The Content Byte

This week's events have left people reeling as the world copes with the effects of the coronavirus, or Covid 19. Freelancers in particular feel vulnerable as industries shut down and we all struggle with the uncertainty that has come with this medical crisis. In this week's episode, we share our thoughts about how to cope, how to help your clients – and how you can find work in a time when it feels like the world has gone mad.

For freelance journalists used to long-form writing, taking on social media gigs can give you pause. You might not be sure if you can write bitsy teasers, do hashtag research or check insights on the daily - while others may welcome the change in pace and different style of writing that's required. In this episode, we talk about what can be involved with 'doing social' and how, if you use your time effectively, you can use social media gigs to plug the gaps between long-form work.

If you're an established freelancer, public speaking can be a fantastic way to boost your reputation and position yourself as an expert in your field. It can also help bring more work your way and - kaching! - make money. In this episode, we talk about different kinds of public speaking, what public speaking pays, how to get over 'the fear' of speaking to an audience, and where to find public speaking opportunities.

Writing a good piece of content can be quite different to penning a feature for a magazine. In this episode, we look at how to choose a topic, perform basic keyword research and write a decent headline. Also covered: writing metadata and the call-to-action (CTA) - plus the resources to help you do all of the above!

It's all too easy to embrace a sedentary lifestyle as a freelancer, tapping away on your computer all day. But there are ways to shoehorn movement into your day - and in this episode, we share what works for us and touch on the benefits to your life and your creativity.

A lot of us start freelancing so we never have to darken the door of an office again - but what if you miss working alongside a team? Or crave a regular pay-check? Taking occasional in-house stints as a freelancer CAN be hugely beneficial for your cashflow and your visibility (often bringing you more work or new clients). Of course, we touch on the downsides too and other considerations to think about before taking an in-house gig.

It's the million-dollar question for any freelancer - do you only chase high-paying clients, or take on the often more piecemeal work offered by small businesses? In this episode, we share the pros and cons to working with small businesses, our own personal strategies around this income stream - and tips for making it work.

While you might think your clients are hanging onto your every word on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, newsletters are a far superior way to stay in touch (and bring you more offers of work). In this episode, we touch on why newsletters work, platforms to create your newsletter on, lead magnets and more.

As a freelancer, you're going to be much more indispensable - and frankly, richer - if you take the time to educate clients about what they need (beyond what they think they need). Doing this is a way of adding value, making your client's life easier and helping them get a better return on investment. It can also create opportunities to talk about other services or packages you offer. In this episode, we talk about the kind of services to package, and how to do it.

Most freelancers will stumble on a PITA (pain in the ass) client or ten. These clients may quibble over your rates, try and renegotiate your services, query your invoices or encroach on your personal time (and that's just for starters). How can you spot PITA clients - and manage them, if you end up working with one? We share our tips in this week's episode.