Hello again! This week we've got Mark Masters, founder of You Are The Media. Mark's enthusiasm, willingness to try anything and all-round inclusive spirit is infectious. He's a ball of energy, telling the story of how he spent 10 years growing a newsletter into a giant freelancer community.This episode is great if you want to:Learn how deliberate practice can lead to rapid growthUnderstand how mistakes and pitfalls often help you create a businessBuild a community of like-minded creativesMark hates hierarchies and uses 'we' or 'you' more often than 'I', because he's all about bringing everyone with him. Let's Niche Upon A Star!

Welcome back to Niche Upon A Star! Let's get bonkers. This week it's Fearless Business coach Robin Waite. Robin is a super-successful business coach who achieves mind-boggling results. He's number one on Google for 'business coach,' he runs a six-figure business and has another six-figure side hustle. Before you think 'Wait a minute, this all sounds a bit hustle-bro for me, mate' remember that Robin is a dad, a freelancer who suffers from anxiety and is a lovely person underneath all the mega deals. I've known him for a few years and wanted to see how he was doing, and boy has he been busy. This episode is about:How one podcast appearance earned Robin over 1500 leads and £160kToxic productivity, and how to avoid itWhy his attitude to marketing has shifted recentlyStrategic partnerships, and why they matterLet's Niche Upon A Star!

Welcome back to Niche Upon A Star!This week we've got the lovely brand designer and illustrator, Emmelie Coulson.Emmelie is known for her bright, bold designs, all-singing social media presence and sold-out networking events in Glasgow. But behind all this marvellous confidence, is a person who has to work hard to overcome imposter syndrome and anxiety. Me too, pal.This episode is one for the introverts among us. Emmelie talks about:- Self-confidence and self-belief- Charging the right price, even when it's scary- Overcoming imposter syndromeWhether you're a newbie or a battle-worn freelance expert, this episode will tug at your heart strings. I dare you to listen to it and not shout 'you can do it, Emmelie!' Let's Niche Upon A Star!

It's Jo Watson, everyone! Another one of my heroes ticked off. Jo is known for her pithy tone of voice, she's a hilarious copywriter with a big online following. And this episode didn't disappoint:Dealing with trollsJo goes into depth on how she's tackling internet criticism, and (like Jo would do) she's turning it into gold. Her clever replies are winning her:- Fans who admire her standpoint- Clients who like her sense of humourAnd as a mum, she's standing up for women everywhere. What a legend.Dealing with bumps in the roadJo also talks about how life recently dealt her some tough cards. She's candid about how she handled it, how she overcame the difficulties of time off for sickness and family matters, and what she's doing now.An episode for everyone, especially the feminists amongst us. Let's Niche Upon A Star!

What does it feel like from the top of Mount Freelance? Nice view, mate.This week's guest on Niche Upon A Star is none other than Lizzie Davey.Lizzie's the mastermind behind Freelance Magic, as well as running her own top-notch content business. She not only serves some of the best known clients in her niche, but she also leaves the ladder down - sharing resources that help others do the same.Lizzie is known for being open about her earnings, and encouraging others to know their worth. I wanted to find out what was behind all that.This episode is packed full of good stuff for people looking to charge more, scale their own business or just learn from someone who grafted for a decade and still loves what they do.Let's Niche Upon A Star:

Welcome back, this week we've got Mel Barfield. Superstar copywriter, queen of LinkedIn, and person with 'near dangerous levels of self-belief.'You're going to love this episode. I did because it's jam-packed with solid gold advice. Some of the highlights:Self-belief and personality overlapped for Mel, to create unstoppable momentum from day one of her freelance journeyForgetting glossy personas, and instead creating a business built around authenticity (yes, that word again)Leaving behind the employee mindsetKnowing how to set boundaries with clients, so they know exactly how to work with herBeing ambitious, without being a hustle-bro about itHope you enjoy this one! It's slightly longer than previous episodes - but you're about to see why. Let's Niche Upon A Star!

This week we're speaking to Kayleigh Hall, a fantastic brand designer and founder of Hall Creative. And we're all about being ON PURPOSE.Kayleigh shares the challenges she faced in her early years, and the impact of burnout. But she spun all this into gold! Through coaching, Kayleigh shifted her services to strategy-led brand design. This allowed her to attract higher-quality clients and charge a fair price. Kayleigh's investment in herself led to better pay, more collaborative projects and her connecting with clients on a deeper level.  Win!Takeaways:Invest in coaching - it can lead to clarity and transformation in your businessConnect with your purpose and align your services with it . This can attract higher-quality clients and allow you to charge moreNetwork with like-minded individuals and find the right communities, this will lead to more meaningful work

On this week's episode, we're talking to the loveliest brand copywriter on earth. The wonder that is Jonathan Wilcock. He's had 40 years experience in the creative industries, so Jonathan knows a thing or two about freelancing. Jonathan talks openly about his family, his creative ambition, and career peaks and troughs:How to take breaks and work according to your rhythmHow to develop your talentWhy grafting and humility mattersThis is a hugely personal episode, where Jonathan shares the importance of family, tea breaks and good habits. He talks about walks by the sea, as well as having the guts to keep pushing yourself.I loved talking to Jonathan, I got a lot from it. I bet you will too.Let's Niche Upon A Star!

Welcome back to Niche Upon A Star, this week we've got the brilliant Faye Dicker!Faye, the founder of Freelance Mum, shares her journey of creating a community. She talks about the challenges she faced as a professional transitioning into motherhood.Faye explains the growth and evolution of Freelance Mum, including the impact of COVID-19 and her journey into online events. Faye also shares her advice for other business owners and her plans for the future. Stuff you can learn from FayeHow to create a community that understands and supports youHow to build a business organicallyHow to pivot and adapt to changing circumstancesHow to take the time to analyze and evaluate your business, including when to seek outside expertise

Ange Lyons of Lyons Creative is well known for her amazing graphic designs. In this episode, she shares her journey to becoming a freelance designer. She talks about how she transitioned from publishing to freelancing, the challenges of being a mum and running a business, and the importance of taking breaks. Ange also is keen to talk about saying no to projects that aren't the right fit and the benefits of having a big range of clients. She also speaks about how she uses digital platforms, while still appreciating her love for print. Overall, Angela's story shows her perseverance, and how she learned from her experiences and found a balance that works. TakeawaysBalancing motherhood and freelancing can be challenging, but having a support system and setting boundaries is crucial.Learning to say no to projects that aren't the right fit can lead to better opportunities and a healthier work-life balance.Adapting to digital platforms while still appreciating the value of print can expand your client base and offer new opportunities.Taking breaks and prioritizing self-care is essential to avoid burnout and maintain a successful freelance career. Overwork can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction with life.Let's Niche Upon A Star!

How can you balance your time and your sanity when freelancing? Don't worry, Freya can help. And funnily enough, that's the name of her business!Freya Swenson-Costello is an inspiring business owner, full of positivity. Her journey to developing her business has been empowering, enabling her to balance being a mum and having control and direction over her work. She talks in this episode about 3 things:1. Balancing time with healthy boundaries2. Believing in yourself, especially at the beginning3. Asking for help when you need itIf you enjoyed this, give us a like! Let's Niche Upon A Star:

This week we're speaking to the brilliant Glenn Fisher, founder of The Fix, author of The Art of the Click, and general all-round badass.Glenn is known to many of us as a super experienced copywriter. But there's more to him than his reputation. He overcame self-doubt, and (with a lot of hard work) built a brilliant community around himself. Glenn talks about his career from auditor, to freelancer and beyond.Dedicated practiseOne of the things Glenn talks about is the importance of dedicated practise, which allows you to master whatever art you choose.Overcoming anxietyAn important theme of this podcast episode is the role that self-doubt and anxiety often plays in the creative mind. Glenn shares how he dealt with his own fears and found people to help him manage his doubts.Staying motivatedBy following his own curiosity, and keeping track of small successes, Glenn's talent emerged through experimentation. He talks about the importance of trusting your voice and self-belief. Ruddy music to my ears, mate.To thine own selfAnd lastly, we chat about the importance of vulnerability in finding true clients. Anxiety will always hang around, but with experience, your own truest expression is what will win over your dream clients. WOW. I love this message! I love this episode!Let's Niche Upon A Star!

Sometimes you get to meet your actual heroes! This was one of those days for me. It's Sophie Cross, founder of Freelancer Magazine and creator of one of the best online courses for mastering social media, LinkedIn for Humans.Sophie's very open about things that I think we can all relate to:- Burning out after working too hard- Constantly trying to improve your business in small ways- Finding time for herselfSophie's focus is very much on processes, something she's passionate about. For her, getting her business optimised means two things - one she can avoid restarting tasks, and can work in 'sprints' to get things done efficiently, and two she has a structure to support a growing team around her. Win!Sophie used Kickstarter to get her business off the ground with funding behind it - hearing about that is super useful. She's also not afraid to accept help, and turn to the community around her when she needs it. All in all, there's so much good stuff in this interview that there's no point you reading this. Just crack on and give it a listen! Let's Niche Upon A Star!

What an episode! André Spiteri talks openly about the grit and determination it took to set up Maverick Words. Packed full of gems. What a great interview!We look at early freelancing challenges:André struggled to find clients in his first year as a freelancer, taking on many low-paying jobs and working long hours just to build confidence and a portfolio. How to find your first clients:André gained writing samples by blogging for free, then built a list of potential clients and reached out through cold emails, facing fear with each attempt but gradually building what likens to 'muscle' through practice and persistence.Knowing your worth:Through experience, André realised he was undercharging after seeing an agency's rates. He came to understand pricing projects instead of hours, and the importance of having leverage and a pipeline to negotiate confidently.And finally hitting his STRIDE. Yes!!While initially resistant, André found success focusing on the FinTech industry he knew, simplifying his messaging, specializing his expertise, and speeding up his work - though the process of discovering his niche wasn't painless and required getting past self-doubt.Advice to self: get out of your own way and don't overthink it André recommends pushing through fears to take action, focusing on doing instead of overthinking and listening to feedback to overcome internal barriers - simple strategies that helped him progress despite challenges.Let's Niche Upon A Star!

Welcome back to Niche Upon A Star! Let's crack on with episode 2:Megan Rose Douglas, or simply Megan Rose, is known for being a talented, authentic brand copywriter. Megan is inspiring because she has such unique clarity and focus. Megan set up her business and grew it organically, with a clear focus on her online ideas, her ideal clients, and her business vision from day one. On top of that, Megan overcame a bumpy start to her freelance journey and used some initial setbacks to refine her ideas and prepare herself for greatness.Megan's episode is full of ideas and tips. She is a fab example to anyone starting that your true business identity is just YOU. All you need to do is go out and have the confidence to do it!

Welcome to Niche Upon A Star, episode one! Let's get going:Gareth Hancock is a distinctive, friendly, and warm voice in freelancing. He got his start on freelancing websites, taking small writing jobs to build his skills and portfolio. It took years for Gareth to refine his niche, which is now creative copywriting. By being himself online, Gareth organically attracted high-paying clients who valued his humor and personality. He gained the confidence to turn down unfitting work, focusing fully on creative projects that allowed him to enjoy steady success on his terms.Gareth rebranded from Content Shed to reflect his niche and career focus on "awesome copy that slaps." The new website FACTS.co.uk boldly promotes his skills while retaining his personality. Gareth is now proud to help others through his hard-earned expertise and experience.