Deliberate Freelancer Melanie Padgett Powers

Today’s guest is Annemie Tonken. Annemie lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has been a professional photographer since 2010 and is the owner of Megapixie Photography.
She also teaches creative entrepreneurs how to run profitable, sustainable businesses they love, by focusing on how they can develop helpful business systems and strategies. And, she’s the host of a business podcast for photographers called This Can’t Be That Hard and the creator of the Simple Sales System, which is used by thousands of photographers worldwide to create in-person sales-level income and service in an automated way. 
In this episode, we talk about: 
How she became a photographer and later focused on family photography.  How a surgery left her income and business vulnerable — and she vowed to change that.  Her lightbulb moment that led to her membership program.  Why we should think creatively about the business side — and not just the creative services we provide.  The importance of listening to the challenges many of your clients continue to have.  Tips on how to set up and sell your own membership program.  Why this is a good model for branding photographers and writers, too.  How to adopt this model to service businesses beyond photography.  What freelance photographers struggle with and how Annemie responds.  The three phases of business Annemie thinks about.  Biz Bite: Conduct an audit of your business systems — with the goals of automation and outsourcing. 
Resources:
Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Annemie’s This Can’t Be That Hard website, podcast and courses Annemie’s This Can’t Be That Hard Instagram account Annemie’s photography website Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

Today’s guest is Abby Nieten. Abby lives in the Indianapolis, Indiana, area, with her husband and three sons. A year ago she launched her freelance business, Shining Waters Editorial, where she is a copy editor and proofreader specializing in business content and nonfiction manuscripts. 

Abby also recently launched a monthly newsletter called Stream of Confidence, which is for authors, writers and other business professionals who want to create and publish content that impacts other humans. It offers a steady stream of encouragement, inspiration, connection and quality assurance tips to help you publish your work with confidence. 

In today’s episode, Abby and I talk about:

How a layoff led to her freelancing career.  Feeling undervalued and burnt out in the corporate world.  How she prepared for freelancing while still working full time.  How she’s getting clients. Trying to figure out pricing.  Four pivotal lessons she’s learned over the past year.  Why she wishes she had taken a break between being an employee and starting her freelance business.  Just do it — you don’t have to wait until you build the perfect structure and business plan before you start freelancing.  The challenge of finding the right client mix to provide more stability.  The importance of keeping a “sunshine folder” of evidence of your good work. 
Biz Bite: Explore the technology you’re already paying for before buying the new “shiny object.”  

Resources:

Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Abby’s website: ShiningWatersEditorial.com Abby’s Stream of Confidence newsletter Abby on LinkedIn  Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

Today’s guest is Brionna Ned, a former big-law lawyer and in-house counsel for tech companies. She is now a legal educator and a writer. Her company, The Everyday Lawyer, is a legal education and consulting service for small business owners that provides you with the legal knowledge you need to create solid foundations in your business. She also has a course: Contract Foundations for Freelancers.
In this episode, we talk about: 
How Brionna went from lawyer to owning a legal education business.  What she loves about her business. The basics of contracts. Why all service providers need a contract — and the reason is probably not what you think.  How to put boundaries in your contract.  Why it’s important to customize your contract and be sure you understand what it says.  What to do if you — or your client — doesn’t want to use a contract.  What to look for in a contract that a client sends you.  How to explain to a client (and really, their lawyer) why certain contract provisions don’t apply to you and should be deleted.  Why indemnification clauses are harmful and how to try to get them removed from a contract. If you can’t get indemnification clauses removed, know how to suggest changes to limit them in a scope.  Don’t sign a non-compete clause.  The difference between a non-disclosure agreement and a confidentiality agreement.  How to be proactive in ensuring you will be paid and paid on time.  What to do when you are not getting paid on time.  Biz Bite: Not all money is good money. (Trust your instincts!) 
Resources:
Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group The Everyday Lawyer website Brionna’s Contract Foundations for Freelancers course Brionna on Threads Brionna on Instagram Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

On today’s show, I discuss the current state of freelancing, which includes massive layoffs and shuttered clients in the media and tech world. But even if that isn’t affecting you — maybe you’re even having your best year yet — you need to be prepared for the lean times and to set up your business to lessen the risk of feast-or-famine. That includes setting yourself apart, diversifying, always marketing, and more. 
Here’s what I share with you in this episode:
The number of layoffs in the media industry in the past year.  The hits in the tech industry.  The number of freelancers in the U.S. — the highest number in history.  Should you panic — or investigate and embrace opportunities?  How to be a “futurist” for your industry and why that’s important.  Reflecting on whether your skills need to improve.  How to set yourself apart from the competition.  How to “bridge” to new projects and services.  Why setting and tracking monthly income goals is crucial.  At least 10 marketing ideas to try right now.  When to raise your rates.  Biz Bite: Organize your tasks into front stage and back stage.
The Bookshelf: “Nightwatching” by Tracy Sierra
Resources:
Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee Join the discussion in the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group Episode #64 of Deliberate Freelancer: Using a “freakout” protocol to get work now, with Austin Church Episode #180 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Crush Your Fear of Self-Promotion and Get Clients Now, with C.J. Hayden Episode #116 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Create Case Studies to Land New Clients, with Emma Siemasko Episode #160 of Deliberate Freelancer: The Dreaded Feast or Famine! Episode #54 of Deliberate Freelancer: Think Digital First and Other Ways to Make Money Now Episode #53 of Deliberate Freelancer: Pivoting and Finding Resilience C.J. Hayden blog post “Avoiding the Feast or Famine Trap for Your Business” MBO Partners “State of Independence in America 2023” report “New Study Reveals Surge in Six-Figure Earners” Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

Today’s guest is Jenni Gritters, from Oregon. She is a business coach for freelancers and creators. She’s also a former journalist, and a current writer who runs a small content and community agency called The Riverwoods Media Group. Jenni is the former co-host of The Writer’s Co-op podcast and workshops. 
Be sure to check out Jenni’s group coaching program for freelancers, called SUSTAIN.
In today’s episode, Jenni shares how she made a massive shift in her business, going from a freelancer; then part-time freelancer while raising two young kids, while her husband was a critical care nurse; then being the primary income earner while her husband took on the primary household and kid duties (and joined Jenni’s business).
We talk about all that, but we also talk a lot about building a successful business, from Jenni’s coaching perspective, which I really appreciated and learned from. 
In this episode, we talk about: 
The many pivots and iterations of Jenni’s business. How, as a freelancer, she carried over the same negative work patterns she had as an employee.  Going from reactive to proactive in our business.  The decision for her husband to quit his nursing career and Jenni to become the primary income earner.  Splitting her business between coaching and a content agency.  How she structures her week — and why she takes Fridays off.  How she makes money as a coach.  How she switched from sole proprietor to an LLC to an S-Corp. Addressing the pushback against six-figure freelancers.  How your identity as a journalist may be holding you back.  How to evaluate and reflect on your business through a business audit.  How to make micro changes to gradually change the structure of your business.  Many freelance writers are experiencing a downturn — tips to find more work in this weird season.  Biz Bite: Defining your “needle movers” every Monday 
Resources:
Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee
Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group
Jenni’s group coaching program for freelancers: SUSTAIN.
Jenni’s website
Jenni on Instagram
Jenni on Twitter
Subscribe to Jenni’s “Mindset Mastery” free Substack newsletter
Download Jenni’s free business planning workbook
Gusto online payroll tool

In today’s episode, I am turning the microphone over to some of you, the listeners. Last fall I asked listeners to share their successful marketing tactics that landed them new clients. Today, eight listeners share their marketing wins with you. 
While each unique to the freelancer, there are a few themes. Often, the win originated from something simple, something that might not even have felt like marketing … and yet it paid off. 
Building relationships — which I talk about all the time — is also a theme here, as are staying curious and always looking for the opportunities in front of you. 
Here are the eight listeners sharing their success stories:
Randy Ford Jonna Michelle Anja Lordanić Mustać Cat DiStasio Angela Myers Belinda Grace Fischer Nancy Keaton Pete Croatto Biz Bite: Do an energy audit
The Bookshelf: “Northwoods” by Amy Pease
Resources:
Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee
Episode #180 of Deliberate Freelancer: How to Crush Your Fear of Self-Promotion and Get Clients Now, with C.J. Hayden
Connect with Melanie on Threads @MelEdits_DC
Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn
Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group