Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

Can we believe it's October?! Not quite sure how that happened, but here we are.

ANYWAY. The first 5 mentoring slots have been assigned and booked, and I'm so stoked to get to work with such a diverse mix of freelancers at different points in their journey.

I'm going to be opening up a limited number of slots each month, so if you want to grab a spot over the next couple of months, add your name to this list.

Also, just a reminder that I’m officially retiring Pitch & Prosper on the 12th Oct.

For this final round, I’m pairing the course with a month-long pitching challenge and a private group, so we can end the year strong and head into 2026 with thriving, joy-filled businesses.

​Get £50 and join us now before the doors close on Oct 12th.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I explained why the death of freelancing is the biggest myth out there right now. Find out more 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 4 pieces for clients (a route optimization tool and an influencer marketing tool)

👉 I refreshed 1 piece for Shopify

👉 I ran edits on 2 pieces for Klaviyo

👉 I paid my quarterly VAT

👉 I WENT TO SEE LADY GAGA AT THE O2 IN LONDON

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~25

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

💰 Total revenue this week: £4,300

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.

​
Check out my three practical courses that have helped 500+ people get more clients, earn more money, and create better content.

Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨ ​

Right, I’ll be honest with you... proposals used to give me the heebie-jeebies. In fact, they kinda still do.

Every time I had to send one, I’d overthink every word, worry that I was missing something, and procrastinate until the last minute. Even now, after years of freelancing, I still get that little twinge of “what if this isn’t good enough?” when I’m about to hit send.

But over time, I’ve built a structure that makes proposals feel simple and actually work. I find it's MUCH easier and way less scary to do something if you already have a template or framework for it. It's basically just a case of dragging and dropping right?!

So, here's the process I use for writing proposals today.

Recap the discovery call

Clients want to feel heard, so I always start my proposals with a short recap of what we discussed on the discovery call (or what they sent me in their inquiry email).

I literally just reflect their own words back to them, including what they want to achieve, the specific deliverables they have in mind, and anything else we discussed on the call.

This is to show them I "get it" and understand what they want. It might seem redundant, but I find that showing you understand is the first big leap in getting hired.

Break the project into phases

Instead of just saying “I’ll deliver XYZ by the end of the month,” I outline the process:

• What happens first (audit, research, draft one)
• What happens next (revisions, feedback, edits)
• What happens at the end (final delivery)

​
I do this for a number of reasons. Firstly, it shows what clients can expect and when, as well what actually goes into the deliverable. A lot of clients think writing a blog post is simply "write a blog post", when the reality is there's a lot more that goes into it.

I never justify my rates, but this certainly helps show just how much work is involved in "writing a blog post".

This also helps show my processes and differentiates me from other freelancers they might be talking to. Our processes are unique to us and our businesses, so it's important that clients can see they align with their needs.

Offer three pricing tiers

Unless a client comes to me with a very specific ask (“we want four blog posts a month, no extras”), I always include three options:

• A “bare bones” package
• A middle-ground package (what I’d recommend)
• A premium package with added value
  ​

It puts the choice back in their hands, and more often than not, they pick the middle or higher tier. It also gives them options, so they're far less likely to give a hard no straight off the bat.

Keep it simple

My proposals aren’t fancy (like, AT ALL... they're very basic). They're definitely not multi-page documents with charts and graphics. They’re straightforward, written in plain English, and no longer than a page or two.

Remember, the main aim of a proposal is to answer these Qs for clients:

• Do you understand what I need?
• Can you deliver it (and when)?
• How much will it cost me?

​
If your proposal answers those three questions clearly, you’re pretty much golden.

I still get nervous writing proposals sometimes, just like I still get nervous sending a first draft to a new client (another story for another day). But now, instead of spiralling, I rely on this structured approach which makes it feel way less emotional.

And the more proposals I send, the easier it gets.

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 ✨

Interested in sponsoring Friday Freelance Tips? Get your brand, product, or service in front of 7,000+ freelancers, entrepreneurs, and founders. See sponsorship options here.

Follow me on Instagram and on Linkedin, where you can see the behind-the-scenes of my business.