A stranger asked me for $5... so why was I scared to talk about money?

Hey friends, freelancers in the making, and new subscribers.

Another week, another update, and this one is all about money. Talking about it, having none of it, and knowing when to walk away from it.

Firstly, speaking of having no money, if you’ve been following along, you’ll know I’ve just moved for the second time in 6 months, and thank god it’s over.

From hiring vans to injuries and spending what feels like a fortune, moving is the worst and I’ll be damned if I ever have to move again. But it’s over, and the place is beautiful and spacious (anything is spacious after you’ve lived in a tiny room with two cats for months), and I’m so happy to be here. It also means you get to stop listening to me complain about moving! So a win for us all.

During this time, amidst the chaos, I’ve been inundated with new client leads. Ex-colleagues, people I’ve met out and about, social media friends, you name it! People are coming to me, and it’s bloody brilliant. It’s also had me thinking a lot about pricing, boundaries, and having clear money conversations upfront.

More on that below. First, let’s chat social media.

Quick win: Use in-app audio!

The man himself, the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, has said it about Instagram, but it extends to TikTok too. If you can use a trending or popular (or any) audio inside the app, then do it!!

It’s such a quick and easy way to optimise your reels/short-form videos (and carousels), and it gives them an even greater chance of getting reach with non-followers. It’s truly a no-brainer.

Face money conversations head on, early on

Today, a new neighbour of mine walked up the steps to where my kitchen window faces and asked me for $5.

I’d never met this man before then, and I was quite frankly alarmed because the stairs leading to my kitchen are private, but my god, if a stranger can ask his new neighbour for $5 without hesitation, I can ask for money from the clients I am providing a service to!

When I first started, I was afraid to talk about pricing. I’d try to ease people into it or even apologise for bringing it up. “So sorry, but….” Cringe.

But I’ve since learned that being upfront from the get-go (BEFORE the work begins) sets the tone for a healthy client relationship. It means clear expectations on both sides at all times, proves to the client (and yourself) that you have confidence in your value, and means that you both feel comfortable talking about money again in the future when it inevitably comes up.

I think the key to this, like anything, is knowing you can walk away. I would prefer to get extra hours in my bar job over underselling myself. And because of that, I’m happy to walk away from a potential client if they don’t value my work or don’t want to pay what I know is a reasonable price.

No hard feelings because if that door closes, another, brighter one will soon appear.

Alright folks, that’s all for today. Stay tuned for more freelance fun and social media goodness next week!

See you next Tuesday 

Laura