Three Steps Freelancers Can Take Today For A Record-Breaking 2022

This article reveals three steps freelancers can take to prepare for a record-breaking 2022. If you follow these three simple steps before the end of the year, you’ll be able to capture more new business than ever before come January.

Last week, I revealed the number-one thing you can do to finish 2021 strong.

And I wasn’t bluffing, either…

One reader landed a new project twenty minutes after I sent last week’s email.

Since he immediately took action on the guidance I shared.

So in case you missed it, check out the number-one thing you can do to finish 2021 strong. (I even added screenshots from the reader who got a new client in 20 minutes.)

But I Also Mentioned That Most Companies Aren’t Starting New Projects Right Now

Most of them are scrambling just to finish all the projects they already have underway before the year is over.

So while it can’t hurt to pursue new projects right now, in my experience you probably won’t get a solid response again until January.

Which is why you should also be planning ahead right now. That way, you’ll be able to capture a ton of new business first thing next year.

So like I promised, this week I’m going to share three things you can do today to have a record-breaking start to 2022.

Here they are…

#1. Prepare To Reach Out To Your Top Clients And Prospects Again In January

If you haven’t already, put together a list of your top clients and prospects. And make sure you include important notes, too. Like any potential projects you discussed in the past or the company’s top products.

Once you have this list, you can use it to reach out to your top contacts one last time before the end of the year. (Which I showed you how to do last week.)

But you also want to be ready to email them again first thing in 2022. 

And you want to be able to send them an email like this. (Which I originally shared back at the beginning of this year.)

Don’t worry though. I’m also going to update this email template for 2022 in January. (And I’ll share it with my email list again once I do. So if you want to get that announcement, sign up to for my email list if you haven’t already.)

But beyond that, just make sure you’ve got your top clients and prospects organized. That way, you’ll be ready to reach out to them in early January once I update the template.

#2. For Retainer Clients, Start Documenting Your Wins From The Past Year

I raise my retainer rates once a year. And I usually do it in January. Since most people will just accept that I have new rates for a new year.

(But if anyone asks, you can say that you’ve got new goals for 2022. And to reach those goals, you’ve also adjusted your rates.)

When you raise your retainer rates, it helps to highlight the value you’ve delivered for the client before you tell them your prices are going up. So if you can show them concrete examples for how they’ve profited from your services, it should make your rate increase easier to accept.

Just be careful that you don’t offend a relatively new retainer client. Because if you just signed them a few months ago, it probably won’t go over well if you raise your rates on them so quickly.

In that case, you can wait until the following January if you want. Or you can raise your rates on them after 12 months instead of waiting for the start of a new year. Whichever one works best for you.

#3. Send Holiday Gifts To Your Clients To Show Your Appreciation And Build Goodwill

Sending your clients holiday gifts is a great way to show them you appreciate their business. Plus it also keeps you top-of-mind for when they start the new year. And it may even create a feeling of reciprocity that makes them more inclined to hire you again.

So take a look at my top freelance client gifts for 2021. It will show you the exact gifts that I send to my own clients. And how I also include a handwritten note in each one.

After you’ve taken care of the three steps in this article, I hope you can enjoy some time off for the holidays. Because once January rolls around, I have a feeling you’ll have more work than you know what to do with. 😉

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Now Let Me Show You How To Make Freelance Clients Come To You — Like Clockwork — Using A Simple, 30-Second Conversation…

All the details are inside my free business blueprint 30-Second Referrals.

With this free PDF, you’ll discover how to use a simple, 30-second conversation to get two referrals from every single client you sign. (I’ll even show you exactly what to say during this conversation with my word-for-word script on page 13.)

That way, you can make clients come to you like clockwork. And you can fill your pipeline with more new business than you can handle.

But there is a small catch…

30-Second Referrals is only available to members The Freelance Like A Pro email list.

So enter your best real email below to join us and claim your free copy of 30-Second Referrals now. (And you’ll get my members-only emails to help you run a more profitable and stress-free freelance business, too.)

Thanks for the freelancing guide and the emails that you've been sending out — the 30-second referral method is so stupidly simple, that it's genius!

Connor Inch, Freelance Copywriter