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!

One way to charge more (and work less) as a freelancer is to shift from implementing the client's brief to selling strategy. When you help to set the direction for a project, you're also far less likely to find yourself navigating the awkward gaps in expectations that can arise from missing or outdated strategies.
But how do you transition to selling strategy? What do the deliverables look like? How much should you charge?
My guest today is Austin Church, a brand strategist, business coach, host of the brilliant Freelance Cake podcast and all-round entrepreneur. He shares his experience of shifting from selling implementation to strategy and his tips on how you can do the same.

We cover:

• Where to start with selling strategy
• How strategy engagements can be a great way to vet clients
• Managing the paradigm shift from "order taker" to guide and advisor
• How to work out what to charge for strategy
• How to sell strategy services to clients

Get bonus clips and tips in the 15 Minute Freelancer newsletter: 15minutefreelancer.substack.com

Say hi to Austin:

LinkedIn: Austin L. Church
Website: https://freelancecake.com/freelance-fixes

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter. 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

Ask a question for a future episode 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.

Many freelancers and small businesses use Facebook, Google, and other big tech companies to attract clients and deliver services. There's a growing movement of freelancers that would like to be less reliant on these tech giants, but where do we start?
Whether you're concerned about having all your eggs in someone else's basket (where the rules can change on a whim), or you're concerned about data privacy, digital ethics, or surveillance capitalism – Dave Smyth has some suggestions for you.
Dave Smyth is a co-founder of the ethical web design company, Scruples; the founder of the Below Radar community for small businesses who want to be less reliant on Facebook, Google and the like; the brains behind the No To Spy Pixels Campaign – and more.
In this episode, Dave shares his tips and tactics for making intentional choices about the tools we use to run our businesses.
Find out more about Dave's work:

• davesmyth.com
• belowradar.co.uk
• scruples.studio
• notospypixels.com
• Cyber Empathy podcast

Resources mentioned:

• Fathom Analytics
• Fastmail
• Whimsical
• Skiff
• The Ethical Move (pledge)
• Digital Minimalism, by Cal Newport
• An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination, by Cecilia Kang and Sheera Frankel
• Subprime Attention Crisis: Advertising and the Time Bomb at the Heart of the Internet, by Tim Hwang

Say hi to Louise:
Louise Shanahan is a freelance health copywriter and health tech white paper writer. 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_
Instagram: @Louise_Shanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com
Wanna send Louise 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.