The Content Byte

Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni
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Hosts Rachel Smith (from Rachel's List) and journalist and content writer Lynne Testoni are serving up weekly short bites of advice, tips and strategies, plus special guests, for freelancers who make a living from using their words. We're shooting for 15-minute episodes, but can't promise anything because we can both talk the leg off a chair.

  1. How pre-selling strategies can turn leads into clients with Brenna McGowan

    4 days ago

    How pre-selling strategies can turn leads into clients with Brenna McGowan

    This week, Rachel & Lynne are chatting with launch strategist Brenna McGowan about "anticipation marketing" and using content to create warm leads so clients are eager to buy. Brenna argues freelancers either sell too constantly or not enough, and often over-educate audiences, creating overwhelm or enabling DIY. She outlines an "anticipation runway" framework: why (purpose and method-led story), what hurts (naming and reflecting pain rather than solving it), what stops (beliefs, myths, objections, and self-trust barriers), and what changes (future pacing and letting prospects "try on" outcomes, including through case studies). The discussion also covers trust, avoiding desperate energy, follow-up strategies including a closing-the-loop email, focusing on weekly visibility with limited time, demonstrating invisible services, and AI tools that help her in her business.   Brenna's website is: https://brennamcgowan.co/   Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details. Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

    56 min
  2. You Might Also Like: MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

    4 days ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

    Introducing Defies Explanation Vol. II from MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories. Follow the show: MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories about unexplainable phenomena. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Two Faced" -- A man is filled with a deep sense of foreboding after a ghastly sight in his mirror (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6m1ImVG1MQ) #1 -- "Make It Rain" -- An inmate has an incredibly weird ability (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXd2m_4oBuY)   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. How to make a living from Substack, with Maggie Alderson

    14 June

    How to make a living from Substack, with Maggie Alderson

    This week, Lynne and Rachel are chatting with journalist, editor and novelist Maggie Alderson about how to create a good income stream from Substack. Now three years in with a highly successful column on Substack, Maggie shares her strategies about growing subscribers on the platform, including sharing occasional free posts. She also talks about the support she receives from the Substack community and how it has become a helpful source of income as traditional media declines. There's a lot to unpack in this episode, with many tips and hints, including Substack networking and events, why she still loves fashion and whether self-publishing will be her next adventure. Maggie's Substack is here: https://maggiealderson.substack.com/    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details. Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

    47 min
  4. New things we are trying in our business in 2026

    7 June

    New things we are trying in our business in 2026

    This week, it's just Rachel and Lynne as they discuss changes they're making in their freelance businesses in response to shifting client needs, including experimenting with new services and focusing on deeper client relationships. Rachel plans to consistently send a client newsletter, launch a formal email marketing offering, and pitch LinkedIn thought-leadership services built from interviews. Lynne is going deeper with existing tech tools (including AI features), running her business more fully through digital systems such as calendars and Trello, and upselling blog posts and case studies into more strategic, ongoing work. She also highlights the value of in-person meetings and site visits for better interviews, stronger relationships, and fresh story ideas.  They also talk about giving genuine positive feedback to clients and sharing wins publicly. Rachel shares Rachel's List experiments: making the jobs board free, increasing in-person member events, launching "Booked Out Bingo", using personalised welcome videos, and trialling a new early-career freelancer membership with a private podcast. Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details. Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

    23 min
  5. Lessons from entrepreneurs and how it applies to freelancers - with Bernadette Schwerdt

    31 May

    Lessons from entrepreneurs and how it applies to freelancers - with Bernadette Schwerdt

    This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with friend of the pod, Bernadette Schwerdt, a copy coach, comms expert and ghostwriter, to discuss how writers can build valuable, scalable businesses and multiple income streams in the age of AI. Bernadette explains why demand is rising for copywriting and ghostwriting as CEOs and thought leaders invest in personal branding and content that connects audiences to the person behind the business, including books as "sales reps" and long-term content engines. Drawing on interviews for her new book Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs, she outlines traits of successful founders: deep industry apprenticeships, resilience, attention to detail, not taking criticism personally, and solving real problems with strong distribution. For freelancers, she recommends niching by what you love, what you're good at and what pays, building systems, databases and a sales mindset, and focusing on storytelling frameworks and follow-up. Connect with Bernadette via her website: https://bernadetteschwerdt.com.au/  Download the first chapter of Bernadette's book here    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details. Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

    44 min
  6. How to find opportunities in print media - with Sarah Tayler

    24 May

    How to find opportunities in print media - with Sarah Tayler

    This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Sarah Tayler of Tweed Coast Media about producing and reviving custom publications, sharing her thoughts on why print is far from dead when it's driven by business goals and integrated into the wider customer journey. Sarah shares how she helped Continence Health Australia transition and grow its magazine Bridge by focusing on process over product, moving digital hosting to the organisation's own site to improve user experience and cut costs, and testing distribution strategies — including scaling from 500 copies to 8000 before pulling back to just over 4000 when ROI didn't stack up. She explains how to define conversions for print via trackable calls to action (QR codes, URLs, phone numbers, promos), balance editorial and ads, avoid cutting corners on research and professional proofing, manage internal expectations, and use editorial collaborations to build advertising and partnership opportunities. It's a valuable conversation and vital listening for anyone still believing in the power of print media. Find Sarah on her website: https://tweedcoastmedia.com.au/    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au  for the details.   Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

    38 min
  7. How freelancers can find work through referrals - with Sarah Hubbard

    17 May

    How freelancers can find work through referrals - with Sarah Hubbard

    Rachel and Lynne speak with Sarah Hubbard, author of The Intentional Networker, about using referrals and relationship-based networking to find new clients. Sarah shares her MAPP framework (mindset and intention, authentic presence, precise messaging, purposeful follow-through) and explains how to systemise networking with simple tracking (even spreadsheets), an A/B/C contact system, and regular follow-ups. She describes using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to capture event notes, create templates, and update a CRM, and offers strategies for introverts such as preparing in advance, keeping the day's workload lighter, and leveraging extroverts for introductions. It's a great conversation, about being curious, connecting as a person, going deeper rather than wider, and building relationships over time.   Connect with Sarah via her website: https://sarah-hubbard.com The Intentional Networker: How to Strategically Build Your Sphere of Influence and Transform Connections Into High-Value Opportunities https://a.co/d/0426cgMQ   AI Prompts for Strategic Networking: https://sarahhubbard.myflodesk.com/aipromptsitn   Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au ), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au  for the details. Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

    40 min
  8. How to make time to work on your freelance business

    10 May

    How to make time to work on your freelance business

    This week Rachel and Lynne are responding to a question from listener Stephanie about how to make time to work on your freelance business. It's a bit of a choose-your-own adventure because we have such different work styles and systems. Rachel uses a mix of a bespoke paper diary (Creator's Friend), Outlook, Google Keep, batching, and Friday "work on the business" time, plus automations in Moxie (forms, pipelines, calendar booking windows, templated replies, and auto-created Google Drive folders). Lynne has a paper-free setup using Trello, an electronic calendar, "salami tactics" (small daily actions), Marketing Monday, Mail scheduling/follow-ups/reminders, and industry events for networking. We also discuss invoicing habits, accounting software, setting aside GST/tax/super, and recommend choosing regular business time, one in-person event monthly, and automating two tasks per month.  Want to suggest a topic for a future episode? Email us at hello@thecontentbyte.com  Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au  for the details. Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

    34 min
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5
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

Hosts Rachel Smith (from Rachel's List) and journalist and content writer Lynne Testoni are serving up weekly short bites of advice, tips and strategies, plus special guests, for freelancers who make a living from using their words. We're shooting for 15-minute episodes, but can't promise anything because we can both talk the leg off a chair.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    288
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © This content is copyright and the property of Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni.
  • Show Website
    The Content Byte

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