#256 How to Step into Your Value & Charge More as a Freelance Service Provider with Caryn Gillen

#256 How to Step into Your Value & Charge More as a Freelance Service Provider with Caryn Gillen

Author: Emily Reagan | Digital Marketing Mentor, Speaker July 15, 2025 Duration: 47:43

If you’ve ever found yourself undercharging, overdelivering, and questioning your worth as a freelancer… THIS is the episode that will recalibrate your mindset and empower you to own your value like the Unicorn you truly are.

I’m joined by my friend Caryn Gillen, a seasoned business coach for coaches who want to grow to $5K+ months without burnout or following someone else’s blueprint. With 15 years in the coaching space and 30+ years of business-building experience, Caryn helps clients build aligned, profitable businesses that actually feel good.

In this episode, we dive into the weird limbo many freelancers live in where we run businesses but still feel like employees. If you’re stuck in the hourly-rate grind, juggling too much, or feeling undervalued, this convo is your reminder: you hold the power. Let’s talk about claiming it.

Listen to learn more about:

  • The invisible power dynamic between freelancers and clients—and why it keeps us stuck
  • How to shift from “just a helper” to a respected business owner (without being pushy or salesy)
  • The real cost of freelancing and why most of us are undercharging (hint: you’re not factoring in everything your last employer paid for)
  • What it means to “own” your business even if you’re still figuring it out
  • Why your clients actually want to pay you more when they understand your value (and how to help them see it)


This isn’t your typical “charge your worth!” pep talk. This is a grounded, real-world convo about what it means to run a business and reclaim your time, energy, and income in the process. Ditch burnout pricing, stop over-functioning, and step into your Unicorn power.


Sponsored by UDMA Self-Starter Program

Learn the digital marketing skills, business setup, and client-finding strategies you need to launch a flexible, profitable freelance career—fast. The Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School Self-Starter Program gets you up and running with paying clients in no time. Enroll now!


Links Mentioned in the Show:

  • Grab Caryn’s FREE 5 Easy Ways to Market Yourself as a Coach Guide: This will help you help your clients find more natural ways to market - ways that feel easier to them AND help their potential clients to really see your clients in their brilliance.
  • Join The Digital Marketer’s Workgroup: Are you already doing marketing work but need more clients and a stronger referral network? Join a tight-knit community of freelancers and get access to behind-the-scenes conversations, support, and troubleshooting that every solo marketer needs. Plus, you'll benefit from advanced trainings, networking opportunities, and exclusive job leads. Apply here!

>>Got a burning question about freelancing or digital marketing? Send me a voicemail & it could be featured in an episode. Don’t overthink it—just hit record here!


Connect with Caryn:



Connect with Emily:



3 ways we can work together: 

  1. Need to build your digital marketing skills and set up solid workflows so you can confidently put yourself out there for freelance work? Get on the waitlist for the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School where you'll learn in-demand marketing implementation skills to launch or grow your work-from-home business. I also share job leads directly with students, making this a true gateway to flexible, meaningful freelance work. Ready to get started sooner? You can jump into the self-study program right now.
  2. Already doing marketing work and have a few clients? Want a stronger referral network? Apply for our Digital Marketer’s Workgroup—a tight-knit community of freelancers just like you. Inside, you'll get behind-the-scenes support, advanced trainings, and troubleshooting that every solo marketer needs. Plus, I’ve shared over 3,000 job opportunities with this group—exclusive leads you won’t find anywhere else. If you're ready to grow your business and connect with a supportive network, join us here!
  3. Looking to hire a Digital Marketing Assistant? If you want to expand your team & grow your business, submit your job opportunity here. I'll share it with the skilled unicorn marketing assistants inside my workgroup totally free.

  >>> Download my Top Ten Most Requested Digital Marketing Tasks & Services


Emily Reagan brings her experience as a digital marketing mentor and speaker directly into your headphones with The Marketing Freelancer: Unicorns Unite. This isn't about vague inspiration; it's a practical dialogue for those navigating the specific challenges of running a solo marketing business. Each episode digs into the real work of positioning your services, attracting clients who value your expertise, and establishing pricing that reflects the true impact of your work. You'll hear conversations focused on moving beyond the feast-or-famine cycle to create a sustainable, profitable practice. Emily operates from the belief that every skilled freelancer possesses a unique set of talents-their "unicorn" qualities-that form the foundation of a standout business. The discussions in this podcast are designed to help you identify and leverage those strengths with confidence. Whether the topic is refining a niche, improving client conversations, or streamlining operations, the aim is actionable insight. Tuning in means joining a community focused on elevating the craft of freelance marketing, not just as a side hustle, but as a primary, rewarding career. If you're building a business in marketing, entrepreneurship, or creative services, this series offers a direct line to strategies and mindsets that can help shape your path forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Marketing Freelancer: Unicorns Unite
Podcast Episodes
#263 Ask Emily: How to Handle Negative Client Feedback as a Freelancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:05
A client you admire tells you you’re not worth your rate… Ouch, right? That kind of feedback can rock your confidence and make you question everything, especially when you’re trying to grow your freelance business. But h…