adskills

💲 Payment partnership

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Happy Wednesday! Don’t forget to check out today’s Gig Alerts section if you’re looking for more clients.

Mentioned in this edition: Amazon, Venmo, Twitter, Meta, and Google. Plus what makes an ideal client, a surprisingly simple technique to grow your freelance biz, and how to sell a high-ticket course in 15 words or less.

Read time: 5 minutes and 11 seconds

Together with AdSkills

When They Find Out You’re AdSkills Certified

Most certifications aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. But not AdSkills. Their Matchmaker program generates high-quality inbound leads for media buyers of all experience levels. It doesn’t matter whether you’re brand new or a seasoned vet. Once you graduate, you’ll have the chance to apply for real gigs with legit clients who’ve specifically requested an AdSkills media buyer. 

As an AdSkills member, not only will you learn how to launch & scale paid ad campaigns, but you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you’re looking for a new high-income skill to add to your freelance toolkit, click here to try a free class today.

Making the Rounds

  • Amazon launching new Venmo payment option for Black Friday. The update is already being rolled out to select users, with all U.S. accounts able to use the popular payments to check out on Amazon by November 25.
  • 65% of U.S. shoppers are planning to spend less this Christmas. Looks like inflation, rising gas and food prices, and fear of a recession are putting a dent in consumers’ shopping appetite this holiday season. New research from YouTube advertising company Channel Factory found that a majority of shoppers are planning to spend less at Christmas this year, with 57% reporting that price is the main factor.
  • Twitter employees flee to Meta and Google in anticipation of Elon takeover. Over 500 employees have left the company in the past 90 days, with many going to Meta and Google according to a new report.

Working With Clients

“So The New Funnel Isn’t Converting Just Yet…”

If you’re just starting out as a freelancer…

It’s natural to try and sign anyone with a pulse and a credit card as a client.

But that’s a big mistake.

Here’s why…

Marketing and advertising can be boiled down to taking financial risks on creative ideas.

Some of them pan out.

Some of them don’t.

In fact, it’s normal to have to iterate 3-5+ times on an angle, offer, or marketing campaign before you find a winner.

But if you’re working with a client who’s never hired a freelancer to produce any marketing assets for them before…

Or someone who’s never spent a dime on paid ads…

The odds of them having unrealistic expectations are sky high.

Which means you’ll have a hard time satisfying them unless you hit out of the park on your first at-bat.

So…

Aim to work with clients who understand (and have experience with) marketing and advertising.

People who understand you have to spend money to make money…

That having a great offer matters more than having great copy…

That you need to “buy” data through testing before you can optimize your campaigns…

And that even the best copywriters and media buyers in the world don’t hit home runs every time.

Now you may have to work a little harder to find and land clients like this…

But it’s an investment that will pay off big time in the long run.

Working For Yourself

Surprisingly Simple Technique to Grow Your Freelance Biz

Before someone will hire you to do a job, they have to know (or at least believe) that you can actually do the job.

And if you’re running a freelance business…

This gap of awareness is much easier to bridge if you do it in advance.

How?

By building your network and getting to know other people in your industry.

There’s a reason they say your network is your net worth.

Because the more people know…

1 – Who you are

2 – What you can do

… the more opportunities you’ll get.

Plain and simple.

And if you’re worried about “the competition” or anyone else who provides the same service as you do..

Consider this:

There is SO much more work out there than there are competent people who can do it.

The amount of people who have both skill and the will to pursue the same goals as you do is so small that it doesn’t even matter.

The closer you get to the top, the smaller the world gets.

Here are a few ways to get started:

– Join free communities focused around a specific niche or skill

– Build relationships with other service providers on social media

– Buy a product from your favorite content creator to start a more intimate conversation

Bottom line is:

Become a connector and you’ll have more opportunities than you know what to do with.

From The Copywriting Gig

How to Sell a High-Ticket Course in 15 Words or Less

WIIFM is one of the most important concepts in copy.

It stands for “what’s in it for me” — a reminder that your readers don’t actually care about you…

So if you want to get someone’s attention, appealing to their self-desire is key.

But according to Gary Halbert, author of the Coat of Arms promo that ran for over 30 years and generated millions of dollars in the 70s and 80s, and someone who’s often listed as one of the best copywriters of all time… 

There’s ONE element of persuasion even more important than self-desire.

Something that can make readers burn through 50 pages of copy in a frenzy…

Something that can turn an underperforming ad or email into a customer-generating machine…

And something that separates pro copywriters from wannabe Don Drapers.

Can you guess what it is?

I’ll give you a hint: it’s not a killer price, money back guarantee, or added bonus…

And it’s got nothing to do with scarcity, urgency, or even storytelling…

Instead, that special something is:

Curiosity.

You see…

You never want to reveal everything in your ad, email, or sales page right away.

Learn how to talk about something without giving away what it is.

Especially when it comes to writing bullets (also known as “fascinations” in copy)…

Because sometimes all it takes is ONE really juicy bullet to hook a reader…

And create a psychological “itch” they just have to scratch.

(by buying your product, of course 😉

Even if it’s a high-ticket info product that costs $2,000 or more.

Ultimately, if your readers aren’t curious to discover your secret, hack, trick, tactic, strategy, or 7 magic words to achieve a desired result…

They won’t be motivated to buy.

A few tips to execute on this:

  • Talk about what it’s not
  • Talk about what it’s better than
  • Talk about what you can do it without

But no matter how you create curiosity…

Just make sure you can actually pay it off inside the product — because that’s what separates compelling copy from cringy clickbait.

Gig Alerts

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

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Quote of the Day


“There are in nature neither rewards nor punishments — there are consequences.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

ICYMI:

📈Tripling TikTok’s losses

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Happy Friday! The September jobs report due out at 8:30 AM today will give us a better idea of whether the economy is starting to cool off in response to rapidly rising interest rates. Or you know, not. 

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: TikTok, Twitter, and productivity. Plus a thoughtful way to build rapport with clients, one person you can’t break a promise to, and the fastest way to offend your copy chief.

Read time: 3 minutes and 22 seconds

Together with AdSkills

No Ad Platform Can Escape Them

New ad platforms crop up all the time. And having first mover advantage can often lead to massive profits. But mastering the ins and outs of each new ad platform takes time and money. That’s where AdSkills comes in. Inside their platform, you’ll learn how to write killer ads, craft campaigns that convert, and run profitable traffic at scale across every ad platform from Google and Facebook to TikTok, Native, and more.

Plus, as an AdSkills member, you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you’re looking to partner with top-tier businesses and make more money per client, click here to try a free AdSkills class today.

Making the Rounds

  • TikTok’s parent company had operating losses of more than $7 billion in 2021. There’s a big difference between revenue and profit. Just ask TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, whose operating losses tripled in 2021, to the tune of over $7 billion, despite bringing in billions in revenue. The tide may be turning though, as ByteDance reportedly turned an operating profit for the first time in Q1 of this year.
  • Hot labor market leads to slumping productivity. Despite a red hot job market that favors workers, U.S. worker productivity dropped by 5.8% in the first two quarters of 2022. Why? One reason is high turnover: with so many workers quitting their old jobs to find new (and higher-paying) ones, the economy has been flooded by people who don’t know how to do their job very efficiently — a development that could drag the economy down if it carries on for too long.
  • Twitter Edit button rolling out to all U.S. subscribers. Users in the U.S. paying $4.99/mo for a Twitter Blue subscription can now officially edit their tweets. The move is a bit redundant though, as Twitter Blue users have always had access to an Undo button made for fixing typos, aka the primary use case for an Edit button. No word on when this new feature might roll out to free users.

Working With Clients

It’s The Thought That Counts

Freelance businesses are built on long-lasting relationships.

One of the best ways to show your appreciation for clients is to send them a gift.

It could be as simple as a handwritten note, pen, or gift card…

Or something more elaborate like a food and wine box.

A few options to check out:

As for timing, we recommend sending a gift after finishing the first big project with a new client…

Or to mark a big anniversary, like one, two, or even five years (if you’re so lucky!).

Working For Yourself

One Person You Can’t Break a Promise To

One of the hallmarks of high-performers in any arena is a high say-do ratio.

When they say they’re gonna do something…

They do it.

Plain and simple.

No ifs, ands, or buts.

Following through on what you SAY you’re gonna do builds confidence and centers your locus of control.

So if you keep saying you’re gonna…

– apply to more freelance jobs
– start doing cold outreach
– post more on social media
– find a mentor
– go to a live event
– grow your network
– raise your rates
– etc etc etc

Then do it.

Prove to yourself you are in control.

And save the excuses for later.

Because in the end, YOU are the only who can do the work.

From The Copywriting Gig

The Fastest Way to Offend Your Copy Chief

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…

(and put a smile on your copy chief’s face)

Write in the active voice.

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

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“Never surrender to the momentum of mediocrity.”

— Marlon Brando

ICYMI:

🐦 Elon blinks first

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Happy Wednesday! Surprise, surprise: NASA’s ill-fated Artemis I rocket launch has been delayed yet again, this time till November. Moral of the story: if you struggle to hit deadlines and work within an allotted budget, there may be a future for you in space.

Mentioned in today’s edition: Twitter, Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Microsoft, and Netflix. Plus why it pays to know someone, a simple trick to avoid putting out sloppy work, and one thing to do before you launch ads.

Read time: 3 minutes and 31 seconds

Together with AdSkills

No Ad Platform Can Escape Them

New ad platforms crop up all the time. And having first mover advantage can often lead to massive profits. But mastering the ins and outs of each new ad platform takes time and money. That’s where AdSkills comes in. Inside their platform, you’ll learn how to write killer ads, craft campaigns that convert, and run profitable traffic at scale across every ad platform from Google and Facebook to TikTok, Native, and more.

Plus, as an AdSkills member, you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you’re looking to partner with top-tier businesses and make more money per client, click here to try a free AdSkills class today.

Making the Rounds

  • Elon Musk backs down, agrees to buy Twitter for $44B. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has been playing a game of high-stakes chicken with Twitter as their court date approaches. But now it seems like he’s prepared to accept defeat and close the deal on his original terms.
  • Apple CEO Tim Cook questions the metaverse. Can the metaverse possibly live up to all the hype around it? Tim Cook’s not so sure. At least, he’s unsure the average person even understands what the metaverse is. Not that this has stopped him from investing heavily into augmented reality, with rumors of an Apple AR/VR headset coming in 2023.
  • Analysts expect Netflix will generate $1.7 billion in yearly ad revenue by 2025. The streamer’s new ad-supported tier, currently being spearheaded by Microsoft, is expected to launch later this year with high hopes. For context: Netflix brought in $29.69 billion in revenue in 2021. So the revenue lift is a drop in the bucket. But the company hopes a lower price point will breathe life back into subscriber growth.

Working With Clients

It Pays to Know Someone

Most freelancers tend to overcomplicate the process of getting clients.

So here’s a simple tip to try:

Once you’ve scored a big win for a new client and asked them for a video testimonial…

Ask them for a referral.

Keep it simple and straightforward by saying something like…

“Given how we’ve been able to [achieve client’s desired result], I wondered if you might know anyone else looking to [achieve desired result]. I’m looking to fill a spot on my client roster and I’d love to help someone in your network achieve similar results.”

That’s it.

You can also get creative and incentivize them by offering a discount, gift card, bonus, or referral fee. 

Bottom line is:

Business owners usually have other friends that are business owners.

Plus referred clients are typically much higher-quality than those found via cold outreach or on freelancing platforms.

Not to mention everyone likes to have a guy or gal to recommend.

It allows us to build social capital by playing the connector.

So when it comes to finding new clients, you should always start with your existing client base.

Working For Yourself

When Another Freelancer Asks What the Difference is Between Cold Traffic and Warm Traffic

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.

There’s no excuse for getting sloppy.

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

From The Paid Ads Gig

Do This One Thing Before Launching New Ad Campaigns

Mobile devices make up about 50% of all internet traffic.

And when it comes to running ads on paid social, that number is closer to 80%+.

That’s why it’s so important to preview ads and landers on mobile before you launch.

Because what looks great on desktop can become a nightmare on mobile.

Always review:

  • Font sizes & spacing
  • Image/video sizes
  • Button sizes
  • Load time

There’s nothing worse than seeing a key part of your image or video is cut off in certain ad placements.

Or that your page won’t even load.

And most page builders give you the ability to set up different displays for desktop and mobile.

So take advantage of it.

In fact, you should probably build your page for mobile first, then adjust it for desktop.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“A bad attitude is like a flat tire; if you don’t change it, you won’t go anywhere”

— Joyce Meyer

ICYMI:

🔬 Under the microscope

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Happy Wednesday! Friendly reminder that if you’re enjoying the newsletter, your friends probably would too. Grab your referral link at the bottom of today’s email to start sharing and win cool stuff.

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: TikTok, Elon Musk, Parag Agrawal, and the Information Commissioner’s Office. Plus what it takes to become a highly-paid freelancer, tips to declutter your Drive folder, and 3 magic words to punch up your sales copy.

Read time: 3 minutes and 45 seconds

Together with AdSkills

Looking for a new high-income skill to add to your freelance toolkit? Then it’s time to learn paid ads. And when it comes to paid traffic training, AdSkills is the gold standard. That’s why 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred rely on AdSkills courses to train their media buyers.

Inside their platform, you’ll learn how to write killer ads, craft campaigns that convert, and scale ad accounts to the moon on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and more. They even have a Matchmaker program to help graduates line up interviews and land gigs with top tier clients. So if you’re looking to diversify your freelance income, click here to try a free AdSkills class today.

Making the Rounds

  • TikTok nearing deal with U.S. government to continue operating without being forced to sell itself. Rumors have been flying that the short-form video app would need to sell off its American division to eliminate national security concerns. But after being put under the microscope, it looks like they may be nearing an agreement with the Biden administration to avoid it.
  • Depositions of Elon Musk and Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal delayed. Both men were set to be deposed Monday, but the depositions were postponed for an unknown reason. The trial is set to begin later this month.
  • TikTok may be forced to pay a $29M fine in the U.K. for mishandling children’s data. Speaking of privacy concerns around TikTok, the Information Commissioner’s Office in the U.K. issued provisional findings of a 2019 investigation that could lead to a $29M fine. Based on the $4.6B in revenue TikTok brought in last year, it would take them approximately 2.3 days to come up with the dough. So we’re not sure that even qualifies as a slap on the wrist. 

Working With Clients

So You Want to Be a Highly-Paid Freelancer?

There’s only one thing clients HATE more than hiring a freelancer who can’t deliver…

And that’s hiring a freelancer who can’t work fast.

This is typically because of bad experiences in the past…

(with freelancers missing deadlines, ghosting them, or both)

Or simply because they need it turned around ASAP.

Honestly, you would be shocked at how many freelancers with impressive samples and track records can’t work fast.

So if you’re looking for an easy way to stand out even if you don’t have a portfolio full of big wins or a laundry list of testimonials…

Learn to work fast.

And then don’t be afraid to advertise it.

You see, one of the biggest concerns clients have when hiring freelancers is speed.

And if you can speak directly to that fear, you’ll have no trouble closing deals.

Now, you can’t just snap your fingers and make yourself work three times faster…

So here’s a few tips to help you put the pedal to the metal:

  • Close all open tabs
  • Put your phone on Do Not Disturb
  • Create an outline or wireframe first
  • Use a timer
  • Listen to non-lyrical music (binaural beats, lo-fi, etc)

And don’t forget: the faster you work, the more you can jack up your effective hourly rate.

More on this below.

Working For Yourself

What It Looks Like Inside Most Freelancers’ Google Drive Folders…

Piggybacking on the topic of working fast…

Keeping your digital workspace organized is just as important as keeping your physical workspace organized when it comes to being speedy.

Here are a few tips to help you digitally declutter:

  • Establish a naming convention for files (ex: [CLIENT] – Document Name – MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Create a master folder
  • Organize subfolders with numbers (ex: “01. [FOLDER]”)
  • Maintain a tracking sheet (with links to all documents for a given project)
  • Have a dedicated scratch pad (for quick notes or off the cuff calculations)

Bottom line: a cluttered Drive folder makes for a cluttered mind.

And cluttered minds tend to miss deadlines.

From The Copywriting Gig

3 Magic Words to Punch Up Your Sales Copy

Selling in print can sometimes seem like a dark art.

How do you know which specific words will move people to pull out their credit card?

Well, here’s a good place to start…

Focus on benefits, not features.

Features are structural or functional elements of the product.

  • These headphones are wireless
  • That desk is adjustable
  • This online course is self-paced

Benefits are what those features do for the person using the product.

And one easy way to convert features into benefits so you can punch up your sales copy is to use the 3 magic words:

“So you can.”

As in…

  • These headphones are wireless so you can lift heavy at the gym without worrying about tangled cords.
  • That desk is adjustable so you can avoid sitting in a chair all day.
  • This online course is self-paced so you can finish it in a single weekend.

Get the idea?

Copy that doesn’t convert is often too feature-heavy.

So next time you’re writing an ad, email, landing page, or product description…

Try dialing up the benefits and see what happens.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”

— Socrates

ICYMI:

⚖️ Supremes on Social Media

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Happy Monday! Welcome back to The Gig, the private daily email helping 2,000+ freelancers go beyond the 9 to 5 and conquer the gig economy.

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: Florida, TikTok, Twitch, and the Supreme Court. Plus one common mistake freelancers make when pitching big clients, an alternative to the 4-hour work week, and how to let the dough rise inside your ad account.

Read time: 3 minutes and 55 seconds

Together with AdSkills

Looking for a new high-income skill to add to your freelance toolkit? Then it’s time to learn paid ads. And when it comes to paid traffic training, AdSkills is the gold standard. That’s why 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred rely on AdSkills courses to train their media buyers.

Inside their platform, you’ll learn how to write killer ads, craft campaigns that convert, and scale ad accounts to the moon on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and more. They even have a Matchmaker program to help graduates line up interviews and land gigs with top tier clients. So if you’re looking to diversify your freelance income, click here to try a free AdSkills class today.

Making the Rounds

  • Controversial Florida social media law heads to Supreme Court. The law would allow users to sue platforms if they think their content is being unfairly moderated, and allow the state to fine them for banning political candidates. The underlying question is whether states should be able to individually regulate social media platforms, a decision that would have major ripple effects across the industry.
  • TikTok shutting off advertising features for political accounts. The platform is also cutting off access to monetization features like tipping and e-commerce and making verification mandatory for politicians ahead of the midterm elections.
  • Twitch sunsets 70/30 subscription revenue share for premium creators. The changes won’t take effect until next year, but top streamers who were previously on a 70/30 split will now only get 70% of their first 100k, and then 50% of all revenue after that. To offset the change, Twitch has shifted its ad revenue program from a fixed rate on a per 1,000 impressions basis to a 55% rev share on all ad revenue from their channel.

Working With Clients

Don’t Make This Common Mistake When Pitching Big Clients

Making an irresistible offer is key to winning big clients.

But going overboard just to close a deal you really want to land can backfire in a big way.

Specifically, there’s one common mistake freelancers make when pitching that…

– Destroys their positioning

– Slashes future earnings

– And shortens the customer lifespan

What is it?

Discounting your services instead of doing something for free.

You see, once you discount your price…

That’s what the client will value your service or offering at until the end of time. 

You’ve created a price anchor.

And no matter how well you deliver for them…

That discounted price will always drag your perceived value down like a weight around your ankles.

So if you’re struggling to overcome a price objection, offering to do something for free is a much better option.

Because you get to bank the goodwill and relationship equity without devaluing your services in the process.

Working For Yourself

Forget the 4-Hour Work Week (Do This Instead)

Spoiler alert:

The 4-Hour Work Week is not realistic for most of us.

(It’s still a great book, though.)

And while even a 4-day work week would be a major upgrade from spending a full 5 days at the slag heap every single week…

Here’s a simple hack that can make the workweek easier to bear:

Structure your workload so you start strong but then taper down throughout the week.

This means stacking Mondays with as much work as you can possibly handle to get ahead and create a buffer…

Then slowly and steadily taking your foot off the gas…

So Friday can be a much more leisurely work day to cap off the week.

Here’s what it might look like in application:

  • Monday: 10-12 hours
  • Tuesday:  8-10 hours
  • Wednesday: 8-10 hours
  • Thursday: 6-8 hours
  • Friday: 4-6 hours

Now, will this be possible every week?

Doubtful.

And it’s probably not for everyone.

But if you struggle with the monotony of a uniform work week or have ever wanted to shake up your schedule…

Give this a try.

Easing into the weekend with a lighter and/or shorter Friday can feel mighty nice.

From The Paid Ads Gig

How to Let the Dough Rise Inside Your Ad Account

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.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

— Benjamin Franklin

♾️ Not-So-Big-Tech

by

Happy Friday! At least for everyone not named Mark Zuckerberg. 

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: Meta, Getty Images, DALL-E, and Voxer. Plus 5 rules for running a successful sales call, what clients say when you’re a double threat, and how to write copy consistently so you never miss a deadline.

Read time: 3 minutes and 19 seconds

Together with AdSkills

When They Find Out You’re AdSkills Certified

Most certifications aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. But not AdSkills. Their Matchmaker program generates high-quality inbound leads for media buyers of all experience levels. It doesn’t matter whether you’re brand new or a seasoned vet. Once you graduate, you’ll have the chance to apply for real gigs with legit clients who’ve specifically requested an AdSkills media buyer. 

As an AdSkills member, not only will you learn how to launch & scale paid ad campaigns, but you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you’re looking for a new high-income skill to add to your freelance toolkit, click here to try a free class today.

Making the Rounds

  • Meta is looking to cut costs by 10%. The reductions will come through a mix of staff reductions and consolidating departments. The move dovetails with a strategic shift by Facebook’s parent company to reposition themselves as Not-So-Big-Tech while government regulators ramp up scrutiny of social media platforms.
  • AI-generated content banned by Getty Images. It’s an attempt to address copyright concerns about work coming from AI art tools like DALL-E being uploaded and sold on the platform. 
  • Meta forced to pay Voxer $175M for live-streaming patent violation. The hits keep on coming for Zuck and co: a jury in Texas found the company violated two live-streaming patents owned by Voxer with Facebook Live and Instagram Live.

Working With Clients

5 Rules For Running A Successful Sales Call

Ever felt uncomfortable on a sales call?

Talking to prospects can be awkward and uncomfortable…

Especially if you’re an introvert or not a natural salesperson.

But if you want to grow your freelance business and attract higher paying clients…

You’ve gotta learn how to run successful sales calls.

In this video from our friends at The Futur, you’ll discover the 5 rules for running a successful freelance sales call.

Check it out:

[WATCH]: 5 Rules For Running A Successful Sales Call

Working For Yourself

What Clients Say When You’re a Double Threat

Finance experts say the secret to building wealth is compound interest.

That’s why Warren Buffett accumulated 97% of his wealth after his 65th birthday.

But while we may not all be able to replicate Buffett’s investing success…

There’s another way freelancers can put this mechanism to work for themselves:

By stacking high-income skills.

You see, it takes a very long time to master a deep skill like copywriting or media buying…

And while it’s definitely worth committing to…

If you can develop other skills that complement or intersect with your primary skill…

And make yourself a “double threat”…

You can see some explosive gains.

For example: 

Most copywriters know nothing about paid traffic…

And most media buyers can’t write copy.

The same thing goes for copywriting and graphic design or funnel building.

It’s an unusual combo you don’t see very often.

So by developing competence where those two skills intersect, you can carve out a unique position in the market…

Opening the door to many more opportunities than most other freelancers will ever get.

And over time, mastering these skills will deliver a much higher return than any other investment you could make (unless you are Warren Buffett, of course ;).

From The Copywriting Gig

Why Most Freelance Copywriters Couldn’t Hit a Deadline If Their Life Depended On it

FACT:

If writing ads, emails, landing pages, or any other type of sales copy is part of your day-to-day and how you put food on the table…

You can’t afford to have writer’s block.

Plain and simple.

It’s not that it doesn’t exist…

It’s just that professional copywriters don’t waste their time with it.

They don’t let it occupy a shred of mental real estate.

As Steven Pressfield wrote in The War of Art, “I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”

So here some tips to help you create content consistently and never miss a deadline:

  • Set a timer
  • Create an outline
  • Review other things you’ve written
  • Start at the bottom and work your way up
  • Come up with the idea before you sit down to write

The more time you spend thinking about it beforehand, the easier it will be to write.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

— Thomas Edison

ICYMI: 

📸 BeReal-er

by

Happy Monday! Welcome back to The Gig — the daily email helping freelancers go beyond the 9 to 5 and conquer the gig economy.

Mentioned in today’s edition: TikTok, BeReal, California, and Google. Plus the secret to getting attention online, 4 reasons not to become a digital nomad, and selling on the knife’s edge.

Read time: 3 minutes and 57 seconds

Together with AdSkills

When They Find Out You’re AdSkills Certified

Most certifications aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. But not AdSkills. Their Matchmaker program generates high-quality inbound leads for media buyers of all experience levels. It doesn’t matter whether you’re brand new or a seasoned vet. Once you graduate, you’ll have the chance to apply for real gigs with legit clients who’ve specifically requested an AdSkills media buyer. 

As an AdSkills member, not only will you learn how to launch & scale paid ad campaigns, but you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you’re looking for a new high-income skill to add to your freelance toolkit, click here to try a free class today.

Making the Rounds

  • TikTok copies BeReal. TikTok Now prompts users to capture a static photo or 10-second video with both the front and back-facing camera once a day. Looks like the future of social media may just be watching platforms relentlessly rip each other off.
  • New California age law could wreak havoc on the internet. The privacy law aimed at making the internet safer for kids may force users to upload government ID to prove their age across a slew of apps and websites when it takes effect in 2024. 
  • Bug bounty hunter accidentally gets $250k payment from Google. Sam Curry had no idea why he got a payment for $249,999 from Google last month. Google claims it was “human error” and they’re working to correct it. Woops. 

Working With Clients

The Shortcut to Getting Attention Online

Mainstream wisdom is everywhere.

Your audience is bombarded with the same advice all the time.

– cut back on lattes

– eat more vegetables

– go to bed earlier

– avocado toast is why you can’t afford to buy a house
– etc etc

But what sets you (or your client) apart from everyone else is where they disagree.

So ask yourself: what controversial opinions can I highlight?


What mainstream advice do I (or my client) DISAGREE with?

That’s often what makes for the best hooks, emails, or ad angles.

Now, a caveat:

You need to be able to make a logical case for why you disagree.

Don’t just disagree to be a contrarian or to grab attention… unless you can back it up.

Working For Yourself

4 Reasons Not to Become a Digital Nomad

The laptop lifestyle is what attracts a lot of people to freelancing and digital marketing.

But it’s not everything it’s cracked up to be.

Here are a few ugly truths about digital nomadism we’ve learned the hard way:

#1: Everyone else is in vacation mode

Working from exotic locations is tough.

Spending 8 hours a day glued to your laptop while everyone else is partying, sightseeing, and having fun isn’t exactly what most people have in mind when they board a plane overseas.

Temptations are everywhere.

Staying focused when you’re surrounded by distractions is less fun than it looks.

#2: You have to work odd hours

Having clients in the West means you might have to stay up until 12-1 AM to take calls and attend meetings.

This can be brutal.

If you’re an early to bed, early to rise kind of person, this will really jam up your normal rhythm.

Which leads us to…

#3: Routines are hard to maintain

As Jocko Willink says, discipline equals freedom.

But when you’re living overseas and often on the move, it’s hard to maintain structure.

You’re always on the lookout for good coffee shops, gyms, grocery stores, etc. near your new place.

Which sucks up more brainpower than you might think.

#4: Relationships are transient

You can meet lots of cool people while you’re traveling.

But it’s unlikely any of those new relationships will compare to the ones you have back home.

You can’t recreate that kind of depth in a week or a month.

Everyone’s headed in different directions, so nothing lasts.

Now this isn’t to say that it can’t work for some…

In fact, your humble newsletter writer spent a life-changing 8 months in Southeast Asia.

But the digital nomad lifestyle isn’t for everyone.

And since it’s always glamorized so much on social media…

We think it’s important to shine a spotlight on the not-so-sexy parts of it.

From The Copywriting Gig

Selling on the Knife’s Edge

Humans are emotional beings.

And the limbic system (where we process emotions in the brain) is a key factor in helping us make decisions.

In fact, UCLA neuroscientist Antonio Damasio once had a patient who, after having a tumor removed, couldn’t make decisions because he was unable to process emotions.

Talk about analysis paralysis.

But a common mistake in copywriting is to focus exclusively on the emotional side…

And ignore the logical side.

That’s why it’s important to win both the hearts and minds of your prospects.

To win their hearts… 

Focus on how it feels to be struggling with the problem (shame, guilt, embarrassment, envy, etc) AND what it will feel like to solve it (confidence, happiness, freedom, etc)

Then, to win their minds, focus on why your solution is the smartest and most logical choice (how it will save them time + money, make them look smart, is discounted for a limited time only, etc).

A winning offer or marketing campaign always has both.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.”

— W.P. Kinsella

📩 (1) New Message from Amazon

by

Happy Friday! A new paper from the World Bank warns a global recession could be triggered with countries like the U.S., U.K., and Canada all tightening their fiscal policies at the same time.

And with inflation staying persistently high stateside while it climbs even higher across the pond, we may find out sooner rather than later. So on that cheery note, let’s get into it.

Mentioned in today’s edition: Amazon, Microsoft, and railroad workers. Plus a PSA for freelancers, 24 proven ways to make an extra $1k per month, and our next split-test.

Read time: 3 minutes and 34 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • Amazon launches Tailored Audiences email marketing program. The new free program lets merchants mail their customers through Amazon. It’s currently in beta, but the company aims to have it rolled out to all U.S. users by early next year.
  • Microsoft announces multimedia ads for Search. The product team over at Microsoft Advertising must be working overtime, because they’ve rolled out a slew of updates over the past few weeks. The latest is multimedia ads for Search: advertisers can now run ads that incorporate images and videos as part of their Search campaigns.
  • President Biden announces railroad strike averted. The deal was reached after a marathon 20 straight hours of negotiating, and will help keep goods from ecommerce websites like Amazon flowing.

Working With Clients

A Public Service Announcements For Freelancers Who Miss Deadlines

Want to know the easiest way to stand out as a freelancer?

Best part is, it’s got nothing to do with skills, experience, or track record.

All it takes is being able to manage yourself effectively.

By now, you’ve probably guessed it…

Don’t miss deadlines. Ever.

It sounds simple, we know — but trust us… getting your work in on time will instantly set you apart from the competition. 

Don’t believe it? Try hiring a freelancer and see for yourself.

And if you find yourself struggling to hit deadlines you set…

Here’s what to do:

  • Do a time audit on your next project
  • Add 24-48 hours on top
  • Use that as your next deadline

Once you’ve got a grip on how long each task or project takes you on average…

You shouldn’t have any trouble hitting deadlines.

Working For Yourself

24 Proven Ways to Make an Extra $1,000 Per Month

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 ton 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:

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

From The Paid Ads Gig

This Might Be Our Next Split-Test

Tracking pixels need to be “fed” lots of data to optimize.

It’s what makes them such a powerful marketing tool…

Because they get smarter and smarter over time.

Only problem is…

Since iOS 14, tracking pixels have gotten dumber.

Especially when they’re fresh out of the box and yet to be seasoned with hundreds or thousands of conversions.

And platforms like Meta and Google keep removing targeting options to stay out of trouble.

So here’s an unconventional way to feed your pixel better data:

Tell anyone who is NOT your ideal customer to leave the page immediately.

For example…

If you were a media buyer running ads to get clients… 

You might place this line of copy on your opt-in form:

“If you are NOT a coach, consultant, or course creator spending at least 1k/day on ads, please leave this page immediately.”

Now, will this decrease your conversion rate and increase your cost per lead?

You bet.

BUT…

Your lead quality will improve dramatically.

And because you’ll only be feeding the pixel conversion data from smack dab in the middle of your target audience…

Your campaigns will be able to optimize much better over time as well.

So if you’re struggling with low quality leads…

Or simply looking for a new marketing experiment to run… 

Give it a go and report back 😉

Together with AdSkills

Every Direct Response Company’s Biggest Turn On

Stacking high-income skills is the best way to become truly in-demand. And copywriting and paid ads make for a lethal combination most direct response companies would kill for. That’s where AdSkills comes in. Inside their platform, you’ll learn how to write killer ads, craft campaigns that convert, and scale ad accounts to the moon on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and more.

Plus, as an AdSkills member, you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you’re looking to partner with top-tier businesses and make more money per client, click here to try a free AdSkills class today.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.”

— Harry Golden

ICYMI:

📲 The struggle is Reel

by

Happy Wednesday! The consumer price index report that came out yesterday revealed inflation has no chill, and promptly sent the stock market down over 1,300 points. Turns out we may not be out of the woods just yet.

Mentioned in today’s edition: Instagram Reels, TikTok, Meta. Plus the easiest way to look unprofessional, a no-cost productivity hack, and 4 buying triggers to make the cash register ring.

Read time: 2 minutes and 57 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • Instagram Reels lag behind TikTok. Reels are averaging just 17.6 million hours per day of watch time, while TikTok users spend 197.8 million hours per day on its platform, according to the WSJ.
  • Meta looks for more ways to cut costs. The next step is reportedly to merge the content moderation teams for ads and organic content. This means everyday users will now get to enjoy the same high-quality service advertisers and business owners have come to know and love 🙃
  • Podcasts coming to redesigned Twitter spaces. The new features are rolling out to Twitter Blue subscribers on iOS first, with Android subscribers to follow. Users will also be able to group content together through a new Stations hub, featuring music, news, sports and more.

Together with AdSkills

Every Direct Response Company’s Biggest Turn On

Stacking high-income skills is the best way to become truly in-demand. And copywriting and paid ads make for a lethal combination most direct response companies would kill for. That’s where AdSkills comes in. Inside their platform, you’ll learn how to write killer ads, craft campaigns that convert, and scale ad accounts to the moon on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and more.

Plus, as an AdSkills member, you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you’re looking to partner with top-tier businesses and make more money per client, click here to try a free AdSkills class today.

Working With Clients

The Easiest Way to Look Unprofessional

One of the most efficient ways to communicate with clients is by recording screencast videos with tools like Loom or SnagIt.

Client work typically involves a lot of troubleshooting, walkthroughs, and back and forths…

So being able to send screencast videos makes collaborating a helluva lot easier…

And cuts down on the need for calls or meetings.

Asynchronous communication FTW 🙌

However, something important to keep in mind is how you sound.

Invest in a decent pair of headphones (or better yet, a proper USB microphone) to make sure you sound good in videos and on calls with clients.

You never know when your client may forward your video onto their friend, colleague, or boss to get their input…

And there’s nothing worse than having to watch or listen to someone go on and oooon with a crappy mic.

So don’t be that person 😉

Working For Yourself

Nothing Tastes Better Than Working in a Clean Office

Workspace distractions sap your focus.

And while a cluttered desk may not *always* be the sign of a cluttered mind…

We’re firm believers in keeping your physical workspace organized.

As David Allen, productivity expert and author of Getting Things Done, says:

“When your space is filled up with things you haven’t organized, all of those things are constantly ‘yelling’ at you.”

So, if your office looks like a disaster…

Carve out 15 minutes to tidy it up this week and see how it affects your productivity.

Because not even a slice of Doug Ford’s cherry pie beats the feeling of getting sh*t done in a clean office.

From The Copywriting Gig

4 Buying Triggers to Make the Cash Register Ring

Want to learn a simple trick to sell more stuff?

When it comes to buying decisions, human psychology isn’t as complicated as you think.

If you can position your offer as…

  • New
  • Fast
  • Cheap
  • Easy

… then you’ll have no trouble making the cash register ring off the hook.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling lawn mowers or light bulbs…

Because we’re hardwired to want things that check all four boxes.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“Above everything else I’ve done, I’ve always said I’ve had more guts than I’ve got talent.”

— Dolly Parton

ICYMI:

🤷 Mixed signals

by

Happy Friday! RIP to Queen Elizabeth, who passed away yesterday at the age of 96. 

Mentioned in today’s newsletter: Loom, Slack, Telegram, Instagram, and Google. Plus how to gracefully fire a client from hell, 22 low-cost tools to run your freelance biz, and the one element of persuasion even more important than self-desire.

Read time: 4 minutes and 22 seconds

Making the Rounds

  • 91% of workers report their messages are misunderstood in the workplace. A new study from Loom reveals 1 in 5 were “reprimanded, demoted or fired” because of misinterpreted messages. Ouch. Moral of the story: tone is hard to interpret, especially over text. So don’t be afraid to add warmth to your written communications with smileys, emojis, and exclamation points when appropriate. A little warmth goes a long way in Slack or on Telegram.
  • Instagram planning to scale back on shopping features. The “Shop” tab is reportedly set to disappear in the next few months, along with the entire in-stream shopping program.
  • Google is forecasting an economic slowdown. Senior managers were recently told to avoid travel except for “business critical” reasons as CEO Sundar Pichai aims to do more with less and make the company 20% more productive.

Working With Clients

Nightmare Client After Assaulting Your Inbox For the 47th Time:

Not all client relationships have a happy ending.

If you’ve got a client who’s blowing you up with emails, DMs, and voice notes…

Hammering you with urgent requests that ignore your clearly-stated boundaries…

And implying that nothing you do is up to snuff…

It’s probably time to let them go.

But how, exactly? What’s the best way to fire a client?

Well, for starters, it’s never easy…

Even if you’re secretly wishing a pox upon their house.

Send them an email or DM that hits these key points:

– I’m not the right person to help you achieve XYZ

– I hope you’ve gotten some good value from our time together

– Happy to get on a call to discuss if need be

– Still believe in your mission/product

– Will be rooting for you to succeed

The reason to send them a message instead of getting on a call right away is to give them a chance to digest it…

And (hopefully) eliminate the need for a call.

But this way, even if they insist on one, you’ve already got the hard part out of the way.

And if you have a 30-day cancellation policy in your contract, you can always offer to let them out of it if you’re really eager to end the relationship.

Working For Yourself

22 Low (or No) Cost Tools to Run Your Freelance Biz

There’s no shortage of free or low-cost tools to help you run your freelancer biz…

Even if you’re just starting out.

These are some of our favorites:

Writing:

Website & Landing Pages:

Hosting:

Social Media:

Email Marketing

Diagrams & Visualizations:

Screen Capture & Record:

Meetings:

Passwords:

Payments:

Contracts:

Miscellaneous:

What would you add to this list?

We’re always on the lookout for new tools to test out.

Hit “Reply” to share your favorites with us.

From The Copywriting Gig

Reading a Killer Long-Form Sales Letter Be Like

WIIFM is one of the most important concepts in copy.

It stands for “what’s in it for me” — a reminder that your readers don’t actually care about you…

So if you want to get someone’s attention, appealing to their self-desire is key.

But according to Gary Halbert, author of the Coat of Arms promo that ran for over 30 years and generated millions of dollars in the 70s and 80s, and someone who’s often listed as one of the best copywriters of all time… 

There’s ONE element of persuasion even more important than self-desire.

Something that can make readers burn through 50 pages of copy in a frenzy…

Something that can turn an underperforming ad or email into a customer-generating machine…

And something that separates pro copywriters from wannabe Don Drapers.

Can you guess what it is?

I’ll give you a hint: it’s not a killer price, money back guarantee, or added bonus…

And it’s got nothing to do with scarcity, urgency, or even storytelling…

Instead, that special something is:

Curiosity.

You see…

You never want to reveal everything in your ad, email, or sales page right away.

Learn how to talk about something without giving away what it is.

Because if your readers aren’t curious to discover your secret, hack, trick, tactic, strategy, or 7 magic words to achieve a desired result…

They won’t be motivated to buy.

A few tips to execute on this:

  • Talk about what it’s not
  • Talk about what it’s better than
  • Talk about what you can do it without

But no matter how you create curiosity…

Just make sure you can actually pay it off inside the product — because that’s what separates compelling copy from cringy clickbait.

Together with AdSkills

The Truth About Scaling to 7-Figures and Beyond in 2022

“Free” traffic is a myth. If you want to get more eyeballs on your offers, you’ve got two choices: you can pay with time or you can pay with money. But so-called “free” or organic traffic isn’t predictable or reliable. You can’t turn it up or down at will. Plus time is the only non-renewable resource you have as a freelancer or entrepreneur.

Enter AdSkills: the gold standard in paid traffic training. Paid traffic gives you a consistent, predictable, and reliable way to turn $1 into $2 or more. From there, turning up the traffic and sales can be as simple as turning on a faucet. That’s why paid traffic is the fastest way to create leverage in your business and scale your impact and income. 

As an AdSkills member, not only will you learn how to launch & scale paid ad campaigns, but you’ll also get the stamp of approval that 9-figure companies like ClickFunnels, DigitalMarketer, and VShred look for when hiring freelancers. So if you want to learn how to write killer ads, craft campaigns that convert, and scale offers to the moon on Facebook, TikTok, or YouTube, click here to try a free AdSkills class today.

Gig Alerts

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

Quote of the Day

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

— Leonardo Da Vinci

ICYMI:

Thursday:📈 Cross-platform scaling