Freelancer Training on How to Find Direct Clients

Jason Willis-Lee
  • 5.0 (2)
  • CAREERS

🚀 Welcome to the How to Find Direct Clients Podcast – your go-to resource for ambitious translators looking to level up their careers!🎯 Why Tune in?Grow Your Client Base: Learn proven strategies to attract more direct clients and secure steady work.Boost Your Professional Growth: Expert interviews and solo episodes tailored to early-career language providers making 3k or less a month.Maximize Your Potential: Discover how to optimize workflows, embrace technology, and develop skills that set you apart in a competitive industry.Build Your VIP Network: Connect with like-minded peers and expand your professional circle to unlock new opportunities.Overcome Challenges: Gain valuable insights to navigate obstacles, achieve your goals, and become a sought-after freelance translator.✨ This podcast is for YOU if you're ready to invest in your career growth, learn from experts and take your translation career up a notch! Hit the + button in Apple podcasts/iTunes or SUBCRIBE in Spotify to be notified as soon as new episodes drop. Subscribe to our show here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025705/subscribe

  1. JAN 28

    Ep 109. From Project-Chaser to Retainer Revenue: The Strategic Path to Freelance Growth

    Send us a text Ever wondered how some freelancers effortlessly scale their businesses while others struggle to break through?  This week's podcast episode with Benas Leonavicius is a masterclass in strategic freelance growth.  Why This Matters to You  Benas went from scattered projects to a six-figure SEO business by mastering three critical strategies that can transform YOUR freelance career:  1. The Power of Niching Down 🎯 - Stop being a generalist - Target specific clients with precise problem solutions - Increase your value (and your rates)  2. Relationship-Driven Business 🤝 - Treat clients as people, not transactions - Build genuine connections - Generate powerful referrals  3. Long-Term Thinking in the AI Era 🧠 - Focus on compounding strategies - Understand AI search optimization - Create sustainable business growth  Pro Productivity Hack  Benas swears by a simple but powerful technique:  Daily pen-and-paper task tracking. Keep your three most important tasks visible until completed.  #DirectClients #FreelanceMarketing #PremiumPositioning #SEOforFreelancers #NicheSpecialization Want pharma clients who value your expertise? I can help you transition to premium direct relationships – the shift that took me from £0.08/word to exclusive pharma partnerships. Drawing on 26+ years experience and Medical School training, I show you how to position as a compliance partner. Visit my website for linguistic validation and client prospecting free resources that help you command the rates you know you deserve.  Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    28 min

  2. JAN 19

    Ep 108. From Chasing Leads to Attracting Direct Clients: The Relationship-Driven Path to Business Growth

    Send us a text TL;DR Discover how Billy Sammons transformed his business approach from traditional marketing to a relationship-driven "warm marketing" strategy that grew his network from 7 to 7,300 contacts. This episode reveals a low-cost, high-impact method for entrepreneurs to build genuine business connections without relying on expensive advertising or cold leads. Episode Summary In this eye-opening episode of Freelancer Training, I sat down with Billy Sammons to explore a revolutionary approach to business networking that completely challenges traditional marketing strategies. Billy's journey from a high school teacher to a successful entrepreneur is a testament to the power of genuine relationship building. The core of our discussion centered on what Billy calls "warm marketing" - a strategy that prioritizes personal connections over cold leads and paid advertising. Unlike traditional marketing approaches that rely on impersonal outreach, warm marketing is about creating meaningful relationships with local business owners and potential clients. What struck me most was the simplicity and affordability of Billy's approach. With just a phone, a $19 lapel microphone, and a tripod, entrepreneurs can start creating valuable content and building connections. His method isn't about reaching massive audiences, but about creating targeted, meaningful interactions that can transform your business. For language service professionals like myself, Billy's advice is particularly compelling. He suggests finding specific niches and local opportunities - whether it's working with local theaters, schools, or government agencies that need interpretation services. The key is to identify your values, understand who you want to meet, and find ways to add genuine value to their businesses. Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of our conversation was Billy's commitment to community impact. He doesn't just see marketing as a way to make money, but as an opportunity to support local businesses and create positive change in his community. Key Takeaways - Warm marketing is about building genuine relationships, not chasing cold leads - You can start relationship marketing with minimal investment (under $40 in equipment) - Focus on adding value to local businesses through personalized content creation - Networking is more about quality connections than quantity of leads - Community engagement can be a powerful marketing strategy - Personal referrals are more valuable than paid advertising - Niche targeting can be more effective than broad-scale marketing approaches - Entrepreneurial success is about creating meaningful connections, not just selling services Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    22 min

  3. JAN 9

    Ep 107. 🎮 Breaking the Career Code: When Job Search Meets Gaming Strategy 🚀

    Send us a text Episode 107 of Freelancer Training is with Jade Arthur, and trust me, this isn't your typical career advice episode.  Imagine treating your job search like an epic quest, where you're the protagonist strategically leveling up your professional skills!  In this episode, Jade breaks down how professionals, especially in the tech and creative industries can: • Transform job searching from a chore into a strategic game • Navigate AI-driven job markets with confidence • Create standout personal branding that actually gets noticed  As someone who's helped tens of freelancers land dream clients, I can tell you: Jade's "job search villains" framework is a total game-changer. 🎯 Whether you're a gamer, creative professional or just looking to reimagine your career approach, this episode is your cheat code to professional success.  #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #AIJobMarket #PersonalBranding #CareerStrategy Want pharma clients who value your expertise? I can help you transition to premium direct relationships – the shift that took me from £0.08/word to exclusive pharma partnerships. Drawing on 26+ years experience and Medical School training, I show you how to position as a compliance partner. Visit my website for linguistic validation and client prospecting free resources that help you command the rates you know you deserve.  Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    32 min

  4. 12/23/2025

    Ep 106. Are You Making This Silent Pricing Error? It Could Be Costing You 100% of Your Worth

    Send us a text Are you leaving MONEY on the table without even knowing it? 💸 In this game-changing episode, I sat down with Energy Mindset Coach Kanika Vasudeva to unpack something most solopreneurs get TOTALLY wrong:  how your inner energy determines your business success. Kanika drops MIND-BLOWING insights on: ✨ Why "hustling harder" is actually killing your potential 💡 Pricing yourself based on TRANSFORMATION, not time 🚀 How to attract abundance by shifting your energetic frequency 👥 Setting powerful client boundaries that respect YOUR worth If you're tired of working 24/7 and still feeling stuck, this episode is your wake-up call. Kanika breaks down how to: - Do LESS but achieve MORE - Trust your unique genius - Create inspired business growth Whether you're a coach, consultant, or entrepreneur, this conversation will rewire how you think about success.  Listen to the full episode now – your future self will thank you! 🙌 Want pharma clients who value your expertise? I can help you transition to premium direct relationships – the shift that took me from £0.08/word to exclusive pharma partnerships. Drawing on 26+ years experience and Medical School training, I show you how to position as a compliance partner. Visit my website for linguistic validation and client prospecting free resources that help you command the rates you know you deserve.  Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    33 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    Ep 105. How to Win High-Paying Direct Clients Without Getting Stuck in the Agency Grind Stop competing on price. Start competing on value.

    Send us a text Ready to Move Beyond Agency Work? Download your free worksheet bundle to start positioning yourself for P2P direct client relationships. Francesca Manicardi went from accepting any rate to confidently turning down agency work that doesn't meet her standards.  In this episode, she breaks down the exact quoting strategies, pricing psychology, and mindset shifts that allow freelancers to work less, earn more, and build sustainable businesses with direct clients. What You'll Learn Quoting strategies that convert: Why rates should never appear on page one of your quoteHow to use quotes as risk management tools (not just price lists)The power of repetition for key terms like deadlinesThe agency-to-direct-client transition: Why Francesca's quotes get rejected by agencies (and why she doesn't care)How private clients understand value differently than agenciesWhen working less actually means earning morePricing psychology most freelancers avoid: The danger of accepting low rates early in your careerHow underpricing harms the entire professional communityWhy transparent rate discussions strengthen everyone's positionKey Quote "Once you become a KPI, the price doesn't matter." About Francesca Manicardi Francesca is a multilingual interpreter and translator specializing in wedding interpreting. She's also a mentor for early-career language professionals, helping them navigate the business realities of freelancing that nobody talks about during training. Want pharma clients who value your expertise? I can help you transition to premium direct relationships – the shift that took me from £0.08/word to exclusive pharma partnerships. Drawing on 26+ years experience and Medical School training, I show you how to position as a compliance partner. Visit my website for linguistic validation and client prospecting free resources that help you command the rates you know you deserve.  Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    31 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    Ep 104. From Medical Translator to Patient-Research Pro: Your Path to High-Value Niche Services

    Send us a text Discover the untapped opportunities in patient-sided research and linguistic validation for medical translators. Keith Berelowitz, expert in clinical trial patient engagement, reveals how COVID-19 transformed the pharmaceutical landscape and why pharma companies are now investing heavily in patient-focused research.  Learn exactly where freelancers fit into this high-value niche, how to position yourself effectively, and why the human element in medical translation will always be essential—even in the AI era. What You'll Learn: Keith breaks down the massive shift from clinician-focused to patient-focused clinical trials, explaining why 60-80% of trials still face delays due to poor patient engagement.  You'll discover concrete opportunities in research content creation, digital patient outreach, and behavioral science applications that AI simply cannot replicate.  Keith shares the critical difference between treating patients as data points versus understanding their real-world needs, and how this creates openings for specialized freelancers who can bridge cultural and linguistic nuances. Key Topics Covered: Why COVID-19 catalyzed a fundamental shift toward patient-sided research The explosive growth in rare disease trials running in 15-20+ languages How to use AI as a productivity tool rather than viewing it as competition Applying behavioral science (self-determination theory, cognitive load theory, trust models) to patient engagement Quick wins for positioning yourself in the linguistic validation space The biggest misconceptions pharma companies have about patient recruitment About Keith: Keith leads pRx Engage, a clinical trial patient recruitment and engagement platform specializing in rare disease research.  With a career spanning bench science to commercial clinical research, Keith has pioneered behavioral science applications in patient engagement, helping pharmaceutical companies move beyond transactional recruitment toward long-term relationship building with patients. Resources Mentioned: PRx Engage: prxengage.com Final Takeaway: Clinical research isn't just about patients joining trials; it's about people looking to improve their lives and health. Keep that front and centre, and you'll win trust while building a rewarding career in this specialized niche. Ready to pivot your freelance services toward high-value pharmaceutical clients?  Subscribe to the podcast for more strategies on finding direct clients in clinical research and pharmaceutical markets Want pharma clients who value your expertise? I can help you transition to premium direct relationships – the shift that took me from £0.08/word to exclusive pharma partnerships. Drawing on 26+ years experience and Medical School training, I show you how to position as a compliance partner. Visit my website for linguistic validation and client prospecting free resources that help you command the rates you know you deserve.  Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    26 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    Ep 103. The 3 KPIs That Matter: Unlock Cash and Scale Your Online Service Business Profitably

    Send us a text Jon Morris is the Founder of Fiscal Advocate John scaled Rise Interactive from $10K to $40M in revenue before exiting. Now he helps service businesses grow profitably using financial data through Fiscal Advocate. 4 Lead Generation Methods That Helped Jon Built a $40M Agency Channel Partnerships – Partnered with complementary businesses (web developers) for low-cost referralsCompetitor Referrals – Called larger competitors, take on their below-minimum leadsVerticalization – Built expertise in specific niches (hospital systems)Awards Strategy – Systematically won awards across 4 categories for constant PR momentumScaling Beyond Founder-Dependence Remove yourself from these 4 seats: Head of Growth (Sales/Marketing)Head of Client ServiceBack Office (HR, IT, Finance)Innovation/R&DImplement quarterly planning focused on: revenue, profit margin, cash, infrastructure. AI-Proof Your Service Business Dedicate 5% of revenue to R&DAsk Yourself: "Do I Want to be disrupted or be a disruptor?"Launch actual AI products (not just talk about it)John's currently building Luca, an AI CFO co-pilotCore Philosophy Never lose a customer due to performanceYou'll eventually lose every client – always be winning the next oneMax out possible % of revenue into sales/marketing investmentBuild a performance-based cultureTools John Uses EngineBI (budgeting/forecasting)Pipe Drive (CRM)Triarch (e-mail marketing at scale)Connect with Jon: LinkedIn (posts 3x/week min) | Website |  Want pharma clients who value your expertise? I can help you transition to premium direct relationships – the shift that took me from £0.08/word to exclusive pharma partnerships. Drawing on 26+ years experience and Medical School training, I show you how to position as a compliance partner. Visit my website for linguistic validation and client prospecting free resources that help you command the rates you know you deserve.  Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    35 min

  8. 11/12/2025

    Ep. 102. Future Proofing Your Website and Client Acquisition Strategy: Finding Clients in the AI Era

    Send us a text Download our free book chapter on niching down Schedule a FREE discovery call  In this week's episode, I spoke to Wes Towers, a website design and SEO expert with 20 years experience, to discuss how freelancers and service providers can adapt their digital presence for the AI era.  From "search everywhere optimization" to email marketing strategies, Wes shared with me practical insights on making your website work harder as a lead generation tool. About Wes Towers Wes accidentally fell into the web design industry in 2000 when his first employer—a Sydney marketing company that had never built a website—handed him their first web design project. Two decades later, he now runs Uplift, helping businesses optimize their digital presence for maximum visibility and lead generation. Key Topics Discussed 🔍 From SEO to "Search Everywhere Optimization" Why our websites still matter even as AI search answers questions directlyYour website content trains AI systems—make sure it's yoursThe fundamentals of SEO still apply: fast loading, simple structure and great content🎯 The Power of Niching Down "The riches are in the niches"—become the authority in your specialized spaceHow to become a "category of one" by highlighting what makes you authentically differentFinding your unique angle by identifying industry frustrations💡 Website Lead Generation Tips Reduce friction on quote request forms—keep fields minimal (3-4 max)Place website elements where users expect themBalance lead magnets with user experience📧 Email Marketing Strategy Always build an email list if you can engage with it regularlyCounterintuitive insight: Emailing too infrequently causes MORE unsubscribesCreate reasons for regular contact (retainers, quarterly check-ups)💰 Platform Recommendations For large lists (10K+): Consider MailerLite over expensive options like Pipedrive (€300/month)Wes uses Go High Level for email marketing and business managementMake emails look authentic rather than salesy for better engagement📝 Daily Visibility Practice Publish fresh, unique content weekly (or at least, monthly)Signals to search engines that your business is active and relevantBiggest Mistakes Businesses Make with Websites Overcomplicated quote request forms that create frictionNot publishing regular content to signal relevanceFailing to syndicate their message across multiple platformsNot leveraging their unique peWant pharma clients who value your expertise? I can help you transition to premium direct relationships – the shift that took me from £0.08/word to exclusive pharma partnerships. Drawing on 26+ years experience and Medical School training, I show you how to position as a compliance partner. Visit my website for linguistic validation and client prospecting free resources that help you command the rates you know you deserve.  Support the show ✅ SUBSCRIBE to Freelancer Training for weekly entrepreneurship insights!

    25 min
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🚀 Welcome to the How to Find Direct Clients Podcast – your go-to resource for ambitious translators looking to level up their careers!🎯 Why Tune in?Grow Your Client Base: Learn proven strategies to attract more direct clients and secure steady work.Boost Your Professional Growth: Expert interviews and solo episodes tailored to early-career language providers making 3k or less a month.Maximize Your Potential: Discover how to optimize workflows, embrace technology, and develop skills that set you apart in a competitive industry.Build Your VIP Network: Connect with like-minded peers and expand your professional circle to unlock new opportunities.Overcome Challenges: Gain valuable insights to navigate obstacles, achieve your goals, and become a sought-after freelance translator.✨ This podcast is for YOU if you're ready to invest in your career growth, learn from experts and take your translation career up a notch! Hit the + button in Apple podcasts/iTunes or SUBCRIBE in Spotify to be notified as soon as new episodes drop. Subscribe to our show here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025705/subscribe

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