Ask Rezzz

-------------------For full show notes, a customized Ask Rezzz playlist, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. -------------------When you put prices on your website, I encourage you to think why? When I did it, it was to filter out tire kickers. I found that I was getting more shoppers than buyers. I was ok with the drop in leads to the business if it meant that more qualified leads were getting through and becoming clients.Pricing on my website sets the conversation around the lead’s potential budget and if they don’t match, then there’s no point in moving forward.I am fully aware that you may be skeptical about putting pricing on your website because you don’t want to pigeon hole yourself into that price alone if a larger project comes along. I get that!But what you don’t realize is that putting prices on your website isn’t the ceiling, it’s the floor of what you will do work for.To circle back to the question, packages are fine if you are delivering on items that you know your leads understand

-------------------For full show notes, a customized Ask Rezzz playlist, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. -------------------In episode 91, you heard me talk about finding a quality prospect and how I use a Project Brief in the qualification part of my sales process.I look at sales this way. There are way more people and projects in this world that I’m not a good fit for. If I can have them figure that out as early on in the process as possible without wasting too much of their time, the better.It’s all about time for me and those that I talk with. I don’t want to waste time on things that aren’t valuable and so I feel that most other business owners don’t want to either.And that’s who I talk with, the decision makers. 95 times out of a 100 it’s the business owner.The first step is…I put out a ton of content and most of the leads I get to the business came by way of some level of education on what it is that I do.That’s from a previous client or a vendor or some other place like a podcast. So

-------------------For full show notes, a Choose Your Own Ask Rezzz playlist, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. -------------------My back story is that in early 2000s I struck out on my own doing freelance full-time. Due to getting laid-off from the consultant firm I was working at.At that time, I thought my path was pretty clear. I had a skill that was very much in demand, at least from what I could see, and instead of getting a job, I would just ramp up my side hustle and become freelance full-time.Just shy of 2 years after that, I found myself sitting back in a cube at someone else’s desk.It wasn’t my technical skills that was at fault here, in fact, even though the startup bubble had popped, there were plenty of jobs out.What I hadn’t taken into account was all the other things I needed to run a business.I lacked sales and marketing skillsI lacked knowledge around contractsI lacked processes and systems to help run a businessI lacked the knowledge to even know what those should beI was a

-------------------For full show notes, a customized Ask Rezzz playlist, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. -------------------I put it out there on the interwebs this milestone episode. And thank you to every one who responded and I will answer them all, as you know. But today’s question comes from Cameron in the Sustainable Freelancer Facebook Group. The simple reason I picked it was because it’s a good window into who I am and maybe you have similar values and realistic ideas of freelancing like myself.Before I jump into the answer, I just want to say thank you

-------------------For full show notes, a customized Ask Rezzz playlist, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. -------------------Setting boundaries around the type of work you do is at the core of what niching down is.It very much is a mindset that you need to get yourself into.The best way to force yourself into the mindset is tracking your time with everything.Even when you think you are just doing that “one-thing” for a client that takes 10 mins, I’d be willing to bet that task took 15 or 20. Which directly eats into the overall profits of the business because that’s not what the client hired you to do.Specializing your business means to not just focusing on a particular client, but it also means to focus on the type of work you do.I ran a Twitter poll a few months ago and asked “Who would you rather be? Larry Bird or Danny Ainge?”It was a landslide victory for Larry Bird at 92%.I ran this on Instagram as well and Larry won with 100%.Respect to Danny Ainge, who honed his craft in 2 sports and

--------------------For full show notes, downloads, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. --------------------If you are looking to grow your freelancing into building an agency, then you want to take steps that put you on the path to that.If you are looking to grow your freelancing so that you can spend more time at home with family, then you want to take steps to do that.If you are looking to grow your freelancing in a way that puts you in a position to get bought out, then you want to take steps to do that.These are just 3 goals business owners have, but the question about scaling your freelance business in each case is very different.There’s a keyword to the definition of “scale” that is often over looked. “Profitable”I can’t speak to building an agency or looking to get bought out, but I can speak to wanting to spend more time with my family.Profitability is the key to the success of any business, not just a point scaling your business. But when it does come to scaling, there will be an initi

As someone who has always said that I’d rather be the guy in the coffin than the person saying the eulogy, improving my communication and confidence in public has been a journey and still very much is to this day.But if I can get up there in front of a room of 70+ people in NYC and talk, I know you can too.1. Find a mentor This may sound a bit out of left field, but find someone who’s a little bit further down the career path than you are right now. Having a mentor that knows exactly the path your are will help you with confidence and being able to relay the proper message to your audience. They can share their experiences with you, the pitfalls they fell into so you can avoid them as well as things that they’ve done that have worked well.Since they are knowledgable in your field too, a mentor can also give you mock scenarios for you to practice and get more comfortable with the types of conversations and speaking that you’ll have to do in public.2. Talk to 5 peopleDuring any given day, when you see someone,

When thinking about this question, every time I’ve gone through the process of niching down my business or thinking about adding a new service to my business or exploring a new opportunity, I tend to do the same thing each and every time that I know will help.And so because I want to share with you only stuff that’s of value, I did a bit of searching around first.I’m still shocked by the amount of bad advice that’s floating around on the internet. When I put this question in Google, articles that come up were still spouting the terrible advice aboutDoing free work just to build up your portfolioLearn a new skill to “diversify your skill-base and make you more valuable”Attend local business networking eventsThe reason this is terrible advice is because this is old school thinking. This is the stuff that I did because I read it was the way!Know where that landed me? Back sitting at a desk in a cube once and then almost again for a second time.Remember it’s your first steps into freelancing so you have to keep i

The real short answer here is that it’s extremely viable!The first question to ask is what is a front-end web developer and the skills needed for one.Without getting into the weeds too much here, the main role of a front-end web developer is to get the visual elements to actually work on the website. Essentially to turn the design into functional elements.You’ll need a skillset of HTML, CSS, Javascript, some design skills, knowledge around the browsers, and other frameworks to just start out.I’m not going to say it’s going to be an easy road because there are plenty of front-end developers out there, but there are plenty of jobs to be done as well.Sure you can go onto job boards like Upwork and such, but I have never had to do that in my career.Plus I don’t know about you, but I’m not to fond of someone taking a big bite from my bottom line just because they made a connection for me.Don’t get me wrong, finder’s fees are warranted. I’m just not comfortable in having someone else control the flow of money into

I talk a lot about finding your niche.I help freelancers personally through Feast and Coaching on finding their niche.But the other day, I had a cup-of-coffee call with a person off my email list. If you haven’t heard about those before, I randomly pick 4 people every month off my email list and send out a link to schedule a 15-minute chat.This person asked me how I went about niching down.And I’m not sure I actually ever spoke about my feelings leading up to it in depth before publicly, so here ya go.------------For full show notes, downloads, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. 

Bands tend to spend money on beer, food, and travel - they really don’t spend it in their design elements.So you may want to re-visit that niche a bit.Small family owned businesses is interesting though because you are putting “family” into that niche. Which means that the business may have been passed down for generations, or that only family members work in the businesses. This may be a tough nut to crack if that’s the case.But if you are targeting small family owned businesses, you know exactly what’s important to them. Their family! The support of that family remaining viable through the business.Knowing and understanding those two aspects in that area, you can put together a marketing plan that speaks directly to the understand of family values and legacy.You can show past clients that have benefitted from your services showing them how your designs have increased their business.And if you are in business for yourself because you want to be available to be there for your family, that’s a personal touch t

With that in mind, you obviously want to get it into the hands of your target market, if you haven’t done so already, with a free trial or some other kind of offer. WHO IS IT SPECIFICALLY FOR?Yes, you say freelancers, but are they aspiring freelancers, have they just started freelancing, or are they experienced freelancers.Each of these 3 types of freelancers have a different need for their business. They also have a much different view on spending money.IN THE IDEA STAGE?EARLY / PRE-LAUNCH STAGE?POST LAUNCH STAGE?In this episode I dive into some examples you can use try based on where they are in this space.---------------For full show notes, downloads, and bonus material, head on over here for it all.

Before someone reaches out to you to potentially work with them, they’ve made 70% of the decision. That’s what all that education and being visible is about.After they reach out, that’s where more specifics about budget, timeline, goals, what sort of business they are, what they sell, who they are as people, and a number of other factors that can determine whether or not I’m a fit for their project.I point every single prospect to a Project Brief.The Project Brief does a few things for me.Shows me that they’ve thought a bit about the project.Prospect doesn’t mind using electronic means for communication.Get the basics out of the way.Makes sure that I’m talking with the decision maker.It gets their project down in writing in their own words.This allows for the sales call to be as productive as possible.By specializing, learning who I serve, the common questions leads would ask, the aspects of what my business can provide for successful projects, and understanding the problems I help people solve, the education

So here’s the scenario.I will bring you $100,000 in new revenue, what we would offer to the customers?Assuming that I had the customers and you have the service and/or product to sell, what is it that we are selling them?I want you to think about it for a minute, then share on Twitter or post on Facebook your response with the hashtag #AskRezzz But before you do, I don’t want to see tweets like:“Web development” or “WordPress theme building” or “SEO”Think about this $100,000 in revenue and what it represents to the customers and to your business.Think about who these customers are.Think about what problems you are solving for them.Be specific!For me, my response would be “I help freelancers, especially web developers and designers, through coaching and community looking to specialize or niche their businesses and build recurring revenue so that they can live the kind of life they want.”The response should say:Who it is forIdentifies with their goalsWhat it is that you doWhat the outcome they can expect-------

This question comes with sense of imposter syndrome. This is where you get in your own way. You are inside your head and that is what is limiting you.How you pitch them is all about confidence. If you pitch with this self-doubt, it’ll show.That self-doubt needs to carry through the follow-up as well.If the pitch dies on the vine and you don’t hear back, then move on. Put them into a past lead followup sequence that keeps you front of mind.In this episode, you will learn:The first impression is now the lastWhat to include in your follow-up sequence after the pitchHow to remain front of mind for when the next opportunity araisesWhy having them pass on you the first time isn't a bad thing after allFor full show notes, downloads, and bonus material, head on over here for it all. 

When you ask for a testimonial you should do so not with the intention of having it up on your website, it should be with a focus around improving your business and the experience you customers have with you.Even though a testimonial is about your business, it’s really about your client and how you helped them.There will be emotional responses as well as facts too. Specifically, if you’ve reached very specific and measurable goals.By “emotional” I mean that you will hear what the client felt about their experiences with you. Not necessarily that there will be tears or utter jubilation.If so, get that celebration on video!The easiest way to get testimonials is to just keep an eye out for them throughout the course of the project. Watch out for those wins and thoughts of gratitude from your clients. Especially if you’ve reached a certain milestone. Similarly, watch out for the voice of opportunities that tell you what you can be doing better.These usually come by way of emails and you can pull them out as quick

Gwen asked this during the Feast Monthly Round Up Call. And I thought that considering I don’t consider myself a great writer, that you would get something out of this answer.The Feast Monthly Round Up Call is an open forum call inside the Feast membership website that we have each and every month.Find out more about Feast and how it can help your freelance business define your niche, build processes and systems and get recurring revenue so that you can live your life away from the screen.She’s been reading my content for some time and thought that it must take quite a while for me to research, write, and then publish an article. Since she knew that I don’t fancy myself a writer, that I must have some secret sauce to share.Well, like I told Gwen, it does take some time, thought, and effort to publish something.Although, there are 7 things about my process that I follow:It has to provide some value to someone, otherwise it’s fillerKnow who I’m talking toStart with the end in mindMake it personal at some levelT

In episode 83, I shared my answer to a question someone ask about wanting to do web and software development along with digital marketing all at the same time.First, find your focus, your core offering, and then branch out into the others where it fits to augment and make your core offering much better.The same is idea applies here.If it is a good fit, then here’s how you find a partner. 1. Make connections at events 2. Social Media 3. Build relationships 4. Ask 5. Google Be careful with who you partner with, remember your name is going on the service and recommendation. If you aren’t fully confident in the job that they can do, then it’s better not to even offer it.The partnership should be an added bonus to your services that increases the value that you are bringing to your clients and increases the value of your offerings for your business.

Today I share with you a very personal story of mine and why I do what I do.It was something that I discovered at a very young age, but my family environment played a HUGE part in shaping me as a the person I am today.There’s a reason behind the work we do, especially the work we choose to do as freelancersFor you that could be travel, or spending time with family like me, or work on projects that you have a close passion to. What ever that is, if you don’t keep that why in focus, you’ll de-rail yourself and during the times of bad, you’ll feel the desire to turn back.It’s your why that will allow you to push through hard times, allow you to celebrate the great times, and be the goals you have for the rest of your life.I encourage you to take some time and reflect on your why, put it front in center of all the decisions you have to make and make sure as a freelancer those decisions you make align directly with your why.Otherwise, why are you freelancing?Take a look at the Ask Rezzz Extra from this episode ove

There are different types of mentors though.Virtual Mentors, Personal Coaches, Business Coaches, In-Person Mentors, Mastermind Groups.Some you do have to pay for, some you can follow and learn from just with all the content they provide.To answer the question though, if you really want to make an impact starting your company or your project, paying for a mentor would be the most helpful to you.In this episode I'm going to share with you the 4 benefits of hiring a coach or mentor. Then dive into 3 things to keep in mind when looking around for one.You’ll want to find someone who has experience in what you want help in.You want to find someone who you mesh with at a personal level.Find someone who can coach you in the way you learn from best.There are so many awesome people who are mentors and coaches out there.But you need to figure out what you want help on specifically and then with the steps above, find the one for you.If you are a developer or designer who is freelancing, not looking to build a large agenc