Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

I'm currently working on a new programme (tentatively called The Hello Effect) that shows freelancers how to find, connect with, and close great clients without a SINGLE awkward cold DM.

I've started recording some of the lessons and it is GOOD, even if I do say so myself. It's the same method I use with my mentees and for my own business, and the one I use in my high-touch visibility + outreach service for entrepreneurs and founders (basically, it works).

If you're interested and fancy getting it at a cheaper rate, get yourself on the waitlist here.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared 15 obvious ways to find clients that you're probably ignoring. Check it out here. And don't forget to give me a follow for regular tips and tricks!

Here's what I've been up to this week work-wise:

👉 I wrote 3 pieces for clients (an influencer marketing tool, Salsify, and Klaviyo)

👉 I refreshed 2 pieces for Shopify

👉 I did more outreach and LinkedIn posts for a client

👉 I held 2x mentoring sessions

👉 I started filming lessons for The Hello Effect

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~24

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~5

💰 Total revenue this week: £3,725

Want to advertise your business, course, product, program, or software to 7,000+ freelancers and creative business owners? Check out the affordable sponsorship options here.

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Check out my three practical courses that have helped 500+ people get more clients, earn more money, and create better content.

Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨ ​

Look, there's a definite rhythm to freelancing.

Some months you’re overwhelmed with enquiries, discovery calls, and proposal requests. Your inbox is busy, calendar full. It feels like everything is working exactly as it should.

And then, suddenly, everything… slows down.

Projects stall. Proposals go quiet. Conversations that felt promising disappear into the murky neverending void. Aaaaand everything feels v uncertain.

If you’re in that place right now, the first thing I want to say is this: it’s incredibly normal.

That swing between too much work and nothing closing happens to almost every freelancer at some point. It’s part of the natural rhythm of freelance work, even when you’re experienced and doing everything “right.”

In fact, it happened to me recently too. January was a surprisingly slow month after a busy period, which caught me slightly off guard.

But one thing I’ve learned over the years is that these quieter moments rarely mean your business is broken. More often, they’re just a temporary gap between projects closing.

And sometimes, the signs that things are working are already there.

If you’ve had lots of enquiries, discovery calls, or proposals recently (even if nothing has closed yet) that’s actually a very positive signal. It means your visibility and positioning are working.

What often happens next is simply a matter of timing. Y'know... budgets need to be approved, internal priorities shift, teams need time to get aligned, yadda yadda.

From the freelancer’s perspective, it can feel like silence.

From the client’s perspective, the project is still moving forward behind the scenes (we just don't know it).

When I’ve found myself in these quieter stretches, there are a few things I focus on that tend to help restart momentum fairly quickly.

The first is going back to the low-hanging fruit.

Freelancers often assume that if a lead hasn’t replied, the opportunity is gone. But in reality, many projects stall for reasons completely unrelated to you: budget reviews, internal approvals, competing priorities, or simply the pace of larger companies.

So I like to revisit conversations from the past year, e.g., people who asked for proposals, leads I spoke with on calls, or projects that paused.

Often, a simple message is enough to reopen the conversation:

“Hey, I was thinking about the project we discussed earlier this year and wanted to check in. If you're revisiting this in the next couple of months, I’ve got some availability coming up and would love to help.”

The second thing that can help is offering a small, fast project.

Sometimes clients hesitate to commit to larger retainers or long-term work, especially if they’re still figuring out priorities. Offering something smaller can make it easier for them to say yes.

This might look like a content audit, a strategy session, or a single deliverable like a blog post or an About page rewrite. Small projects reduce risk for the client while still creating momentum. And in many cases, those small projects naturally lead to larger work later on.

Another overlooked lever is referrals.

Freelancers often wait for referrals to happen organically, but there’s nothing wrong with reminding your network that you’re available.

When I have space for new work, I’ll sometimes send a short note to my networ of other freelancers, past clients, or people I’ve collaborated with before.

Something simple works well:

“I’ve got space for one or two new projects this month. If you know anyone looking for help with X, I’d love an introduction.”

Many freelancers underestimate how powerful this can be. People are often happy to make introductions; they just need the reminder.

Existing clients are another place where opportunities often appear.

Sometimes clients had ideas for additional projects when you first started working together, but you didn’t have capacity at the time. A quick check-in can reopen those conversations.

You might ask if they have any campaigns coming up, anything they’d like to test in the next quarter, or any gaps in their funnel that could be improved.

These conversations often uncover opportunities that were already there but simply hadn’t been prioritised yet.

It’s also worth remembering that leads are rarely as “dead” as they feel.

Many projects reappear weeks or even months later once budgets are finalised or plans become clearer. With the new financial year approaching for many companies, this is often the moment when teams know exactly what they can spend.

And when that happens, the freelancers they remember (a.k.a. the ones who stayed visible) are often the first people they contact.

One final thing that can help during slower periods is gently increasing outreach.

I'm not talking about aggressive cold pitching here, but simply connecting with new people, engaging in conversations, and expanding your network. Even something as small as connecting with ten new people a day for a couple of weeks can create surprising momentum.

This week, we have a writer from Indiana.

Where are you based? Indiana, USA.

How long have you been freelancing? 6 years.

What do you do? B2B and B2C writing in the activism, community, progressivism spaces.

What's your revenue? $18,000.

This freelancer freelances part time and this was not their highest earning year.

How much did you take as a salary?

$15,000.

How much did you pay in taxes?

$3,200.

What are your business expenses?

$140.
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Do you contribute to a pension or invest?

Yes, a private high-yield joint savings account (Amex).

Do you have any hot money-management tips?

Just be frugal. Saving instead of wasting.

We need more Freelance Money Diaries entries! I'm forever grateful to anyone who shares their finances with us (you can do it totally anonymously!).

Click the button below to do yours!

As always, happy freelancing :)

Lizzie ✨

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