#386: The Goldilocks Pricing Rule for Freelancers (Not Too High, Not Too Low)
“Raise your gosh darn rates.”
I literally have a podcast episode with this title.
But that advice is not for everyone because raising your prices isn’t always the answer.
Every freelancer has a “Goldilocks sweet spot” for their pricing.
The perfect balance of rates that keep you booked, profitable, and sane.
Charge too much? You've got the "luxury mirage"… premium prices, but an empty calendar.
Charge too little? Welcome to the "bargain bin trap"… a packed calendar full of soul-sucking projects where you resent your clients and can barely keep your head above water.
This week’s episode is all about finding that pricing sweet spot that keeps you booked with better clients.
I’ll give you…
4 steps.
and 3 important metrics.
I break it all down on Episode #386: The Goldilocks Pricing Rule for Freelancers (Not Too High, Not Too Low)
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/386
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#385: Booked Solid? Here’s What Comes Next for (Some) Serious Creatives
The vast majority of freelancers want one thing: more clients.
But what if that’s not your biggest problem?
What if you’re booked solid…
And now the “good problem to have” is that you can’t ever take a vacation because your income is tied to the hours you work?
It’s a dollars-for-hours trap.
No work = no money.
Vacation? You're not making money.
Get sick? Not making money.
In the hospital? Not making money.
Your income is handcuffed to the hours you work.
And there's a ceiling. A theoretical maximum. You can inch it up by raising your rates, but eventually... that's it.
That's your max.
Some people are cool with that.
If you’d like a future where you’re making great money NOT trading dollars for hours…
Where you “outgrow” freelancing and transition your expertise into something more scalable…
This episode is for you.
Should I start an agency?
Sell software/products?
Or - should I start teaching what I know and build a coaching business?
In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of each, and why I think creating a scalable coaching offer is the way to go (spoiler alert: it’s the one I’ve gone all in on, which is why you’re reading this).
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/385
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#384: The “Power Hour” Method (How Smart Freelancers Work)
We all get the same 24 hours in a day.
So why can some people get more done in that 24 hours than others?
It’s not ALWAYS about doing more.
In many cases it’s about doing the RIGHT things consistently (at the right time of day).
My day starts at 5:30 AM with 15 minutes of reading and straight to the gym for a workout.
It’s a non-negotiable for me, whether I feel like it or not.
So my advice for you:
Set aside “power hours” to work ON your business every day - as a non-negotiable.
Just like going to the gym, it’s a “business booty bootcamp” that directly adds junk to your trunk (aka revenue to your bank account) when you do it consistently.
(Oh, and DO NOT check emails first thing in the morning. Ever.)
This week’s episode is all about how to know WHAT to work on and how to prioritize it so you can actually have the business and the life that you want.
Things like:
Micro-routines that help you knock out the important stuff quickly
How I structure my day based on my energy levels, and my best “hacks” for creative focus
The “hate-charity” trick that helps me accomplish my goals
The 3 biggest issues that keep you from prioritizing (even when you want to)
Listen now to Episode #384: The “Power Hour” Method (How Smart Freelancers Work)
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/384
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#383: What Are You Willing to Give Up to Grow Your Freelance Business?
“I'd love to be jacked.”
“I'd love to be great at pottery.”
“I’d love to be a scratch golfer.” ← this one’s me.
You can say you wanna be good at something, but if you’re not willing to do what it takes to get there, you don’t really want it enough.
And sometimes that’s okay.
But when it comes to your freelance business, I hear a lot of people say, “I want to be making 6 figures, charging $10k per project, etc etc.”
And yet when it comes time to do the work - they “don’t have time” for it.
That time excuse? We know it’s not really true.
I've seen people juggling full-time jobs, families, community roles, even taking care of extended family... and they STILL make massive progress in their businesses.
Then I see freelancers with literally zero responsibilities (single, no kids, no clients, hell, some even just got laid off and have nothing but time) and they're STILL using "lack of time" as their excuse.
We all have the same 24 hours.
So what are you willing to do to make time and space for progress?
That’s the question I tackle on this week’s episode: What Are You Willing to Give Up to Grow Your Freelance Business?
Don't just SAY you want to grow your freelance business. Show it with your choices.
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/383
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#382: The Top 5 Ways Freelancers Land Clients (And What Actually Works)
If you've ever thought to yourself, "I need more clients, please God, rain them down out of the sky" - I'm probably gonna piss you off today.
Hopefully in a good way.
Some numbers I found interesting and concerning:
68% of freelancers rely on passive methods to get clients.
58% said client acquisition was their number one challenge.
🤨 Hmmmm…I wonder why that is?
Now, when I say “passive methods” I mean things like word of mouth and referrals, networking, and social media.
If you’re waiting and hoping for a potential client to reach out to you…
EVEN if you’re on the freelance marketplaces or showing up to networking events…
You still have a passive client acquisition system.
And it sucks @$$ for several reasons…
First: For every freelancer that's out there, there hundreds (or thousands) of clients that need your services who never hire anyone (or hire the wrong person) simply because they didn't know you exist.
Second: By ****waiting around for clients to find you magically, not only are you hurting yourself and your bank account, you're hurting those potential clients you could have helped (if they just knew you existed).
The solution? Convert passive methods to active ones.
This week’s episode is all about how to do that including:
How to amp up your referral flow
A better way to do direct outreach
Why “freelance marketplaces” are kinda a scam
The ONE active strategy that works better than anything else
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/382
6 Figure Creative is a podcast that helps freelance creatives earn more money by doing what they love. If you’re trying to avoid the never-ending grind of a 9–5, or just want to earn more money doing what you do best (creating), 6 Figure Creative is your new favorite show! Join host Brian Hood and his guests as they explore topics such as mental health, finances, sales, marketing, time management, the digital nomad lifestyle, and more.
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