This week on the pod it's just Rachel and Lynne as we answer a listener question about how to nail client calls.

We compare warm leads (often via referrals and niche networks) with cold leads (often from Google), and share tactics and tips on how we handle professional calls, including researching the client (website, socials, ABN and reviews); being punctual and prepared; using interviewing and soft sales skills along with reflective listening.

We also discuss how to handle the question of budgets by stating indicative pricing, adjusting scope, offering tiered options, and focusing on value, plus being prompt with quotes, setting validity windows, and clarifying terms such as deposits, SEO non-negotiables, and limits on revisions. We also cover longer discovery calls for web copy projects, using transcripts/AI notes, and the value of meeting clients in person to build trust.

Here are links to some of the article we discuss:

• Why to offer tiered pricing (blog) https://rachelslist.com.au/why-you-should-offer-tiered-pricing-as-a-freelancer/
• Client brief template (shop) https://rachelslist.com.au/portfolio/client-brief-template/
• Quoting freelance projects with Lynne Testoni (shop) https://rachelslist.com.au/portfolio/21062/

Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

This week, Rachel & Lynne welcome mind, body, spirit expert Maggie Hamilton – writer, social researcher, former publisher and founder of Allen & Unwin's Inspired Living imprint – to discuss opportunities and challenges in the genre.

Maggie explains why the genre appeals to her, share the most influential titles and authors in the space, and outlines common mistakes writers make when exploring this space.

She recommends adding case studies, interviews, research, and broader references to spiritual traditions and thinkers, plus using universal language for international audiences. It's a broad and inspiring conversation, covering ghostwriting, speaking opportunities, traditional vs self-publishing, and the importance of early structural guidance.

Maggie also previews her Writing NSW online course, covering submissions, readership, permissions, genre "languaging," and creating punchy chapters and introductions.

The Elif Shafak book on Rumi is The Forty Rules of Love.

Maggie's course for Writing NSW is here: https://writingnsw.org.au/whats-on/courses/online-mind-body-spirit/

Her website is: https://www.maggiehamilton.org/

Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

This week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne welcome back Lindy Alexander, to discuss how pitching is changing for freelancers and what it takes to get editors' attention.

Lindy is an award-winning travel writer and founder of The Freelancer's Year and she explains why she created courses after readers asked about her pitching strategy, and describes the tighter commissioning landscape as budgets stagnate and editors become more time-poor.

She outlines common pitching mistakes, including pitching broad topics instead of specific stories, writing lyrical but unclear subject lines, and not knowing a publication's voice, tone, readership, or sections.

Lindy shares what gets commissioned now: concise, clearly angled pitches tailored to a particular vertical, with relevant sources where needed, and how strong pitches can build relationships with editors, even without prior contact. She also covers following up, learning from rejections, and balancing travel writing with running her Travel Writer Accelerator course.

Connect with Lindy via: