PinnedWhat Steve Jobs and Soggy Fries Reveal about Smart Freelance PricingI once got a spam text about a $9.99 logo, complete with a 100% satisfaction and money-back guarantee. Though I doubt that a $10 logo and “satisfaction” go hand in hand, the text proves an important point for freelancers. Freelance services have no set prices. There are no hard and…Freelancing5 min read
Published in The Startup·Jul 10, 2020How to Get New Freelance Clients When Marketing Feels OverwhelmingMarketing a freelance business can be tough — so tough, in fact, that most freelancers simply don’t. This situation may sound familiar to you… You REALLY need to drum up some new projects and cashflow. With all of the strategies and tactics available, it’s hard to know where to put…Freelancing9 min read
Mar 10, 2020For Scrappy Freelancers, Cold Email Outreach Is Alive and Well {Email Template}She had a great big mane of curly brown hair, a tan, and an athletic build. Maybe she was a soccer player? From what I could piece together while pretending to be reading my book, Mystery Girl was a nanny, helping out a family on Spring Break. MG was in…Freelancing4 min read
Published in Better Marketing·Mar 6, 2020The 20 Stories Method for Finding Your Best Marketing StrategiesIncluding a free spreadsheet template — Marketing can seem like a big, squishy, mystifying concept. Some of Balernum’s clients start out skeptical of it. The first thing we do is correct some misconceptions. Marketing doesn’t have to be flashy or complicated. Marketing is spreading the word and giving people a chance to care. The best way…Marketing4 min read
Mar 5, 2020Hey Freelancers, Steal This Killer 3-Sentence Email TemplateGosh, if I could bottle the time I have wasted on second-guessing myself and sell it, I’d be a very rich man. Kardashian rich. Richard Simmons rich. Maybe you too have had a GREAT call with a client. You whistle a happy little tune while you work up a quote…Marketing2 min read
Feb 22, 2020Doing it on your own is smart until it’s stupid.My middle kid Theo’s catchphrase of late is “I can do it myself.” I LOVE this boy… his strong will, his humor, his sensitivity. He is a joy. He spreads light wherever he goes. He talks to strangers — we probably need to work on that? …Self Improvement3 min read
Feb 11, 2020Need a breakthrough in your freelance business? Ask these 3 questions…I’ve spent the last 11 years figuring out why some freelancers and consultants thrive and others don’t. By “thrive” I mean they build profitable businesses and enjoy significantly more financial, time, and creative freedom. Some freelance designers have more margin and take more vacations. Some brand consultants eat more bacon. …Freelancing3 min read
Feb 5, 2020A Simple Way to Add the Wow Factor to Your Brand Experience“Mr. Church, why do you have candles in your room? Are you a metrosexual?” This came from Ben, one of the just adorable freshmen I taught during my stint as a high school English teacher in 2005–2006. “Ben,” I said, “You have very rigid ideas about masculinity for someone who…Branding3 min read
Feb 4, 2020Practical Insanity May Be Killing Your Freelance or Consulting BusinessThe other day, I watched Salem, my six-year-old princess, try to make the TV do what she wanted. She punched a button on the Roku remote over and over again. That repetitive noise, drilling into my skull like auditory water torture, is what made me look up. (My three kids…Freelancing2 min read
Published in ART + marketing·Nov 27, 2018How to Solve the Right Problem for Your Freelance & Consulting Clients(plus, our template you can steal) Imagine that you are a clown wearing giant floppy shoes and a wig like a cotton candy explosion. Then, imagine you show up to a kid’s birthday party while feeling very uncomfortable because you personally hate clowns. The mom shows you to the backyard…Agency6 min read