Coaching series: Can Zach get this beginner freelancer (Brad) to a 6-figure income ($8,333/mo) within 6 months?

Follow their journey through the ups and downs and watch them grow!

Milestones from today’s episode:

• Using podcasts for networking and to reach new clients
• Dealing with an increased workload
• Developing a YouTube channel strategy

Coaching highlights from today’s episode:

• Pricing services based on the impact for a client’s business
• How to use “Blueprint Style” freelancer podcast interviews to develop service offering
• Expanding opportunities in adjacent niches

Original coaching call recording date: 07/31/2023

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AI-Generated Summary:

• 0:00 – 2:00 — Zach introduces the podcast’s “six months to six figures” series with Brad, aiming to coach him to six-figure earnings.
• 2:00 – 4:00 — Zach outlines the goal of achieving $100,000 a year, mentioning the bi-weekly coaching structure of the series and a community for listeners seeking similar coaching.
• 4:00 – 6:00 — Brad discusses his recent activities, including the impact of vacations on his momentum and finances, and acknowledges the emotional challenges of freelancing.
• 6:00 – 8:00 — Brad shares his experiences with Upwork, confirming that increased outreach leads to more clients, and expresses his belief in being close to meeting his survival needs financially.
• 8:00 – 10:00 — Discussion shifts to Brad’s podcast activities and the importance of time tracking in freelancing, with Brad emphasizing its value for success and survival in the field.
• 10:00 – 12:00 — Brad discusses gaining a new client and his realization of the potential podcast synergy with clients; he also reflects on pricing strategies and the effectiveness of keeping rates lower on Upwork.
• 12:00 – 14:00 — Brad shares his journey into podcasting, inspired by the community and the Trojan Horse podcast strategy, and how he’s slightly modified it for his purposes.
• 14:00 – 16:00 — Brad talks about the logistical and content creation challenges of podcasting, and its integration with client work for content production and SEO.
• 16:00 – 18:00 — Brad starts a case study with a friend and uses podcasting as a networking tool, yet he seeks advice on targeting potential clients more effectively through his podcast guests.
• 18:00 – 20:00 — Brad shares insights gained from his podcast guests, freelancing experts, and the success of his podcast content in terms of views and audience engagement on various platforms.
• 20:00 – 22:00 — Brad discusses his progress in building his creative business and improving his content editing skills, while Zach highlights the need for focus in Brad’s approach.
• 22:00 – 24:00 — Zach provides coaching advice, emphasizing the importance of micro course corrections and focusing on skill-building in podcast production and outreach.
• 24:00 – 26:00 — Discussion on converting YouTube followers into clients, with Brad unsure how to position his service to his audience.
• 26:00 – 28:00 — Brad shares a development in his Upwork strategy, considering broadening his niche based on advice from a successful freelancer on Twitter.
• 28:00 – 30:00 — Zach suggests analyzing Brad’s time investment in Upwork prospecting to evaluate the effectiveness of his strategy.
• 30:00 – 32:00 — Zach and Brad analyze the time spent on Upwork prospecting and its yield; Zach suggests focusing on how to increase efficiency and potentially delegating tasks.
• 32:00 – 34:00 — Brad shares his willingness to double his prospecting efforts, and Zach advises on breaking down the time spent on different aspects of Upwork outreach for better analysis.
• 34:00 – 36:00 — Zach suggests Brad to be more specific in tracking time spent on various tasks related to Upwork outreach to understand the cost per client more accurately.
• 36:00 – 38:00 — Zach encourages Brad to consider outsourcing some of the time-consuming tasks and to experiment with investing more time in Upwork outreach for a month.
• 38:00 – 40:00 — Brad agrees to the experiment, acknowledging the potential benefits of climbing higher on Upwork. Zach outlines the time allocation for Brad’s work schedule, focusing on balancing lead generation and project fulfillment.
• 40:00 – 42:00 — Zach suggests Brad either work more hours, delegate lead generation, or cut scope elsewhere, emphasizing the importance of not cutting client fulfillment work.
• 42:00 – 44:00 — Brad opts to work more hours rather than delegating or cutting scope, and mentions he has already reduced his commitment to Trojan Horse interviews.
• 44:00 – 46:00 — Zach proposes a focus on solidifying Brad’s service offering and conducting 12 hours per week of Upwork lead generation as a priority, while also exploring opportunities with existing connections.
• 46:00 – 48:00 — Brad agrees to work more hours for lead generation on Upwork and discusses the challenges of balancing this with other responsibilities.
• 48:00 – 50:00 — Zach offers strategies to help Brad manage ADHD and stay focused on repetitive tasks, including using tools like FocusMate and Beeminder.
• 50:00 – 52:00 — Brad decides to commit to a one-week experiment of 12 hours of Upwork lead generation to gauge its effectiveness.
• 52:00 – 54:00 — Zach advises Brad to attend accelerator sessions for extra guidance, and Brad considers finding an accountability partner within the community.
• 54:00 – 56:00 — Brad shares his new process for content creation and discusses structuring his service offering to provide a month’s worth of content with minimal client involvement.
• 56:00 – 58:00 — Zach suggests Brad tailor his service offering to the specific needs and goals of his target audience, emphasizing the importance of understanding their pain points.
• 58:00 – 1:00:00 — Zach continues to advise on service offering development, highlighting the need to validate assumptions through conversations with potential clients and understanding their challenges.
• 1:00:00 – 1:02:00 — Zach suggests offering pilot projects to clients where payment is contingent on achieving specific results, emphasizing the ease of selling such a service.
• 1:02:00 – 1:04:00 — Brad acknowledges the need to speak with more potential clients to refine his service offering, expressing uncertainty about his preferred client demographic.
• 1:04:00 – 1:06:00 — Zach advises Brad to focus on clients who already value video content but may not be utilizing it effectively, rather than trying to convince new clients of its importance.
• 1:06:00 – 1:08:00 — Brad discusses targeting local businesses or less demanding clients, contrasting them with high-standard clients like Zach.
• 1:08:00 – 1:10:00 — Zach highlights the challenge of balancing client expectations with the desire to generate high ROI, suggesting that Brad should consider seeking professional clients who prioritize value over cost.
• 1:10:00 – 1:12:00 — Zach reflects on his past work, noting the importance of illustrating how a website impacts a business’s bottom line rather than focusing solely on design.
• 1:12:00 – 1:14:00 — Zach emphasizes the value of going beyond mere commoditized work by discussing with clients how their website can serve real business needs.
• 1:14:00 – 1:16:00 — Zach advises targeting clients who already value the service offered but may not be utilizing it effectively.
• 1:16:00 – 1:18:00 — Brad shares his plan to move into adjacent circles for work on Upwork, focusing on podcasting while leveraging his marketing expertise.
• 1:18:00 – 1:20:00 — Zach suggests a differentiated service for podcast production, combining editing with creating top-of-funnel content and strategic marketing.
• 1:20:00 – 1:22:00 — Zach suggests Brad could offer a basic podcast editing package as a way to showcase his more comprehensive services.
• 1:22:00 – 1:24:00 — Brad is open to testing different strategies on Upwork, considering splitting his time between current strategies and new podcast-related services.
• 1:24:00 – 1:26:00 — Brad explains his process for creating impactful short content from longer podcasts and believes it’s not as time-consuming as it seems.
• 1:26:00 – 1:28:00 — Zach and Brad discuss content standards and the challenge of creating engaging yet brand-consistent shorts.
• 1:28:00 – 1:30:00 — Brad shares his perspective on consumer expectations for podcast clips and shorts, while Zach expresses concern about maintaining brand consistency in full-length videos on YouTube.
• 1:30:00 – 1:32:00 — Brad considers focusing on short clips for podcasts, with longer content for more structured topics.
• 1:32:00 – 1:34:00 — Zach suggests Brad’s unique offering could be editing podcasts into clips and shorts for broader impact.
• 1:34:00 – 1:36:00 — Brad shares his approach to creating comprehensive content from podcast recordings, focusing on shorts and pillar content for topics.
• 1:36:00 – 1:38:04 — Zach and Brad discuss the potential of Brad’s service offering, considering different client needs and content formats.