Marketing

đŸ“ș Netflix ad sweepstakes

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Happy Friday! We’re hunkered down at our satellite office in Toronto to celebrate a wildly successful Q2. And we want you to celebrate with us! So look out for details on our first ever subscriber giveaway next week, where you’ll be able to win some cool prizes.

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: Adobe, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix, Google, Roku, Comcast, Twitter, and Shopify. Plus what to do with leads you can’t help, 24 side hustle ideas that can make you an extra 1k/m, and scaling 101 for paid ads.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes and 42 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • Adobe, Meta, and Microsoft join Metaverse Standards Forum. One conspicuous absence from the group is Apple, who’s rumored to be working on an AR/VR headset that could make them a major player in the metaverse.
  • Netflix looking at Google, Roku, and Comcast for their first advertising partnership. With the streamer aiming to launch their ad-supported tier by the end of 2022, multiple companies are vying to win the business.

  • Shopify users can now sell straight from their Twitter profiles. The new integration gives merchants two options: display up to 5 products in a carousel, or link to a Twitter Shop where they can display up to 50 products.

Working With Clients

When in Doubt, Refer Out

Got a lead you can’t help?

Don’t just send them away


Refer them to someone else in your network.

Becoming a “connector” helps you build goodwill and social capital with both parties — the lead and the person you refer them to.

Something that often comes back around to you


Whether it’s a referral fee, a client being referred to you, or something else altogether.

And if you don’t have a network of other service providers you can refer to, it’s time to start building one.

Aim to have at least one person you can refer to for all the services adjacent to yours.

– If you’re a copywriter, get to know someone who runs paid ads
– If you run paid ads, get to know someone who does graphic design or video editing
– If you’re a graphic designer, get to know someone who builds funnels

A bigger network always means more opportunities.

Working For Yourself

What to Do if You Picked the Wrong Side Hustle

Freelancing is one of the easiest side hustles to get started with.

There’s no overhead and you can spend as little or as much time on it as you want.

But once your freelance biz becomes your main hustle


You may want to find a new side hustle to work on in your spare time.

We like to think of it this way:

Side hustles are stomping grounds for accelerating your skills.

Having skin in the game totally transforms the way you approach a project.

And if your end goal is to build something of your own


It’s never too early to get started.

But there are a dizzying number of options when it comes to picking a side hustle.

If you’re on the hunt for one that meets your criteria for both lifestyle and income goals


Check out this article from Shopify:

24 Best Side Hustle Ideas to Make an Extra $1,000+ a Month

From The Paid Ads Gig

Scaling 101

If you’re running a paid ads campaign that’s converting


There are two main ways to scale it:

1 – Vertical scaling

Where you increase the budget on winning ad sets and/or campaigns.

2 – Horizontal scaling

Where you take winning ads and roll them out to new audiences.

Once you’ve hit on something that works, vertical scaling is the easiest to start with.

But depending on your audience, offer, and platform, you’ll eventually bump into a budget ceiling.

That’s when horizontal scaling comes into play.

Pro tip: the best way to achieve horizontal scale is to reposition your offer.

For example: a biz opp/make money online offer might start out being positioned towards young professionals as a way to escape the 9 to 5


But it could also be positioned towards stay-at-home parents as a way to provide for their family without having to leave the house or hire a babysitter.

Make sense?

If you want to scale an ad account to the moon, you’ll need to scale both vertically and horizontally.

Quote of the Day

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

— Victor Frankl

đŸȘŠ RIP threads

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Happy Thursday! This is The Gig, aka the morning paper for freelancers looking to build profitable client businesses.

Mentioned in today’s issue: Twitter, Google, Facebook, Instagram, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Plus why you should know your numbers, the importance of looking the part if you want to get paid, and how to lose friends and annoy people.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes and 44 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • Twitter testing new Notes feature that could eventually replace threads. These new long-form posts can have images, videos, and even other tweets mixed in. One upside is the content could then be indexed by Google, giving it the potential to drive inbound traffic from search. 
  • Meta agrees to revise ad targeting for credit, housing, and employment ads. The agreement settles a complaint from the Department of Housing and Urban Development alleging the company broke the law by targeting housing ads based on age, race, and gender.

  • Facebook and Instagram hold off taking a cut of creator revenue until 2024. Meta had originally planned to start taking a cut of creator’s revenues in 2023, but then announced the change on Tuesday alongside a bunch of other monetization updates.

Working With Clients

Know Your Numbers

What gets measured gets managed.

That’s why, when it comes to working with clients


You should be tracking your prospecting numbers on a weekly basis.

  • How many people you reached out to
  • How many calls you booked
  • How many proposals you submitted
  • How many clients you landed

This allows you to identify where the constraint is — just like analyzing a client’s underperforming sales funnel — and then try new things until you crack the code.

Working For Yourself

Look the Part, Be the Part

One of the best parts about working remotely is the dress code.

As in, there is none.

But as nice as it is to spend the day working in sweatpants and a hoodie


Here’s the thing


When you’re on video calls, it’s important to “look the part.”

If you want to be taken seriously as a service provider


Meaning you want to be seen by your clients as someone who knows how to get results


(and is paid handsomely for it)

Then you need to come correct.

That doesn’t have to mean business formal attire, but it should mean a clean and wrinkle-free outfit.

Studies have shown that what you wear can and does affect how you feel


So leverage the science of fashion to show up the way you want to inside your business.

Tools We Love

How to Lose Friends and Annoy People

Ever been on call with someone who had lots of background noise?

It sucks.

But
 it’s even worse when you’re the one with the bad background noise.

Fortunately, that’s where Krisp comes in.

It’s a free software solution that completely eliminates background noise.

And when we say completely, we mean it.

Whether it’s a barking dog, crying baby, or a computer fan so loud it could pass for a vacuum cleaner


Krisp uses AI technology to cut out background noises from your mic and speaker so you (and more importantly, your clients and colleagues) can finally enjoy distraction-free calls.

Get Krisp for free today.

Quote of the Day

“I begin to speak only when I’m certain what I’ll say isn’t better left unsaid.”

— Cato

✅ Takeover approval

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Happy Wednesday! Enjoying the newsletter? Please consider sharing it with a friend. Word of mouth always makes for the best marketing. Plus, that way you’ll both be able to participate in the giveaway we’re running soon to celebrate 1,000 subscribers. Stay tuned for more on that.

Mentioned in today’s edition: Twitter, Elon Musk, Amazon, TikTok, and YouTube. Plus what to do after scoring a big win for a client, the one thing most new freelancers don’t realize, and confessions of a control-beater.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes and 8 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • Twitter board urges shareholders to approve Elon’s takeover. The deal’s been stuck in almost perpetual limbo since it was announced, but the board reiterated its unanimous recommendation in favor to shareholders in a recent SEC filing. For context: Twitter’s share price is currently trading 29% below Elon’s initially proposed price of $54.20.
  • Internal research from Amazon reveals it could run out of US warehouse workers by 2024. A leaked memo says the ecommerce giant could literally run out of people to hire in the US within the next two years. #NotTheOnion

  • Livestream shopping app installs increase by 77% year-over-year. What’s even crazier? This new report excludes both TikTok and YouTube. If you’re working in ecom, this a shift in the marketplace you can’t afford to ignore.

Working With Clients

Scored a Big Win For Your Client? Here’s What to Do Next

Scoring your first big win for a new client is a great feeling.

It also creates the perfect opportunity for you to make a strategic request:

Ask them for a 2-minute video testimonial.

Clients will (almost) never volunteer these on their own


And you never want to wait too long to ask for one.

So make sure to put in the request while you’re both riding high on the heels of a job well done.

Plus, this way, you can transcribe it to text and have their testimonial in both written and video form.

If you want to take your testimonial game to the next level


Check out testimonial.to — it lets you automatically collect text and video testimonials so you can display them on your site.

Working For Yourself

What Most Newbies Don’t Realize

The best thing about freelancing is that you can teach yourself the basics of almost any skill for free online.

Unfortunately, that’s also the worst part about freelancing.

Why?

Because you’ll often pick up a lot of bad habits along the way.

Things you’ll need to unlearn in order to progress and eventually master your craft.

That’s why finding a mentor is so important.

It may not make sense to look for one at the very beginning of your journey


But once you’ve got a few paying clients and steady work coming in


You should be looking for someone to learn from.

There’s a reason Tony Robbins says “the fastest way to achieve success is to model it”…

Because finding someone who can show you the way will shortcut your learning curve.

From The Copywriting Gig

Confessions of a Control-Beater

Looking to write strong direct response copy that converts?

Here’s a tip:

Use the active voice.

When you use the active voice, your subject takes the action.

This makes your writing feel strong and punchy.

On the flipside


When you use the passive voice, your subject is the one being acted upon.

Which makes your writing feel weak and flaccid.

Here’s a few examples:

ACTIVE: I wrote that copy.
PASSIVE: That copy was written by me.

ACTIVE: I beat that control.
PASSIVE: That control was beaten by me.

See the difference?

If you want hard-hitting copy that can crush controls


Write in the active voice.

Use declarations and direct commands to tell your reader exactly what to do.

Quote of the Day

“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.”

— Epictetus

đŸ€‘ 3 pricing tips for new freelancers

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Happy Tuesday! This is The Gig, where omnipresence is a work in progress. Follow us on IG and TikTok for even more freelance news, tips, and memes in your life.

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, TikTok, and Oracle. Plus three pricing tips for new freelancers, the importance of ABCs for service providers, and how to become an overnight celebrity in your niche.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes and 49 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • Internal memo reveals Facebook’s plan to take on TikTok. The biggest shift to the algorithm will focus on recommending popular posts from both Facebook and Instagram over ones from people you follow.
  • Resale of stolen goods on Facebook, Amazon, and eBay is big business. Retailers like Louis Vuitton and Nordstrom have recently been the victims of large-scale robberies, and claim many of the stolen goods are being resold on ecommerce sites. A national task force of state attorneys has been convened to investigate cases across state lines.

  • TikTok moves U.S. user data to Oracle servers. After leaked audio revealed Chinese employees had accessed U.S. user data, the company announced it’s moving the data to Oracle’s cloud storage platform. 

Working With Clients

3 Pricing Tips For New Freelancers

TIP #1: Charge by deliverable (not by the hour)

If you’re a new freelancer, you may be tempted to start off charging by the hour.

But charging by the hour incentivizes you to work slower.

Instead, charge clients per:

– email
– image
– video
– landing page
– sales page
– etc

This way, there are no unexpected surprises for them if the job takes longer


And you get rewarded if you can get it done quicker.

TIP #2: Ask for a 50% deposit.

Asking for a deposit helps weed out low-quality clients.

So if they’re not willing to pay you a portion of your fee up front, proceed with caution.

But if the idea of asking for money up front makes your palms sweaty, you could always reduce the amount to 25%.

One final caveat: 

If it’s a small project (like under $100-$200), just ask for the full amount up front instead.

TIP #3: Get approval on pre-work if possible

Since you’re asking for a deposit, you want to make sure your first draft isn’t way off base so the client doesn’t feel like they’ve paid you for nothing.

The best way to do this is get pre-work approved.

In the case of copy, this could be an outline.

In the case of an image or video, this could be a creative brief

In the case of an ad campaign, this could be a campaign mockup.

Regardless of what your service is, getting the greenlight on pre-work will save you time and make clients happier.

Working For Yourself

Don’t Forget Your ABCs

If you’re a freelance service provider


Learning new things is essential to staying competitive:

  • New marketing strategies
  • New ad platforms
  • New skills
  • Etc

But don’t let shiny objects distract you too much


Make sure to review the basics of your profession at least once per year.

We’re willing to bet you’ll be surprised at just how much you’ve forgotten.

And while marketing and advertising are two dynamic industries in constant flux


The fundamental principles still apply.

So if it’s been a while since you re-read Breakthrough Advertising, The Ultimate Sales Letter, or any of the other classics, carve out some time this month to review them.

Tools We Love

How to Become an Overnight Celebrity in Your Niche

Case studies and social proof are great.

But there’s one thing holding most freelancers back from charging premium rates and commanding an elite position in the marketplace


Credibility (or a lack thereof).

And the fastest way to build credibility is to “borrow” it from somebody else


By getting booked as a podcast guest.

Studies show podcast listeners are typically more educated, affluent, and active on social media than the average American.

And when prospects see (or hear) you being interviewed by someone else they trust, those feelings are instantly transferred to you.

That’s where Guestio comes in.

Their guest booking and interview platform allows you to cut to the front line and book yourself on shows like:

  • Entrepreneurs On Fire with John Lee Dumas
  • Build Your Network with Travis Chappell
  • Franchise Secrets with Erik Van Horn
  • And many more

No more jumping through hoops or sending out cold DMs.

So if you’re looking for the simplest and easiest way to build credibility and attract more of your dream clients


Head over to Guestio:

Find your first (or next) podcast booking on Guestio today.

Quote of the Day

“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”

— Marcus Aurelius

đŸ’ČBuy now, pay later

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Happy Friday! Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors, who won the NBA Finals last night. Hopefully our favorite Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc can channel some of that championship energy in Montreal this weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Mentioned in today’s edition: PayPal, Apple, Firefox, Twitter, and Elon Musk. Plus why one is the most dangerous number in business, 3 criteria for finding fulfillment in your career, and the secrets of a high-converting FAQ.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes and 47 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • PayPal Monthly offers monthly payment options for up to 24 months. The new installment program lets users break down the total cost of a purchase into equal monthly payments over a 6 to 24 month period. With Apple recently throwing their hat into the “buy now, pay later” ring, this space is really starting to heat up. If you listen real close, you can hear the collective sigh from all the other VC-backed BNPL firms in the middle of massive layoffs.
  • Firefox launches Total Cookie Protection. The new tool prevents third-party tracking across multiple websites. When a cookie is deposited into your browser, it’s “confined to the cookie jar assigned to that website.” In other words, no more reaching into other website’s cookie jars to access any data they might have collected. Womp womp.

  • Elon confirms “strong bias” towards in-person work in Twitter all-hands meeting. He didn’t elaborate on what the new remote work policy might look like. But he did hint at the need to reduce headcount so the company can “get healthy” — something a strict in-person policy might help with.

Working With Clients

Why “One” is the Most Dangerous Number in Business

One big advantage of freelancing is being able to diversify your income streams.

There’s a reason they say “one” is the most dangerous number in business


Because if you rely exclusively on


  • One traffic source
  • One ad account
  • Or one client


 for all of your income, then you’re in a very precarious place.

And it wouldn’t take much to knock you off your perch.

So


A word to the wise:

Avoid relying on one client for 100% of your income.

Aim to have at least two — this way you have something to fall back on if things go sideways with Client #1.

Plus, as you build your track record


The list of clients you’ve worked with in the past will grow


Which can also serve as a back-up plan if you need to drum up work.

Working For Yourself

Finding Fulfillment in Your Career Starts By Checking This Many Boxes

Finding fulfillment is something many freelancers struggle with in their careers.

If you’re one of them


Look for work that aligns with these three things:

1 – What you enjoy doing 🙂

2 – What you’re good at đŸ’Ș

3 – What you can get paid for 💰

We like to think of this as the “fulfillment trifecta.”

Pursuing a paycheck at the cost of personal enjoyment is just as bad as choosing a career you enjoy or are good at, but has minimal market demand.

The road to happiness starts by finding alignment between all three.

From The Copywriting Gig

Secrets of a High-Converting FAQ

The frequently asked questions (FAQ) section is like the red-headed stepchild of any landing page or sales letter.

Most copywriters get lazy here because:

A) They write it last
B) They’re tired of repeating themselves
C) They assume anyone who’s gonna buy doesn’t need it

But the truth is, the FAQ gives you a perfect opportunity to overcome objections.

Especially since most readers will skim to the bottom first, then return to the beginning and read the page from top to bottom.

So here are some conversion-boosting answers to include in your FAQ:

– “Why should I choose over something else?”
– “How do I use ?”
– “Which order option is right for me?”
– “Is safe?”
– “How soon can I expect results with ?”
– “How soon can I expect to arrive?”
– “Why should I trust you when I’ve been burned by others in the past?”

Make sure to finish off every answer with a strong call to action.

Friday Recap

Time flies when you’re making money online.

Here’s a quick recap of what happened this week:

Monday: 👀 Privacy state of mind
Tuesday: đŸ» Bear with me
Wednesday: 👑 Ad market empresarios
Thursday: 🛒 Amazon influencers

Quote of the Day

“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who’s going to stop me.”

— Ayn Rand

👑 Ad market empresarios

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Happy Wednesday! Did you catch the Strawberry Supermoon last night? We normally jump at the chance to observe celestial phenomena, but it was a school night after all. So these pics will have to do.

Mentioned in today’s edition: Amazon, Meta, Google, TikTok, Alibaba, Apple, Twitter, and Elon Musk. Plus what NOT to do when you make a mistake, a scary stat for anyone working at a desk, and an apple a day for media buyers.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes and 9 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • 53% of all global ad revenues in 2021 went to just 5 tech companies. Faithful Gig readers can probably guess 4 of last year’s ad market empresarios: Amazon, Meta, Google, and Bytedance (TikTok) —  with Chinese firm Alibaba rounding out the list.
  • $100M settlement finalized in class-action case against Apple’s app store. The suit was originally filed in 2019 by developers who claimed Apple’s 30% fee was an abuse of market power. But now app developers will have the option to contact users by phone or email about alternate payment options.

  • Elon Musk set to field questions at Twitter all-hands meeting tomorrow. It’s the first time employees will get to hear from their prospective new owner. We predict details of the Q&A will leak to the press approximately 4.2 minutes after it concludes, so stay tuned for more.

Working With Clients

How NOT to Fall On Your Sword

If you’ve been freelancing for a while, chances are you’ve screwed something up when working for a client.

And if you’re new to freelancing, well
 give it time.

Either way, mistakes are inevitable.

They can’t be avoided.

But what most freelancers don’t realize is


How you respond to a mistake can make or break your client relationship.

So own up to your screw ups.

If your sales letter went live with a typo in the headline


Or you embedded the wrong video on a landing page


Or you launched ads with a broken link


Then take responsibility.

Don’t try to deflect the blame.

Clients will respect you for it, and — assuming the offense wasn’t firing-worthy — it will help to build trust and strengthen your relationship over the long term.

Working For Yourself

The Force is Strong With This One

Spoiler alert: sitting for 5+ hours a day isn’t good for you.

According to Stanford neurobiologist Dr. Andrew Huberman, sitting for 5 hours or more per day is enough to erase the benefits of doing 180 minutes of cardio per week.

Fortunately, you can use a standing desk to avoid sitting for so long


But one thing you can’t avoid?

Typing and mousing all day long.

That’s why it’s so important to have a daily strength and stretching routine for your hands and wrists.

Luckily, our friends at GMB have got you covered with this excellent tutorial on how to keep your wrists healthy and injury free.

From The Paid Ads Gig

One Ad a Day Keeps the Low ROAS Away

Coming up with killer ad ideas doesn’t always require creative genius.

You just have to be savvy enough to save a great ad when you see one in the wild.

Add one new ad to your swipe file every day and you’ll never lack for creative ideas.

Whether it’s going to the Facebook Ad Library and checking in on your favorite advertisers (because you do keep a list of them, right?)…

Or simply grabbing a screenshot when you see a killer ad in your news feed
. 

It only takes a few minutes each day.

Get yourself a tool like SnagIt and/or the GoFullPage Chrome extension and you’re all set.

Quote of the Day

“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.”

— Salvador Dali

đŸ€Œ The battle for livestream supremacy

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Happy Thursday! Welcome to The Gig — your daily fix of freelance news, tips, and memes. If you know someone else who’d enjoy the newsletter, use your referral link at the bottom of today’s email to share it with them.

Now here’s the latest


Making the Rounds

  • TikTok launches LIVE subscriptions. The new program will allow viewers to subscribe to livestreaming creators for a monthly fee, just like Twitch. Beta users have said the pricing is similar to Twitch’s as well.
     
  • Meta announces update to Ad Library insights. Soon you’ll be able to see more information on advertisers running social issue, electoral, or political ads, including the total number of ads run and what audiences they targeted.

  • Social media censorship law blocked by Florida court of appeals. The law aimed to essentially prevent social media platforms from moderating content, similarly to the one currently being appealed in Texas. Were either one to become law, it could trigger tectonic shifts in the social media landscape.

Working With Clients

Big Marketing Budgets Got Us Like


If you’re on the hunt for the perfect freelance client, here’s a quick tip to narrow your search:

Bigger companies can afford to spend more on marketing.

You may have an easier time convincing a local business to hire you if you’re brand new


But big companies always make better clients.

Why?

Three reasons:

1 – Their products and services have already been validated by the market (people want them)

2 – They usually have lots of existing assets for you to work with (copy, videos, past promotions, etc)

3 – They’re used to spending money on marketing (and freelancers)

Pro tip: put together custom sample pieces for every big client you’re pitching free of charge.

This delivers value up front and will help you immediately stand out.

Working For Yourself

If Only 2FA Was This Easy

Managing lots of logins comes with the territory.

But in addition to keeping track of usernames and passwords, you’ll often have to enable 2-factor authentication, which means getting a verification code via text or email.

Problem is


If you’re traveling, you may not be able to receive a text to your normal phone number.

And if the account is in your client’s name, you’ll need to wait for them to send you the 2FA code in order to access it.

Either way, it can jam up your workflow bigtime.

That’s why we recommend setting up an authenticator app like Google Authenticator.

All you have to do is scan a QR code, and then you’ll be able to quickly get a 2FA code from anywhere in the world.

Tools We Love

WTF Am I Looking At?

Even if you’re not a graphic designer or funnel builder


If you work in marketing, chances are you’ll need to map out funnels for clients from time to time. 

Good news is, there are lots of tools out there to help you do that. 

Bad news is, most of them suck. 

They’re clunky, laggy, and not intuitive at all. 

That’s why we love Whimsical. It’s fast, free, and easy to use. 

So whether you’re using it as a part of a proposal for a prospect


On a kickoff call with a new client


Or to collaborate with a contractor to make sure they build the next funnel properly


Whimsical can help you get it done.

Quote of the Day

“I’ve found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.”

— Brian Tracy

đŸ„· Facebook security breach

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Happy Wednesday! As a wise man once said: hard work never went out of style.

Here’s what’s happening


Making the Rounds

  • Snap stock plunges over 43% after warning of revenue miss. CEO Evan Spiegel sent a note to employees on Monday warning the company would miss its revenue and earnings target for Q, dragging down other tech stocks like Alphabet, Meta, and Twitter with it.
     
  • “Buy now, pay later” firm Klarna lays off 10% of its workers. Given their current workforce of 7,000, the news means approximately 700 workers will soon be working on their resumes.

  • Newly disclosed Facebook bug made it possible to hack into accounts using Google to log in. A security researcher was able to break into Facebook accounts by exploiting a bug with Gmail’s authentication code. Facebook revealed they patched the bug in March, but pardon us while we go change our password anyway.

Working With Clients

Positioning 101

Struggling to land your first (or next) freelance client?

Breaking in can be tough when you don’t have a proven track record or a long list of big wins to share.

So here’s a trick to help you differentiate yourself


Work in niches you already know.

“The riches are in the niches” is something you hear a lot from successful entrepreneurs


And it applies to freelancing too.

Positioning yourself as a specialist within a niche is the best way to create an unfair advantage.

And it’s as simple as this:

Your freelance skill(s) + a deep understanding of the people in that niche = specialization.

This works if you’ve got brick and mortar experience


If it’s something you studied in school


Or if it’s just a topic you’re really passionate about.

Leverage the assets you’ve already got and you’ll have no trouble getting clients and closing deals.

Working For Yourself

Social Media Domination

People follow leaders, not experts.

That’s why creating content on social media is so important for freelancers


Because content creation is leadership.

And even if you’re not an A-List service provider with a track record full of big wins


Sharing your perspective on social can help establish credibility and authority


Which can lead to lucrative deals you may not have landed otherwise.

But here’s an important piece of advice:

Pick one social media platform and go all in on it.

Don’t try to be on Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram all at once.

Each platform has their nuances


And unless you’ve got 2-4 hours you can dedicate to creating content every day


The sacrifice isn’t worth it.

So take the time to learn the ins and outs of your platform of choice.

As an added bonus, once you’ve built a following and created some top-performing pieces of content


You can easily repurpose them on other platforms.

For example, Dickie Bush recently shared these impressive results just from posting his top 50 tweets and threads on LinkedIn.

Moral of the story:

Focus on getting traction one platform at a time.

Then move on to conquer the next one đŸ’Ș

From The Copywriting Gig

The One Thing All Top Copywriters Have in Common

Pop quiz — what do all A-List copywriters have in common?

A) Natural writing talent

B) Dashing good looks

C) PhD in English Lit

D) A drinking problem

The answer is: none of the above.

The one thing all A-List copywriters have in common is that they READ great copy every day.

Fortunately for you, you’re already subscribed to this newsletter 😉

But here are a few other Gig-approved email lists to help you step up your game:

If you want to stay sharp, you’ve got to be a student of the game.

Quote of the Day

“We are all a great deal luckier that we realize, we usually get what we want – or near enough.”

— Roald Dahl

♟ Visiting the metaverse IRL

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Happy Tuesday! Enjoying the newsletter? If you know anyone else who might like to start their day with The Gig, use your share link at the bottom of today’s email to refer them and unlock cool rewards.

Visit your referral hub to see what’s up for grabs.

Now here’s what’s happening


Making the Rounds

  • Meta opens their first IRL store. Similar to competitors Apple and Microsoft, Meta now has their own store. The inaugural Meta Store threw open its doors in Burlingame, California yesterday, where shoppers can test-drive Meta’s VR and AR hardware.

  • Elon plans to 5X Twitter’s revenue by 2028. According to a pitch deck presented to investors, he’s projecting $26.4 billion in revenue by 2028, which would be a 500%+ increase from last year’s $5 billion.

  • Shopify acquires Deliverr for $2.1 billion to improve shipping and delivery times. Despite a falling stock price and slumping ecommerce sales across the industry, Shopify is pushing ahead to develop end-to-end logistics by acquiring the fulfillment company.

Working With Clients

How to Pass the “Real Person” Test

Video calls are an essential part of running a remote freelance biz.

But even though we love a good 60-minute Zoom as much as the next person


It can be tempting to go “camera off” sometimes.

Whether you’re talking to a new prospect


Or if you just had one too many tequila shots on Taco Tuesday the night before.

The benefits of being on camera can’t be overstated, though.

Being on camera helps develop a strong personal connection with colleagues and clients.

Relationships are what your business is built on.

So don’t be that guy or girl who’s making it weird by having your camera off while the other person’s camera is on.

“Camera on” is a mindset.

When talking to prospects, it proves you’re a real person and not some deepfaked AI-bot from the Philippines.

And when talking to existing clients or colleagues, it adds valuable context to deepen the back-and-forth.

Now, on a related note


Working For Yourself

Look the Part, Be the Part

One of the best parts about working remotely is the dress code.

As in, there is none.

But as nice as it is to spend the day working in sweatpants and a hoodie


Here’s the thing


When you’re on video calls, it’s important to “look the part.”

If you want to be taken seriously as a service provider


Meaning you want to be seen by your clients as someone who knows how to get results


(and is paid handsomely for it)

Then you need to come correct.

That doesn’t have to mean business formal attire, but it should mean a clean and wrinkle-free outfit.

Studies have shown that what you wear can and does affect how you feel


So leverage the science of fashion to show up the way you want to inside your business.

Tools We Love

Turning Subscribers into Bounty Hunters

If you’re an email marketer or list owner, there’s an unpleasant reality you’ve got to face:

Unsubscribes.

In other words, every email you send shrinks your list


And the more often you mail, the faster it happens.

Unless you’ve got a referral program that makes subscribers excited to share your emails.

That’s where SparkLoop comes in.

SparkLoop is specifically designed to help newsletter operators get more high-quality email subscribers on autopilot with a referral program.

It’s the ultimate combination of organic and paid acquisition.

With SparkLoop, you can flip the script so that every email you send actually GROWS your list.

Whether you opt for physical rewards, digital rewards, or a mix of each


Turning subscribers into bounty hunters is one of the main reasons why companies like The Hustle and Morning Brew were able to grow so fast (and eventually get acquired).

If you’re a newsletter operator, try SparkLoop for free today.

Quote of the Day

“Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning. Once it does, it becomes the kind of thing that makes you grab your wife around the waist and dance a jig.”

— Malcolm Gladwell

đŸ„¶ Hiring freeze

by

Happy Monday! Reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen was not to be denied in Miami this weekend. Despite starting from P3, he overtook second-place Carlos Sainz in Turn 1, passed pole-sitter Charles Leclerc a few laps later, and then never looked back.

He still trails Leclerc in the championship race, but it’s shaping up to be another thrilling season on the grid.

Now let’s get you caught up on what else is happening


Making the Rounds

  • Would shoppers really pay to go ad-free? A new survey found 28.1% of shoppers would pay $50 per month to go ad-free on social media. Meanwhile, what most shoppers are actually doing these days is cancelling their subscriptions. That’s why Netflix and other streamers are rushing to build out new ad-supported tiers. Bottom line: consumers vote with their wallets, not their mouths.

  • Facebook initiates company-wide hiring freeze amid revenue slowdown. Internal memos leaked to Insider reveal the company is putting a kibosh on new hires for the foreseeable future. Something tells us the $10B per year they’re spending on AR and VR probably isn’t helping the bottom line right now, either.

  • Dwindling ecommerce sales send stocks plunging. Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, and Wayfair have all suffered big drops in share price recently as overall online sales have declined 1.8% compared to a year ago. 

Working With Clients

Scored a Big Win For Your Client? Here’s What to Do Next

Scoring your first big win for a new client is a great feeling.

It also creates the perfect opportunity for you to make a strategic request:

Ask them for a 2-minute video testimonial.

Clients will (almost) never volunteer these on their own


And you never want to wait too long to ask for one.

So make sure to put in the request while you’re both riding high on the heels of a job well done.

Plus, this way, you can transcribe it to text and have their testimonial in both written and video form.

If you want to take your testimonial game to the next level


Check out testimonial.to — it lets you automatically collect text and video testimonials so you can display them on your site.

Working For Yourself

Not All Athletes Wear Gym Shorts

Being your own boss sounds pretty great in theory


But in practice, it’s a lot harder than it looks.

That’s because there’s no one watching over your shoulder to hold you accountable if you show up late, call in sick, or botch that TPS report.

So if you’re struggling to build momentum or hit the next income goal in your freelance biz


Here’s some advice:

Start treating your life like a pro athlete.

Even though you may not feel like an athlete


Your goals are the same:

Performing at a high level and sustaining that performance over the course of an entire season.

This can mean:

  • Waking up and going to bed at the same time each day
  • Developing a morning routine
  • Eating healthy
  • Exercising regularly
  • Finding ways to relax and de-stress

The more seriously you take your day-to-day habits and routines


The better results you’ll see inside your business.

From The Paid Ads Gig

Resist the Temptation

One of the easiest media buying mistakes to make is changing too many things at once.

Especially when your ads are converting well.

Not only does this prevent the algorithm from optimizing


But it also muddies the data and makes it almost possible for you to analyze effectively.

So resist the urge to make changes to campaigns that are crushing it.

If something’s working, let it work.

Run up the score.

Because you don’t want to end up “testing away” all your profits.

Quote of the Day

“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”

— Madeleine Albright