Author | Lightnews

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.

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 8h

It’s time to put Russia out of their misery.

The model is Germany after WWII. Total surrender. Come back as a respectable world citizen.

The world is too small for a rogue state run by a tyrant.

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 8h

Big city boy here. Left my 8,000 people town at 17, never looked back.

Three to six million is good for me.

My new best friend is Crystal, the Chinese lady who runs the corner sports bar where I’ve been watching the Jays games.

She only knows a bit about baseball but we’ve been teaching her. 👍

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 8h

Agree! It’s too bad that so many people “hate meetings”. They’re missing the boat.

Good meetings create connections.

That leads to long-term relationships, ongoing work. Less time hustling, more time billing.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 8h

Should have hired Canadians. We’d take care of the whole building.

And put all that Temu-gold shit into a dumpster.

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 8h

I remember our 92/93 wins. We’re due for another one.

I watch the games in a little sports bar down the street. We don’t have cable at home, much less the sports channels, but it’s so much more fun at the bar.

The place is run by a Chinese lady and her family with a SE Asian menu.

So Toronto!

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 8h

Well I gotta say, Grammarly has massively improved IMO. More of their suggestions are good, and they’re practically eliminated the really goofy ones.

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 8h

Vladdy was their Daddy.

LA about to get some surprises too!
#FreelanceFriends

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

We know LA are the favorites. But they said the same about the Yankees.
#GoJaysGo. #FreelanceFriends

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

Here’s what I wrote about freelancers working with agencies.

#FreelanceFriends

www.creativeagencybook.com/blog/freelan...

Freelancing for Agencies—Pros and Cons — Creative Freelancer and Agency Business Guides

This is a great time for freelancers to approach creative agencies for work. Read about the pros and cons when freelancing for agencies.

www.creativeagencybook.com

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

You mean if I show up on time? 🤪

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

A1 Never did either. Offered to go through a portfolio that we had customized to be as relevant as possible to them and suggested we work on a small project together to decide whether we were right for each other.

#FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

Ohhh, I talked about working with agencies a lot in my book. Also in a blog post.

Anyone want the blog post here?

#FreelanceFriends

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

2/2

Doesn’t mean your post will be $500. But if you’re looking for $200, posts, he’s not your guy. #FreelanceFriends

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

A2 Never listed rates, always separate quote per project.

When I was researching for my freelance book I came across a copywriter who had a great solution IMO.

He broke out 6 different projects and said “From $X per…” So for example, his minimum for a blog post was $500.

#FreelanceFriends

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

We seem to have so many American Jays fans. Wonder why? 😂 #FreelanceFriends

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

Here in Toronto, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else – we are in the #worldseries!!!

Beat the Yankees, beat Seattle, LA is next! #FreelanceFriends

Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 9h

#FreelanceFriends ok here now! My one client… meeting this morning. 🤷‍♂️

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 3d

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 · 5d

#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 · 7d

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 · 7d

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 · 7d

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

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 7d

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

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 7d

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… 🤷‍♂️

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Andy Strote @strotebook.bsky.social · 7d

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

#FreelanceFriends

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