#387: How to Build a Portfolio That Attracts High-Paying Clients

Most freelancers think: "The more work I show, the more clients I'll attract." But if you have a level 10 skillset working with level 5 clients… Your portfolio is gonna look level 6 at best. And it’s hard to level up your clients if your portfolio doesn’t match. Is your portfolio all over the place? Not showcasing work at the level you want to attract clients? This week’s podcast episode will fix that. You’ll learn: How to beef up your portfolio if it’s still light or you’re just starting out How to curate and uplevel your current portfolio to attract higher level clients The secret ingredient that instantly makes your work look 10x more impressive For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/387

“Raise your gosh darn rates.” I literally have a podcast episode with this title. But that advice is not for everyone because raising your prices isn’t always the answer. Every freelancer has a “Goldilocks sweet spot” for their pricing. The perfect balance of rates that keep you booked, profitable, and sane. Charge too much? You've got the "luxury mirage"… premium prices, but an empty calendar. Charge too little? Welcome to the "bargain bin trap"… a packed calendar full of soul-sucking projects where you resent your clients and can barely keep your head above water. This week’s episode is all about finding that pricing sweet spot that keeps you booked with better clients. I’ll give you… 4 steps. and 3 important metrics. I break it all down on Episode #386: The Goldilocks Pricing Rule for Freelancers (Not Too High, Not Too Low) For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/386

The vast majority of freelancers want one thing: more clients. But what if that’s not your biggest problem? What if you’re booked solid… And now the “good problem to have” is that you can’t ever take a vacation because your income is tied to the hours you work? It’s a dollars-for-hours trap. No work = no money. Vacation? You're not making money. Get sick? Not making money. In the hospital? Not making money. Your income is handcuffed to the hours you work. And there's a ceiling. A theoretical maximum. You can inch it up by raising your rates, but eventually... that's it. That's your max. Some people are cool with that. If you’d like a future where you’re making great money NOT trading dollars for hours… Where you “outgrow” freelancing and transition your expertise into something more scalable… This episode is for you. Should I start an agency? Sell software/products? Or - should I start teaching what I know and build a coaching business? In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of each, and why I think creating a scalable coaching offer is the way to go (spoiler alert: it’s the one I’ve gone all in on, which is why you’re reading this). For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/385

We all get the same 24 hours in a day. So why can some people get more done in that 24 hours than others? It’s not ALWAYS about doing more. In many cases it’s about doing the RIGHT things consistently (at the right time of day). My day starts at 5:30 AM with 15 minutes of reading and straight to the gym for a workout. It’s a non-negotiable for me, whether I feel like it or not. So my advice for you: Set aside “power hours” to work ON your business every day - as a non-negotiable. Just like going to the gym, it’s a “business booty bootcamp” that directly adds junk to your trunk (aka revenue to your bank account) when you do it consistently. (Oh, and DO NOT check emails first thing in the morning. Ever.) This week’s episode is all about how to know WHAT to work on and how to prioritize it so you can actually have the business and the life that you want. Things like: Micro-routines that help you knock out the important stuff quickly How I structure my day based on my energy levels, and my best “hacks” for creative focus The “hate-charity” trick that helps me accomplish my goals The 3 biggest issues that keep you from prioritizing (even when you want to) Listen now to Episode #384: The “Power Hour” Method (How Smart Freelancers Work) For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/384

“I'd love to be jacked.” “I'd love to be great at pottery.” “I’d love to be a scratch golfer.” ← this one’s me. You can say you wanna be good at something, but if you’re not willing to do what it takes to get there, you don’t really want it enough. And sometimes that’s okay. But when it comes to your freelance business, I hear a lot of people say, “I want to be making 6 figures, charging $10k per project, etc etc.” And yet when it comes time to do the work - they “don’t have time” for it. That time excuse? We know it’s not really true. I've seen people juggling full-time jobs, families, community roles, even taking care of extended family... and they STILL make massive progress in their businesses. Then I see freelancers with literally zero responsibilities (single, no kids, no clients, hell, some even just got laid off and have nothing but time) and they're STILL using "lack of time" as their excuse. We all have the same 24 hours. So what are you willing to do to make time and space for progress? That’s the question I tackle on this week’s episode: What Are You Willing to Give Up to Grow Your Freelance Business? Don't just SAY you want to grow your freelance business. Show it with your choices. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/383

If you've ever thought to yourself, "I need more clients, please God, rain them down out of the sky" - I'm probably gonna piss you off today. Hopefully in a good way. Some numbers I found interesting and concerning: 68% of freelancers rely on passive methods to get clients. 58% said client acquisition was their number one challenge. 🤨 Hmmmm…I wonder why that is? Now, when I say “passive methods” I mean things like word of mouth and referrals, networking, and social media. If you’re waiting and hoping for a potential client to reach out to you… EVEN if you’re on the freelance marketplaces or showing up to networking events… You still have a passive client acquisition system. And it sucks @$$ for several reasons… First: For every freelancer that's out there, there hundreds (or thousands) of clients that need your services who never hire anyone (or hire the wrong person) simply because they didn't know you exist. Second: By ****waiting around for clients to find you magically, not only are you hurting yourself and your bank account, you're hurting those potential clients you could have helped (if they just knew you existed). The solution? Convert passive methods to active ones. This week’s episode is all about how to do that including: How to amp up your referral flow A better way to do direct outreach Why “freelance marketplaces” are kinda a scam The ONE active strategy that works better than anything else For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/382

The average freelancer is often absolutely clueless when it comes to running a business. And I can only say this because I did some of the dumbest possible things for the first five years that I was a freelancer. Until I started looking at best practices from other successful industries - in many cases who had spent millions (or hundreds of millions) of dollars to figure this stuff out. When you take what’s already working in other industries and adapt it to your freelance business… You can charge higher prices, have more predictability, higher close rates, more finished projects without tearing your hair out from the stress. What lessons exactly? That’s what this week’s episode is all about: 8 Business Secrets Freelancers Can Steal From Multi-Billion Dollar Industries If you’re currently: Doing most of your work as one-off projects Providing a whole bunch of different services and packages Relying on referrals and warm leads to get clients This episode could change your entire business for the better. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/381

Traditional proposals are a massive waste of time. You put all this time and effort into a long, fancy 10-page proposal that you THINK is going to impress your clients… When in reality, there’s a better way to close that deal. This week’s episode is for you if you rely on proposals to do the heavy lifting for you. Instead, use my 4-step “anti-proposal sales process” that lands you more clients: HINT: Don’t sell them the flight and logistics, sell them the vacation. This episode will dive into: What to do instead of sending proposals Why proposals = ghosted clients My BAMFAM follow-up tip that always works BONUS - how to turn your “proposal” into a paid product (this one is genius) For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/380

Let me make something clear: Referrals aren’t BAD. Just don’t rely on them as your ONLY source of leads. But a client is a client, and if people are sending them your way, you’re not gonna say no! And the best way to bring in more referrals is to deliver a “6 Star Client Experience.” If you’ve ever been to a 5-star hotel, you know it’s the little details that make it luxury: The chocolate on your pillow, the handwritten note, how your bags somehow appear in your room while you're checking in… There's no such thing as a 6-star hotel. It doesn't officially exist. Which is exactly why, as a freelancer, you should be aiming to create a 6-star experience SO smooth and thoughtful that your clients would feel stupid NOT referring you. This week’s podcast episode is full of ways to create that 6-star client experience. Easy to implement - but 99% of freelancers will NEVER do it. I’m breaking down: What to do RIGHT after you take payment that instantly reverses any buyer’s remorse The surprise and delight offboarding that triggers your client’s “natural referral instinct” The post-project nurture system that turns one client into many For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/379

If you’re not getting the number of leads and clients you want… It can be tempting to think that you need to DO more. No, it’s not time to update your website again. No, you don’t need a higher-converting funnel. No, you don’t need more content. No, the latest AI miracle isn’t going to save you. None of that matters if your positioning is vague and you’re saying something nobody really cares about… OR you have zero evidence to back it up. Quick diagnostic: No clicks = you have a positioning problem Clicks but no opt-ins = you have a proof problem Discovery Calls but no sales = probably a proof + offer problem Which one are you? Listen to this week’s episode to find out (and how to fix it). For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/378