Weekly digest #43 of 2024

• The Future is Freelance Forums, by Sarah Duran — A brand new collaborative event series for stakeholders from all levels of the freelance ecosystem. It’s online and it’s free, you just need to register. The first two events are these: What Makes a Freelance Business Sustainable?, with Elina Jutelyte, Anna Burgess Yang, and Maari Casey on October 25, and The Pricing Paradox, with Robert Vlach, Rachel Renock, and Lizzie Davey on November 15.
• 8 expert tips for getting started with NotebookLM, by Molly McHugh-Johnson — Google NotebookLM is a superb AI tool for knowledge workers. One of its creators, Steven Johnson, shared his tips and suggestions for beginners.
• Rafael Espinal interview for The Great Discontent, by Lisa Butterworth — Ever heard of Rafael Espinal? He’s leading the Freelancers Union and advocating for freelancers’ rights with the groundbreaking Freelance Isn’t Free Act, the world’s first legislation that gives freelancers non-payment protections.
• Can creative writing help America win wars?, by The Economist’s 1843 Magazine — Benefits of storytelling and creative writing are well known—it's a powerful tool for freelancers and, as this article shows, even for military officers. In US Air Force workshops, speculative fiction is used to present real-world challenges, helping participants open new opportunities, improve their communication skills, and make complex information more accessible and persuasive.
• How to promote yourself on social media without annoying the shit out of your friends, by Laura Belgray — Self-promotion can be tough, and yes, it might annoy some people. But here’s the truth: to grow your business, you need to put yourself out there. Focus on authenticity, build supportive connections, and embrace self-promotion without shame, as Laura suggests.
• Freelancing Barriers to Entry - Let’s Solve Them, from Freelancing Females — From building a portfolio to managing time and income, freelancing has its challenges. Here are a few ways to overcome them, especially if you are at the beginning of your freelance career.
• FBM week #4. Here are our picks from the Freelance Business Month programme. You can book your spot at all the sessions online.
• Become an Elite Freelancer – how modern freelancers are adapting to attract high-paying clients, with Matt Dowling (October 23rd)
• Attention-grabbing: what you don’t want to miss when promoting yourself, with Bozhidar Ivanov (October 24th)
• Finding security in insecurity, with Alison Grade (October 29th)
• The Big 3 – Top Tools for Freelance Success, with Ben Gallagher (October 30th)

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter)