News & Opinion for Freelancers
View personal articles such as year-in-review articles, features, and special announcements.
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2022 Year in Review
This year was all about routine. It was my first year full-time at Instacart and I continued working with my own freelance clients. My personal life was also filled with special moments and memories!
10 Things Every Freelance Business Has in Common
Whether you're a designer, makeup artist, glassblower, or dog walker, all freelance businesses share 10 fundamental similarities that are the pillars needed for success.
2021 Year in Review
2021 was a great year. It was quite different than I imagined and ended with an unexpected plot twist! As always, I'll highlight professional accomplishments and share personal updates with photos!
Why I Took a Full-Time Job After 10+ Years of Freelancing
On November 29th, 2021, after more than a decade of freelancing, I started a full-time job as a Senior Product Designer II at Instacart.
Why I Pulled the Plug on Social Media and Deleted My Accounts
If you can't find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram anymore, it's because I permanently deleted all my accounts. I don't like what the platforms have becoming, so I'm investing my time elsewhere.
2020 Year In Review
2020 was wild. It was easily the most difficult and challenging year of my life, but every day I chose to make the best of it and appreciate everything I have. Here's a recap…
8 Ways to Determine If Your Side Project is Worth Pursuing
Freelancers who like to learn usually end up pursuing a side project. But it's important to have a method of determining which side projects are worth pursuing.
How to Automatically Format Subscriber Names in ConvertKit
Have you ever noticed that sometimes subscribers don't enter their first name properly into your ConvertKit forms? Learn how to automatically fix poorly formatted names in a few simple steps!
Introducing Matthew’s Design Co. (and the changes ahead for my website)
Find out all the details of how I plan to navigate the transition from freelancer to company while maintaining my relevance and relationship to freelancers.
2019 Year in Review
2019 was another fantastic year both personally and professionally. Overall, it was more simple, stable, and smooth than previous years — yet still each month seemed filled with events!
2018 Year In Review
2018 was thrilling from day one. It was packed with highs, lows, and countless exciting changes. Check out all the amazing things that happened in my life and my business as I reflect on…
Introducing The Freelance Institute – A Community for Freelancers & Remote Workers
Learn why I created a global Slack community for freelancers dedicated to learning and professional growth. Take a look behind the scenes and find out how The Freelance Institute was born and what my…
2017 Year In Review
After over two years of freelancing full-time, my business has finally started to run itself. It's become more organized and efficient. I know what to expect from it. The kinks and quirks have been…
2016 Year in Review
2016 wasn't filled with many professional achievements or accomplishments. It was quiet and more refined. My business grew naturally, and it grew a lot.
My Journey Through College, Design Agencies, and Freelancing
In this interview, Lakera's thought-provoking and inspiring questions got at the heart of my college and career life to reveal the path that led me to where I am today. I want to share our conversation with you…
The Simple Tweet That Got Me Featured on Dribbble
In 2016, I was featured as a success story in Dribbble's "For the Win" series. Find out how Dribbble helped me make over $150,000 in just 3 years.
2015 Year in Review
After two amazing back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014, I wasn't sure if 2015 would be able to top it. But it totally did. I hope that by sharing my accomplishments I can inspire you…Topics
Career Transitions (11)Client Communication (12)Finances & Taxes (10)Getting Clients (22)Guest Articles (19)Lifestyle (12)Marketing & Positioning (17)News & Opinion (17)Payments & Invoicing (10)Portfolio Websites (10)Pricing & Rates (7)Productivity (17)Project Management (14)Proposals & Contracts (9) Get over 100+ answers to your biggest freelancing questions
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Download for FREE!Hi, I'm Matt Olpinski
I teach thousands of freelancers how to get more clients, raise their rates, and create a better life for themselves.
Ever since I left my salary job behind, I've consistently earned a six-figure freelance income each year and have worked with clients such as Facebook, Marriott, Bloomberg, and American Express.
I want to show you how to take your freelancing career to the next level so you can build a healthy, sustainable, and satisfying freelance business.