News and updates

SHOWING 10 LATEST NEWS OUT OF 754

WEEKLY DIGEST #13 OF 2025

• Financial tools guide, by Elina Jutelyte, Freelance Business and collaborators — A new, freely available guide for freelancers on handling their financial affairs focuses mainly on financial products across several categories, but also includes advice from experts, including a summary of Robert Vlach’s online workshop for Freelance Business.
• The master business tactician: How to outsmart, outplay, and outlast — An article by The Freelancer Club reimagines Sun Tzu’s Art of War for the modern freelance world, offering 10 sharp, tactical rules.
• Freelance collaboration: A guide to outsourcing as a freelancer, by Stefania Volpe — “Freelancers are your allies, not your rivals,” states Stefania in her article, where she covers the basic tips on outsourcing and explains why collaborating with other professionals can benefit your career.
• Kid entrepreneurs: The hidden benefits of growing up with self-employed parents, by Katherine Steiner-Dicks — As freelancers, we’re already masters of multi-tasking, self-discipline, and adapting to change—skills we can pass on to our children. Their early exposure to entrepreneurship can build confidence, real-world know-how, and open doors to exciting opportunities. Plus, it’s another great chance to spend quality time with our kids while guiding them on this inspiring path.
• Kayak founder returns with Steppin, an app that locks you out of social media until you go for a walk, by Aisha Malik — Do you find yourself procrastinating on your smartphone? This article introduces Steppin, a new app that could help you cut screen time and stay active. How does it work? It blocks social media (or other apps) until you reach your daily step goal.

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STAR MEMBER: LUCIE STRECHOVA

Check out our Star Member: Lucie Strechova, a senior event project manager and a globetrotting producer of exhibition stands and showrooms all around the world.

Lucie has spent over a decade managing high-profile trade fair installations, exhibitions, and interior designs worldwide. Backed by her own production company, ArtenLux, she ensures her clients’ brands stand out with spectacular, custom-built setups at international events.

She spends up to 11 months a year on business trips, orchestrating seamless event experiences across different cultures and markets. Fluent in English, Spanish, Arabic, Czech, and Slovak, she bridges logistical and language barriers to help businesses expand effortlessly into new territories.

⭐ Are you a top freelance expert? Join us to let your star shine all over the EU!

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WEEKLY DIGEST #12 OF 2025

• Why diverse perspectives and digital platforms boost business, by Annie Button — Working with diverse teams and international clients isn’t just a bonus—it’s a powerful way to grow as a freelancer. Exposure to different work styles, perspectives, and cultures sparks innovation, improves problem-solving, and makes you more valuable in global markets.
• How to keep a steady flow of freelance job opportunities coming in, by SaSha Rachel — Freelancing doesn’t have to be a cycle of feast or famine. By building a system of consistent networking, referrals, content creation, and strategic follow-ups, you can keep job opportunities flowing year-round.
• 5 video meeting hacks every freelancer should know, by Karen Bradford — Practical hacks to ensure smooth, professional virtual meetings that impress clients and boost your freelance business: from optimizing lighting and sound to mastering confident communication.
• How to work less and do more of what you love, podcast by Lizzie Davey — In this episode, Lizzie explores how to work less while maintaining income and satisfaction, sharing her journey from 12- to 14-hour days on content mills to a sustainable 20-hour workweek with better clients.
• How to enjoy sales and do an effective discovery call, by Austin L. Church — Many freelancers struggle with sales, but an effective discovery call can change that. Instead of pushing services, a well-structured conversation helps uncover real client needs, build trust, and lead to higher-value projects, says Austin in the article, where he shares his expertise on conducting successful discovery calls.
• Essentials: Boost your energy & immune system with cortisol & adrenaline, podcast by Andrew D. Huberman — Hormones like cortisol and epinephrine play a key role in energy levels and stress management. This episode explains how to regulate them through behavioral protocols, sunlight exposure, meal timing, and supplements.

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NEW MEMBER: LUCIE BRANSTEN

Meet our new member: Lucie Bransten, a certified interpreter and translator of English, German, Czech, and Russian, specializing in law, international relations, and healthcare.

As a sworn and certified translator, Lucie is used to working with confidential documents and complying with GDPR. She is also a member of ASKOT, the elite Czech Association of Conference Interpreters, and KST ČR, the Chamber of Court-Appointed Interpreters and Translators of the Czech Republic.

⭐ Are you a top freelance expert? Join us to let your star shine all over the EU!

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WEEKLY DIGEST #11 OF 2025

• Freelancing fearlessly: Managing anxiety as your own boss, by Jen Engevik — Freelancing offers freedom, but it also comes with challenges like financial instability, stress, and burnout. Jen Engevik states that the key to long-term success isn’t just finding clients—it’s prioritizing mental wellness, creating structure, and developing sustainable habits.
• Forget about setting goals. Do THIS instead (the somatic method) — Tiago Forte, a productivity expert and the author of the bestselling book Building a Second Brain, shares his Excitement Map method, which can help you identify and focus on work that truly energizes and fulfills you.
• How to find clients as a freelancer: 19 smart tactics, longread by Austin L. Church — „Most marketing advice for freelancers you find online is garbage,“ Austin begins his article, presenting practical strategies for finding clients. According to him, the key to sustainable freelancing is a daily marketing habit, strategic networking, and staying visible to the right audience.
• Why a lot of freelancers struggle to make money — Lizzie Davey shares a recommendation on her Instagram on how to adopt both a creative and a business mindset in your freelancing.
• You should start a computer club in the place you live — Looking for a fun project, want to network, or maybe share your programming skills with other like-minded people? As this simple guide encourages: why not start a computer club?

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UK FREELANCER RATES REPORT 2025

Katey Gregory’s article highlights key findings from the latest Freelancer Rates Report, analyzing over 261,000 freelance contracts from the UK’s YunoJuno platform across various disciplines.

Despite economic challenges, average day rates increased by 3% to £390 per day, with hourly rates averaging £49. However, contract lengths slightly declined to 23 working days.

Among the highest-earning fields, Strategy professionals lead with £520 per day, followed by Market Research (£491) and Data (£469). Interestingly, the top 10% of freelancers earn approximately £708 per day, marking a 9% increase from last year.

You can download the full report in PDF here.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #10 OF 2025

• 15 questions to ask entrepreneurs (so you can become one), by Freya Laskowski — Considering going freelance? Ask yourself these 15 questions to uncover your purpose, strategy, and potential pitfalls—before you take the leap.
• The 2025 freelancer rates report — British platform YunoJuno’s report, based on 261,000+ freelance contracts across various disciplines and experience levels, reveals a 3% increase in average day rates, reaching £390/day (£49/hour). Top-paying skills include UX design, Machine Learning, and Art Direction, with Strategy professionals commanding the highest rates at £520/day.
• For less anxiety and more life, treat your to-do list like a diner menu — Tim Ferriss shares a productivity shift inspired by Oliver Burkeman: treat your to-do list like a menu, not a checklist. He explains that by choosing tasks that energize you instead of grinding through obligations, you can reduce stress, boost productivity, and enjoy your work more.
• The trust economy: How freelancers find the right clients — Sarah Duran is summarizing the key learnings from her latest Future is Freelance Forums, highlighting the rise of the 'trust economy' in freelancing, where reputation, relationships, and credibility outweigh traditional platforms and pricing in securing work.
• How you identify as an independent worker could impact your earning potential, new data suggests, by Katherine Steiner-Dicks — New UK research from Qdos shows that self-identification (contractor, freelancer, business owner) influences earning potential and client perception. The survey also finds that most independent workers use formal contracts, mainly SOWs, for clarity and security, while others rely on flexible or informal agreements, affecting income stability.
• Social media in 2025: why creatives are ditching 'rented' spaces for owned platforms, by Tom May — Are we at the end of social media’s golden era? In a recent article, Tom reflects on the shift away from social media as more creatives abandon 'rented' platforms in favor of owning their own spaces. Writers, designers, and strategists are reclaiming control through personal websites, newsletters, and blogs, frustrated by algorithms, privacy breaches, and shifting platform priorities.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #9 OF 2025

• How AI will divide the best from the rest, by The Economist — AI is often hyped as a great equalizer, helping less able workers to level up with the best. This article suggests that it may do the opposite, that is widening social divides. „Unlike earlier automation, which replaced routine jobs such as assembly-line work and book-keeping, AI may extend its reach to non-routine and creative work. It can learn tacitly, recognise patterns and make predictions without explicit instruction.“
• Read like an artist! — Austin Kleon is sharing his 10 tips for a better life with books in a PDF you can download and print.
• Two free virtual events for freelancers to check out:
• Solo Summit 2025, hosted by Lettuce Financial and Upwork, is an event packed with insights on building your pipeline, shaping your brand, and managing finances as a solo business owner. Featuring 30+ speakers and 20+ sessions, it starts on February 26th, and you can register for free on the website.
• The three-day Fractional Executive Summit, organized by Shirley Cress Dudley, starts today, and you can still register for free. Join industry leaders and experts for a virtual summit on the latest trends and strategies in fractional executive services. Gain actionable insights, network with like-minded professionals, and discover the tools you need to thrive in today’s dynamic marketplace.
• Productivity rain dances, by Cal Newport — Real productivity is more about maximising outputs, not just inputs, says Cal in his latest article and reminds us that answering the phone, clearing your email inbox, or attending another Zoom meeting won’t bring you any closer to your long-term professional goals.
• Building a business you never want to retire from: Lessons from my parents' 40-year journey, by Sarah Duran — Imagine building a business so meaningful that retirement feels optional. Sarah shares the story of her parents, who ran their own business for 40 years, and offers valuable lessons on what it truly means to love your work.
• Master the basics, by Donn Felker — Instead of chasing complex strategies in our businesses, the key might simply be to master the basics. The best in any field of work or life are so special because they have mastered the basics to absolute precision.
• Thriving in the age of AI with Filip Drimalka, Wisepreuners podcast by Nigel Rawlins — In this episode, Filip Drimalka, a Czech-based digital nomad and the author of The Future of No Work, discusses how AI is reshaping knowledge work, automation, and productivity.
• 12 scenarios where selling strategy prevents headaches, by Austin L. Church — Why should freelancers sell strategy, not just execution? Austin explains how shifting from an 'order taker' to a 'trusted advisor' helps avoid bad clients, increase earnings, and save time.

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TIPS FROM A COUPLE OF 40-YEAR PROS

Sarah Duran recently shared the story of her parents, who retired after 40 years of running their own business. Their journey highlights what it means to love your work so much that retirement feels optional. True success isn’t just longevity—it’s building something worth never wanting to leave.

"Anyone who's owned a business knows it's an uphill battle requiring dedication and perseverance that most people lack. Yet when done for the right reasons and thoughtfully adapted over time, running a business becomes more than just work—it becomes one of the best ways to do what you love every day instead of merely counting down the years until retirement," writes Sarah.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #8 OF 2025

• What your freelance portfolio really says about you, by Preston Lee — The portfolio you send to potential clients doesn’t just show your work; it also says something about you, communicating your professionalism, target clients, and business focus. Are you sending the message you want to the world?
• How to find clients: Platforms, agencies, networking, and everything in-between — Another of Sarah Duran’s Future is Freelance Forums starts tomorrow, this time focused on how to make it easier for freelancers and clients to find each other. You can register for free.
• How to make upselling part of your process, by Jenna Farrell — Practical tips on how to seamlessly integrate upselling into your business process by anticipating client needs, fostering long-term relationships, creating tailored templates, and positioning upselling as a value-add rather than a sales pitch.
• How to create a freelance website - A non-stupid guide — “The primary purpose of your website is not to sell but to start a conversation,” says Austin Church, who also shares an easy-to-follow tutorial for a one-page website, emphasizing a simple and clear structure.
• Launching isn’t easy. A brand strategist says it’s all about building a team with the energy you need to balance your own, by Elaine Pofeldt — Elaine’s latest article highlights brand strategist Jen Kem’s tips on building the right team with the right energy for a successful launch—whether it’s for a product or a book.

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