The following testimonials are offered by real people who have attended The Freelance Centre's "The Secrets of Successful Freelancing" seminar: "Three months after attending your Freelance seminar I have achieved some remarkable results from following the marketing strategies you revealed to us on the day. Basically my commissioned work has trebled. I now find myself in the enviable position amongst my fellow Photo Journalists of being constantly booked with quality well paying ongoing work. Thank you so much. Your well researched marketing gems are exactly what talented, yet impoverished Photo Journalists need to turn their freelance careers around." Paul McBride Photo Journalist
"This seminar is a must for anyone who is a freelance or is thinking of becoming one. You will realise that all your doubts and concerns are shared by everyone else, and come away with so many good ideas, that you will never find yourself stuck down a blind alley again! I have been freelancing (reasonably) successfully for seven years and was beginning to feel I was spreading myself too thin by not concentrating on developing one side to my business. What a relief to hear Roy say that it is essential to build a work portfolio if you are to be successful. Too many courses are built on theory, but you know where you are with Roy as he has been there himself. No hype, no bullshit, but sometimes a little close for comfort! Word of mouth recommendation is meant to be the most effective form of advertising. I an encouraging every freelance I know to book on Roy's next seminar as a matter of urgency! Imogen Matthews
Many, many thanks for a great seminar on Saturday. The things you said and the advice and you gave is wonderful. I shall certainly endeavour to put those things into practice, it was really a great help. Should there be any further seminars of this or similar type I would love to hear about them. Nikki Rowan-Kedge, Food writer, historian and consultant "Roy Sheppard has refined a multi-purpose tool-kit of ideas, skills and systems which are essential to the freelancer. Like all things which are deadly in their effectiveness, they seem so obvious and simple when the box of secrets has been opened. ... very well balanced and catered for the emotionally battered as well as the hardened battlers" Gordon Loncaster, TV Presenter and Scriptwriter "Too often we get "bogged down" in the doing - sharing is inspirational. Your seminar made me STOP and SHARE - the doing is worth nothing unless "inspired". Your name's on my list! A good all round presentation. How did you used to fit it into 1/2 a day?" Ian Sinclair, Management Consultant "It was a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and to discuss the problems (and potential problems) that we all commonly have. Your ideas will, I'm sure prove immensely useful (as well as profitable) in the future." Julie Buck, Marketing Consultant "I was very impressed by the whole day and thought your approach to the audience and the subject was very effective. You achieved this wonderful blend between giving lots of practical advice whilst making it practically feasible." Peter Morris, Lawyer "Being more focussed and professional, with clear goals, will help me be more positive about the future. For me, the most concrete result from attending the seminar has been to re-focus attention on the need to look again at my direction and USP." Stephen Bartlett, Marketing Communications Consultant "I am more confident about fully understanding exactly what I can offer a client and being comfortable discussing money/fees." Mark Hobin, Designer "Great seminar! There was a lot of material to cover and a lot to take in, but I have to congratulate you on managing to hold my attention through the day, especially since I had a particularly heavy Friday night! So, how have you helped me and what changes am I going to make? Well, for a start I think I will reassess my costings, since I am undercharging for my services in general. A point you touched on regarding networking other good freelancers was of great interest to me. The great thing following the seminar, I actually woke up this morning feeling enthusiastic about the week ahead for the first time in a long time! So thanks for all your encouragement." Siobhan Brownlow, Graphic Designer "I am writing to say how much I enjoyed the seminar. Enjoyment is one thing - but I really felt that I got an enormous amount out of the day on all levels...the actual day was packed full of 'goodies'. I have been a freelancer for almost 12 years..... After attending the seminar I found myself raring to go and really looking forward to finding new clients and catching up with previous customers. I do not usually write letters like this - I often mean to after a particularly good seminar but never get around to it. See the difference attending your course has made! I am sure that prospective freelancers would benefit enormously by attending one of your courses." Annetta Powell, Travel & Tourism Consultant "It's Monday morning and I've had 45 hours since "The Secrets of Successful Freelancing" seminar. I feel inspired, confident and charged with energy... I am ready to sit down and work through my Three Step Business Plan before getting out there and launching my new freelance career. I have practical tools for marketing myself.. Thank you for a superb day - it really did deliver what it promised." Pauline Eyre, Voiceover "I have to say that it was possibly the most useful course I have been on for some time - it certainly gave me confidence as I begin a freelance career." Paul Heinrich, Consultancy, Writing & Research "The seminar gave me lots of inspirational ideas. In fact I was awake literal at the crack of dawn the next day forming plans and at my word processor by 7am! I had been approached by a client to do some consultancy work and I really was struggling to see how to approachit. Now, thanks to your seminar, I know." Sabina LA Brown, Professional Secretarial Services "A great deal of useful information was imparted in an interesting and entertaining way." Gina Harris, Training Consultant "Your seminar was without doubt the best, the most useful and relevant short course I've ever had the good fortune to attend.. Thank you so much for sharing all those comprehensive, practical and effective ideas with me! I am putting what I learned into immediate effect. I've been enthusing widely ... I want everyone to be in on them!" Mitch de Faria, Photo Journalist and Copywriter "Excellent. Packed full of useful tips and confidence building information. I wanted to come away focused on the business side. I did. Things have gone mad since the seminar - you really got me going! I took a deep breath when I went to see my first main client and got a much higher daily rate thAn expected. This was due to the extra confidence your course gave me." Paul Mason, Licenced Trade Consultant "As you would expect Roy, you are a natural communicator. The content was practical advice based on experience. Unlike many presenters of their ideas, skills success etc there is no arrogance in you. You are clearly not on an 'ego trip'. You have a strong desire for everyone to succeed.I most definitely came away with plenty of confidence to have a go and a month later I still feel the same." Robin Smith, Finance & Management Consultant "It felt like coming home to my freelance family! I would recommend this seminar to any freelancer, whether new or experienced, to discover the biggest secret - that the future is freelance. The day has equipped me to plan my 'portfolio working'. It enhanced my skills and confidence in believing that the freelance lifestyle is more than a 'stop gap', it's a happier, less stressful, more profitable way of life." Anne Nash, Marketing Consultant "Thank you for giving me the inspiration and confidence to proceed with planning my freelance career. I thoroughly enjoyed the seminar and came away fired up with enthusiasm. Excellent. Why? The content; style of delivery (really practical, honest, enthusiastic), the empathy displayed with a room of fellow freelancers, but above all - the sound and clearly tried and tested methods that were openly shared inspired me and gave me the confidence I needed to get started. You believe in 'value for money' - how refreshing." Joanne Walker, Sales & Marketing Consultant "Useful, focused, well-presented, interesting, upbeat." Sue Bennion, Arts & Media Education Consultant "The seminar was packed full of information and challenging new ideas. Also there were lots of different and interesting people to meet. it was exhausting - but a good "exhaustion". Lesley Saddington, Illustrator "It gave me a positive feeling about my freelance status and some interesting ways of improving my business." Andrew Georgiou, Graphic Designer "Demonstrated how to become focused and methodical in gaining business. Inspired by the enthusiasm of Roy" Howard Davies, Restaurateur & Caterer "I have been struggling for a year to draw the useful threads from the past into a package. This seminar has given me the tools to complete the plan, and more important, the execution of it." John Wall, Management Services "For the first time in 4 years, I was given guidance oand advice - of course it is a bit daunting to recognise the mistakes that I have made. Also, reassuring to realise I am not entirely alone on this! I can choose to freelance!" Serena Martin, Advertising, Research & Sales Consultant "Very good. relevant, sensible, proven, practical information delivered professionally with good level of audience involvement and some technique practice."Bottom line; thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable and useful day which gave me what I wanted - the impulse to stop circling and move off in a straight line! John McIntyre, PR & Management Consultant "Excellent. Inspirational! Condensed what seems a complicated and daunting and sometimes depressing topic into a simple, systematic and positive experience." David Wood, Financial Analyst "Very direct style, lots of participation and of course excellent input from Roy." Paul M Hipwell, Business Development, Sales & Marketing "Taking Roy Sheppard's seminar is the biggest favour you can do yourself as a freelance. It's packed with practical tips and techniques it could take years to learn. It provided telescoped experience. I learned pitfalls to avoid and positive steps to take. Marketing tricks valuable. A fellow delegate asked me how long I'd been freelance. I told her it was my first day. "Ah" she said, "A virgin". Eric Meijer, Trainer "The best day's training you can give yourself whether you are a new or experienced freelancer." Martin Walter, CEO The International Visual Communications Association "I went along to Roy's first seminar, with the option of my money back at half time if I was not satisfied, and it was just what I needed. I had been freelance for nine years, and thought there was nothing new I could be told...I couldn't have been more mistaken. I drove home from the seminar re-motivated, buzzing with ideas and inspiration to get new business, new contacts and make more money. Goodbye depression, at last. I am quite sure it is more than coincidence that 3 weeks later I secured a job presenting Top Gear Motorsport on BBC2 (a job I had been after for a year),[ This is a Networked prime time TV show in Britain] and have just been told that I am to be the outside broadcast presenter for ITV's rival Fantasy Football League! I feel indebted to Roy for his wisdom, knowledge and kindness, and would encourage any freelancers to go to his seminar, however cynical they may be, and listen, and take on board some very valuable points that can make not only a financial difference to your life, but can also leave you feeling totally stupid for not thinking of them first." Penny Mallory, TV Presenter "Congratulations on a superb seminar. What an excellent job. Everyone I talked to was amazed at what you packed in and the relevance to them." Monica Esslin, Trainer "The seminar brought me up short. I was clearly charging too little and had been afraid to raise my fees, in case the work dried up. The seminar gave me much food for thought about my attitudes to work and money. It has inspired a total rethink about how I market myself and how I organise my working life. I certainly didn't ask for my money back at the interval." Sue Spenceley, PR Consultant "Two tips have contributed to a hike in my daily fee and a volume of work I've never known before." Jonathan Vernon, Writer and director "I was impressed by several things, the quality "how to" information you gave, your obvious mastery of detail, your willingness to reveal yourself through anecdote, your use of stories and quotes. You gave a good "role play" on how to network which was very effective. I was impressed by the dynamic way you inspired hope for the many individuals there who were maybe finding it tough going as self-employed". John Eaton, University Lecturer and Psychotherapist "Stimulating and inspiring, and I took away a great deal to think about and to act upon." Ian Singleton, Writer and director |
