In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from photographer Victoria Phipps. She says:

“Hi Frankie and Steve!

I’m a photographer specialising in analogue family photography (as in film, from the olden days when we were the kids!)… maternity, newborns, families etc.

I’ve been in business for 15 years and have often struggled with the concept of “speculate to accumulate” when it comes to business growth. Or in the case of freelancers — personal growth!

Do you subscribe to this theory?

Obviously as freelancers we don’t often have the big budgets that larger corporations have to play with, so decisions around investing in further professional education, coaching, fancier equipment etc. take a bit of thinking about. It’s sometimes hard to know what will ‘move the needle’ in your business.

Do you have a set of rules you apply when making decisions like this or do you follow your gut? Do you have any examples of times when the outcome of an investment in your own business growth has made it worthwhile? Or times when you’ve got it totally wrong and thrown your money down the drain?!

Victoria”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

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Victoria Phipps' website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from creative mentor & workshop tutor, Sophie Roberts. She says:

“Hi Frankie & Steve!

I’m Sophie — a creative mentor and workshop tutor at West Plum Studio. I help people spend more time crafting.

My question is around how to know where to draw the line between what you’ll give away for free vs what you’ll charge for in your business?

In the crafting world there is so much free information available online. I’ve learnt lots over the years from generous free content that others have shared. I’m more than happy to share my own content for free but there does need to come a point where you start to charge otherwise it’s just not a business! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks!”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

•••

Sophie Roberts' website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

*A summer holiday special*

I put a call out for questions for the podcast and had SO MANY messages about the school summer holidays. Then Penny Brazier sent me THIS message and we agreed it was a brilliant idea.

Penny says:

“I’m eternally curious about how people tackle the summer holidays once they’ve got school age kids. It’s an impossible equation and there’s no one answer, but I feel like we can maybe come closer to our own personal truth by hearing how other people do it — to try and glean some inspiration.

What about an episode where you gather responses *first* and then go over them? Including yours and Steve’s own methods?

I’m sure the DIFTK crew have hacks we don’t know about!”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

•••

Penny Brazier's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from strategy and planning specialist Sophie Greenwood. She says:

“Hi Frankie & Steve,

I’m writing this while feeding my baby in a sensory room. True story!

Anyway, I’m going to be rebranding and renaming my business in the autumn, and wondered if you had any advice for what steps I could take between now and then to make it land with a bang? The rebrand has already been done with a designer (Mad About The Brand) — it’s all ready. I just want to make sure it cuts through the noise and makes some waves.

I’m also coming back from maternity leave very soon — so it’s all a lot of change at once!

Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

•••

Sophie Greenwood's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

•••

This episode is supported by With Jack.

With Jack protects sole traders and limited companies on the high seas of freelancing so you're free to navigate uncharted territories and fish for amazing projects. With Jack is all about insurance for freelance creatives. Simple. That doesn’t mean more forms or faff — it means less. It’s not about endless features and stale service — it’s about one solid policy and the personal touch.

With Jack is a trading style of Ashley Baxter Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register.

https://withjack.co.uk/why-do-i-need-insurance/

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say:

“I’m subcontracting on a project with a fellow freelancer. I like them, and working with them has been great. The project however, has been anything but. The clients are difficult, their working patterns don’t fit with mine, and their constant changes have added to our workload many times.

My question is —

How do I maintain my relationship with the freelancer (with the hope of working with them again) while telling them that I don’t want to do phase two of the project?

I only signed up for phase one, but the client is acting as though phase two is a done deal, so I need to extricate myself without the other freelancer feeling like I’ve left them in the lurch! Help!”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

•••
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

•••

This episode is supported by With Jack.

With Jack protects sole traders and limited companies on the high seas of freelancing so you're free to navigate uncharted territories and fish for amazing projects. With Jack is all about insurance for freelance creatives. Simple. That doesn’t mean more forms or faff — it means less. It’s not about endless features and stale service — it’s about one solid policy and the personal touch.

With Jack is a trading style of Ashley Baxter Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register.

https://withjack.co.uk/why-do-i-need-insurance/

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say:

“How do you tell clients ‘I don’t want to attend that bloody meeting’!?

I know meetings are needed (could have been an email though!) but my clients are now adding me to monthly all staff meetings, staff outings etc. I don’t even think all the staff realise I’m a freelancer??

It just ties up so much of my time and I also don’t actually care about holidays/xmas dos etc as I'M SELF EMPLOYED. Help!”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

•••
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

•••

This episode is supported by With Jack.

With Jack protects sole traders and limited companies on the high seas of freelancing so you're free to navigate uncharted territories and fish for amazing projects. With Jack is all about insurance for freelance creatives. Simple. That doesn’t mean more forms or faff — it means less. It’s not about endless features and stale service — it’s about one solid policy and the personal touch.

With Jack is a trading style of Ashley Baxter Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register.

https://withjack.co.uk/why-do-i-need-insurance/

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say:

“Hi Frankie and Steve,

I was asked by an organisation recently how much I’d charge to redesign a publication they produce three times a year, with a view to then designing that along with other publications for them going forward.

Problem is, I sent the price in and now I’m convincing myself I’ve undercharged for the amount of work it will be… Kicking myself for letting the imposter syndrome voices in.

What would you do? Suck it up because it’s your mistake, or go back to them and correct yourself so you don’t kick yourself each time you work on it (providing I get the job)? Have you ever revised a quote after sending it?

Thanks!”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

•••
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

•••

This episode is supported by With Jack.

With Jack protects sole traders and limited companies on the high seas of freelancing so you're free to navigate uncharted territories and fish for amazing projects. With Jack is all about insurance for freelance creatives. Simple. That doesn’t mean more forms or faff — it means less. It’s not about endless features and stale service — it’s about one solid policy and the personal touch.

With Jack is a trading style of Ashley Baxter Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register.

https://withjack.co.uk/why-do-i-need-insurance/

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say:

“Dear Frankie and Steve,

A retainer client of mine gave notice over the weekend (her business is quiet and she can’t afford to keep us on) but it’s got me thinking and feeling a bit stuck.

I feel like *something is going to happen* — like a shift is coming? — but I can’t quite put my finger on it or work it out, and I’ve decided I want to do this myself rather than doing some coaching etc.

I suppose my question is…

What do you and Steve do when you feel like this? Do you ever feel like this??

Any tips or advice for working things out on your own?

Thanks!”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community.

•••
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

•••

This episode is supported by With Jack.

With Jack protects sole traders and limited companies on the high seas of freelancing so you're free to navigate uncharted territories and fish for amazing projects. With Jack is all about insurance for freelance creatives. Simple. That doesn’t mean more forms or faff — it means less. It’s not about endless features and stale service — it’s about one solid policy and the personal touch.

With Jack is a trading style of Ashley Baxter Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register.

https://withjack.co.uk/why-do-i-need-insurance/