The Freelancer's Teabreak

Emma Cossey from The Freelance Lifestyle
  • 4.8 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

The Freelancer's Teabreak is the short and sweet podcast you can enjoy while you make a cuppa, full of tips, tricks and advice for freelancers.

  1. 4d ago

    Tax-Free Childcare & Summer Holiday Survival Tips for Freelancers (UK)

    In this episode of The Freelancer's Tea Break, I'm reflecting on my son nearing the end of primary school and sharing practical ways I've managed childcare while freelancing, especially over the long summer holidays. I explain how UK tax-free childcare works (pay £8 in, get £2 topped up) and remind you it can help beyond nursery, including some after-school and summer clubs (depending on who accepts it).  I also talk about how things get easier as kids get older, and share other support options that have helped me, including help from family (while acknowledging it's a privilege), swapping childcare with friends, using outdoors clubs, and looking into workspaces that offer childcare or gyms with crèches.  I also stress the importance of balancing childcare with your partner and invite tips for the secondary school transition, especially for neurodivergent children.  Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Life Update  00:31 Tax Free Childcare Basics  02:07 Summer Holiday Juggle  03:11 When Kids Get Older  05:02 Practical Support Options  05:23 Family Help and Privilege  07:08 Swaps With Friends  07:57 Workspaces With Childcare  09:15 Partnering and Sharing Load  10:13 Recap and Next Transition  11:16 Community Links and Goodbye Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

    12 min

  2. Jun 11

    How to Respond When Someone Asks You to Work for Free (Without Feeling Awkward)

    In this episode, I'm talking through what to do when someone asks you to work for free, whether it's an unpaid "test project", spec work, or a talk with no budget. I share why you can (and should) feel confident declining, plus a few polite scripts you can use. If you do want to offer something, I cover alternatives like directing people to your portfolio/testimonials, creating a short free resource that builds your mailing list, offering a paid taster or paid spec work, or agreeing a clear skill swap.  I also explain when free appearances can be more like PR/marketing (such as podcasts or local networking talks), and why "exposure" rarely pays, especially without anything agreed in writing, even for unpaid work.  Timestamps: 00:00 Why Free Work Requests Happen  01:05 Just Say No  01:39 Polite Declines and Freebies  03:19 Handling Spec Work  04:23 When Free Has Payoff  06:17 Get It in Writing  06:28 Skill Swaps Done Right  08:03 Exposure Myths and Boundaries  08:58 PR vs Free Consulting  09:48 Wrap Up and TLDR Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

    11 min

  3. Jun 4

    Tiny Ways To Outsource (without feeling overwhelmed)

    If the idea of outsourcing in your business feels scary, you're not alone. For a lot of freelancers and small business owners, "outsourcing" can sound like handing over everything (your inbox, your accounts, your social media, your systems) and trusting someone else with the things you've been doing solo for years. Grips laptop nervously to chest The good news is, you don't have to start big. In fact, you're much more likely to succeed (and actually enjoy the process) if you start with one small, contained task that removes stress and creates consistency. (And for me, consistency was always the challenge, so having someone to do the last bit really helped) This post will walk you through tiny, practical ways to outsource, especially if you're nervous about it, plus how to do it in a way that still feels safe and in control. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:18 Why Outsourcing Feels Scary 1:15 How I Started Small (My Outsourcing Story) 3:39 Building Up: Social Media & Beyond 4:49 A message from a member of the Freelance Business Lounge 5:23 Things You Can Start Outsourcing Today 7:58 Tips for Safely Handing Over Access 8:24 Why It's Worth It Connect with Sharon from my membership: Instagram or look at her Linktree. You can also download her freebie "Practical Guide for When School Doesn't See 'It'"   Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

    9 min

  4. May 28

    Freelance Service Funnels: DIY, DWY and DFY (Revisited)

    In this episode, I'm diving into something I talk about a lot with my coaching clients: the three levels of services you can offer: DIY (Do it Yourself), DWY (Done With You), and (DFY) Done For You. Whether you're thinking about adding passive income, building a membership, or just wondering how to price and structure what you do, this one's for you. I also share a quick update on why this episode looks a little different than planned, turns out we all need to pivot sometimes! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Welcome 0:19 - Why This Episode Changed (Tool Shutdown) 0:45 - What the Episode Was Originally About 1:14 - DIY vs Done With You vs Done For You Overview 2:59 - Do It Yourself Explained 3:46 - Done With You Explained 4:56 - Done For You Explained 6:55 - My Own Service Examples: Membership, Coaching & Half-Day Offerings   Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

    8 min

  5. May 21

    3 Ways I'm Finding New Clients in May 2026

    Ever wonder what an experienced freelancer actually does to find new clients each month? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own client attraction strategy for May, including the thing that got me my first AI-referred client within weeks. What we cover: Why having a "pick and mix" of marketing activities alongside your regular content works so well AI SEO, what it is and why it's becoming a real discovery channel for freelancers How an outdated Google Business profile could be costing you visibility (guilty as charged!) Using LinkedIn without burning out, including a sneaky trick to stay consistent Action steps: ✓ Audit your website SEO, especially if your site has been through multiple redesigns over the years ✓ Check your Google Business profile is up to date (photos, contact info, and recent posts!) ✓ If you're product-based, make sure your product photos are on Google Business ✓ Try LinkedIn games as a low-pressure way to build a daily habit on the platform ✓ Look into tools like Lime to track your LinkedIn activity without needing a rigid strategy ✓ Don't underestimate AI search, optimising for it can bring in warm leads passively Resources mentioned: Sam from Create Better Things (AI SEO) | Lime (LinkedIn tool) Subscribe for more quick, actionable freelance tips you can enjoy during a tea break! Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction: Freelance Client Acquisition Strategies for May 0:20 – How to Find Freelance Clients: Monthly Marketing Mix Overview 1:05 – AI SEO for Freelancers: How to Get Found by AI Search Tools Like Copilot 2:06 – How AI SEO Generated a New Client Within Weeks 2:38 – Why SEO + Social Media Work Together for Freelance Business Growth 3:05 – Google My Business for Freelancers: How to Optimise Your Listing 3:49 – LinkedIn Marketing for Freelancers: Simple Strategy to Stay Consistent 4:47 – Recap: Top 3 Client Attraction Strategies for Freelancers This Month Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

    5 min

  6. May 14

    Can You Claim Universal Credit While Freelancing?

    Thinking about going freelance but worried about losing your Universal Credit? Good news, you don't have to choose. In this episode, I'm breaking down how Universal Credit actually works for self-employed people, and why it might be more flexible than you think. What we cover: Why Universal Credit isn't just for employed people, freelancers can claim too The Minimum Income Floor explained (and why it probably won't affect you straight away) The 12-month startup period and how it gives you breathing room to build your client base How to report your income and expenses monthly through your UC Journal What counts as an allowable business expense Why your work coach is your biggest ally, and their limitations too Action steps: ✓ Check your eligibility on Government Universal Credit Information ✓ Keep track of money actually received, not just invoiced ✓ Log your allowable expenses monthly (equipment, software, travel, home working costs and more) ✓ Consider a tool like FreeAgent to prepare for Making Tax Digital ✓ Ask your work coach about your startup period and whether the Minimum Income Floor applies to you Resources mentioned: Government Universal Credit Information |  FreeAgent (affiliate link)| Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business ⚠️ Recorded April 2026: always double-check current rules on gov.uk as these can change. Subscribe for more quick, actionable freelance tips you can enjoy during a tea break! Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction 0:19 – Can Freelancers Claim Universal Credit? (Overview) 0:55 – Universal Credit Eligibility for Self-Employed People 2:09 – What Is the Minimum Income Floor and How Does It Affect You? 3:24 – The 12-Month Startup Period: How to Qualify and What It Means 5:00 – How to Report Your Income and Expenses to Universal Credit 7:00 – Universal Credit as a Tool to Grow Your Freelance Business Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

    8 min

  7. May 7

    Following up After Discovery Calls

    Does following up after a discovery call make you cringe? You're not alone, but done right, a follow-up can actually feel like a gift to your potential client. In this episode, I'm sharing three simple strategies to check in without feeling pushy, salesy, or awkward. What we cover: Why follow-ups feel icky — and why they don't have to Setting expectations during the discovery call so follow-ups feel natural Keeping your check-in email short, simple, and stress-free (and saving it as a template!) The "magic email" from community member Sally Farrant that gets responses fast Action steps: ✓ Mention your follow-up plan at the end of your discovery call ✓ Draft a simple one or two-line check-in email and save it as a template ✓ Offer Voxer as an alternative for clients who prefer voice messages over email ✓ Use Sally's closing email if you've heard nothing after your first two follow-ups ✓ Don't assume silence means no, a warm lead often just needs a nudge! Subscribe for more quick, actionable freelance tips you can enjoy during a tea break! Resources mentioned: Sally Farrant's pricing calculator  Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:20 Why Following Up Feels Icky (And Why It Shouldn't) 1:18 Tip 1: Set the Expectation During the Discovery Call 2:34 Tip 2: Keep Your Follow-Up Email Short & Simple 3:30 Tip 3: The 'Are We Done?' Email Template 4:03 The Template in Action 5:17 Recap: 3 Ways to Follow Up Without the Ick 6:27 Community & Where to Find Emma Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

    7 min

  8. Apr 30

    Should I Join a Directory?

    Should you invest in a freelancer directory? In this episode of the Freelancers Tea Break, host Emma Cossey breaks down the pros and cons of joining directories as a freelancer from boosting your SEO and local visibility to knowing when your money is better spent elsewhere. In this episode, you'll learn: Why directories can be especially valuable when you're new to freelancing Which directories have been worth the investment (and which haven't) What to look for in a good directory listing How to figure out if your ideal clients are actually searching directories Key questions to ask before signing up, including ratings, competition, and promotion How to calculate whether a directory will give you a return on investment Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:38 - Why directories are great for new freelancers 1:45 - Directories that have been worth it 3:53 - What to look for in a good directory 4:58 - Considering the cost and extras 5:43 - Will your ideal clients find you there? 7:06 - Ratings, competition & asking around 8:45 - Calculating your return on investment   Directories I use: Berkshire Mummies Directory , The Freelancer Magazine Directory and IPSE (referral link for 10% off) Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

    10 min
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4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Freelancer's Teabreak is the short and sweet podcast you can enjoy while you make a cuppa, full of tips, tricks and advice for freelancers.

Information

  • Creator
    Emma Cossey from The Freelance Lifestyle
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    292
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Freelancer's Teabreak

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