15 Minute Freelancer

Have you ever considered partnering up with another freelancer to expand your business? Teaming up could be a great way to attract bigger projects, expand your services and grow your business without doubling your hours. But how does it work? How do you find the right business partner? What happens if you disagree?!

In this episode, I chat to Adam Pearson, one half of the research powerhouse that is PS Research, which he runs with his business partner, Emma Slater. He shares his experiences of going from being a solo business owner to forming a successful partnership:

• Why Adam made the jump from company of one to forming a partnership
• How to find the right person to partner with
• Unexpected upsides of working with a partner
• How to figure out working styles, money stuff and holidays
• How to market your partnership to new and existing clients.

Since Adam is just back from paternity leave, we also discuss how he planned for a chunk of time off – and how other freelancers can do the same.

Mentioned in this episode:

PS Research: https://pearsoninsight.co.uk/
Emma Slater: https://twitter.com/emmapsresearch
Gareth Hancock: https://www.thatcontentshed.com/
Frankie Tortora: https://francescatortora.com/
Dave Smyth: https://websmyth.co/
Martin Brooks (Gold Stag Accounting): https://www.goldstagaccounts.co.uk/
Being Freelance Podcast: https://www.beingfreelance.com/

Say hi to Adam:

Website: www.psresearch.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/pearsoninsight
Twitter: @adampsresearch
Say hi to Louise:
Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com
If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. All donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated!

Freelance graphic designer and creative lead at Freelancer Magazine Angela Lyons joins Louise to talk all things learning. Keeping your skills fresh is essential if you want to stay on top of the latest industry trends and do the best possible work for your clients. And let's not forget the strategy, finance and marketing skills we need to build a sustainable business. It's a lot to fit in! Listen in to hear:

• How Ange has been using #Write52 to record her journey as a 'forever learner'
• The mentorships and courses that have had the biggest impact on Ange's business over the last year
• How to avoid shiny object syndrome and figure out what courses you really need
• How to budget your time and money for learning (incl. Louise's £1 rule of investing!)

Mentioned on this episode:

• Freelancer Magazine: https://www.freelancermagazine.co.uk/
• #Write52: https://www.write52.com/
• Google Digital Garage: https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage/
• Enterprise Nation: https://www.enterprisenation.com/
• HubSpot Academy: https://academy.hubspot.com/
• The Marketing Meetup: https://themarketingmeetup.com/
• Hannah Williams: https://scribbleinc.co.uk/
• Penny Brazier: https://the-mighty-pen.co.uk/
• Carla Frank: https://www.carlafrankcreative.com/
• International Magazine Centre: https://internationalmagazinecentre.com/

Say hi to Ange:

LinkedIn: Angela Lyons1
Twitter: @AngeLyonsDesign
Insta: Ange_Lyons
Website: www.angelalyons.com

Say hi to Louise:
Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com
If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. All donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated!

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 imposter syndrome
• how to get in the right frame of mind to promote your services

Since publishing her bestselling guide to self-employment, Sarah has combined her copywriting work with delivering mentoring, training and events to help the self-employed community tackle the ups and downs of freelance life.
Get Sarah's books:
Survival Skills for Freelancers (also available on Audible)
The Little Book of Confusables
Twitter: @STEcopywriting
LinkedIn: Sarah Townsend
Instagram: @thecopywritersday and @stecopywriting
Website: https://www.sarahtownsendeditorial.co.uk and https://survivalskillsforfreelancers.com

Mentioned on this episode

• Leapers (community supporting mental health of self-employed people)

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and content marketer. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.
Keep in touch!
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Instagram: @Louise_Shanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com
Newsletter: thecopyprescription.com/subscribe

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 in a question.
Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and content marketer. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.
Mentioned on this episode:

• Ep 4: Pricing advice I hate
• EP 13: Anatomy of a cringe-free sales call
• Ep 30: Qs to ask as your business grows with André Spiteri
• Amy Posner's Cut To The Copy YouTube show

Say hi to Louise:
LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Instagram: @Louise_Shanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com
Wanna leave me a voice note? Go to memo.fm/15 and leave a question or comment.

Follow me for a day! In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a typical day as a freelance copywriter, including:

• Revisiting theme days as a way to structure your week
• Do I really work just five hours a day?
• Reducing decision fatigue and making the most of "shark mode"
• How I split my day between deep work and shallow work
• Figuring out your anchor actions to get the important bits done.

"One of the things that I love most about working for myself is the flexibility. I couldn't spend my days like this if I didn't work for myself. But that flexibility and freedom does require a bit of planning and discipline to achieve."
Mentioned in this episode:

Being Freelance Episode 268 – with Louise
Episode 6 - Spend less time on client work with theme days
Episode 63 - How to take a break as a busy freelancer
Copy Hackers
Cal Newport - Deep Work
Brain FM
Jill Coleman

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com
Leave me a voice note on memo.fm/15

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.