Freelance Road Trip Podcast
129 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsThe intersection of inspired creativity and common business sense for freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers who want to have fulfilling, successful businesses. Hosted by Alvalyn Lundgren.
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Episodes
An Attitude For Success
March 21, 2024 18:29 - 20 minutes - 28 MBIn this episode, Alvalyn discusses the importance of establishing and maintaining an “abundance” mindset for achieving career and creative success. She emphasizes how success is not limited by resources, but is instead created through taking action, setting goals, and plotting strategies. It’s necessary to maintain an “unlimited” mindset during times of adversity because it affects outcomes. If you don’t adopt a success mindset you can end up handicapping your future as a freelance creative.
Upgrade Your Portfolio With Case Studies
February 22, 2024 23:52 - 16 minutes - 23.4 MBCase studies help position freelance creatives as strategic problem solvers, rather than technicians or wrists. They present the client's problem, document and record the creative process, and showcase research findings, insights, and process to demonstrate problem-solving capabilities. In this episode I highlight the benefits of using case studies to upgrade your portfolio to attract higher value clients, and what to include in a case study.
Not Using Contracts? What Could Go Wrong?
January 22, 2024 20:32 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBMany freelancers in all sectors work without written contracts. They rely on verbal agreements which can be vague and incomplete. Neglecting to put project parameters and expectations in writing before you begin a project opens the door for all kinds of trouble to show up. The best way to avoid these troubles is to used contracts. In this episode I share from my own experience, and how freelancers can manage expectations with written agreements. Using contracts is good business practice and ...
Freelancers and Financial Crimes
December 28, 2023 04:01 - 21 minutes - 29.4 MBA new reporting requirement affecting LLCs and s-corps — small and independent businesses legally registered with their secretary of state — is coming your way in 2024. The Corporate Transparency Act establishes a federal database of beneficial owners of small businesses with under 20 employees, including microbusinesses and freelancers. The database is overseen by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury. My goal in this episode is to educate you regarding ...
Up All Night
December 14, 2023 21:25 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MBStress resides between an expectation of an ideal and what actually is. When the expectation of the ideal — balance (symmetry) — collides with the messy realities of life, you can feel like you’re not good enough or you’re in the wrong lane. It’s all in what kind of balance you’re striving for. In this episode I present relief from the expectation of work-life symmetry in the form of a different point of view — asymmetry. Life is one whole thing, and a proportional approach to balancing tim...
There Are No Guarantees
November 15, 2023 19:46 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MBThere are myriad courses, programs, and coaches available to help you learn skills to succeed in your freelance business. You have a lot of teachers, coaches, and “gurus” to choose from. Or you can choose none and learn it on your own. In this program I talk about the options, about specialists and experts, about offers of success and revenue, and what to look out for. But the main thing I set out to provide you — the one take-away you need to be aware of — is that there are no guarantees. ...
How To Negotiate With Clients
September 28, 2023 18:30 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBAs a freelancer or creativepreneur, negotiating skills are crucial and can make a significant difference in the success of your creative business. In this episode, we'll address the purpose of the negotiation process, explore the dos and don’ts of effective negotiating, with tips on how to come to an agreement on price, deliverables, and schedule, so that both you and your client will benefit.
What's the Difference Between Marketing and Branding?
August 31, 2023 20:06 - 12 minutes - 17.7 MBMarketing and branding are related concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct and have different purposes. Freelance designers create brand assets and identities for their clients, but fewer freelancers actually consider the necessity of building their own brands, or understand how effective branding guides marketing efforts integrates with business. This episode covers the differences between marketing and branding, how they're related, and a short discussion about...
How To Thrive In Your Creative Business
August 10, 2023 20:42 - 22 minutes - 31.7 MBEstablishing and managing a business so you can make a living from your creative work — your way — isn’t easy and probably not what most of us expected when we started out. With all the competition out there, and now with AI looming as both an asset and a threat to creative work, how will you stand out? How will you make a living? How will you continue to build your business, attract your best clients, and become know for significant work? In this episode I offer 4 ways for your consideratio...
The Impact Of AI On Your Creative Business
July 03, 2023 17:40 - 26 minutes - 36.9 MBAI is disrupting the creative industries in a variety of ways that are both beneficial and detrimental. In this episode we consider both the problems and advantages of using AI as a freelance creative, and propose answers to these questions, among others: “Why would a client pay me when they can create a thing themself for free using AI?”, “How can I use AI tools to support my business?”, “How can I protect my work from theft?”
How To Sell Expertise When You Don't Have Expertise
May 30, 2023 22:22 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBFreelancers in general prefer to work with high value clients. An effective way to attract high value clients is to sell expertise, not time. How can you sell creative services if you’re just starting and have little or no experience? Or how do you sell expertise and shift away from selling your time? In this episode I share ways you can sell expertise before you have expertise, to attract the types of clients you’re best able to serve.
Form An LLC For The Right Reasons
May 02, 2023 21:53 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBIf you're a freelance creative who's considering forming an LLC because it will protect you and your clients from worker misclassification under California's AB5 and possible Department of Labor rulings regarding independent contractor status, don't. In this episode I present an online article that appears to be misleading, and discuss why an LLC won't automatically protect you from worker misclassification. I share right reasons for forming an LLC.
Sometimes You Have To Pick Up The Phone
April 19, 2023 00:03 - 15 minutes - 21.5 MBCommunication is the foundation of every relationship. This is true in business as it is in one’s personal life. In business you want to communicate the right way for the right reasons, and there are certain things you don’t want to communicate. Keeping everything in writing is preferred, but sometimes a phone call will serve the relationship better. So then how do you get a phone conversation in writing, ethically? I share some pro tips on when making a phone call is better than sending an ...
Define Your Own Success
March 31, 2023 22:09 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBThis episode begins with an update on AB5 (California) and the independent contractor rule being considered for implementation by the NLRB. Then talk moves into how independent contracting, also known as freelancing, is a legitimate way to earn one’s living. One of the most important things a freelancer needs to do is to define what success looks like for you. You can’t hit a target you can’t see. You can’t be successful until you know that success looks like. As the owner of your freelance ...
Get Your Pricing Structure In Order
March 05, 2023 00:56 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBPricing our work is one of those difficult areas we deal with, and truly, most of use don’t charge enough for what we provide. Freelancers often let the client dictate what they’ll pay, or fear asking too much, and end up frustrated, unable to sustain their businesses. So how do. you take control over your pricing? I share why you need a framework and different pricing models you can choose from.
How to Have Better Client Meetings
February 17, 2023 21:45 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MBIf you're a freelancer, client meetings are inevitable. Whether online, by phone, or in person, meetings are necessary for getting united around common goals and purpose, determining next steps and responsibilities. But meetings can go sideways and negatively impact your working relationships. They can solve nothing, and be a waste of time. Your time, and your client's, is valuable. In this episode I offer 7 tips for having better, more effective, client meetings.
How To Start Freelancing
February 02, 2023 19:51 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBThe way you’ll create a sustainable freelance business is by focusing on the long term, pursuing valuable clients and projects, and systematizing your efforts in marketing and management. The first thing to embrace is the fact that you’re building a business, not being creative. Mindset is everything. You must stop thinking like a creative and start thinking like the owner of a creative business. In this episode I outline essential steps to take to shift into freelancing full time or part...
Reasons To Start Freelancing
January 17, 2023 21:16 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MBWe’re in a prime time right now to build and grow. The freelance economy is booming. In the US, freelancers and independent contractors have contributed almost $6B to the economy. The climate is encouraging for businesses. There is more opportunity to start something from nothing and grow it than ever before. There’s more opportunity for you to make an impact through your work. There’s no time like the present to start something. So if you've been thinking about becoming a freelancer or c...
Help! I Need More Clients
June 25, 2022 20:48 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBTo stay in business freelancers need clients, and we’re commonly asking where to find more clients. The obvious freelance platforms and talent agencies aren’t always the best choice for a variety of reason, and they shouldn’t be your only choice. In the episode I present the case for making client prospecting a regular part of your marketing activities, and offer ways to diversify your prospecting through relationship building.
Mindset Shifts Every Freelance Creative Must Make
June 10, 2022 18:59 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MBTo succeed in business as a freelance creative requires shifting from functioning solely as a creative — an illustrator, a designer, a photographer, a copywriter, an artist — to functioning as the owner of a creative business. In this episode I share half a dozen shifts we need to make in how we think about what we're doing, and why.
Resumés and Portfolios For Freelancers
May 21, 2022 20:32 - 17 minutes - 24.4 MBYou're a freelance creative. Do you need a resumé? That depends on how you find clients. For freelancers who promote their creative services to clients directly, the portfolio is what attracts. In this episode I share the reasons why a resumé is not necessary and how to use your portfolio website as your primary marketing tool.
Are You A Freelancer Or A Business Owner?
May 01, 2022 06:25 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBHave you encountered opinions that if you’re a freelancer you don’t have a real business? Or that you shouldn’t call yourself a freelancer at all because it means you’re a misclassified and employee who’s being taken advantage of by your clients? Since I keep running into these discussions I decided to bring the case that a freelancer — no matter what industry — is indeed a business owner and should operate as such. In this episode I outline a variety of ways that freelancers demonstrate a b...
Who's In Control?
April 21, 2022 22:37 - 21 minutes - 30 MBIf you’re a freelancer you’re not an employee. Yet many independent contractors position themselves as an employee for all practical purposes when working with clients. This approach can end up costing you in a number of ways. The difference between independent contractorship and employee status lies not only in your intention but also in your actions. You have to make a very clear distinction about who’s in control of your working relationships — you or your clients. In this episode I pres...
Sales Taxes, Income Taxes, and Freelance Creatives
April 07, 2022 19:16 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MBOne aspect of freelancing is that you get to deal with different kinds of taxes. In this episode, which is sparked by a conversation with one of my coaching clients, I discuss income taxes and sales taxes, and your responsibilities as a freelance business owner. Treating your freelancing as a business, and taking care of business, frees you up to focus on your creative work.
How To Protect Your Work During A Creative Review
March 16, 2022 17:52 - 12 minutes - 16.9 MBAs a follow-on to a recent episode, I go in-depth into why and how it's important for both our clients and us to ensure our work isn't used before it's ready. Creative reviews — those work-in-progress presentations with the client — can be opportunities for the client to take hold of the work before contract terms are fulfilled. How can you prevent that from happening? Here's how I do it.
Make Your Marketing Easier
March 07, 2022 17:06 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MBMarketing is a necessary part of any business, but creative freelancers aren't always comfortable doing it. Kick the "I hate marketing" catchphrase to the curb with a practical approach that looks at marketing, branding, and messaging as a way of giving value to your prospective clients.
When Your Client Treats You Like You’re Their Employee
February 05, 2022 18:18 - 24 minutes - 33.7 MBWhat do you do when a client wants to treat you as an employee rather than an independent freelance business owner? I answer two questions from freelancers dealing with this conundrum: the first centers on a retainer agreement and the second is dealing with a performance review. I present the case for why you’re not an employee, and ways you can respond if you find yourself working with a client who wants control. A third question deals with how to protect your work during a creative review.
How To Crush Those Freelancing Fears
January 28, 2022 21:20 - 21 minutes - 29.1 MBWe all have them... those fears and uncertainties that restrict our forward motion. In this episode I share some insights about fear, risk, and consequences, and how you can accelerate through your own freelancing fears and leave them in the dust cloud behind you.
The Value Of Our Creative Work
January 20, 2022 17:34 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBOne of the things that is often disregarded is the value of creativity, and especially the value of creativity to business. There's the mindset that, “You’re doing what you love to do. It’s creative, it’s fun. You shouldn’t expect to be paid much for it because your payment is in the enjoyment of what you do.” That’s true to some extent — we should enjoy our work. The thing is, though, that we need to look at what we do as having value beyond just the enjoyment. In Episode 101 I state the ca...
Helping You Navigate A Changing Landscape
August 14, 2021 23:20 - 15 minutes - 20.7 MBThe landscape is changing for freelancers. How do we navigate successfully? I share an update about the ABC Test that's in California's AB5 law and it's big brother, the PRO Act which has passed in the House of Representatives and is being considered in the Senate, and how freelancers have been and can be adversely affected by new labor laws. To maintain your independence, develop your business skills. I created Freelance Road Trip to teach you how to earn your living from your creative work.
3 Criteria Creatives Use To Solve Business Problems
August 09, 2021 21:46 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBBy way of a true story to illustrate the point, I share a mindset shift for visual creatives who want to elevate their status, pricing, and creative leadership when working with clients. That's by understanding what it is we really do which is far more than making things look good. The true value in what we do as creatives is in how we combine these 3 criteria in our work for clients.
How To Say No To Problem Clients, Scope Creep, and Bad Ideas
July 31, 2021 19:37 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MBIt seems counter intuitive to turn down a project when you need the income. But saying NO is sometimes the best thing to do for the sake of your future. Turning down a client may in fact be the best business decision you make in a day. Here's why, and how to say no to prospective clients, scope creep, and bad ideas.
4 Time Management Principles To Transform Your Work Week
July 24, 2021 23:25 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBWhether you freelance full-time or part-time, these time management principles will help you win the struggle to juggle the professional and personal aspects of your life.
What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate
July 17, 2021 19:01 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MBBased on a true account of a miscommunication between me and one of my design students, I discuss the importance of being specific in what we communicate to clients, getting to the point, and diagnosing their needs accurately. It's also important that your client accurately receives what you're communicating. Both parties are responsible for communicating well. Good communication saves you time, builds trust, manages expectations, and reduces wrong assumptions.
The Designer, the Infographic, and the Unhappy Client
July 11, 2021 01:06 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBDon't have conversations on the back end of a project that you should have had on the front end. When things go south with a client because they were expecting one thing and you were expecting another, it can ruin your relationship but also your reputation with future clients. Using a true story as the basis, I share how and why we freelance creatives need to manage expectations.
Mark-ups, Minimums, and Managing Money
July 03, 2021 19:05 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBHow do you create a budget when your freelance income isn't steady? Can you mark up project-related expenses without feeling guilty? In this episode I answere these and other money-related questions submitted by readers and listeners.
How To Craft Your Professional Portfolio
June 26, 2021 22:05 - 24 minutes - 34 MBYour portfolio isn't just about getting you your next client. It's a springboard into your future. It's a primary means of attracting clients you're best suited to serve. I share specific how-tos for creating a high quality, consistent portfolio that best represents your expertise, and the critical thinking behind the tips. The episode includes an excerpt from my online course, Crafting Your Professional Portfolio, which I've taught at design schools and is available to members inside the Fr...
Make Your Portfolio A Marketing Tool
June 19, 2021 20:10 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBIf you're a self-employed professional creative, you offer solutions to business and life problems. Your portfolio then, isn't a showcase of art, design, or photography, but a collection of creative solutions. The most effective portfolios demonstrate how you solve clients' problems. I share some practical, professional tips to help you sharpen your portfolio to attract the kinds of clients and projects you're best suited for.
Master the Client Discovery Call
June 12, 2021 22:43 - 24 minutes - 5.51 MBA prospective client discovery session allows you the opportunity to manage expectations before you enter a working relationship. By asking the right kinds of questions you communicate to your client your expertise and empathy, and your ability to solve their business problem with your creative solutions. In this episode I outline proven tactics for a successful discovery call and subsequent project.
10 Red Flag Warnings Freelancers Shouldn't Ignore
June 06, 2021 01:22 - 19 minutes - 26.3 MBIt's no fun being trapped in a bad working relationship with a difficult client. We can put filters in place to screen out prospects who aren't a good fit for us, but what do we do when things begin well but go sour in the middle of a project? It's important to recognize the "red flags" and deal with them so that you can maintain a comfortable working relationship with your client. I break out 10 red flags that can pop up before and during a project. Why should you be aware of warning signs?...
Detours Are Not Your Destiny
May 29, 2021 20:01 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBMany freelance creatives deal with having to do things to pay the bills while we're developing our freelance careers. The usual thinking is that these jobs are holding us back from doing our preferred work, stepping into our callings, and reaching our destinies. Rather than being deterrents, detours can be useful in a variety of ways, actually preparing and training us to do our best work.
How To Write Your Business Plan
May 22, 2021 21:57 - 28 minutes - 39 MBYou may not need a business plan to start your freelance business, but once you get a few clients under your belt you'll want to create one. A business plan acts as compass to keep you focused on the important things. It helps you control and manage outcomes. It helps you make good business decisions. Your business plan doesn't need to be a lengthy doc. I outline what to include in your plan and how those elements support your decisions and long-term success.
How To Care For Your Suppliers
May 14, 2021 17:56 - 26 minutes - 37 MBNo freelancer ever does a project entirely on their own. A reliable support network is crucial to getting the job done. Freelance creatives focus more on attracting and working with clients but often neglect to invest the same level of relational care into their supplier network. In this episode I share why we need to apply the "Golden Rule" with our suppliers, a couple true stories from my own experience, and unpack specific areas to watch out for in keeping those relationships respectful a...
Why Strategy Trumps Tactics
May 07, 2021 19:06 - 18 minutes - 26 MBIndependent creatives are known to seek out quick-win tips and tactics to fix their immediate problems. But if you want to build a sustainable business around your creative work, you need a strategic plan that acts as both a compass and an anchor. While both strategy and tactics are necessary and useful. This episode introduces the concept of strategic thinking connected to your larger purpose, and attaching your goals and action steps.
Your Client Is Not Your Enemy
April 30, 2021 02:26 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBEver have a client relationship turn sideways or go south? If you've been freelancing awhile you've likely experienced when a client shifts expectations or makes an odd request. Poor relationships with your clients can affect not just your freelance business, but your creative drive, your household, your friendships, your loved ones, and even your future success. Using a true story shared by a fellow freelancer, I unpack a strategy and share what, in my experience, is the number on reason w...
5 Practical Steps To Shift From Artist To Owner
April 23, 2021 23:13 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBThe allure of freelancing... Why do we do it? And then, how do we do it? The freelance economy is growing across all sectors. According to a Gallup–Upwork poll, there are around 57M independent contractors in the US currently. The majority of those is creatives. To freelance successfully means you're taking care of business so that you are free to focus on your creative work. How can you avoid fizzling out and having to return to a soul-crushing day job that's not a good fit for your creati...
Use Creative Briefs To Build Trust
April 16, 2021 02:12 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBAre you using a creative brief, also know as assignment or design brief, in your project development process? A brief can help you build trust with your clients for a variety of reasons. In this episode I share what a brief is and how your client relationships and freelance business as a whole can benefit by using them.
Cultivating Limitless Success
April 10, 2021 21:39 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBHow you think affects how well you do creatively and business-wise. What you think either hinders or promotes. We all struggle with limiting beliefs and negative thinking, but we don't have to embrace them. In this episode I share for your consideration a mindset shift through the analogy of gardening and farming. This may make a difference for you if you're struggling as a freelance creative.
How The PRO Act Will Make Life Worse For Freelancers
April 02, 2021 18:20 - 30 minutes - 41.2 MBThe PRO Act, which is now included in the massive infrastructure bill, and the Worker Flexibility and Small business Protection Act, will make things very difficult for freelance creatives if it becomes law with the ABC test intact. If freelancing and independent contracting is no longer considered legitimate, and we all have to be employees, what do we lose? Whether or not an employer is a union shop or not, what do we lose? Don't take this discussion as a rant against unions or the trades...
Budgeting Smarts For Freelancers
March 26, 2021 02:16 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MBMoney is a necessary tool in business and life, and freelancers can embrace the budgeting process creatively. Budgeting is good stewardship, and enables you to maintain momentum when your income fluctuates month to month. A spending plan can help you become more profitable because it gives you more control. I share an approach to your spending plan that's flexible, practical, and immediately actionable. Feast or famine income isn't an excuse to not have a budget.