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Andy Strote

Andy Strote

@strotebook.bsky.social

720 followers 650 following 7.4K posts

Talking business with freelancers and agency owners. I’ve been a freelancer, 2X agency founder (first agency was acquired, retired from second), author. Books and blog with practical, profitable business tips. Here 👇 https://www.creativeagencybook.com

www.creativeagencybook.com

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · Dec 1

These books have helped agency owners and freelancers around the world.

Maybe they’ll help you too. Link is in the bio.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 1d

Is 2026 the year you go freelance or start your own agency?

Get a headstart here with everything you need to know about running your business.

Available on Amazon around the world in paperback and digital.

Covers of the books How to Start a Successful Creative Agency and How to Become a Successful Creative Freelancer by Andy Strote.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 3d

#FreelanceFriends The other day I mentioned that a woodpecker landed on my arm when I was photographing. Here he is. Not exactly sharp. Just aimed and shot with the previous settings. This was the best of two.

Never had a bird pet, so this was new for me.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Thanks for that.

It was weird. I was out photographing so I’m often just standing there looking around. I noticed a bird flying closer to me than usual. First thought it was a chickadee.

Then it came around again. Stood very still, held my arm out and it landed. Curious little woodpecker.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

100%. I still miss this guy. He was a sweetheart.

When he knew he was dying, he married his long-time girlfriend to make sure his will would be less complicated.

Went to the wedding party. Met, VERY briefly, Margaret Atwood, one of his clients. She has little time for chitchat.

#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Gotta make a pitch for accountants here. Ours had other clients similar to us.

Remember him telling us, you guys are doing ok, but other agencies are more profitable.

That led to a discussion about how we could improve. Need someone very good with numbers to tell you that.

#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

A3. Demand respect (gently).

Need written briefs, reasonable deadlines, realistic budgets.

In return, give detailed estimates, high quality work on time, on budget.

Having said that, be helpful. Emergency? Try to accommodate it. Slim budget? Make the job fit the dollars.

#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

I tried that. Even had a journal to record it. But gave it up when I realized it was always the same few.

Health, family, clients, good food, wine, art, music… 🤷‍♂️

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Great idea! So thankful we had a bookkeeper and accountant who would regularly review the numbers and tell us what they actually mean.

#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Well, that’s something I’m not good at, ie, feeling accomplished or successful.

Need to celebrate wins more. I tend to just move on to the next thing.

Biggest example I can think of: when we sold our first agency you’d think the partners might get together for dinner or something? Nah… Next!

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

#FreelanceFriends Habits?

Doing what I said I’d do about 90% of the time, 100% when it comes to client work.

Have little time for flakes who talk a lot but deliver nothing. 🤷‍♂️

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Nope. It was a little guy. Banged off two somewhat focused shots before he took off. Magical nonetheless.

#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Vlad! You can make a sign:

Vladdy is my daddy. 😆

#FreelanceFriends
Ok what are we supposed to be talking about?

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Hi, Andy, retired, used to do a lot of writing and starting companies.

Now, going out to photograph fall colours and have a little woodpecker land on on my arm. I’m sure it was an omen of some sort. 🤷‍♂️

#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Be a rebel. Adopt the Jays. It will be one of the skill testing questions when you make a run for the border. 😆 #FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

#FreelanceFriends Toronto is happy today. Sun is shining and the Blue Jays smoked the Mariners last night to keep their World Series dreams alive.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 5d

Happy Thursday #FreelanceFriends. What’s up?

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 6d

Dead dead or fixable?

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 6d

Three Creative Cliches to Ignore

If you’re a creative freelancer or entrepreneur, you’ve heard these three clichés:

1. Don’t compare yourself to others, just to yourself
2. Don’t copy others, you’re being paid to be creative
3. Don’t waste time in meetings; text and email are fine

I ignored them.

Three Creative Clichés to Ignore — Creative Freelancer and Agency Business Guides

If you’re a creative freelancer or entrepreneur, you’ve heard these three clichés: Don’t compare yourself to others, just to yourself; Don’t copy others, you’re being paid to be creative; Don’t waste ...

www.creativeagencybook.com

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 11d

Always. Another tax tip. As much as possible, be consistent in your expenses.

Ups and downs create red flags. Start high, stay there. 😉

Sometime, in a private group (Slack?) I could share some thoughts on expenses.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 12d

Re: legit expenses. Here’s a tip from my accountant at my first agency who I still miss.

If you’re a writer, any book, magazine, published piece can be an expense. It’s part of your ongoing education as a writer.

Designer? Expense movie tickets, streaming services. #FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 12d

I haven’t used Slack in about 15 years. What do I need to do?
#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 19d

Yup, it gets addictive. Many people have done multiple walks.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 19d

So now he has a person with tons of film connections finding a distributor for him.

He’ll have a private showing for distributors. The goal is Sundance, Venice, etc to get a broader distribution deal.
#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 19d

On his walk he met an Australian singer/songwriter who is the focus of his film.

The film was launched last week in the town that is the destination of the Camino.

Here’s the trailer for the film. It is literally a one-man production.

youtu.be/lxE187ePPWQ?...

Somewhere Along The Way – Camino de Santiago Documentary Film Trailer

YouTube video by Simon Burn

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 19d

#FreelanceFriends
My friend and ex-agency partner Simon Burn has just launched his first feature film in Spain.

Simon is a designer, photographer, and YouTube video maker.

He always wanted to do a feature film. He also wanted to walk the Camino across northern Spain.

The ideas merged. /2