Episodes

  • RE-RELEASE Working as an agency copywriter with Damien Whelan
    Dec 18 2024

    RE-RELEASE. Continuing with our summer series of re-running our favourite and most popular podcast episodes, we are sharing an episode from August 2022, with agency copywriter Damien Whelan.

    If you're as Mad Men-obsessed as we are, you're probably keen to know how copywriting on the agency side differs from other types of writing that copywriters do.

    In our chat, we talk about:

    • How did he get into agencies?
    • How does he come up with clever one-liners?
    • What's it like working on an ad campaign for a billboard?
    • How do pitch meetings pan out?
    • Do they often pull all-nighters?
    • How can freelancers get into agencies and become indispensible?
    • And is there really is a decanter of whisky on everyone's desk?

    Connect with Damien via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damien-whelan-14700b51/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au
    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com
    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    30 mins
  • RE-RELEASE Grant Writing with Martina Donkers
    Dec 12 2024

    This week, we are starting a special summer series, repeating some of our most popular episodes. First up is our most successful episode ever - with grant writer Martina Donkers.

    In an inspiring talk, Martina shares her story about finding her niche, how grant writing works and why she loves being a digital nomad - all from a hammock in regional Western Australia!

    We chat about:

    • How and why she decided to specialise in grant writing
    • The different sorts of grants available
    • What makes grant writing different
    • Why the criteria really matters
    • How to price this sort of work
    • The realities of being a digital nomad

    You can connect with Martina (and check out her latest courses) via her website: http://www.martinadonkers.com/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    40 mins
  • Writing for purpose-driven brands with Carmen Hawker
    Dec 1 2024

    In what is probably our last episode for 2024, Rachel and Lynne chat with copywriter, campaigner and brand strategist Carmen Hawker. Carmen writes for purpose-driven businesses and B Corps from sustainable fashion to ethical finance. She talks about how she found her niche, why she loves doing this sort of work and how she makes it pay a reasonable wage.

    In this revealing episode, she talks about:

    • The difference between not-for-profit and purpose-led organisations
    • Where and how she finds her clients
    • Why she likes project-based work and how she balances her workload
    • The challenges behind 'greenwashing'
    • What a Bcorp is and how she works for them
    • Writing persuasive copy in the purpose-led brand space

    Connect with Carmen through her website: https://carmengetit.com.au/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au
    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com
    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    48 mins
  • Why You Might be Your Own Worst Enemy When it Comes to Landing Dream Clients
    Nov 24 2024

    This week Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Amy Posner, also known as The Client Whisperer, talking about the mistakes many of us make when working with clients, especially at the beginning of our freelance career.

    Amy is a business coach for freelancers and has some great information on how to find good clients who will pay good money for your work. She talks about:

    • The different types of clients you might encounter
    • How to find the clients right for you
    • How to make more money and deliver value for clients
    • Mistakes freelancers make, including not stepping into your expertise
    • Why better paying clients are looking for experts
    • How to create better processes in your business
    • How to have conversations with clients that can create interesting and deeper relationships

    Find the SimpleMind Pro program Amy talks about here: https://simplemind.eu/download/full-edition/

    Connect with Amy through her website: https://amyposner.com/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    47 mins
  • What it’s like to be a B2B tech writer with Rosalyn Page
    Nov 17 2024

    This week Rachel and Lynne chat with a good friend and colleague - B2B tech writer Rosalyn Page. Rosalyn talks about her background in IT and tech magazines, how and why she transitioned to freelance work and all that involves. During our chat, Ros talks about:

    • How she got into tech writing
    • Where she finds her work
    • The pros and cons of writing for agencies
    • Whether tech writing is a lucrative niche
    • Covering conferences in her tech niche
    • Writing thought leadership pieces and white papers
    • How AI can help her brainstorm

    Connect with Ros at her website: https://rosalynpage.com/

    Here's the link to her article about being a tech writer: https://rosalynpage.com/so-you-want-to-be-a-tech-writer/

    or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosalyn-page/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au
    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com
    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    37 mins
  • Building a Sustainable Freelance Career in a Gig Economy with Lizzie Mulherin
    Nov 10 2024

    This week Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Lizzie Mulherin, a freelance writer, brand strategist, and travel author. Lizzie shares her career journey and chats about:

    • Having a business mindset when it comes to freelancing
    • How to mix content work and journalism
    • How to boost your confidence as a freelancer
    • Whether you need to build a personal brand to make good money
    • Common mistakes she sees writers making
    • How to get the most out of AI
    • Whether it is possible to make a good living through Substack

    Connect with Lizzie via her website: https://www.lizzie-mulherin.com/

    or through Substack on https://createyourliving.substack.com/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    44 mins
  • How to be paid well with Sue White
    Nov 3 2024

    This week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with freelance writer, journalist, consultant and media trainer Sue White. As a highly successful freelancer, Sue is all about knowing your own worth and charging accordingly. She shares her career journey, why it's important to grow and adapt as time goes on and why you should never accept underpaid jobs.

    She talks about:

    • Where and how she finds her clients
    • Why journalists need to do copywriting and content to make a good living
    • How she secured a long-running column in prestigious newspapers
    • Whether securing retainers works for freelancers
    • How she set up a media training business with fellow journalist Ginger Gorman
    • The systems and processes that work for her

    Connect with Sue (and all the many freelance hats she wears) via her website: https://www.suewhite.com.au/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au
    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com
    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    58 mins
  • How to earn more as a freelancer without ruining your life with Sarah Greesonbach
    Oct 27 2024

    This week, Rachel and Lynne chat with B2B writer and coach Sarah Greesonbach. We reached out to her after seeing her great comments and funny posts on LinkedIn and we love her approach to freelance writing. We should point out that Lynne had some Internet issues near the end and had to drop out. Luckily Rachel and Sarah were able to complete the chat!

    During our chat we talk about:

    • Why she loves B2B content work
    • How she came back from burning out
    • Why you need to master three parts of the client-getting process
    • How writers can use LinkedIn better (without posting all the time)
    • How to charge more without freaking out
    • Some clever tech tips that help her be more productive

    Connect with Sarah at B2B Content Studio: https://b2bcontentstudio.com/

    or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahgreesonbach/

    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au
    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com
    Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

    Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

    Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

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    42 mins