Freelance Office Hours: Pricing, Contracts, and Getting Clients in 2025

Freelance Office Hours: Pricing, Contracts, and Getting Clients in 2025

TL;DR

In this Ask Me Anything replay, we covered:

  • LinkedIn is still the best platform for finding freelance clients (ditch Upwork if it’s draining you).
  • Use a tracker + follow-up system to stay organized and land more work—Rachel recommends quarterly nudges.
  • Price your services using a baseline, goal, reach model and offer tiered packages to protect your income.
  • Always use a solid contract to set expectations and handle client delays professionally.
  • Bonus: If you're in a freelance dry spell, a flexible part-time job (like being a barista) can give you stability without draining your creative energy.
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Watch the replay:

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Lesson Recap:

This session was packed with practical advice for new and growing freelancers. Here's what we covered:

Client Outreach: What Works in 2025

  • LinkedIn > Upwork for most freelancers. Rachel shared her system for finding clients via LinkedIn connection requests, letters of introduction, and strategic follow-ups.
  • Cold DMs on Instagram can work if your audience is there (e.g., coaches). Use Facebook groups to build trust and visibility by answering questions helpfully.
  • Use a tracker (like Rachel’s Notion one!) to follow up consistently without feeling overwhelmed.

💼 How to Price Your Services

  • Use the Rates Calculator to determine your:
    • Baseline rate (what you need to survive)
    • Goal rate (what helps you save + grow)
    • Reach rate (stretch pricing that protects your time + energy)
  • Package your services in tiers: the more someone books, the better the value (e.g. 1 blog = $800, 3 blogs = $750/blog, 6 blogs = $700/blog).

📄 Contracts, Boundaries, and Red Flags

  • Always use a contract that:
    • Requires timely client responses (e.g. within 5 business days)
    • Sets expectations for deliverables and timelines
    • Includes consequences for delays or lack of communication
  • If clients don’t deliver what you need (e.g. briefs), it’s their problem, not yours. Use your contract to pause or reschedule.

💬 Follow-Up Strategy

  • Don’t ghost your own leads. If someone doesn’t respond:
    • Follow up 2 weeks later with availability
    • Then again after 2 more weeks
    • Then move to a quarterly cadence
  • Rachel followed up with Grammarly for 2 years before landing the gig. Don’t give up too soon.

💡 Bonus Tips

  • Barista jobs (or similar flexible, low-stress part-time gigs) can pair well with freelance life.
  • Content agencies may be disorganized—don’t depend on them for steady income.
  • Don’t take delays or silence personally. People are busy and overwhelmed. Stay consistent.
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