How to Overcome Freelancing Challenges

Let's get real for a moment. You know those months where your inbox is eerily quiet? When you start wondering if your last client was actually your last client? Yep, as someone who used to be a lone freelancer, I've been there. More times than I'd like to admit. Freelancing can sometimes feel like you're on the world's most unpredictable rollercoaster. But over the years, I've crafted a strategy to not just survive, but thrive during those 'no income' months. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if that's your jam), and let's dive in. 🌺The Rainy Day Fund: First things first, always have a safety net. You know those days of abundance right? Instead of spending the money on things you only want (not need) , set it aside. I set aside a portion of my income during the good months. It's not just about paying bills; it's about peace of mind. 🌺Upskill Time: No clients? No problem. I use this time to learn something new. Whether it's a course on a new design tool or brushing up on marketing trends, I come out more marketable than before. In fact, my first portfolio as a freelancer (which gave me my first $1,500 here on Linkedin) was borne out of one of these dry spell days. 🌺Network, Network, Network: Remember that coffee date you kept postponing or that webinar you bookmarked? Now's the time. Opportunities often come from the most unexpected chats. Human beings can't function well alone. You need other people. Which makes me wonder if the phrase “Self-made” is actually correct. 🌺Re-Evaluate and Pivot: I take a step back and assess. Is there a service that's not getting traction? Maybe it's time to pivot or repackage. Use this period to get expert feedbacks and improve on something. Innovation is the only way to stay ahead in the world of today. 🌺Self-Care Isn't Selfish: It's easy to spiral into anxiety. But I've found that a walk in the park, spa dates, a good book, a weekend getaway or even a Netflix binge can recharge you and take your mind off things for when the next client comes knocking. 🌺Reconnect with Past Clients: A simple 'Hey, how's it going?' can lead to repeat business. It's not about being pushy; it's about staying top of mind. 🌺Golden Nugget Alert 🚨: The Portfolio Revamp: This is my secret weapon. I take this downtime to polish my portfolio, update with recent work, and sometimes even do mock projects. It keeps my creative juices flowing and often attracts new clients who see my updated work. Portfolios are extremely important and if you don't have one, you're missing out. A well-crafted portfolio can be the difference between a 'maybe later' and a 'let's work together now!' If you're wondering how-to get started, you can find a curated list of optimized portfolios through the link In my bio or comment section. In wrapping up, remember this: Dry spells don't define your worth or talent. They're just a part of the freelancing or even entrepreneurship journey. So, tell me, how do you handle the quiet months?

I’ve been a freelance writer for 3.5 years, but hands down, the first year was the hardest (writing for minimum wage, burning out [twice], chasing invoices). This is the business advice I wish someone could’ve told me sooner: ⤵ 1. Clauses Are Key 🔑. Create a project proposal that includes clauses to protect your time and set boundaries. For example: • 1.1 Schedule. Proposal serves as a partnership agreement, which begins on the date of deposit receipt. Why It's Important ➜ You don’t start the project until the client pays your deposit. This protects you from doing unpaid labor. 1.2 Consultation. Retainer includes up to (insert hours) of video conferencing for the duration of the retainer. If additional calls are required, they are billed as a line-item cost of ($X) per hour. • Why It's Important ➜ This protects you from the dreaded “Can you hop on a call really quickly?” If clients want your time, they can pay for it. (I cover more must-have clauses in my newsletter – link below!) 2. Zero People-Pleasing Allowed 🚫. You can’t run a successful business if you are a people-pleaser. What are you going to say when your client wants to include something that’s not in the scope? When they want you to lower your price? When they keep delaying the start date? “It’s fine, don’t worry!” is not going to build a profitable business. Be firm. You’re not being rude: You’re just running a business. 3. Stay Put. 🏠 A lot of people become freelancers so they can work from anywhere (like me!). But your first year is *not* the time to be traveling around the world. To get your business off the ground, you'll need to be focused – which means staying put in one location. The last thing I'll say: That first year is the hardest, but if you can get past it, you *will* succeed for the long run. You got this. 🤞 Is there any freelancing business advice you wish you knew sooner? ------------------ #freelancewriting #freelanceadvice #remotework

I used to feel like my freelance income was a constant 🎢 rollercoaster. One month I'd be swimming in projects, the next I'd be scrambling for work. Then, I implemented these five strategies to smooth out the peaks and valleys: 1. Land Retainer Deals: Ditch the project-to-project hustle. Offer monthly content packages to build predictable income and long-term client relationships. 2. Niche Down: Become the go-to expert in a specific industry (think "healthcare tech copywriter" vs. "general blogger"). 3. Implement the 50% Upfront Rule: No more starting projects without a down payment. Secure your income before lifting a finger! (Note that this doesn't work in the journalism world.) 4. Create "Productized" Services: Offer packaged deals (like "4 blog posts/month + SEO optimization") for streamlined pricing and easier renewals. 5. Adopt the 70/30 Rule: Maintain a balance of steady, recurring income (70%) with exciting new projects (30%) to fuel your growth. While I still experience some flux from month to month, it's not a huge dip. 👉 Interested in more tips like these? Snag your *free* subscription to Expert•ish Freelancer. 🔗 Link is in the comments. #freelancing #freelancer #freelancewriter #freelancelife

Hate doing outreach for your freelance business? I have good news and bad news. The good news: you're definitely not alone. The bad news: you still have to do it. If you're struggling with this, here are a few tips I've found helpful over the years: 1. It gets easier. Sales outreach isn't something that comes naturally to most of us creative types. I still don't love doing it. But it gets easier the more you do it. You build a thicker skin with every "no" you survive. 2. Stop "selling yourself." The hardest part for most of us is that feeling that you're holding out your fragile little ego to the cold hard world. To get past the angst, I think of myself as a sales rep for a company called Rosanna Campbell. I (the human) might feel insecure and vulnerable. But Rosanna CampbellTM is excellent and you'd be lucky to hire her. I don't know why it works but it does. 3. Do it when you don't feel like it. I am never going to "feel like" pitching. That is not a thing that happens. But I do it anyway, because it's my job. 4. Put your business first. The most common self-sabotage I see (and have done): doing client work first and telling yourself you’ll do sales later. What this really means: "Client work feels safe and defined. Outreach feels hard and never-ending. I’ll avoid it." Your clients will be fine if you take an hour to market your business. Your business will not be fine if you don’t. 5. Remember the alternative. Marketing your business is uncomfortable. But you know what else is uncomfortable? Having no money. 6. This is what you signed up for. Freelancing means that you are now doing a whole bunch of jobs. You're sales. You're marketing. You're delivery. You're a PM. You're the CFO. This is the deal. The upside is worth it (at least for me.) 7. Treat it as a business problem. Pitching going badly? Skip the beating yourself up and go into research mode. - Is your pitch bad? - Are you pitching the wrong people? - Do you have a well-defined offer? - Have you defined your value prop well? - Do you actually know what you're trying to sell and who might want it? I hope it helps! If you’re finding this part hard, trust me - so did I. And it does get better. PS. I originally shared this in the Top of the Funnel Slack chat. If you have freelancing, content, or SEO questions, this community is a great place to start. I love it.