Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

I'm BACK from Australia (which went soooo quickly). There's always something that feels a bit... clunky... about coming back to work after taking an amazing trip or stepping out of the world of work for a couple of weeks.

Something a bit disconnected.

But here we are, getting through it. I managed to pick up a new contract while on the other side of the world which, along with my existing retainers, will see me through to the end of the year. It's a nice feeling knowing I don't have to hustle too hard for the next few months.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared a post about how to know what to charge when there's NO industry standard. See it 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 2 pieces for a client (an influencer marketing tool)

👉 I refreshed 2 pieces for Shopify

👉 I edited 2 pieces for Klaviyo

👉 I created a content plan for a new client

👉 I guested on a call for the Freelance Writer's Den

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~15

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~1.5

💰 Total revenue this week: £2,850

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Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨ ​

Most of us spend our freelance lives looking forward.

The next client. The next project. The next invoice.

We scroll job boards, tweak our websites, refresh our inboxes hoping that someone—anyone—might reach out with work that feels aligned. But in that constant forward motion, we often forget to look back.

And in doing so, we leave behind one of the richest sources of freelance work we’ll ever have: our past clients.

We don’t mean to forget them (obviously!). Projects end, inboxes fill up, and it feels strange (maybe even opportunistic??) to pop back into someone’s inbox months later.

I'm often guilty of thinking things like, What if they’ve moved on? What if they think I just want something? What if it’s… awkward?

But after speaking to so many content leads and clients over the years, reaching out post-contract is actually not an interruption or a cringe-fest. In fact, you're making their lives easier.

Sit with that for a mo.

Because while you’ve been busy elsewhere, they’ve likely been evolving too. Teams change. New initiatives launch. People leave, and gaps appear. And in those moments, the problem isn’t that they don’t want help. It’s that they don’t have the time or energy to find someone new they can trust.

The real pain of hiring isn’t the money.

It’s the uncertainty. There's so much to do... briefing, onboarding, testing, adjusting, wondering whether someone will “get it”, and whether they’ll make things easier, or just more complicated.

So, if you reeeeally think about it....

You’re offering a shortcut to someone they already trust, who already knows the way they work, who won’t need three calls to understand what the brand voice is supposed to feel like. That kind of familiarity is rare and it’s valuable for both parties.

That’s why I believe one of the most underrated habits you can build as a freelancer is reconnecting.

How to reach out without feeling weird about it

Remember, you’re not cold emailing a stranger when you reach back out. You’re just checking in with someone you’ve already worked with and liked.

Try something like:

Or:

If you want to make it even stronger, you could mention something new you’re offering or working on:

A few thoughts on making this a quiet part of your routine:

• You don’t have to reach out to everyone. Start with one or two people you genuinely liked working with.
• Don’t wait until you need something. Reconnect when you’re in a good place too. Share a recent article they might find useful, congratulate them on a launch, or keep the thread warm without asking for anything.
• Let it be human. The best freelance relationships I have with my clients aren’t built on perfectly crafted emails. They’re built on mutual respect and shared experiences.

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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