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SHOWING NEWS 11–20 OUT OF 774

ROBERT VLACH: GOOD AS EVER

A couple of weeks ago, Freelancermap published their annual Freelancer Study 2025, which we both supported and reported on with selected highlights.

The final, extensive PDF report also included quotes from 16 leading freelancing experts, including Robert Vlach as the founder of Freelancing.eu and best-selling author of The Freelance Way. His quotes were selected from Robert’s answers to questions submitted in February 2025. Here they are, published in full as a follow-up — enjoy!

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WEEKLY DIGEST #19 OF 2025

• Work on Your Act: The Life-Changing Benefits of Mastering Your Craft, by Matthew Fenton — Great reminder that flashy branding and daily social posts won't sustain your business—great work will. As Matt writes, if you want repeat clients, referrals, and less time chasing leads, the answer is simple (but not easy): master your craft. That means leveling up your core skills, gathering honest feedback, and testing new strengths in low-risk settings.
• Freelance Collectives: The Agencies of the Future — Sarah Duran shares the latest insights from The Future is Freelance Forums. One key insight? Freelancers thrive not in isolation, but in collectives—flexible, values-driven communities that combine the freedom of solo work with the support of trusted peers. These groups offer emotional safety, practical collaboration, and the kind of unexpected learning that only comes from shared experience.
• “Is the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Worth It in 2025?”, asks Jack Nolan in his recent article, where he explores the realities behind the lifestyle—separating the romanticized image from day-to-day truths. Jack highlights the benefits: Freedom to travel, cost savings, personal growth, and flexible work; but also dives into challenges like loneliness, lack of routine, visa complications, healthcare issues, and financial uncertainty.
• I Replaced My $700/Hour Coach with NotebookLM – Here’s What Happened, by Tiago Forte — A productivity expert and the author of Building a Second Brain, tests and shares his thoughts on NotebookLM, an AI tool that helps him organize his research, summarize key insights from documents, and generate new ideas—all grounded in his own notes and sources.
• Dopamine Dressing: The Secret to Being Happier at Work? by Jenny Holliday — Ever heard of dopamine dressing? As Jenny reveals, it’s the idea that wearing clothes you love can boost your mood, energy, and confidence at work. For freelancers, it offers a simple way to feel more motivated and authentic—whether you’re meeting clients, tackling tough tasks, or just trying to stay focused at home.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #18 OF 2025

• How to Turn Your Freelance Business into a Scalable Brand, by Sara Gibson — Clear and practical guide for freelancers who want to build a scalable brand—one that generates consistent income, expands beyond client work, and positions them as leaders in their field.
• The Golden Rule for ADHD Creative Freelancers (Neurotypicals, It Works for You Too!), by Justine Clay — As a creative professional, thinking differently is a strength—but it can also be a challenge. Finding a balance between your talents and the difficulties of ADHD isn’t always easy. Justine, a certified ADHD coach for creatives, shares a powerful principle that helps professionals refocus on what truly matters: the Rule of Three.
• Analytical Thinking is the Most In-Demand Skill: Here’s How Freelancers Can Prove They’ve Got It, from The Freelance Informer — Analytical thinking is one of the most sought-after skills in today’s freelance market. This article explores how we as freelancers can showcase our problem-solving and data analysis abilities to attract new clients and opportunities.
• How Can We Prepare the Next Generation of Freelancers? — That’s the topic of another session in Sarah Duran’s online Future is Freelance Forum series, taking place on May 6. You can register for free.
• When You Feel Trapped in Your “Successful” Freelance Business, Do This, by Austin L. Church — Feeling stuck? Austin shares an engaging story about getting lost on a morning run during a client trip—a perfect metaphor for the disorientation many freelancers face. With relatable insights and three simple questions, this piece can help you reframe your business path and reconnect with what truly matters next.
• Nail Your Freelancer Elevator Pitch into One Sentence: Attract Dream Clients Across All Platforms, from The Freelance Informer — What does a strong one-sentence elevator pitch look like? Instead of: “I write engaging blog posts,” try: “I create blog content that can boost website traffic by an average of 25% within as little as three months.” Learn how to distill your value into a concise, results-driven statement that attracts quality clients, sets clear expectations, and supports your rates.

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FREELANCER STUDY 2025 REPORT

In April, the results of the annual Freelancer Study 2025 were released, with participants consisting mainly of men (84%) from 73 countries (95% Europe), holding a university degree (81%), and predominantly freelancing in technical and managerial professions (85%). The study therefore presents a relatively narrow but in-depth look into the business of 3,571 freelancers, who are evidently doing quite well:

• 21% have an annual gross revenue of more than €175,000 and 16% have an annual gross profit of more than €125,000
• €7,498 is the average monthly income from freelance work
• The average hourly rate is €100, and only 14% have more than 20% of non-billable hours (of an average of 40 working hours per week)
• €1,136 is set aside on average each month for retirement, most often in securities, real estate, and public pension system, yet 49% are concerned about their financial situation in retirement
• The main reasons for going freelance are independence (64%), flexible time management (54%) and better opportunities for higher income (54%)
• The biggest challenges are project acquisition (58%), uncertainty in planning (45%), and fluctuating income (39%)
• 38% acquire new clients actively, while 62% rely on passive acquisition
• 72% are in some way involved in their clients’ strategy

The final report also features contributions from 16 leading freelancing experts, including Freelancing.eu founder Robert Vlach:

“The winning freelance mindset is a complex blend of many elements: strong expertise matching real market demand, outstanding client care, high reliability, preparedness to evolve, sustained focus on developing business skills, especially in pricing and negotiations, and healthy lifestyle.”

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WEEKLY DIGEST #16 OF 2025

• Freelancing in the Age of AI, a podcast by Lizzie Davey — Feeling unsure about freelancing in the age of AI? This episode of Lizzie’s podcast tackles fears, shifts in client demand, and how to adapt—showing why AI isn’t your enemy, how to use it smartly, and why human creativity still wins.
• 8 Best Practices for Managing Client Expectations in Creative Projects, by Ivana Drakulevska — “Clear communication helps reduce misunderstandings, keep projects on track, and build trust,” writes Ivana, as she shares essential practices to avoid surprises, strengthen client relationships, and deliver work that exceeds expectations.
• How to Craft a Business Presentation That Doesn’t Bore People to Death, by Derek Vaughn — Boring presentations waste great ideas. This article shares practical recommendations on how to hook your audience quickly and keep them engaged. As Derek explains, it involves clear messaging, storytelling, compelling visuals, audience engagement, strategic humor, and actionable takeaways.
• Quick Wins to Boost Your Freelance Income This Month, by Sara Gibson — This article tackles the ups and downs of freelance work and shares five simple, actionable strategies you can implement right away to boost your income—like offering a productized service or launching a VIP Day.
• How to Get Your First Consulting Client (Without Ads or Cold Calls), longread by Melissa Liberman — This in-depth guide walks new independent consultants through the essential mindset shifts, practical strategies, and tools needed to secure that all-important first client and build a sustainable business beyond it. It covers everything from pricing and personal branding to contracts, marketing, and daily routines.
• 5 Tips For a Good Freelance Profile Photo, by Anouck Bossaert — A strong profile picture creates a powerful first impression on clients. Here are a couple of simple but relevant tips to keep in mind when taking your profile picture.

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MAKING OF A BESTSELLER

Tiago Forte, author of the bestseller Building a Second Brain, shared a behind-the-scenes blog series on how the book was created, marketed, and published.

"In this series, I’ll do a deep-dive on everything I’ve learned about how to make a big idea and a book successful, including my most surprising lessons and mistakes," says Tiago.

If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of writing your own book, or simply want a peek into the strategy behind a successful creative project, this one’s for you.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #15 OF 2025

• Freelance Unlocked is back on May 14–15 in Berlin — a unique conference for freelancers in Europe, bringing together 700+ independent professionals and 50+ speakers. If you’re working solo, this is your chance to connect, learn, and get inspired through workshops, talks, and a networking party. Use our code FREELANCINGEU4FUN25 for €30 off your ticket.
• How to Deal With Dissatisfaction, by our member Magdalena Cevelova — Consultations can go wrong for many reasons, but most issues stem from miscommunication, unclear expectations, or mismatched values — not bad intentions. Magdalena outlines 7 common causes of dissatisfaction in consultations and what freelancers (and their clients) can do to prevent them.
• 3 Anti-Fragility Goals for Freelancers, by Austin L. Church — As freelancers, we face many challenges and uncertainties. Austin suggests three antifragility goals to help us navigate them: build a savings buffer, market daily, and improve efficiency and pricing.
• Protecting Your Mental Health as a Freelancer: Prioritize You!, by Sara Gibson — Freelancing offers freedom but can also impact your mental health due to stress, isolation, and pressure. This article offers 5 practical strategies to stay well: set boundaries, take breaks, practice self-compassion, create a calming workspace, and connect with fellow freelancers.
• Clinical trial: AI Therapy Bot Cuts Depression by 50%, from The Freelance Informer — A U.S. study shows that AI-powered therapy apps can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by 51% and 31% respectively, while offering 24/7 support. As the article states, for freelancers facing stress and isolation, this technology may become a valuable mental health tool.

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FREELANCE UNLOCKED 2025

Freelance Unlocked is back on May 14–15 in Berlin — a unique conference for freelancers in Europe, bringing together 700+ independent professionals and 50+ speakers. If you’re working solo, this is your chance to connect, learn, and get inspired through workshops, talks, and a networking party. Use our code FREELANCINGEU4FUN25 for €30 off your ticket — or simply activate the discount via this link.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #14 OF 2025

• Crimson stripes, unicycles, and why differentiation is more important than ever, by Austin L. Church — "Not standing out is the same as being invisible." In a sea of freelancers, Austin argues that differentiation isn't just nice-to-have, it's essential. He uses a compelling "crimson stripe" resume story to illustrate how even a tiny difference can yield huge results, and provides actionable insights on finding your unique edge to cut through the noise.
• Go do business, by Jason Fried — “Business isn’t something you learn in books,” says the author of ReWork and offers a simple solution.
• The invisible hustle: How motherhood shapes creativity, career paths & the fight for flexibility in 2025, for parents by Abbey Bramfort — Motherhood (or parenthood) doesn’t have to be an obstacle in your creative career. In fact, it can be a catalyst. It can spark fresh ideas, build leadership skills, and strengthen resilience. Through honest stories from creative mothers—freelancers, founders, and leaders—this piece reveals how parenting fuels creative growth, brings new leadership skills, and redefines professional ambition.
• Cruising, coffee & connectivity: Lessons from a month on the move — Can you really mix business with travel? Nigel Rawlins shares a couple of lessons from his “workation” — three weeks on a cruise and one week exploring Japan.
• How to choose the right partnerships to grow your freelance business, by Sara Gibson — Collaboration can be one of the fastest ways to grow your freelance business, expand your reach, and unlock new opportunities. But how do you choose the right partnerships—and make sure they work for both sides? Sara breaks it down into four simple steps.
• What every freelancer needs to know about client communication, by Karen Bradford — Effective communication isn’t optional for freelancers—it’s what separates short-term gigs from lasting client relationships. From active listening to contract clarity, this guide outlines what every freelancer should know to build trust, avoid misunderstandings, and grow a sustainable business.

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FINANCIAL TOOLS GUIDE

The Financial Tools Guide by Elina Jutelyte, Freelance Business, and collaborators is a newly released, freely available resource designed to help freelancers manage their financial affairs. It focuses primarily on financial tools and apps across various categories and also includes expert advice—such as a summary of Robert Vlach’s online workshop for Freelance Business.

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