Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

We had 15 amazing freelancers join the very first cohort of The Hello Effect last week and I'm so excited to share the system I've used to grow my network with them.

The WhatsApp chat is turning out to be a real hub. If you want to put your hat in the ring for cohort 2 (launching July/August), join the waitlist here.

P.S. In my latest Instagram post, I shared why having a slow month as a freelancer doesn't mean you're failing. 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 refreshed 3 pieces for Shopify

👉 I drafted a "dummy piece" for a new client

👉 I got onboarded with another new client after the trial I did last week

👉 I wrote 1 piece for Jukebox Print

👉 I had a kick off call with yet another new client

👉 I drafted some LinkedIn and X posts for a client

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~22

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~3

💰 Total revenue this week: £5,075

Want to advertise your business, course, product, program, or software to 7,500+ 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​​ ✨ ​

I am notoriously bad at asking for testimonials.

Like, embarrassingly bad.

A client could spend the entire project telling me how much they love my work, send me a glowing sign-off email, and I'd still somehow convince myself they secretly hated it. I don't know if that's a me problem. It probably is. But I'm trying to get better at it because asking clients for nice words when you've done good work is just... part of the job.

Even if it makes me want to crawl under a table.

So here's what I've been working on.

Asking for it (without feeling like you're begging)

The easiest time to ask for a testimonial is right after you've handed something over and the client is happy.

You don't have to make it a big deal. Something like: "Really glad you're happy with it! If you have a spare five minutes to leave a few words about working together, I'd really appreciate it." Casual, low-stakes, easy to say yes to.

A few other ways to ask that don't feel icky:

• Make it easy. Instead of asking them to write something from scratch (which, let's face it, can feel a bit like homework), ask a specific question. For example, something like: "What would you say to someone considering hiring me?" gives them a starting point.
• Give them a format. Tell them it can be two or three sentences, an email reply, a LinkedIn recommendation, whatever's easiest for them.
• Follow up once. If they said yes but haven't sent anything, a gentle nudge a week or so later is completely fine.

What to actually do with your testimonials

Getting the testimonial is just step one. Then comes the question of what do you do with them.

I post mine on LinkedIn, usually in the form of an anonymous screenshot of the email or message, with a brief note about what the project was and what I did.

Here's an example:

But there's a lot more you can do with a good testimonial:

• Your website. Create a dedicated testimonials page, or dot them throughout your site next to relevant services.
• Your proposals. Drop one or two into the document when you're pitching for work.
• Your email footer. A rotating quote from a happy client is a subtle but effective touch, especially if you're emailing potential clients regularly.
• Your portfolio. Pair a testimonial with the relevant project so people can see the work and hear what the client thought of it.
• Cold outreach. If you're reaching out to someone new, weaving in a line like "a recent client said X about working with me" is a lot less cringey than just saying you're great yourself.

And don't forget, testimonials don't have to come from clients.

Think about where else people have said nice things about you and your work.

It could be other freelancers you've collaborated with, people who've recommended you in a Facebook group or Slack community, someone who left a comment on a LinkedIn post saying your advice helped them. Even a DM from someone saying they loved something you wrote.

Tip: create a folder or document where you can dump all your testimonials. You can use it to pluck relevant social proof from as and when you need it, but it also doubles up as a bit of an ego boost when you're feeling a bit down.

Testimonials do the thing we're all too British (too human?) to do for ourselves. They say out loud that you're good at what you do. Which means the awkward thirty seconds it takes to ask for one is absolutely worth it.

Even if it still makes me want to crawl under a table.

As always, happy freelancing 🙂

Lizzie ✨

This week, we have an internal comms writer from Ohio.

Where are you based? Cleveland, Ohio.

How long have you been freelancing? Almost 2 years.

What do you do? Internal and change communications

What's your revenue? $100,000.

This person freelances full time and this was their highest earning year.

How much did you take as a salary?

$70,000 - my first year in business, my aim was to pay for my girls' college expenses/tuition/room and board.

How much did you pay in taxes?

$20,000 (US federal income tax).

What are your business expenses?

Varies - but overall $2,500/month.
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Do you contribute to a pension or invest?

No - but this year (2026) that is a top priority.

Do you have any hot money-management tips?

Build a safety net early - this will allow you to choose your clients.

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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