Being Freelance

This is the first time I've done this as an episode.A quick behind the scenes of what I'm up to with my own freelancer business - as a freelance video and podcast editor. If you'd like to go even more behind the scenes, check out my freelancing life vlog on YouTube.If I'm going to pay for an advert for my services, there's something I need to do first...And you can do this too.It's not about a major overhaul of your website. Instead sit with a fresh cuppa and fresh eyes and see as if you're someone discovering you for the first time.If someone clicks through on LInkedIn to your profile, what will they find?Mine is linkedin.com/in/stevefollandLikewise to your website.Mine is stevefolland.comLook at your LinkedIn profile. Is it up to date for the work you're doing today? Do the links they click out function properly?Look at your website. Are the services you want to be known for the most obvious? Does your contact form work? Is your blog active or making it look like you've gone out of business?If you're going

Laura has been a professional graphic designer for over 20 years, but her freelance journey began in 2008 after the birth of her first child. With daycare in Manhattan costing more than rent, Laura started piecing together freelance work from home; juggling projects from a tiny dining table in a fourth-floor walk-up.Freelancing wasn’t always smooth. But eventually, after settling in Massachusetts, it clicked.After a particularly harsh freelance interview left her devastated, Laura made a decisive shift. She stopped calling herself Rizby Designs and became Rizbee Studio instead - a small but powerful change that reframed how clients perceived her work. And how she saw herself and her business.Laura began positioning herself as a studio, using “we”, and gradually building a trusted team of contractors around her.Over time, Laura discovered what she truly loved: designing brand systems, particularly for consumer packaged goods in the food and beauty industries. Finding her niche was the next big change.Laura’s g

Cold outreach can often get a freelance business started. But in this episode I propose even those of us years down the line don't give it the cold shoulder.When you need to bring in clients, maybe a period of cold outreach, or even a consistent long term pattern of it, could be exactly what warms our business back up again.Cold emails. Cold calls. Reaching out to people who didn’t ask to hear from you. It can feel awkward, uncomfortable, and very easy to put off.But again and again on the Being Freelance podcast, freelancers have shared how proactive outreach - in many different forms - played a huge role in getting their business started, or getting it moving again when things felt quiet.This episode is a little different from the usual Being Freelance format. Rather than a single guest interview, it’s a reflection on conversations with freelancers who’ve taken a deliberate approach to outreach.You’ll hear how copywriter Adri Kopp refined her cold email process, worked out who she should actually be reachin

Katie Chappell is a freelance live illustrator based in the UK - and her story takes some unexpected turns.After being sacked from a graphic design job, Katie slowly built a freelance illustration career through side jobs, teaching guitar, working in retail, and even becoming a nanny abroad. A 100-day drawing project helped her find confidence, momentum, and visibility - and eventually led her into live illustration and graphic recording.Things really took off during the pandemic, when Katie adapted quickly to online events and found herself booked solid. At one point, she scaled the business into an agency-style setup with salaried staff and 24 illustrators on the books.On paper, it looked amazing.In reality, it nearly broke her.In this episode, Katie talks honestly about scaling up, scaling back, pricing, niching, marketing, work-life balance, and the moment she realised something had to change. We also get into the practical stuff: working with a virtual assistant, setting clear prices, and why “make work,

As freelancers, it’s easy to spend most of our time in the business - delivering client work, meeting deadlines, keeping things ticking over. But if we never step back, time has a habit of running away from us. We can be swept along on a current of what people ask us to do, not thinking about if it's where we want to be heading.This episode is a little different from the usual Being Freelance podcast format. Instead of a single guest interview, it’s a reflection on conversations with freelancers who consistently make time to work on their business - not just once a year, but regularly.You’ll hear how different people approach this in their own way:Some take themselves off on solo business retreats - sometimes to a hotel, sometimes just to a different room in the house — with no client work allowed. Others hold quarterly CEO retreats, stepping away from day-to-day delivery to review what’s working, what isn’t, and what they want more (or less) of.One even does a 'Weather Report', seeing what's on the horizon f

From an overworked designer posting “a visual diary” on Instagram to running a multi-stream creative business, Itzel Islas has built a freelance life entirely on her own terms.After almost a decade in apparel design, she started illustrating for fun - and quickly realised people loved her colourful, playful style. “Little by little I started creating art… and then I started getting clients through it.”Today she runs YAY Itzel, blending branding work, her online shop, Patreon sticker club, brand partnerships with Adobe and Wacom, murals, workshops and even organising pop-ups, all rooted in her Mexican culture. “I’m just chasing whatever is fun for me.  And if it sounds fun, I’m all in.”She talks building a business organically, finding clients who share her values, and why being authentic is her biggest asset. “I’ve always seen everything I do as a big package of what is my business and how I sustain myself as an artist.”Hosted by freelance podcast and video podcast editor Steve Folland. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou'

Freelance market research consultant Katie Tucker shares how being intentional - with her time, energy, and choices - helped her build a freelance life that truly fits. From walking away from a corporate job for a family adventure to launching her freelance business Product Jungle and writing excellent business book Do Penguins Eat Peaches?, Katie opens up about patience, priorities, and the reality of balancing work, parenting, and wellbeing. You can watch the video podcast of this episode on Spotify or YouTube.In this episode we cover: The leap from corporate to freelancing after a family gap yearHow writing Do Penguins Eat Peaches? helped shape her businessBalancing client work with parenting and self-careWhy understanding your customer starts with asking better questionsThe power of patience, pricing, and permissionPlus ,we discover the one market research mistake that freelancers and small business most often make. Make sure you catch it. Find Katie Tucker at https://www.productjungle.co.uk/Get Katie's e

From choreographing dance routines and directing a TV show at a South African megachurch… to running her own freelance business - Lineo Kakole’s journey into branding was anything but traditional.When no one would hire her after she quit her job, Lineo started sharing passion projects on Instagram. From there, she built her creative identity design studio, Get Ready With Me, around beauty, strategy, and intentional living.But freelancing wasn’t always smooth. Burnout forced Lineo to rethink everything - from how she planned her day to how she tracked her emotions. Her solution? Turning to her 16-year-old self for guidance. Her high school self packed a lot in without burning out, how did she do it?Paper planners. Quarters, not just years. Dance breaks. Report cards. Slowing down. Now she does client work just four focused hours a few days a week - and she’s built a business that truly fits her life.In this episode, Lineo shares how she:- Built her freelance brand from scratch with no client experience- Discov

When Jess Bruno left her corporate job in marketing, to help with managing her chronic illness - she had no idea freelancing was even an option. It was her mum that made her realise all the free marketing advice she was giving to her friends should be worth paying for.The next time they called asking for help, it would cost £25.Since then, Jess has built a six-figure freelancer business.And what's more, she's built it on her terms: around her health, around surgeries, around grief. The past five years has packed in a lot for Jess. And we pack a lot into this episode:- How chronic illness shaped her business model- Rebuilding from grief, surgery and burnout — twice- How she grew her business without posting perfect content- The shift from doing it all to coaching and strategy- Why her content converts, even with 30 likes a post- What Netwerking is, and why it’s worth every penny (even in the red)- How she’s planning a sustainable new version of her businessIt’s bold, honest and brilliant — just like Jess.--Hos

From finance lawyer in Malta to FinTech copywriter in Edinburgh — André Spiteri’s freelancing story is full of risk, reinvention, and real talk.In this episode, André shares how he went from a corporate job he hated to building a sustainable freelance writing business. He talks honestly about the pressures of starting out, the mindset shift that came with success, and why the freedom of freelancing can sometimes be the hardest part.You’ll hear:Why André quit law and moved to London with no planHis cold-pitching mindset and why, against the usual freelancer advice, he doesn’t follow upWhat changed when he embraced being himself on social mediaHow community and a mastermind group made a huge differenceThe surprising thing he found most challenging about freelance lifeWhat he’d tell his younger self after 10 years in businessIt's a fun, sometimes sweary story of escaping corporate life. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreela

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEBen O’Brien, known to many as Ben The Illustrator, returns to share how his freelance journey has evolved since his first Being Freelance appearance back in 2018.From losing all his travel industry clients overnight in 2020, to discovering new income streams through lockdown listening parties, to launching a creative studio with his wife, and literally building a studio with his friends. Ben’s path of adaptation has been found by following his curiosity, being more open that ever to opportunities. Now 25 years into his self-employed life and 20 years as ‘Ben The Illustrator’, there’s a lot of experience for Ben to draw from (making no apologies for the pun).- Finding clients through word of mouth (and why you can’t force it)- Running a print shop… and knowing when to shut it- The joy of building your own studio

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEFrom a young age, Hollie Arnett was inspired to pursue a creative path. Fast forward to today, and she’s running not one but two brands from Wellington, New Zealand: Maker & Moxie, where she coaches artists and makers on building their own brands, and By Hollie Arnett, where she offers branding and illustration services.High School Hollie would be proud.In this episode, Hollie shares how her journey as a freelancer began as a teenager doing design work for her youth group, how a life coach nudged her into officially launching her business, and the twists, pivots, and passions that shaped her freelance career. We also dive into subscription services, pricing packages, the power of creative communities, her own experiences with chronic illness, confidence issues and ultimately following the joy in what she doe

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEFrom a young age, Jerel Ramsey was inspired by his father to work for himself. And here we are. In this episode, Jerel shares how he turned his passion for design into a full-time business, Sola, which he runs with his wife from their home in Trinidad and Tobago.Starting out as a graphic designer, Jerel’s journey went from side gigs to establishing a purpose driven creative agency. He talks about how his experience with the Red Cross sparked his desire to work on meaningful projects and how he built a business based on collaboration rather than competition. Building a network of other freelancers to 'co-create'.Staying to true to his father's message to work 'with' people, not 'for' them.Jerel opens up about the realities of freelancing, from finding clients in a saturated market to balancing work and life with

PODCAST SPONSORED BY: RIVERSIDE: High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riverside It’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan PODCAST SPONSORED BY: PORKBUN: Get a domain name for your website. www.beingfreelance.com/porkbun  ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time around Dee Primett shares her 10 year journey from a side hustle grinding with content mills to becoming a sought-after freelance communications specialist for healthcare and tech brands.Dee got her start writing online while juggling young children, slowly carving out a niche in healthcare content—and discovering a talent for making complex ideas easy to understand. Her freelancing career evolved from generalist blog posts to strategic content and brand communications, fuelled almost entirely by referrals and word of mouth.In 2022, Dee was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. In this honest and inspiring conversation, she opens up about the impact it had on her life and business; from surgery and re

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEIcelandic artist Stefán Yngvi Pétursson, also known as Styngvi, shares his journey from working in an ad agency to becoming a freelance conservation illustrator. Inspired by shocking pollution during a trip to Indonesia, Stefán decided to use his creative skills for environmental activism, or 'artivism'. He established a successful freelancing career through Instagram, but more recently has expanded his network and leads via LinkedIn and email outreach. With a growing online presence and support from platforms like Patreon, Stefán aligns his art and business with his values, promoting sustainability, environmental awareness, kindness and positi

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time, we explore both a metaphorical freelance journey and physical one.In 2015 Rebecca decided she wanted to travel whilst freelancing.After building up savings and clients for a couple of years, she headed off to Europe as a digital nomad. Travelling whilst working as a content writer and strategist.At first she did more sight seeing that client work, but as time went on she was ready to switch that balance. To settle for longer - both in terms of location and contracts.Rebecca shares insights on how she made the most of her network for initial clients, and adapted to changing freelance landscapes over the years through platforms like Li

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEHow does a Welsh schoolboy recommended by a career advisor to become a tree surgeon end up illustrating and animating for some of the biggest media outlets across the globe?Becoming a location independent freelancer, working from London, Lima in Peru, and Barcelona in Spain.Getting known for creating funny content. With a range of satirical dog toys and creating animated videos for some of the worlds biggest podcasts including Joe Rogan and The Rest Is History?Dave shares his thoughts on steering his career in the directions he desires. The importance of meeting people, working in somewhere other than your home, and paying attention to what wor

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside----ABOUT THIS EPISODEIn this podcast we chat to South African freelancer Yolanda Sissing.From her base in the UK she explains how a near-death experience made her realise filling in KPI reports for a boss wasn’t what she wanted.She’s now found her niche freelancing for purpose-driven clients and shares her strategies for getting clients through networking, content marketing, LinkedIn and Instagram Lives. Yolanda discusses the importance of setting work-life boundaries, leveraging community support, and pursuing long-term goals (if you watch the video version you’ll get to see her actual mood board!). We also get an introduction to the Anti-Social Socialites - the co

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------In this episode, Steve Folland interviews Helen Ridley, a freelance illustrator who has carved a unique niche in live event illustration.Helen shares her inspiring journey from studying fashion design to working in retail for over a decade and finally making the leap to full-time freelance illustration during the 2020 lockdown. She discusses the challenges and rewards of building her business, the importance of pitching and persistence once you have a contact, and her success with live portraits at events, including a notable partnership with John Lewis. Helen’s not just pursuing her passion. She’s focussed her freelancing on what’s actually profitable.Helen also delv

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside----------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST EPISODE In this episode, Xavier Buendia shares his journey from Mexico City to Brighton, and more importantly from the world of hospitality as a sommelier to a career as a successful freelance photographer.Xavi discusses the importance of people skills, marketing consistency, self-confidence, and believing in yourself. He highlights both the financial benefits and creative downsides of having routine retainer clients; his pivot when COVID and Brexit hit the food industry he’d relied upon. And his recent experiments with hiring a very human PR and using AI – both to help his business in different ways.00:00 Introduction to Xavi Buendia02:04 Xavi's