Web Designer Phil Matthews

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEDespite initially getting the cold shoulder from cold outreach, Hazel soon found her niche creating purpose-driven work, particularly around feminist and social issues.A viral social media post early in her career led to work with major clients like Netflix, though she discusses the anxiety that came with sudden exposure.Hazel opens up about managing the rollercoaster of freelance life, including how she handles quiet periods - even training as a face painter as a backup plan. She discusses the evolution of her business, from client work to running an online shop, painting murals, and publishing a book.The conversation delves into the challenges of social media management, maintaining authenticity while building a following, and protecting creative work from plagiarism.Hazel emphasises the importance of in-person connections and pushing through comfort zones, sharing how speaking engagements have led to exciting opportunities.A key theme is staying true to your authentic voice - Hazel describes temporarily removing her women's health-focused work from her portfolio on advice from a mentor, only to realise this was diluting her unique perspective that clients value.  JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEIrish freelancer Raymond Manzor shares his journey from teaching English in Paris to becoming a sustainability copywriter. His freelance career began as a French to English translator, specialising in medical translation. Over time, he transitioned to editing, proofreading, and eventually copywriting.Raymond discusses his start in freelancing, including cold calling and mailing potential clients. He emphasises the importance of positioning and messaging, sharing his recent efforts to rebrand himself as a sustainability copywriter. (How did he even land on that term?!)Ray talks about the challenges of creating a website, defining his niche, and the importance of researching market needs before launching his services. All very business like for someone who doesn't call himself a business owner.He highlights the value of building a community and networking, particularly on LinkedIn. Finding that balance between chatting to your peers and your potential clients.  He shares how most of his opportunities, including referrals and collaborations, have come through connections made on the platform. Virtual coworking has also played a huge part.There's so much to learn from Raymond about evolving in our freelance careers. It's a really fun conversation. He's good at chatting - and who knew that would be a key skill when finding work as a freelancer too? JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEMariery Young, a freelancer from Panama, shares her journey from architecture to illustration and design. Starting with a chance Facebook event, Mariery discovered her talent for art. She had pretty firm confirmation she was good at this new offering when her first freelance client was... Nike.Yep. She just did it.Mariery discusses how her architecture background helps her manage multiple projects and timelines effectively. She emphasizes the importance of honesty in time management and clear communication with clients, especially in quoting and project planning.A pivotal moment in her career was participating in the London Illustration Fair, which confirmed illustration as her path and connected her with wholesale buyers. This experience taught her the value of pursuing projects she's passionate about, as it resonates with clients and leads to more fulfilling work.And if you love what you're doing, you'll keep going when it's tough. Because it will get tough.Mariery shares insights on balancing work and life, including her decision to live near the beach for a better quality of life. She discusses her approach to social media, preferring to keep her work process private and focusing on one-on-one time with clients. Avoiding the lure of becoming an influencer, whilst making the most of the connections social media can bring.She stresses the importance of having a community of fellow freelancers for support and understanding. Mariery also talks about the challenges of slowing down, especially after a health setback.Mariery operates under the studio name "Mezclao," which reflects her mixed heritage and approach to projects. She emphasizes the importance of personal work in attracting clients and discusses how she balances client work with personal projects.Mariery's work is bright and bold and that shines through in this conversation too. Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEEmma Clarke is a freelance voiceover artist, composer, and writer based in Manchester in the UK. You don't get to have a  35-year journey of self-employment without learning a thing or two. A lot to share in this conversation in amongst the laughs.Starting at 17, Emma knew she wanted to create her own job that combined her various interests. Her career began with recording for BBC Radio and quickly evolved into creating training playlets for businesses.Emma emphasises the importance of client management, getting clear briefs, and managing expectations.A key focus of our chat is Emma's systematic approach to business strategy. She conducts monthly "weather reports" to analyse trends in her personal life, work, and the wider world. This practice, along with quarterly and annual reviews, helps her stay agile and adapt to changes in the industry.Emma shares her experiences with various marketing channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, and her Substack podcast. She notes how these efforts, particularly her podcast, have led to unexpected work opportunities, sometimes years after initial connections were made.And, yep - we had to bring it up. With AI unavoidable in the voiceover industry, Emma stresses the importance of being nimble and looking for adjacent opportunities. She advises us freelancers to focus on our unique skills, interests, and experiences to create new income streams.Throughout her career, Emma has weathered various economic storms by focusing on customer service, adapting her business model, and diversifying her income streams. She emphasises the importance of being aware of subtle economic shifts and being ready to pivot when necessary.So much good stuff in here and so much fun too. Whatever business you're in, it's all about the being freelance. Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEMeet Phil Matthews, a seasoned freelance web designer celebrating an impressive two decades of independent business.Based in Weymouth on the UK’s South coast, Phil's journey started when an unexpected request came in whilst working in a computer game shop. Now we get to hear how he levelled up his freelancing career over the 20 years from there.In the days before Fiverr and UpWork, we hear how Phil went from creating websites advertised as eBay listings to building a loyal client base through word-of-mouth and stellar SEO practices, Phil shares his freelancing story - offering valuable insights on client relationships and the importance of recurring revenue streams.We hear his experiences balancing client work with family life, and how being freelance has allowed him to be present for his children's milestones. We also explore his approach to gathering and leveraging client reviews, a key factor in his business growth. Speaking of which, if you enjoy this podcast, please do leave a review 😘 Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEIn this episode, we meet Desire Lacap, a freelance filmmaker and content creator who took the leap into freelancing just a year ago. Desire talks about how she grew her social media following by sharing filmmaking tips and tricks, which led to brand partnerships and exciting opportunities like working with Adobe. We hear the challenges of balancing passion projects with paid work, the importance of avoiding burnout, but very much not-avoiding making real life connections in your industry. And here's a great freelancer philosophy -"passion over profit." If you follow the passion... the profit will come.We also have  insights into building a personal brand, managing client relationships, and staying true to your creative vision whilst keeping the customer happy as a freelancer. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEEttie struggled with traditional education systems due to undiagnosed ADHD and felt out of place in the normal working world. It all changed when she started her own freelance business - literally creating a job title for herself.Determined to make a difference in the inclusive language and accessibility space she set about educating others through content creation. Using LinkedIn posts, her in-depth ‘Fighting Talk' newsletter on Substack, and speaking engagements.Ettie shares her approach to flexible pricing, balancing pro bono and low bono work with paid projects, and maintaining work-life balance.Ettie also talks about crafting her freelance business around her values, the importance of branding and photography, and the autonomy and freedom that comes with freelancing. Through freelancing, Ettie’s created a role that draws on her neurodivergent strengths, whilst using the flexibility of freelance life to set a work schedule that protects her.She emphasises the need to set boundaries, take care of yourself, and embrace the opportunities for creativity and personalisation to suit your own needs that freelancing offers.   JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEMeet Brennan Gilbert, a seasoned designer based in Colorado - who after years of freelancing on the side went full time freelance in January 2023.Multiple roles in agencies and tech startups gave him a tonne of knowledge in marketing, sales and processes that are paying off now. Brennan discusses the importance of time management, client expectations, and the intricacies of various business models, including subscription-based pricing. Yep, ‘subscription’ instead of ‘retainer’ - we dig deep into that one.A self professed geek, Brennan’s leaning into the business as much as the design. Not many freelancers create an ‘annual report’, or have frequent ‘Straturdays’ to strategise at the weekend. But, maybe we should? See/hear what you think. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEHear Hannah's journey to becoming a successful freelance social media manager, marketer and then beyond into running a membership and courses.She founded her business, HI Communications (when your initials spell HI you go with it right?) eight years ago. She quickly built her client list through word-of-mouth. Then things exploded when she moved to a new town where she new one person, but with the plan to become 'famous' there. Hannah knocked on doors. Started a local magazine, organised local networking events and even put together the first Barry Pride festival.Recently, Hannah transitioned away from social media management to focus on her membership program 'The Best 90 Days Ever', which offers daily prompts to help business owners. She's also written a book of the same name, which will be our next Book Club read in the Being Freelance Community!Hannah shares insights on balancing various projects, the importance of community in business, and her belief in taking the plunge into new ventures sooner rather than later.Above all, it feels like Hannah doesn't take no for an answer. If she thinks 'wouldn't it be cool if...', then she'll make it happen. And once it exists she won't stop shouting about it. Because if she wants to keep being a freelancer, she needs to keep visible and telling people what she can do.Such a huge lesson. Hope you enjoy the podcast! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time we're following Kirth Noel's journey from starting photography as a hobby to turning it into a freelance business. Initially worked doing side gigs to fund his passion for photography (all that equipment soon adds up). Then as he became a father, Kirth transitioned to baby and maternity photography - delving into video production to help promote it.We hear how Kirth switched his niche again, following his interests whilst being very aware of what might work as a business. His freelancing shift to corporate videography, the strategic investments in equipment, and adapting to COVID-19 by focusing on product commercials. In the past year he's gone from a home studio with little risk, to working from a big rented studio where he can set up as a robotic video specialist focussing on 'visual engineering'. Using his experience as as an engineer on London's trains to tinker, experiment and solve problems that create incredibly inventive, specialised videos. All the time sharing his behind the scenes process to show what's possible, just as he did with the maternity photography years before.Kirth discusses his continuous learning, relationship-building within the industry & local area, and marketing strategies, including developing his presence on LinkedIn and plans for live events.There's a lot to Kirth's freelancing story for us all to take away, whether you're a videographer or not. Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland