Episode 11

Pivoting to Success: Freelancing Insights from Kevin Dunlap

In this episode, we're venturing into the digital evolution with tips on embracing technology to avoid becoming yesterday's news. Kevin spills the beans on why personal branding and video content are your golden tickets in the digital age and how embracing your voice, literally, can be a game-changer.

We tackle YouTube's new link policy, the surge of freelancing post-pandemic, and how Kevin's unique approach turned his tea-drinking self into a freelancing force without ever sipping the usual coffee.

Expect pearls of wisdom on prioritizing what's essential, adapting with AI tools, and making strategic moves in the freelancing world. Plus, Kevin leaves us with advice on doing what you love and hints at where to find him for more insights.

Get ready to distill the perfect blend of strategy and inspiration. This episode is bound to perk up your entrepreneurial spirit. Let's dive in!

3 Fun Facts

1. Kevin Dunlap is a tea drinker who has only tasted coffee once when he tried an Irish coffee.

2. Kevin created over 500 videos using a flip camcorder to showcase houses, which notably increased his business visibility and SEO.

3. Despite being deeply involved in technology and business, Kevin and Brett both shared their initial discomfort with hearing their own voices when recording podcasts or videos.

Timestamps:

00:00 Transition from real estate to education and coaching.

06:29 Shift to online work and entrepreneurship growth.

09:33 Research demand, be prepared for hard work.

11:12 Embrace new technology or risk getting left behind.

16:31 Promote your business with YouTube videos.

17:49 Video marketing led to business success, branding growth.

23:10 Film horizontally for YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn. Instagram and TikTok favor vertical orientation.

25:55 Focus on target market, delegate, automate, liberate.

28:22 Eliminate non-essential tasks, focus on growth.

31:43 Express gratitude, subscribe, and stay focused.

💬 Want to get involved? Leave us a comment, give us a 'like,' and follow us for more insights. Join our Locals for lively discussions, and if you've got questions, email us at bdeister@digitalcafe.media!

👕 Check out our mech: www.digitalcafe.store


🌟 Review the Podcast if you loved this episode and share it with fellow marketers who could benefit from a treasure trove of podcasting wisdom. Tune in to "Digital Coffee: Marketing Brew" and let's brew up some success together!

Transcript
Brett Deister:

Mm, that's good.

2

:

And welcome to a new episode of

Digital Coffee Marketing Brew,

3

:

and I'm your host, Brett Deister.

4

:

And you guys know, just

subscribe to the podcast.

5

:

Just help out and never miss an

episode because it's only once

6

:

a month, so you might actually

forget every once in a while.

7

:

But anyways, I have Kevin with me and

he is a founder and lead trainer of

8

:

Optimal Performance Academy and he's

worked with small business owners

9

:

to, and startups to help them just.

10

:

Gain traction in their business.

11

:

'cause we all know it's hard to start

up a business and usually most of

12

:

'em fail within the first five years.

13

:

So he helps 'em all with that as well.

14

:

He's also been self-employed since

:

15

:

freelancers because it's a big market

right now and a lot of businesses are

16

:

trying to find freelancers and I'm

pretty sure a lot of people want to know.

17

:

How do you do this thing?

18

:

It's called freelancing because

it's not an easy task to do.

19

:

But he's also has lived in Las Vegas, but

now currently resides in North Carolina.

20

:

So welcome to the show, Kevin.

21

:

Well, thank you.

22

:

It's great to

23

:

Kevin Dunlap: be here, Brett.

24

:

Thank you for having me.

25

:

Brett Deister: You're welcome.

26

:

And the first question ask all my

guest is, are you a coffee or tea

27

:

Kevin Dunlap: drinker?

28

:

I'm a tea drinker.

29

:

And, and here's here, and here's

a funny thing I note about that.

30

:

I was in the Navy for almost five

years and, and I've never in my entire

31

:

life have ever had a cup of coffee.

32

:

Mm-Hmm.

33

:

So I'm definitely a tea drinker.

34

:

Brett Deister: So you've

never been curious to try it

35

:

to see what the obsession is

36

:

Kevin Dunlap: with coffee.

37

:

I, I, well, I tasted it once when I was

in Alaska at the airport on the stop

38

:

hover, and I got an Irish coffee, which

is basically Irish whiskey with coffee

39

:

and it, and I drink the first sip of

that, like, oh my God, I could drink this.

40

:

So that's very, that was

like a $5 wasted drink right

41

:

Brett Deister: there.

42

:

Yeah, that's pretty, actually

no, coffees are now about $5.

43

:

Nevermind, that's not expensive anymore.

44

:

Kevin Dunlap: That's about normal.

45

:

Oh, this was the nineties,

so, or the eighties actually.

46

:

The late eighties.

47

:

Brett Deister: Oh yeah.

48

:

The, yeah, back then that was

actually pretty expensive.

49

:

But and also one other thing.

50

:

What type of teas do you like?

51

:

Do you like?

52

:

Like green tea?

53

:

Black tea?

54

:

Like what types of

55

:

Kevin Dunlap: teas do you usually drink?

56

:

Green tea and black.

57

:

I mean, green tea is probably my favorite.

58

:

And black tea.

59

:

I used to drink an ice, an iced

chai latte, but that, that, that

60

:

right now has too much sugar in

it or too much caffeine in it.

61

:

So I, I stopped drinking those, but yeah.

62

:

Yeah, you let green tea or if

I drink a regular brown tea or

63

:

it, it is usually gonna be ice.

64

:

Brett Deister: Nice.

65

:

And I gave a brief introduction to

your expertise, but can you, can you

66

:

give a little bit more to our listeners

67

:

Kevin Dunlap: about what you do?

68

:

Sure.

69

:

In 2021, I was making a

transition in my life.

70

:

I was, because I was in real estate, I was

a real estate consultant for a few years

71

:

and then became a realtor for a few years.

72

:

In 2020, at the toward the end of

the whole co covid thing, I wrote my

73

:

fourth book called Launch the A to

Z in creating a successful business.

74

:

And with that being said 2021 was my

kind of a transition year who was not

75

:

quite sure what I was gonna be doing.

76

:

And then when I moved to North Carolina

in:

77

:

you know what I, I've known a lot of

people try to start a business, realtors

78

:

especially and they have, and they, they,

they are starting a business with a nine

79

:

to five corporate American mentality.

80

:

And it, and that just doesn't work.

81

:

And so what I decided to do was I was

actually, I created my company, which

82

:

is called Optimal performance Academy.

83

:

And I wanted to start taking some of

the stuff I wrote in my fourth book,

84

:

my book, my book launch, and make

that into training courses, coaching

85

:

programs, consulting programs.

86

:

So that's why.

87

:

So I formed the Academy to be a

place for people to come to get an

88

:

education, albeit through one of our

online courses, through our consulting

89

:

practices attending our workshops are

our webinars that, that we conduct.

90

:

So

91

:

Brett Deister: what I'm hearing

is you got outta the real estate

92

:

business right before it started

turning really, really bad.

93

:

'cause 2021 was still pretty good.

94

:

And then 2022 is kinda like, okay,

interest rates are really, really

95

:

high and no one really wants to buy

96

:

Kevin Dunlap: anymore.

97

:

Exactly.

98

:

I actually, I, I got out in

January,:

99

:

the, the entire world shut down.

100

:

Brett Deister: Oh, yeah.

101

:

It was pretty smart actually,

because actually no real

102

:

estates were, were still going.

103

:

They were just a lot harder to do.

104

:

That's what, that's what it was because.

105

:

Kevin Dunlap: To my understanding

showing of houses, what, what was

106

:

difficult because if nobody knew how,

how, how COVID was transferred, they

107

:

didn't know by touching a doorknob

or and, and people say anything that

108

:

you touch could have covid on it.

109

:

And then one thing I joked around

with some people about, it's like,

110

:

what's the one thing that everybody

touches, but you never think about

111

:

the others that you're touching.

112

:

You doorknob money.

113

:

Oh.

114

:

That's true.

115

:

So you means just, just walk down

this door, nob, or, or then you gonna

116

:

buy something, you pull out five,

$1 bills and, you know, and, and

117

:

a 20 and you give it to a cashier

and then that goes to the next one.

118

:

Like, they're like, money to me at

that time was like one, one of the

119

:

scariest things to touch because

everybody, nobody thought about money.

120

:

People just talk about handles

and, and other things like that.

121

:

At the beginning.

122

:

Brett Deister: That's fair.

123

:

I mean, we don't use money as much

anymore, but yeah, the, it transfers

124

:

to a lot of different hands and you've

never really know who's touching

125

:

Kevin Dunlap: it or who's not.

126

:

Exactly.

127

:

And even if you do a pain with plastic,

I mean back then that's before they

128

:

really had the little, you know,

the, the, the, the scan and go style.

129

:

I mean, I, I think it was, it

was somewhat popular, but it

130

:

wasn't like hugely popular at

131

:

Brett Deister: that time.

132

:

Yep.

133

:

Yeah, you're right.

134

:

But speaking about freelancing,

just like what has changed with

135

:

the freelancing market because.

136

:

As we were talking about the

pandemic, it kind of became like this

137

:

like really, really popular thing.

138

:

Got really good in the limelight.

139

:

'cause all businesses are like,

oh, we can hire freelancers because

140

:

we don't really know if we can

come back into the, our business.

141

:

We don't really know how many

people we can actually hire back.

142

:

So like what has changed between

that, between the Pandemic

143

:

and now Post Pandemic in 2023?

144

:

Well, well,

145

:

Kevin Dunlap: in my opinion, one of

the biggest things that that changed

146

:

was that people decided to go online.

147

:

And so, I mean, they started doing, having

zoom calls or, or Skype for Business.

148

:

'cause I did that for a little while.

149

:

Or people would get onto some of the

other platforms, which eventually

150

:

became like a Microsoft meet or

team meet or whatever it's called.

151

:

And so people got used to working online.

152

:

And then the second thing is,

even if you had a job, a lot of

153

:

people, they had to work from home.

154

:

They had to do you know, they,

so they got used to the to the

155

:

idea of of working from home.

156

:

Now, a lot of people also lost their jobs

because when, when stores shut down, when

157

:

hair salons shut down and they ca and

restaurants shut down, a lot of people

158

:

were out of were out of employment.

159

:

And since there was breeding the

body, hiring people, had some people

160

:

actually took the advantage of

that situation and actually started

161

:

creating their own business online.

162

:

So I think COVID did actually inspire

a lot of entrepreneurs to begin a, a

163

:

new business because the, the people

got used to doing things online.

164

:

It's like one of the ideas of me having

an online course and making a series of

165

:

online courses four years ago, I probably

never would've thought about that.

166

:

I.

167

:

I mean, I would've said, well,

everything has to be done live.

168

:

Everything has to be done in person.

169

:

I never would've thought like, Hey, let's,

let's, let's do this thing and let's have

170

:

a a a a call where everybody's talking

through their microphones and camcorders.

171

:

Brett Deister: Everybody started a

podcast, but apparently the podcasting is

172

:

actually down this year because everybody

173

:

Kevin Dunlap: went back to work.

174

:

Well, and, and that's, yeah, exactly.

175

:

And that's people were actually going

back to the workplace because at that time

176

:

I was living in Las Vegas and it was so

scary 'cause all the casinos shut down and

177

:

some of the casinos didn't have doors, so

they had to go board board up the, the,

178

:

the board up, the board, up the entrances.

179

:

So it, it was really what excite me.

180

:

I walk once when I'm walking,

walking on the strip and there's

181

:

not a single person in sight.

182

:

I took several pictures of that, like,

and people look at, look at, it's like

183

:

you are looking at the Venetian fountains

and there's not a single car on the

184

:

road and not a single person there.

185

:

I'm the only one there.

186

:

Now, of course the fountains

aren't going off 'cause.

187

:

There's nobody to see it.

188

:

They wanna look at it.

189

:

But it was, it was, it

was really, really odd.

190

:

And I remember at that time, this,

this is why, why I started writing

191

:

my book in two late 2020 was

because of everything was changing.

192

:

Everybody was what?

193

:

I guess the thing was what is the

new normal, as they were saying.

194

:

Brett Deister: Gotcha.

195

:

And.

196

:

For people like wanting to do it,

wanting to start out, wanting to be new.

197

:

Like what are some tips for

the new freelancers that are

198

:

like, I really wanna do this.

199

:

This sounds like a great idea,

you can work for yourself.

200

:

Kind of.

201

:

Sort of.

202

:

But it sounds great 'cause I don't

have a boss, so I mean, what are some

203

:

good tips for them and some realistic

expectations to understand about

204

:

Kevin Dunlap: freelancing?

205

:

If you're gonna be doing any kind of

freelancing, number one, obviously

206

:

you need to do your market research.

207

:

You need to go out there and

find out is there a demand for

208

:

what you're gonna be offering.

209

:

'cause the, the last thing you wanna do

is spend 1, 2, 3 months as trying to start

210

:

a business, you know, going through all

the headaches of, of getting everything

211

:

started, and then to find out that

nobody has a problem that you're solving.

212

:

The other thing is yes, you're, you're

now your own boss in this particular

213

:

case, and that could be a good

thing or that could be a bad thing.

214

:

A joke that I've, I've heard around the

entrepreneur community for years was

215

:

a true entrepreneur is willing to work

twice as hard to make half the money.

216

:

That's gonna be true in in many cases.

217

:

'cause when you're just starting

out and you're trying to get your

218

:

first customers or clients you're

gonna be working really, really hard.

219

:

You may be putting in a

eight or 10 or 12 hour day.

220

:

You may be working seven days a week.

221

:

You may be working on a,

on a national holiday.

222

:

I mean, that's just, that is,

that is just kind of expected.

223

:

But once you start getting your momentum

going, then you can start creating

224

:

systems that will make things a lot

easier or start hiring other people

225

:

out, other people to do some of the

stuff that you don't want to do, like

226

:

a virtual assistant or, or we call

them a va, a virtual assistant or a

227

:

part-time employee, or even a full-time

employee, depending on what your income

228

:

is and what it is that you're going

that, that you don't want to be doing.

229

:

As an example, say you're building your

business and you need a, and you need a

230

:

website, but you know nothing about how

to build a website, well, you, you hire a,

231

:

a, a freelancer to, to build your website.

232

:

Brett Deister: Or now just use AI

because now there's actual websites

233

:

that use AI to build your own website.

234

:

Kevin Dunlap: Well, the, that's another

thing is you could anybody that's

235

:

starting out right now, you know, in

this day and age, you need to be able

236

:

to embrace all the new technologies.

237

:

Don't be afraid of new technology.

238

:

'cause if you don't adapt to

that new technology, you're

239

:

going to get left behind.

240

:

Literally.

241

:

And the joke I, I often tell people

about this, especially when we talk about

242

:

AI, is that, let's say you, you had a

business, let's say you had a, a brick

243

:

and mortar business, you had a bicycle

shop, whatever, and this would be a few

244

:

years ago, and you refuse to go online.

245

:

I.

246

:

I only want to, to do

business with people, I could

247

:

actually shake their hands.

248

:

I want somebody that I

could physically touch.

249

:

Well, you, you're gonna lose a lot

of your market share because if you

250

:

could sell your bikes online and, and

ship them, then, I mean, that's just

251

:

an, that'd just be another avenue.

252

:

But if you did adopt that new technology

of having an online business as

253

:

well, you could get left behind.

254

:

Brett Deister: Yeah, that's true.

255

:

I mean, like, there's things

like descrip that we'll do.

256

:

It's like take out the ums and

uhs and you, and it's actually

257

:

pretty good in the audio.

258

:

I've used it before and it also

can do editing through just words.

259

:

But also you have like AI type

of things for, I'm talking about

260

:

podcasting specifically that can

write your own show notes that

261

:

can write all this stuff for you.

262

:

So I use it so I know how to do it, but

also it just automates my workflow way

263

:

quicker than me doing all the writing and

everything else that I need to do because.

264

:

I'd rather have some things automated

than have nothing automated.

265

:

'cause it, it just cuts down on

the time I can focus on things

266

:

that I need to focus and not the

things I don't need to focus on.

267

:

Kevin Dunlap: Absolutely.

268

:

I mean, when I had a podcast back

in:

269

:

interview based show and I ran

it for Right, right about a year.

270

:

I, I, I had 59 episodes, but I

did edit every single audio and my

271

:

shows are like 45 to six 60 minutes

long, so I did edit all the audio.

272

:

If I stutter, anybody stutter, like, you

know, you know when you start a sentence

273

:

and then you repeat that, that thing.

274

:

All that came out, all the breeding

came out, all the ums and uhs came out.

275

:

So a 45 minute show took literally

four to about four hours to edit.

276

:

But if, if with new technologies,

now here it is, you know, five or so

277

:

years later, and you can take, and

that cuts that down, then that makes

278

:

having a podcast more enjoyable.

279

:

'cause you're not doing all the, that

t that tedious work of, of doing the

280

:

audio, of doing the audio editing.

281

:

Mm.

282

:

Brett Deister: And so in whatever market,

freelancers should just embrace the ai

283

:

'cause I've heard that the, for marketing

specifically, it's those that understand

284

:

how to use AI will keep their jobs.

285

:

And those that don't understand

how to use it will lose their jobs.

286

:

I.

287

:

Kevin Dunlap: That's depending

on where what the business is.

288

:

Yes.

289

:

As, as businesses adapt to new

technology again, you know, as an

290

:

entrepreneur you need to adapt with it.

291

:

But even if you're still working

at a job like that, then you

292

:

need to adapt to that as well.

293

:

'cause otherwise you're

gonna be, become obsolescent.

294

:

Brett Deister: Well, except

for the HOL Hollywood 'cause

295

:

they're fighting to keep AI out.

296

:

Kevin Dunlap: Yes.

297

:

Well, if you talk about like a copyright

infringement is, is what I'm thinking

298

:

about with the Hollywood stuff.

299

:

But like, if I was an extra in a, in a,

in a scene, in a movie and down there

300

:

gonna use my, like this in other scenes,

I, but I don't get paid for it then.

301

:

Yeah.

302

:

I feel that is more like a

copyright infringement or per

303

:

even a personal infringement.

304

:

Brett Deister: It's true.

305

:

A lot of those ais that do use like

pictures or do videos, we'll just

306

:

copy whatever they find internet

and then create a new one in a way.

307

:

But it's still like, it's still

a close copy of whatever is

308

:

out there to a certain extent.

309

:

And how should.

310

:

Freelancers market themselves.

311

:

So they use social media, LinkedIn,

like what, what is the best avenue?

312

:

Because I mean, you could say you're

a freelancer, but if you get no gigs

313

:

and you don't actually advertise

yourself, are you really a freelancer?

314

:

It's kinda like if the reef falls in

the woods, do, does anybody hear it?

315

:

Kevin Dunlap: Right.

316

:

Well, definitely you wanna use social

media to the best of the extent

317

:

that you can and use the so social

media platforms that, that your

318

:

potential clients are gonna be on.

319

:

For an example, if I'm trying

to track business owners, I'm

320

:

probably not going to go to TikTok.

321

:

I'm probably not gonna go to.

322

:

Instagram, I, I, I'm mainly

focusing on LinkedIn.

323

:

If I was po posting images of travels and

stuff like that, then maybe I would go to

324

:

Pinterest or Instagram or, or Facebook.

325

:

So wherever your potential clients

are, mainly that's the kind of social

326

:

media that you're going to be the

platforms that you wanna be on.

327

:

One.

328

:

And one of the other things that, and I

, and I realized this back in:

329

:

Is that, I don't care what your colors

are, you know, your, your brands your

330

:

brand colors are, I don't care about,

you know, you know, what is your logo

331

:

looks like, you know, that's all good.

332

:

That's all fine.

333

:

And Danny, everybody needs a,

their, their corporate colors.

334

:

Everybody goes, need their own logo.

335

:

But one of the other things for a

small business owner, a I'm talking

336

:

about the solopreneur or what also

I like to call, I buy youpreneur.

337

:

If you're, if there's two people

working together, one of the main,

338

:

one of the other main things, part of

your brand is this, here is your face.

339

:

And 'cause the thing is, there's,

there's this old saying, people

340

:

only do business with people

who they know, like, and trust.

341

:

And one of the ways for people to

get, get to know you, get to like you

342

:

and get to trust you is to see you.

343

:

I mean, yeah, I mean, you may go to

Starbucks and buy the coffee and you got

344

:

the little green and white, I think it's

called a siren for the for their logo.

345

:

But if, if this was your own coffee

company, your own business, you probably

346

:

wanna be doing some some YouTube videos.

347

:

You, you wanna be getting

your face out to the public.

348

:

And that to me is more of the

most important things out there.

349

:

Because for an example,

when I was in, in:

350

:

I was attending a, a, a real

estate conference somewhere in

351

:

California and there was maybe

four or 500 people in attendance.

352

:

And they were giving away

two tics or two door prices.

353

:

I won the second door price

and that one item probably at

354

:

that time cost two to $300.

355

:

But but it was revolutionary at that time.

356

:

And what it was, it was a, if you remember

this, this is:

357

:

It was, it was a flip camcorder.

358

:

What that was is, is, is a, it

is a little rectangular device.

359

:

Mine was green and white.

360

:

I little, the rectangular device that

will record up to one hour of video or

361

:

multiple videos, maximum of one hour.

362

:

And then you have this little knob

on the left hand side, a little

363

:

slide button on the on, on the side

that you, that you click down on

364

:

it know flip out a USB, things that

you could plug into your computer.

365

:

In 2009, I started, started

shooting video of all the houses

366

:

I was representing over the course

of maybe, I don't know I stopped

367

:

shooting video like that in like 2019.

368

:

So over the, over the course of

that 10 or 11 years, I probably

369

:

shot over 500, maybe 600 videos.

370

:

I would say the first three or 400 were,

was on that flip chem quarter before

371

:

technology cell phones got to the point

where your cell phone could do it.

372

:

But at that time, that was revolutionary

and, and people got to know who I was.

373

:

I, and my, my, after a few

months, my business skyrocketed.

374

:

And secondly talking about this,

and this is another little tip.

375

:

Is when you put your v videos up on

YouTube, always make sure that you have

376

:

a link going to your website with the

keywords that you want to be known for.

377

:

Because the thing is, after some

time, you, if you got a hundred, 200

378

:

videos, 300 videos for just call 'em

back links, going to your website,

379

:

that's gonna build up your branding as

well as your SEO as well as your SEO.

380

:

So when people are Googling the, the, the,

the words that you're using, the keywords

381

:

that you're using, you'll start coming

up on page one or page two of Google.

382

:

So these are all things that you need to

be doing, and if you're, and my, my answer

383

:

to your question that's gonna say, well,

I don't look good on film, or I don't like

384

:

shooting video myself, my answer to that

is get over, do it anyway after a time.

385

:

Almost nobody is good at

video, to be honest with you.

386

:

Brett, when I, whenever I shoot

video of, let's say, of an ad or

387

:

a new program that I'm doing, it

takes me three or four, sometimes

388

:

five takes to get it done, right.

389

:

I mean, everybody.

390

:

I mean, do you think every

actor on every movie or TV show?

391

:

Never.

392

:

Do they think, do you think

they take more than one tank?

393

:

Of course.

394

:

So why you, why would

you be any different?

395

:

So everybody messes up on video, and

the thing is, once you record it and

396

:

you edit it, all those bad things,

they're all, they all get thrown away.

397

:

Brett Deister: Yeah.

398

:

To be fair, the first few years of

listening to my voice was rough.

399

:

I hated listening to it.

400

:

Kevin Dunlap: But you get over you.

401

:

That was the same way until I started

editing my podcast voice all the time.

402

:

No, that

403

:

Brett Deister: was actually editing.

404

:

I hated, I, I had to edit my own stuff

and I, not anymore, but at that time I

405

:

just did not li like listening to myself.

406

:

So you have to get over it basically

is what I would say for your YouTube

407

:

thing, they're actually changing it.

408

:

So I wanna update the listeners.

409

:

Where they're not allowing links anymore.

410

:

You have to actually put it

in your profile page now.

411

:

'cause they are banning links

because of all the scams for crypto

412

:

and everything that's happening.

413

:

So that's not here yet, but you

could put 10 to 12 links now.

414

:

So they're changing the profile

round, so you're gonna have to do

415

:

it through their, unfortunately.

416

:

So it's a great thing

for getting rid of scams.

417

:

It's a terrible thing for us because

then we have to point them back to our

418

:

profile to get them to click on the link.

419

:

Kevin Dunlap: Yeah, that, that, well,

that hopefully the algorithms on on

420

:

Google and those other search platforms

will, who will adjust for that as well.

421

:

'cause that, that's, to me, that's

one of the, that's how you back then,

422

:

because of all the videos that I had

go to my website and all the stuff

423

:

I had on my website, my website was

changing almost on a daily basis.

424

:

After like a, a year of doing that.

425

:

If you saw somebody typed in my keyword,

which was lease option, at least option

426

:

Las Vegas, I would be on on page one

on Google at least five times and at

427

:

least two of them were YouTube videos.

428

:

Brett Deister: Yeah, I just wanna update

you and our listeners as well 'cause I try

429

:

to keep up to date with all that stuff.

430

:

But yeah, it, I haven't seen

it yet, but it is coming.

431

:

Unfortunately, because of all the scams

of people posting links into their

432

:

comments and everything else, YouTube's

like, we're, we're, we're done with this.

433

:

Like, we can't keep up with, 'cause they

can't, I mean, you're, you would literally

434

:

have to have like seven ais to keep up

with all the scams going in, through

435

:

comments and everything else through that.

436

:

So they're doing it this way.

437

:

So I think the first four links, they'll

be noticeable and then you'll have to

438

:

click on the more to find the other eight.

439

:

Links.

440

:

So I would say for, for people,

freelancers, and anybody else, put your

441

:

first important links before on top

of there, so they're easily clickable.

442

:

Then whatever else you

have, just put it below.

443

:

You basically have to prioritize, kinda

like when MySpace with your top eight,

444

:

when that, when MySpace was popular.

445

:

You're gonna have to prioritize like that.

446

:

Like what's my most important links?

447

:

Kevin Dunlap: Well, the, it should be

therefore would be your website and then

448

:

your, whichever social media platform

that you, that you want to be known for.

449

:

LinkedIn or Instagram or whatever.

450

:

Brett Deister: Yeah.

451

:

And then going back, I mean to

your YouTube videos and stuff,

452

:

that was basically a portfolio.

453

:

So that could actually help

freelancers too, of like having, well,

454

:

depending on their industry, what

portfolio that they want to showcase.

455

:

So in a way, videos can help bring

a familiarity, but also have a

456

:

portfolio of your knowledge and

just your camera work if you're in

457

:

Kevin Dunlap: that industry.

458

:

Right.

459

:

Well, yeah, def definitely.

460

:

Hey, and then I'm gonna make one more note

because this is, this is a pet peeve of

461

:

mine, so and you can cut me off you if you

need to, Brad, is whenever you, whenever

462

:

you shoot video or even pictures, that is,

you need to be completely aware of which

463

:

platform you're gonna be putting it on.

464

:

Because if you're gonna shoot for

TikTok and Instagram, you should

465

:

be in vertical or portrait mode.

466

:

If you're gonna be on YouTube,

Facebook, LinkedIn, you need to be

467

:

in landscape or horizontal mode.

468

:

And the reason being is Instagram and,

and, and TikTok are designed to be,

469

:

I'm talking in front of my camera and

you're holding it in the palm of your

470

:

hand while the other ones 'cause it.

471

:

Because while the other ones

are more like to, to fit your

472

:

TV screen or your laptop screen.

473

:

So if you've ever seen any let's say you

watch the news, it doesn't matter which

474

:

one you watch and somebody's filming and

they're showing somebody filming an event

475

:

and you watching it on your horizontal

screen, and you got, you're only seeing

476

:

half of your screen in the middle half

and everything's gory on the side.

477

:

That's somebody that's putting, that

is shot in the wrong direction for, for

478

:

the platform that they're trying for.

479

:

So I would say by default always

shoot in the horizontal mode and

480

:

then you can go vertical mode if

you're gonna do Instagram or TikTok.

481

:

Brett Deister: Yeah, I mean, a

lot of the editing softwares now

482

:

will allow you to do either one.

483

:

You'll just have to like either blow

it up a little bit, but if you have a

484

:

good camera, it won't really matter.

485

:

No one will really know.

486

:

So yes, you should be aware of

where you're shooting if you're

487

:

doing it live, but if you're doing

a pre-recording, you can just.

488

:

Go to Divin, resolve, final Cut.

489

:

They have all the dimensions for you.

490

:

There's also a few AI stuff.

491

:

There's a video one online where

you can put transcripts, but also

492

:

we'll put it in the whatever format

you need to put it in as well.

493

:

So there's options now where

you don't have to like.

494

:

Cognitively, think about it, you can

just shoot in vertical and then, or

495

:

horizontal, and then it will change the

vertical or square or whatever you need

496

:

Kevin Dunlap: to do.

497

:

Well, if it, if you're going from

vertical, the the horizontal, then

498

:

you, you're zooming in, have to zoom

in really tight and, and if you're

499

:

on horizontal in the vertical,

you're just cutting off the edges.

500

:

Brett Deister: Yeah.

501

:

I would recommend if you're gonna do like

different formats, use like A-D-S-L-R.

502

:

I know Panasonic just released

one where it has like open gate,

503

:

so basically it has a wider.

504

:

So it has a more up and

down for your shots.

505

:

So you can do the vertical without losing

too much of it, because a lot of times

506

:

it'll just be, but with open gate, you

can actually have more of the sensor

507

:

pickup, more of the up and downness of it.

508

:

So when you do do the vertical

stuff where you transfer to

509

:

vertical, it won't be as blown up.

510

:

But if you're using a professional DSLR

like I am, you really won't notice the

511

:

difference because they're 4K anyways.

512

:

But moving on, do you have

any, do you have some tips for,

513

:

let's say they're getting going.

514

:

Do you have some tips for

freelancers to like continue this?

515

:

'cause I'm pretty sure the start is

hard, but also the continuation of

516

:

doing freelancing is just as hard.

517

:

'cause you're like, okay,

I kind of made it now what?

518

:

Kevin Dunlap: Well, I mean, if you're

getting started, make sure that you that

519

:

you do know who your target market is.

520

:

I mean, that's the last thing is

if you're one of those people that

521

:

says everybody is your client, or

everybody could be your client, then

522

:

that you, you need to focus more.

523

:

So you definitely need, I need that.

524

:

If you're, as you were just saying, if

you, you know, you've got, everything

525

:

is going well sometime, you know, you

get to that point, maybe you're an upper

526

:

five or so, or lower six figure earner.

527

:

Then, then at that time, you can you

start looking at what Tim Ferris said in

528

:

his book the, the four hour work week,

he had this thing called deal, DAL.

529

:

Is that what can you what is it

designate or have it go up somebody else?

530

:

What can you eliminate

and what can you automate?

531

:

So delegate, eliminate, automate.

532

:

So therefore now you can start focusing on

the core of, of, of growing your business.

533

:

And then of course the, the letter

L stands for what do you do when

534

:

you have liberation or liberate?

535

:

So I, I love that.

536

:

I love that acronym.

537

:

'cause if you're doing a lot of

stuff and, and you're doing well,

538

:

start growing your business.

539

:

Start hiring your, those VAs, start

hiring employees part-time, independent

540

:

contractors, you know, whatever it is.

541

:

And I would say talk to an attorney

before you start doing that.

542

:

Just make, making sure you have all the

paperwork set up properly and correct.

543

:

Brett Deister: Yes, all illegal

would probably be a really good

544

:

imperative because you don't

wanna get yourself in trouble.

545

:

Kevin Dunlap: Well, 'cause the

thing is, if you because we start

546

:

hiring people, you're gonna have

to have some corporate policies.

547

:

And one of the things you don't want to

have in there is maybe a race or something

548

:

that's could be considered racist.

549

:

So you wanna make sure that that

you are treating everybody and

550

:

setting everything about property.

551

:

So just go talk to a business

attorney on, on something like that.

552

:

Brett Deister: Got you.

553

:

And leads to my next question.

554

:

What should freelancers avoid?

555

:

When doing all this stuff, because

we talked about like great tips,

556

:

but avoiding is just as important

as what you should be doing.

557

:

Kevin Dunlap: Well, I would say avoid just

doing something to be just to be busy.

558

:

I mean, just creating a busy work for

you is often gonna be a, a waste of

559

:

time and a waste of money as well.

560

:

So you wanna make sure that

you are strategic in in your

561

:

day-to-day activities, as well

as your week-to-week activities.

562

:

So avoid just doing busy work.

563

:

Brett Deister: Hmm.

564

:

I mean, what would that

entail for busy work?

565

:

'cause I know every, I mean

every industry is different.

566

:

Is like busy work just doing small tasks.

567

:

Is it just like updating a website?

568

:

You don't need to update?

569

:

Like what would be considered busy work?

570

:

I.

571

:

I

572

:

Kevin Dunlap: guess in a broad

sense, do things like that.

573

:

Just, you know, is it is just getting

'em in your day and it's not something

574

:

that's critical that needs to be done.

575

:

Something that could be put off later

or completely eliminated is, and just,

576

:

you know, stop doing that kind of stuff.

577

:

So, you know, focus on how

do you find your clients, how

578

:

do you serve your clients?

579

:

What, you know, what services that

you that, that you may be needing

580

:

as well as the, you know, is there

any additional education that

581

:

you're gonna be needing as well?

582

:

Like either hiring a coach or a

consultant like myself or taking a

583

:

a course or in, in some, in, in some

industries you have what's called CE

584

:

courses or continued education courses.

585

:

So, you know, make sure that you,

that you keep yourself open for that,

586

:

you know in additional education.

587

:

Brett Deister: Hmm.

588

:

And what is the best

advice you've ever gotten?

589

:

For, like, for life or like freelancing

from somebody that you know?

590

:

Kevin Dunlap: Best advice.

591

:

That's a hard one.

592

:

There's so many good nuggets out there.

593

:

Brett Deister: I'll give you

a top five if that helps.

594

:

Kevin Dunlap: Well, I, I would say

number one, make sure that whatever

595

:

you're doing is something that you love.

596

:

I.

597

:

And because, because you,

you're, you're getting married

598

:

to your co to your company.

599

:

And essentially what I, you know,

what I say about that is, and this

600

:

is even for the, those of your

listeners that have jobs is if I ask

601

:

you what was your, what, what, what

is your favorite time of the week?

602

:

And if you say five o'clock on Friday with

a nine to five Friday, Monday to Friday

603

:

job, then you're not in the right place.

604

:

If you're, if you say 8:59 AM on a Monday

morning, then you're in the right place.

605

:

Because you gotta love

what you are, what you do.

606

:

Brett Deister: Nice.

607

:

And where can people find

608

:

Kevin Dunlap: you online?

609

:

Well, we, our academy does

have a website it's called

610

:

optimal performance academy.org.

611

:

Again, that's optimal

performance academy.org.

612

:

And on there, on our front page,

you'll see a, a link to our classes

613

:

also how you schedule a, a a 60

minute strategy session with me.

614

:

And also on there you'll see all the

other stuff, our workshops and other

615

:

stuff that, that, that's coming up.

616

:

Or you can find me online.

617

:

Again, I prefer to be on LinkedIn

because that's where the business

618

:

people are and it's just my name.

619

:

So it'll be linkedin.com four

slash in four slash kevin a do lap.

620

:

Brett Deister: Nice.

621

:

And any final thoughts for listeners?

622

:

Kevin Dunlap: I would just say,

you know, just, just remain open as

623

:

well as adapt to new technologies.

624

:

I mean whenever a new technology

comes out, see how you can

625

:

use that in your business.

626

:

Like with ai now you're gonna

use AI to help you start

627

:

writing parts of your website.

628

:

You're gonna have it come up with

titles of your, of your courses.

629

:

You're gonna have it come up with

slogans or just start using ai.

630

:

And when I say ai, you're

coming up with like success.

631

:

Slogan for an example, always ask, like,

say chat GBT or Bard or brand, whatever

632

:

it is for Google to give you at least

four or five different variations that

633

:

way you Yes, it is stuck with the Adobe.

634

:

Brett Deister: Yeah,

it, it is called Bard.

635

:

So you're right the first time Bard.

636

:

Kevin Dunlap: Okay.

637

:

And

638

:

Brett Deister: any actually no, that

was the, that was the final thoughts,

639

:

but thank you Kevin for joining

Digital Coffee Marketing Brew, and

640

:

sharing your knowledge on freelancing.

641

:

Kevin Dunlap: It's been

my pleasure, Brenda.

642

:

Thank you and thank

643

:

Brett Deister: you for listening

to Digital Coffee Marketing Brew.

644

:

As always, please subscribed from your

favorite podcast maps to this podcast

645

:

because we're doing it once a month, so

never miss an episode that way, but it

646

:

join us next month as we talk to great in

the PR marketing industry, our stay safe.

647

:

Get to understanding for your freelancer,

your business very well, and love what

648

:

you're doing and see you next week later.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Digital Coffee: Marketing Brew
Digital Coffee: Marketing Brew
Get your does of marketing with your favorite coffee brew

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Brett Deister

Brett Deister