Freelance Opportunities in Marketing

Difficult people test your communication skills. Here's how you likely respond: Either react or retreat.  But both will cost you in the long run. I've worked with 100s of founders... All of them have dealt with at least one of the following: - Demanding clients - Pushy partners - Meetings that spiral In all these cases, you need to balance being "nice" with staying in control.  Here are the techniques I use to handle high-stakes conversations: 1️⃣ Don’t react. Redirect. ↳ Pause, then say: “Let’s focus on the outcome you need." This pulls the conversation back to value instead of emotion. 2️⃣ Name the pattern, not the person. ↳ “We’ve moved the deadline three times. How do we make this stick?” This makes them accountable, rather than defensive. 3️⃣ Use silence on purpose. ↳ After stating your price or boundary, stop talking. Silence creates pressure, and when you fill it, you instantly lose control. 4️⃣ Make them repeat it. ↳ If someone says something aggressive, ask them to repeat it. Watch how they'll soften or rethink immediately.  5️⃣ Ask what’s really going on. ↳ “This feels like more than pricing. What’s the real concern?” You can’t solve what isn’t surfaced. 6️⃣ Set boundaries early. ↳ “Here’s what’s in scope. Anything beyond this needs a new agreement.” You'll avoid endless rounds of negotiation. 7️⃣ Don’t match their energy. ↳ Lower your voice. Walk through it step-by-step. Calm people control conversations. 8️⃣ Call out the cost of delay. ↳ “Each week this stays undecided costs you X. When will that become a problem?” Inaction only changes when it comes with a price tag. As a founder, it's your job to manage difficult interactions,  And keep your emotions and opinions in check. By staying calm and in control of the room, You'll create opportunities that open doors. How do you handle high-stakes conversations?  Comment below with your thoughts. For more business communication frameworks that work when the stakes are high, My weekly newsletter, Network to Net Worth, is your playbook. Subscribe here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gFp5bEbt ♻️ Repost to help others communicate with more impact. And follow me, Rohan Sheth, for more on building relationships that build your business.

Dear freelancers, This year, I need you to run your strictest programme yet. No more “let’s just see how it goes” energy. We’re moving like strict businesses. okurrr. Start here: 1/ Have contracts in place. Every time. 2/ Set communication hours. You’re not a 24/7 helpline. 3/ Stick to your T&Cs. Boundaries are part of the service. 4/ Take deposits. Your calendar is not a free holding space. 5/ If a potential client is giving you the runaround, run away. 6/ Get clear on the scope before you start. “Can you just…” will finish you. 7/ Don’t undercharge yourself just to “secure the bag.” Cheap clients are rarely low stress. BUT. By doing all this, you also need to make sure your service is matching the standards you’re setting. Professionalism isn’t one-sided. So also: ✨ Deliver on time. Or communicate early. ✨ Make the process smooth, not stressful. ✨ Overcommunicate progress so clients feel secure. ✨ Take pride in the details; quality is your reputation. ✨ Leave clients feeling like they made the right investment. This isn’t just about helping yourself. It helps the whole freelance community. When you undercharge, overdeliver for free, ignore contracts, or move messy, it lowers the standard for everyone else trying to run a serious business. We can be kind. We can be flexible. But we cannot be unserious. Yours sincerely, A seasoned freelancer

"Why so stupid to quit your job? 5-figure salary, aren't you happy?" This is my journey from Freelancing to Freedom. May not be for everyone. 👇🏻 Side hustles are all the buzz right now. '9 to 5 pays your bills. Your 5-12 builds your dreams' (Internet meme) Your corporate day job = stable pay check. Your after-office hours = dream building Is it that easy? 🤐 I quit my sales job close to a decade ago. At that time, my salary was >5-figures monthly. Decent for a graduate with 1+ years of working experience. On top of that, I was "freelancing" as a speaker and coach, with blessings from my bosses. But I knew these were important if I were quit my job to do it full-time: → Priorities - clarity of intentions and goals → Plan - roadmap on how to get there (and paid, well and consistently) → Potential - both short and long-term viability and sustainability So many lessons I've learnt but here are my top three: #1/ 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙣. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩'𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 💸 Too many freelancers and self-employed don't know their numbers: 1. Minimum monthly burn rate - what's your monthly expenses that you can afford to live leanly, to build your runway and dreams? 2. Emergency expenses - at least 9 to 12 months of expenses in bank 3. Earning equivalence - my rule was that my freelance income had to equalize my monthly job income 3 months consecutively before I could quit Throw in activity, client and pipeline management for the savvier ones! #2/ 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 🌟 I wanted to become a speaker and coach during my university years. Consciously and consistently seeding the work I do, philosophy, client engagements, lessons, wins and even failures on Facebook and LinkedIn made me #topofmind. Transiting to a full-time "freelancer" was a lot smoother because people already knew, liked and trusted me. Great personal brands are not built overnight. But over many nights (and days). #3/ 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝. 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙. ❌ Being a freelancer is NOT freedom when you are stuck with low fees, clients from hell and poor delivery. The way out is UP. You have to learn to know and charge your worth when your work has delivered value multiples, in relation to the investment. Yet, most freelancers also suffer from self-doubt and esteem issues. They should work with a coach to transcend those. Or read books on value-based fees and million dollar consulting / speaking from Alan Weiss. -- I took a gamble on myself at 26. And thankfully, my "freelance career" has taken off and me to over 20 cities to teach over 65,000 leaders as one of the youngest paid speakers in Asia. Was it risky to quit my job? Well for me, it was always riskier not to. How about you? #personalbranding #freelancers #business

Your next chapter won’t start itself - it’s time to own your transition. The longer you wait, the harder it feels. Start small, start now - your transition begins with one step today. Shifting from a draining role to a purpose-driven business doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It’s all about simple, intentional steps. Here are 7 steps to ease your transition: Step 1: Cut the energy leaks. ➔ Say no to unnecessary commitments that drain your focus. ➔ Create boundaries around your time, your energy is your most valuable asset. Step 2: Plan your financial runway. ➔ Calculate how much you need to sustain yourself for 6–12 months. ➔ Create a backup plan, like part-time work or a side hustle, to ease the pressure. Step 3: Shift your mindset. ➔ Start putting on your CEO hat ➔ Invest in training, tools, and habits that align with where you want to go. Step 4: Position yourself online. ➔ Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your expertise and what you offer. ➔ Share stories or insights to show potential clients how you can solve their problems. Step 5: Share value to build trust. ➔ Post weekly content that speaks directly to the people you want to help. ➔ Engage with others’ posts, relationships matter just as much as content. Step 6: Build in public. ➔ Share your journey as you grow - successes, lessons, and even challenges. ➔ Let your audience see the real, human side of you, it’s how trust is built. Step 7: Take messy action. ➔ Test your offer or service, even if it’s not perfect - feedback will guide you. ➔ Track what works and tweak your approach as you grow. Transitioning isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about starting where you are and taking the next step. Ready to stop dreaming and start building? I have a detailed transition roadmap for you in the comments. P.S. Which step will you focus on today?

I’ve worked with 50+ freelance clients in the last 3 years. If I have to restart my journey from scratch in 2024, here's what I would do: ▶ 1. Zeroing in on 1 client Your first client is your first touchpoint in the professional landscape. So I’d focus solely on them. Learn on the job - hone my hard skills, communication and client management so I can retain them for a long time. ▶ 2: Testing the waters I’ll experiment with different niches for the first 6 months and understand the ins and outs of multiple industries. Find which industry interests me the most and is profitable in the long run. ▶ 3: Niching down Once I have experience, I’ll niche down and tailor my services to one industry. This will allow me to build a strong portfolio and bag high ticket clients. Being a generalist can only take you so far. ▶ 4: Documenting the process Building systems can free up your time to invest in tasks that can bring direct revenue to your business. For example, upskilling and reaching out to prospects. So I’ll document my process and build robust systems. ▶ 5. Setting boundaries from day 1 I have had some horrible experiences with clients. So to avoid that, I’ll set boundaries by conveying my work hours, systems and processes in advance. I’ll be flexible, but will draw the line when necessary. Starting freelancing in 2024 is tough but not impossible. In fact, if you focus on the right things, it could be the best decision you can ever make. #freelancing #freelancecopywriter #emailmarketer

There’s a reason more senior professionals are moving into consulting right now. The traditional promise of stability from a single employer is breaking down. Layoffs are constant. Industries are shifting faster than org charts can keep up. As Meredith Klein (she/her) recently wrote in Inc. Magazine: Consultants are the new C-suite. Are you considering taking the leap? After twelve years as a career freelancer who’s consulted most of that time, here’s my advice on transitioning into consulting: 1. Value it!! Start by identifying the value you provide to others—not the services you sell. What meaningful outcome do clients get from your expertise? Productivity gains? Risk mitigation? Revenue protection? Strategic clarity? Then build from there. 2. Package it! Turn that value into clear, structured offerings. Define the format, duration, scope, and price. Advisory. Training. Coaching. Retainers. Whatever. Make it easy for companies to say yes and also protect your own bandwidth in the process. 3. Communicate it!!! People won’t know you’ve made the shift unless you tell them. Talk about it publicly. Reach out privately. Activate your network. A simple “I now help X with Y, keep me in mind if anything relevant comes past your desk” goes further than you think. Here’s the article that inspired this: https://lnkd.in/efZnmVxs #freelance #selfemployment #consulting #careerpivot

Tough clients can be a blessing—or a warning. Knowing the difference changes everything. Recently, we faced a challenging situation with a client for whom we manage their company page content. The article draft got approved in one go, but we struggled with the cover image creative. Despite multiple rounds of innovation, theme exploration, and fresh designs, nothing seemed to click. At first, my team was frustrated. "We’re giving it everything. Why aren’t they happy?" That's when I stepped in to share something I’ve learned over time: Not every rejection is rejection. Sometimes, it’s an invitation to refine your craft. I always tell my team, before labelling a client as “difficult,” ask yourself: ↳If you were in their shoes, would you raise the same objections? ↳Are they pointing out gaps you can genuinely improve? ↳Or are they creating noise without adding clarity? Tough clients who push you to be better are worth listening to. They help you polish your service, refine your delivery, and raise your standards. But tough clients who drain your energy without direction teach you a different lesson: when it's time to walk away. As founders, it’s our responsibility to groom our teams to see criticism objectively, stay open, and yet, protect their energy when it’s clear the relationship isn’t mutually rewarding. It’s not easy. It comes with experience. But learning this distinction is crucial if you want to build a business that grows with integrity—and without burnout. What’s been your experience with tough clients? Any lessons that shaped your approach? #entrepreneurship #personalbranding #agency

Do NOT become an SEO freelancer. Sure, freelancing is lucrative, but it is VERY unpredictable. Here is a MUCH better, LESS risky way of transitioning into freelancing: - Get a job. Learn on the job and sharpen your skills. Remember that your job(s) is a case study for which YOU are being paid. Can’t get better than that. - Learn to do what needs to be done rather than what you feel like doing. This skill is going to be very helpful when you are a freelancer. - Spend 30 minutes a day building your personal brand on LinkedIn/X. Your freelancing business will not take off without a sales pipeline, and it will be much harder to build one without a personal brand. Did I mention that building a personal brand is free of cost? - Find 2-4 hours per week to help potential clients (for free). These “clients” are your guinea pigs. Practice your skills, pitching, consulting and building client relationships with these guys. - Use your job + free clients' work as proof of work/results to approach and close paid clients. I am saying this as if it is going to be a walk in the park. You will need to learn sales/copywriting to become better at this. - Create a runway for 6 months (6 X monthly expenses). Even better if you can build a runway for 1 year. Income from freelancing can be VERY unpredictable. You need to create a financial cushion for yourself. - Once your freelancing business pays as much as your salary, consider going all in. But here is a quick litmus test to know whether you are truly ready: - Were you a top performer in your job? - Did your free clients really get results? - Were you able to keep your paid clients beyond 6 months? Is this foolproof? Definitely not. But it is definitely safer and a better path to get into freelancing.

How to Transition from a Job to Freelancing After years of working in a 9-to-5 job, you wake up one morning with an idea that excites you more than anything you’ve ever felt before. You want to be your own boss, choose your own projects, and have the freedom to work from wherever you want. But how do you take that leap? How do you transition from the structured world of a traditional job to the exciting yet uncertain realm of freelancing? The first step is understanding that freelancing isn’t just about leaving your job. It’s about rethinking your mindset, recognizing that freelancing isn’t always the smoothest path, it requires patience, planning, and persistence. The journey typically starts with small steps. Here are some actionable tips for you: 📍Start small: Begin freelancing as a side hustle while keeping your full-time job to test the waters and build confidence. 📍Identify your niche: Focus on skills you excel at and enjoy. Specializing helps you stand out in a competitive market. 📍Build a portfolio: Showcase your best work to attract potential clients. Include projects from your current job or volunteer work (with permission). 📍Research market demand: Study industry trends and platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn to understand what services clients are seeking. 📍Set clear financial goals: Calculate how much income you need to cover expenses and how many clients or projects it will take to meet those goals. 📍Create a budget and savings cushion: Save at least 3–6 months’ worth of expenses to ensure financial stability during the transition. 📍Establish your online presence: Build a professional LinkedIn profile, a personal website, or a portfolio site to showcase your skills and services. The transition from a job to freelancing may not be immediate or easy. With the right mindset, preparation, and resilience, you can carve out a path that allows you to enjoy the freedom and fulfillment of being your own boss.

Paritosh Anand, Anik Jain, & Vedika Bhaia open up about their freelancing journeys. And it’s pure gold ✨ Ayush Shukla brings these experts together in an insightful conversation about: • Finding your first client. • Turning freelancing into a full-time career. • Building and scaling your own agency, etc. Packed with actionable tips, this interview is a must-watch for anyone looking to dive into freelancing. Here are the key takeaways and lessons I learned 👇 📌 Who should start freelancing? • If you want to play the long-term entrepreneurship game, freelancing is step one. • If you have decent knowledge of a skill & want to work on your own terms. 📌 How to pick the right skill? • Experiment with different things to discover what you’re good at & passionate about. • Use the hit-and-trial method to find your niche. 📌 How to master a skill? • Learn from YouTube, blogs, and books. • Consume content from experts and recognize patterns. • Take online courses on platforms like Udemy or Coursera. • Build proof of work through passion projects to test & showcase your skills. 📌 How to get your first client? • Start by working for free to build case studies & gather testimonials. • Use cold emails to reach out to anyone directly. • Build a personal brand. Put yourself out there, & clients will come to you. 📌 How to build a core team? • Hire for intent and values. • Skills can be taught, but attitude can’t. • Spend time with your team and build a strong culture. 📌 How to keep clients happy? • Overcommunicate: Provide regular updates to make clients feel heard & important. • Overdeliver: Exceed expectations to make clients happy & ensure they return. ------------ If you found this helpful, share it with someone who’s starting their freelancing journey ♻️