Freelance Radio, Episode 15: Secret Words
John Brougher The fifteenth episode of Freelance Radio, the official FreelanceSwitch podcast, is now available! This episode, we talk about a number of topics, including elevator pitches and portfolios for not-so-public work. We also offer some suggestions to Andy (copywriter and editor, site up at Szul Edits Inc.) regarding marketing. Subscriptions to the podcast are available via iTunes and an archive of all podcasts will appear in the podcast section. We hope you enjoy it!
Subscribe to Freelance Radio on iTunes
You can subscribe on other podcast aggregators by using our podcast feed–it’s simply http://feeds.feedburner.com/FreelanceRadio. The Shownotes:
- Theme of the Episode: This episode’s theme is the elevator pitch: we shed some light on what an elevator pitch is, why it’s important to freelancers and some tips on crafting a good one.
- Fantastic Forum Post and Mailbag: We talk about having a portfolio when your work isn’t public and offer some marketing help to Andy from szuledits.com.
- Freelance Radio Recommends…: Each panelist recommends a freelancing tool. John goes with a video on improving PowerPoint (and PowerPoint-like) presentations at http://www.macworldencore.com (from there, click on 2008, Applications, Business, and then you’ll find “Presentation Magic with Keynote,” a literally life-changing presentation by Les Posen). Kristen recommends CBS show Moonlight, and if you want to get involved with the effort to keep it on the air, visit Moonlight Army. Dickie suggests WorldWide Telescope. Other links and topics mentioned include the TV show Firefly (watch episodes online at Hulu.com), Kristen’s blog about some of the topics her new book covers at http://www.ramenrentresumes.com and Kristen’s book publisher Super College.
- Outro: This week’s song is by Adam’s Attic and is called Waiting from the album Skylines and City Lights. The song can be obtained by going to the Breech’s MySpace page.
And that’s the episode! If you like it, please feel free to rate it in iTunes or your favorite podcast aggregator (check us out on Digg at http://www.digg.com/podcasts/Freelance_Radio), and don’t forget to email your questions/comments via the Freelance Radio form. If you’d like to record a question/comment or submit an original outro song, you can upload them via this form!
Liz
May 27th, 2008
Hi Guys!
Just to let you know that there’s something wrong with the podcast and I’m not able to hear it neither here or through itunes.
I’m sure its a great one as all the previous! Hope you can look into this soon, cause I cant wait!
Thanks and have a good one!
Liz
Zackery M
May 27th, 2008
There is an error message when I try to listen to the show…… Am having withdrawals so you should fix this ASAP.
ZM
TPN WEB DESIGN INC.
May 27th, 2008
Nice Post
Morten
May 27th, 2008
Hey Guys
I get a ‘error opening file’
Best regards
Morten Justesen
Rogers
May 27th, 2008
There is a problem with the podcast? I can hear it!
Chris
May 27th, 2008
Me neither
John
May 27th, 2008
Sorry folks, one second!
John
May 27th, 2008
Should be all set now, phew!
Annie
May 28th, 2008
WOW! You guys really outdid yourselves this time! Excellent!
John - I love you - the mac world encore presentation was awesome!!!
Specially useful because I’m a part time professor who uses keynotes. I also have the same feelings you do when I see a ppt poorly made.
thank you!
MUAX!
Liz
May 28th, 2008
Great podcast guys!! Congrats!! Just one question though, when is Cyan coming back??
andy
May 28th, 2008
Gang, thanks for the outstanding advice and interesting podcast. Good stuff. Cheers, -Andy, http://www.szuledits.com
Dickie Adams
May 29th, 2008
Thanks everyone for the comments. It was, as always, fun.
Liz: As soon as Cyan has a stable internet connection, we are expecting her back on the podcasts. Ah the joys of overseas travel!
Bryan
June 2nd, 2008
Hey guys, I really like what I hear!
Since the podcast is so new, I have to tell you why I haven’t listened much until recently. The podcast is very LONG, and seemingly unnecessarily. Out of all of the podcasts I listen to, this one comes in as the longest by a good 15 minutes. I really like the topics you cover, but the length is prohibitive to me, in that there are few periods of a full hour + that I can give something my full attention these days.
Maybe half as much, twice as often? I’m not a podcaster, so I really have no idea! Just throwing out one of the reasons that my favorite podcasts got that way.
John
June 3rd, 2008
@Bryan
That’s really good feedback, Bryan–though I’m a bit puzzled, as this episode is quite a bit shorter than some of our episodes, especially the early ones.
I understand what you say about time, but what I’d recommend is that you listen to the podcast while doing other things (on your MP3 player or iPod). Our goal (like that of many podcasters) is to produce an online audio show (similar to radio), in that I’m assuming that you’re not sitting down and listening to every word we say (although if you do, that’s awesome). Video is much more captive in that respect.
That being said, I do think that there’s a ton of really great content in there for freelancers. We also find an hour to be the best amount of time to cover a good deal of topics but also not go too long. It’s something we’re always thinking about, but right now we’re rather comfortable with an hour. Does that make sense?
bronius
June 9th, 2008
I don’t agree that the show is too long– it’s entertaining, light-hearted, and educational. It’s also inspirational. A shorter show, trimmed just to the meat would be fine, but I don’t think it would gain the same traction. It’s nice to “get out a bit” and socialize, and this podcast provides that atmosphere.
While I’m at it, I want to toss out there just how enthused I am that the show is so upbeat and positive: rarely is there a real dig, never is there a character jab, and if anyone does happen to slip with an insulting or self-deprecating comment, someone always steps up and rights the situation.
I love everyone’s positive attitudes on this podcast, and negative/low brow is why I’m trimming my itunes of other designerly podcasts.
bronius
June 9th, 2008
one more– that Australian doctor’s presentation at MacWorld Encore is here:
http://www.macworldencore.com/online/presentation.asp?id=260&sessionTypeIdVideo=2&trackIdVideo=9&movieVideo=US915.mp4&yearDate=2008
cheers
Nicole :]
June 24th, 2008
Hey guys! I have only heard episodes 15 & 16, and I can tell you that I’m hooked! I really like the show, keep it coming!