80. Pain-free PR for freelancers (with Melissa Hobson)

Did you know this podcast has been going for 2 years? That's a lot of freelancing chat.

In this episode, I share some thoughts about where the podcast is going in 2023 (spoiler in the title?). 

And in case you're pondering a similar conundrum about how to move forwards (or not) with a particular project, I'm sharing some questions to consider to help you decide when to quit/take a break/power on, along the following themes:

• Enjoyment vs. value to others
• Scaling back vs. quitting altogether
• Sunk costs vs. maintaining momentum
• Filling up your creativity cup
• Keeping the goal the goal!

Thanks to everyone who has supported the podcast so far. Until next time (whenever or wherever that is), happy freelancing!

Stay in touch!

Newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com
LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this podcast helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

This is part two of my conversation with visual storytelling expert Jude Charles. If you haven’t yet listened to part one, go back and check that out first.

“As a freelancer in 2023, it is no longer an option whether or not you tell stories, it is imperative for you to tell stories.”

In this episode, Jude shares more tips and examples of how visual storytelling can build trust with clients, and we dive into the practicalities of using video to market ourselves.

We cover:

• 5 different ways to tell an unforgettable story using visual strategies
• Why (and how) you should take people behind the scenes of your business
• How to get shy clients to contribute to video case studies
• How to leverage your video to get more eyes on it.

Get bonus clips and tips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Mentioned in this episode:
Website: http://JudeCharles.co
Newsletter: http://JudeCharles.co/newsletter
Dramatic Demonstration: https://judecharles.co/book 

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in regular snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

How can a pair of white shoes help someone land a new client?

Jude Charles is an expert in visual storytelling – and specifically, using video to tell stories that build trust with potential clients. Because Jude had SO much brilliant advice to share, this episode is split into two parts.

In this first part, Jude explains how to harness the power of storytelling to connect with clients. As well as telling a few of his own inspirational stories, Jude also shares:

• Why sharing more of your personal story can help you stand out from the crowd
• How to tell stories that get clients to sit up and pay attention
• Why you need a "story book" journal and how to create one
• The moving story behind those white shoes.

Get bonus clips and tips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Mentioned in this episode:
Newsletter: http://JudeCharles.co/newsletter
Story Bank Journal: http://storybankjournal.com

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in regular snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

Today we're taking a look at what the future of freelancing might look like as working culture evolves. My guest is Paul Evans, director of Fourth Estate Creative and creator of the Freelance Fellowship platform. As a small business owner and someone who hires freelancers, Paul sees the opportunities and challenges from both sides.

Our conversation unpicks what recent shifts in working culture might mean for freelancers, including:

• The drivers behind the growth of the freelance economy (plus benefits and pitfalls to watch out for)
• The gig economy and workers' rights
• How to spot knowledge gaps in companies you'd like to work with
• Combining your skills to become a "triple threat"
• The power of collaboration between groups of freelancers
• How Paul works with freelancers in his own business

Get bonus clips and tips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Say hi to Paul:
LinkedIn: Paul Thomas Evans
Fourth Estate Creative website: https://www.fourthestatecreative.com/
Freelance Fellowship website: https://www.freelancefellowship.com/

Say hi to Louise:
Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

Keeping the project pipeline flowing means we always need to be on the lookout for the next lead. But rather than chasing down new clients, why not focus on creating an amazing experience for your existing clients?

Happy clients are more likely to come back again and again – and refer you to their contacts. 

My guest today is Gigi Davarashvili from Yocory, an all-in-one business hub for freelancers and small business owners. Gigi joins me to chat about how she creates memorable experiences for her clients that keep them coming back, including:

• The difference between "good enough" and "WOW"
• How to sprinkle a little gold dust at the end of a project to surprise and delight your clients
• Does automation help or hinder the client experience?
• How to avoid awkward conversations and set firm boundaries from the start.

Get bonus clips and tips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Say hi to Gigi:
Website: https://yocory.com
Instagram: @yocoryapp

Say hi to Louise:
Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated :)

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated :)

It's the last episode of 2022, which means it's time for everyone's favourite format at this time of year: the annual review.

Do you review the ups and downs of the previous year? Do you set goals for the following year? We don't need to get too corporate about it, but since we don't have a boss to do a performance review, we have to do our own.

In this episode, I share my review process, reflect on 2022 and share three wins and three not-so-wins.

You'll also hear how I'm setting my goals for 2023 and how my business will have to change as a result. 

Until next year, happy freelancing!

This week I take you behind the scenes at the Magazine Street conference. 

(You may remember my interview with Nikki Simpson, organiser of Magazine Street, back in Episode 75.)

I share my top takeaways from a few of the many brilliant speakers who shared their stories of creativity, resilience and problem-solving – relevant to all freelancers, not just those in the magazine industry. 

• A cocktail-loving couple who demonstrated the power of listening to your audience
• A brand new magazine creator with a simple idea that's already inspiring others 
• A remarkable turnaround story that goes from Dragons Den rejection to international title and the lessons learned along the way
• How a mountain biking community defeated a website hacker
• How understanding your audience can help you grow your reach
• What we can learn about writing from producing news reports for 9-year-olds.

Vox-pop quotes from other attendees and speakers will be included in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Mentioned in this Episode:
International Magazine Centre: https://internationalmagazinecentre.com/
Magazine Street Speakers: https://internationalmagazinecentre.com/magazine-street/
Episode 75: Create your own conference! (With Nikki Simpson) 

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Ask a question for a future episode on memo.fm/15/

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

"All freelancers should have an email newsletter for their business, 100%, without a doubt!"

My guest today is Eman Ismail, email strategist, email copywriter extraordinaire and host of the excellent Mistakes That Made Me podcast. If you've been thinking about starting a newsletter, this episode is packed with tips to help you get set up, grow your list, and use email marketing to attract clients.

We discuss:

• Why freelancers shouldn't overlook email marketing as a key way to build their business
• Why email is actually better than social media for marketing
• Eman's insights on what to write and how often
• Building an email list full of the right people (and what to do if you attract more fellow freelancers than potential clients!)
• Eman's favourite email marketing platforms

Get bonus clips and tips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Say hi to Eman:

The Email Rules: https://data.inkhouse.org.uk/the-email-rules/ 
Website: https://emancopyco.com/ 

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter at The Copy Prescription. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites. Find her on LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan.

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.

Are you missing a trick if you don't use TikTok to market your freelance business?

My guest today is Chloe Barnes, a freelance copywriter at The Write Chloe who successfully operates a TikTok-first marketing strategy for her business. Chloe shares her top tips for navigating the platform and makes creating “real person TV” easy and effective, including:

• What makes TikTok different from other social media apps
• Why you should think of TikTok as “real person TV”
• How she got her first client via TikTok when she had just 29 followers
• How to find clients on TikTok (or help them find you)
• How to create content the TikTok algorithm (and potential clients) will love
• Spontaneous vs. scheduled content
• How TikTok fits in Chloe's wider marketing strategy

And since we had SO much to talk about, there are not one but TWO bonus clips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter (previous issues listed here too): 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Say hi to Chloe:
TikTok: @thewritechloe
Instagram: @thewritechloe
Website: thewritechloe.com

Say hi to Louise:
Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated

It's the health episode! Working alone, from home, jumping from one task to another – it's all too easy to forget to take care of our physical and mental well-being properly.

Sally Duffin is a freelance writer and nutritional therapist, and she joins me to share some of her favourite healthy habits to help you feel and perform at your best.

We pack a lot into this one, including:

• Why we must stop self-care from falling off our radar
• Tips for building healthy habits into your day (and sticking to them)
• Eating for mental well-being
• Small changes that have a big impact on stress
• How menopause can affect freelance life + Sally's advice on recognising and managing perimenopausal symptoms

Get bonus clips and tips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Ep. 64: A day in the life of a freelance copywriter
Book: ‘Natural Nutrition for Perimenopause: What to Eat to Feel Good and Stay Sane’

Say hi to Sally:

Website: www.nutritioninyork.com
Instagram: @nutritioninyork
Twitter: @nutritioninyork
Facebook: Nutrition in York
LinkedIn: Sally Duffin

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Leave me a question or comment on memo.fm/15/

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.