollar One-Person Business (Random House, 2018).

In this episode, Elaine introduces us to some of the people behind these million-dollar solo businesses.

I’ve found that maintaining a high level of productivity is one of the top challenges we face as self-employed professionals.

Chris Bailey is an expert who will share a different take on the topic.

In this episode, Chris brings some fresh perspectives to this discussion.

Perspectives I don’t often hear.

He also describes how to drastically reduce distractions and improve your productivity with a few simple changes...

November 2017, I dedicated a podcast episode to the topic of alternative healthcare insurance options.

A year later, in this episode, I circle back to the topic.

I asked my listeners to share their experiences with healthy indemnity plans and/or medical cost sharing over the past 12 months — both good and bad.

The feedback I received was enlightening … and might help you with your own healthcare coverage decision making...

One of the things I focus on with my coaching clients is improving their productivity.

Because if you can’t get your work done efficiently, you’re going to struggle.

You won’t meet your full earning potential. And you’ll be stressed and unhappy.

My guest for this podcast episode is Jordan Baker, a personal productivity expert and the creator of Focuster, an auto-scheduling calendar app.

You’ll walk away from this conversation with practical ideas that will help you get your most important things done—without stress or drama...

As a freelance professional, your habits and systems will directly determine your level of success and happiness. 

But how do you develop and sustain the right habits? Are there tricks and strategies for doing that successfully?

That’s the topic of this episode.

My guest is James Clear, an expert in the field of behavioral science and habit transformation ... and author of the book Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones

James thinks about these topics day and night. He’s spent years applying the science of habits to everyday situations you and I face regularly in our businesses.

I think you’ll find his tips and strategies fascinating and helpful!

I had a friend who was married to a lawyer.

She joked that when she was having trouble falling asleep, she’d ask her husband to talk about copyright law.

Apparently, it worked way better (and faster) than taking a melatonin supplement. ;-)

In all seriousness, copyright law is an important topic when you’re a freelancer writing for clients.

For this podcast episode, I’ve brought in Internet business lawyer Richard Chapo to give us the scoop on how we can protect ourselves from the most common (and avoidable!) copyright pitfalls.

As dull as this topic can be, Richard makes it interesting, relevant and engaging. He also illustrates many of his points with specific and useful examples, which I found extremely helpful. So I urge you to give this episode a listen.

You can earn a very handsome income working on “transactional” assignments for clients.

But for some writers, this model starts to get old. And they often wonder if there’s a better way of doing things.

That’s exactly what happened to my guest.

Maggie Patterson was making a very good living as a freelance writer. But she was burning out.

So she began to offer more comprehensive services that included her own proprietary processes.

The idea took hold. In a big way.

In this episode, Maggie explains how she transitioned from the traditional freelance model to an agency model … and how she uses it to differentiate her business and deliver more value to clients.

In this episode, I’m covering a topic that’s extremely relevant and practical for a big part of my audience: How introverts can turn more prospects into clients.

My guest is Matthew Pollard. Matthew is an internationally award-winning blogger and contributor to CEO, Entrepreneur, and Top Sales World Magazine. He is a recurring guest on FOX and NBC, and has appeared on top-rated podcasts including Entrepreneur on Fire and Eventual Millionaire.

He’s the author of the bestseller The Introvert’s Edge: How the Quiet and Shy Can Outsell Anyone, and he has five multimillion-dollar business success stories to his name, all before the age of thirty.

This is solid stuff. Check it out...

Should you give your clients a gift?

If so, when is the best time to do this? And what should you give them?

Holidays? At the end of your first project? Some other time?

This episode is a great conversation with my colleague Sarah Greesonbach on this topic. Sarah gave me some great ideas for how make this decision ... which clients you should put on your list ... and how to give gifts that make a huge impact without spending more than $20 or $30.

She’s a true gift-giving master! 

In this interview, she explains when to consider giving clients gifts (hint: there are other great opportunities outside the holidays) ... which clients you should give gifts to ... how to do it right ... and how to pick gifts that will make a big impact without spending more than $20 or $30.

I love to look for patterns. And recently I’ve been looking for patterns as I’ve talked with coaching clients and peers who’ve reached the six-figure income level.

Through those conversations, some interesting patterns emerged.

In this episode, I give you a peek into those patterns—because they’ll give you a good idea of what six-figure writers do differently when compared to lower-income writers...

LinkedIn has quickly become one of the most effective marketing tools for writers and copywriters.

But one of the downsides of this social platform is that it can feel overwhelming.

How should you use it? Where should you start? How should you search for prospects inside? And how do you connect with them?

My guest for this episode is Chrissie Wywrot. Chrissie works with clients on their LinkedIn profile and strategy, as well as their online brand, to establish them as experts and resources in their fields.

She has a very simple process she uses to get the most out of LinkedIn. Listen in to get the details...

Having a well-defined target audience is a critical first step to freelance success.

But it doesn’t end there. Because once you’ve identified your audience you now need to find some prospects to contact.

That’s where many writers get stuck.

If you’re in that situation now (or if you’ve ever been there), you’re going to get a ton out of this week’s podcast episode.

My guest is the brilliant Jennifer Gregory. In this interview, Jennifer details her three-step “Audience First” method for finding potential clients.

Her approach is both simple AND incredibly effective — and it’s something you can start using right away.

Interesting fact...

The biggest reason writers become (and stay) self-employed is freedom and flexibility — not money.

Unfortunately, way too many freelance writers are worse off today than they were when traditionally employed.

Too many are struggling to earn a good living. Or they’re working with bad clients on projects they hate. Or they’re working longer hours than they ever have.

That’s not freedom!

How can you turn that around? It all starts by setting some “standards” for your business.

And in this episode, I explain exactly how to do that.

Many writers I know struggle with analysis paralysis and over-thinking.

I see it at all levels of experience and with all types of decisions.

It often causes a great deal of stress and anxiety, which leads to poor performance and results ... which reinforces the need for overanalyzing things.

And so the cycle goes.

If you struggle with analysis paralysis, this podcast episode will help.

My guest is Shelley Row, a speaker and consultant who works with leaders who must make fast, insightful decisions in the face of uncertainty and rapid change.

Shelley is an engineer and a recovering over-thinker herself. And her work is based on neuroscience research and detailed interviews with dozens of executives who struggle with this issue.

Ever thought about writing a book?

Maybe a thought leadership book, a lead generator for your writing business ... or even a novel?

If so, this week’s podcast episode will be right up your alley.

My guest, Susan Baracco, explains what you need to know before you go down that path.

It’s part reality check, part encouragement and inspiration.

GREAT stuff!

I just published a podcast episode I think you’ll really enjoy.

My guest is copywriter Jared Kessler.

Jared  just went freelance two years ago. But he’s been able to grow his business like crazy since then!

In this interview, he explains how he’s done it. And why “positioning” has played such a critical role in his success.

You’ll get some good insights no matter where you are in your journey. But if you’re an established writer or copywriter, this one’s a must-listen!

Say you can handle about 25 hours of work per week.

But your best client suddenly needs your help with a major product launch.

And two new clients just hired you to work on some big projects.

Oh, boy! When it rains, it pours...

Great problem to have, right? ;-)

If you’ve been freelancing for some time, you’ve probably experienced this challenge at some point. You know how difficult this situation can be.

It’s fun ... until it isn’t.

In this interview, Atlanta-based writer Don Sadler explains what he does when he’s booked solid ... and how he retains his sanity and his health.

Even if you’re nowhere near experiencing that problem in your business, I still encourage you to listen. Because you’ll learn how to get to this level ... and what to do once that happens...

One of the most confusing and frustrating aspects of launching your freelance writing or copywriting business is looking for clients.

Clients don’t just show up at your door. You have to find them.

And when you’re new, you have to work even harder to find a few clients who will give you a chance.

Fortunately, there are a few proven ways to land clients faster. And in this episode I’ll share the 6 approaches I teach my coaching clients to prospect for clients when they’re starting out.

I’ve been a big proponent of using a lead magnet in your writing business as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy.

It’s no panacea. It’s not going to replace your prospecting efforts.

At least not overnight.

But it can help you generate a steady stream of quality leads. And that’s reason enough to consider creating one for your business.

In this episode you’ll hear Ana Gascon Ivey, a copywriter and copyeditor who wrote and published her own lead magnet a few months ago.

She explains how this lead magnet has helped her land clients ... and how it’s helped elevate her authority and open all kinds of doors...

As your business grows, it’s important that you begin attracting prospects and building your authority.

There’s nothing like having prospects knocking on your door!

Especially when the prospect has read some of your articles or blog posts ... and liked what they saw.

In this episode you’ll hear from someone who built their software business on this idea.

He’s not a freelancer. But the ideas he shares are directly applicable to what we do ... regardless of your experience level.

I’m often asked about freelance writing opportunities in the public sector .

I know the opportunities exist. But until I talked with this week’s guest, I didn’t know what these opportunities looked like or how to go after them.

That’s why I’m so excited about this episode.

My guest is Katie Taylor, CEO of Untold Content, a writing consultancy based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Katie works with clients in government, healthcare, engineering, industry and science. And a big part of their work over the years has been with government agencies.

In our conversation, you’ll learn about the opportunities writing for the public sector, including government agencies.

Katie gives us a great primer on what these contracts are about, what they look like and some practical steps for getting started.

You’ve heard it before:

People do business with people they know, LIKE and trust.

But what exactly does it mean to be likeable?

Is it a personality thing? Do you have to act or look a certain way?

Do you have to be charming, wear designer clothes ... or have a perfect smile and beautiful teeth?

Not at all! According to my friend and colleague Michael Katz, anyone can be likeable.

In this fast-paced interview, Michael explains what you need to do to be perceived as a true likeable expert

As I talk with fellow copywriters about what’s happening in the business, one theme keeps coming up:

How increasingly difficult it’s becoming to write persuasive copy.

That’s long been an issue in the ultra-competitive direct response industries of financial newsletters, natural health and business opportunity.

But it’s also becoming a big challenge in other less aggressive settings—even in B2B content marketing.

To get some insights and answers on this topic, I recently turned to one of the top conversion copywriters in the business, Joanna Wiebe.

Joanna is the founder of Copy Hackers and of Airstory, a new content creation platform for marketing teams and educators.

You don’t have to be a direct response copywriter to get value from this episode. If you write any kind of persuasive content, I think you’ll find some great insights and ideas here.

Many of us spend time at the end of the year setting goals for the months and year ahead.

But have you ever sat down to figure out what you value most in your business and personal life?

And more specifically, the values, criteria or rules that will guide most of your decisions?

In this episode, you’re going to hear from Trevor Mauch, a very successful entrepreneur who started just a few years ago like many of us did: as a freelancer.

He eventually founded a software company that’s grown into a multi-million dollar business. Along the way he had a series of challenges and epiphanies that changed the course of his life. Listen in as he explains how clarifying his own set of non-negotiables made all the difference in the world.