Being Freelance

Already established in her marketing career, Nadine went freelance in order to ‘stretch’ herself professionally. And stretch she has!Her natural networking style served her well. Nadine has been freelancing for 10 years with big name clients and still doesn’t have a website of her own. LinkedIn and her trusty Rolodex of business cards keep her ‘booked and busy’.And in the past couple of years, she’s decided to use her own success and knowledge to give back. Starting a community and investment fund for diverse, marginalised entrepreneurs.Nadine loves the entrepreneurial side of being freelance. And you’re going to love her story…You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority

Momina realised traditional office life didn’t fit with taking care of her mental health. Sh'e’d go freelance and be a better boss to herself.Having quickly built up a personal brand and relationships on Twitter, work soon came her way.This was in January 2022. So when she spoke for the podcast in July of that year, she’d really not been freelancing long. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have a lot to share. A lot for us to learn from.Having already experienced and dealt with burn out, the issues with outsourcing in a hurry, prejudices from those refusing to consider hiring someone from Pakistan… but also the flip side of community, building great client relationships and ultimately creating that work life that works for her.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Sear

Stephen wasn’t looking to go freelance, but when redundancy came 10 years ago, he took on a contract for a few months. And here is all those years later saying he’d never go back.In between he’s evolved specialisms, written a book that became a course and started working remotely. Stephen takes time out on side projects and courses to always stay on top of trends, tech and skills - thinking about what his clients might want now and in the years to come.And what about what he wants? As he nears the end of his 40s, Stephen’s now exploring what a future in freelancing will look like for him and his family.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Fina

In 2011, taking a family holiday from his job as a Ford engineer, changed David’s life forever. An accident on the beach left him paralysed from the chest down. Quadriplegic.When David was ready to work again, an old friend remembered their shared love of music. He suggested David create audio tracks for the animated videos his company were creating. His freelance business ‘Quadriphonic Sound’ was about to make some serious noise.Without the flexibility of being freelance, David wonders if he’d be able to work at all. Instead he’s making a name for himself on dream projects for huge brands, doing it all remotely around his health and family needs.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential R

The small agency Nick had joined had become a big agency. He’d become part of the leadership team. HR. Management. Meetings. He missed doing the ‘work’.He did know how much big clients were willing to pay for that work though.So Nick set out as a high-billing tone-of-voice specialist. A company of one. With various side projects, Nick embraces the freedom of freelance life - allowing moments of ‘high performing procrastination’ to explore his creativity.We chat about pricing, using a business name alongside a personal brand, thinking like a business (rather than a freelancer), side projects including products and newsletters, becoming a thought leader and more...You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.comPensionBee is authorised and regulated by t

Fungi left university as a scientist. But it was her experiments with Photoshop that had unexpected results. She now wanted to be a designer.Whilst working full-time in science, she designed on the side. By changing her entire persona online, she began to turn what started as a passion project, into a full-time freelance career.Fungi’s focus is in lifting African culture and narratives to the forefront of her design. From the ‘Sunshine City’ Harare, Zimbabwe, she’s brightening brands, packaging and websites the world over.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.comPensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.With investments your capital is at risk. This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings

Levi left art school with no job, but worse, no love of art.Eventually he started creating and experimenting. Finding his style, he also found an art director and his lucky break. Going from flipping burgers to turning over big meaty clients.Still Levi has worked hard to keep the ‘play’ of art in his life. Joining a studio and forming a collective. He’s not going to let getting paid to create detroy his love for it.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.comPensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.With investments your capital is at risk. This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing,

Over 10 years ago Frankie crowd funded her training as a graphic designer. It’s fair to say she doesn’t look at problems the same way everyone does.And when pregnancy took her flourishing freelance career a few steps back, when she felt isolated amongst parents with full-time jobs, she didn’t settle. She searched. She got creative.As her first child was born, so was ‘Doing It For The Kids’. Through a blog, Instagram, award-winning podcast and thriving community, she’s forged a second family of freelancers juggling kids & business.Finding her feet, her people, her niche.And along the way, finding a co-mentor in Steve Folland (yep, of Being Freelance).Together, they took to figuring out how to run their ridiculously big side projects around everything else.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond bein

Bal loved his job in advertising, but posting on Instagram as ‘Mr Whisper’ changed the course of his career, leading him to work not only for himself, but with some insanely high profile brands from the off.As an early ‘creator’, Bal has had to adapt as social media has evolved, to make sure the brands and the full-time rates kept coming. But despite the competition, he has his blinkers on. He’s only in a race against himself.In our chat we here how Bal:- has the confidence to stand his ground with big brands- found his style and niche- stops himself from burning out despite the urge to be always 'on'- uses side projects to keep himself inspired for client projectsAnd a whole lot more.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.comPensionBee is author

Although Michelle had a brief fling living the nine to five life in Silicon Valley, there was no chance of her resisting being her own boss.Starting out as a freelancer 20 years ago, Michelle could never have predicted that social media would become such a big part of her freelancing life - with a huge Twitter chat, community and Space that she hosts.In two decades she’s grown a successful business, a family, a community and ridden out the inevitable recessions and tough spells. It’s the long game and she’s got plenty to share on how to play it.In this episode we hear how Michelle:- builds authority and visibility by writing guest posts- loves retainer clients- overcomes the isolation of remote working- prepares for recession- fights back against those taking advantage of vulnerable freelancersAnd a whole lot more.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then g

After graduating with a degree in illustration, Andi moved back to his hometown.Renting an odd-shaped office with no windows might not have given him great views. But it did give him amazing business connections. Resources and referrals that would set the first of many freelance plates spinning.With a varied career, Andi is also enjoying the challenge of mastering freelancing with his latest clients…his children.In this episode we hear how Andi:- uses his email newsletter- regularly jumps on Twitter chats- uses being multi-skilled to his advantage- found clients and shared knowledge by surrounding himself with other businessesYou'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.comThis episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.comPensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.With in

After being made redundant from her New York agency job, Nikki thought she’d go to Israel for a year and freelance as a copywriter. If it didn’t work out, she’d come back and get another agency job.7.5 years later her family has grown up in Israel. Their mum is very much still freelance.But she’s not a general copywriter anymore, she’s since found her niche in email strategy. Building authority and a small team. And a website experience which is pretty unique.In this episode we hear:- how a mastermind changed Nikki's career- how a 'cold' email showed Nikki her niche and landed a dream client- Nikki's very different approach to her website- how building a team isn't as easy as you might thinkand so much more...You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBe

Ryan started freelancing still in his teens, mentored by his first (and only) boss.Intriguingly, for SEO purposes he has both a freelancer website and a local agency site, but doesn’t want to grow bigger than being a solo business. He’s putting work-life balance ahead of profits.Our chat includes putting your worries in perspective, the importance of side projects, worklife balance, adding personality to your site and relationships and the way Ryan uses his website to qualify leads and better manage his time.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.comPensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.With investments your capital is at risk. This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs W

Krishna was always freelance on the side of other jobs, eventually going full self-employed in 2019.Now with the support of a mentor, a community and mastermind group she’s growing her business into an agency.A lot going on, a lot happening fast. But then she loves life ‘100 miles per hour’.You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.The flexible pension for the self-employed.Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.comPensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.With investments your capital is at risk. This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?Visit a

Micah is a pandemic freelancer.A year after losing his job and starting out, he redesigned his ‘OK Micah’ website to be full of his personality and aligned with his values: to help and celebrate queer businesses.Two years in, his ‘work life harmony’ is in place. Ideal clients coming to him. Freelance life is more than just OK for Micah. This episode is sponsored by Freelancer Magazine.Dedicated to helping you grow a freelance business you love.Freelancer Magazine can land on your doorstep wherever you are in the world.SUBSCRIBE TO FREELANCER MAGAZINE and see what all the fuss is about! This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today.  Don't forget - the Being Freelance course!Steve’s ro

Estelle has created a freelance business that is good for her and the planet.Focussing on her green values (some might say ‘ecopreneur’

Iancu moved from a successful branding career as an employee in Romania to being a freelancer in London.1200 miles. Smoothed over by 600 emails. Not asking for work, but seeking connection. This episode is sponsored by Freelancer Magazine.Dedicated to helping you grow a freelance business you love.Freelancer Magazine can land on your doorstep wherever you are in the world.SUBSCRIBE TO FREELANCER MAGAZINE and see what all the fuss is about! This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today.  Don't forget - the Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer,

Diane has learned and change a lot in a short space of time of being freelance. Or being the 'business owner’ of ‘Lion Words’. By my taking time to step back. Adjust. And just do it. She’s doing more of work she enjoys. Building a network of genuine connections via LinkedIn. Saying ‘yes’ to the right opportunities that come her way to build authority on podcasts and webinars. This episode is sponsored by Freelancer Magazine.Dedicated to helping you grow a freelance business you love.Freelancer Magazine can land on your doorstep wherever you are in the world.SUBSCRIBE TO FREELANCER MAGAZINE and see what all the fuss is about! This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today.  Don't forget

Creating posters for queer club nights, meant the work of Fredde Lanka (AKA Fredrik Andersson) was plastered all over London and that brought him more projects.But it was when those nights shut in lockdown that things really picked up - he started connecting directly with his audience, creating portraits.Now he splits his time between illustration, ceramics, teaching and running an art project for young queer people. The mix stops him being bored and leaves him feeling good.Fredde can see that creating work that explores his queer values may well have meant some big brand, big money projects won’t have come to him (beyond Pride month tokenism). But this work leaves him feeling fulfilled and that’s worth a whole lot more.This episode is sponsored by Freelancer Magazine.Dedicated to helping you grow a freelance business you love.Freelancer Magazine can land on your doorstep wherever you are in the world.SUBSCRIBE TO FREELANCER MAGAZINE and see what all the fuss is about! This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time

Tianna was working as a midwife. Photography was a self-taught hobby.But having a family of her own meant she wanted flexibility that midwifery simply couldn’t give her. So she helped bring her own business into the world instead.The communities she found online have given her confidence, knowledge and referrals.As a maternity & newborn photographer she’s fully focussing on the ‘client experience’. Through learning, investing and taking bigger steps - now her business is growing up. This episode is sponsored by Freelancer Magazine.Dedicated to helping you grow a freelance business you love.Freelancer Magazine can land on your doorstep wherever you are in the world.SUBSCRIBE TO FREELANCER MAGAZINE and see what all the fuss is about! This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.Want to get your freelance site