6 Figure Creative

I wanted to share something with you that's been on my mind lately... as a self-taught entrepreneur, I skipped SO many of the basics when it comes to running a healthy business. This dawned on me when I found myself looking up answers to things most people should know when they first start their businesses. This made me realize that the vast majority of freelancers probably have similar blind spot...

This week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative podcast is part 2 of my in-depth discussion with Mike Cervantes. Mike is a highly successful freelance mastering engineer who has collaborated with renowned artists such as Dolly Parton, Avril Lavigne, and Snoop Dogg. His impressive achievements include over 23 Billboard #1s and at least two gold records. In this episode, Mike shares his secrets on how...

Ever felt like you're a tiny fish who's struggling to stand out in a vast ocean? Like you're drowning in the "sea of sameness" in an overcompetitive industry? If that's you, here's the good news: There's hope... You can still succeed... even when you're starting out as a "copycat" in a highly competitive market. This week's episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to make a name for themselves...

Do you ever feel like your freelance business could be so much more, but you're missing a few key ingredients? Imagine a world where your perfect clients are eager to work with you, your rates keep climbing, projects run like a well-oiled machine, and clients keep coming back for more. We've got just the right insights for you in our latest podcast episode! In this episode, we'll explore the essen...

Ever stumbled upon someone who's basically a human ATM, overflowing with cash, and still living the dream without a care in the world? No? Well, neither have I, but let's talk about them for a sec. These super successful, carefree people seem almost mythical, don't they? It feels like people are either working 24/7, kissing their social lives goodbye, or they're partying non-stop, leaving their bu...

Are you ready to make your freelance life more efficient, enjoyable, and, let's face it, less chaotic? Our latest podcast episode is the perfect companion for your creative journey! Discover the secrets to organizing your freelance business for more consistency and room to grow. Say goodbye to flying by the seat of your pants and welcome the magic of creating your very own "recipes" using the TOTS...

What if breaking the rules and embracing your uniqueness could revolutionize an entire industry? 🤯 Meet Paco de Leon, a trailblazer who defied conventional wisdom and turned the world of finance on its head by being unapologetically herself. As the author of Finance for the People and founder of The Hell Yeah Group, Paco has leveraged her personal brand to create an irresistible appeal that sets...

The Freelancer's Guide to Escaping the Hourly Grind and Scaling to $10k Months with Package Pricing From Hourly to $10K: The Package Pricing Strategy That Will Revolutionize Your Freelance Business You’ve probably heard my rants on hourly vs. project-based pricing before… Yet you're still charging by the hour or day. I've heard all the excuses at this point" “Well yeah Brian, project pricing works...

Writing all of the different elements for your website is one of the most painful things... especially if you're trying to create a website that turns strangers into clients. Unless you are a copywriter, typing out a persuasive sentence feels like: “Selling out” “Overstating your achievements” or “Being another sleazy salesperson” When these thoughts pop into our heads, it’s important to realize “...

You are AMAZING at what you do as a creative. You create stunning designs, produce incredible music, or breathe life into visual media like photos or videos. Paid ads aren’t for you, right? The truth is, paid ads can work for anyone, including freelancers.  This has been proven time and time again, in industry after industry… Paid ads are one of the quickest ways to multiply your income and bring...

I know the internet hasn't shut up about AI over the past couple of months, and you're probably thinking “dammit Brian, not another person talking about AI." But, hear me out... Right now, AI isn't something to be afraid of, but actually, a tool that can be used by freelancers in a bunch of ways... Having trouble figuring out how to fire a client politely after too many red flags? AI can help you....

If I were to ask you to think of the most bizarre marketing ideas you could think of to get clients, what would you say? I'd almost guarantee it doesn't include any of these: Fax machine marketing… Writing sea shanties… Performing puppet shows in client meetings… Cold outreach with homing pigeons??? These ideas are ridiculous, right? Well, the creative marketing agency Dingus & Zazzy doesn’t think...

I see a lot of creatives comparing themselves to their successful peers, saying things like: “Oh they have more experience than me, that’s why they can charge higher prices…” “They have a bigger network than me, that’s why they have more clients!” "They niched down, but I don't want to do that because it's not fun". While having experience, a network, and a niche are helpful to becoming a successf...

I know, I know, as soon as you hear “SEO,” you throw your headphones across the room and continue on with whatever fluffy, fun creative task you’ve been working on the past eleven hours. While the technical jargon of SEO, marketing, and web traffic sounds boring as all hell, I’m here to suggest that you give it a chance. The reason you should take a second glance: Infinite… Money… OK, that's an ov...

After covering the marketing, sales, and problem-solving skill stacks last week, we should be ready to knock our creative business out of the park, right? Not quite yet... There are a few more “non-creative” skill stacks that are essential to get right if you want to be a well-rounded and effective freelancer in 2023 and beyond. Some creatives may look at these skills and say… “These things don’t...

Every year, I'm going to bet that your niche is getting more and more competitive. There's always another music producer, photographer, designer, copywriter, developer, or videographer popping up out of nowhere... And the scary part is... They're actually really good at what they do. What can you do to stay ahead of the competition? Get better at your craft? Probably not... Instead, you need to be...

What did I learn building a BRAND new 6 figure income stream last year? Of course, the idea of building a new 6 figure income stream sounds great right?… until you’re a year in and still not making the progress you wanted to. It feels like paddling toward an island that never seems to get any closer. Why not chuck the paddle and give up? The good news is you’re not alone! I’ve been there, and no m...

It's officially 2023, and this is the time of year everyone starts looking to the future of what's possible. Is this the year you finally leave your day job behind? Is this the year you finally crack $100k in revenue? Is this the year you finally break $100k in profit? Whatever your goal, one of the most helpful things I can do as a podcaster is show you someone who's accomplished all of these thi...

I'm sure you already know how easy it is to get bogged down by the day-to-day tasks and admin work that comes with running a freelance business. You probably don't know all of the amazing tools out there that (when used correctly) will help you focus on what you do best... Create. By leveraging the right tools, you can increase profits, reduce frustration, and create a sense of calm in your workfl...

The sad reality for most freelancers is that they're just offering the same "copycat" services as everyone else around them. Because of this, they're stuck in a competitive hell. This is called a "commoditized service". Think about how you buy a commodity like salt and pepper... You look at the shelf and buy the first thing you see that matches your pricing expectation. As far as you're concerned,...

Have you ever checked a price for a flight, only to come back later and see that the price increased (or decreased) significantly? This is something called "dynamic pricing", and it's what some of the largest businesses in the world do to maximize their profits. This is a technique I learned in 2015 when using a new "dynamic pricing" tool on my Airbnb, and it added a 20% boost to my rental income....

The message of this week's episode is simple... Raise your gosh darn rates. There are way too many dangers of perpetually undercharging for your services (which we discuss in this episode). There are also so many benefits to your life/business when you charge more that you can't keep putting off rate increases. You might even need to completely restructure your services so you can charge more, but...

If you've been stuck at 4 or 5 figures per year as a freelancer, there's likely one ingredient that is holding you back from growth. Without this ingredient, it is 100% impossible to get clients, grow your income, and get past the 6 figure mark (if that's your goal). In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, my buddy Mark Eckert and I map out the path you can take to overcoming all...

Is your income in a constant feast-or-famine cycle? Some months might look great... But then all of your projects seem to dry up, and you're left scrambling for clients. This sort of cycle can be brutal for your business, personal life, and mental health, but this cycle doesn't have repeated for the rest of your life. There are likely 3 things keeping you trapped in this vicious cycle, and this ep...

So you made it to $100,000+ per year... Congrats. Too bad you made so many sacrifices that you're constantly stressed out, you're missing out on time with friends and family, and you resent your business. The irony is that you became a freelancer because you hated your day job and you wanted to work for yourself. Now, you feel like you have 50 "little bosses", and you hate your life a little bit m...