Freelance Road Trip Podcast
The intersection of inspired creativity and common business sense for freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers who want to have fulfilling, successful businesses. Hosted by Alvalyn Lundgren.
Episodes
In this episode, Alvalyn discusses the importance of establishing and maintaining an “abundance” mindset for achieving career and creative success. She emphasizes how success is not limited by resources, but is instead created through taking action, setting goals, and plotting strategies. It’s necessary to maintain an “unlimited” mindset during times of adversity because it affects outcomes. If you don’t adopt a success mindset you...
Case studies help position freelance creatives as strategic problem solvers, rather than technicians or wrists. They present the client's problem, document and record the creative process, and showcase research findings, insights, and process to demonstrate problem-solving capabilities. In this episode I highlight the benefits of using case studies to upgrade your portfolio to attract higher value clients, and what to include in a ...
Many freelancers in all sectors work without written contracts. They rely on verbal agreements which can be vague and incomplete. Neglecting to put project parameters and expectations in writing before you begin a project opens the door for all kinds of trouble to show up. The best way to avoid these troubles is to used contracts. In this episode I share from my own experience, and how freelancers can manage expectations with writt...
A new reporting requirement affecting LLCs and s-corps — small and independent businesses legally registered with their secretary of state — is coming your way in 2024. The Corporate Transparency Act establishes a federal database of beneficial owners of small businesses with under 20 employees, including microbusinesses and freelancers. The database is overseen by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the T...
Stress resides between an expectation of an ideal and what actually is. When the expectation of the ideal — balance (symmetry) — collides with the messy realities of life, you can feel like you’re not good enough or you’re in the wrong lane. It’s all in what kind of balance you’re striving for. In this episode I present relief from the expectation of work-life symmetry in the form of a different point of view — asymmetry. Life is ...
There are myriad courses, programs, and coaches available to help you learn skills to succeed in your freelance business. You have a lot of teachers, coaches, and “gurus” to choose from. Or you can choose none and learn it on your own. In this program I talk about the options, about specialists and experts, about offers of success and revenue, and what to look out for. But the main thing I set out to provide you — the one take-awa...
As a freelancer or creativepreneur, negotiating skills are crucial and can make a significant difference in the success of your creative business. In this episode, we'll address the purpose of the negotiation process, explore the dos and don’ts of effective negotiating, with tips on how to come to an agreement on price, deliverables, and schedule, so that both you and your client will benefit.
Marketing and branding are related concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct and have different purposes. Freelance designers create brand assets and identities for their clients, but fewer freelancers actually consider the necessity of building their own brands, or understand how effective branding guides marketing efforts integrates with business. This episode covers the differences between marketing an...
Establishing and managing a business so you can make a living from your creative work — your way — isn’t easy and probably not what most of us expected when we started out. With all the competition out there, and now with AI looming as both an asset and a threat to creative work, how will you stand out? How will you make a living? How will you continue to build your business, attract your best clients, and become know for signi...
AI is disrupting the creative industries in a variety of ways that are both beneficial and detrimental. In this episode we consider both the problems and advantages of using AI as a freelance creative, and propose answers to these questions, among others: “Why would a client pay me when they can create a thing themself for free using AI?”, “How can I use AI tools to support my business?”, “How can I protect my work from theft?”
If you're a freelance creative who's considering forming an LLC because it will protect you and your clients from worker misclassification under California's AB5 and possible Department of Labor rulings regarding independent contractor status, don't. In this episode I present an online article that appears to be misleading, and discuss why an LLC won't automatically protect you from worker misclassification. I share right reasons f...
Communication is the foundation of every relationship. This is true in business as it is in one’s personal life. In business you want to communicate the right way for the right reasons, and there are certain things you don’t want to communicate. Keeping everything in writing is preferred, but sometimes a phone call will serve the relationship better. So then how do you get a phone conversation in writing, ethically? I share some pr...
This episode begins with an update on AB5 (California) and the independent contractor rule being considered for implementation by the NLRB. Then talk moves into how independent contracting, also known as freelancing, is a legitimate way to earn one’s living. One of the most important things a freelancer needs to do is to define what success looks like for you. You can’t hit a target you can’t see. You can’t be successful until you ...
If you're a freelancer, client meetings are inevitable. Whether online, by phone, or in person, meetings are necessary for getting united around common goals and purpose, determining next steps and responsibilities. But meetings can go sideways and negatively impact your working relationships. They can solve nothing, and be a waste of time. Your time, and your client's, is valuable. In this episode I offer 7 tips for having better,...
We’re in a prime time right now to build and grow. The freelance economy is booming. In the US, freelancers and independent contractors have contributed almost $6B to the economy. The climate is encouraging for businesses. There is more opportunity to start something from nothing and grow it than ever before. There’s more opportunity for you to make an impact through your work. There’s no time like the present to start something.
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To stay in business freelancers need clients, and we’re commonly asking where to find more clients. The obvious freelance platforms and talent agencies aren’t always the best choice for a variety of reason, and they shouldn’t be your only choice. In the episode I present the case for making client prospecting a regular part of your marketing activities, and offer ways to diversify your prospecting through relationship building.
To succeed in business as a freelance creative requires shifting from functioning solely as a creative — an illustrator, a designer, a photographer, a copywriter, an artist — to functioning as the owner of a creative business. In this episode I share half a dozen shifts we need to make in how we think about what we're doing, and why.
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