In this podcast episode, Taiba Anwer, a seasoned content writer and social media consultant, discusses her journey from a first-year student to a successful remote professional. She shares insights on personal branding on LinkedIn, the shift from freelancing to agency models, and the importance of communication in scaling one’s career.

Five Key Points

1: The Power of Personal Branding on LinkedIn: Taiba emphasizes that LinkedIn is more than just a job portal; it’s a platform for thought leadership. By documenting her personal journey, animal interests, and family background, she built an authentic connection with her audience, which naturally attracted high-paying clients [03:47].

2: Investing in Coaching for Scaling: Skill alone isn’t enough to grow income. Taiba explains that she invested in coaching to learn negotiation, communication, and offer creation. This allowed her to transform $100 short-term projects into $1,000 long-term contracts [04:44].
3: Shifting from Freelancer to Consultant: Taiba identifies as a Social Media Consultant rather than just a manager. She advocates for positioning oneself as an expert, even as a beginner, to command respect and better pay from international clients [11:30].

4: Strategic Use of AI: Taiba highlights that while she uses AI (like ChatGPT) for efficiency, grammar, and localized intent (e.g., writing for specific US/UK audiences), the core creative thinking and research must remain human. Using AI for the entire writing process is a “wrong” approach that won’t be accepted by top clients [32:03].

5: Communication is the Ultimate Skill: She advises freelancers to communicate boundaries and expectations clearly before signing contracts. Many bad reviews stem from a lack of communication regarding work hours or project scope rather than poor skills [35:42].

Final Takeaway

To succeed in the modern digital economy, a service provider must move beyond being a “typer” or a “doer” and become a Throught Leader. Your worth is defined by how you position yourself and how effectively you communicate your value. Build a loyal audience by being authentic, and never stop investing in your own growth and soft skills.

Transcript

[00:01:08] Adil: Asalam-o-Alaikum Taiba, how are you?

[00:01:10] Taiba: Walaikum-as-Salam, I am fine, how are you?

[00:01:12] Adil: I’m good. Taiba, give a brief introduction—where did you start and what are you doing nowadays?

[00:01:22] Taiba: I started four years ago in 2020. I was in my first year of Inter, COVID was happening, and classes were online.

[00:01:52] Taiba: Someone told me I write well, so they suggested trying online content writing. I eventually enrolled in a course and started on Upwork.

[00:02:43] Taiba: On Upwork, my JSS dropped. I couldn’t let a platform dictate my potential, so I deleted my profile.

[00:03:11] Taiba: I started documenting everything—client feedback and project wins—on LinkedIn. My highest project then was only $20.

[00:04:44] Taiba: One good thing I did was invest in coaching to learn how to turn $100 into $1,000 and how to create long-term offers.

[00:05:52] Taiba: The sole purpose of my LinkedIn was authentic thought leadership. I never showed myself as just a freelancer.

[00:09:52] Taiba: I realized that having a good client who recognizes your potential is a blessing. One agency client from 2020 is still with me in 2024.

[00:11:30] Taiba: I chose to be a “Social Media Consultant” rather than just a manager. I wanted to keep my creative brain involved.

[00:12:35] Adil: In Pakistan, sometimes business owners struggle to delegate because they fear losing power, whereas international clients prefer delegating tasks so they can focus on growth.

[00:13:51] Taiba: In the local freelance industry, professionalism is often lacking. People treat you like they’ve “bought” you just because they paid for a service.

[00:19:13] Taiba: For beginners: Position yourself as an expert. Even if your skill level is lower, be confident so people treat you with respect.

[00:21:54] Taiba: Regarding my degree (Physiotherapy), I have no intention of skipping it. Education and earning are two different things.

[00:24:47] Taiba: I used to be afraid of the agency model because I didn’t want to check everyone’s work, but my coach pushed me to take the risk now.

[00:27:32] Taiba: Writing is the very last step. Before that, there are six steps: research, brainstorming, organization, and psychology.

[00:30:47] Taiba: If you are learning a skill just for earning, don’t go into content writing now. Go for technical SEO, digital marketing, or management.

[00:32:03] Taiba: I rely on AI for efficiency—grammar and adjusting tone for different regions—but not for the actual thinking.

[00:35:42] Taiba: Communicate your boundaries. Just because they are the client doesn’t mean you have to agree to everything without discussion.

[00:36:17] Taiba: Apart from upskilling, learn negotiation and sales. If you can’t close deals, you will always be underpaid.

[00:36:55] Adil: Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Take care, Allah Hafiz.

[00:36:59] Taiba: Allah Hafiz, nice to meet you.