Hello there,

Do you fear sales?

Despite having worked in sales twice in my career, I have always found it to be a daunting task. I hate sales. Strangely enough, when I started freelancing, I didn't even think that I'd have to sell...

Initially, most of my business came from referrals or my existing network. The bigger my network became, the more opportunities came my way. However, it was a very passive approach to develop my business. The opportunities were not always what I'd like them to be.

As I started to grow the Freelance Business Community, I realized that I needed to embrace active sales if I wanted to expand my business. As an entrepreneur, you are driven by your idea, but also by the revenue it can generate. Selling becomes crucial when you want to grow your business.

But how?

The challenge is to figure out how to sell effectively. It's not enough to have a large network or followers who like your work. You need to find decision-makers who are interested in what you're offering and know how to have the right conversation with them.

Here's what I've learned: Your big network won't help you sell if the people in it are not decision-makers.

To figure out how to get in front of people who buy is a half problem solved. But how to have the right conversation with them, that sells?

How not to leave money on the table, when it was obvious the client was ready to pay more?

How not to leave the impression that you are not serious as business and therefore ''cheap''?

How to speak the same language as the C-level decision-makers?

I am talking about it with The Indie List folks and Angelique Rewers this Thursday (11 May) 18:00 CET / 17:00 UK / 12:00 NYC during our masterclass here.

Angelique is CEO of Boldhaus, Inc. 5000 company (the fastest growing private company), marketing and communications expert in the past, she was featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and CNBC for her work, and has appeared on major networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS.

Don't miss this star guest this week if you are serious about growing your business. Register here.

If after this masterclass, you still feel unsure about your sales skills, don't worry! There are freelance platforms (and collectives) that help you connect with the potential customers (and decision makers) and close deals so you can focus on what you do best. Stay tuned for more information on how these platforms work.

What else is going on:

• Our 1st masterclass with Tom Kozacinski was a huge success. You can watch his talk, The main pillars of 6-figure freelancing, in replay.

• We also had our first Freelance World Café last month, where we connected with peeps on zoom and discussed various things. The next Café will be dedicated to pricing and scheduled on 25 of May, 15:00 CET/ 14:00 UK / 09:00 NYC. Book your seat. These sessions are not recorded.

• We are launching the Ambassador Programme 2.0. Would you like to start building your own freelance community with us? Apply to join our Ambassador programme.

A few other things for you to read or watch:

Blog: 10 online client acquisition ideas for freelance graphic designers by Szilvia Filep
Video: Finding and keeping new clients with Bavo Verstraeten
Intersting read: How to overcome fear in sales by Dave Kurlan

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Let your freelance business be awesome.

As always, hit reply and let me know what you think or suggest topics for next newsletter.

Regards,
Elina

MASTERCLASS, 11 May, 18:00 CET
Boost your close rate by 500%

Our next #FreelanceBusiness Masterclass session with The Indie List is in just 2 days.

Join us on Thursday 11 of May 18:00 CET/ 17:00 GMT/ 15:00 NYC for a serious discussion with Angelique Rewers, where she will kick your but to become serious at selling.

You've worked hard to build your thought leadership platform and generate leads for your business.

But now that you're sitting in front of a high-end B2B prospect, are you 100% clear, confident, and in control of the conversation and the process for how you'll ideal client will buy from you?

Do you know how to win decision makers' trust and close sales — without being pushy — and without leaving money on the table?

Do you know how to avoid creating once-and-done, dead-end-opportunities vs. long-term client engagements?

Will you forever be stuck with the chore of putting together time-consuming proposals only to have your prospects ghost you or quibble about price?

In this robust session with Angelique Rewers, CEO & Founder of BoldHaus, you'll discover how to get out ahead of these costly, frustrating, yet common scenarios — and many others — once and for all.

As a former corporate decision maker, Angelique's unique perspective will help you navigate complex sales conversations with discerning B2B prospects and turn leads into long-term profitable relationships from a place of integrity, service, and commitment to excellence.

Register below to save your seat.

Finding freelance assignments

Oldie but goldie.

Bavo Verstraeten, the founder and manager of Opdrachten.be, a Belgian platform for freelancers, has joined one of our FBM sessions as a speaker. With years of experience in the industry and daily interactions with both freelancers and clients, Bavo provided valuable insights on how freelancers can improve their sales techniques and how customers make purchasing decisions.

During the session, Bavo shared his observations on the current state of the industry, highlighting the most effective strategies for freelancers to attract clients and close deals.

As someone who is actively involved in the industry and has seen it evolve over the years, Bavo's insights and expertise are invaluable for anyone looking to succeed as a freelancer.

Are you a Bearded Dragon or The Eagle?

You can also read his story in our Freelance Business Book.

Have you ever dreamed of building your own community, but don't know where to start or how to make it successful? Or maybe you already have a community, but you want to be part of a larger, global network of like-minded individuals?

Your search is over! We're excited to offer you a special opportunity to join the Freelance Business Community (FBC) as an ambassador. As an ambassador, you'll gain access to a network of freelancers and entrepreneurs from all over the world who are passionate about building and growing successful businesses.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your existing community, FBC can help you achieve your goals.

Visit our website to learn more about our ambassador program and to apply today.

Freelance Business Month
registration is open

This year, the FBM will have 2 access options:

1. Free Ticket will allow you to access pre-recorded talks and presentations, audio sessions and digital goodie bag

2. Full Access Ticket, which is now 32,5 EUR will open up additional options and access:

• to live online presentations and meet-ups
• session summaries
• to all recordings
• to online meet-ups with speakers and other attendees
• to attendees list and networking
• to special workshops
• ticket holders will also be invited to FBC and FBM strategy sessions.

In short: if you want to have a passive participation and just follow some of the sessions, a free ticket is your option, if you'd like to build your network, connect and participate actively in the discussions, then the Full Access Ticket option is what you need.

Don't delay, the moment we will announce the programme, the price will go up.

Pricing Discussion - Freelance World Café - 25 May, 15:00 CET

The Freelance World Cafés is a great opportunity for everyone to have a speed networking and learn a couple ideas quick. Scheduled to run every 4th Thursday of the month, in short 60 mins, you can expect a couple of fast presentations, new connections and a boost of energy.

What Can the Irish Freelance Market Teach Us?

According to a survey conducted by The Indie List, the Irish market has valuable insights to offer freelancers globally.

The survey revealed that the market is growing rapidly and is expected to continue to do so in the coming years. While the future of freelancing looks bright, the main challenge faced by freelancers globally is client acquisition.

Additionally, the majority of freelancers are positive about the business climate and believe it favors the freelance model. To stay competitive, freelancers need to stay flexible, diversify their income streams, invest in skills, and market themselves effectively.

Missed our previous editions? Here they are.

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