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

    3 days ago

    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

  2. 3 days ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie

    Introducing Midlife Isn't a Crisis - It's a Metamorphosis w/ Chip Conley from No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie. Follow the show: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie Chip Conley was driving to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump when a phone call with a friend and a song on the radio made him reconsider ending his life. He was in his late 40s, a time in which data shows we are generally at our unhappiest. Now, the former hospitality entrepreneur runs the Modern Elder Academy, which has helped more than 7,000 people embrace getting older. He and Blake discuss the happiness curve and Chip reveals the greatest longevity hack there is: changing your mindset on aging gains you seven and a half years of life! In this conversation you’ll learn: – What midlife means and why it’s a chrysalis moment – What an ego death is and how to go through one safely – How to move from facts to stories to the essence of who you are – How to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset – How to build male friendships that are eye to eye rather than shoulder to shoulder – The importance of curating the five people closest to you You can learn more about Chip Conley and buy his books at https://chipconley.com/my-books/.  Enough Foundation's mission is to spread reminders in every form — bracelets, messages, actions, community — until feeling ENOUGH becomes the cultural default. To learn more, visit weareenough.co. Produced, Directed, and Cinematography by Wubetu Shimelash / IG: Wubetu Shimelash Disclaimer: No purchase necessary. While supplies last. Visit http://www.weareenough.co/rules for full terms. More information on Blake’s other projects here:  Morning Water  Morning Water is a daily hydration formula that restores energy, balance, and performance with essential electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients in one simple routine.  To learn more, visit morningwater.co and use code NOMAGICPILL for 25% off your first order. SONIA  Sonia is a conversational AI companion designed for emotional support. Through voice and text, it offers guided wellbeing sessions, including meditations, journaling, personalized recommendations, and practical exercises. To learn more, visit www.soniahealth.com and download it on the App Store. MOOVLAB At MOOVLAB, we bring health and wellness to your workday.  MOOVLAB - the answer to sitting is moving.  To learn more, visit www.moovlab.com Follow Blake on Instagram and stay up to date with Lemonada on Facebook and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at lemonadapremium.com. Subscribe to Spotify Premium to watch ad-free video. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns you may have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 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 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Creating customer-centred content with Mat Patterson

    3 May

    Creating customer-centred content with Mat Patterson

    This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with freelance writer Mat Patterson (morehumancontent.com), who argues small and medium businesses and freelancers should lean into being personal, flexible and customer-close rather than copying big-company systems and jargon. Mat shares his path from web design to customer support to writing, explaining how support work builds communication skills through fast feedback. His work includes newsletters, podcasts and articles for customer-centric SaaS and customer experience companies, focused on clearer, more engaging messaging. We also chat about: Customer marketing via happy customers Why good service requires leadership giving staff authority How generative AI will increase the value of unique human perspective amid generic content Connect with Mat via: https://morehumancontent.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewpatterson/ and https://www.helpscout.com/resources/supportive-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

    33 min
  7. The systems freelancers need to succeed - with Leticia Mooney

    26 Apr

    The systems freelancers need to succeed - with Leticia Mooney

    This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with freelance business coach Leticia Mooney about building an "engine room" of systems across customer experience, sales and finance so clients feel safe, payments are smoother, and work is easier to deliver. Leticia says freelancers often skip systems because they assume their work is unique, but writing includes research, analysis, delivery and communication, all of which benefit from good processes. It's a great discussion about how to make your business run better and free yourself up for creative work. So many tips, including the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle with frequent review, how to do client updates to reduce anxiety, and walking through agreements on sales calls to prevent questions and ghosting.  Connect with Leticia via her website: Https://leticiamooney.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

    57 min
  8. How to create your own career luck with Mel Barfield

    19 Apr

    How to create your own career luck with Mel Barfield

    This week Rachel and Lynne discuss luck, visibility, and career resilience with guest copywriter Mel Barfield, managing partner at Copy or Die, host of the Indie Business Club podcast, and a Freelancer magazine columnist. Mel shares her career shift into freelancing after moving while pregnant, how expectations and mindset can block opportunities, and why "luck" is largely created through action, relationships, and optimism. She talks about creating and noticing chances, acting on hunches, reframing setbacks, and expecting good outcomes. Practical tips include breaking big goals into chunks, building personal authority, asking for opportunities, avoiding overly negative public posting, networking with curiosity, and using LinkedIn strategically to connect with ideal client job titles without cold pitching.  Connect with Mel via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniebarfield/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allcopymel/ Substack: https://indiebusinessclub.substack.com/  and the agency she runs with Dave is https://copyordie.co.uk/  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

    58 min
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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
    285
  • 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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