#369: The CLOWNS Framework | 6 Red Flags That Mean You Should Walk Away From a Client
Just one nightmare client can ruin your business.
One soul-sucking, scope-creeping, micromanaging clown who drains your time, sanity, and confidence.
And the frustrating thing is, you probably felt the red flags on that first call (and ignored them)…
Thinking, “it’ll be fine”…
“I’m probably overreacting…”
“I can manage them, they really do need my help”…
And my favorite: “It’s good money.”
So you said yes (even though your gut said no).
And now they’re making your life miserable.
The solution?
Stop relying on “gut feelings” and use my simple scorecard that filters out the clowns and makes it easy to say “thanks, but no thanks.”
In this week’s episode, I break down the C.L.O.W.N.S. Framework 🤡:
6 red flags you must spot on your next sales call if you want to avoid the clients from hell.
You’ll learn how to sniff out the “red flag” clients that are more trouble than they’re worth.
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/369
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20:56
#368: BANT For Freelancers | The Secret BS Detector For Bad Leads
Ever hop on a discovery call…
Only to find out they "might" be ready in 6 months, have no budget, and just want free advice?
Not only did you get your hopes up, you ALSO just wasted your time.
Yeah, it sucks - and today we’re going to fix it.
Way back in the 1960’s, IBM developed a pretty cool framework called BANT to weed out bad leads…
And in this episode, I’ve adapted it for freelance businesses.
This 4-question system will help you spot bad leads before you ever get on a call:
You’ll save hours each week by not chasing dead-end leads.
You’ll feel more confident on sales calls because you’re leading the conversation.
You’ll close more high-quality projects because you’ll be talking to the right people
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/368
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27:01
#367: You’re Marketing Like A Big Dumb Stupid Idiot… Please Stop
You know those big dumb idiots in high school that pull the fire alarm? Yeah, that was me.
Turns out I was just practicing for my freelance career.
Because most freelancers treat marketing exactly like that fire alarm - you only pull it when everything's already on fire.
When the clients have dried up, the leads have dried up, and you're in full-blown panic mode.
Then things get busy again, the money starts flowing again, and something in your brain says, “We’re good, we don’t need to do this terrible ‘marketing’ thing anymore.”
So you stop. Throw yourself into the work. Deliver for clients. Ghost your social media and your leads…
3 months later? Things are on fire again. Cue the alarm bells and the frantic panic-posting.
This is the feast-and-famine cycle that is SO common - and that you yourself are fueling.
You know it’s dumb. Let’s fix it.
This week’s podcast episode is the third and final part in the “Big Dumb Stupid Idiot” Series, where I break down the 5 things that most creative freelancers are doing that keeps them stuck in the agonizing feast-or-famine cycle.
We’ll talk about:
Why most creative freelancers are SO allergic to marketing (and yet so very susceptible to it)
The truth about lead magnets (and other ridiculous marketing myths)
The "1-2-3" marketing routine that’s doable every day (even when you're swamped with client work)
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/367
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24:34
#366: Stop Pricing Like A Big Dumb Stupid Idiot
”Oh look — Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Because what this $5,000 problem really needed was a damn menu.”
When you offer three-tiered pricing because “that’s how pricing psychology works, right?”…
All you’re doing is giving your best clients more questions, more confusion, and a way to spend less money.
You’re not a SaaS.
You’re not a wedding cake.
And tiered pricing? That's just ONE of six "big, dumb stupid idiot" pricing mistakes in this week's podcast episode.
Step into the “Pricing Confessional” with me to talk about the mistakes we’re all kinda ashamed of:
“I’m in a place where I say yes to anything I can get my hands on.”
“I’ve generally undercharged throughout my career.”
“I’ve allowed clients to negotiate lower rates.”
“I would love to raise that rate but this is what I’m comfortable with right now.”
“I have not had a very consistent pricing structure — everything has been too custom.”
Sound familiar?
You know it’s dumb. Let’s fix it.
It’s time to STOP pricing like a big dumb stupid idiot and START being smarter about your pricing so you can actually attract and close those high-end clients you want.
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/366
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26:36
#365: How to Not Sell Your Services Like a Big, Dumb, Stupid Idiot
You ever say things like…
"Let me know if there's anything I can do"
Or
"Just keep me in mind"?
Then you might be selling your services like a big, dumb, stupid idiot.
(Yes, those were my exact words.)
This episode kicks off a savage new series where I break down 8 ways freelancers ruin sales without realizing it.
You'll learn:
Why your “nice guy” language is killing deals
The simple question that filters time-wasters from real buyers
How to stop being ghosted forever (seriously)
If you’ve ever felt weird about sales or struggled to land high-paying clients, this episode will sting… in a good way.
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/365
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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