An email newsletter is a great way to stay in touch with your audience and build your personal brand. But wait…is an email newsletter necessary? Will it actually help you market and sell your freelance services? In this episode, we share how we think about email newsletters and what we’ve seen from our freelance friends: the successes, downfalls, and our personal experiences.

Our work identity often defines a significant part of who we are. That's especially true when you're a freelance writer who depends on sharing yourself to make a living. But how do we explain this identity in our personal lives? What happens when we go to a party, and someone asks us what we do?

The writing process consists of three steps: (1) researching and outline, (2) productive writing, and (3) editing. But are the tools we use designed for this process? Are we as efficient as we think we are? Is there room to save time and increase our creative output? We sat down with Rob Carpenter, content strategist and Head of Marketing at Butter, to talk about ways to work smarter, not harder.

Companies sometimes hire writers for short-term contract roles to help with specific projects. They might hire a writer to work with them for 30-40 hours per week for a set period, such as three months. What are the pros and cons of taking on these roles? In this episode, we share our own experiences taking on contract work and offer some things to think about if you’re considering such a role.

The “book my day” approach, often discussed among copywriters and conversion specialists, offers a unique alternative to traditional hourly or per-word pricing. But what exactly does it entail, and is it the right choice for you? Let's dive into the intricacies of this model, its potential benefits, and its pitfalls.

The freelance writing space is tough right now. Layoffs, the rise of generative AI, and internal chaos at many companies have made many of us feel insecure about the field. Our friends and colleagues are kinda freaked out… and maybe we are too? In this episode, we talk about what we’re seeing in the world of freelance writing and what we’re doing about it.

We both work in B2B SaaS. So do A LOT of writers. But what even is B2B SaaS? Why does it seem like so many writers are working in this area? In this episode, we talk about how we got into B2B SaaS, explain why it’s so popular, and offer some guidance on how to figure out whether it’s the right niche for you.

If you’re creating original content, you’ll likely find yourself conducting interviews. You might interview subject matter experts, customers, or your client’s customers! Emma does it all the time when she writes case studies. Kaleigh does it for more journalistic assignments. In this episode, we offer advice on how to conduct a gosh darn good interview that guarantees you’ll get the info you need to do your best writing.

Working with an intense editor can be, well, intense. It has the potential to elevate your writing, poke helpful holes in your sentences, and take you to the next level. But it can also be really annoying. In this episode, we’re discussing our experiences working with editors who’ve got high high high standards.

What does it mean to be a REALLY GOOD writer? In this episode, we’re exploring what content managers, thought leaders, and others look for when they’re hiring writers. In particular, we discuss writing abilities and editorial chops.

WOOOOOOO boy. Where do we start with this one? Unless you’re living on the moon, you have *feelings* about what generative AI tools mean for your business, livelihood, and craft. In this episode, we explore our thoughts and feelings on AI and offer some ideas on how we can rise to the occasion in the new world of robot writers.

We’ve all had clients that were...awful. But what if we told you avoiding nit-picky, cheap, or boundary-crossing clients was well within your control? We believe a screening process makes the difference! Don’t worry– we’ve made our fair share of mistakes, too. In this episode, we’re explaining how we screen prospective clients to avoid bad eggs and maximize good experiences.

Outsourcing frees up your time so you can focus on tasks that generate revenue and ultimately build your business. But how can you get started with outsourcing and why might hiring editors be a good place to start? In this special episode, we sat down with John Doherty, founder of EditorNinja and sponsor of this season of the Freelance Writing Coach Podcast, to discuss editing, outsourcing, and his path to offering services to freelancers.

Freelance writers benefit from great editing! After all, having a second (or third) set of eyes on a piece of writing can help you better understand its strengths and weaknesses, ultimately helping you deliver higher quality assets. But what IS editing and how do you make sure everything you turn in is sufficiently polished? In this episode, we talk about the importance of great editing, how to become a better editor, and the tools you can use to help.

A new lead comes in, you sell them on your services, and you both agree it’s a great fit. YES, this is the dream! But rolling out the red carpet for a new client doesn’t end after they sign your contract or proposal. What can you do with a brand new client to get the relationship off on the right foot? In this episode, we talk about how to make sure clients are well taken care of from the second they say yes. After all, this is the beginning of a client relationship that hopefully leads to more business and more referrals.

What happens when a prospective client asks you to write a trial post for free? What about an unpaid test? Are there circumstances where doing work that’s unpaid makes sense or is this always a big NO? In this episode, we talk about writing tests, trial posts, and when it might make sense to write for free (or not!).

There’s lots of talk about niching down by industry, but what about becoming the go-to person for a specific offering? Freelance writers see success when they’re THE person for a particular thing. In this episode, we talk about our experience niching down and how you can get people to remember you as the “go-to person for writing podcast summaries,” for example.

Making efficient use of your time is essential to running a successful freelance business, but lots of freelancers waste time on tasks that have little impact on revenue or lifestyle. In this episode, we discuss how we create efficient work days. We get into how many hours we typically work, tools to help ensure efficiency and focus, and what we recommend to freelance writers on how to divide their time.

DISCLAIMER: We are not lawyers, and this episode is not official legal advice. However, we both use contracts with our clients… or sometimes we use the contracts they send to us. These contracts ultimately protect us and our businesses. When it comes to contracts, what should be included? What are red flags to look for? And, if you don’t have a contract already, how do you create one?

Once you get going as a freelance writer, you’ll have projects to manage, each with their own details, nuances, and due dates. How do you manage these projects so that you’re on top of your work? How do you ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle? In this episode, we share how we manage projects and keep track of assignments. There isn’t one right way to do this! But we have lots of ideas.