6 Figure Creative

I wanted to share something with you that's been on my mind lately... as a self-taught entrepreneur, I skipped SO many of the basics when it comes to running a healthy business. This dawned on me when I found myself looking up answers to things most people should know when they first start their businesses. This made me realize that the vast majority of freelancers probably have similar blind spots in their own businesses, so I've decided to do something to celebrate our 250th episode... We're taking a step back from our normal "advanced" topics to revisit the fundamental basics of freelancing, and I'm inviting you to join me on this journey. No matter your experience level or income, we all have something to learn and improve. In this episode (and the upcoming series), I'll be sharing my own experiences as a self-taught freelancer who's made multiple millions but still needs to figure out some of the basic things I've skipped. My goal is for us, the 6 Figure Creative Community, to come together and create healthier, happier businesses. And I believe that starts by focusing on the fundamentals. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/250

This week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative podcast is part 2 of my in-depth discussion with Mike Cervantes. Mike is a highly successful freelance mastering engineer who has collaborated with renowned artists such as Dolly Parton, Avril Lavigne, and Snoop Dogg. His impressive achievements include over 23 Billboard #1s and at least two gold records. In this episode, Mike shares his secrets on how he's built out systems to manage and fulfill thousands of projects per year. He also discusses the future of his business (including Dolby Atmos & AI) and what he thinks it takes to become a one-person 7 figure freelancer. This episode is jam-packed with valuable insights and practical advice from one of the most successful creatives in the industry. Whether you're an audio engineer, a graphic designer, a videographer, or any other type of creative freelancer, you'll find something to take away from this episode. In this episode you’ll discover: Dealing with growing pains in your business Why a second set of gear is only worthwhile if you're running in-the-box Setting yourself up for a long career while having a home life The future of mastering and AI Atmos vs. stereo audio Competing in a market where tens of thousands of songs are added to Spotify daily For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/249

Ever felt like you're a tiny fish who's struggling to stand out in a vast ocean? Like you're drowning in the "sea of sameness" in an overcompetitive industry? If that's you, here's the good news: There's hope... You can still succeed... even when you're starting out as a "copycat" in a highly competitive market. This week's episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to make a name for themselves in the audio industry (or any competitive industry, for that matter) Meet Mike, a multi-six-figure freelance mastering engineer who's swum with the big fish, working with A-list clients like Dolly Parton, Avril Lavigne, and Snoop Dogg. With over 23 Billboard #1s and at least two gold records under his belt, Mike's here to help you navigate the choppy waters of freelancing success. In this must-listen episode, Mike shares his insights on: How he got traction early in his career despite the competition The importance of choosing a business name vs. going under his personal name His evolving approach to client acquisition from his early days until now The art of juggling thousands of projects per year without losing sight of quality and passion Whether you're an audio professional, or just someone interested in the behind-the-scenes of the music industry, this conversation with Mike Cervantes is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/248

Do you ever feel like your freelance business could be so much more, but you're missing a few key ingredients? Imagine a world where your perfect clients are eager to work with you, your rates keep climbing, projects run like a well-oiled machine, and clients keep coming back for more. We've got just the right insights for you in our latest podcast episode! In this episode, we'll explore the essential elements needed to create a thriving, successful freelance business. Just like a photographer needs a camera, lens, and the perfect lighting, your business calls for specific components to flourish and grow. We'll dive into the three core building blocks that will help you craft a complete, well-rounded freelance business: An exceptional "product": Sharpen your creative skills, set yourself apart from the sea of sameness, perfect your onboarding process, and streamline the fulfillment, revision, and delivery stages. A proven business model: Uncover the pros and cons of four appetizing business models - hourly billing, project-based, retainer/subscription, and commission-based - and choose the one that best suits your niche and goals. A process for attracting clients: Learn the art of lead generation, lead nurturing, sales, and referral processes that will keep your pipeline full and draw the clients you've always wanted. As a passion-driven freelancer, you might find it challenging to think of your work as a "well-oiled machine." But embracing this mindset will unlock more income, fewer headaches, and consistent growth for your creative business. Don't miss the chance to tap into your full creative potential and turn your creative skills into a thriving, fulfilling business. In this episode you’ll discover: How your business is like a car The three machines to improve your business Tailoring the experience of every client for the ultimate luxury Using systems and processes for consistency Offering a productized service vs. a bespoke service Subscription vs. single-sale businesses Creating your lead generation process Staying top of mind with lead nurture How to qualify your leads For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/247

Ever stumbled upon someone who's basically a human ATM, overflowing with cash, and still living the dream without a care in the world? No? Well, neither have I, but let's talk about them for a sec. These super successful, carefree people seem almost mythical, don't they? It feels like people are either working 24/7, kissing their social lives goodbye, or they're partying non-stop, leaving their businesses to collect cobwebs. And then there's the majority whose lives are just a hot mess in general. But what about those exceptional folks who've got everything under control? Well, they follow this little thing called The 80/20 Rule. You've probably heard of The 80/20 Rule before, but maybe you haven't given it much thought (like those New Year's resolutions or that gym membership card you never used). If you're wondering what The 80/20 Rule is or you just need a reminder on how to use this magical life hack, this episode is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: What is the 80/20 principle, anyway? How the 80/20 principle affects your business Maximizing your profits by reducing your workload Enriching your personal life using the 80/20 principle How to review your business through the 80/20 lens What not to do when you have a “f*¢k it” moment Dealing with shiny object syndrome using the 80/20 principle Prioritizing the pillars of your life For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/246

Are you ready to make your freelance life more efficient, enjoyable, and, let's face it, less chaotic? Our latest podcast episode is the perfect companion for your creative journey! Discover the secrets to organizing your freelance business for more consistency and room to grow. Say goodbye to flying by the seat of your pants and welcome the magic of creating your very own "recipes" using the TOTS Playbook Method. In this episode, we explore: Starting small: Pinpoint the tasks that zap your energy and learn to map out your client journey from start to finish. Crafting your recipe: Master the TOTS Playbook Method (Training Video, Outline, Timing, and Specifics) and capture your creative process with our favorite tools. Fine-tuning your masterpiece: Gather feedback, make tweaks, and keep polishing your process for outstanding results. Growing your creative world: Embrace the benefits of systems and processes to take on more projects without losing your sanity. Don't miss this opportunity to level up your freelance adventure and tap into your full creative potential. Experience the difference that a little organization can make for your creative work and well-being. 🎧 Are you ready to unleash your creative superpowers? Click here to listen now! In this episode you’ll discover: Why creatives are prone to inconsistent results Creating playbooks to give your clients great final products every time What's top of mind for you to outsource? Breaking down TOTS The creative mindset vs the entrepreneurial mindset Creating replicable results for your clients For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/245

What if breaking the rules and embracing your uniqueness could revolutionize an entire industry? 🤯 Meet Paco de Leon, a trailblazer who defied conventional wisdom and turned the world of finance on its head by being unapologetically herself. As the author of Finance for the People and founder of The Hell Yeah Group, Paco has leveraged her personal brand to create an irresistible appeal that sets her miles apart from the competition. Her unconventional approach has landed her features on TED, New York Times, Forbes, Business Insider, NPR, Vice, Bloomberg, Good Morning America, and countless others. How did Paco achieve such success in an industry as notoriously bland as finance? She wholeheartedly embraced her uniqueness and used the 80/20 principle to make everything she touches turn to gold. Feeling like you're putting in endless hours of work but not gaining any traction? Let Paco de Leon be your guide! Join our conversation to make this year a resounding "Hell Yeah!" year 🚀 In this episode, you'll uncover: How Paco's unique approach distinguishes her from "regular" bookkeepers 📚 The secret to maintaining a low client number while maximizing revenue 💰 How to repel the wrong clients through strategic branding 🚫 Running a thriving business without constant self-promotion 🌱 The art of practicing energy efficiency in your brain 🧠 Utilizing processes and procedures to scale your company 📈 Learning business skills from playing in a band 🎸 Overcoming fears and obstacles in your entrepreneurial journey 👊 Crafting a career-focused marketing plan for long-term success 🎯 For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/244

The Freelancer's Guide to Escaping the Hourly Grind and Scaling to $10k Months with Package Pricing From Hourly to $10K: The Package Pricing Strategy That Will Revolutionize Your Freelance Business You’ve probably heard my rants on hourly vs. project-based pricing before… Yet you're still charging by the hour or day. I've heard all the excuses at this point" “Well yeah Brian, project pricing works for some people, but not me.” “What if I spend too much time and I lose money?” “What if my client wants all this extra random stuff done after we start the project?” “I do WAY too many things to bundle them into one project price!” Well, Brandi Mowles, from the Serve Scale Soar Podcast, is here to show you that you can simplify your packages, without a bunch of added work... and the best part is that you can do it more profitably than hourly projects. Brandi debunks the common myths, mistakes, and reservations freelancers have on switching from hourly to package pricing, and helps them hit the $10k per month mark without a team. If you’re ready to get out of the day-to-day hourly grind, and truly soar in your business, listen in on my conversation with Brandi Mowles! In this episode you’ll discover: How to make your marriage last (hint: pick the right person) Why package pricing is advantageous if you set it up properly Avoiding the pitfalls of package pricing What "package hacking" does for your business How to set your pricing for packages Using "up to" language in your pricing What's the most important to you? Why package pricing should not be based on your time Raising your prices on existing clients For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/243

Writing all of the different elements for your website is one of the most painful things... especially if you're trying to create a website that turns strangers into clients. Unless you are a copywriter, typing out a persuasive sentence feels like: “Selling out” “Overstating your achievements” or “Being another sleazy salesperson” When these thoughts pop into our heads, it’s important to realize “persuasive” does not mean “sleazy.” Converting the strangers on your website into paying clients is a massive step towards getting out of the feast-or-famine lifestyle, and you can do it without compromising any of your values. Whether your website conversions are floundering, your about page is blank, or you just can’t get that client to respond with a testimonial, Delia Monk has answers for us! As an expert in conversion-focused copy, she helps us turn all of our boring, vanilla website copy into personality-driven, radiant, and most importantly, high-converting websites. Listen to my conversation with Delia to take the next step toward building your new 24/7 lead-generating machine! In this episode you’ll discover: Why copywriting is incredibly important for your website's conversion rate Common copywriting mistakes on freelance websites Making yourself shine to stand out from your competition Turning testimonials into copy for your website Discovering why clients come to you Reasons to avoid stuffy, corporate copywriting How to resuscitate your about page Using stories to sell your services Staying current on copywriting trends For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/242

You are AMAZING at what you do as a creative. You create stunning designs, produce incredible music, or breathe life into visual media like photos or videos. Paid ads aren’t for you, right? The truth is, paid ads can work for anyone, including freelancers. This has been proven time and time again, in industry after industry… Paid ads are one of the quickest ways to multiply your income and bring in more clients. The beauty of paid ads is that you have complete control over them. It’s not like referrals, where you’re sitting around waiting for someone else to send you clients. It’s not like cold outreach, where you feel like you’re spamming people. It’s not like social media, where you’re relying on the algorithm gods to put your content in front of people. By using paid ads, you can take matters into your own hands and steer your business in the direction you want. If you’ve tried paid ads before and they “didn’t work,” don’t give up just yet. In this episode, I debunk 6 paid ads myths that are holding you back from using this powerful lead-generation tool. In this episode you’ll discover: The pros of paid ads Why survivorship bias is bad for business How paid ads can boost your business with real leads Why it's your fault if a client hires someone else and has a bad experience "Paid ads don't work for me" - nah, you just didn't try The perks of Client Financed Acquisition Building a long-term snowball using paid ads Looking to other industries to learn how to use paid ads for your business For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/241

I know the internet hasn't shut up about AI over the past couple of months, and you're probably thinking “dammit Brian, not another person talking about AI." But, hear me out... Right now, AI isn't something to be afraid of, but actually, a tool that can be used by freelancers in a bunch of ways... Having trouble figuring out how to fire a client politely after too many red flags? AI can help you. Are you struggling to come up with ideas for what to post on social media? Again, AI can help you. Trying to write an effective, non-cringe "about me" section for your website? AI can help you with that, too! Of course, you could always do this stuff on your own, but why make things harder for yourself? It’s a hell of a lot easier to let AI do all the heavy lifting and simply go back to tweak some words here and there. Instead of jumping on the pity party bandwagon of: “ChatGPT is going to take our jobs!” Or brushing it off as: “This is just another crypto phase…” The truth is, AI is here to help you, not to replace you (at least, not yet🤖). Ready to take advantage of the opportunity that AI tools like ChatGPT can offer your business? Join me as I walk you through 9 ways to make ChatGPT and other AI tools work FOR you as a freelancer, not against you. In this episode you’ll discover: Why AI isn't the end of the world for most freelancers How to use ChatGPT to respond to emails Using AI to help choose your business name Coaching AI to give the output you want The power of AI in SEO Creating social media content using AI Crafting excellent ad copy by using Chat GPT For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/240

If I were to ask you to think of the most bizarre marketing ideas you could think of to get clients, what would you say? I'd almost guarantee it doesn't include any of these: Fax machine marketing… Writing sea shanties… Performing puppet shows in client meetings… Cold outreach with homing pigeons??? These ideas are ridiculous, right? Well, the creative marketing agency Dingus & Zazzy doesn’t think so. Their mantra is "no idea is a bad idea until we try it". And you might say: “There is no way these methods would work, they’re way too far out there!” And to that, I'd say JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS… Dingus & Zazzy are bringing in over $500,000 per month in recurring revenue. Yes, you read that right… per MONTH. And this isn’t just a good month. This is automatic, recurring revenue every single month! Whether you have aspirations of earning $500,000 per month, per year, or even $50,000 per year, this conversation has applications for your creative business at any level. Listen in on my eye-opening conversation with Becca Kingsbury, co-founder and COO at Dingus & Zazzy, about her mastery of the recurring unlimited business model, hiring over 150 creative employees, and scaling to nearly 8 figures per year by using… interesting marketing methods. In this episode you’ll discover: The reasons for Dingus & Zazzy's zany name Offering unlimited work to your clients as a form of differentiation Finding your pricing by shooting in the dark Hiring the right people to support your company culture Encouraging your staff to solve problems proactively Using whacky ideas to make people remember your When it's time to fire the customer Calling your clients proactively to keep them active Focusing on your newest clients for smooth onboarding For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/239

I see a lot of creatives comparing themselves to their successful peers, saying things like: “Oh they have more experience than me, that’s why they can charge higher prices…” “They have a bigger network than me, that’s why they have more clients!” "They niched down, but I don't want to do that because it's not fun". While having experience, a network, and a niche are helpful to becoming a successful creative, I want to show you an example of how those things are NOT all required when you're early in your career. Meet Joana Galvão. Joana is the owner of the incredibly successful GiF Design Studios. When she launched her freelance design career straight out of college, her calendar was booked solid for 6 months... Without years and years of experience… Without a long list of contacts and relationships built up over time… Without niching down... Now that we have those excuses you had out of the way, listen in on my conversation with Joana to break down the concepts of lead generation, referrals, and how to thrive as a creative! In this episode you’ll discover: How Joana launched her brand new freelance career with a calendar full of paid projects How she earned $2k in ten days to pay for an unexpected expense The problems with accepting any request a potential client has How to stand out (and get clients) as a generalist in a "red ocean" How she's turned "word of mouth" into a strategy Asking easy questions to get a response The $60k cold email Forming strategic relationships to grow your network Handling cash flow problems in your business Asking for referrals the right way Ways to keep yourself accountable as a business owner For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/238

I know, I know, as soon as you hear “SEO,” you throw your headphones across the room and continue on with whatever fluffy, fun creative task you’ve been working on the past eleven hours. While the technical jargon of SEO, marketing, and web traffic sounds boring as all hell, I’m here to suggest that you give it a chance. The reason you should take a second glance: Infinite… Money… OK, that's an over-exaggeration. But just think about how many problems would be solved for you if you had 1,000,000 people coming to your website Every. Single. Month. You'd never need to worry about making ends meet again. No more fumbling around on social media. No more endless barrage of cold email pitches. If you are diligent about the SEO practices in this episode, you can develop completely organic traffic to your website (that means NO paid ads) and even monetize the visitors that show up through affiliate marketing. Having worked with Disney, Omega, Nintendo, and many more big brands, Jacob Cass is THE guy to listen to when it comes to the secret sauce behind SEO. If you haven’t quite hit that 1 MILLION site views per month milestone (like Jacob has), give this episode a listen! In this episode you’ll discover: How Jacob became a digital nomad before it was cool Growing your business with focus and intent Using affiliate marketing to boost your income Scaling your business with SEO Researching keywords for SEO ranking The tools you can use for SEO ranking Understanding domain ratings Determining your entrepreneurial personality For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/237

After covering the marketing, sales, and problem-solving skill stacks last week, we should be ready to knock our creative business out of the park, right? Not quite yet... There are a few more “non-creative” skill stacks that are essential to get right if you want to be a well-rounded and effective freelancer in 2023 and beyond. Some creatives may look at these skills and say… “These things don’t inspire me.” “I only need to get better at my craft.” “I’m bad at these, so I can’t improve them!” If that sounds like you, then all I can do from the comfort of my sofa as I type this is facepalm. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Do you, your income, your business, and your clients a favor by at least giving this episode a shot. I wholeheartedly believe investing time and energy into these 5 skill stacks will improve your relationships, increase your productivity, and help you earn more this year. In this episode you’ll discover: Focusing on a wide band of skills rather than the selfish "I band" Making friends and maintaining relationships The skill of having self-awareness Combining focus and discipline The dilemma of opportunity cost Using tools to manage your time Why you need systems and processes Understanding your business's key performance indicators Knowing how and when to hire staff For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/236

Every year, I'm going to bet that your niche is getting more and more competitive. There's always another music producer, photographer, designer, copywriter, developer, or videographer popping up out of nowhere... And the scary part is... They're actually really good at what they do. What can you do to stay ahead of the competition? Get better at your craft? Probably not... Instead, you need to become a "Full Stack Freelancer" if you want to be a successful freelancer in 2023 and beyond. There's a laundry list of other "noncreative" skills that will do so much more for the success of your business, and in this episode, I’m going to delve into 3 of my most essential skill stacks to put you on the road to becoming a competent full stack freelancer this year. 🤘 In this episode you’ll discover: Becoming a full-stack freelancer The foundation of being a freelancer Honing your marketing skills Copywriting for small businesses Basic design for freelancers Understanding paid ads and funnels The strategy behind your business' marketing plan Confidence and conviction Persuading leads that you are the best option (because you are) FITFO in your full stack For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/235

What did I learn building a BRAND new 6 figure income stream last year? Of course, the idea of building a new 6 figure income stream sounds great right?… until you’re a year in and still not making the progress you wanted to. It feels like paddling toward an island that never seems to get any closer. Why not chuck the paddle and give up? The good news is you’re not alone! I’ve been there, and no matter how bad it feels, slow and steady still wins the race. “But Brian, you’re already successful, how can you relate to us beginner business owners?” Well, I just started a BRAND new income stream in 2022, and I want to let you in on 9 specific actionable lessons that I learned (and re-learned) while building it to 6 figures. Enough generic “here’s what I learned in 2022” talk, let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of exactly what I had to learn from $0 to 6 figures revenue in 2022! In this episode you’ll discover: Why slow and steady wins the race Removing yourself from bad friendships Choosing the right pricing The wins paid advertising can provide Fixing the bottlenecks you're facing Keep growing your skills! Don't run your business alone Spend time creating a plan For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/234

It's officially 2023, and this is the time of year everyone starts looking to the future of what's possible. Is this the year you finally leave your day job behind? Is this the year you finally crack $100k in revenue? Is this the year you finally break $100k in profit? Whatever your goal, one of the most helpful things I can do as a podcaster is show you someone who's accomplished all of these things in a relatively short amount of time. Lydia Kerr of Telltale Design Co made the transition from "side hustle" to $20,000 per month in less than 4 years of starting her design business. In this interview, you'll hear her story of how she launched Telltale Design Co while working a full-time day job, and she replaced that day job income within just a few months of freelancing, and ultimately how she made the shift from "low-dollar $500 project" freelancer to a "premium-priced $10k project" business owner. In this episode you’ll discover: How Lydia went from 0 to full-time in a few short months Growing your business to multiple six figures in under five years The difference between living in a small town or big city Why your $500 client will never be your $5,000 client Using social media to promote your business Working within clients' budgets Being honest with your clients Creating mutual respect with clients What tools to use for your business For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/233

I'm sure you already know how easy it is to get bogged down by the day-to-day tasks and admin work that comes with running a freelance business. You probably don't know all of the amazing tools out there that (when used correctly) will help you focus on what you do best... Create. By leveraging the right tools, you can increase profits, reduce frustration, and create a sense of calm in your workflow. From project management and invoicing tools to marketing platforms and collaboration apps, we'll discuss my top 11 favorite tools every creative freelancer should have in their toolkit. Whether you're just starting out as a freelancer or you're looking to take your thriving business to the next level in 2023, this episode is for you. Listen now to learn how these tools can help you streamline your workflow, stay organized, and grow your business. In this episode you’ll discover: Why you should invest in the tools you need The toxicity of the blue-collar mindset Solving internal communication for your team Staying on top of client relationships the easy way How to keep productivity high as a freelancer Bookkeeping made simple Choosing the best payment provider Saving hours per week on audio/video editing Using your external brain to stay organized For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/232

The sad reality for most freelancers is that they're just offering the same "copycat" services as everyone else around them. Because of this, they're stuck in a competitive hell. This is called a "commoditized service". Think about how you buy a commodity like salt and pepper... You look at the shelf and buy the first thing you see that matches your pricing expectation. As far as you're concerned, all the options are pretty much the same. This is what it's like for freelancers. Anyone who's looking to hire a freelancer can literally "shop" Fiverr.com for dozens of different creative services where thousands of freelancers are competing with each other. In the perfect world, you'd find a way to stand out and become a "monopolized service", but that takes a LOT of time, effort, and energy to develop the necessary skills. The good news is that you can still thrive in an extremely competitive industry, and this week's episode will give you 6 ways to get more clients even as a copycat freelancer. In this episode you’ll discover: Why you need to stand out as a freelancer The dangers of rock bottom pricing in commoditized services Reviews vs. testimonials Providing a premium service for your customers Finding clients who know, like, and trust you Digital relationships The value of good copywriting for your business Funnels for freelancers For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/231

Have you ever checked a price for a flight, only to come back later and see that the price increased (or decreased) significantly? This is something called "dynamic pricing", and it's what some of the largest businesses in the world do to maximize their profits. This is a technique I learned in 2015 when using a new "dynamic pricing" tool on my Airbnb, and it added a 20% boost to my rental income. It worked so damn well that I brought the same idea to my freelance business that same year. If you're looking for clever ways to give yourself a pay raise, maximize your income, and fight against inflation by using supply and demand to your advantage, this episode is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: Why you should go fill out our feedback form right now Using dynamic pricing to make the most profit for your business How to determine your pricing based on timing and schedule Why it's ethical to charge annoying clients more Why last-minute projects are often the worst to work on Filling your last-minute schedule gaps with "fire sale" rates Who to blame if you get called out (hint: it's Brian) Why you deserve this! For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/230

The message of this week's episode is simple... Raise your gosh darn rates. There are way too many dangers of perpetually undercharging for your services (which we discuss in this episode). There are also so many benefits to your life/business when you charge more that you can't keep putting off rate increases. You might even need to completely restructure your services so you can charge more, but the effort is worth the result. In this episode you’ll discover: Why low prices are a red flag for clients Low rates = bad clients The threshold of raising your rates Lifetime client value and your business Why being business-savvy makes you a better creative The importance of understanding your market and clients DON'T RUSH your work Why ignoring people outside your network is a fatal mistake For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/229

If you've been stuck at 4 or 5 figures per year as a freelancer, there's likely one ingredient that is holding you back from growth. Without this ingredient, it is 100% impossible to get clients, grow your income, and get past the 6 figure mark (if that's your goal). In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, my buddy Mark Eckert and I map out the path you can take to overcoming all of the hurdles between you and this incredibly important missing ingredient. In this episode you’ll discover: How to move from four/five figures to six figures+ Why you aren't full time yet How to revamp your entire public-facing identity as a freelancer The difference between advertising vs. content marketing and why this matters for freelancers Why you should be producing more than consuming How sticking to a schedule or routine can tie all of this together For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/228

Is your income in a constant feast-or-famine cycle? Some months might look great... But then all of your projects seem to dry up, and you're left scrambling for clients. This sort of cycle can be brutal for your business, personal life, and mental health, but this cycle doesn't have repeated for the rest of your life. There are likely 3 things keeping you trapped in this vicious cycle, and this episode breaks down how to finally break the cycle. If you're ready for more consistency, dependability, and stability in your monthly income, add episode #227 of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast to your podcast queue ASAP! In this episode you’ll discover: How Brian scored $12,000 flights for $200 Why you're comfortable in your day job Taking responsibility for your business' success (or lack thereof) What's keeping you on the feast-or-famine rollercoaster The best solution to an inconsistent business How to work smart, not hard The key to consistent client acquisition For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/227

So you made it to $100,000+ per year... Congrats. Too bad you made so many sacrifices that you're constantly stressed out, you're missing out on time with friends and family, and you resent your business. The irony is that you became a freelancer because you hated your day job and you wanted to work for yourself. Now, you feel like you have 50 "little bosses", and you hate your life a little bit more with each new client you gain. If this sounds like you, it may be time to put boundaries into place to get to that sweet spot between hitting your income goals while also enjoying your life and business. In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I give you 6 different boundaries you should have with your clients so you can actually stay happy, healthy, and profitable. In this episode you’ll discover: Maintaining mental and physical health while you're running a business How to handle revision requests without losing your mind Eliminating one of the most painful freelance experiences How to keep your clients from taking advantage of your kindness Boundaries for corporate/agency clients Using boundaries to avoid scope creep Avoiding stress with payment issues How to learn more about building your client acquisition machine For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/226

If you've ever felt like your freelance life has been a neverending feast-or-famine roller coaster, chances are you're missing one (or more) pieces of a full client acquisition machine. You've likely "dabbled" with bits and pieces here and there, but you've never fully built each of the individual parts and refined them to the point where everything is working as a well-oiled machine bringing you high-quality clients every single month. In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I break down each of the major parts of your Client Acquisition Machine, as well as what specific numbers you should be aiming for as a benchmark. If you've ever wanted more stability and predictability in your business, and you want a clear roadmap for how to make 2023 your best year ever, this episode is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: How to solve a consistency issue in your business Why dabbling is slowly destroying your income stream The foundation of your Client Acquisition Machine Creating a transformational outcome for your clients Building your Marketing Mothership Your responsibility to sell to those who need your service The parallels between software and freelancing Nurturing your leads for a long-term relationship Fine-tuning your Client Acquisition Machine For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/225

Did you know that closing too many clients can be a bad thing? I know it sounds completely backwards, but a high sales conversion rate (70%+) is usually a sign of an unhealthy business. In episode 224 of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I break down the two reasons why a high sales conversion rate is a bad thing, and what two actions you can take to build a happier, healthier freelance business. In this episode you’ll discover: Why "winning" too many clients is a bad thing The ideal close rate for your sales process What to do if your close rate is too high Avoiding the scarcity mindset of wanting to win every client Sales leads vs. marketing leads - and why they are important When to raise your rates For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/224

How much is an average client worth to you? Whatever that number is, imagine how much more they'd be worth to you and your freelance business if they were paying you that amount every single year. Now imagine how successful you'd be if every single client you've ever had was paying you the amount every year for the rest of your career. That's the reality for those who run recurring subscription businesses, however, most freelancers only offer one-and-done packages. Whether you call it a retainer, subscription, or simply a "monthly fee", most who follow this podcast would love the idea of acquiring a client one time and having them keep paying you every single month. But... What if your service just "doesn't make sense" as a recurring subscription? If that's you, I'd challenge you to listen to this episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast. No matter what service you offer, there's likely some way to shift your clients to a recurring income model. Our guest this week, Annemie Tonken, has managed to build her family photography business to 6 figures per year from 6 hours of work per week. If you want to learn how she's managed this, and how she's launched a highly-successful recurring-subscription photography service in an industry where very few others are doing the same, listen to episode 223 of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast ASAP. In this episode you’ll discover: Transitioning your freelance business to a recurring revenue model Becoming a more efficient business-manager Solving your clients' ultimate needs so you can earn more on each project The hidden benefits of a recurring revenue model Average client value and the impact this stat has on your business How to keep your subscribers happy, active, and paying The key factors of adding value to your client's lives (for maximum profit) How she earns a 6-figure income from 6 hours of work per week For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/223

Love it or hate it, email marketing is the closest thing there has ever been to a "magic pill" for anyone looking for stability in their month-to-month income. The sucky thing is...most of us "fall victim" to email marketing ALL THE TIME. You get tons of tons of emails from people offering their products and services, but you never make use of this powerful tool yourself. Most freelancers I see are making one (or more) of these mistakes: They think social media is the best long-term play (it's not) They think they can have the same success and stability 1 on 1 (you can't) They think "join my newsletter" is a great way to build their email list (it's not) They're actually building their list, but they're never sending emails (not good) If you want a time-tested, surefire way to stay top-of-mind, build trust, and actually reach the audience you've built, email marketing is where it's at. If you're having success on social media right now, I'm begging you to take this time to build an email list so you're safe/secure in the long run. Social media has historically always become a "pay to play" world for business owners, and Tiktok is already making that shift. Don't make the mistake of thinking that party is going to last much longer. If you're open to the idea of building, growing, and using an email list to grow your reach, and you like the idea of building trust in a one-to-many setting, this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: Why social media is not the savior people think it is The number one platform small businesses need in their toolbelt Staying top of mind with clients and leads Setting up your first lead magnet funnel How to attract email subscribers The key to a juicy lead magnet What Yahoo! did wrong with their website (and how it applies to growing your email list) The math behind running paid advertising Profitable Facebook ads for freelance creatives For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/222

Here are a few of the biggest lies when it comes to marketing your freelance business. "If I'm good enough, people will find me and hire me" "The only marketing I need is word-of-mouth" "If I market myself, I'll come across as desperate" "This sort of stuff doesn't work for freelancers" If any of that sounds like you, my guess would be you likely have very little predictability in your income. You might go from having more gigs than you can handle, followed by extreme famine periods where your calendar dries up (along with your bank account). If you want steady, predictable income for your business every single month, there are 4 key things you need in place. If you're even missing one of these four pieces, you're making your path to predictability extremely difficult (or impossible). In this episode you’ll discover: Marketing plans for freelancers When email lists are vital, vs. when they're optional "Proposing" via text message The "3% rule" and the "80/19/1 rule" How your niche affects your marketing needs Swiping or dating: lead generation and lead nurture How to create a business you rarely *(if ever) have to market For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/221

Every successful freelancer has hit that wall where you can't say yes to even ONE more project...this is usually the same time you start getting more inquiries than you've ever seen before. In these busy seasons of business, there are a few options you could take... You could turn down all those extra projects (and say goodbye to that extra $$$). You could say "yes" to those projects and just hate your life for the next few weeks or months while you scramble to deliver (this is the route most of us take). You take the responsible, profitable, healthy route of building systems that scale. If you hate money, you'll probably take option 1 and turn down those extra projects. If you're irresponsible and want to live in a state of overwhelm, you'll take option 2. If you're a responsible, mature business owner, you'll go with option 3 and build systems that help you deliver high-quality work faster, more efficiently, and without dropping the ball or overwhelming yourself. In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I interviewed systems expert Rachael Mueller. She's a virtual COO that helps service-based business owners plan, create, and manage systems that scale so you can take on more projects in less time. If you're overwhelmed, working too much, or just feel like you have WAY too many project details floating around in your brain, and you're not sure what to do, this episode is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: Making your business run smoothly Unloading your mind to focus on creativity Flow charts - they're not just for nerds Setting up your systems for success The three key systems any business needs Using templates to cut out wasted time Logging your time to see where it goes Why the major CRMs aren't the best for freelancers Consolidating your tasks for easy reference For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/220

In this episode, Colleen Welsch breaks down the cold outreach process she used to land some of the biggest brands in the beauty industry. This email process can work in any industry to start bringing in consistent clients no matter how much experience you have. If you've ever wanted to see a proven process for cold outreach, this interview is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: Why failure is not the end Starting fresh after your business collapses Working with major brands just by asking What you need to have in place before emailing strangers How to face rejection as a freelancer How to craft a cold email How many times to follow up if no one replies Brian and Colleen's original (and embarrassing) AIM usernames For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/219

The most difficult part of freelancing is attracting high-quality clients to you (especially early in your career). Most people resort to two main "desperation tactics" when their schedules thin out... Desperation Tactic 1: They start sending cold emails/DMs to people who don't have any idea who they are. Desperation Tactic 2: They start publishing desperate-looking "hire me" posts on their socials. Things like "50% off THIS MONTH ONLY. HMU". While they're chasing leads down like a starving troglodyte desperately hunting for food, there's a better way to market your business as a creative. So what's the better way? That's what Chris Smith—our guest this week—wrote the book on... While the book is called "The Conversion Code", the tagline says it all: "Stop chasing leads and start attracting clients". No one wants to be "hunted", but most people want to be attracted to something/someone. In this episode, Chris breaks down how to use social media to start attracting more clients instead of resorting to desperation tactics. In this episode you’ll discover: Overcoming the lead generation bottleneck The number one key to getting booked Content marketing as a freelancer Basing your business model on Disney Getting booked by posting on TikTok The ROI of social media content creation Documenting vs. creating content Looking to others for inspiration For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/218

I recently came across one of the coolest freelance businesses I've ever seen, and I wanted to bring this to the 6 Figure Creative audience. I'm not going to spoil anything, but this freelancer is earning over $1 Million per year without a staff, without contractors, and he's able to accomplish this just by taking inspiration from a totally different industry than his own. If you're feeling stagnant, stuck, uninspired, or you're simply not earning what you think you should be in your own business, this episode is absolutely for you. In this episode you’ll discover: Why you shouldn't rely on a single point of failure Taking influence from other businesses outside of your industry Creating income stability with a better business model How to stay away from becoming an "inbred business" How successful entrepreneurs deal with roadblocks Sharing knowledge with your "competition" For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/217

No matter how much you love doing what you do, there are always going to be things that you hate doing but still need to be done. This is the life of a business owner, and one of the root causes of burnout. What if I told you there was a way to spend less time doing the stuff you hate so you can spend more time doing what you love? There is, and it's something called the "Easy Ates" framework. This episode will break down how to use this framework in your own business so you can avoid burnout, work less, and spend much more time enjoying your creative business. In this episode you’ll discover: Finding time to work on your business instead of in your business How successful business owners use the same 24 hours you have The best app to track your time KPIs Eliminating the stressors in your business Brian's 4-step framework for saving time Systemizing your processes for more efficient business practices Protecting yourself from outside factors Procrastinating with perfectionism Why not all hours are created equal The "Easy Ates" Framework Eliminate Can you remove this from your business entirely? Automate Can you set up a system to do this for you? Delegate Can someone else do this for you? Mitigate How can we make this task less painful if we can't eliminate, automate, or delegate it? For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/216

By FAR the easiest way to monetize your creative skills is by offering freelance services. The only issue with that approach is that it puts a cap on how much you could ever hope to earn per hour. $50 per hour? Sure. $500 per hour? Maybe... $5,000 per hour!? Possibly $500,000 per hour? As a freelancer? There's no way that I know of... The other issue with the freelance business model is that if you're not working, then you're not earning a dime (unless you know some secret hack to get paid time off as a freelancer, in which case hmu). While freelancing can be a great way to get started as a designer, there's a far better business model that our podcast guest this week has used to earn up to $500k per hour–allowing her to travel the world full-time as a digital nomad. The business model is partnering with big brands via licensing, and Cat Coquillette has mastered the process of being a prolific creator while also getting her designs placed in some of the biggest stores in the world, including Target, Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, Bed Bath & Beyond, and more. Listen now to hear how she built her design business from the ground up while skipping out on the freelance part entirely. In this episode you’ll discover: How to skip the freelance game and jump into scaleable income A tax loophole to write off most of your travel expenses 80/20 for creatives - playing the numbers game Using Print on Demand services to sell your designs Being open to all opportunities Handling criticism well Contract negotiation - give and take The importance of an active mailing list Focusing on the important parts of your business For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/215

Answer this question: If you don't work today, will you still make money? What if you take the whole week off? Or the whole month? This is the biggest drawback of being a freelancer. You have to work more if you want to earn more. There are a number of consequences for this, but the biggest issue for creatives like us is that the more we work, the more we face burnout. The more we face burnout, the higher the chance that we'll lose the initial passion that drove us to this business in the first place. That means that the more we earn as freelancers, the more we'll face burnout. I'm sure you see the issue here... while you may love what you do, I'm sure you want to maintain a healthy balance between maintaining creativity and maintaining your bank account. None of us want to feel like we're on a hampster wheel of working just to pay the bills, but this is the sad reality of some of the most successful freelancers I know. They built amazingly successful careers (at least financially), but they unknowingly built a trap for themselves. As their income increased, so did their lifestyle and bills. As their bills increased, so did their dependency on their freelance income. This created a perpetual cycle of saying "yes" to projects they otherwise would have said "no" to if they didn't need the money. So how do we get out of this deadly cycle? Well... One method is to just keep your living expenses (and business expenses) as low as humanly possible. The other method (and one I much prefer) is to break away from directly trading your dollars for hours. This is the choice that Rachel Brenke took in her own businesses, which have allowed her to scale her income to over $9,000,000. While she does offer 1-to-1 services just like any typical freelancer, she's also built something called an "ascension ladder", which has allowed her to keep earning money regardless of whether she works this month or not. If you're still on the hours-for-dollars treadmill, and you want to break away, this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: The art (and science) of niching down How to offer services and products in multiple niches Automating and outsourcing the stuff you don't want to do How to build an "ascension ladder" as a freelancer Why relying on a single point of failure can destroy a business The 80/20 of content marketing that actually brings in clients For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/214

I'm super excited to share this with you today because this is the stuff that really moves the needle in your business. This is how you can charge more without losing clients or getting rejected. This is how you make your clients SO happy that they refer all their friends to you. This is how you become more attractive to your "dream clients". And this framework comes from a business owner earning over $100,000,000 per year... so you know this stuff works. Today's episode breaks down the 4 BEST ways to become more valuable, and if you get this right, you'll completely transform how you show up to clients. 99% of the freelancers I know neglect all 4 of these areas to their own detriment. As a result, they're losing gigs to their competitors, they get constant pushback on pricing, and they're not generating nearly enough referrals to keep their calendars full. In this episode you’ll discover: Focusing on the end goal, not the short term The value exchange The importance of social proof and perceived likelihood of achievement How to close bigger deals How time delay affects pricing and client acquisition The expert wins: why experts get the job 9 times out of 10 Why adding friction is a recipe for losing clients For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/213

Answer this: What have you done this week to bring in new clients? 99% of freelancers would say "uhhhh....." and proceed to stare at me blankly with a distant look in their eyes. The sad reality is that most creatives sit around and wait for clients to find them. This is perfectly OK if your business is at the point where you're 100% booked up for the next 6 months with nothing but your ideal clients. For the rest of us, we have to put in work to fill our calendars. On this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I interviewed Ian Paget of Logo Geek. Ian has done a lot over the years to bring in clients as a freelancer. He's executed multiple growth hacks in his business, which lead to over 90,000 followers on social media. He then used that following to launch one of the top design podcasts (despite being a total introvert). Ian is the master of taking "imperfect action", and he's proven over and over again that anyone can face their fears and get out of their comfort zones in order to bring in new clients to their freelance business. In this episode you’ll discover: How Ian pivoted from employee to freelancer Growth hacking social media The importance of engaging your audience Overcoming the fears holding you back Stumbling into success The tech needed to start a podcast Launching a podcast with a massive guest For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/212

You're finally out on your own as a freelancer... no more bosses, offices, fluorescent lights, and no more commute. 🥳 That also means you're now responsible for your own survival. No more regular paychecks, retirement accounts, paid time off, or coworkers who can cover for you. Do you have all of the skills that it takes to make survive as a freelancer? If not, this is going to be a rough ride on the entrepreneurial roller coaster... On this episode of 6 Figure Creative, I sat down to talk to Sarah Townsend, the author of "Survival Skills for Freelancers". She broke down the skills she had to develop to survive (and thrive) for the past 2 years as a freelancer. In this episode you’ll discover: The importance of saying no How to politely turn down a lead Why working with the wrong people hurts you more than you think Coping with self-doubt - you're not alone How social media can be positive or negative for freelancers Picking the right social media platforms for you Managing your social media presence effectively Why you shouldn't expect your followers to know who you are How to focus on work as a freelancer Separating personal and work time For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/211

If you struggle with low self-worth, perfectionism, procrastination, or self-doubt, then you might be making the mistake of letting fear into the driver's seat of your business. Fear is a plague in our creative community. So many of us let fear... drive our rates down to pitiful levels (and keep us from ever raising them) drive us working extra hours for free (so we don't "ruffle feathers" by asking to be compensated) drive us to keep tweaking things for hours until they're "perfect" (even though there's no such thing as perfection) trap us in a state of perpetual procrastination for all of those big things we know will push our business forward It probably sounds obvious that fear is a terrible thing for you and your business, yet so many of us keep allowing fear to drive us every single day. That's why I wanted to bring on someone who's literally written the book on this. The author of "Feck Perfuction" is a world-renowned artist named James Victore. You may have seen his work in The Louvre or the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and I think it goes without saying that you don't make it to that level as a creative without annihilating fear. James has managed to break free of fear and build an incredible name for himself, and this episode dives into his process for what he does when the "fear demon" tries to sit on his shoulders and tell him how to live his life. In this episode you’ll discover: The importance of overcoming your fears Perfection and procrastination: your silent enemies How to get over our physical and mental ailments How childhood trauma, no matter how mild, affects your life/business Learning how to love yourself Finding clients who fit what you want to create Why failing more is good Taking risks to make your work stand out For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/210

Are you one of those bland, boring, vanilla freelancers who are trying to appeal to everyone? Are you terrified of the thought of offending someone or pushing away "potential" clients? The problem with being a "Vanilla Freelancer" that is you're invisible to the vast majority of people because you have nothing interesting to say, and you likely stand for nothing. You're not alone. There's a massive chunk of the creative world that's fallen into the trap of trying to appeal to everyone, and instead, you appeal to absolutely no one. Why would I choose to work with you when there's someone who specializes in exactly what I'm looking for? Why would I pick your plain vanilla business over another one that perfectly aligns with my values? The irony is that you're costing yourself clients who would be perfect for you simply because you're too afraid to stand out. The result is you get the bottom-of-the-barrel clients who were rejected by all the specialists who decided to choose a niche and own it. Many industries have figured this out, but somehow we creatives seem to latch onto the bland, boring, and vanilla. That's why I wanted to bring on Micah Woods to talk about his non-traditional niche. Micah is a branding and web designer who's forged his own path with a unique niche I haven't seen from any other freelancer, and it's done wonders for his business. Not only has it attracted his ideal clients to him, but it's also allowed him to reliably repel the worst types of clients for his business. The result is that he's able to enjoy a quiet, peaceful, blue ocean in the branding and design world while others are fighting for scraps in the red ocean of bland vanilla creatives. You do not want to miss this week's episode, so set time aside to listen ASAP. In this episode you’ll discover: The impact of knowing you're about to lose your job Why you shouldn't care if you're "bothering" people It's all a matter of timing: cold outreach Choosing your niche before you start your business Launching a business and getting traction right away How you can get clients with a small social media presence Thriving in a blue ocean The value of paying others to handle tasks for you For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/209

Have you obsessively perfected every single step of what your clients experience before, during, and after working with you? Most of the struggling freelancers I know have failed to do this, and it's costing them client, after client, after client, that they could have otherwise gained. The reason should be obvious: clients might forget the details of what it was like to work with you, but they will never forget how you made them feel. If you create a frustrating experience for them, you'll forever be remembered as "that one person who was incredibly frustrating to work with". If you create a confusing experience, they'll remember how they always felt lost during their experience with you. All of the most successful business owners I know have put tons of time, effort, and energy into perfecting their client experience for every single project. A well-executed client experience means happier clients, more referrals, more repeat projects, and an overall better reputation for your business. This is what my guest Nicholas Di Lorenzo has obsessed over in his business. He's built a fantastic client experience that has kept him booked solid in one of the most notoriously difficult business models in the audio industry. In this episode you’ll discover: The advantages of starting as someone's assistant How to grow your own business after working for someone else Finding the techniques that stick Making your clients' life as easy as possible Keeping your workspace clean to help focus Freeing up time to explore new areas of your business How bad (or no) systems can cost opportunities For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/208

Ever felt like you wanted to reach out to someone, but didn't want to bother them? Maybe it was an old acquaintance, a past client, or even a prospective client you've had your eyes on for a while... Creatives typically have this voice inside our heads that say "don't do that... you'll just be bothering them". Here's something that may surprise you: That voice is usually a lying, thieving, horrible bastard who's simply holding you back from getting what you want... What's even worse is that this voice is holding your prospective clients back from the rich experience of connecting with you and all of the value you could potentially bring to their lives. If you want proof, just look at your own life. How many other people are constantly reaching out to you, bothering you with offers you don't want? How many other freelancers are "bothering" you about hiring them? How many old acquaintances are reaching out to you about meeting up for dinner or drinks to catch up? Hell, how many potential love interests are sliding into your DMs? If you're like 99% of the rest of us, those things are rarely (if ever) happening. There's a better way to handle this stuff. It's something called The Rule of 7, and it's one of the keys to the incredible success of this week's guest. This week I got to speak to a "7-figure creative" who turned his 6-figure freelance business into a 7-figure agency (which he eventually sold). He's used the Rule of 7 ethically to get more clients, stay top of mind, build trust, win more projects, and ultimately, earn millions and millions of dollars through his creative business as a designer. This is what separates struggling creatives from multi-million dollar powerhouse guests like Mike Janda. In this episode you’ll discover: How to prepare yourself for an economic downturn Positioning yourself as a freelancer to replace your day job Solving problems as a method of sales The rule of 7 The importance of meeting people in person Competition at the top levels of freelancing Understanding the market you're in to provide a valuable offer Balancing between big city freelancers and "cheap" options in other countries For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/207

The dark side of freelancing (that no one wants to discuss) is the wasteland of low-dollar "Fiverr Freelancers" charging bottom-dollar rates for "butt-in-seat" projects. Whether you're on Fiverr or not, you may still be trapped in this low-dollar wasteland that is essentially just another soulless day job you've created for yourself. These projects tend to be unfulfilling and draining, and you end up in a horrible financial place. This is what so many newbies and struggling creatives do, and many never make it out of this trap. I know this might sound painfully obvious, but you can't build a sustainable freelance business out of low-dollar, unfulfilling work where you're competing with hundreds (or thousands) of copycat competitors willing to work longer hours for less money than you. This is why I wanted to bring on Ryan Koral from Tell Studios to talk about how he successfully transitioned from $500 projects to regular $50,000 projects, eventually scaling his freelance business to over $1,000,000 per year. Ryan shared a ton of incredible info, including one of my new favorite strategies for closing high-dollar projects, so do not skip this week's interview. In this episode you’ll discover: Why Ryan pivoted from a full-time job earning $23,000/year to a becoming a full time freelancer How "yes mode" affects the start of your business Why you don't hire significant others for your business Dealing with employees who don't have the right expectation The benefits of delegating tasks to others Why your employees aren't the idiots you think they are Your value vs. how your clients value your work How to sell a low $$$ workshop that leads to a $50k project (with a 100% success rate). For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/206

If you ever want to break 6 figures as a freelancer (or whatever your goal is), let me ask you something important... Are you running your business (and life) like a 6 figure creative? Most people think they can keep acting like a 4 or 5-figure freelancer and that eventually (with enough hard work and perseverance), you'll somehow break that elusive 6-figure goal. The reality is that you have to BE a 6 figure creative before you can earn 6 figures. Confused? Here's what I mean... Every 6 Figure Creative I know has these characteristics: They're intentional in their personal life and business. They have specific goals AND take consistent actions working towards those goals They let opportunity and possibility drive their decisions instead of fear and self-doubt. They're not afraid to show the world exactly who they are and are not. The thing that most people don't understand is that these other 6 Figure Creatives already had these qualities and characteristics before they ever cracked 6 figures. You are the same. Until you have the qualities and characteristics of a 6 figure creative, you will not crack that number (or whatever number you're trying to reach). Our guest in this week's interview is the perfect example of someone who has all of these qualities. Toby Lloyd has been a freelancer for the past 15 years, and he's put a lot of care and intention into being the type of person he needed to be in order to be successful. Toby's results speak for themselves. If you want to learn what "the full package" looks like as a true 6 Figure Creative, this interview is for you. In this episode you’ll discover: How Toby Lloyd transitioned from a full-time job in the film industry to a 6-figure home studio owner Using competitions to create awareness for your business Qualifying leads to make sure you're the best fit for the project Why you need to get leads first and then focus on growth The mindset of a good producer How to nurture long-term relationships with your clients Using flat-rate pricing to keep artists at ease in the studio The difference between a Kiwi accent and an Aussie accent For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/205

Ever felt like your industry is just too saturated to stand out? Like you're just a tiny drop in a massive ocean? You're not alone. Nearly every freelancer has a moment (or ten) where they doubt themselves and their ability to stand out in a crowded "red ocean". That's why I was so excited to talk to James Martin from Made By James. James is a designer who's had immense success in the crowded niche of logo design. He's found a way to not just stand out, but thrive in an incredibly competitive niche. James is averaging around 1,000 inquiries from potential clients every single year, and this has allowed him to cherry-pick the best gigs and reject the "bill paying work" that many freelancers are forced to say yes to. Whether you're a designer or not, this episode will contain a lot of fantastic advice from someone who's built an incredible, long-lasting career as a freelancer. In this episode you’ll discover: How James Martin has thrived for nearly 2 decades as a creative Why niching down too early is worse than not niching at all How to stand out in a saturated market Passion vs. systems and habit Why it's dangerous to rely on social media Giving your clients the most value they can afford Why it's time to raise your prices right now Relationships in business The difference between survival and thriving For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/204

"I need more clients". That's the #1 problem our community has in every single poll we run. The issue with getting clients is that no matter how good you are at what you do, you will never be able to get enough clients if no one knows you exist. That's why we wanted to dedicate an entire episode to discussing our favorite 3 methods for building awareness and growing your business. Creatives have to learn this stuff if they ever want to get out of the "feast or famine" lifestyle. In this episode you’ll discover: How to make an offer so good people feel stupid saying no How to harness three of the six different lead sources The thousand true fans model How you can advertise for free Why an email list is crucial to more and more freelancers The importance of cleaning your mailing list For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/203

Here are the two rules for attracting your dream clients. Rule #1: Be attractive. Rule #2: Don't be unattractive. That's literally it. The hard part comes when you actually look at what is "attractive" to your dream clients. I'd bet you have a long list of alllll the things you want to see in their dream clients/projects, but very few people take the time to look at themselves and ask the most important question... "Am I the type of person that would attract this sort of dream client/project?" In many cases, that answer is, unfortunately, no. You're not anywhere close to being attractive to your dream clients. In other cases, you might be attractive to them, but you're doing little to nothing when it comes to communicating all the attractive things you have to offer them. In this continuation of our Client Acquisition Series, we dive into what it takes to attract your dream clients. In this episode you’ll discover: Why Guitar Center is the worst place to buy gear (unless they sponsor us) How Mark closed a half-million-dollar deal Why different clients need different approaches Setting expectations in advance High ticket vs. low ticket sales How to become attractive to your dream clients How to stay top of mind without being cringy Why red ocean businesses struggle For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/202

As a creative, what have you done recently to promote your work? If you're like most, you might have posted on social media a few times (if even that)... but that's about it. Unfortunately, self-promotion doesn't come naturally for most creatives, and it's to our own detriment. We might be the best in the world at what we do, but if no one knows we exist, we'll never make a living from our creative talents. That's why I invited Peggy Dean onto the podcast to discuss a subject she's become the master of; Self-promotion as a creative. Peggy has managed to amass an Instagram following of 184,000 people and an email list of over 75,000 people, and she's showing no signs of slowing down. If you're good at what you do, but you struggle to let the world know about everything you have to offer, this interview is a must-listen. In this episode you’ll discover: Why failure isn't necessarily a bad thing Prioritizing your time and energy to become more creative How Peggy finished high school a year and a half early Using project management tools to stay focused Tackling your ideal client's biggest struggles Batching work to keep content flowing smoothly How emotion controls a buyer's actions Why email subscribers are worth 10x your social media following The 90/10 mindset to solve your problems For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/201