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It might seem that podcasts have reached their peak, but statistics show that both listenership and the number of creators are still growing, with 17% of podcast hosts now recording in both audio and video formats. In 2023, the Podcast Index listed 50,000 video podcasts, growing from around 39,000 the previous year.
Here are some additional data points that you might also find interesting, especially if you are creating a podcast yourself:
Would you believe that something as simple and ubiquitous as a to-do list can still be significantly improved? That's exactly what Tom Baranek has achieved, having recently launched his planning tool in a free public web beta version as Nautilus Omnibus.
This web application, which stores data locally in your browser, visualizes your daily checklist or to-do list as a snail-like figure. This figure shows whether you are on track, allowing you to adjust your tasks as needed.
May 9, Europe Day, will also mark the 4th anniversary of Freelancing.eu — our pan-European freelance community and the evolving project of supporting European freelancers as entrepreneurs.
As the founder, I am often asked about my motivation to keep developing Freelancing.eu further, alongside my numerous other projects and ventures. My answer, perhaps a bit surprising, is that I realize how hard freelancing is—or can be. Freelancers truly need any and every form of support in order to succeed over the long-term.
That is why we adapt our activities and research to the needs of freelancers we meet all over Europe. We started the Freelancers On the Road series of international freelance meetups. We keep talking to industry insiders and leaders of other freelance communities. We research tons of content to pick out the bits you might find helpful.
And we’ll keep evolving according to what we find to be the most promising way of helping individual freelancers with their core business priorities. Apart from our open directory of European freelancers and organizing in-person freelance meetups (see below), we’re also considering new ways to share in-depth business know-how. Last but not least, I’ve been working on a new book inspired by freelance entrepreneurs I’ve met over my lifetime.
A lot of breakthrough things have happened since we launched in 2020 and The Freelance Way has been published. The world and its markets, including the freelance one, went through one of the most turbulent times we’ve seen in decades: covid, wars, inflation, AI… However, as independent professionals, we still need to take a deep breath and produce our best work for the clients as well as ourselves as business owners.
This is what I meant by responding that freelancing is hard. We’re free agents riding the wild sea of free markets. We’re not as protected as employees. We’re fully responsible for what we do. And we need to see behind two corners at least to prevent risks that would put our independent business in danger. No matter how advanced we are, we’re still exposed more than is comfortable sometimes. Keeping the company is therefore crucial.
With Freelancing.eu, we envision a future where European freelancers are far more connected and much less dependent on swings in their local or national markets. A future where voices and experiences of the most accomplished professionals are heard and shared, and where freelancing is a part of universal education.
Thanks for the journey so far, it’s been a joyride — and see you around! ✌
Do you want to expand your freelance business into other countries? Are you looking to meet new people and establish personal contacts for future cross-border collaborations? Compare your entrepreneurial experiences with peers from different places? Then we have an opportunity you shouldn’t miss!
This year, Freelancing.eu is co-organizing several international meetings for European freelancers in collaboration with local Impact Hubs. International meetups like these haven’t been organized by anyone in Europe, so we’ve decided to explore their possibilities and invite other communities as well. The format is open, titled Freelancers On the Road, and future meetings will likely involve other partners as well.
Participation is free; you are just required to register via an online form. We have recently announced new meetups in Dresden and Ljubljana:
Some meetings may be rather intimate, while others might be large-scale, much depending on the size of the local freelance community. Most participants are local or from the surrounding areas of the respective cities. For those traveling from afar, it is advisable to plan additional activities, meetings, etc., in case of any changes or cancellations, as we all experienced, for instance, during the covid era. While it is unlikely, having a backup plan is always wise — as one would naturally do when planning any trip abroad on their own, which is also the case here.
How to price your work as a freelancer? Amelia Tait has prepared an excellent overview article in which she advocates for a more equitable and informed approach to freelance pricing — encouraging freelancers to openly discuss their rates with peers within the creative community to assess relevant rates.
"If you feel anxious about probing your peers, then you can look for guerrilla spreadsheets where creatives anonymously share their rates," writes Amelia and shares a few such spreadsheets for different disciplines like animators, journalists, and producers.
Why should you use core values in your creative business? Jessica Abel highlights the importance of incorporating core values, emphasizing its positive impact, such as improved decision-making, more effective marketing, and a stronger connection with like-minded clients.
She also discusses the challenges creative professionals face in balancing business demands with ethical standards and outlines a detailed activity designed to help you identify and integrate core values into your creative business.
"Building a successful, ethical business offers you a chance to do significant good in the world, and to counteract all those myths and assumptions. You need to see the power you hold, and then use it intentionally."
How did the freelancers from the British platform YunoJuno fare? Katey Gregory's article summarizes the main outputs from the regular Freelancer Rates Report, which presents insights into day rates and project lengths — based on 98,000+ YunoJuno freelance contracts.
As the survey shows, day rates have risen slightly year on year, averaging £379 per day despite the challenging economic conditions. Meanwhile, project length has fallen slightly to 24 working days.
The report delves into the day rates across 15 disciplines. Among the top-earning fields are strategy (£497 per day), market research (£488), and data (£473). You can download the full report in PDF at the bottom of the website page.
If you're looking for a guidebook that introduces you to the practical use of AI tools (especially LLMs like ChatGPT) in the workplace, check out the new release Co-intelligence. It's written by Ethan Mollick, who teaches business and innovation at the University of Pennsylvania.
Unlike other authors, Mollick doesn't exaggerate or promise miracles. Instead, he soberly describes the challenges and opportunities of current technology and outlines strategies you can build on in the coming years.
When updating your professional profiles or CVs, the mention of hobbies can be a double-edged sword, says Jenny Holliday. Historically, hobbies were used to give a personal touch and showcase other skills. However, they can also serve as distractions or even become embarrassing if not chosen carefully.
Instead of listing 'hobbies,' which can seem immature, consider framing them as 'interests and achievements' to maintain a professional tone. It’s important to reflect on whether these interests are relevant to your work and if they truly reflect skills that add value to your professional profile.
Speaking of longevity science, the practice is what makes a master, right? One of them is undoubtedly the legendary investor Edward Thorp. At 91, he’s jogging, doing pushups, playing tennis, and thinking strategically about extending his lifespan even further. In a rare Bloomberg interview (worth registering to get behind the paywall), Thorp describes his regimen and outlines his take on risk prevention, arguably the cornerstone of his longevity practice. Indeed, most freelancers can benefit from his career-spanning insights.