Hey there 👋, I hope your week is off to a great start! I’ve been thrilled to hear stories from so many of you about what’s working for your freelance business in 2025. I’ve heard some truly awesome strategies and successes. This week, I have a client acquisition strategy to share from Anna—and it’s one you probably haven’t thought of. It helped her do $10k revenue in February. We’ve also got some awesome job opportunities and resources this week, so scroll on for more. As always, if you have something to say, feel free to reply to this email. I’d love to feature your story next! Best, 🪶 Cody – Founder @ Ravenwood Writing Academy P.S. Over 25 people have already filled out our Q2 survey. 🥳 If you want to help shape the future of Ravenwood content (and have a chance at winning a $50 Amazon gift card), you can complete the survey in just 2 minutes here 👉 Q2 Audience Survey. 📰 Freelance Bites:News and Resources in 2 Minutes
📬 Letters From My DeskHow a Simple LinkedIn Comment Turned Into a $10k Writing Gig
Last week I got an email from a freelance writer named Anna. She wanted to share a client acquisition strategy that’s quietly been making her thousands in 2025. I knew I had to pass it along. Like a lot of writers, Anna started out hustling on Upwork and sending cold pitches on LinkedIn. But she kept running into the same problems you might be familiar with:
That’s when she stumbled upon a post from a recruiting agency CEO talking about the challenges of hiring in 2025. The post was solid, but the writing was generic and full of fluff. Three likes and zero shares confirmed the quality. Instead of scrolling by, Anna did something bold. She rewrote the post in the comments, making it sharper and more engaging. The CEO noticed. After a brief DM exchange, Anna landed a paid ghostwriting gig creating LinkedIn content for the firm’s leadership team. A month later, they hired her to create a white paper detailing hiring trends and challenges. She also got referred by the CEO to a staffing SaaS brand to help with their content. Why This WorksAnna didn’t just get lucky. Her comment was a strategic move to position herself as an obvious solution to a problem the CEO didn’t even realize he had. Most freelancers spend loads of time on cold outreach and content marketing. But few think about the power of public engagement as a lead-gen tool. Here’s why Anna’s approach is so effective (even though almost no one is doing it): ✅ You show, don’t tell. Instead of pitching her skills like every other writer, Anna demonstrated her value. The CEO saw her writing improve his content, and didn’t just have to take her word for it. ✅ You catch decision-makers where they’re already active. Busy editors and executives don’t read cold emails. But many do check notifications on their own posts. Engaging in the comments section puts you directly in their line of sight. ✅ You bypass traditional hiring barriers. Most companies don’t even know they need a freelance writer until someone (like Anna) steps in and fixes a problem they didn’t realize was costing them opportunities. ✅ It works across industries. While Anna targeted HR and recruiting, this strategy works anywhere decision-makers are posting publicly. Whether it’s tech, finance, real estate, or SaaS, when people struggle to communicate their expertise clearly, there’s an opportunity. How You Can Steal This Strategy TodayWe’ve all heard about using comments on LinkedIn to your advantage. But this strategy isn’t about engagement, it’s about intentional, strategic demonstrations of your expertise. Here’s how you do it: 1️⃣ Find Active Decision-Makers on LinkedIn Search for founders, CEOs, CMOs, editors, and thought leaders in your niche who post original content. Bonus points if their engagement is low compared to their follower count. Before commenting, follow them for a while and study their style. Pro Tip: A quick way to find them is to search for “[Industry] + [Role title]” on LinkedIn, filter by “Posts,” and see who’s writing. 2️⃣ Look for Posts That Need Help If a post is insightful but poorly written, you have an opportunity. Low engagement means the audience isn’t resonating. If it’s riddled with jargon or fluff, you can improve clarity. 3️⃣ Leave a “Value-Add” Comment Don’t just comment. Deliver value. Take one key point from the original post and improve it in your response. Be respectful but bold. Remember, your goal is to make them look better, not call them out, but don’t shy away from addressing obvious issues. Pro Tip: Ask a follow-up question to keep the conversation going—it increases the chance they engage with your comment and check out your profile. 4️⃣ Slide Into the DMs (the Right Way) Once they engage with your comment, send a warm DM to continue the conversation. Here’s an example: “Hey [Name], I loved your post on hiring trends, but noticed the message could be a little clearer. I actually help leaders turn insights into high-engagement LinkedIn content. If you’re looking to amplify your brand, I’d love to chat! No pressure, just wanted to reach out.” Keep it short, direct, and low-pressure. Your goal isn’t to sell in the first message—it’s to start a conversation. This Works… But Only If You Do ItA lot of freelancers aren’t willing to take bold steps like Anna did because they’re stuck in old habits. But in 2025, the market has changed. Bidding on job boards and sending cold emails isn’t enough to land clients anymore. Anna stepped into conversations where her ideal clients were already talking. And that one choice changed her freelance career overnight. If you’ve been struggling to find better clients, bigger projects, and higher rates, give this approach a try this week. Let me know what happens. I’d love to feature your story next! 🧐 Cody’s Top PicksThis is the part where I share some of the content I’ve been enjoying lately. Hope you enjoy! (This section may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I’ll earn a small percentage, which helps support this free newsletter at no extra cost to you.)
“Originality implies being bold enough to go beyond accepted norms.” — Anthony Storr, Psychologist
💼 Jobs for Writers1. Branden Laske is looking for a writer to help with senior living content creation.
2. Internet Brands Publishing is looking for automotive online quiz writers.
3. Clare Trapasso from New American Funding is looking for experienced freelance writers to create educational content for homeowners.
4. Alexandra Volynets is seeking freelance eSports writers to help staff Growica’s content department.
5. WebsitePlanet is looking for freelance VPN and cybersecurity writers to create educational articles (paid training included).
6. Digital Trends is looking for freelance home design and home improvement writers.
7. MF Productions LLC is looking for an SEO content writer to create health and wellness articles (20 hours per week, potential growth to full-time)
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How to Use Pricing Psychology to Attract Better Writing Clients
Pricing your freelance writing services is tough. Knowing these three psychology principles gives you a big advantage.
