Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

This week's edition of the Friday Freelance Tips is coming to you from Barcelona, my favourite city in the whole world!

I'm on a work and play trip with Happy Freelancers, where we'll be doing some sightseeing, paddleboarding, eating, and, of course, a bit of work too.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared how you can actually land retainer clients. See how here. And don't forget to give me a follow for regular tips and tricks!

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

👉 I wrote 2 pieces for clients (Klaviyo and an influencer marketing tool)

👉 I refreshed 2 pieces for Shopify

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~17

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~2

💰 Total revenue this week: £3,450

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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​​ ✨ ​

"Just charge more" is one of the most common soundbites in the freelance world.

Whether you’re scrolling through LinkedIn, sitting in a group coaching session, or venting to a friend about undercharging, this advice has a way of popping up like a default setting.

And look, I get it. The intention is usually good.

It’s basically shorthand for: “You deserve more. Your work has value. Stop playing small.”

But as advice... It's just not very helpful. It's actually quite dismissive, because pricing is really about context over everything.

When we reduce pricing strategy to three vague words, we ignore everything that makes pricing complex: market positioning, client budgets, value perception, offer clarity, identity-based biases, personal financial goals, and even how someone’s cultural or socioeconomic background shapes their view of money.

If it were truly as easy as “just charge more,” we’d all be rolling in high-paying dream clients by now.

Buuuuut that’s not how it works.

The reality of raising your rates

For many freelancers, charging more is emotionally loaded.

Maybe you’ve been undercharging for years and are worried that raising your rates will scare clients away.

Maybe you’ve tried increasing your prices, only to be met with silence, pushback, or a vague “we’ll get back to you” that never materialises.

Maybe you're not even sure why your work is worth more… because no one’s ever shown you how to articulate it.

In those moments, “just charge more” feels a bit like being handed a parachute without any instructions. Yes, it might keep you alive, but how do you use it?

What’s actually useful is understanding what needs to change around you to support higher rates because, ultimately, pricing doesn’t live in a vacuum.

So what does help?

Here’s the kind of work that makes a real difference:

Clarity around value

Can you clearly explain what you do, who it’s for, and what outcomes you deliver?

Strong positioning

Are you presenting yourself as a specialist solving a high-priority problem, or a generalist for hire? People pay more for expertise that feels specific and relevant.

Aligned marketing and onboarding

Does your website, proposal, or discovery call process feel like the kind of experience a premium client would expect? Or are there gaps between the price you want to charge and the story you're telling?

Targeting the right clients

Are you fishing in the right ponds? If your dream clients literally can’t afford you, you don't have a pricing problem, you have a targeting problem.

Demand and leverage

Do you have enough leads or interest that you can afford to walk away from clients who aren't a good fit? Higher prices feel safer when you’re not operating from scarcity.

This is the real work.

It’s slower, more strategic, and yes, more nuanced than a tweetable tip. But it’s also what helps you actually raise your rates and get paid what you're worth, without constantly questioning yourself.

Raising your rates is a skill. Not a mindset shift.

Let me just reiterate the sentiment that underlines ALL of this.

Raising your rates is not simply “believing you’re worth more.”

It’s a skill.

In order to "raise your rates", you need to learn how to articulate your value, position your offers, create a premium experience, attract the right clients, and say no when something doesn’t align.

That’s not something you wake up one morning magically knowing how to do. It’s something you learn, practice, and refine over time.

“Just charge more” is an empty sentiment on its own.

In reality, we should be telling people to “build the systems, positioning, and confidence that allow you to charge more."

That’s advice worth following.

We need more Freelance Money Diaries submissions!

As you know, I'm on a mission to bring more transparency around rates in the freelancing world. And, to do that, it really helps to see what other freelancers are earning. I'd absolutely love it (and be eternally grateful) if you share your finances with us (you can do it totally anonymously!).

As always, happy freelancing :)

Lizzie ✨

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