Being Freelance

Business & Finance

About

Freelancing? Being boss of your own life and business can be tough and isolating. But it can also be totally rewarding. Pick up tips, advice and thoughts on how to make it as a freelancer, an entrepreneur, as the owner of your own business, by hearing other freelancers share their experience. Hosted by Steve Folland. Come join us in the Being Freelance Community - You're not alone being freelance. Not anymore. www.beingfreelance.com/community

Episodes

  • Becoming the go-to freelancer in your niche - Jessi Illustrates

    Jessica Hartshorn, also known as Jessi Illustrates, discusses her transition from a 16-year career in museums to becoming a sought-after freelance illustrator. She explains how her museum experience became a unique selling point and covers…

  • Freelancer BTS - Some things are more important

    This episode of Being Freelance includes a quote from Jess Bruno about content, promotes the Being Freelance community, and mentions resources for new freelancers.

  • Stop Waiting for Clients. Start Making - Charles Commins

    Charles Commins transitioned from pub management to freelance podcast production, using a football fan podcast as a portfolio piece. He discusses client acquisition through referrals, pricing strategies, work-life balance, community buildi…

  • Field Trip Fridays and Four Bank Accounts - Illustrator Perryn Ryan

    Perryn Ryan shares her journey into freelance illustration, detailing how a career in fashion influenced her costing methods, her experiences with contracts, and her approach to client partnerships. The episode covers her niche growth, shi…

  • Chase Those Late Payments - Graphic Designer Laura Whitehouse

    Laura Whitehouse shares her journey into freelance graphic design, starting from student projects and growing into a full-time career. She details building a business via word-of-mouth, managing client work, and the financial stresses of f…

  • How to Find Your Freelancing Niche

    In this short compilation episode, Steve revisits conversations from across 11 years of the Being Freelance podcast archive to explore what actually happens when freelancers specialise in a niche. Full of stories of how these freelance cre…

  • When Freelancing Goes Quiet: Getting Proactive with Mark Grainger

    For years, Mark Grainger’s freelance business ticked along nicely. Referrals. Word of mouth. Repeat clients. And then… things went quiet. In this episode, we explore what happens when the reliable stream of freelance work slows down. And w…

  • Freelancer BTS - What happens when they click?

    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 freel…

  • From Freelancer To Studio - The Power Of Positioning

    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 f…

  • Cold Outreach: What Actually Works for Freelancers

    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 con…

  • How Katie Chappell Built (and Unbuilt) a Scalable Freelance Illustration Business

    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…

  • How These Freelancers Work ON Their Business All Year

    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 c…

  • Graphic Designer & Illustrator Itzel Islas

    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 illustrat…

  • I’m Not a Machine - Freelancing Balance & Bandwidth with Katie Tucker

    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 launc…

  • Slow Down - Lineo's Intentional Freelancing

    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…

  • Surgeries, Grief, & a Six-Figure Business - Jess Bruno

    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 frien…

  • No Suit, No Broccoli: Escaping Corporate Life with André Spiteri

    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 sustaina…

  • 20 years freelancing as Ben The Illustrator

    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 ABOUT THIS EPISODE Ben O’Brien, known to many as Ben Th…

  • Your Handy Dandy Brandy Gal: Hollie Arnett

    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 ABOUT THIS EPISODE From a young age, Hollie Arnett was…

  • Collaborating, Not Competing - Jerel Ramsey’s Freelancer Story

    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 ABOUT THIS EPISODE From a young age, Jerel Ramsey was i…

  • Communications Specialist Dee Primett

    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 y…

  • Using Creative Skills For Good - Conservation Illustrator Styngvi

    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…

  • Freelance Freedom: How Rebecca Rosenberg Balances Work and Wanderlust

    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…

  • Animation Director Dave Anderson

    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…

  • Antisocial Socialite Yolanda Sissing

    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…

  • Illustrator Helen Ridley

    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…

  • Photographer Xavier Buendia

    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…

  • Podcast Producer Kate Taylor

    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…

  • Laughs for Leads on LinkedIn - Freelancer Dave Officer

    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…

  • Graphic Designer Angela Lyons

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Copywriter & Creative Director Thomas Kemeny

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Purpose Driven Illustrator Hazel Mead

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Sustainability Copywriter Raymond Manzor

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Illustrator Mariery Young

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Voiceover Emma Clarke

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Web Designer Phil Matthews

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Passion over Profit: Desire Lacap's Freelancing Philosophy

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Purpose Driven Freelancer Ettie Bailey-King

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Subscription freelancing - Brand Designer Brennan Gilbert

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Start Local - Freelance Marketer Hannah Isted

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Finding your Freelancing Niche - Video Production Specialist Kirth Noel

    EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside . See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGF…

  • Niche Resistant - Freelance Writer Shea Karssing

    This time we're off to South Africa to hear the freelancing story of writer Shea Karssing. Shea was changing jobs every couple of years. Boredom setting in again. Taking freelance projects on the side to keep things interesting, she eventu…

  • Build A Freelancing Life - Architect Turned Designer Andy Hau

    Meet multifaceted designer and illustrator and one-person agency, Andy Hau. Andy shatters the typical freelance mold by sharing his unique journey from architecture to the wide world of design, revealing how a chance encounter with musicia…

  • Owning your age as a freelancer: The Wrinkly Writer - Mary Cameron

    Age doesn't matter. Until it does. Until you get the feeling people won't hire you anymore because you're too old. For Mary, she was 58. From New Zealand, but having spent 30 years in Australia in 'normal' full time jobs. Faced with ageism…

  • Winning freelance clients from Instagram & TikTok with logo designer James Barnard

    James Barnard shares his journey of becoming a freelancer and the strategies he uses to find clients and grow his business. He emphasises the importance of niche specialisation. When James focussed on logo design it made it much easier to…

  • Art Beyond the Arches: From McDonald's to a varied diet of design & illustration for freelancer Dan Bailey

    Dan went freelance twice. First for creative freedom. Secondly to free him up for his family. Starting out as a designer for McDonald's but wanted a more varied diet of projects. With a lot of time freelancing in agencies, Dan learnt to st…

  • Copywriter Adri Kopp

    From big cat zookeeper to taming words as a freelance copywriter, Adri's freelancing story starts a little differently. Burnout led to her quitting the zoo before even securing a paying client. A persistence in cold emailing, dealing with…

  • Logo Designer Blesson Varghese

    This time we're off to India to chat to self taught Logo & Brand Identity Designer Blesson Varghese. We cover the importance of networking, 'silent' mentors, balancing work and life, and the challenges faced by freelancers in a society tha…

  • Virtual Assistant Erin Buck

    Meet VA & Social Media Assistant Erin Buck. Not that she knew what that was 5 years ago. But then, she was happy working in a school. She didn't need to know. But then a twinge in Erin's back turned her world upside down. Nerve damage coul…

  • Social Media Strategist Andréa Jones

    Early success on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork led to Andréa expanding her services and horizons. Using video and podcasts she built trust. She also built an agency. Dealing with the challenges of managing a team, working around family,…