Freelance Party Broadcast

Are you wondering how you can beat the competition and use social media to grow new opportunities as a freelancer? In our final episode of the series, Orla and Ben catch up with IPSE Ambassador and seasoned social media consultant Luan Wise, to find out how you can spread the word about your freelance business online and use strategy to win a following and future work. We also find out why sustainable marketing is important in business plans as a freelancer of the future and we discover Luan's top tips for how you can use organic and paid social strategy to promote your business.   

Do you love writing? Want to turn your passion into a freelance career but not sure where to start?     This week Orla and Ben are joined by award-winning journalist Donna Ferguson. We hear about her journey into the world of journalism, Donna shares advice for how you can start a career as a freelance journalist and we discuss the landscape of the industry including how journalists get paid. Donna Ferguson is a multiple award-winning freelance journalist, mainly for The Guardian and The Observer in the UK. She writes about education, arts, children, lifestyle, history, science, health, books, consumer trends and personal finance and was recently shortlisted for the top prize at the inaugural Freelance Writing Awards in the UK: Freelance Writer of the Year 2021.

We hear about how vital it is to find your niche a lot in the world of freelancing, but how can you find out what yours is?  This week Orla and Ben are joined by author and serial entrepreneur Alison Grade. She shares her top tips for sending the ultimate cold email pitch, actionable ways you can win clients and ultimately win work.  Alison uses her rare mix of creative, academic and business experience to help transform creative concepts into business reality. Alison spent 15 years working at senior level in many media companies – predominantly in international television and film production, rights management and strategy – but she also has formal academic training and is a Nesta-accredited Creative Enterprise Trainer.  Add to that mix that Alison is also an entrepreneur who has established her own businesses and it becomes clear why she is in such demand by many creative businesses as a consultant and non-exec. She is also the author of the Penguin bestseller, The Freelance Bible.  View Alison's work here: https://alisongrade.com/

Have you always wondered ‘what if' you went freelance? You have a great idea, but you're not sure what practical steps you should take to get started with going freelance? If your answer is 'yes' then this is the episode for you.  This week Orla and Ben speak with digital marketing expert Lou Nylander and we find out how she went from working the traditional 9-5 to creating her own marketing business. We also learn why finding your freelancing community is so vital when starting out and Lou shares her practical tips for you to flourish as a freelancer!  Lou has fifteen years of B2B digital marketing experience, managing global teams and shaping the course of some of the world's leading digital advertising companies, including MediaCom, AOL, The Huffington Post, Zenith and Unruly. In 2015, Lou founded 'Wildflowers of London', a social enterprise focused on empowering women. In Spring 2021, Lou launched her own marketing consultancy, dedicated to supporting founders and entrepreneurs.

This week Orla and Ben speak with entrepreneur Lizzie Penny and discuss how work patterns are changing. We explore the concept of the 9-5, dissect productivity and find out how you can make your schedule, lifestyle and ultimately - workstyle, cater to you and your wellbeing as a freelancer. Lizzie is an entrepreneur and a campaigner for ‘workstyle' - the freedom to choose when and where you work. She is fascinated by how new working practices can fundamentally redefine inclusion at work, whilst also improving wellbeing and step-changing productivity. She has co-authored a book on Workstyle which has been published by Hachette in 2022. When she is not being a spokesperson for the Workstyle Revolution, Lizzie focuses on virtual leadership and building cohesive cultures for autonomous organisations. Her restless drive towards improvement, effectiveness and inclusion is at the heart of why she co-founded successful B-Corp, Hoxby and continues to underpin everything she does. Interested in the book? You can find more information on Workstyle here: https://www.workstylerevolution.com/book

In this week's episode, Orla and Ben are joined by Laura Wallis, a freelance writer and speaker with expertise in women's healthcare, neurodiversity, and mental health. We find out how her passion took her from working on contracts with the NHS to setting up the organisation ‘Debating Mental Health' which delivered speech and debate coaching to young people with mental health support needs, to improve their confidence, self-esteem and help create an accessible community.  We also discuss what neurodiversity is, why it's vital to be aware of it, how freelancers can access supportive communities and we learn Laura's top tips for public speaking. 

Every fortnight, join hosts Orla and Ben as they quiz an expert on an issue that affects you, with the goal of answering an important question. Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring freelancers who share their story with us, insider tips and valuable advice for you in your own freelancing career. Submit a question you would like an expert to answer by emailing content@freelancecorner.co.uk 

Freelance Corner is the podcast for the UK's freelance community. Every fortnight, join hosts Orla and Ben as they quiz an expert on an issue that affects you, with the goal of answering an important question. Is there a question you would like us to answer? Email content@freelancecorner.co.uk to have your question answered. Jaime Gill is an award-winning creative, copywriter and communications consultant with over 20 years experience. He strives to make a social impact and has created campaigns for global organizations including UNICEF and NGOs.  We discover Jaime's career journey starting in journalism, to commercial public relations, and then taking the leap to work in Cambodia with non-profit and humanitarian organizations. Our discussion explores what it takes to set up a freelancing career abroad and how overcoming the fear of self-promotion is vital as a freelancer. We also learn what significance awards can have for freelancers, how they can help create new opportunities and the power of a good idea.  Interested in Jaime's work? Check out his website boxclevercreative.com and find him on Linkedin here.  You can find out more about the IPSE Freelancer awards here.

Every fortnight, join hosts Orla and Ben as they quiz an expert on an issue that affects you, with the goal of answering an important question. Is there a question you would like us to answer? Email content@freelancecorner.co.uk to have your question answered. This week, Orla and Ben caught up with IPSE member Katy Carlisle, otherwise known as the SQ SP Queen. Katy is a web designer who is passionate about all things website design and making her schedule work for her. Katy is also the founder of Freelance Folk, the co-host of the podcast 99 Problems (but a boss ain't one), IPSE Member Forum leader, and judge for IPSE's 2021 Freelancer of the Year Awards.   We delve into Katy's journey so far as a freelancer, discover how she manages to balance so many different plates as a freelancer and she gives advice on how you can achieve a healthy work-life balance and establish boundaries as a freelancer. We also discuss client red flags, how best you can avoid them and practical tips for how to make your schedule work for you as a freelancer, so that you can enjoy the flexibility of freelancing - to the fullest!  Katy's website: https://www.sqspqueen.com/ Katy's social: https://twitter.com/katycarlisle Freelance Folk: https://www.freelancefolk.co.uk/ Listen to Katy's podcast 99 Problems (but a boss ain't one): https://spoti.fi/3UIWJFn IPSE's Spotify playlists for freelancers: https://spoti.fi/3TLVJ2b Katy's recommended scheduling tool: https://calendly.com/

Freelance Corner is the podcast for the UK's freelance community. Each episode, our hosts quiz an expert with the aim of answering a question sent in by our listeners. Is there a question you would like us to answer? Email content@freelancecorner.co.uk to have your question answered. An update from the team at Freelance Corner: One of our wonderful podcast hosts, Jess, has moved on to a new role at The Times. We're absolutely delighted for her and she's left big shoes to fill! The podcast will be taking a short hiatus but please stay subscribed, listen to past episodes, and keep sending us your questions and comments!

In the past year, lots of creatives have seen their work dry up, due to the coronavirus pandemic. So much so, that research by IPSE found that 1 in 3 freelancers struggled to pay their tax return in January, and over a quarter said that the tax bill had a “strong negative impact” on their finances.  It’s more important than ever that we talk about the mental health implications of the pandemic. In this episode, we have two guests, Sarah McCaffery and Rachel Murray. Sarah is from Solas Mind, a mental health support service for freelancers who work in the creative sectors. Rachel is a writer, editor, and founder of Pivot: a newsletter that helps people pivot in a new job, career path or industry. The pivot website says it is without the “BS, hyperbole or motivational quotes.” 

Author of Freelance Corner favourite book Survival Skills for Freelancers joins Jess and guest co-host Christina McLean to discuss the practical tips offered in Sarah's book. With over 20 years' experience as a freelancer, Sarah shares her top tips, busts some myths, and gives fantastic advice for freelancers. Check out Sarah's website and book here. 

In this episode, the editor of Working Dads (https://www.workingdads.co.uk/author/james-millar/) James Millar joins Laura Livingstone, an executive coach (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-livingstone-256a7013b/?originalSubdomain=uk) who helps parents and teachers build emotional resilience and confidence during times of change and challenge.  Now we near the end of homeschooling, the guests explain how things might change post-lockdown, now that more parents realise the pressures of working from home with homeschooling. They also answer questions sent in from listeners, including how to explain your freelance work to unsympathetic children.

This week, Faye and Jess welcome Victoria Prince, a marketing consultant and founder of Touchpoints Marketing (https://touchpointsmarketing.co.uk/) . Victoria helps recent graduates, freelancers and entrepreneurs launch their businesses and use marketing to help them reach their potential. In this episode, Victoria offers timeless advice for recent graduates on how to stand out, the best way to sell your services, and when to become a freelancer. She also answers questions from listeners, such as how to politely ask for LinkedIn recommendations. For listeners, please find Freelance Corner's guide to setting rates here (https://freelancecorner.co.uk/tools/guides/) , which members can access for free.

Liz Johnson is a former gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer for Team GB. After retiring at 30, she has now focused her attention on helping disabled freelancers find work. Last year she launched The Ability People with her business partner, an initiative to help disabled freelancers find meaningful work. The pair launched Podium, a freelance jobs board for disabled freelancers.  Liz discusses how her career to date shaped her new venture, how freelancers can use the Podium platform, and how they can get paid. She also answers questions sent in from listeners, such as if the rates are fair, and how to disclose your disability to clients.

Faye and Jess are joined by CMME's head of mortgages Simon Wheeler, who answers questions about how to get a mortgage as a freelancer. Simon covers everything, from how to save for a deposit with a fluctuating income, Stamp Duty savings, and the documentation you need to apply for a mortgage. Simon also answered questions from listeners, including how to meet the affordability criteria as a freelancer, if it's harder to get a mortgage as a freelancer, and what to do if you currently have no savings. 

Faye and Jess are joined by Fiona Thomas, author of 'Out of Office: Ditch the 9-5 and Be Your Own Boss', to discuss how to start out as a freelancer during the coronavirus pandemic.  Spending more time at home this year might have allowed you more space to reflect — perhaps it’s even given you the opportunity to re-evaluate your way of working. Given the current economic climate and potential job instability, you might be considering going freelance for the first time. But how do you make it work in the midst of a pandemic?

Freelance Corner is the podcast for the UK's freelance community. Each week, hosts Faye and Jess enlist the help of an expert to answer a common question freelancers ask. Nothing is off limits, from how to find freelance writing jobs, how to avoid cyber crime, even how to find love as a freelancer.  Submit a question you would like an expert to answer by emailing content@freelancecorner.co.uk. Or to be our featured freelancer of the week, email us the biggest success you have had this week. 

Faye and Jess are joined by Patrick, a representative of the West Midlands Cyber Crime Unit, who gives advice on how freelancers can avoid cyber crime. In this episode, Patrick explains why our home Wi-Fi routers could actually be a gateway for cyber criminals, and how to avoid it. Patrick answers questions from you, our listeners, about topics such as how to safely store passwords.  With the number of online fraud cases rising since the start of the pandemic, Patrick gives timely advice. Listen now to make sure your business is protected. 

In this week's episode, Ella and Jess answer the question: How can freelancers deal with rejection? It's a tough one to answer - which is why we enlisted the help of Jenny Stallard, founder of Freelance Feels, an online community, podcast and blog tackling the mental health challenges faced by freelancers. Jenny also answers questions from listeners, including how to stop comparing yourself to other freelancers. Rejection isn't easy, and Freelance Corner is here to help. Head to freelancecorner.co.uk today for advice on all freelance matters.

This week, the hosts question Louise Goss, editor of The Homeworker magazine, about how to make working from home a bit easier for freelancers. This episode goes beyond the classic "buy a desk" advice, and acknowledges that not everyone can afford a dedicated workspace. We cover how to create a workspace with what you have, how to keep your workspace tidy, and how to create a portable workspace.  Louise also answers questions sent in from freelancers, such as how to avoid distractions when working from home and how to make the most out of a tiny workspace.  For more information, check out www.thehomeworker.com

Coronavirus means the next few years look worrying. But did you know that freelancers are actually more in demand in financial crises? As more companies rely on the flexible workforce of the UK's freelancers, find out how to adapt your business to make sure you stay in demand and can find freelance work. Ruth Wilson, a freelancer who is a television producer, director and editor as well as a qualified life coach, joins us to talk about her experiences during the 2008 financial crash. Ruth had to adapt her business to weather the financial storm and 12 years later, has advice for freelancers facing a financial crisis now. Ryan Barnett, economic policy adviser from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE), also joins us to talk about the freelance economy, and what freelancers should expect over the next few years. Read IPSE's Freelance Confidence Index here (https://www.ipse.co.uk/policy/freelance-confidence-index-hub.html )  to find out how the economy impacts freelancers. 

Faye and Jess are joined by Linda Davies-Carr, known as the 'master fixer', to chat about ways to scale your freelance business during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Faye and Jess are joined by tax adviser and director of MJH Accountancy (https://www.mjhaccountancy.com/) , Eoin Holohan about the expenses freelancers can claim when they work from home. Eoin answers questions such as: can I still claim for my car? How do I claim expenses when I flatshare? Can I claim for products I get paid to review?

Faye and Jess are joined by Toby Tetrault, head of marketing at Freelance Corner and IPSE, to discuss how to market your freelance business during the Coronavirus pandemic. Freelancers ask questions such as what to avoid doing at the moment, and how to market on a budget!

Faye and Jess are joined by Kully Samra, a director at digital wealth management service, Nutmeg. Freelancers ask if investing is a good idea when incomes fluctuate, how to get started, and where to invest.  Listen to this beginner's guide to investing as a freelancer and find out if investing is right for you! 

Faye and Jess are joined by Stuart Ulrich, Freelance Corner's IT support manager. Stuart answers questions sent in by freelancers and busts myths around WiFi boosters. If you have ever lost a document, or been unable to get your laptop to turn on, listen in! 

Faye and Jess are joined by Deborah Bulcock, coach, consultant and bestselling author of Have it all without burning out (https://www.deborahbulcock.com/haveitall/) . Find resources on Deborah's website here (https://www.deborahbulcock.com/haveitall/) .  This week, Faye and Jess ask Deborah how to combat burnout, looking at the areas that particularly affect freelancers, such as prolonged periods of isolation and not being able to switch off or take time off work. 

Faye and Jess are joined by Sian Meades-Williams, the creator of newsletter Freelance Writing Jobs. Sian, who is also the agony aunt for Freelance Corner, explains key mistakes to avoid as a freelance writer, and the best ways to find work right now.  For more information, head to freelancecorner.co.uk

Full disclaimer - we recorded this before lockdown. Hannah shares some useful advice for working out from home, and not comparing yourself to others, and we hope it still helps. Faye and Jess are joined by Hannah Lewin, a personal trainer, to discuss how freelancers can incorporate workouts and fitness into their routines. Hannah also answers the questions sent in by freelancers. 

This week, Faye and Jess are joined by financial planner Ian Richards, to talk about ways freelancers can save for later life. Does the p-word give you a knot in your stomach? Fear not, this is a beginner's guide and no question is stupid! We know savings may be the last thing on your mind right now, but making a plan for when things get back to normal could be a really good use of your time. Find Ian's free pension guide for the self-employed here (https://mailchi.mp/d80c976d0235/pension-guide) , and check out loads of handy free resources on his website: worktolivefinancialplanning.com. 

In week 3 of the Coronavirus series, Faye and Jess are joined by Alison Grade, author of The Freelance Bible, to chat about ways freelancers can use this lockdown period to work on their businesses. For more Coronavirus support for freelancers, head to freelancecorner.co.uk

Faye and Jess are joined by Jason Maude, Chief Technology Advocate for Starling Bank. Jason talks about the loans available to freelancers, how Starling is helping their customers, and all freelancers need to be aware of during the lockdown. 

The girls are joined by Lucy Werner, author of Hype Yourself: A No-nonsense PR Toolkit for Small Businesses, to talk about how to best communicate with your clients during the Coronavirus pandemic. Lucy also gives freelancers some top tips on using PR to help your business activity while things may go a bit quiet.

On this week's bonus podcast, Faye and Jess are joined by Ryan Barnett, Economic Policy Adviser for The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE (https://www.ipse.co.uk/) ). After a turbulent few weeks in the policy world, Ryan simplifies what has happened this week, and what to expect in the coming months for freelancers.

Hands up... who has demolished an entire pack of biscuits in one sitting? Learn how to snack in a healthy way as this week, Faye and Jess are joined by nutritional therapist Beth Edwards (https://www.bethedwardsnutrition.com/) to talk about ways we can all eat better - but especially when we work from home.

This week, Faye and Jess are joined by Information Security Consultant, Giles Hamlin, from Protection Group International (https://www.pgitl.com/) . Find out what you need to do to stay compliant, and how to keep up-to-date with any changes. 

Faye and Jess are joined by Dr Michael Farquhar, a sleep consultant for the NHS, who busts the myths around ‘good sleep’ and explains how freelancers can improve their sleep.

Everyone has mental health – we all have our ups and downs and that doesn’t mean something is wrong. But we have to keep an eye on our mental health, especially when we freelance, as many report feeling isolated.   Faye and Jess enlist the help of Matthew Knight from Leapers.co (https://www.leapers.co/) , an online community to support the mental health of freelancers and the self-employed. 

Freelance Party Broadcast is the podcast brought to you by Freelance Corner, the online platform for the UK's freelancers. Each week, hosts Faye and Jess quiz experts on the topics you care about. As well as more podcasts, find exciting content, events, and like-minded freelancers at freelancecorner.co.uk (http://freelancecorner.co.uk/)

This week, Faye and Jess are joined by networking coach Angharad Salazer Llewellyn, founder of The Flex Network (http://www.theflexnetwork.co.uk/) , who teaches us the best ways to network. 

Faye and Jess are joined by Faye Dicker, who is better known as Freelance Mum. Faye, who runs networking events targeted equally at freelance parents and their children, answers your questions on ways to beat the guilt of juggling work and parenting responsibilities.  

Have you ever told your family that you are working over Christmas, when really you are just ten episodes deep in a new box set? Faye and Jess read the festive confessions sent in from freelancers. 

Faye and Jess are joined by Iona Bain, founder of The Young Money Blog (https://youngmoneyblog.co.uk) , who explains how to financially prepare for the new year.

Faye and Joined by Andy Chamberlain, self-employment tax and policy expert, to discuss the key dates in 2020 that freelancers need to prepare for.

Freelance Party Broadcast is the podcast brought to you by Freelance Corner, the online platform for the UK's freelancers. As well as more podcasts, find exciting content, events, and like-minded freelancers at freelancecorner.co.uk (http://freelancecorner.co.uk/) This week, we bring you the ultimate gift guide for freelancers!  Further information Fancy buying something you heard about on the podcast? Find the links below! Our top buys: Faye's Cocorose London Hoxton trainers, £115 (https://www.cocoroselondon.com/hoxton-gold-with-black-stars-trainers.html) . Jess's Smarter Than Most backpack, £99.95 (https://www.stmgoods.com/product/myth-backpack-18/) . Miranda's RugBuddy, prices start from £119 (https://www.bewarmer.co.uk/rugbuddy-under-rug-heating/) . Jess's Power Bank & Mirror, £24.99 (https://www.prezzybox.com/pretty-useful-power-bank-mirror.aspx) . Miranda's small business diary planner, £45 (https://www.dream-plan-do.com/shop/the-design-trust-creative-business-diary-planner-2020) . Miranda's desk planner (https://www.dottyaboutpaper.co.uk/pinking-out-loud-desk-planner) , £7.50 Charity gifts: RSPCA hot water bottle with dogs on, £6.99 (https://shop.rspca.org.uk/acatalog/Doggy-Love-Hot-Water-Bottle-81244.html#SID=40) . RSPCA reusable cat water bottle, £19.99 (https://shop.rspca.org.uk/acatalog/Planet-Cat-Water-Bottle-81544.html#SID=40) . RSPCA socks for cat lovers (https://shop.rspca.org.uk/acatalog/Long-Socks---Cat-81455.html#SID=40) (4.99) and dog lovers (https://shop.rspca.org.uk/acatalog/Pawsome-Odd-Socks-81473.html#SID=40) (13.49) . RSPCA Christmas cards (https://shop.rspca.org.uk/acatalog/christmas-cards-p1.html) , £3.75 Great Ormand Street Hospital 2020 diary and planner (https://shop.gosh.org/catalogue/home-and-office/2020-to-do-diary) , £9.99

Olga Fitzroy from the Shared Parental Pay Equality campaign, and James Millar from Working Dads, join Faye and Jess to discuss the rights of freelance parents. Further information: Find out more about the Parental Pay Equality campaign here (http://www.parentalpayequality.org.uk/) . Check out Working Dads (https://www.workingdads.co.uk/) , an online platform and community for, you guessed it, working dads. Did you hear the Pregnant Then Screwed website mentioned? Have a browse here (https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/) .

Faye and Jess read the confessions sent in from freelancers on what they get up to when they work from home - including a woman who accidentally appeared topless on a Skype call!

With Brexit clogging up the headlines, do you know what each party says about the issues that affect freelancers?  Faye and Jess quiz Simon McVicker and Alasdair Hutchison from IPSE on the political positions of the three major parties. 

Late payment affects most freelancers, but do you know your rights? Ryan Barnett, Economic Policy Adviser at IPSE, joins Faye and Jess to discuss what your rights are, how to prevent late payment, and what to do if someone refuses to pay. Ryan also answers the questions sent in by listeners. Read IPSE's manifesto for the self-employed (https://www.ipse.co.uk/5millionvotes-ipse-2019-election-manifesto.html) , which is being sent to all political candidates. 

Are you ready to ask for a pay rise? Faye and Jess are joined by Catherine Davies, who teaches women the formula of how to ask for a pay rise. Catherine explains how this can be different for women in freelancing, how freelancers can set their rates, and how to know if the time is right to ask for a pay rise. Find out more about Catherine's Pay Rise Accelerator courses here (https://www.payriseaccelerator.com/) .