đŸȘŠ RIP Revue

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Happy Thursday! Perks of owning your own social media platform: you can ban whoever you want. Like the person tracking your private jet.

Even though Elon had previously promised *not* to ban the @ElonJet account (being a “free speech absolutist” and all), operator Jack Sweeney posted a screenshot from his personal account showing it had been permanently suspended. Since posting the screenshot, his personal account has also been suspended. Woops. Probably just a coincidence ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anyway, read on in today’s newsletter for more about: Revue, TikTok, and Apple. Plus 2 pitfalls to avoid when working with new clients, sleep hacking secrets of a Stanford neurobiologist, and simplifying split-tests for fun and profit.

Read time: 4 minutes and 1 second

Making the Rounds

  • Twitter sends newsletter platform Revue to the graveyard. The move comes amid massive layoffs and as Twitter is reportedly working on long-form tweets.
  • TikTok ban proposed by trio of U.S. lawmakers. Senator Marco Rubio introduced a new bill this week that would ban the world’s most popular social media platform from operating in the U.S. entirely.
  • Apple may be forced to allow third-party apps on iOS devices in 2024. In order to comply with the EU’s new Digital Markets Act coming into effect in 2024, Apple is reportedly working to allow apps from outside the App Store function on iOS devices, which means developers could sidestep the staggering 30% fee Apple charges for in-app purchases.

Working With Clients

2 Pitfalls to Avoid When Working With New Clients

Most people aren’t naturally good at sales.

But taking sales calls is a key part of running a freelance business.

Because when you’re charging clients 4-5 figures (or more) per project


Most of them are gonna want to get on the phone before they sign on the dotted line.

And what most freelancers don’t realize is, sales calls also play a pivotal role in setting the client’s expectations.

So if you want to make sure you start every new client relationship off on the right foot


As well as avoid any major landmines once your work begins


Here are two sneaky questions to ask on every sales call:

QUESTION 1: “What do you feel like is working well right now?”

Most freelancers focus on what’s going wrong.

And while it is important to spend time digging into the problem


(Not to mention there’s a big difference between something the client thinks is working well and something that’s ACTUALLY working well)

But asking about what’s working well will help you tailor your feedback as you audit their existing copy, images, videos, funnels, etc (depending on what services you provide, of course).

For example, if a client thinks their email marketing is working well
 but the first thing YOU do on the job is start criticizing it, your relationship could get off to a rocky start.

Especially if the client is the one who wrote all the emails.

Even if you’re right, your client may get upset if you just start tearing it to shreds without any tact or care.

So find out what they think is working before you start the project..

QUESTION 2: “Have you ever hired someone else to help you with this? If so, what did you like or dislike about it?”

If a client has hired freelancers in the past


Finding out what they did or didn’t like about the experience is basically a cheat code to managing (and exceeding) expectations from the get-go.

All you have to do is mirror anything they did like and AVOID anything they didn’t.

Now, if you’d like to learn more about how to sell your freelance services over the phone without feeling like a used car salesperson


Grab our Ultimate Freelance Sales Call Cheatsheet by sharing the newsletter with 3 people, or by purchasing it from our shop.

Working For Yourself

Sleep Hacking Secrets of a Stanford Neurobiologist

Even if you’re not an early riser


Optimizing your sleep is essential to performing at your best.

So what’s the #1 best evidence-based way to hack your circadian rhythm for quality shut-eye?

We’ll give you a hint


It’s not sleep masks, white noise machines, or keeping your bedroom cool


(although all of the above do help)

Instead, it’s viewing sunlight.

Specifically, within 30-60 minutes of getting up and then again in the late afternoon before sunset.

In this podcast episode, Stanford neurobiologist Dr. Andrew Huberman explains how light viewing can help optimize not just sleep, but many other facets of your health as well.

Now if your podcast queue is already fully loaded


Then click here to check out all of Dr. Huberman’s actionable recommendations to improve your sleep:

[READ]: Check out Dr. Huberman’s Toolkit For Sleep here

Tools We Love

Simplifying Split-Tests For Fun and Profit

Running split-tests is key to extracting maximum profits out of your marketing and advertising.

But if you’re working with a site built on WordPress
 

Or you’re operating on a lean budget
 

Or if you’d prefer not to use traditional solutions like ClickFunnels, VWO, or Optimizely, which can often hurt your page speed


Then it’s time to check out Google Optimize.

It’s a simple and free split-testing tool that lets you run experiments, track conversions, and analyze results.

Optimize integrates directly with Google Analytics


So there’s no need for any fancy funnel building or split-testing software


Making it the perfect choice for freelancers (and their clients).

Set up your next split-test in minutes by setting up Google Optimize for free today.

Gig Alerts

Looking for clients? These freelance jobs were posted on Upwork in the last 24 hours:

Featured Newsletter

More has changed in our world in the past year than in the past 30 years. How will this impact you?

If that’s a question you’ve been pondering then you should sign up for International Intrigue. It’s a daily news briefing that covers global issues at the intersection of geopolitics, business, and technology, all packaged up with a cheeky dose of expert but irreverent analysis. 

Our readers say we’re like the juice concentrate of Foreign Affairs without all the unnecessary pulp that no one has time to read. 

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up here for free.

Quote of the Day


“We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us.” 

— Ken Levine

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