Laid Off? Here’s a Step-by-Step Plan to Start Freelancing Fast

Publication Date

March 28, 2025

Summary

This is the exact roadmap I’d follow to rebuild consistent income—with simple steps, free tools, and a low-lift approach designed to get results without burning out

⏭️ Laid Off? Here’s What to Do Next: A Step-by-Step Freelance Roadmap

1. Pick a Niche (Even If It’s Temporary)

You don’t need to find your forever-niche right away. You just need a focus—something to help you identify the types of clients and projects you want to go after.

A niche makes your outreach easier, faster, and more effective.

⚡️ Free workshop + workbook to help you pick a niche →

2. Choose 1–3 Services to Offer

Don’t overcomplicate this. Choose services that:

You enjoy
You’re at least decent at
Businesses are already paying for

This makes it easier to create a focused portfolio, write your website copy, and talk about your offer confidently.

⚡️ Free workshop + workbook to help you pick services →

3. Build a Portfolio with 3+ Pieces Per Service

Create 3 sample projects per service to showcase your skills. These should:

Reflect the kind of work you want to get paid for
Speak to your ideal client’s goals or pain points
Not include real client names/logos unless you have permission

⚡️ Free workshop + workbook on portfolio building coming soon →

4. Set Up Your Business (Without Overwhelm)

Don’t let the legal and financial stuff slow you down. Focus on the essentials:

EIN or business registration (depending on your state)
Business bank account
Bookkeeping system
Contract template

⚡️ Use this free Business Setup Checklist →

5. Optimize Your Online Presence

No need for perfection—just make sure your digital footprint looks legit. Focus on:

A clear, client-facing LinkedIn profile (Need help? I offer $25 profile critiques)
A simple 1-page site (Notion or Canva is perfect)
A professional email signature
10–20 LinkedIn posts you can schedule or post over your first month

👀 Want a deep dive into this? Reply or comment if you want a full newsletter about this!

6. Build a List of 200+ Potential Clients

This part can feel intimidating, but it’s where things start to click. Be specific. Think:

Niche industry
Company size
Marketing team structure
Current hiring or funding status

⚡️ I walk through this in a quick tutorial inside the Freelance Resource Library →

7. Start Your “Getting Clients” Routine

The key to freelance income is consistency—not just luck.

Your weekly routine should include:

Sending LinkedIn connection requests
Writing intro messages + follow-ups
Posting value-driven content
Booking coffee chats or discovery calls

⚡️ Get all of this in The Get Clients Guidebook + LinkedIn Webinar →

🙋‍♀️ FAQ: Freelancing After a Layoff

Q: How quickly can I replace my income after getting laid off?

A: It depends on your outreach consistency, niche, and network. Most freelancers I coach land their first client within 30–90 days.

Q: What if I don’t have any past clients or portfolio pieces?

A: Start with samples. You don’t need past clients to create a compelling portfolio—just focus on demonstrating your skill with strategic, niche-specific samples.

Q: Do I need a website before I start pitching clients?

A: Nope! A strong LinkedIn profile or a 1-page Notion site is more than enough to get started.

Q: I’m not sure I can do this on my own. Where can I get support?

A: Check out my free bootcamps, resource library, and community. I’m always happy to point you toward the right workshop, template, or guide for where you’re at.

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