The Freelancer's Teabreak

In this episode, I'm diving into something I talk about a lot with my coaching clients: the three levels of services you can offer: DIY (Do it Yourself), DWY (Done With You), and (DFY) Done For You. Whether you're thinking about adding passive income, building a membership, or just wondering how to price and structure what you do, this one's for you.
I also share a quick update on why this episode looks a little different than planned, turns out we all need to pivot sometimes!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction & Welcome
0:19 - Why This Episode Changed (Tool Shutdown)
0:45 - What the Episode Was Originally About
1:14 - DIY vs Done With You vs Done For You Overview
2:59 - Do It Yourself Explained
3:46 - Done With You Explained
4:56 - Done For You Explained
6:55 - My Own Service Examples: Membership, Coaching & Half-Day Offerings
 
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Email: [email protected] 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

Ever wonder what an experienced freelancer actually does to find new clients each month? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own client attraction strategy for May, including the thing that got me my first AI-referred client within weeks.
What we cover:
Why having a "pick and mix" of marketing activities alongside your regular content works so well
AI SEO, what it is and why it's becoming a real discovery channel for freelancers
How an outdated Google Business profile could be costing you visibility (guilty as charged!)
Using LinkedIn without burning out, including a sneaky trick to stay consistent
Action steps:
✓ Audit your website SEO, especially if your site has been through multiple redesigns over the years
✓ Check your Google Business profile is up to date (photos, contact info, and recent posts!)
✓ If you're product-based, make sure your product photos are on Google Business
✓ Try LinkedIn games as a low-pressure way to build a daily habit on the platform
✓ Look into tools like Lime to track your LinkedIn activity without needing a rigid strategy
✓ Don't underestimate AI search, optimising for it can bring in warm leads passively
Resources mentioned: Sam from Create Better Things (AI SEO) | Lime (LinkedIn tool)
Subscribe for more quick, actionable freelance tips you can enjoy during a tea break!
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction: Freelance Client Acquisition Strategies for May
0:20 – How to Find Freelance Clients: Monthly Marketing Mix Overview
1:05 – AI SEO for Freelancers: How to Get Found by AI Search Tools Like Copilot
2:06 – How AI SEO Generated a New Client Within Weeks
2:38 – Why SEO + Social Media Work Together for Freelance Business Growth
3:05 – Google My Business for Freelancers: How to Optimise Your Listing
3:49 – LinkedIn Marketing for Freelancers: Simple Strategy to Stay Consistent
4:47 – Recap: Top 3 Client Attraction Strategies for Freelancers This Month
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: [email protected] 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

Thinking about going freelance but worried about losing your Universal Credit? Good news, you don't have to choose. In this episode, I'm breaking down how Universal Credit actually works for self-employed people, and why it might be more flexible than you think.

What we cover:
Why Universal Credit isn't just for employed people, freelancers can claim too
The Minimum Income Floor explained (and why it probably won't affect you straight away)
The 12-month startup period and how it gives you breathing room to build your client base
How to report your income and expenses monthly through your UC Journal
What counts as an allowable business expense
Why your work coach is your biggest ally, and their limitations too
Action steps:
✓ Check your eligibility on Government Universal Credit Information
✓ Keep track of money actually received, not just invoiced
✓ Log your allowable expenses monthly (equipment, software, travel, home working costs and more)
✓ Consider a tool like FreeAgent to prepare for Making Tax Digital
✓ Ask your work coach about your startup period and whether the Minimum Income Floor applies to you
Resources mentioned: Government Universal Credit Information |  FreeAgent (affiliate link)| Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business
⚠️ Recorded April 2026: always double-check current rules on gov.uk as these can change.
Subscribe for more quick, actionable freelance tips you can enjoy during a tea break!
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
0:19 – Can Freelancers Claim Universal Credit? (Overview)
0:55 – Universal Credit Eligibility for Self-Employed People
2:09 – What Is the Minimum Income Floor and How Does It Affect You?
3:24 – The 12-Month Startup Period: How to Qualify and What It Means
5:00 – How to Report Your Income and Expenses to Universal Credit
7:00 – Universal Credit as a Tool to Grow Your Freelance Business
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Email: [email protected] 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Does following up after a discovery call make you cringe? You're not alone, but done right, a follow-up can actually feel like a gift to your potential client. In this episode, I'm sharing three simple strategies to check in without feeling pushy, salesy, or awkward.
What we cover:
Why follow-ups feel icky — and why they don't have to
Setting expectations during the discovery call so follow-ups feel natural
Keeping your check-in email short, simple, and stress-free (and saving it as a template!)
The "magic email" from community member Sally Farrant that gets responses fast
Action steps:
✓ Mention your follow-up plan at the end of your discovery call
✓ Draft a simple one or two-line check-in email and save it as a template
✓ Offer Voxer as an alternative for clients who prefer voice messages over email
✓ Use Sally's closing email if you've heard nothing after your first two follow-ups
✓ Don't assume silence means no, a warm lead often just needs a nudge!
Subscribe for more quick, actionable freelance tips you can enjoy during a tea break!
Resources mentioned: Sally Farrant's pricing calculator 
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:20 Why Following Up Feels Icky (And Why It Shouldn't)
1:18 Tip 1: Set the Expectation During the Discovery Call
2:34 Tip 2: Keep Your Follow-Up Email Short & Simple
3:30 Tip 3: The 'Are We Done?' Email Template
4:03 The Template in Action
5:17 Recap: 3 Ways to Follow Up Without the Ick
6:27 Community & Where to Find Emma
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: [email protected] 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

Should you invest in a freelancer directory? In this episode of the Freelancers Tea Break, host Emma Cossey breaks down the pros and cons of joining directories as a freelancer from boosting your SEO and local visibility to knowing when your money is better spent elsewhere.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why directories can be especially valuable when you're new to freelancing
Which directories have been worth the investment (and which haven't)
What to look for in a good directory listing
How to figure out if your ideal clients are actually searching directories
Key questions to ask before signing up, including ratings, competition, and promotion
How to calculate whether a directory will give you a return on investment
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
0:38 - Why directories are great for new freelancers
1:45 - Directories that have been worth it
3:53 - What to look for in a good directory
4:58 - Considering the cost and extras
5:43 - Will your ideal clients find you there?
7:06 - Ratings, competition & asking around
8:45 - Calculating your return on investment
 
Directories I use: Berkshire Mummies Directory , The Freelancer Magazine Directory and IPSE (referral link for 10% off)
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: [email protected] 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business