#164: Using a “freakout” protocol to get work now, with Austin Church

Deliberate Freelancer

Today’s guest is Austin Church from Knoxville, Tennessee. Austin helps e-commerce founders stand out online with their brand strategy. Lately, he’s been working as a fractional chief marketing officer (CMO), consulting for creator economy companies. He also coaches freelance creatives.

Austin was one of the six-figure freelancers I featured on the show in May 2021. We’ve since become friends, and his podcast, Freelance Cake, was in my ears during my recent solo business retreat — because I needed all his marketing advice!

I realized you all could benefit from hearing some of his great marketing strategies and tactics too, so I invited him back on the show.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What a “fractional” role is for a freelancer and how Austin moved into that role.
• How Austin defines and sells strategy.
• Why templates are so important.
• How Austin works through a “content road map” with clients.
• Austin’s marketing strategy and his “freakout” protocol.
• The difference between “cold” leads and “warm” leads.
• Austin’s 3 R’s of marketing: repeat business, referrals and relationships.
• How Austin uses LinkedIn to get new clients: tips from Sharon Wu.
• Don’t be afraid to ask other freelancers you know for referrals.

Biz Bite: Have a shut-down ritual that identifies three priorities for the next day and include “marketing” as one of the priorities.

Resources:

• Join the Deliberate Freelancer Facebook group.
• Support Deliberate Freelancer at Buy Me a Coffee.
• Austin’s website and his free freelance course: AustinLChurch.com
• Austin on LinkedIn
• Austin’s Freelance Cake podcast episode: 7-Step Freakout Protocol for Getting Last-Minute Freelance Income
• Episode #98 of Deliberate Freelancer: Six-Figure Freelancing: The Benefits of Selling Strategy and Outcomes, with Austin Church
• How Austin uses LinkedIn to get new clients: tips from Sharon Wu
• Find email addresses: Hunter.io