A Timeline of My Newest Clients
*From June 2024*
This is a post from June 2024 about the clients that I started working with at that time. The takeaway is that it takes a lot of patience and persistence to get freelance clients and there’s no magic or surefire system. I recently got a few new clients (in June 2025, I sense a pattern) and talked a little bit about it on The Marketing Mentor Podcast last week. On Thursday, I’ll do a full breakdown of those clients and what I did (sort of) to get them!
If you follow any freelancers or get any freelancer newsletters, you've probably heard different people's takes on how to get clients. And it can get overwhelming. Do you send letters of introduction (LOIs), reach out on LinkedIn, connect on LinkedIn, follow on LinkedIn, DM on Twitter, cold pitch ideas, get references from other freelancers, etc?
As far as I'm concerned, there's no right way, and I'm always trying out a mix of these strategies. A few weeks ago, I wrote about my LinkedIn strategy (that I haven't stuck to) and how a client reached out to me after I started posting more often.
Well, this month, I had TWO editors reach out about writing for them based on emails I sent quite awhile ago. One was a response to a call for writers and the other was a cold LOI. I'm still getting onboarded, so I haven't done any assignments yet, but the fact that things are in the works is very exciting! I thought it would be fun to share the timeline, so you can see how it all shook out.
New Client #1
May 24 - Editor posted on LinkedIn that she was looking for freelance writers. When I checked this morning, there were 32 comments and 1 repost. I didn't comment on it, but most of the comments were people introducing themselves.
I emailed the same day with this:
I'm Steph, a freelance writer with experience covering a variety of home improvement and design, and I was so excited to see your LinkedIn post calling for writers! I live for a clean and organized space (my kids, however, do not), so I'm always on the lookout for ways to streamline organization and choose the best products for our home. I'd love to hear more about what you're looking for, and I linked a few of my recent commerce pieces below. Have a great weekend!
4 of the Best Budget-Friendly Products for a Good Night's Sleep9 Bedroom Style Trends On Their Way Out In 2024, According to Realtors
I didn't follow up and honestly never gave the email a second thought, so I was surprised on...
June 7 - The editor emailed me and said she wanted to work with me! The second email was bcc'ed to more people, so I'm guessing she's onboarding a group from the previous call.
This is actually a pretty quick turnaround (the next one was not so quick), and I'm really excited about this client! I'm finishing up the onboarding process this week, and then I'll get started in July.
New Client #2
Jan 9 - I reached out with a LOI that said:
I'm Stephanie Mickelson, a freelance personal finance, design, and home improvement writer. I also run a blog and newsletter called The Simple Girl's Guide where I discuss simple personal finance tips and tricks to take control of your money.
I was wondering if you're adding any freelancers to your roster this year, and if so, I would love to be considered. I write for Go Banking Rates, Angi, SFGate, and Bob Vila, and I'll include a few links to recent articles.
My spouse and I buy gifts for ourselves instead of each other (Business Insider)
How much do long-distance movers cost? (SF Gate)
Dave Ramsey: Ask 4 Questions to Evaluate Your Retirement Savings Performance (Go Banking Rates)
If you need anyone to take on any assignments or are open to pitches, I'd love to discuss working together!
Have a great day :)
I got an OOO response, and again, I didn't follow up and totally forgot I sent this.
June 10 - The editor emailed me. A full 5 MONTHS later! She connected me with the editor that I'll be working with. I was an idiot and talked about reviewing totally different products than what they cover, but she clarified, and the other editor emailed to tell me more about their process.
The moral of these timelines is that there's no right way to go about getting clients. And many have said it before, but it's entirely possible to hear from editors weeks, months, or even years later. I think the best way to go about it is doing what you're most comfortable with. I also like to experiment, and I've found that quick, to the point emails seem to work well. But with that said, I've sent countless emails and messages that haven't received a response!
I'd love to hear what works for you and even what you've tried that hasn't worked!
If you have any questions about freelancing, work/life balance, morning routines, or anything else, I’d love to help out!