When it feels like it's time to scale up
Explicit content warning
02/25/21 • 20 min
This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from podcast producer Dave Howard. He says:
“I develop and make podcasts for people — universities, PR companies, businesses, charities. I’m largely a one-person operation, with a few trusted freelancers available to take on odd bits of work here and there when things get busy.
But now there is just too much work. I seem to have won a lot of business all at once, and I’m finding myself constantly racing to edit people’s programmes, to meet deadlines. Some things are getting rushed and some things are a bit stuck on the back burner.
There’s no time for working on the business, updating the website, socials, etc. (Accepting that home schooling is also happening — and is a shitshow).
So, is it some sort of pipeline management strategy I need? Do I just need to learn to say no – or even ‘I can help with that but not until April’? To adjust my prices? Move to a model of bringing in subcontractors?
(I’ll be honest, I don’t really want to become someone whose day-to-day work is managing and overseeing other people — been there, done that, didn’t enjoy it. But I can see that being a way forward).”
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 on Facebook.
•••
This episode is supported by Penfold.
The flexible pension for freelance parents. Penfold provides freelancers with an online pension that’s simple to use and completely flexible.
Sign up with the code DIFTK and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!
Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.
Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk
•••
Dave Howard's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance
Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter
This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from podcast producer Dave Howard. He says:
“I develop and make podcasts for people — universities, PR companies, businesses, charities. I’m largely a one-person operation, with a few trusted freelancers available to take on odd bits of work here and there when things get busy.
But now there is just too much work. I seem to have won a lot of business all at once, and I’m finding myself constantly racing to edit people’s programmes, to meet deadlines. Some things are getting rushed and some things are a bit stuck on the back burner.
There’s no time for working on the business, updating the website, socials, etc. (Accepting that home schooling is also happening — and is a shitshow).
So, is it some sort of pipeline management strategy I need? Do I just need to learn to say no – or even ‘I can help with that but not until April’? To adjust my prices? Move to a model of bringing in subcontractors?
(I’ll be honest, I don’t really want to become someone whose day-to-day work is managing and overseeing other people — been there, done that, didn’t enjoy it. But I can see that being a way forward).”
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 on Facebook.
•••
This episode is supported by Penfold.
The flexible pension for freelance parents. Penfold provides freelancers with an online pension that’s simple to use and completely flexible.
Sign up with the code DIFTK and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!
Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.
Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk
•••
Dave Howard's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance
Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter
Previous Episode
Deciding how much work you can take on
This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from designer and web developer Laura Ockenden. She says:
“As a newbie full-timer, I'm struggling a bit with planning in work and knowing how much I can take on and when.
I've got a few jobs on now but often find myself procrastinating under the guise of waiting for clients to get back to me — should I be looking for more work? Should I book in clients for next month? How long will a job take? How long is a piece of string?!
I've been quite lucky that things have sort of just fallen into place recently but it feels like I need to start giving this whole idea some brain-space now it's the thing that actually pays my mortgage!"
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 on Facebook.
•••
This episode is supported by Agorapulse.
Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.
Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk
•••
Lauren Ockenden's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance
Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter
Next Episode
When your clients are always late
This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Casey Gunn aka Anonymous. They say:
“What advice do you have when your clients habitually deliver things late which then completely messes up your planning and diary?
For context, I’m a social media manager. I have three big clients — all contracted for minimum three month periods — and two of my three clients do this! Usually, these clients are good — we have a good relationship, they pay on time (ish), pay a rate I’m happy with... BUT the constant lateness is making things really tricky for me.
My diary gets booked up well in advance (especially at the moment with no childcare!) and their lateness means I have to cram work into already scarce time. I can’t just move the work until when my diary clears, because then the campaigns I’m working on for them become irrelevant as often they are attached to a particular calendar event.
I build in ‘wiggle room’, send reminders and prompts but.... NOPE, still late. I don’t know what to do!!!
Do I charge more if work has to be completed post-deadline? Like, the equivalent of ‘overtime’? How do I protect myself from this situation in my contract?
It means that next week, for example, I have to build three advertising campaigns (when my planning says I was supposed to only be working on one) and write two campaign analysis reports, alongside my day to day duties with another client... oh and homeschooling my two kids aged 6 and 8 because — PANDEMIC.
Basically, I’M FUCKED AND I WANT TO CRY. End.”
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 on Facebook.
•••
This episode is supported by Penfold.
The flexible pension for freelance parents. Penfold provides freelancers with an online pension that’s simple to use and completely flexible.
Sign up with the code DIFTK and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!
Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.
Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk
•••
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance
Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter
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