Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

This week I spoke with a freelancer who couldn't use LinkedIn to promote their freelance business because they had a full-time job.

Most of the advice out there is to "get on LinkedIn", start growing a presence there, connect with people, and... profit. So what do you do when that's not an option?!

My advice to this freelancer was to get out there and meet people in-person. The industry she was in was PERFECT for this, so our plan is to identify conferences etc she can go and talk at/network at over the next few months.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared how I find my best freelance clients. 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 3 pieces for Shopify

👉 I did more outreach and LinkedIn posts for a client

👉 I ran a freelance mentoring session for a fellow freelancer

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

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~1

💰 Total revenue this week: £3,350

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​​ ✨ ​

If we were sitting down for coffee and you’d just told me you’re starting your freelance business, I wouldn’t ask about your logo, or your pricing page, or whether you've really "nailed down your niche".

I’d ask: who are you talking to?

Because if I was starting from scratch right now, that’s exactly where I’d begin.

I’d build my network from day one (before I “felt ready”)

When you’re new, it’s tempting to hide.

The AMOUNT of hours I spent tweaking my offers, adjusting my bio, editing my website in the early days... jeeeeeez. Such a time suck.

But freelancing is really a relationship business. Always has been. Probably (hopefully) always will be.

So I’d focus on two groups immediately:

1. Potential clients
2. Fellow freelancers

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Most people obsess over the first and completely ignore the second, which can be a costly mistake.

Other freelancers are referral partners, collaborators, sounding boards, and sometimes the people who pass you overspill work when they’re fully booked. Some of my best projects have come from other freelancers who simply trusted me enough to recommend me.

I’d treat both groups as equally important and focus on meeting as many people in BOTH categories as possible.

I’d show up on LinkedIn right from the start

You don’t need to become a LinkedIn thought leader overnight (ick).

If posting feels intimidating, start with commenting -- and I'm talking thoughtful, specific comments here, not "great post" slop.

That alone builds visibility because you start showing up in the feeds of the people whose posts you comment on. If they're big, they'll have a lot of eyeballs on them. Ergo, you'll have a fair few eyeballs on you, too.

I would recommend a healthy mix:

• Comment consistently.
• Post once a week about what you’re learning, building, offering, or noticing.
• Share behind-the-scenes thoughts about your freelance journey.
• Talk about the problems you help solve.

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It doesn’t need to be groundbreaking or controversial or enlightening. It just needs to get your face and name out there because...

People hire freelancers they feel like they know.

And if you’re serious about growing, LinkedIn is still one of the most practical places to do that. It’s searchable and it’s full of decision-makers.

I’d prioritise in-person spaces

Online visibility is powerful. But in-person connection right now is waaay underrated (and actually so much more fun that sitting behind a screen.

If I were starting today, I’d look for:

• Coworking spaces
• Industry meetups
• Small conferences
• Founder events
• Creative community gatherings

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You don’t need to “sell” yourself in these rooms. Just be curious. Ask people what they’re working on. Treat them like a human. You know what to do.

Relationships built face-to-face move faster because they tend to be "stickier". People remember you.

And when someone later says, “We need a freelance X,” your name is much more likely to come up if you’ve actually shared a conversation IRL.

I’d get clear on 3–4 client buckets

Instead of trying to work with everyone, I’d define 3–4 types of clients I actually want.

For example:

• Early-stage SaaS founders
• Ecommerce brands doing £1–5m/year
• Funded startups hiring their first marketing lead
• Agencies that need white-label support

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Whatever fits you.

Then I’d create a simple one-pager for each bucket that clearly outlines:

• Who they are
• The problems they’re likely dealing with
• The outcomes they care about
• How my services solve those problems
• A few relevant examples or proof points

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This does two things:

1. It sharpens your messaging.
2. It makes outreach specific and confident.

Then I’d use LinkedIn strategically

This is where most freelancers either overcomplicate things or give up too soon.

Here’s what I’d actually do:

Method 1: Search by job role

• Type in the role that typically hires you (e.g., “Head of Marketing”).
• Filter by industry, company size, location.
• Click into profiles.
• Use “People also viewed” to find similar profiles.

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Method 2: Start with one ideal brand

• Find a company that fits one of your buckets perfectly.
• Go to their LinkedIn page.
• Use “People also viewed” to find similar companies.
• Repeat.

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You’ll quickly build a list of aligned companies and decision-makers.

Then I’d connect.

I don’t have LinkedIn Premium, so I can’t always send a note with my connection request. That’s fine. Most people don’t read those notes carefully anyway.

When they accept, I’d follow up with something simple and human. For example:

• “Thanks for connecting. I work with ecommerce brands on X. If you ever need support with Y, feel free to reach out.”
• “I’ve got two client spots left this quarter if you ever need help with Z.”
• “Do you work with freelancers?”

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The goal is to open the door instead of getting them to sign a contract ASAP. People need time to get to know you and trust you before they commit. This is just the first step.

I’d repeat this until I had three clients

Three solid clients gives you a bit of stability and hopefully a nice bit of cash flow.

And once I hit that, I’d deliberately scale back outreach.

Instead of mass-connecting, I’d focus on nurturing 5–10 ideal client profiles each month:

• Engaging with their content
• Congratulating them on launches
• Checking in when they post about hiring
• Sending the occasional relevant resource
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It really does sound so simple and it is. The issue I find most freelancers face is they'll give up too soon when they're not getting responses or they don't land any work from the first conference they attend.

But relationships really do compound, and the more people you know (and who know YOU and what you do), the more likely it is you'll get work.

Later down the line, you won't have to pitch as much because the lever will tip more in the favour of referrals and inbound leads. THAT'S when you know you've kinda made it!

This week, we have a B2B writer from Ohio.

Where are you based? Cincinnati, Ohio.

How long have you been freelancing? 9 years (5 years full-time).

What do you do? B2B writer for healthcare and tech brands.

What's your revenue? $60,400.

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

How much did you take as a salary?

100% minus taxes and expenses

How much did you pay in taxes?

Roughly $13,300 between local city and federal taxes (no state tax on self employment in OH).

What are your business expenses?

Roughly $200 a month.
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Do you contribute to a pension or invest?

Contribute roughly 10% to an SEP-IRA (great option for freelance folks in the US!).

Do you have any hot money-management tips?

I like to make contributions to my various savings "buckets" directly from my business checking account every time I get paid by a client. Doing this on autopilot is a lot easier than trying to siphon away a big chunk at the end of the month or trying to do it weekly when pay comes in inconsistent waves.

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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