Land new clients. Make more money.

Surprise, surprise. This week’s newsletter is all about landing new clients and making more money. Stick close because we’ve got some goodies for you:

• A killer interview and introduction for you to Shoutt (a platform where freelancers can find work) with Co-founder, Saleem Yaqub.

• A handful of this week’s hot jobs from our own job board.

• And a gentle nudge to check out our newsletter referral program and sponsorship opportunities.

A quick word from our sponsor and then we dive in! 

Interview

Meet Saleem! In his own words: Hi, I’m Saleem, co-founder of Shoutt! My background is in digital marketing, especially the performance and strategy side of things. I’m based in London and love working with businesses and freelancers from across the globe when I am not busy entertaining my two young kids! 

Let’s dive into our short Q&A!

Q. Tell our crew about Shoutt and how you help the freelance community.

Shoutt is a new take on the way freelance work happens. We vet both talent and opportunities to ensure quality, so freelancers only see projects that are well-defined and fairly compensated. This also helps to attract businesses that are more interested in quality vs price. Our focus is on supporting professionals in the UK, EU, and US, and we’re 100% commission-free. With features like payment protection, contracts, invoicing, and an aggregated opportunity feed from 30+ sources, we make freelancing simpler, smoother, and more secure.

Q.  What is your top tip for freelancers when they’re pitching new clients?

You need to stand out from the noise and go in with a clear and concise differentiator. Put yourself in the shoes of the recruiter and imagine yourself sifting through tons of applicants and profiles — they get bored! So make it personal. Research the client, reference something specific about their business, and explain how your skills directly address their challenges or goals. Show them that you’re not just pitching — you’re solving their problem and are keen to build a relationship with them. And don’t forget to add a dash of your unique personality into your pitch!

Q. What’s your outlook on the freelance job market today?

It’s a really interesting time because the gig economy is nothing new yet the growth projections are still staggering. Some estimates say that 50% of the workforce will be self-employed by 2030 and that the 9-5 as we know it will soon be dead, especially with Gen Z’ers who crave freedom and flexibility. With the amount of tools, including AI, and the ease of starting a business, this doesn’t seem surprising or unrealistic. I think the opportunities will continue to grow and the freelancers who invest in their skills and specialize in specific verticals or skill areas will thrive more than generalists.

As a thank-you for reading and checking out Shoutt, they’re offering 50% off your first month of a premium plan. Use code HARLOW50 at checkout to take advantage!

Hot jobs

Net at Work is looking for an experienced website content auditor and writer to assist with a four-month project beginning January 8. Pay is $65/hour for 40 hours/week. Candidates must be located in the Eastern, Central, or Mountain time zones of the U.S.

Creative Circle is seeking a freelance social media content creator on behalf of their client, a portfolio of liquor brands. The role will start at 10-15 hours/week with the potential for more next year. This is a remote gig with some required in-person events in NYC.

Unbridled is seeking a freelance motion graphics designer to help animate and edit full show packages for live events & more. You’ll work out of their Denver headquarters. This role requires event travel 6-10 times a year for 5-7 days. Pay isn’t listed, so pitch your rate!

Filmless is on the hunt for a remote freelance script writer to help them generate and execute great ideas for an array of client video projects. This is a work-from-anywhere gig. Pay isn’t listed — get to pitching.

RPA is looking for a customer experience strategist to help develop their communications strategy and manage an omnichannel ecosystem. This role is remote, but you’ll need to be available for Pacific Time meetings.

Microsoft is hiring a freelance marketing manager to research market conditions and perform monthly competitive analyses. This is a remote contract role lasting seven months. Pay is up to $46/hour. Apply before this one is filled!

There are 670 open roles on the job board. If nothing above speaks to you, is right for you, just scope the full list here.

We hope this week’s newsletter nudges you one step closer to locking in your next client confidently. As always, if you have any questions or recommendations for the content and resources we share here, just shout. We’re here for you. We believe in you. And we want to see you all win.

Cheers - 

Samantha & Andrea

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