Today's question comes from Mel in our Facebook Mastermind Group. You can join here. Mel says, "I've worked freelance for the same company for three years. The company is growing, but the boss doesn't do salaried positions. My workload is increasing, so we need another person to assist me part-time, and I'll supervise them. So, would I be justified in asking for more money?" I think it's an interesting question for Mel, and today I will answer it with a very special co-host: Christine Olivas fro...
Mar 21, 2023•16 min
On today’s show, Preston has a one-on-one conversation with freelance podcast expert Noah Tetzner who built a six-figure Upwork profile in under 90 days. Noah has studied the Upwork algorithm in order to find success quickly and together we discuss getting jobs on Upwork, achieving “Top-Rated Plus” status (and why you want it), plus how to replicate his success even if you're just getting started on Upwork. If you’ve wondered if Upwork is worth your time—or your Upwork profile needs a boost, thi...
Mar 16, 2023•59 min•Season 20Ep. 2
Today's question comes from Laura Bean. Laura submitted a question at freelance to founder.com/ask. And I love this question because it's been on my mind lately. Clay and I talked before we hit record about this AI and artificial intelligence and how it impacts our freelancer jobs. She said, "The recent launch of chat GPT and other AI advances have led me to question how I future-proof my business." So just for context, she's a copywriter. And I think I think writers are mainly concerned right n...
Mar 14, 2023•20 min
On today’s episode: how do people react when you give them your elevator pitch—you know, that 30-second pitch about what you do as a freelancer or agency? Is it with a “yawn” or a “YES”? In today’s episode, we coach Miljan through some improvements he can make to perfect his pitch. Sometimes, we’re just too close to our own work to realize that our jargon-heavy pitch explains too much about the “how” and not enough about the “why”—or the result our clients need. This episode is fire. One of my p...
Mar 09, 2023•55 min•Season 20Ep. 1
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Today's question comes from Laura Atwood Dueker, from our Mastermind Group on Facebook. You can join here. Laura says, "I've been freelancing for a long time and normally send my design files to my clients via email. However, I have a lot of repeat clie...
Mar 07, 2023•15 min
On today’s show: are you stealing from future you? See, there are two ways to build a freelance business: focusing on revenue right now or on future revenue. And while it’s hard to see past the “right now” revenue, it can be critical when it comes to growing your business. That’s where we find our guest Angela. Some weeks she’s so busy working on client deliverables she forgets to work on her actual business. It’s the classic tale of quitting your job to create another job for yourself. So Clay ...
Mar 02, 2023•54 min•Season 19Ep. 10
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Today's question comes from an anonymous poster at our Facebook Mastermind Group. She has done some design work for a company, and due to her pregnancy, she couldn't bill her client on time. Since some time has passed, the client seems to be trying to a...
Feb 28, 2023•15 min
On today’s show: what if you’re burned out? Is there a cure? Our guest Dan finds himself working too many hours and feeling the pressure of being the sole income provider in his home. Being parent entrepreneurs ourselves, Clay and I help Dan see how he can simplify his work life—making more money while working fewer hours and finding more balance in his life. If you’ve ever felt burned out while barely making ends meet, this episode is for you. PS: Get featured in an upcoming FTF SHORT! Just vis...
Feb 23, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 19Ep. 9
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Today's question comes from Laura Bean. Laura submitted a question at freelance to founder.com/ask. And I love this question because it's been on my mind lately. Clay and I talked before we hit record about this AI and artificial intelligence and how it...
Feb 21, 2023•20 min
On today’s show: Can you clearly explain your value to potential clients in 10 seconds or less? It’s not easy to do. And while today’s guest Joshua was technically able to do it, the more we spoke with him, the more we weren’t sure exactly what he offered his clients. And this can be a significant problem. Particularly if, like Joshua, you’re trying to release a new product to a new audience in a new city. In this conversation, we advise Joshua on clarity, selling, and building a brand within hi...
Feb 16, 2023•55 min•Season 19Ep. 8
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Today's case comes from Tristan Brewer. Tristan is involved in many things, including going on the road as a performer and Upwork gigs. Tristan feels he can add value to his clients, but to make freelancing worth it and still be able to follow his other...
Feb 14, 2023•16 min
On today’s show - Have you ever found yourself asking: "Can I really make this work?" I’m joined by Travis today, who has a successful side hustle and a full-time job he loves. But Travis has questions like “should I ever consider quitting his job and taking the business full time?" “What should I know about business to grow his company?” And “what kind of safety net might I need if I DO take the business full time?" We chat through these questions and lots more to help Travis move up the Freela...
Feb 09, 2023•57 min•Season 19Ep. 7
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Today's question comes from Dan Gilbert. How can I take that jump from zero employees to one employee? He said, "the last five years, I've made the same amount of revenue per year, and I've decided I want to change that. Between production work, selling...
Feb 07, 2023•18 min
On today’s show: we’re visited by a former coaching call guest: Sarah Kleist. It’s been about nine months since Sarah was on the show, and she’s been hustling to grow her business! In this off-the-cuff episode, we talk with Sarah about her changes, allowing her to make more money and work fewer hours—including her very-intriguing “website in a day” offer. Sarah is the perfect example of what you can accomplish with some direction and focus in a short amount of time. So if you’re ready to be insp...
Feb 02, 2023•50 min•Season 19Ep. 6
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Robert shared this question in our Millo Mastermind Group. It's a free Facebook group, and it has like 11k freelancers in it. And we love bouncing questions back and forth with each other and learning from one another. Robert asks, "Can you share your p...
Jan 31, 2023•20 min
On today’s show: how many services do you offer to clients? Some coaches might say you should offer as many services as possible—hiring sub-contractors to complete any work you aren’t an expert at. That’s where today’s guest, Dan, finds himself: sorting through hundreds of Upwork applications to find sub-contractors to grow his business. There’s just one problem: he’s burning out. All the time he spends on hiring is time he doesn’t spend on client work. And think about this: how can Dan passiona...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 19Ep. 5
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. On today's show, Dwaynia calls in with a question: How can I introduce a retainer option to people who inquire about services? This episode originally aired on March 29, 2022. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Suppor...
Jan 24, 2023•14 min
On today’s show: what if you could turn your laptop into an ATM—basically printing money whenever you need it from anywhere in the world? Well, that’s how today’s guest felt when he first discovered freelancing. And you can feel that way too. Adam Palmer is the author of the book “Upwork Changed My Life,” and in today’s episode, he shares with us some of his best advice for getting started and thriving on Upwork. Adam started freelancing one weekend on Upwork and now runs a 50-person agency maki...
Jan 19, 2023•58 min•Season 19Ep. 4
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Today's question comes from Travis Hostetter. He says, "I'm only a month into freelancing. I've just made $95 with another $500 on the way. The flexibility I have with my time is amazing. But losing a strong W-2 income has been hard. I'm in a position fi...
Jan 17, 2023•17 min
On today’s show: have you ever felt overwhelmed with so many marketing options? First, there’s picking the right target client. Then there’s understanding the pain points of your client. Then there’s deciding what to actually sell to your client that solves their pain. Add to that all the possible marketing channels: social, organic, search, paid, and on and on. It’s no wonder today’s guest, Ben, asked for a little help in nailing down his marketing for 2023. If you’d like help too, stay tuned b...
Jan 12, 2023•55 min•Season 19Ep. 3
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. In today's SHORT, Chris calls in with another question: How do I build a marketing plan that is impressive to big-brand clients? This episode aired originally on April 12, 2022. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Supp...
Jan 10, 2023•18 min
Today we have a coaching call with Joseph, a digital nomad working in Mexico. Joseph is building his Wordpress development company on the side of his day job with dreams of becoming a full-time entrepreneur. But there’s one major thing standing in Joseph’s way. As you’ll hear him explain during the show, Joseph is charging what he calls “employee” prices which just doesn’t give him enough cashflow to scale. Clay and I are up to the challenge as we spend the full second half of the episode tackli...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 19Ep. 2
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. In today's SHORT, Preston asks Clay for advice in regards to a new business opportunity, that while enticing, would require Preston and his wife to make a leap into an unknown industry. Join us to learn more about the deal that Preston is considering and...
Jan 03, 2023•18 min
Today, you'll hear the story of Krista Stryker, founder of 12 Minute Athlete. Krista is living a comfortable life. She's married, lives in Los Angeles, California. She’s got her own fitness app, an incredible YouTube channel. Blogs for days on healthy living and activities featuring High Intensity Interval Training (HTIT). Life is good. Her business is doing well into the six figures and she's recently added numerous contributors to 12 Minute Athlete in a variety of capacities. But it wasn't alw...
Dec 29, 2022•50 min•Season 19Ep. 1
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Today's SHORT was a surprise. I usually read these to Clay beforehand, but I totally blindsided him with this one. It came from our Mastermind Group. It's free Facebook group, with 12,000 of us in there. It's a blast, and we learn a ton from each other. ...
Dec 27, 2022•21 min
On today’s show: we all know client referrals can be a great way to grow your business. In fact, most service businesses still identify word of mouth marketing as their #1 source for new clients. But if you never know when that next referral is coming, it can be a bit nerve-racking. Today’s guest, Erik Jensen, shares how to find and leverage high quality referral partners for your business. Referral partners who can send you consistent leads on a predictable basis. We’ll dive in after this quick...
Dec 27, 2022•57 min•Season 18Ep. 10
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. In today's SHORT, Brittany says, "I'm a freelance designer and a marketer located in New York. My question is, how do you keep clients engaged once they've signed on? I have a few clients that have signed up for monthly marketing support, etc, but the pr...
Dec 20, 2022•19 min
On today’s show: have you ever wondered if you’re leaving money on the table in your business? If you don’t have a solid pricing strategy, you probably are. In this episode, we coach Nathalia—who tells us she just doesn’t feel comfortable with finances and pricing strategy. So this call is all about how Nathalia—and anyone listening—can figure out how much to charge, and whether to charge hourly, by the project, or something else entirely. Your pricing strategy could be the difference between gr...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr•Season 18Ep. 9
You're listening to our brand-new Freelance to Founder SHORTS, 5-10 minute episodes answering one (or two) questions from listeners like you. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. In today's SHORT, Brittany says, "I'm a freelance designer and a marketer located in New York. My question is, how do you keep clients engaged once they've signed on? I have a few clients that have signed up for monthly marketing support, etc, but the pr...
Dec 13, 2022•19 min
On today’s episode, I’m digging into our show archives to bring you a conversation that most of you missed because we aired it so early on. If you haven’t heard this episode you’re missing out because it’s an early conversation between me and Clay about how he built his first agency to over $100,000/mo in recurring revenue. Those of you who are quick at math have already figured out that means over a million dollars in predictable, recurring income per year. And Clay started the whole thing as a...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr•Season 18Ep. 8
