Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

I've been thinking a lot this week about how different the freelance landscape of today is compared to when I started back in 2014.

Things have definitely changed (some for the better, some for the worse), but us freelancers are pros at pivoting with the times. It's a great life skill to have in general, but it's absolutely critical when we're trying to run businesses while the world is basically (and literally) on fire.

To help, I created a totally free step-by-step guide that shares what I'd do if I was starting to freelance in 2026. It's full of practical activities you can do as well as tips to help you focus on the things that really matter and not get caught up in all the noise.

​Get it here. ​

P.S. In my latest Instagram post, I share a few pieces I wrote last month that I'm particularly proud of. 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 wrote 1 piece (for Jukebox Print)

👉 I ran edits on a playbook for Klaviyo

👉 I polished up a features audit for a new client

👉 I created tons of new content for Freelance Magic

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

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

💰 Total revenue this week: £2,350

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​​ ✨ ​

Talking of noise...

If you open LinkedIn on any given day, you will 100% find someone declaring the client well has run dry. They'll say leads are down, their pitches are gathering dust in the ether beyond the ether, and that they're just being honest about how brutal it is out there.

And while a bit of brutal honesty is sometimes good, it's not always what we need when we're trying to stay afloat in an economic landscape that feels a bit like Takeshi's Castle.

I can see why this narrative is popular. It's relatable (everything's a bit up in air for everyone), it's low-risk to post, and misery loooooves a comment section.

But look, noise isn't the same as cold, hard data. So I went looking for what's really happening and it's a bit more nuanced (and useful) than "everything is terrible right now".

What's really going on???

Basically, three things are colliding at once:

First, the bottom of the market actually did collapse. AI ate the cheap, commoditised work... the $15 product descriptions, the templated captions... and everyone who built a business at that price point got pushed upward into more competitive territory without the positioning (or experience) to survive.

Second, buyers got warier. Most clients hiring today have already been burned by a freelancer somewhere and they're screening harder because of it. That's not a reflection on you. It's residue from all the folk who came before you. Yet another hurdle we have the unelegantly clamber over.

Third, LinkedIn itself has changed right under our very noses. Views are down roughly 50% and engagement down 25% this year, largely because of a full rebuild of how content gets distributed. So if your usual posting rhythm suddenly feels like it's no bueno, it's not your imagination.

Put together: it's harder to get noticed, and harder to get trusted once you are.

Basically, there are still plenty of people out there hiring, but it's become a lot harder to stand out and "prove" ourselves.

Instead of posting more or letting yourself spill (also unelegantly) into a frantic downward spiral of doomscrolling, here are a few positives:

• Referrals are still the number one way people get work, and they're growing as a channel. Direct outreach and social media are catching up, but starting from behind.
• Specialists are doing fine. Freelancers with a clear, deep specialism are still in demand even as budgets tighten.
• More posting isn't the fix. Two to four posts a week is the current sweet spot on LinkedIn. Apparently daily posting actually drops your average reach per post by roughly a quarter. Permission to... step back.

So what do you actually do with this???

Well, we don't have to post more and that's a huge bloody relief. And obviously I'm not going to tell you to "just believe in yourself" because that's vague, vapid crap, really.

But you can clutch at a few takeaways here:

1. Pick the one or two things you're known for, and stop diluting them with everything-content.
2. Ask for referrals directly. It's still the highest-converting channel, but it's still one a lot of people are too shy to tap into.
3. Expect a longer trust-building runway with new prospects. It's just the state of the market, but we ride the highs and the lows and we adapt. This might mean more back-and-forth with potential clients or creating a special doc filled with testimonials and trust-building bumph.

The noise is still there and likely always will be, we just have to figure out what's important and what we can ignore. And, in the meantime, we can focus our efforts on what's working, while taking the time to pivot and revise our previous methods so they match up with what's needed today.

As always, happy freelancing 🙂

Lizzie ✨

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As always, happy freelancing :)

Lizzie ✨

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