This week's freelance tip:

Try one new business thing this week.

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Parameters:

• Pick a new style, technique or plugin you've never tried

• Watch no training videos or just the bare minimum to get you started

• Give yourself at least 30 min to make and explore

This week's freelance tip:

Try one new creative thing this week.

​

Parameters:

• Pick a new style, technique or plugin you've never tried

• Watch no training videos or just the bare minimum to get you started

• Give yourself at least 30 min to make and explore

Click read more to see a note I wrote in 2021 detailing tips for remote freelancing for studios (after I worked for my first few studios).

This week's freelance tip:
Ponder this question...

If you could only have one more client and rely on their referral or repeat business, what would you do?

This week's freelance tip:

Give studios something to remember you by

Students in +$25k ask the Co-founder of  Cream Studio ,  Amanda Russell ...

Is it helpful for freelancers to niche down... from a studio's perspective?

YES!

This week's freelance tip:

Join 30 Day Networking Challenge

Most people only network when they desperately need work

This leads to big gaps between projects.

Here’s the fix…

Networking is literally the best freelance skill I've learned. Period.

But I hear this a lot... "Where do I find people to connect with?"

Go where the people are!

Here are the 15 best communities to find freelancers to network with…

Drumroll please 🥁
The grand total of invoices sent in 2022 is...

$200,000 🥳

Click in to see…

• a breakdown of the numbers

• 3 main insights

• 2023 goals

This week's freelance tip:

TAKE INTENTIONAL BREAKS EVERY QUARTER

What counts:

• As small as a 3 or 4-day weekend at home

• Or as big as a multi-week vacation

What doesn't count:

• Time between projects but you're trying/hoping to get booked

This is a real world story of how I took INSPIRED ACTION and DM'd someone who turned out to be a networking pro.

Click in to see what I learned and how I’m going to use this strategy moving forward.

Step 1 - Decide whether you should try and negotiate or cut ties

Step 2 - Fire your client with one of these methods

1. The I’m Busy Method

2. The Direct Method

Read more for all the details…

You’re one question away from being more valuable to studios.

The good news…

The question that will make you more valuable to studios doesn’t have to be a smart question.

The bad news…

You need 2 things to increase your freelance income…

1. A plan that you fully believe in

2. Your most important next action

Like most powerful truths, it’s simple, but not easy…

I am going to try and convince you to start posting once a week on LinkedIn. Let's see if I can be successful in that...

I want to show you how raising your rates could be the key to increasing your confidence.

1. Identify your most important goal.

2. Brainstorm lots of ideas that could help you reach your goal.

3. Narrow down your big list to your top 3-5 ideas.

4. Rate each idea.

5. Tally up the points and listen to your gut.

Read on for examples and details…

Mindset Issue #1 - “I just don’t know who to reach out to or what to say.”

Mindset Issue #2 - “I’ve tried networking, but it isn’t working.”

Mindset Issue #3 - “Imposter syndrome and lack of self confidence keep me from wanting to start networking.”

Mindset Issue #4 - “Networking sounds like a lot of work and video chats are exhausting... I’m an introvert.”

Get deeper insight inside the full article…

Clients from hell will always exist. But the thing is… no one becomes a client without your permission.

Your job is to evaluate a potential client as much as it’s their job to evaluate you as a potential contractor to do work for them.

• Keep a spreadsheet of all projects you work on.

• Pay attention to your gut reaction.

• Ask someone you trust.

• Is the client using emotional manipulation to get you to say yes? That’s a red flag.

Set up automated invoice reminders.

This is a super quick tip, but it might save your butt and get you paid faster.

This is a great set it and forget it system…

1. Make a list of studios and producers you’ve worked with or want to work with.

2. Email them once a month.

Read on to see how this works and what to put in the emails…