Are you feeling festive yet? This week, we’re talking all things seasonal content with an emphasis on staying true to yourself and putting a personal spin on familiar seasonal tropes. We discuss how to up your game if you’re planning for a busy sales season or the kind of value you can provide if this isn’t typically a key time for your business. As well as practical advice for planning your marketing in the run-up to Christmas, we share our tips and tricks for content planning all year round. L...
Nov 20, 2019•22 min
We’re back with an update after our unplanned hiatus. Find out why the podcast has taken a backseat over the last couple of months. We also talk about adapting when you realise your priorities need to shift. When life gets busy, what can you scale back on or let go of to lighten the load? Links and further reading: Listen to Charlie interviewed on the Being Heard podcast. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe...
Nov 15, 2019•14 min
We’ve shared plenty of wins on the podcast, but what happens when things ‘fail’ or fall short of your expectations? In this episode, we discuss the best way to handle business setbacks and share our top tips for transforming them into something positive. We chat about the importance of mindset and trying to prepare for all eventualities. We also tackle the challenges and heartache setbacks can bring and discuss our process for working through them. Links and further reading: Experimentation epis...
Oct 23, 2019•22 min
Our chat this week was inspired by a recent email from Paul Jarvis in which he asked ‘do we have to love what we do?’ Our gut reaction is yes, we want to love our jobs. But how do you sustain that love over time? Franky comes up with an analogy that likens running a business to being in a long-term relationship. As always, Charlie champions prioritising the creative work. We also discuss embracing experimentation, trying new things in your business, and keeping it fresh. We also acknowledge the ...
Oct 09, 2019•20 min
In this bumper episode, we chat about our feelings towards Instagram and how we’re currently using it as a tool for business. We cover a wide range of topics including personal content vs business content, Stories vs main grid and the importance of showing up consistently. We also ask whether Instagram is the best place for our best content. We round things up with a series of {definitely not} ‘quick-fire’ questions like how to deal with the dreaded follow/unfollow trend and how to create conten...
Sep 25, 2019•50 min
Today we’re talking about the things we do and don’t miss about traditional employment. We share our workplace experiences before becoming self-employed, chatting about office politics, collaborating with a team and the obvious social aspect. We also discuss elements we really miss like external validation and not having to wear ALL the hats. Finally, we talk about how to recreate all the best bits of a traditional workplace as a self-employed business owner. Links and further reading: The Co-Wo...
Sep 18, 2019•25 min
We’re back for our third season and kicking things off with a quick work/life update. As well as sharing what we got up to over the summer, we chat about how we’re easing ourselves into a new season. Charlie has some big news and Franky describes how she’s feeling ahead of juggling her business with a long stretch of solo parenting. With this in mind, we touch on what it means to have a ‘lifestyle’ business that can adapt to whatever the universe might throw at you. Finally, we share some tips t...
Sep 11, 2019•25 min
In the final episode of Season 2, we look back on the last few months of podcasting and discuss how the year’s been shaping up for us so far. We also look ahead to September and share our excitement for that inevitable ‘back-to-school’ feeling. We hope you have a wonderful summer filled with work, rest and play! If you’ve enjoyed this season, please leave us a review on iTunes or share with your community. See you in September! Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusi...
Jul 24, 2019•14 min
This week, we’re chatting about what it’s like to be a perfectionist. Franky describes how perfectionism showed up for her at an early age and shares the horror she felt when she realised she might be passing it on to her kids. We chat about the pros and cons of being a perfectionist in business and beyond. Plus, we discuss the role social media plays in shaping our idea of what perfection might look like. Links and further reading: Becoming by Michelle Obama The Perils of Perfection Get full ac...
Jul 17, 2019•29 min
We’re tackling another hot topic today - purpose and values. We share our own business values and discuss whether they’re separate from our personal ones. We chat about the danger of overthinking these things and the pressure we can feel when we compare our values to other people’s. We also ask whether you need to have it all figured out. Has running a ‘values-led’ business become something of a trend? Finally, we talk about values in relation to marketing. Get full access to Friends with Busine...
Jul 10, 2019•21 min
Today, we’re diving into a huge topic - stress. We start by discussing how it shows up for us, touching on both physical and mental manifestations. Charlie chats about the ebbs and flows of each month and Franky describes how easily the delicate balance of her family’s lives can be thrown off by issues unrelated to work. We talk about perspective and the danger of thinking we should be able to cope with whatever life throws at us. We also chat about stress in relation to the financial uncertaint...
Jul 03, 2019•32 min
As Charlie launches something new and exciting for her clients, we’re talking about experimenting in your business and trying new things. We chat about when to experiment and how it can benefit your business at different stages. At the same time, we discuss when NOT to try new things. We also talk about devising a formula or process for your experiments and how embracing the spirit of experimentation can make trying new things less scary. Links and further reading: Join Charlie for her group men...
Jun 26, 2019•24 min
This week, we’re chatting about what happens when you face your fears and do scary things. Franky reports back after her first public speaking gig. She shares what she’s learned from the experience and the advice that helped her through. Charlie describes being braver about showing up and marketing herself online. We talk about building things up to be bigger and scarier than they really are and discuss how it feels to overcome self-imposed barriers that stem from fear. The episode is packed ful...
Jun 19, 2019•18 min
This week, we share why we think taking breaks is so important when you work for yourself. Charlie talks about how she managed maternity leave and Franky explains why she’s made regular time off non-negotiable, describing her approach to scheduling work around the academic year, planning holiday childcare, and putting money aside to cover additional costs or any shortfall in her income. We talk about systems and processes that allow you to step away, managing client expectations, and how taking ...
Jun 12, 2019•31 min
In this episode, we’re tackling a topic we’ve wanted to talk about for a while. Speaking candidly about our own experiences, we share what it’s like being freelance while also raising a family. We chat about the highs and lows, the challenges we’ve faced, and what it feels like when you come up against ‘The Patriarchy’. We describe different seasons of parenting, what it feels like being pulled in multiple directions, and the importance of setting boundaries. We also talk about finding time to w...
Jun 05, 2019•38 min
Having recently pivoted her business, Charlie shares her current struggles with marketing herself online and talking about her services on platforms that, up until now, have been predominantly personal ones. We discuss finding the balance between personal content vs business content and talk about the difference between sharing our passions in the moment or being more strategic and intentional. We also touch on the importance of showing up to get feedback from your community and potential client...
May 29, 2019•24 min
With Franky preparing for her first proper speaking gig, we dive into a conversation about expertise. What makes someone an expert and will we ever feel like experts ourselves? As well as discussing qualifications and the absence of external validation when you’re self-employed, we also examine imposter syndrome and all that goes with it. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe...
May 22, 2019•19 min
Mailing lists have been at the forefront of our minds as we both (finally) launch our own newsletters. In this episode we dive into the subject together, exploring the role of email marketing in our respective businesses. We ask why mailing lists are important and how they can work as part of a broader content ecosystem. We discuss our plans for our own mailing lists and chat about potential challenges like consistency and accountability. We also share how we plan to judge the “success” of our l...
May 15, 2019•39 min
In this episode, we discuss a hot topic - visibility. We start by chatting about how we show up online and ensure we’re visible, as well as what we struggle with in relation to this. We dive into the differences between introverts and extroverts, discussing which label we most identify with. Franky shares her struggles with networking despite being an extrovert and we go off on a tangent about small talk and the art of good conversation. Finally, we talk about Brené Brown’s recent Netflix specia...
May 08, 2019•30 min
In today’s episode, we discuss blogging and the key role it’s played in our careers so far. As well as sharing how we got started, we discuss what blogging looks like for us now. Touching on SEO and content planning, we talk about blogging for business, describing how posts can function as part of a broader content ecosystem. As business owners who started out as hobby bloggers, we also describe trying to find a balance between sharing more personal content and blogging as a marketing tool. Fina...
May 01, 2019•34 min
We kick-off season 2 with an in-depth chat about productivity, asking why something so simple often feels so hard. As well as sharing things that impact our productivity in positive and negative ways, we discuss the relationship between productivity and creativity. We also chat about the powerful link between our ability to be productive and feelings of self-worth. Franky shares her philosophy on being productive from a place of rest and Charlie describes her strategies for mastering to-do lists...
Apr 24, 2019•42 min
In the final episode of the season, we spend some time reviewing the first 3 months of 2019. Echoing our real-life co-mentoring sessions, we reflect on the goals we discussed back in January and share our progress so far. We talk about our words for the year, how they’ve been showing up for us, and where we’d like them to take us next. We also discuss how we’re feeling as we head into spring and some of the things we’re planning for Q2. Links and further reading: Mailing List Q&A Episode on ...
Apr 03, 2019•29 min
In this episode, we’re talking about growth, what it looks like, and whether it’s something that motivates us. We reflect on the different seasons of business we’re currently in. Charlie talks about growing hers alongside growing a family and Franky describes reaching a tipping point and having to consciously think about growth for the first time. We also discuss why growth can be scary. Finally, we talk about Instagram growth or lack thereof. We describe how it feels to not be gaining followers...
Mar 27, 2019•17 min
When we asked you what you wanted to know about co-mentoring, the overwhelming response was how to go about finding a co-mentor of your own. In today’s episode, we talk about how we met and started co-mentoring. We also share the stories of three other co-mentoring duos, touching on how they found each other and how co-mentoring has benefitted their businesses so far. Finally, we chat about the boundaries you might want to set with your own co-mentor and discuss the difference between co-mentori...
Mar 20, 2019•29 min
In an episode dedicated to podcasts, we’re chatting about how we first discovered the medium and how our listening habits have changed over the years. Discussing the rise of creative business podcasts, we explain why we wanted to start our own. Charlie explains how we make Friends With Business Benefits and what she’s learned from the process. We also chat about podcasts as content marketing and share some of our favourite shows. Links and further reading: Lucy Lucraft’s Courses Blogging or Podc...
Mar 13, 2019•38 min
In this episode, we’re discussing a topic that’s very close to our hearts - self-care. We share what self-care means to us personally and what it looks like in our lives and in our businesses. After a period of burnout and poor health, Franky describes how self-care now helps her cope with chronic illness. Charlie chats about prioritising self-care from the beginning of her freelance career, having worked in offices where well-being was often an afterthought. We also discuss wider perceptions, a...
Feb 27, 2019•33 min
In this episode, we’re chatting about services and offerings. Charlie has been getting to grips with her new creative mentoring packages and trying to figure out exactly what she’s selling. Franky shares her experience of writing multiple sales pages for numerous clients and outlines the questions she takes business owners through when she’s developing their copy. We talk about avoiding the comparison trap and the importance of knowing what sets us apart. As well as coming back to our ‘why’ and ...
Feb 20, 2019•25 min
Fueled by a few glasses of prosecco, we’re discussing workshops as Franky celebrates selling out The Wedding Sessions in one day. Sharing her experience of organising 3 in-person workshops, she compares what it feels like to sell out, and what it feels like when you don’t. We discuss how we define, share and perceive success on social media and Charlie shares her experience of having to cancel an event due to poor ticket sales. We also chat about the ‘comparison trap’ and how to deal with ‘failu...
Feb 13, 2019•33 min
In this episode, we chat about different ways of finding new clients and winning their business. Charlie talks about the beginning of her freelance career, the power of word-of-mouth marketing, and the importance of existing ‘real life’ connections. We discuss incidental networking, community building, and why we think it’s vital to keep voicing what you do, either online or in-person. We also cover the question of working for free and how starting out as a freelancer can feel messy and uncertai...
Feb 06, 2019•25 min
What happens to your creativity when you build a business off the back of it? In this episode, we discuss why Franky’s been struggling to make time for creativity beyond the realms of paid work, and Charlie talks about managing to find time to be creative after becoming a mum. We also discuss what it means to live a creative life, and how redefining what creativity looks like can help us make more space for it. Finally, we challenge ourselves and everyone listening to find time for at least one ...
Jan 23, 2019•18 min
