So you had the call with the prospective client, you know you want to work with them, and now... it's time to write the proposal! But what do you include? What can you leave out? What does the client really want to know? Does it need to be a fancy pdf? In this jam-packed episode, Louise shares her step-by-step process for writing proposals that will win over new clients and set you up for a successful project (and won't take more than 15 mins to prepare). Plus, get the scoop on info kits – an al...
Sep 10, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 33
What's your freelancer love language? Do you thrive on positive feedback and glowing testimonials, or is a timely invoice payment enough to make you feel appreciated? Do you prefer lots of face-to-face contact with clients, or just wanna get on with the work in peace? When you know what makes you tick, you can build processes that allow you to thrive, do your best work, and build great relationships with your clients so you love what you do. Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and c...
Aug 20, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 32
This episode is a little different... instead of a single topic or interview, we're firing through as many listener questions as possible in 15 mins. Tidbits include: How do you respond to vague client inquiries? (Clue: it's all in the intake process!) How do you deal with clients ghosting you? How to talk about money with clients when you hate talking about money How can a coach help your freelance business? How do you give yourself a promotion as a freelancer? Huge thanks to everyone who sent ...
Aug 13, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 31
What questions should you be asking as your freelance business grows? How do you scale your business in a way that feels right for you? On today's episode, freelance copywriter André Spiteri shares his experience of the practical questions and mindset shifts that happen as your business evolves, including: Questions to ask as your business grows How to think about scaling your business Setting goals for the next phase of your business Choosing clients that share your values Steps to take to prep...
Aug 06, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, Bree Weber, creator of Cold Pitch Masterclass, joins Louise for a jam-packed run down of her framework for ethical, non-sleazy cold pitching. Yes, cold pitching works! And no, it doesn't have to feel awkward. Bree has an amazing 100% open and response rate and a 60% conversion rate on her cold pitches, and in this episode she tells us how she does it. Whether or not you've tried cold pitching before, you'll feel excited to give it a go after this conversation. Bree shares: How l...
Jul 30, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Argh! You made a mistake on a client project (or some other part of your freelance business). Now what? First up, you're not alone. We've all been there. In this episode, Louise shares an embarrassing story of one of her own mishaps and offers 5 steps to take to fix a mistake if something goes wrong on a client project. "The truth is that running a business is full of sticky moments. We’re all figuring it out as we go. We make so many decisions, so we’re bound to go down the wrong path now and t...
Jul 23, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 28
One of the huge advantages of running your own business is being able to support causes that are close to your heart. Maybe you plant a tree for every invoice paid. Maybe you donate a portion of your profits to your favourite charity. Maybe advocating for social change is more your style. If you're curious about how to make social and environmental change a manageable but meaningful part of your business, this episode is for you. Sally Fox is a freelance copywriter who works with sustainable bra...
Jul 16, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Hate LinkedIn? Tired of a feed filled with boring updates from connections you don't know and thought leaders posting hot takes about the cheese sandwich they just ate? Same. On today's episode, Louise shares 4 easy ways to make LinkedIn fun, so you can find more freelance clients and maybe even enjoy the process. Plus, we're starting a design-your-own 30-day LinkedIn challenge! You in? Wanna leave me a voice note? Go to memo.fm/15 and say hi! Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and...
Jul 09, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Today's solo episode is about shipping before you're ready, lessons learned from 25 episodes of this podcast, and banishing perfectionism. "Step over any negativity that comes from people who haven't stepped into the arena themselves. There will always be a reason to procrastinate. But if we take the leap before we're ready, and we just start, then we have real data to work with. So don't wait for someone to give you permission. Choose yourself." Wanna leave me a voice note? Go to memo.fm/15 and...
Jul 02, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Dear Diary, we've got our personal development hats on today! When you're running a freelance business, there's nowhere to hide – you have no choice but to push through and figure things out. On this episode, performance and leadership coach Jen McKeown talks us through some strategies for reflective practice, self-coaching and journalling, so we can work through the sticky bits and achieve our freelancing goals: why it's important to acknowledge the emotional toll that comes with working for yo...
Jun 25, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Today's episode is a chat with freelance copywriter Sarah Townsend, author of Survival Skills for Freelancers. One of the best bits about freelancing is being in control of your own work, but that's also a huge challenge. In this episode, Sarah shares her top tips on: setting boundaries so you can control your time, avoid burnout and deliver your best work practising a growth mindset and remembering 'progress over perfection' building a boost bank, to help you celebrate the wins and beat imposte...
Jun 18, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 23
At a certain point in your freelance career, you realise you can't do it all. Nor should you! Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) is one way to take the pressure off and let an expert take care of your admin and business management tasks, so you can focus your magic elsewhere. Caroline Marshall is the founder of Upsource, an award-winning virtual assistant agency, and on today's episode she shares: how a VA can support your freelance business so you can avoid burnout and focus on growing your busine...
Jun 11, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 22
On today's show... what your accountant wishes you knew! Louise is joined by Martin Brooks, an accountant with expert knowledge of freelance and small business accounts. He shares: 3 things to prioritise when it comes to getting your finances in order how to know when it's time to go limited how to plug the gap when you don't have sick pay, holiday pay or parental leave the one mistake we mustn't make when it comes to taxes Martin Brooks is an accountant at Gold Stag Accounts. Connect with him h...
Jun 04, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 21
What should you call your freelance business? Should you use your own name or operate under a brand name? On today's episode, Louise chats to fellow copywriter Mark Grainger, who has used both at various points in his business. Mark shares why he decided to change to a brand name, the personal meaning behind the name he chose, and his tips for coming up with a name that feels like you and will attract the kind of clients you really want. Mark Grainger is a copywriter at Blossom Tree Copy. Find h...
May 28, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 20
What's your barometer of freelance success? Do you find yourself distracted by how many followers you have on Twitter or the size of your email list? Do you have a sneaky peek at what other freelancers' say they're earning? Today's episode is about zeroing in on what really matters in our freelance business and getting permission to ignore the rest. "When we get more likes and followers and subscribers, we get a dopamine hit. They're monkey brain metrics. All of this takes up time and energy, wh...
May 21, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Ever feel awkward about asking a client for a testimonial? Never quite sure what to do with them when they arrive? In today's episode, we're going to fix that! You'll get: tips on how to make asking for testimonials as painless as poss the 9 exact questions Louise asks to elicit testimonials that are a bit more useful than "that was great, thanks" three ways to use your testimonials to add extra persuasive power to your website and marketing copy You'll also find it all nicely summarised in this...
May 14, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 18
One of the best bits about working for yourself is that you get to make all the decisions. But that's also one of the biggest challenges! From choosing a business name to figuring out how to reply to that awkward client email, the decision-making process can be tough. Today's episode includes frameworks to help you stop agonising over every decision and just rip the band-aid off. Featuring special guest: Ziggy the cat You might also like: Episode 6: Spend less time on client work with theme days...
May 07, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 17
One of the big challenges facing many freelancers is the feast or famine cycle. You're either way too busy and stressed out, or your inbox looks like someone cancelled your account without telling you. Navigating these ups and downs can be hard work, both financially and psychologically. But there is a way to break free! Today's episode includes a few strategies that might help you smooth out your workload and income so you can say goodbye to the feast or famine cycle. Mentioned on this episode:...
Apr 30, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 16
When you don't have a boss to give you a promotion or a pay rise, you have to create your own career ladder! This episode looks at why you should raise your freelance rates, different ways to give yourself a pay bump (not all of which include raising your prices), and how to communicate changes with clients without getting sweaty and weird. "If you felt like you needed permission to raise your rates, you just got it!" Mentioned on this episode: Episode 4: The pricing advice I hate! Episode 3: Ho...
Apr 23, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Is online marketing a pyramid scheme? A cult? Today, Louise looks at the darker side of the online marketing world and what it means for freelancers. Listen up for the three ways this harms freelancers and what we can do about it. "Celebrity marketers present themselves as our friends, as boss babes, as the guy next door so we 'know, like and trust' them. We think, 'they're just like me, maybe I can do that too.' But the problem is that what worked for them won't work for everyone. And if you bu...
Apr 16, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Feel awkward about sales calls? Lots of freelancers (new and experienced!) dread getting on calls with prospective clients. In today's episode, Louise breaks down how she prepares for 'chemistry calls' with tips for what to do before, during and after the call, to make them as pain-free as poss. "It's kind of like a first date, isn't it? You're just seeing if you want a second date at this point. You don't need to get married on the call." Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and con...
Apr 09, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In today's episode, Louise answers a listener question about freelance contracts. What clauses should go in your contract? In today's episode, Louise shares: why having a contract in place is about more than making sure you get paid where to find decent templates for freelance contracts two overlooked clauses that will make running your freelance business easier *Note: none of the information shared on this podcast should be considered legal advice! Always speak to a lawyer regarding contractual...
Apr 02, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 12
What is a personal brand anyway? Do you really need one? Is it just for Instagram influencers? Why can't you just be yourself (or maybe you can...)? Today's episode of 15 Minute Freelancer digs into: - what a personal brand is and isn't - what it means to be the face of your freelance business - how you can be more consistent in presenting yourself online and offline - a top tip on personal branding from Dolly Parton Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and content marketer. She's on...
Mar 26, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Freelance marketer and course creator Sophie Cross is the first ever guest on 15 Minute Freelancer! Sophie is the brains behind Thoughtfully Marketing and founder and editor of Freelancer Magazine, which hits our shelves (literally, it's a real print mag!) on 1 April 2021. Join us while we talk about: how a random idea on New Year's Day turned into a Kickstarter phenomenon how the freelance community changed Sophie's business Sophie's fave online communities for freelancers how to nose your way ...
Mar 19, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Today we are getting our financial ducks in a row! Money is one of the biggest stresses for many freelancers, but when you get the basics in place, it's easy breezy. Listen for seven tips on how to build strong financial foundations for your business. Got a question? Submit it to Louise via one of the links below. Mentioned on this episode (not affiliate links) Martin Brook ( @goldstagaccount ) of Gold Stag Accounts FreeAgent Starling Bank S ay hi to Louise! Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_ LinkedIn: L...
Mar 12, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 9
What do you do when a prospective client asks for samples or a link to your portfolio and you don't have anything relevant to share? How do you get the work to build a portfolio without the portfolio that will prove you can do the work? How do you get experience when you have no experience? This episode gives you some suggestions for what to do when you don't have examples of previous work to show new clients. (Spoiler: don't make it up!) "If you're just starting out as a freelancer, or you're o...
Mar 05, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Is niching or specialising as a freelancer overrated or underrated? What do we mean by niching anyway? Some people swear by specialising, while others think it's better to keep your options open. In today's episode, Louise talks about why niching might be misunderstood, what it really is, and why it might be worth considering in your freelance business. "As freelancers, we want to be helpful and flexible. And we're kind of programmed not to say no to paying work. We might worry about getting bor...
Feb 26, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Running a freelance business can be split in two parts: client work, and business development work. But we often find ourselves saying "yes" to new projects that fill up our time, so the biz dev work has to be squeezed around the edges. How do you make time for both? In this episode, Louise shares how she uses theme days to structure her week. "Theme days are a way to take back ownership of your time and energy. Each day, you only work on that day's theme, such as client management, marketing, f...
Feb 19, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 6
If you've been struggling with stress, burnout and just generally not feeling like yourself over this last year, you're not alone. In this episode, Louise shares her experience of 'freelancer burnout' and how she overcame it. Listen up for some easy tactics to help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed, so you can keep your business running smoothly even when your energy starts to dip. "Sometimes the things we love about working for ourselves are also the things that make it a real chall...
Feb 12, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In today's episode, Louise reveals the one piece of advice she really dislikes when it comes to pricing your freelance services. Can you guess what it is? Listen up for Louise's step-by-step pricing process and three questions to consider when figuring your own pricing strategy, so you can sell your services without feeling awkward about the money question. Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and content marketer. She's on a mission to help others build a business and life they love...
Feb 05, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 4
