016 - Be You

Bigger clients aren’t always better clients, business resources, and buying back your soul. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you get bigger clients that gave you more job security? - What are the best resources for getting started with the business side of freelancing? - Did the money you make buy back your soul? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

Progressing your career, splitting your time, and promoting yourself. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - I have a full schedule, I'm booked for a few months in advance with regular clients, and I enjoy my work. Now what? What should be my next step to progress my career? - What's a rough estimate of how you split your time promoting yourself, following leads, interacting with clients, and doing billable work? - How do you increase sales and engagement? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

Promoting, rights & usage, and building up client work with a full-time job. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - Do art directors still expect illustrators to snail mail them postcards or do they prefer to see digital work now? - I was approached by an agency to do some illustration work for a 2-month project on-site and they asked me for my day-rate. I think they want a work-for-hire situation, which seems a bit odd for me. Aren’t there rights, usage, etc., which need to be factored into the cost even if I work on-site? - How do you build up enough client work to freelance full-time while working a full-time job? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

Balancing workloads, passion projects versus paying the bills, and maintaining social health. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you strike the balance between too little work and too much work? - How do you balance doing work that you’re passionate about versus work that pays the bills? - As an extrovert, the hardest part of freelancing for me is the lack of human contact. In particular, I miss those consistent relationships you build over time with people on your team or in the office. What are your strategies for maintaining your social health? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

The ups and downs, entering new markets, and switching to retainers. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What did your first year look like? How long did it take before you realized you made the right choice? - How do you enter new markets when your existing clients are in a different market? - How do you transition from per-project pricing to retainers with larger clients? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

Calming your nerves, freelancing 10 years in, and landing big clients. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What do you do to calm your nerves about all the things that can go wrong while you’re trying to become a freelancer? - What does freelancing look like 10 years in? - How do you land big clients? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

Saying “no” to say “yes”, increasing your rates, and dealing with difficult clients—with special guest, Will Bryant! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you say “no” and protect your brand from potential backlash? - How do you know when it’s time to increase your rates? - How do you deal with a difficult client? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Will Bryant Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

Scaling your pricing with your workload, personal versus professional brand, and handling clients who change their mind—with special guest, Danielle Evans of Marmalade Bleue! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you best scale your pricing and your workload? - Personal brand or professional brand? - How do you handle clients who change their mind and ask everyone what they think of your illustrations? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Danielle Evans of Marmalade Bleue Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

Value-based pricing for small budgets, staying creatively relevant, and freelancing vs full-time.—with special guest, Dan Mall of Super Friendly! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - Have you always freelanced? - Do you think freelancing full-time helps or hurts you in staying creatively relevant? - Everyone's talking about value-based pricing, but how can you apply that thinking to clients with smaller budgets? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Dan Mall of Super Friendly Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com