How to create your freelancing opportunities: Outbound templates for freelancers

Marketing isn’t easy for me; it always makes me break out in a sweat. I worry about bothering people or spamming them. In the past, I'd send out one LOI and, when I heard nothing back, I’d take it as a sign that outbound just wasn’t for me. I’d give up on the whole thing and go back to hoping clients would find me.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if you want to build a sustainable freelance business, you have to get comfortable creating your own opportunities. That’s the heart of it. Outbound marketing—whether it's a cold pitch, a referral ask, or a quick follow-up—isn’t about being pushy. It’s about being proactive.

Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash

As freelancers, we don’t have sales teams filling our calendars for us. We have to take that on ourselves. We do it by letting people know we exist, and by letting them know how we can help.

A few years ago, when work slowed down, I found myself staring at my inbox, wondering how to reach out to potential clients without sounding desperate, or worse, like a nuisance. There was a moment when I genuinely started looking at part-time job listings. I even thought about emailing local businesses to see if they needed a receptionist.

That’s when it hit me: if I’m going to send emails that make me uncomfortable, why not send emails that support my business dreams?

These templates and swipe files are here to help with exactly that. They won’t do the work for you, but they will give you a starting point, so you’re not staring at a blank screen wondering how to advocate for yourself.

Feel free to use them. Make sure they sound like you. And remember: you’re not asking for a favour. You’re offering value to people who might need your services, and you’re creating opportunities for yourself. Not everyone will say “yes” (not everyone will even respond). But that’s okay.

Read my previous post about the difference between outbound and inbound marketing here.