Indie business club with Barfield and McKinney

This episode is brought to you by Copy Or Die [https://copyordie.co.uk/], the copywriting agency we work at, which Ben co-founded with Dave Harland. If you say you listen to the podcast we’ll probably give you I dunno, 0.05% off or something. Subscribe now [%%checkout_url%%] Hi, Mel here, Today’s episode is all about starting a podcast. In our first attempt at recording our last episode (on starting something new), we rambled on and on about indie business club. It felt too self-indulgent (even for us) so we re-recorded that episode and made starting a podcast an episode topic in itself. As you can tell by the extended runtime, we enjoyed self-indulgently talking about ourselves. In this episode, we cover a bullet point, quick (hah!) recap of our podcast origin story decisions to make when considering starting a podcast quick audio quality wins (including getting your mic the right way around) cushions, and other sound mufflers bare minimum gear and tech requirements some “behind the scenes” chat about how we’ve improved stuff along the way how and why to put structure into your podcast Disclaimer: we are not podcast experts. Far from it. This is just a conversation about how we’ve done things, and why. A rare time I’ve checked what I said I’d put in the shownotes 👇Podcasts we’ve been on as guests…Mel’s is here [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7rXTdFk7re8k1L8srRsVMy?si=1PWetGRHTiiyCVIaSvO_GQ]Ben’s is here [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4C7bbXKwZbvnVN0XI5ZWxB?si=3MebgwgSReOEdD_1VCUqGQ] And we had a question in from Martin Dewar about what gear we use. Here’s our “stack” (as the kids call it):Ben’s mic: Rode NT-USB.Mel’s mic: Rode Podmic USB - and we both have mic arms so we can avoid bashing the mics too much. Riverside FM for recording.Anthony P Henderson’s magic scissors (and magic brain) for editing.Canva and Riverside for editing the videos. Canva for our graphics. Substack for publishing the podcast and sending out these here emails. Voicenoted Today’s voicenote is by Graham Coath [https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-coath-abetterwayoflife/], a LinkedIn content creative, podcast maker and business consultant. He also has a LinkedIn sales training course which you can read about here [https://training.abetterwayoflife.co.uk/linkedin-training828301]. Graham’s podcast with Marianne Mills is A Better Way Of Life [https://abetterwayoflife.co.uk/Home]. Your Friend And Mine This week’s YFAM is a beautiful human inside and out. Leyla Alexander is a graphic designer who helps brave brands stand out, connect, and grow with thoughtful branding and graphic design. Alongside her design studio, she founded and runs You Are The Sea [https://youarethesea.co.uk/], a sustainable, ocean-inspired clothing brand that gives back to the sea by donating £2 to Surfers Against Sewage for every item of clothing sold. Find Leyla on Linkedin here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leyla-alexander-8491b32/] and on her website [http://www.leylaalexander.com/] where you can sign up for her newsletter, The Happy Palette. Resources One of the best ways to learn about podcasts is to listen to other podcasts! Shout out to Being Freelance [https://www.beingfreelance.com/], the podcast by our pal Steve Folland [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefolland/]. Steve interviews freelancers about their journey and as he’s a podcast producer himself, the production value is excellent. Colin Gray [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmcgray/] runs ThePodcastHost.com [http://thepodcasthost.com] and has a youtube channel with tonnes of great info. Our pal Charles Commins started Mic’s Podcast Club [https://www.meetup.com/micpod/events/] with Vic Turnbull. It’s a regular online meetup that’s a great source of support, advice and community. Chris Stone has a newsletter here on Substack called Podcast Strategy Weekly [https://podcaststrategy.substack.com/]. Catch the replay Have you seen our Marketing Meetup webinar [https://themarketingmeetup.com/events/how-to-grow-a-marketing-freelancer-consultancy-business-in-2025/] on how to grow a freelance business? Please watch it to pump the numbers 😉 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indiebusinessclub.substack.com [https://indiebusinessclub.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Nikki Pilkington - SEO expert, copywriter, legend, and friend of the show. You can get 20% off Nikki’s full SEO course and on-page SEO toolkit with our code IBC20. Learn more at nonwankyseo.com [https://nikki-s-site-8d3e.thinkific.com/collections] Today’s episode is all about starting something new. It’s called Roll With It (we promise we aren’t just jumping on the Oasis bandwagon…) In the episode, we talk about- why you should follow your gut when something keeps “winking” at you- shiny object syndrome (and what it could mean)- worky and non-worky new things- how taking advice from others can be a good (and bad) idea- examples of people we know who have gone for it and started something new We ripped off Buzzfeed/LadBible so this is a listicle episode 😉 Here are some things we think you should consider before starting something new… 1) Do you actually have time to do this thing justice?2) If it’s a product or service, does anyone actually want it?3) How realistic are you being with yourself about the work involved?4) What’s the cost to you?5) What’s the ROI?6) What does success look like?7) What should you outsource?8) If you’re starting with someone else, how will you divide up tasks? And of course you can expect our usual conversational meanderings. If you’re pondering a new thing, give the episode a listen and then let us know if it’s helped. Voicenoted Today’s voicenote comes from friend of the show Sophie Cross. Sophie is editor and founder of Freelancer Magazine [https://freelancermagazine.co.uk/], the quarterly print magazine that also offers subscribers lots of other benefits including three virtual coworking calls per week and lunch and learn sessions. You can subscribe at: freelancermagazine.co.uk [https://freelancermagazine.co.uk/] - look out for our faces in there. Thank you Steve, Jen, Glenn and Fiona for your kind words :) Your Friend And Mine This week’s YFAM is Glenn Sturgess, a legendary copywriter with an illustrious career as head of copy at some of the biggest agencies and businesses. Glenn’s written ads that you’ve definitely seen and heard. He's now freelance and running his business Write This Way Ltd [https://www.writethisway.co.uk/]. Glenn is incredibly generous with his time and advice and he’s a big supporter of the show too. Find Glenn on LinkedIn here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennsturgess/]. Catch the replay We spoke to Joe Glover all about freelancing at The Marketing Meetup webinar. Please watch it so the view count gets nice and high. Coz we’d love a part two 😉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6H03qh6UA4&t=1s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6H03qh6UA4&t=1s] Thank yoooooou, Mel [https://substack.com/redirect/29269051-4a36-4fab-bdb8-72d016954ab6?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] & Ben [https://substack.com/redirect/877cba3c-e4c1-42e6-a28f-a2a6b3152137?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4]Find our producer, theme composer and audioslave Ant Henderson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/antphenderson/] and you can watch older episodes of the show on YouTube here [https://www.youtube.com/@indiebusinessclubpod]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indiebusinessclub.substack.com [https://indiebusinessclub.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Hi, Mel here, Today’s episode is all about audio branding. And so, we’ve brought in the expert! Of course, it’s sound guy (and sound guy) our producer and theme composer Ant Henderson *insert big cheering noises here - it’s what he’d want* Subscribe now [%%checkout_url%%] We talk about why audio branding works how to insert a little audio magic into your business our favourite jingles (maybe we mentioned yours?) though sadly Ant was reluctant to sing despite being a literal rockstar (we’ll link to that story another day if he lets us) some random jingle facts We had an incredible response to my request for jingle suggestions on LinkedIn. Sadly, we couldn’t possibly run through the whole lot (the episode is already way longer than normal!) and you’ll have to listen to see if we got to yours ;) George Levens and Emma Pritchard sent in some jingle voicenotes and a special thank you to the incredible Stefanie Mellano for her rendition of… well, you’ll have to hear it yourself. Paul Burgess sent in some punk band covers of jingles: Voicenoted Today’s voicenote comes from our pal Jack Chambers-Ward [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlwchambers/]. Jack is Marketing and Partnerships manager at Candour search agency, and he hosts the Search With Candour podcast [https://withcandour.co.uk/podcast] and Sequalisers [https://open.spotify.com/show/29faExVdSeuvztH54vB1n7?si=e095c05124ff4709], a podcast about fixing bad film sequels. He’s already a friend of the show (episode 12) and he’s the first listener I ever met in the wild who we didn’t already know. Hopefully we’ll be able to do a podcast crossover with Jack some time. As predicted in the show, we have not included all the links in the shownotes because there were frankly way too many to keep track of. But that’s okay because Google exists ;) I will remember to put this in though - Molly Scanlan’s newsletter (for excellent facts and info on how to be less evil) is at www.mollygetsitdone.com [https://www.mollygetsitdone.com/] Catch the replay We spoke to Joe Glover all about freelancing at The Marketing Meetup webinar. Please watch it so the view count gets nice and high. Coz we’d love a part two 😉 Thank yoooooou, Mel [https://substack.com/redirect/29269051-4a36-4fab-bdb8-72d016954ab6?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] & Ben [https://substack.com/redirect/877cba3c-e4c1-42e6-a28f-a2a6b3152137?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4]Find our producer, theme composer and special VIP guest star Ant Henderson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/antphenderson/] and you can watch older episodes of the show on YouTube here [https://www.youtube.com/@indiebusinessclubpod]. If you enjoy the show, you can chip in on our production costs with a £3 contribution at ko-fi.com/indiebusinessclub [http://www.ko-fi.com/indiebusinessclub] please and thank you 💖 🎙️ Spotify [https://substack.com/redirect/2863e896-cbe5-4d79-8ea2-09835aa734e9?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] / Apple podcasts [https://substack.com/redirect/093c5e99-cf99-4009-8e1d-5455269aca03?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] / Amazon Music [https://substack.com/redirect/f009f55b-92d7-4eb8-ba9c-186672b357ff?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] and Audible [https://substack.com/redirect/13b873d1-c0b5-40b0-89ed-7381271c4c06?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indiebusinessclub.substack.com [https://indiebusinessclub.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Today’s episode is all about outsourcing. Are you an outsourcer? Or an outsourceee? Or both? Did I just make up those words? At least one of them. Either way, to keep it easy we’re using “outsourcing” to cover any projects that are done by someone who’s not on the payroll. We discuss the pros and cons, what to watch out for if you’re outsourcing, how to be a good outsourceee (we should use more triple-Es in made-up words) and highlight how outsourcing can help you scale your business both up and down, depending on how things are going. BTW, this episode is supported by Freelancer Magazine [https://freelancermagazine.co.uk/shop/quarterly-subscription/], the quarterly magazine for freelancers, founders, and the freelance-curious. Along with the mag (which is printed or digital) your subscription gives you a whole heap of other benefits including three virtual coworking sessions every week. You can subscribe here [https://freelancermagazine.co.uk/shop/quarterly-subscription/] or find it on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/freelancer-magazine]and on “instantgram” @freelancermag [https://www.instagram.com/freelancermag]. Ben and I are both in the upcoming issue on client processes and getting new clients. Look! Ben’s the COVER GIRL! Voicenoted Our lovely pal Jo Marshall is today’s voicenoter. Jo runs All Things Words, the copywriting agency for higher education providers. Jo and her team provide copy audits, course copy and content. Shout out to Louis and Ivy too! You can find Jo on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-marshall-copywriter/] and at allthingswords.co.uk [https://allthingswords.co.uk/]. Your friends and mine A double bill this time and first up is VA to creative types like us, Erin Buck. Erin is a firm supporter of the show and knows a thing or two about podcasts herself, having hosted Women In Business [https://open.spotify.com/show/4CZQzF6IpN1wnVfCRLjHUS?si=db0e345e42ae4f82] podcast for multiple series. Find her at her website [https://www.bizzybeebolly.com/] and on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bizzybeebolly/]. We also want give a shout out to friend of the show and past voicenoter (episode 13) Rishi Dastidar who has a new book which is out now. A Hobby Of Mine [https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/rishi-dastidar-a-hobby-of-mine] is published by Broken Sleep Books, and is described as “an unrelenting catalogue of cultural observations which becomes an absurd and profound portrait of modern life” Buy it from brokensleepbooks.com [https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/rishi-dastidar-a-hobby-of-mine] and all good bookshops. And can you do us a favour? We’re speaking on The Marketing Meetup webinar this coming Tuesday 17th June at 2pm. Please come along and watch us get quizzed by Joe/James from TMM so we don’t have to talk to an empty room. Okay, so it’s virtual and there’s no real room… and you aren’t on camera anyway, but you know what we mean. Sign up is here [https://themarketingmeetup.com/events/how-to-grow-a-marketing-freelancer-consultancy-business-in-2025/]. Thank yoooooou, Mel [https://substack.com/redirect/29269051-4a36-4fab-bdb8-72d016954ab6?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] & Ben [https://substack.com/redirect/877cba3c-e4c1-42e6-a28f-a2a6b3152137?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4]Find our producer, theme composer and apprentice roofer Ant Henderson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/antphenderson/] and you can watch older episodes of the show on YouTube here [https://www.youtube.com/@indiebusinessclubpod]. If you enjoy the show, you can chip in on our production costs with a £3 contribution at ko-fi.com/indiebusinessclub [http://www.ko-fi.com/indiebusinessclub] please and thank you 💖 🎙️ Spotify [https://substack.com/redirect/2863e896-cbe5-4d79-8ea2-09835aa734e9?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] / Apple podcasts [https://substack.com/redirect/093c5e99-cf99-4009-8e1d-5455269aca03?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] / Amazon Music [https://substack.com/redirect/f009f55b-92d7-4eb8-ba9c-186672b357ff?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] and Audible [https://substack.com/redirect/13b873d1-c0b5-40b0-89ed-7381271c4c06?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRxeHBmIn0.JY0nXOBjbWqDF3FgzKtTN_4ED2cYpv7i43iBoRKY8t4] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indiebusinessclub.substack.com [https://indiebusinessclub.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Today’s episode is all about testimonials. But just before we get into it… we’re incredibly excited about this 👇 We’re doing a Marketing Meetup webinar [https://themarketingmeetup.com/events/how-to-grow-a-marketing-freelancer-consultancy-business-in-2025/] with Michelle L P Boland all about how to grow your marketing freelance / consultancy business in 2025. Doing a TMM webinar is major #Goals so please help us make it a success by coming along [https://themarketingmeetup.com/events/how-to-grow-a-marketing-freelancer-consultancy-business-in-2025/]! 😄 We’ll talk all about how we’ve each built our businesses and give allll the indie business intel and tips. It’s not until 17th June but you can sign up here [https://themarketingmeetup.com/events/how-to-grow-a-marketing-freelancer-consultancy-business-in-2025/] to get it in your calendar :) Testimonials Now. Onto the episode. It’s all about testimonials, which seem to be a sore point for lots of people. Do you…ask for them? get them? use them? Full disclosure, we’re not exactly great at asking clients for them. This is one of our “do as we say, not as we do” situations..! It sometimes feels a bit icky. And then time just dribbles by and before you know it, two years have gone by. Bit late by then. I asked people’s opinions on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/melaniebarfield_feedback-form-mel-barfield-activity-7324420953021505536-Ng0p?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAANzZTABz56wvLh6eSvX4wKvsWeUmNYqayw] and got some great tips. Several people noted how it’s useful to be ultra specific about what you’re asking for. So if you want to highlight your organisation skills / communication / professionalism / slick onboarding process etc. (delete as appropriate) then tell your client that when you ask for a testimonial. Others try and grab natural comments as they go along. There’s a “Wall of Remembrance” on the Copy Or Die homepage [https://copyordie.co.uk/] (scroll down a bit to see it) thanks to a plug-in called testimonial.to [https://testimonial.to/] (I think we might have said i o on the episode sorryyyyy). Voicenoted Luckily, we have the Peter Pan of graphic design Dave Officer as today’s voicenoter to give us a steer. He made us ponder why it feels gross to ask for testimonials and talks about how he approaches asking for them. It was an epic feature-length voicenote, so we’ve had our sound guy (and sound guy) Ant weave Dave in and out of the whole episode. Your friends and mine The YFAMs from this episode are everyone we mention in this episode!Gemma Strang, Jodie Newman, Leigh James, Jo Shock, Stacey Eleczko (find her helpful article here [https://stacy-eleczko.kit.com/posts/the-hill-i-ll-die-on?_gl=1*qwn5zh*_gcl_au*MTEwMTgxNDc4MS4xNzQyODEzODEw]), Eddie Shleyner, Dave Harland (again!), Adrian Elton, Amy Hawthorne, Jeremy Freeman, Gemma Champ, Lou Major, Erin Buck, Samantha Harman and Ruth Sedar. We didn’t have time to cover everyone’s testimonials tips so we will revisit the topic in future. Email us on show@indiebusinessclub.com [show@indiebusinessclub.com] if you have any comments and we’ll try and include them in our testies part two. One last wang Okay, it probably won’t be the absolute last time I wang on about this but we’re so proud of our live episode. We’d love you to listen to it if you haven’t already. We had a jolly old time making it, as you can see. Please give it a listen [https://indiebusinessclub.substack.com/p/24-lets-go-surfing-live-q-and-a-episode] 😉 Thanks again to Mark Masters and the team at FOUNDRY Poole. And one last ask While we’re on the topic of asking for testimonials, can you leave us one please? 🙏 You email us (show@indiebusinessclub.com [show@indiebusinessclub.com]) or leave one on our individual LinkedIn pages here for Mel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniebarfield/details/recommendations/] and here for Ben [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmckinney/details/recommendations/]. Or you can leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thank yooou! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indiebusinessclub.substack.com [https://indiebusinessclub.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]