In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from strategy and planning specialist Sophie Greenwood . She says: “Hi Frankie & Steve, I’m writing this while feeding my baby in a sensory room. True story! Anyway, I’m going to be rebranding and renaming my business in the autumn, and wondered if you had any advice for what steps I could take between now and then to make it land with a bang? The rebrand has already been done with a designer ( Mad About...
Jun 19, 2025•21 min•Ep. 120
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say: “I’m subcontracting on a project with a fellow freelancer. I like them, and working with them has been great. The project however, has been anything but. The clients are difficult, their working patterns don’t fit with mine, and their constant changes have added to our workload many times. My question is — How do I maintain my relationship with the freelancer (with the hope of worki...
May 22, 2025•21 min•Ep. 119
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say: “How do you tell clients ‘I don’t want to attend that bloody meeting’!? I know meetings are needed (could have been an email though!) but my clients are now adding me to monthly all staff meetings, staff outings etc. I don’t even think all the staff realise I’m a freelancer?? It just ties up so much of my time and I also don’t actually care about holidays/xmas dos etc as I'M SELF EM...
May 01, 2025•21 min•Ep. 118
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say: “Hi Frankie and Steve, I was asked by an organisation recently how much I’d charge to redesign a publication they produce three times a year, with a view to then designing that along with other publications for them going forward. Problem is, I sent the price in and now I’m convincing myself I’ve undercharged for the amount of work it will be… Kicking myself for letting the imposter...
Apr 03, 2025•21 min•Ep. 117
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say: “Dear Frankie and Steve, A retainer client of mine gave notice over the weekend (her business is quiet and she can’t afford to keep us on) but it’s got me thinking and feeling a bit stuck. I feel like *something is going to happen* — like a shift is coming? — but I can’t quite put my finger on it or work it out, and I’ve decided I want to do this myself rather than doing some coachi...
Mar 20, 2025•21 min•Ep. 116
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Don Burns aka Anonymous. They say: “Hi Frankie and Steve! I have a childcare question for you… With our first born, we never considered putting her in nursery. I reduced my hours at my (employed) job and my partner and I shared looking after her by working alternate days. This time around I’m self-employed, and with my partner now working 5 days a week, I’m only able to work after 4pm which is...
Mar 06, 2025•20 min•Ep. 115
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Katie Beardsley — Owner at Willow & Woods, Life of Sprout, and And Other Memories: Katie says: “Hi Frankie & Steve, I'm at a stage with my business where I know what I want to be doing and where it is going, but I need to get myself out there more. With 3 young kids, 3 small businesses, a dog and a tortoise... I don't need to tell you, but I really don't have the time to be doing the marketing t...
Feb 06, 2025•20 min•Ep. 114
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say… “I’m struggling to get back into the rhythm of creating content consistently. This isn’t just an after-Christmas thing, this is an after-the-summer-last-year thing. I used to create every week without fail and I know people like what I do. And I even know it made a difference to my business, but I struggled with even once a month for the second half of the year. What do you think? H...
Jan 23, 2025•21 min•Ep. 113
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from graphic designer Kiemia Farrow. Kiemia says: “Hi Frankie and Steve! I’ve been full-time freelance since 2020 (brave or stupid one month into a global pandemic?? You decide) and now have over 15 years of agency, in-house and freelance experience behind me. I charge by the hour and have some fabulous clients who trust the process and appreciate the timesheets I keep when I invoice them at the end of the m...
Nov 14, 2024•19 min•Ep. 112
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Louise Jenkins who supports women with their transition into motherhood, and develops and facilitates workshops in partnership with organisations working to end violence against women and girls. Louise says: “Hi Frankie & Steve, With Wildling now at school, technically I have ‘more time’ available to me spread out over a full week. *Chokes on tea because we all know ‘more time’ is bullsh*t — have yo...
Sep 26, 2024•20 min•Ep. 111
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from graphic designer Ange Lyons . Ange says: “Hi Frankie & Steve! Do you think it’s possible to market yourself as a freelancer in 2024 without using social media? Particularly if you *hate* showing your face? Thanks! Ange” What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community . ••• Ange Lyons' website Fran...
Jul 11, 2024•21 min•Ep. 110
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from marketing consultant Ayo Abbas . Ayo says: “Hi Frankie & Steve, It's tough out there right now — what do you think is the quickest way freelancers can make something happen in terms of winning work? Thanks, Ayo” What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community . ••• Ayo Abbas' website Frankie Torto...
Jun 27, 2024•20 min•Ep. 109
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from wedding florist Esme Ford . Esme says: “Hi Frankie & Steve! I am giving a 10 minute talk next week and I need your help. Public speaking is something I never do, so I had a little practice and filmed myself doing my talk and my voice is soooooo wishy washy. I hate it when I ‘ummm’ a lot so try to actively pause instead, but then the flow of the talk is all wrong? I just feel like my voice has no aut...
Mar 14, 2024•20 min•Ep. 108
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Babs Harris aka Anonymous. “I work with corporate clients around workshop facilitation and keynote speaking. My question is around pricing transparency. I am finding that I am getting lots of enquiries (which I am very grateful for!). Most of the time I respond via email with my fees and the potential client doesn't have the budget. I would say this happens three quarters of the time. My fees ...
Feb 29, 2024•20 min•Ep. 107
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Roxanne Maxwell aka Anonymous. She says… “I had a situation recently where I responded to somebody who I know really well offering to help me with something. I said yes, appreciated the service they did for me and I paid them for that service. Afterwards, they asked if I’d be happy to give a testimonial and I said, ‘sure — how about you draft something and I’ll tweak it?’ They sent me somethin...
Feb 01, 2024•18 min•Ep. 106
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from project management expert Nina Lenton . Nina says: “As well as my work as a freelance project director and manager, I have a blog on the subject of everyday joy (in life and work), which I write on every now and then. I’d like to do more with it, but am afraid I could easily spend all of my time doing that instead of paid work, which of course isn’t really sensible! How do people who have similar side p...
Jan 18, 2024•20 min•Ep. 105
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Lametta Truffleballs AKA Anonymous. They say… “Hi Frankie & Steve, I see a lot of freelancers ‘doing good’ with their business, donating x % to the planet or to another good cause. I really like this idea, but — with two small children, one of which is still in a private nursery — I feel like I just don’t have the spare money to do this? Should I just suck it up and do it anyway?? Help!” What would ...
Nov 30, 2023•20 min•Ep. 104
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Colin Parks AKA Anonymous. They say… “Hi Frankie and Steve I’ve worked for a company (employed) for over 12 years. It’s grown from 50 people to a 5,000+ strong agency. I work with digital technology as an Account Director and I’ve managed some decent clients. My key skills are listening to, understanding and challenging client requirements, and then translating them into actionable, achievable outcomes....
Nov 16, 2023•19 min•Ep. 103
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Grace Abell, designer at Abell Design — a brand and digital creative studio. She says… “To cut a long story short — I’m a seasoned freelancer who is just getting back into working evenings as I’m caring for twins during the day. My problem is this: As I do not have the capacity for project work, I’m now taking on small tasks from one agency whose fingers are in many pies. I have a set of ethical views w...
Nov 02, 2023•19 min•Ep. 102
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Emma Roberts, director at Social Qual . Emma says: “You know when you stumble upon someone fab, and your brain goes ‘ooh, collaboration potential’? Perhaps we meet on LinkedIn and then organise a cuppa or intro call. We chat, we laugh, we bond over work joys and woes... and then we part with that cheerful, 'let's collaborate soon' but then… often our busy lives take over. I'm on both sides of this — an ...
Oct 12, 2023•20 min•Ep. 101
To celebrate 100 episodes of DIFTK, Frankie & Steve answer a bunch of quick fire questions! And a HUGE thank you to everybody that has listened, reviewed, sent in a question or a comment. Wouldn't be the same without you. Thank you. ••• Frankie Tortora's website Steve Folland's website Steve's podcast - Being Freelance Doing It For The Kids website DIFTK Instagram DIFTK Twitter Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi...
Sep 21, 2023•20 min•Ep. 100
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Lucy Critchley, founder of Untold Creative Services . Lucy says: “I use Canva A LOT. My clients find it super simple (mostly!) so it just makes sense. I’ve never learned how to use Illustrator/Photoshop etc but I feel like I should…? I think it would be a good skill to have and could be a benefit to my business in terms of being taken seriously with design/graphics/socials work. But I haven’t a clue whe...
Jul 06, 2023•18 min•Ep. 99
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous, AKA Lotus Vanreisel. Lotus says: “Hello freelance friends! I'd like your opinion on an email I’ve received from one of my longest and most favourite clients… After months of no work and no contact, she asked me last month if I have any availability in the next few weeks. I said ‘yes’ and also told her that my rates had gone up since we last spoke. Here is her reply: "So I'd love to be able to...
Jun 22, 2023•20 min•Ep. 98
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from designer, coder and illustrator Andi Best . Andi says: “I can't go on like this — I think I need to give in and ask for help! I am inundated with work and the enquiries keep coming, which is a great problem to have, but I don’t know what to do about it. Previously I've mitigated large volumes of work by quoting higher or asserting my unavailability — ultimately turning work away. For a "busy period" tha...
Jun 08, 2023•21 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous, AKA Zoe Honeysuckle. Zoe says: “Hi Frankie and Steve, I've been running my own business since May 2020 (with a 5 month old in tow!) and I feel fairly well versed with the peaks and troughs of freelance life. However, over the past few months I've noticed a few clients who are on my smaller packages/retainers drop off because of financial reasons. All good, and all totally understandable. I th...
May 25, 2023•21 min•Ep. 96
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to an excellent question from copywriter Lucette Funnell . She says: “I’ve been approached by a local charity about a volunteer position. I’m interested in what they’re doing and definitely feel I could add value. But where on earth would I find the time?! And as a chronic over-thinker who always ends up taking longer than planned to do everything… And who already has a list as long as my arm of things to do for my own bu...
May 11, 2023•18 min•Ep. 95
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to an excellent question from Sophie Greenwood, founder of Ink & Bear . She says: “I recently invested in a rebrand of an online event that I run (Super Seconds Festival) — I worked with an illustrator (Vicky Hughes) and loved the process from start to finish. I loved setting a brief and having someone else be able to do the work a million times better that I could do it. Now I'm slightly addicted to the idea of getti...
Mar 16, 2023•21 min•Ep. 94
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to an excellent question from artist and illustrator Lisa Callaghan . She says: “As an aspiring creative freelancer, what do you recommend as being the first steps towards generating paid work? How do you get those very first paying clients? I'm already on social media, putting my work out into the world (well, to all of my 25 followers!). I've also looked at platforms like UpWork and haven't found any projects that fit —...
Feb 23, 2023•19 min•Ep. 93
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to an excellent question from designer Jason Hunt . He says: “I occasionally get the urge to approach a company who I think are doing their brand absolutely no favours and underselling what I know to be brilliant. I'm a designer, so approach this from a branding and design perspective (though of course their copy might also be shit!) This has never worked, and I rarely even entertain it these days, but I have a company th...
Jan 26, 2023•21 min•Ep. 92
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to an excellent question from wedding videographer Charlene McNabb . She says: “Hi Frankie and Steve! Happy New Year! I'm sitting here with a notepad. Two actually. One has my 'to-do' list on it that I created before Christmas (check me out for being super organised). The other has what to prioritise over the next 6 weeks, but here's where the overwhelm has come flooding in. When you're running your own business and need ...
Jan 12, 2023•20 min•Ep. 91
