The Freelancer's Teabreak

Ever feel like everyone else got the "how to freelance successfully" manual and you're just winging it? This week's episode is here to tell you: you're not alone, and that glossy six-figure freelance life you see on social media is mostly smoke and mirrors. In this episode, I get honest about what freelancing actually looks like right now: quiet quarters, wobbly in...

In this quick episode, I'm sharing a warning about scammy discovery call bookings that freelancers are increasingly running into now that we rely on booking links. I've heard of calls being booked where the other person turns up just to hard sell to the freelancer, and a recent example from my team involved repeated bookings, a document that wouldn't open, and a prompt asking for an email address, lots of red flags!

If something fe...

In this episode of The Freelancer's Tea Break, I'm reflecting on my son nearing the end of primary school and sharing practical ways I've managed childcare while freelancing, especially over the long summer holidays.

I explain how UK tax-free childcare works (pay £8 in, get £2 topped up) and remind you it can help beyond nursery, including some after-school and summer clubs (depending on who accepts it). 

I also talk about how...

In this episode, I'm talking through what to do when someone asks you to work for free, whether it's an unpaid "test project", spec work, or a talk with no budget. I share why you can (and should) feel confident declining, plus a few polite scripts you can use.

If you do want to offer something, I cover alternatives like directing people to your portfolio/testimonials, creating a short free resource that builds your mailing list, o...

If the idea of outsourcing in your business feels scary, you're not alone. For a lot of freelancers and small business owners, "outsourcing" can sound like handing over everything (your inbox, your accounts, your social media, your systems) and trusting someone else with the things you've been doing solo for years. Grips laptop nervously to chest

The good news is, you don't have to start big. In fact, you're much more likely to suc...

In this episode, I'm diving into something I talk about a lot with my coaching clients: the three levels of services you can offer: DIY (Do it Yourself), DWY (Done With You), and (DFY) Done For You. Whether you're thinking about adding passive income, building a membership, or just wondering how to price and structure what you do, this one's for you.

I also share a quick update on why this episode looks a little different than plan...

Ever wonder what an experienced freelancer actually does to find new clients each month? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own client attraction strategy for May, including the thing that got me my first AI-referred client within weeks.

What we cover:

• Why having a "pick and mix" of marketing activities alongside your regular content works so well
• AI SEO, what it is and why it's becoming a real discovery chann...

Thinking about going freelance but worried about losing your Universal Credit? Good news, you don't have to choose. In this episode, I'm breaking down how Universal Credit actually works for self-employed people, and why it might be more flexible than you think.

What we cover:

• Why Universal Credit isn't just for employed people, freelancers can claim too
• The Minimum Income Floor explained (and why it probably won't affect...

Does following up after a discovery call make you cringe? You're not alone, but done right, a follow-up can actually feel like a gift to your potential client. In this episode, I'm sharing three simple strategies to check in without feeling pushy, salesy, or awkward.

What we cover:

• Why follow-ups feel icky — and why they don't have to
• Setting expectations during the discovery call so follow-ups feel natural
• Keeping your ...

Should you invest in a freelancer directory? In this episode of the Freelancers Tea Break, host Emma Cossey breaks down the pros and cons of joining directories as a freelancer from boosting your SEO and local visibility to knowing when your money is better spent elsewhere.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why directories can be especially valuable when you're new to freelancing
• Which directories have been worth the investment (...

In this episode of the Freelancer's Teabreak, Emma Cossey chats with Katherine Pearse (nee Hall), fractional CFO, systemic coach, and movement facilitator, about what it actually means to go fractional. Katherine breaks down how a fractional CFO differs from a consultant, interim, or part-time hire, and why that distinction matters. She shares the journey that led her from full-time finance leadership through a major merger to buil...