AWeber
One of the biggest challenges I hear from freelancers is that work is inconsistent. It takes a lot of unpaid networking and business building time to keep a steady flow of work coming in as an independent contractor.
So what if I told you that emails freelancers can send can be used to provide you a steady flow of work?
Most freelancers email their clients about current projects and some cold email potential clients to offer their services. But ongoing email marketing efforts can be one of the most affordable ways to generate repeat business as a consultant. Why? Sending out emails keeps you at the forefront of people’s minds.
Get started asap with seven types of emails freelancers can send, to help you boost your freelance business.
Welcome Email
A welcome email just may be the most important email you ever send. Welcome emails are likely to get 4x more opens and 5x more clicks than other email campaigns.
A welcome email is a single email or a series of automated emails freelancers can send to spark some engagement. Your new subscribers will receive a welcome email as soon as they sign up for your list.
So with such an attentive audience, it’s the perfect opportunity to wow your new audience and starts building their trust. A welcome email is your chance to tell people about you, your business, and your services.
Your welcome emails should include:
- Information about you and your business, show your personality.
- Don’t be afraid to brag. Highlight some of your past accomplishments.
- Include a few testimonials or case studies from past clients.
- Set expectations of how frequently and what they may see in future emails.
The right welcome email will help build a stronger connection with new customers and leads. As a freelancer, it is important to form a relationship as early on as possible.
Welcome Email Example:
Bitski does a great job by:
- Setting the foundation for what subscribers can expect from their brand.
- Showing their personality (just read their copy)
- Giving a sneak preview of what they’re working on to help their customers
Newsletter
As a freelancer, you can create a newsletter to stay in contact with people who may want to hire you down the road. By keeping your services at the forefront of their minds, you increase the odds of being contacted if the need for your services ever arises.
Great newsletters often provide value-driven content centered around your clients and potential clients.
Here are some ideas of what you can include in your newsletters:
- Educational content that provides value to your clients.
- Case studies of recent projects you’ve worked on. Don’t be shy to boast about your great accomplishments.
- Promote new services or special deals
- How-to video
- Anything that provide a perceived value can be included in your newsletter
Newsletters can be sent out weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Set the expectation upfront with how often you’ll be emailing your list. If you established that this will be a weekly newsletter, then that’s how often you should be sending.
Newsletter Example:
This is a great newsletter example from Webflow. They’re providing additional value to their audience by offering a conference, course, and success story video from the CEO. This type of newsletter helps establish Webflow as a thought leader in their space.
Think of the type of value-driven content you can send your audience.
Thank You Email
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to reach out with a thank you email. When you complete work for a client or have a call/meeting, always send a thank you as a follow-up.
Your thank-you email will help confirm details about the meeting or services rendered and offers a convenient way to suggest further action (like contacting you again for future work). They are also a professional way to show that their business matters to you.
In some cases, you may be adding clients to your email list for the first time after a meeting or completed project. This is a good opportunity to make sure they have all your contact information by including a digital business card in the email.
Freelance Service Announcement
For special highlights, you can establish a separate message to really help the content stand out. For example, if you start offering a new service, send out a dedicated email making this announcement.
In the service email, you’ll want to describe how the service will benefit your clients. Don’t explain what you do differently. Instead, explain why the client will care.
For example, if you’re a photographer and you now offer aerial shots from a new drone you just purchased, don’t talk about the drone, talk about what these aerial shots will mean for your customers. And of course, show some of the amazing aerial photographs.
Freelance Service Email Example:
This email from Moment takes a very simple approach by showing some of their amazing photography work along with a call to action letting their customers know appointment slots are now available.
Review Request
One of the most powerful tools for any business is word-of-mouth advertising. Freelancing business is no different. The more positive reviews you can get, the more confident clients will feel about your ability to perform.
Always send an email asking for feedback. This shows you care and appreciate their business. And the feedback will help you become a better freelancer.
Use the positive reviews you get to highlight on your website or include them in future newsletters. As soon as you get a feedback response, send out a thank you email for another point of contact.
Review Request Email Example:
Your email requesting feedback doesn’t need to be long. Check out Airbnb’s email. They’re thanking them for choosing Airbnb and explaining why the customer’s feedback is important. That’s all you need for this type of email.
Milestone Email
Celebrate milestones with your clients. You can send out an email to mark the anniversary of the first time you worked with a client. If you have a contact’s date of birth, schedule a happy birthday email.
Milestone emails commemorate the connection you share with your audience. They are a great way to gently nudge your contacts to interact with you. You can use a subtle prompt to encourage an action, like checking out your offerings or considering another project with you. You can also use a milestone email for a big push with a special deal.
Emails freelancers can send, such as milestone emails, need to be upbeat and grateful. Keep the focus on your client rather than your freelancing business.
Automate an email to go out whenever milestones are reached so you won’t forget.
Milestone Email Example:
Wemo has some fun with their anniversary email by incorporating their name in “anniversary”. Don’t feel you need to do this. A simple message will be fine.
Holiday Email
Celebrate holidays that are important to you and your clients. You don’t have to celebrate every holiday. You don’t even have to celebrate the big ones. Choose any holidays that resonate with you or your business.
Holiday emails offer another key touchpoint with clients and leads. Holidays are exciting and emotional times for many in your client base, so tap into that. Keep your name front and center so you are attached to the holiday in their minds.
Sending out holiday greetings and holiday-themed content is a fun way to change up your typical email series. Try including holiday-centered language, related fun facts, and festive imagery to get the full effect.
Similar to holiday emails, seasonal emails freelancers can send are also beneficial. Apply seasonal topics to products or services you offer. Weather- and season-based emails will help increase the relevance of your emails.
Holiday Email Example:
AWeber sent this email to their customers wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving. Another touchpoint with our customers so they keep AWeber top of mind.
Emails freelancers should send – get started!
Don’t wait to start creating emails for your audience. Send professional emails as a freelancer with ease through AWeber’s services. Get email templates, set campaigns, and more with all the tools you need for email marketing as a freelancer in one convenient place.
Use AWeber to stay connected to your past, present, and potential clients.
Ready to get hired? At Twine, we have dozens of top-quality jobs being posted each and every day. From design to marketing, development to copywriting – there’s a job ready for your skills. Join the marketplace of diverse creative talent here.
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