Being Freelance

While working in his first job at a small agency, Ryan started a website. He didn’t think much of it. Until its local SEO started bringing him leads and the chance to do extra work on the side.

A year on, working evenings and weekends, he’d reached capacity. This was it. Time to go full time freelance. With no network of his own, he needed his site to continue to bring him clients. And it really did.

In the past year Ryan’s grown a team of two fellow freelancers. Able to make the most of the leads, the retainers and enjoy the ability of having people to bounce ideas off of rather than make every decision on him.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Already established in her marketing career, Nadine went freelance in order to ‘stretch’ herself professionally. And stretch she has!

Her natural networking style served her well. Nadine has been freelancing for 10 years with big name clients and still doesn’t have a website of her own. LinkedIn and her trusty Rolodex of business cards keep her ‘booked and busy’.

And in the past couple of years, she’s decided to use her own success and knowledge to give back. Starting a community and investment fund for diverse, marginalised entrepreneurs.

Nadine loves the entrepreneurial side of being freelance. And you’re going to love her story…

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Momina realised traditional office life didn’t fit with taking care of her mental health. Sh'e’d go freelance and be a better boss to herself.

Having quickly built up a personal brand and relationships on Twitter, work soon came her way.

This was in January 2022. So when she spoke for the podcast in July of that year, she’d really not been freelancing long. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have a lot to share. A lot for us to learn from.

Having already experienced and dealt with burn out, the issues with outsourcing in a hurry, prejudices from those refusing to consider hiring someone from Pakistan… but also the flip side of community, building great client relationships and ultimately creating that work life that works for her.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Stephen wasn’t looking to go freelance, but when redundancy came 10 years ago, he took on a contract for a few months. And here is all those years later saying he’d never go back.

In between he’s evolved specialisms, written a book that became a course and started working remotely. Stephen takes time out on side projects and courses to always stay on top of trends, tech and skills - thinking about what his clients might want now and in the years to come.

And what about what he wants? As he nears the end of his 40s, Stephen’s now exploring what a future in freelancing will look like for him and his family.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

In 2011, taking a family holiday from his job as a Ford engineer, changed David’s life forever. 
An accident on the beach left him paralysed from the chest down. Quadriplegic.

When David was ready to work again, an old friend remembered their shared love of music. He suggested David create audio tracks for the animated videos his company were creating. His freelance business ‘Quadriphonic Sound’ was about to make some serious noise.

Without the flexibility of being freelance, David wonders if he’d be able to work at all. Instead he’s making a name for himself on dream projects for huge brands, doing it all remotely around his health and family needs.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

The small agency Nick had joined had become a big agency. He’d become part of the leadership team. HR. Management. Meetings. He missed doing the ‘work’.

He did know how much big clients were willing to pay for that work though.
So Nick set out as a high-billing tone-of-voice specialist. A company of one. 

With various side projects, Nick embraces the freedom of freelance life - allowing moments of ‘high performing procrastination’ to explore his creativity.

We chat about pricing, using a business name alongside a personal brand, thinking like a business (rather than a freelancer), side projects including products and newsletters, becoming a thought leader and more...

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.

The flexible pension for the self-employed.

Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.

Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.com

PensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
With investments your capital is at risk.

This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.

Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! 

If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.

Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?

Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today. 

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Fungi left university as a scientist. But it was her experiments with Photoshop that had unexpected results. She now wanted to be a designer.

Whilst working full-time in science, she designed on the side. By changing her entire persona online, she began to turn what started as a passion project, into a full-time freelance career.

Fungi’s focus is in lifting African culture and narratives to the forefront of her design. From the ‘Sunshine City’ Harare, Zimbabwe, she’s brightening brands, packaging and websites the world over.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.

The flexible pension for the self-employed.

Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.

Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.com

PensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
With investments your capital is at risk.

This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.

Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! 

If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.

Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?

Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today. 

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Levi left art school with no job, but worse, no love of art.

Eventually he started creating and experimenting. Finding his style, he also found an art director and his lucky break. Going from flipping burgers to turning over big meaty clients.

Still Levi has worked hard to keep the ‘play’ of art in his life. Joining a studio and forming a collective. He’s not going to let getting paid to create detroy his love for it.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.

The flexible pension for the self-employed.

Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.

Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.com

PensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
With investments your capital is at risk.

This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.

Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! 

If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.

Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?

Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today. 

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Over 10 years ago Frankie crowd funded her training as a graphic designer. It’s fair to say she doesn’t look at problems the same way everyone does.

And when pregnancy took her flourishing freelance career a few steps back, when she felt isolated amongst parents with full-time jobs, she didn’t settle. She searched. She got creative.

As her first child was born, so was ‘Doing It For The Kids’. Through a blog, Instagram, award-winning podcast and thriving community, she’s forged a second family of freelancers juggling kids & business.

Finding her feet, her people, her niche.

And along the way, finding a co-mentor in Steve Folland (yep, of Being Freelance).
Together, they took to figuring out how to run their ridiculously big side projects around everything else.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.

The flexible pension for the self-employed.

Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.

Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.com

PensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
With investments your capital is at risk.

This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.

Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! 

If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.

Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?

Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today. 

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Bal loved his job in advertising, but posting on Instagram as ‘Mr Whisper’ changed the course of his career, leading him to work not only for himself, but with some insanely high profile brands from the off.

As an early ‘creator’, Bal has had to adapt as social media has evolved, to make sure the brands and the full-time rates kept coming. But despite the competition, he has his blinkers on. He’s only in a race against himself.

In our chat we here how Bal:

- has the confidence to stand his ground with big brands
- found his style and niche
- stops himself from burning out despite the urge to be always 'on'
- uses side projects to keep himself inspired for client projects

And a whole lot more.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by Pension Bee.

The flexible pension for the self-employed.

Get set up in minutes and then get back to business.

Start saving for a future beyond being freelance. Download the app or head to PensionBee.com

PensionBee is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
With investments your capital is at risk.

This episode is sponsored by Ahrefs.

Time to boost your search rankings with Ahrefs Webmaster Tools - and it's FREE! 

If the idea of getting Google to work for you sounds confusing, Ahrefs also offers helpful tutorials on Search Engine Optimization.

Want to get your freelance site more search traffic?

Visit ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools and get this free tool working for you today. 

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland