Why we are taking a break - with Lynne and Rachel
The Content Byte
This week is bittersweet as Rachel and Lynne announce that the show is taking a hiatus after seven years and more than 300 episodes. It's been a huge undertaking doing this podcast and we decided to take the time to share some of our favourite moments and what we have learned over the years. We reflect on how the show evolved from early scrappy recordings to a guest-driven format that helped us celebrate great work, learn podcasting skills, and raise their profiles and businesses (including Rachel’s List). We share highlights such as meeting admired guests, supporting listeners...
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How pre-selling strategies can turn leads into clients with Brenna McGowan
The Content Byte
This week, Rachel & Lynne are chatting with launch strategist Brenna McGowan about “anticipation marketing” and using content to create warm leads so clients are eager to buy. Brenna argues freelancers either sell too constantly or not enough, and often over-educate audiences, creating overwhelm or enabling DIY. She outlines an “anticipation runway” framework: why (purpose and method-led story), what hurts (naming and reflecting pain rather than solving it), what stops (beliefs, myths, objections, and self-trust barriers), and what changes (future pacing and letting prospects...
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How to make a living from Substack, with Maggie Alderson
The Content Byte
This week, Lynne and Rachel are chatting with journalist, editor and novelist Maggie Alderson about how to create a good income stream from Substack. Now three years in with a highly successful column on Substack, Maggie shares her strategies about growing subscribers on the platform, including sharing occasional free posts. She also talks about the support she receives from the Substack community and how it has become a helpful source of income as traditional media declines. There's a lot to unpack in this episode, with many tips and hints, including Substack networking and events, why she...
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New things we are trying in our business in 2026
The Content Byte
This week, it's just Rachel and Lynne as they discuss changes they’re making in their freelance businesses in response to shifting client needs, including experimenting with new services and focusing on deeper client relationships. Rachel plans to consistently send a client newsletter, launch a formal email marketing offering, and pitch LinkedIn thought-leadership services built from interviews. Lynne is going deeper with existing tech tools (including AI features), running her business more fully through digital systems such as calendars and Trello, and upselling blog posts and case studies...
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Lessons from entrepreneurs and how it applies to freelancers - with Bernadette Schwerdt
The Content Byte
This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with friend of the pod, Bernadette Schwerdt, a copy coach, comms expert and ghostwriter, to discuss how writers can build valuable, scalable businesses and multiple income streams in the age of AI. Bernadette explains why demand is rising for copywriting and ghostwriting as CEOs and thought leaders invest in personal branding and content that connects audiences to the person behind the business, including books as “sales reps” and long-term content engines. Drawing on interviews for her new book Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs, she outlines...
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How to find opportunities in print media - with Sarah Tayler
The Content Byte
This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Sarah Tayler of Tweed Coast Media about producing and reviving custom publications, sharing her thoughts on why print is far from dead when it’s driven by business goals and integrated into the wider customer journey. Sarah shares how she helped Continence Health Australia transition and grow its magazine Bridge by focusing on process over product, moving digital hosting to the organisation’s own site to improve user experience and cut costs, and testing distribution strategies — including scaling from 500 copies to 8000 before pulling back...
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How freelancers can find work through referrals - with Sarah Hubbard
The Content Byte
Rachel and Lynne speak with Sarah Hubbard, author of The Intentional Networker, about using referrals and relationship-based networking to find new clients. Sarah shares her MAPP framework (mindset and intention, authentic presence, precise messaging, purposeful follow-through) and explains how to systemise networking with simple tracking (even spreadsheets), an A/B/C contact system, and regular follow-ups. She describes using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to capture event notes, create templates, and update a CRM, and offers strategies for introverts such as preparing in advance,...
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How to make time to work on your freelance business
The Content Byte
This week Rachel and Lynne are responding to a question from listener Stephanie about how to make time to work on your freelance business. It's a bit of a choose-your-own adventure because we have such different work styles and systems. Rachel uses a mix of a bespoke paper diary (Creator’s Friend), Outlook, Google Keep, batching, and Friday “work on the business” time, plus automations in Moxie (forms, pipelines, calendar booking windows, templated replies, and auto-created Google Drive folders). Lynne has a paper-free setup using Trello, an electronic calendar, “salami tactics”...
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Creating customer-centred content with Mat Patterson
The Content Byte
This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with freelance writer Mat Patterson (morehumancontent.com), who argues small and medium businesses and freelancers should lean into being personal, flexible and customer-close rather than copying big-company systems and jargon. Mat shares his path from web design to customer support to writing, explaining how support work builds communication skills through fast feedback. His work includes newsletters, podcasts and articles for customer-centric SaaS and customer experience companies, focused on clearer, more engaging messaging. We also chat about: ...
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The systems freelancers need to succeed - with Leticia Mooney
The Content Byte
This week, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with freelance business coach Leticia Mooney about building an “engine room” of systems across customer experience, sales and finance so clients feel safe, payments are smoother, and work is easier to deliver. Leticia says freelancers often skip systems because they assume their work is unique, but writing includes research, analysis, delivery and communication, all of which benefit from good processes. It's a great discussion about how to make your business run better and free yourself up for creative work. So many tips, including the PDCA...
info_outlineThis week, Rachel and Lynne chat with Jo Butler about switching careers from book publishing to marketing and communications at the University of Sydney.
Jo shares her journey of nearly 30 years as a book editor, publisher and literary agent, and explains why she wanted a new challenge, as well as the appeal of more stable income and working with colleagues again.
She discusses:
• how publishing has changed over the decades
• what she misses about editing
• what she wishes authors understood about publishing
• why comms still feels like storytelling, and how her skills feel more appreciated in a university environment
• how she mapped her transferable skills for the move
• key skills for comms roles
• what her week looks like in internal communications
• the learning curve in university comms
• her ongoing connection to publishing through teaching in the Masters of Publishing program, and what she covers
• the ‘hard truths’ she shares with students
• AI in publishing
Connect with Jo via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-butler-bishops/
Read her blog on Rachel's List about book editing here: https://rachelslist.com.au/so-you-think-you-can-be-a-book-editor/
Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com
Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au
Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au
Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.
Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co