15 Freelance Newsletters to Subscribe To

15 Freelance Newsletters to Subscribe To

by | Mar 27, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Want to stay ahead of the curve in the world of freelancing? Whether you’re new to the game or looking to take your freelance career to the next level, subscribing to industry newsletters is a great way to find the tools, inspiration, and insider tips you need to succeed.

Here’s a compilation of the best freelance newsletters to help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends, tips, and strategies.

The Top 15 Freelance Newsletters

The Writer’s Job Newsletter scours the internet to bring you the best freelance writing opportunities, delivered straight to your inbox every week. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this newsletter helps you stay on top of the latest writing gigs.

Content Connect by Ashley R. Cummings delivers valuable tips, strategies, and expert advice to help you improve your writing skills and grow your career. This weekly newsletter is packed with actionable tips, case studies, and examples to help you create more engaging and effective content.

Kaleigh Moore’s Weekly Newsletter is a free bi-weekly newsletter for writers. Each edition is filled with valuable tips and resources to help you improve your writing process, find new work, and cultivate new ideas. This newsletter covers a wide range of topics, from crafting compelling pieces to pitching to editors and more.

Freelance Bold by Marijana Kay is for you if you want to earn more by working with better clients, plan your freelance writing projects with boundaries (and without burnout), and get organized with strong processes. It’s delivered to inboxes weekly.

Peak Freelance’s Newsletter is designed specifically for writers looking to work with bigger and better clients, build a personal brand, and increase their rates. The weekly newsletter features the best freelance writing opportunities, along with tips and strategies to help you improve your writing skills, build your portfolio, and scale your business.

The Word by Dave Harland is a weekly marketing and copywriting newsletter that hits inboxes every Friday. Each edition is packed with valuable tips, techniques, and real-life stories to help you improve your marketing and copywriting skills.

Harlow’s Newsletter is a monthly newsletter that tackles the topics that matter most to the freelance community. From planning for an upcoming recession to navigating the ups and downs of freelance life to compilations of resources created to help you grow your business — we’ve got you covered.

Soloist Sundays by Winning Solo provides subscribers with valuable content and actionable insights that will help you thrive as a freelancer. And the best part? Each edition, delivered to inboxes twice a month, can be read from top to bottom in just five minutes.

Kat Boogaard’s Newsletter delivers freelancing tips, helpful advice, and freelance gigs straight to your inbox on a weekly basis. As a bonus, you’ll also receive Kat’s top ten tips for getting started as a freelancer directly after subscribing.

Kaitlyn Arford’s Newsletter is great for freelancers on the hunt for new clients. With 100 freelance opportunities delivered directly to your inbox every Friday, you’re guaranteed to find your dream gig.

Dear Freelancer by Brooklin Nash is a brand new newsletter chock-full of answers to top freelancing questions. You’ll get insight on Brooklin’s personal experiences as a freelancing pro, and more. If you want to learn from the best, we couldn’t recommend this newsletter more.

The Gazette by Freelancing Females is a weekly newsletter serving up top tips, freelancing gigs, and conversations for the world’s largest community for freelancing women.

Freelance Flow delivers leads, job opportunities, and freelance business tips to your inbox every Monday through Thursday. This newsletter is perfect for freelancers looking to take their biz to the next level!

Opportunities of the Week Newsletter by Sonia Weiser is a great resource for freelance writers who are tired of searching for new gigs. Sonia does the work for you by sending writing job postings to your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.

Freelance Feels is a monthly newsletter full of coach and writer, Jenny Holliday’s, thoughts and experiences surrounding solopreneurial life. Subscribe for advice, camaraderie, mental health transparency, and more.

Monthly Checklist to Keep Your Freelance Biz Running Smoothly

Monthly Checklist to Keep Your Freelance Biz Running Smoothly

by | Mar 27, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Running a small business is hard. On top of managing your existing client work and sourcing new business, you have to stay on top of logistics and planning — and those often fall by the wayside. But seasoned freelancers know that organization isn’t optional. And consistently reporting on your progress and realigning on your goals is key to your business’s health. It’s these unbillable but essential activities that pave the way for growth and sustainability.

Your Monthly Freelance Business Checklist

But the ongoing ops of running a business add up. It can feel daunting to keep track of dozens of moving parts at once, all while trying to keep your creative spark firing. To help lighten your mental load, we’ve put together this monthly checklist of to-dos that are critical for practically every freelance business. You can ask yourself these questions each month to ensure you’re keeping the engine running smoothly.

Mental health:

  • Have I reminded myself of my “why” for freelancing?
  • How did I give myself space to be human and imperfect this month?
  • Did I take breaks when I needed them?
  • How have I adjusted my schedule to support my wellbeing?
  • What am I proudest of this month?
  • How can I be kinder to myself next month?

Logistics:

  • What processes or tools supported my freelance flow this month?
  • What processes or tools got in the way of my flow this month?
  • Is there anything I can automate or make more efficient?
  • Is there anything I can take off my plate and delegate?
  • Is my business in good legal shape (i.e. registrations up-to-date, quarterly taxes paid, etc.)?

Marketing:

  • Did I promote my offerings on all of my major social platforms?
  • Do I have links to my work or contact info on all of my social profiles?
  • Did I talk about my work IRL with my friends, family, and community?
  • Am I clearly articulating what I offer and why I’m the best person for the job?
  • Did I share client testimonials publicly to build up my credibility?
  • Are there new client quotes or testimonials I can highlight to show value?
  • Are my website and contact form functioning properly?

Money:

  • Is it time to raise my rates?
  • Have I tracked all of my expenses?
  • Did I send out all of my invoices?
  • Do I have any unpaid or overdue invoices I need to follow up on? 
  • Am I meeting my monthly financial goals? If not, why?

Community:

  • Am I leaning on my support system or community in times of need? If not, why? 
  • Who would I love to connect with in the near future?
  • What communities are feeling like safe havens for me right now?
  • What communities would I like to be a part of in the near future?
  • Who in my work life has really shown up for me lately?
  • Who have I really shown up for lately?
  • How can I give back to my community in the upcoming month?

Do a once-over of this list monthly to make sure you’re covering all your bases, and tending to yourself just as much as you’re tending to your business. As freelancers, we basically are our businesses — after all, they couldn’t run without us. So when you’re questioning whether prioritizing your personal needs is worth it, remember that your whole life (including your biz) gets better when you’re taking good care of you.

If you find yourself hitting snags when it comes to business ops and tools, Harlow is here to help. Our all-in-one freelance tool is here to help you get organized, save time, and look professional with automated invoicing, proposal templates, and much more — all from one centralized hub.

Client Offboarding: How to Say Goodbye

Client Offboarding: How to Say Goodbye

by | Mar 24, 2023 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post by Shayla Price, founder of PrimoStats, a searchable database of curated marketing statistics. Shayla has more than 10 years of freelance experience as a content and email marketer.

Client Offboarding: How to Say Goodbye

It’s hard to say goodbye, especially when you’ve built a genuine connection with your client. And just because you’re parting ways with a client today, doesn’t mean you won’t reconnect in the future. 

That’s why client offboarding is so important. It’s an opportunity to leave a strong lasting impression and make sure you and the client are set up for success moving forward. 

The goal of any successful offboarding is to wrap up any remaining projects and tasks, ask for feedback, and agree on the final steps.

Keep reading to learn how to create a seamless offboarding process for your clients. 

The Basics of Client Offboarding

Similar to onboarding, it’s important to create a positive experience when you’re offboarding a client. Depending on your freelance business, you may return documents or files belonging to the client, or provide instructions on how the client can maintain the project in your absence. You may even onboard a new team member to take on some of the regular tasks or projects you were focused on. 

Even if you’re leaving due to negative circumstances, it’s important to be professional and thorough. Don’t let your emotions lead you to withholding information or opting to not deliver any completed work.

 Thanking your client and showing gratitude is another important part of the client offboarding process. A simple thank you email can go a long way, especially if you’re trying to maintain the relationship for future projects or networking and referrals

Last, but not least, don’t forget to send that final invoice. In some cases, the invoice may include fees for partial work completed. If your agreement ended mid-project, you should refer to your contract if you included stipulations for early contract termination. If you didn’t, it’s important to have a discussion with your client before you ship the invoice on what partial payment looks like.

Client Offboarding Scenarios

Client offboarding will vary based on whether you’re saying goodbye or if the client decides to move in a different direction. No matter the circumstances, we can help you prepare yourself for these moments, so that they have minimal impact on your well-being and business.

It's okay to part ways with your client.

When You Say Goodbye

It’s okay to part ways with your client. Most people will part ways with a number of clients during their time freelancing. You may want to stop a project because personal situations will prevent you from completing the work. Or you’ve decided that the client is presenting too many red flags and you don’t want to move forward anymore. Or you may be moving in a different direction with your freelance business. There are plenty of reasons that might lead you to saying goodbye.

Once you’ve decided it’s time, make sure to inform your client as soon as possible. While you’re not obligated to give a detailed reason for your departure, it’s important to be clear in your communication. If you think feedback might be helpful for them in the future, feel free to give it. You might also want to offer recommendations for other freelancers in your network or outline a proposed project approach to ensure the work continues smoothly.

What’s important is to never ghost your client, even if they’ve been tough to work with. It can leave a negative impression and hurt your reputation.

When the Client Says Goodbye

Unfortunately, you can’t work with a client forever. Based on your previous client conversations, you may know the reason for the departure. But rather than making assumptions, it’s best to ask the client upfront why they’re choosing to part ways.

If the client is departing due to unsatisfactory work, listen to their concerns and thank them for the transparent feedback. And if the client doesn’t want to offer a reason, that’s fine too. Don’t pressure a client to do something they don’t want.

It’s important to view feedback from your client as an opportunity to listen and learn. Sometimes clients just aren’t the right fit for us and that’s okay. Getting this feedback from one client, may keep you from bringing on a future client who isn’t the right fit.

When the Project Ends on Amicable Terms

Sometimes you’re offboarding because you’ve simply reached the end of your contract agreement or project. In this scenario, it’s very helpful for you to provide a recap of work done and again, ask for feedback. If the feedback is positive, this is the perfect time to ask for a referral or testimonial from your client!

How to Officially Offboard a Client

Close the Loop on Open Projects

Sometimes, client offboarding happens mid-project. If this happens, you should agree to a stopping point with your client as soon as possible. That may look like writing three out of five blog posts or submitting your design sketches, rather than polished drawings. If necessary, you can schedule a meeting to review the final deliverables and make sure you’re aligned.

This is also a good time to give your clients full access to any files and have them remove you from any accounts.

Ask for Feedback

When a project ends, it’s the perfect time to ask your client for feedback. Feedback is crucial to your professional development. It gives you insight into what you do well and what areas you need to improve. You can make the request easier by creating a simple email template. Here are a few things you should include:

  • State your desire to improve
  • Tell the client why their opinion matters
  • Make a specific ask

Avoid asking for feedback about the entire project. Instead, hone on a specific part of the project. That way, you get actionable feedback. For example, you might ask if there’s anything you can do to make the revision process smoother or more efficient.

If and when you receive positive feedback, ask your client if you can use their statements as a testimonial. You can add this positive feedback to your portfolio or website to attract new clients.

Goodbye (for Now)

Most people don’t start a project with the intention to say goodbye to a client. But it’s part of your growth as a freelancer. You can create a positive client offboarding experience through preparation, being thoughtful in your communication, and remaining professional and courteous.

Freelance Interview Series – Creating and Maintaining a Consistent Client Flow

Freelance Interview Series – Creating and Maintaining a Consistent Client Flow

by | Mar 21, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Bani Kaur is a freelance B2B SaaS writer for impressive clients like Klaviyo, Litmus, Dooly, and more. She uses design thinking to write research-driven and value-packed content for B2B SaaS brands. Below, she shares her tips and tricks on building and maintaining a robust client list – no matter the state of the economy.

Finding and Maintaining Consistent Client Work

What are your go-to sites or resources for finding new clients?

Superpath slack and Kaitlyn Arford’s community are great places to look for new clients.

Talk to us about your biggest client retention secret.

Go above and beyond for your pilot piece. A great first experience is hard to shake. That way, even if you stumble somewhere down the line, your clients will have faith in you to turn it around. If you read my testimonials, this is the one thing all my clients acknowledge.

Going above and beyond in the initial phases paves the way for a stronger, sturdier, and more interactive client relationship!

How has the current state of the economy shifted your processes for both finding new clients and maintaining your current client roster?

Ah, this is a tough one. The economy has shifted my processes quite a lot. Leads have been much slower than usual and follow-ups have been sparse.

Most of my clients have cut back on their monthly cadence moving into 2023, if not already having eliminated their content budget. A team I wrote for laid off 6 people (2 in-house, and 4 freelancers) and replaced them with just one content manager. Needless to say, he’s overwhelmed.

This is where having a great professional network has been tremendously helpful.

All of my clients who cut down on work have introduced me to others in their network who needed a writer.

This also reconfirms what I mentioned earlier about doing great work from the get-go. It leads to referrals, testimonials, and respect.

What tips do you have for getting in front of prospective clients as a freelance business owner?

Don’t be scared to DM the people you’d like to work with, BUT avoid a salesy approach. Unless they’re specifically looking for a person with your role at that moment, it’s often off-putting. Instead, talk about their work and their needs. And if you can exhibit critical reasoning and some nuanced takes during that conversation, I promise they’ll remember you and reach out when they’re ready.

Second, warm pitch aggressively. Follow freelance communities and newsletters and reply to all calls with a personalized, relevant, and thought-provoking pitch. Bonus points if you can fit it into LinkedIn’s ‘add note’ character limit.

Third, talk to other freelancers. Help them out. Offer to review their work. You never know when someone is looking to pass on an opportunity to someone they trust.

What advice do you have for new freelancers who are just building up their client roster?

Three words: Keep at it.

Perseverance will see you through the first few months.

And once you have that first client, work on that project like your life depends on it. Learn everything you need along the way. Upskill while you work.

When I got assigned my first piece with Klaviyo, it was a dream come true. I was elated for about an hour; then I set out to learn everything I could about Klaviyo’s product, target audience, and brand voice.

I signed up for 130 of their customers’ emails so I’d have relevant and unique examples to pull from. I reached out to 7 Klaviyo experts on Twitter and built relationships (most of which have lasted to this day!).

And all of the effort was well worth it because it opened doors to tremendous new opportunities.

Freelance Interview Series – Mastering Mindfulness as a Solopreneur

Freelance Interview Series – Mastering Mindfulness as a Solopreneur

by | Mar 21, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Jenni Gritters is a freelance writer, editor, and business coach who works with fellow solopreneurs and small business owners on writing projects and strategic business planning. Jenni also has a monthly newsletter called Mindset Mastery chock full of helpful content for those who want to prioritize their well-being and incorporate mindfulness into their day-to-day.

Mastering Mindfulness as a Solopreneur

Talk to us about what mindfulness means to you. Why is it important?

Mindfulness is one of those buzzwords that everyone seems to use, and it can mean 1000 different things to 1000 different people. For me, mindfulness means paying attention. I’ve spent a lot of my life working reactively – meaning, working on things as they land in my inbox, and responding to other people’s needs before my own. In the past 3 years, I’ve been forced (by illness and caretaking) to be much more intentional about the way I work. In this context, mindfulness means paying attention to what I need and how I feel in any given moment. It means listening to my brain, my body, and my intuition when I’m choosing my clients or planning my day.

In what ways do you incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine?

It’s going to sound cliche, but being mindful of my surroundings and my internal experiences has really changed my life. I spent so many years expecting that “success” (ie. money and recognition) would make me satisfied. It turns out, those things are hungry ghosts. What’s really made me happy is paying attention to the little things, and paying attention to myself.

I have a really chaotic life because of my two small children (who are 9 months and 3 years old). I’m not able to have a set routine, but I do have mindful patterns: I spend at least 30 minutes each day meditating and reflecting on what’s going on, what I need, and how I feel. I make it a priority to get outside every day, even if it’s just for a 15-minute walk; I try to notice the birds, the trees, and the people who walk by. I also try to take 5 minutes each morning to figure out how I’m feeling, so I can plan my day accordingly. (I recently wrote about this in my free newsletter.) And I wait 24 hours before responding to any client offer, so I can make sure the project is aligned with what I need during this season. It’s all very intentional, which is simple but not easy.

How has practicing mindfulness positively impacted the success of your freelance business?

I have a lot more control, and I’m able to take care of myself better. I’ve moved from being reactive – which means other people control my inbox and schedule – to being proactive. I’m making the choices. I do have times when I slip back into that reactive mode, and my workload suddenly starts to look like a chaotic mess. But this has happened enough times that I know how to pull myself out of the muck so I can realign. The reset is not pretty but it’s usually worth it. So much of my stress comes from working on projects or with people who don’t share my same priorities!

I also attribute a lot of my financial “success” (for years I’ve made six figures working 15-20 hours/ week) to being more intentional. I can’t work with clients who don’t pay the rates I need. Sometimes I wish I could! But when I take a moment to revisit my priorities, I can see clearly that the relationship isn’t going to be right for me. Being intentional means I stand my ground.

Taking a stand on intentionality is also why I have a coaching practice! I really do believe that becoming more proactive is a route to happiness and freedom in business ownership, which is such a tricky career path. I’ve had to do a lot of mindset work to give myself permission to step back from journalism – which was my original career path – and into coaching. I still do some of both but I would not have been able to grow both service lines without continual self-interrogation.

What are some of your favorite resources that have helped you along your mindfulness journey?

I love this question! Some of my favorites:

  • Insight Timer is a free app; you can search for short meditations + breathwork practices that slow your brain down enough to check in. Try the yoga nidra meditations before bed!
  • Stolen Focus is a great book that considers distraction and how to find moments of pause and/ or flow
  • Time Management for Mortals is a time management book that’s not a time management book! It’s actually more about what I’m talking about here – intentionality amidst the chaos that is work life
  • I love Damon Brown & Nisha Moodley’s work
  • The podcast On Being usually gives me interesting things to consider regarding the ways we work and live, and how we can integrate growth into our daily lives
  • Brad Stulberg is a cool Instagram follow; he talks about mindfulness & sustainable biz building

What advice do you have for small business owners who want to incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily routines but have limited time?

I, too, have extremely limited time! My advice is this: mindfulness can look like so many things. Essentially, it’s just about checking in with yourself as a daily ritual. You’ll need to find the best way to do that in your life; it should not feel like a frustrating effort! I have clients who reflect best on walks or while exercising. Some people need a piece of blank paper and a set of colored pencils. Some of us just need 3 minutes to take some deep breaths and close our eyes. Some of us will find it useful to talk to someone (a partner, a therapist, a coach).

Find the thing that works for you – which will take some experimentation – and then implement it in a tiny way. Start with 2 minutes before you open your inbox. It doesn’t have to be big in order to change the way you work. (This framework can be a really helpful way to check in with yourself!)

9 Discovery Call Questions to Ask Potential Copywriting Clients

9 Discovery Call Questions to Ask Potential Copywriting Clients

by | Mar 16, 2023 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post by Anushree Saxena, an independent lifestyle & mental health journalist. She is also a website and email copywriter for coaches & brands who want to build meaningful relationships with their ideal clients and customers.

9 Discovery Call Questions to Ask Your Prospect

Do you remember your first day of high school? How excited you were about the possibilities, while still feeling uncertain about what the future held?

My first few months as a new freelancer were exactly like that. I was posting content on LinkedIn in the hopes that someone would love my posts and hire me, but that didn’t happen for months. So, when people started booking discovery calls with me, I felt like I needed to take every one and convince these people to hire me. But I quickly realized that approach was a mistake. Taking on clients that weren’t the right fit impacted my self confidence and led me to developing imposter syndrome.

So here I am with a message to my other freelance peers: you have the power to choose whether or not you want to work on a project with a prospective client.

Here’s a list of discovery call questions you can ask to help you make the right decision for you.

1) What are your goals?

Asking this question will help you understand the vision of your prospective client. It will tell you what their core values are and if they align with your long-term business goals as a freelance copywriter.

2) What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)?

If your client doesn’t know what makes their brand/business unique, then it will be difficult for you to differentiate them from others who have similar offers.

3) What has your experience been like working with other freelancers?

Notice how they talk about their previous contractor. This is probably how they will talk about you after your contract is over. On the other hand, if they haven’t worked with a freelancer before, it’s up to you to set their expectations and show them what a good working relationship looks like.

4) Why do you want to work with me? Or why did you decide to get on a call with me today?

If the prospect reached out to you via referral or inbound channels, then chances are they already feel confident that you can help them solve their problem. When they tell you that during a discovery call, you don’t just get a confident boost — you will also understand the struggles they are currently trying to overcome.

5) What have you done in the past that has worked or not worked?

When your prospect has experimented with their content, you’ll have enough data and statistics to come up with strategies that might help them. Their answer to this question will also give you a sense of how open they are to experimenting with their content in the future.

6) What problem(s) are you struggling with the most?

This question will help you understand where their priorities lie. This is what you need to focus on first when you start working together, even if you guys want to tackle other problems too.

7) How much are you willing to invest to overcome this obstacle?

Knowing the client’s budget plays a big role in deciding if you want to take on a project. However, a prospect might insist on getting a quote without sharing their budget or revealing the complete scope of work. In this situation, you can simply share a range rather than give an exact number, saying you need more details to give a final quote.

8) Will you be available for meetings?

This question tells your prospect that working with you is a team effort — not a solo operation. They will have to make time to answer your questions, share briefs, and give feedback to achieve their desired goals.

9) When do you want to start?

If by the end of the discovery call, you both decide to work together, then ask the client when they want to kick off so you can block a spot for them on your calendar. If they aren’t sure or need to discuss it with their team, then ask them when they’ll have an answer and follow up accordingly.

The Takeaway

As a freelancer, you have final say on who you work with. Discovery calls are the time to collect the information you need to properly assess if a client is the right for you, so ask as many questions as you want before making your decision.

PS: You will still miss deadlines, mess up projects, and feel like an imposter at times. That’s all a rite of passage. But in the end, working with the right clients makes it all bearable!