7-Day Freelance Business Sprint

Welcome to this week’s guest article, adapted from a video by Jamie Brindle. We encourage you to visit Jamie’s YouTube channel for more insights on building a successful freelance business.

Are you stuck in a job and dreaming of starting your own freelance business? Maybe you’re already freelancing but don’t have clear systems in place. This guide is for you.

I’m going to show you exactly how to go from no clients and no clarity to a high value, scalable and sustainable freelance business in seven days or at least how to get started.

What This Guide Covers

This is not a fluffy motivational guide. It’s a step-by-step road map. You’ll get practical tools, templates, and strategies that six-figure freelancers use right now.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• • • • • How to pick a freelance niche that people actually pay for
        • How to craft an offer that feels like a no-brainer to clients
        • How to create a portfolio even if you have zero client work
        • How to land your first freelance job fast
        • How to build a system that helps you replace your 9-to-5 income without burning out

You’ll also get daily homework tasks. These will help you take real action this week. At the end of seven days, you’ll have something that actually works.

Why This Approach Works

Most people think they need a perfect website first. Or a thousand followers. Or a personal brand. Not true.  What you really need is simple. You need a clear offer. You need a valuable problem to solve. And you need a way to get in front of the right people.  Freelancing isn’t about building a huge operation overnight. It’s about building a tiny system that wins your first $1,000 client. Then that client becomes a $2,000 client. Then you land a $5,000 client. Before you know it, you’re free.

Who This Is For

This guide is for people in different situations:

• • • • • You’re still in a job but dreaming of working for yourself
        • You’re a designer, writer, marketer, developer, VA, or strategist
        • You’re already freelancing but don’t have systems yet
        • You’re thinking about starting but feel paralyzed by lack of information

If any of these describe you, keep reading. This guide will walk you through the launch process. You’ll leave with a road map and the confidence to take action this week.

How to Use This Guide

Each section covers one day of the seven-day sprint. Follow the daily steps. Complete the homework. Use the checklists and scripts provided. This is a proper master class. It’s free. It’s detailed. It’s everything you need to get started now, not months from now. Let’s dive in.

Day 1 — Choose Your Freelance Lane (Problem-First)

Your first step is simple. Figure out what kind of freelancer you’re going to be. Not what services you’ll offer. Not what your title is. But what problem you solve and who needs it solved.  Most new freelancers get this wrong. They pick something too vague. “Graphic designer” or “anything creative” won’t help you stand out. It makes finding clients harder. It also makes pricing harder.

Business is the exchange of money for solutions to problems.

The more specific your problem, the easier it is to find clients. The more painful the problem, the more you can charge.

Why Vague Labels Don’t Work

When you call yourself a “graphic designer,” nobody knows what you really do. Do you design logos? Social media graphics? Packaging? Websites? Clients don’t hire titles. They hire solutions. If you can’t clearly explain the problem you solve, clients won’t know if you’re the right fit. Vague labels also make lead generation a nightmare. You waste time explaining yourself. Clients waste time figuring out if you can help. It’s slow and frustrating for everyone.

Start With Problem-First Thinking

Instead of asking “What services do I want to offer?” ask this:

• What real-world problems can I solve?
• Who wants those problems solved?
• Who is actively searching for a solution right now?

This shift changes everything. You move from being a generic service provider to an easy yes. You become the obvious choice for a specific type of client.

Three Exercises to Find Your Lane

Grab a blank sheet of paper or open a new document. Work through these three questions.

Exercise 1: List Your Monetizable Skills

What skills do you already have that could help someone make money, save time, or remove risk?  Those are the three things clients actually pay for. Make money. Save time. Remove risk. If your skill doesn’t do one of these things, it’s not a freelance business yet. Think about what you know how to do. Writing. Design. Strategy. Marketing. Editing. Operations. Development. Virtual assistance. All of these can solve real problems.

Exercise 2: Inventory Your Past Experiences

Where have you already solved problems like this before? Look at your 9-to-5 job. Look at volunteer work. Look at side projects. Look at things you’ve done for friends or family. You don’t need to have been paid for it. You just need to have done it. Experience counts even if it wasn’t official.

Exercise 3: Identify Who You Naturally Understand

Who do you naturally understand? Who do you already know?  This could be an industry you’ve worked in. A role you’ve held. A network you’re part of. This is your edge. Trust builds faster when you understand someone’s world. You grow faster when you already have connections. Prioritize industries that are over-represented in your network. If you have friends and family in one field, give that field a hard look. You’ll grow there much faster than starting from zero.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t just pick your last job title and try to sell it as a service. That’s lazy. It won’t work. Don’t try to serve everyone, even if you technically could. Specificity is rewarded, especially when you’re starting out. Don’t choose a niche that isn’t actively spending money. You’ll enter a world of pain if you target people who don’t buy. Always remember: people don’t buy services. They buy solutions to problems they care about.

Pressure-Test Your Idea Fast

Want to know if your idea has legs? Go to job markets like Upwork, Fiverr, or Contra. Search keywords related to the lane you’re thinking of choosing. Ask yourself:

• Are people hiring for this?
• What kind of clients are posting requests?
• What words do they use to describe their pain?

Copy a few job posts. Paste them into ChatGPT. Ask it to map out the most common problems for that niche. This takes five minutes and gives you real market data.

Your Day 1 Win

By the end of day one, you win if you have a working hypothesis for your freelance lane. This isn’t your forever niche. It’s not your dream brand. It’s just a clear direction.Clarity creates momentum. Momentum beats perfection every time.

Day 1 Homework

Complete these three tasks before moving on:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Write down what skills you want to monetize. What do you know how to do that you want to put to work?
            2. Brainstorm three to five types of people or businesses you want to help. Prioritize industries where you already have connections.
            3. Choose one lane to commit to for the rest of this week. Pick one problem you’re going to solve. Stick with it for the full seven days.

On day two, you’ll take this positioning and turn it into an offer. You’ll make it easy for clients to see the return on their investment. But first, you need to know what lane you’re in. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Pick something. Test it. Adjust later if needed. Action beats overthinking.

Day 2 — Package Your Offer and Price Strategically

Now it’s time to turn your niche into an offer that people actually want to pay for. This is where most freelancers fail. They describe what they do, not what they solve. When you say “I do graphic design” or “I build websites,” clients hear something different. They hear “I’m generic” or “I’m replaceable.” They hear “I’m hard to justify at a premium.”  Day two is about fixing that. It’s about turning your skill set into a solution.

They buy outcomes. Clients aren’t hiring you for your skill. They’re hiring you to fix a business problem.

Why “I Do X” Is Weak

People don’t buy services. They buy solutions. They buy outcomes. Clients aren’t hiring you because of your skill. They’re hiring you to fix a business problem. Ask yourself two questions. What pain is this client trying to eliminate? What result would they happily pay for? This is how you go from freelancer to valuable business asset. Or as some call it, strategic partner.

The Three-Part Offer Formula

Use this simple formula to build a minimum viable offer. Something simple, sellable, and profitable. Here are the three parts:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. What problem do you solve?
               2. For whom do you solve that problem?
               3. To what result do you solve that problem?

Write these down. Pause and fill in the blanks. This formula is critical.

Examples of Strong Offers

Here’s how this plays out in real life:

• “I write launch emails for new SaaS products to help drive early traction.”
• “I build Notion dashboards for consultants who need to clean up their workflow.”
• “I do product photography for small e-commerce brands so they stop losing attention on their landing page.”

You should be able to say your offer in ten seconds or less. Imagine explaining it to a friend at a bar. If you need a paragraph to explain what you do, your offer is not ready yet. Simplify it.

How to Price Your Offer

Here’s a pricing tip you won’t find in most freelancing videos. Don’t price what the market says you should price. Don’t price what you need to survive. Price what it would cost you to subcontract the job and live off the margin.  Do a little research. Figure out how much it would cost you to hire another freelancer at your skill level to get the job done. Then put a percentage on top of that. That percentage is your margin.

A Real-World Example

Let’s say you want to make $80,000 a year. You can take on forty projects a year. That’s a small productized offer. You want a 25% buffer for margin.

With those numbers, you’re not taking projects under $2,500.

Pricing this way gives you room to grow. It helps you build a business instead of building a job. If you only make money when you’re at work, you don’t own a business. You own a job. You need something that doesn’t rely on you being at the desk to generate income.

Think of Pricing as a Goal

You might think, “Nobody’s going to pay me that much money as I’m getting started.” Or you might look at your network and say, “I’ve got no direct path to somebody that can pay me that much in these first three months.”  That’s fine. Think of this number as a goal. It’s the direction you’re heading with your price. Maybe put it at the top of the bracket when you present a budget range to a client.  Just always remember: negotiate the scope of work, not your fee.

Don’t Price Your Wallet

Don’t price your wallet. Price your clients.  If you’re looking at your network and thinking, “Who would pay that for this?” you’d be surprised. Don’t give up before you even get started. Have a couple of attempts at that number. At that floor rate. Test it. See what happens.

Give Your Service a Structure

Want to sound like an expert? Give your service a structure. Give it some branding.  Try names like “Three-Phase Launch Email System” or “Brand Clarity Sprint” or “Visual Upgrade Package.”  Most freelancers have a process, but they don’t name it. When you name it, you own it. You’re planting your flag in it. It makes you look ten times more professional.  If you can name it in a way that conveys exactly what it is, it’s an excellent form of expert communication. It shows your efficacy to a client.

Day 2 Homework

Your job today is to package your offer in a way that’s clear and valuable. Answer these five questions:

1. What service are you offering?
2. Who’s it for?
3. What specific result does it deliver?
4. What’s the minimum you need to charge to hit your goals?
5. Can you name your process or framework in a simple way?

Write your offer down using the fill-in-the-blank sentence: “I solve _____ problem for _____ person to deliver _____ result.”  Then get to work on pricing and framework. On day three, we’ll take this offer and design your delivery process.

Day 3 — Design Your Delivery Process (Onboarding → Delivery)

Today you’ll build a simple, professional freelance process. This will help clients trust you even if you’ve never done this before.  Most freelancers waste weeks or months on things that don’t matter. They focus on fancy portfolios, websites, or even business cards. But what you really need is a basic system. You need to know what happens when a client says yes. You need to know how to keep things moving. And you need to deliver in a way that inspires trust for future work.

The foundation of any successful freelance business isn’t landing new clients. It’s landing repeat clients.

That’s where you get the trophy. Today we’re going to build that system. You don’t need fancy software. You just need clarity.

Stage One: Onboarding

Onboarding happens after a client says yes and before you do any work. You need to make this experience smooth, confident, and repeatable.  As humans, we remember the beginnings and ends of things. This is the beginning of your working relationship with a client. You want to make it memorable for the right reasons. You want to get them excited that they just made a fantastic hire. Here’s what to include in this stage:

A welcome message. This could be an email or a Loom video if you want to personalize it. Dealer’s choice.

An intake questionnaire. Use Typeform, Google Forms, or Notion. This is how you gather inputs from the client. You’ll need things like assets, billing information, and contact information for relevant parties. This will be different for every type of service and every offer.

A kickoff date and delivery timeline. This is your production schedule. It includes when clients will see things they need to assess. It includes when their notes are due. It’s not just what you’re on the hook for. It’s what they’re on the hook for too. When are assets due? When are notes due? What happens when any of that changes? If they’re two days late on their notes, that could have a week-long impact on the final delivery schedule. You want to get everybody on the same page about their responsibilities.

Pro tip: clients don’t expect fancy here. They expect clarity. Keep this stuff as short and simple as possible. Remember, they’re entering a new world by working with you. You’re the expert. This is your realm. They don’t know all the jargon. They don’t know the ins and outs of your profession. You want to keep it as simple and as not terrifying to them as humanly possible.

After payment comes in, just send a short email. Say something like: “Awesome. I’ll send you a Google form today and grab everything I need. I’ll have a first draft for you by Thursday. Check the production schedule attached.” That makes you instantly sound legit. No jargon. No paragraphs of fancy words. You’re just letting them know what’s coming down the pike.

Stage Two: Pre-Production

Pre-production is all about getting aligned before you waste time building something that’s off strategy. This is where you confirm the goal of the project. Ask clarifying questions about their audience, tone, or brand. Share examples, samples, or references to make sure you’re all on the same page when it comes to implementation.

Think of this as your quality insurance step. It’s how you prevent those awkward “oh, this isn’t what we were hoping for” conversations. A lot of creatives desperately try to avoid those in the early days.

Get their sign-off on direction here before moving on to the next step. You want approval on pre-production. Tell your clients: “I want to iterate on the cheap side of this project.” It’s very easy to iterate and handle notes when you’re working with a draft, like a pencil sketch. It’s a lot more costly in time and dollars to iterate on the other side of the project when everything’s been produced and everything’s locked.

Changing something at that stage means unpacking all this work that’s already been done, making that small change, and then redoing all the work you’d already done.

Stage Three: Production

Production is where the work happens. This is also where most freelancers disappear. You don’t need to update your client every hour. But you do need to keep them confident that the project’s moving.

There’s a lot of invisible work that’s likely going to be done. You know it’s happening, but your client doesn’t know what’s happening. To them, they just dropped a bunch of money in your lap, signed off on pre-production, and then you disappeared.

Let’s hedge against that in this stage. Include a midpoint check-in. Send them something like: “Hey, this is just a quick update. Everything’s on track. We’re going to get you delivery on Thursday. When that happens, you’ll have 3 days to review. Standby. We’re working hard for you.”

Also helpful is a basic project tracker. Clients don’t have to rely on your communication. They can just check in whenever they want. This can be hosted on Notion or Trello. Or it can be an automated email you send with a checklist.

Pro tip: go ahead and create that checklist of steps for each problem you solve, for each thing you offer. Make that checklist now so you don’t have to do it every time you land a new client.

Stage Four: Delivery

The project isn’t done when the file is sent. The project is done when the client feels like the job was handled end to end.

Here’s what to include here:

Final file delivery. Put it in a nice, clean Google folder, Drive, or transfer file. Whatever you want to use there.

A wrap-up email. Include what you delivered, a short thank you, and optionally (but definitely, if you’re asking me) a short pitch for the next gig. This is something you ideally have teased during the project. Maybe you’ve had a quick 5- or 10-minute meeting about it before delivery.

What’s the next thing? What’s the next problem they’re likely going to be solving once you hand them this thing? Once your client has the website, then what do they have to do? What’s the next problem they have to solve to make more money, save more time, or mitigate more risk? Or once you hand them the logo, then what are they going to do with that logo? What problem do they have now that you can solve?

In that final email, tease that next project. I like to act as if we’ve almost already decided that we’re going to go ahead with it. You know, I deliver the final and then say: “And then let’s schedule something for Thursday to chat about this.” Just get it on their calendar.

Optional bonus moves here at the delivery stage: ask for a testimonial. Send them a quick guided link. Say: “Hey, answer these three questions.” Those answers are great for your testimonials. You could also ask for a referral, though that’s not my favorite go-to, especially with a first-time client. Usually I’m asking for a referral on like the third or fourth project with a client. But I figured I’d add that into your bonus moves here.

Why This Matters

Repeat clients are the foundation of sustainable freelancing. A clear process reduces scope creep and increases trust. When you have a system, you can deliver quality work without burning out. You can encourage repeat business. And you can build a freelance career that lasts.

Day 3 Homework

Today’s goal is to create your delivery process using four stages. In a doc, write these down:

Item number one: What happens when a client says yes? That’s your onboarding stage.

Item number two: How will you align before you get started implementing? That’s your pre-production stage.

Item number three: What will your production flow look like? When will you update your clients? How are you internally going to go about delivering this product?

Item number four: How will you wrap the project professionally? What does your delivery look like?

I want you to have this stuff buttoned up before you have your first client. I don’t want you laying this track in front of the train. I don’t want you thinking, “Oh, what was I supposed to do here?” Have it all written out. Take that off your plate. You’ve got your process figured out.  When you do land a client, you just read the instructions. Stage one, I’m going to do this. Stage two, I’m going to do this. Stage three, I’m going to do this. Stage four, I’m going to do this. And at the end of those four stages, I’m going to have this client ready for a second project. I’m going to get paid again.  Don’t build something fancy. Just build something that works. You’ll already be ahead of 90% of freelancers. Trust me.  On day four, create an advanced portfolio, even if you’ve never worked with a client before.

Day 4 — Build a Portfolio (No Client Work? No Problem)

Today we tackle one of the biggest roadblocks for new freelancers. Building a portfolio when you have zero client work. This is a real problem. Most people sit around waiting for a client before they create any examples. That’s a mistake. It’s nearly impossible to land your first few clients without proof that you can do the work.

A portfolio isn’t just a collection of screenshots. It’s proof that you know how to solve the problem that your leads are already thinking about.

The good news? You don’t need paid client work to build a strong portfolio. You just need evidence that you understand the problem and can deliver a real solution.

Why You Can’t Wait for Client Work

Here’s the truth. If you wait for a client before building a portfolio, you’ll be waiting a long time. The first few months of freelancing are tough. It’s hard to find clients when you have nothing to show. Most freelancers feel stuck and helpless at this stage. Some even give up. But you don’t need client work to prove your value. You just need to show that you can solve the problem your ideal client is facing. Today we’re going to build exactly that.

Think Case Studies, Not Gallery

Your portfolio isn’t a gallery of pretty screenshots. It’s a set of case studies. Each case study should answer three simple questions. What was the problem? How did you approach solving it? What was the outcome? You can answer these questions even if you made the project up yourself. That’s the beauty of personal projects. They let you prove your skills before you have paying clients.

How to Create Realistic Sample Projects

Start by choosing a realistic prompt from the real world. Then solve it as if you were hired to do the work. Here are some examples based on different freelance lanes:

For restaurant work: Redesign a local cafe’s signage and menu. Make it better. Show how your design would help them attract more customers or increase ticket sales.

For creator work: Write landing page copy for a course that doesn’t exist yet. Show how your copy would drive sign-ups or increase conversions.

For B2B startups: Create an onboarding sequence for a fake SaaS product. Show how your work would improve user activation or reduce churn.

If you’re coming up empty, here’s a pro tip. Go to Upwork or Contra. Scan the job posts. Find a request that matches your offer. Then act like you won that job and go do the work. You could also treat yourself as the client if that makes sense for your offer.

How to Frame Personal Projects Like a Pro

First, label your work clearly. Don’t try to fool anyone. Call it what it is. Say “personal concept project” or “spec work” or “problem-solving sample.” Honesty builds trust. Next, explain who the project is for. What was the challenge? How did you approach it? Walk people through your thinking. This shows that you understand the problem, not just the tools. Finally, use mock data or context from real-world examples to make your work feel grounded. You might not have primary data yet. You can’t say “my clients see a 28% boost in conversions.” But you can do secondary research. Find industry norms. Show what usually happens when someone implements a solution like yours.

For example, if you’re redesigning a menu, research what certain design choices do to ticket sales. If you’re writing landing page copy, look up how adding a video typically affects click-through rates. This makes your case study feel real and credible.

Add Credibility With Supporting Details

Clients don’t care if you were paid for the work. They care if it looks like you can solve their problem. So optimize for that. Show them you understand the problem. Show them you have a process. Show them what the outcome could be.

Here’s how to package each sample project:

Write a one-paragraph case study. Keep it short. Explain the problem, your approach, and the potential outcome. Make it easy to scan.

Record a 30-second Loom walkthrough. Add a little personality. Explain your process. Show how you worked through the problem. This helps clients see you as a real person, not just a portfolio.

Use mock data to estimate outcomes. If you can, include numbers. Say something like “Based on industry norms, this design could increase conversions by 15%.” This makes your work feel more valuable.

Where to Host Your Portfolio

Don’t get stuck building a fancy website. Unless you’re a developer and it’s an afternoon of work for you, skip it. Even then, you’ll probably get precious with it and spend two months on it. Don’t do that.

Keep it simple. Here are some fast options:

Google Drive folder. This is where most of my portfolio lived for the majority of my career. It works. It’s fast. It’s free.

Notion page. Clean and professional. Easy to update. Great for case studies with text and images.

Figma. Perfect if you’re a designer. You can showcase your work and your process in one place.

LinkedIn featured section. Pin your best projects to your profile. This is an interesting move because your portfolio lives where clients are already looking.

The objective is to get this done as quickly as possible. Optimize for speed, not perfection. Choose one option and move forward.

Pair Each Sample With Context

Don’t just drop a file and call it done. Pair each sample with a short write-up. Explain who it’s for. Explain why you made the choices you made. Explain what the results of that solution could be.

If you can, add a 30-second Loom video. Walk through your process. Add some personality. This makes your portfolio feel more human and more real.

Day 4 Homework

Here’s what you need to do today:

Choose one to two sample projects. Base them on the problem you solve and the niche you solve it for. Either come up with ideas on your own or find them on Upwork or Contra.

Solve a real problem using your freelance skill set. Don’t get too precious with it. Just make an example of your solution. Give yourself 24 hours max. If you’re watching this in the morning, make it today.

Add a short write-up. Write one paragraph. Explain who it’s for, why you did what you did, and what the results of that solution were.

Record a quick Loom. Walk through your process. Keep it under 30 seconds. Add personality.

Package it all. Put it in a Notion page, a Google folder, or LinkedIn featured section. Make it easy to share.

Get all of this done today. On day five, use this portfolio to activate your network. You’ll learn how to start getting work from people you already know, even if they don’t seem like your ideal clients yet.

Day 5 — Activate Your Network (Warm Outreach & Referral Army)

Today you’ll learn how to get work from people you already know. This is the fastest way to land your first freelance gigs. You don’t need to find strangers. You just need to let people who already know you send work your way.

You don’t need to find strangers to hire you. You just need to let other people that already know you send work your way.

Most freelancers start too cold. They build a portfolio. They post once or twice on social media. Then they jump straight to job boards like Upwork or Contra. They’re renting someone else’s lead generation instead of building their own. That can work. But if you skip activating your network, you miss the easiest path to early gigs. Bar none. Hands down.

Why Warm Beats Cold

Reaching out to your existing network is the fastest, highest-conversion route to early work. These people already know you. They like you. They trust you. That’s huge. You’re one introduction away from your first or next client. But only if they understand what you do and who you help. Today’s goal is simple. Reach out to people who already know, like, and trust you. Give them an easy way to refer you. Turn them into your referral army.

The Messaging Framework (No-Cringe Script)

You’re not begging for work. You’re activating people who are already in your corner. People want to help. But they forget. Your job is to remind them you exist in a generous way, not a needy way. Here’s a simple script that gets you leads without sounding desperate:

“Hey [Name], I wanted to share something I’m working on. I’m officially offering [specific service] for [type of client] to help with [type of outcome]. If you know anyone who could use help with that, feel free to connect us. No pressure at all. You can just forward this email. Just wanted to put it on your radar.”

Include a link to one or two portfolio samples. Make referring effortless for them.

Example for a Designer

“Hey Jen, just launched my freelance design offer. I’m working with small food and beverage brands to upgrade their packaging and product visuals. If you know anyone in that world, I’d love an intro.” Then include a link to your Notion page or Google Drive. Encourage them to forward the email. It takes zero effort on their part. They get to help you for the low price of clicking forward and typing in a friend’s name.

Important Note: Not a Mass Blast

This is not a mass email blast. It’s a targeted, friendly check-in. One to one.  Each email should be handmade. Don’t just copy and paste. Make each one feel personal. Reference something specific from your relationship with that person. You don’t want them to feel like they got a mass text that fifty other people received.

Your Target List

Start with these people:

• • • • • Old co-workers
        • Family members
        • Friends
        • Past clients from any previous work, even your 9-to-5
        • LinkedIn connections who are active
        • Internet buddies you’ve had conversations with over the years

Prioritize quality over volume. Make your goal to send ten to twenty messages. Not one. Not one hundred. Somewhere in the middle. You want to optimize for quality of messaging. Make sure you’re actually activating members in your network who likely have a few people they could throw your way.

Keep People Warm

Even if no one responds immediately, trust me, they’re noticing. They’re keeping watch. Keep these people warm with simple actions:

• • • • • Post portfolio pieces on LinkedIn or Instagram
        • Share strategies and insights on social media
        • Comment on their content so they get used to seeing your face
        • Send quick congrats when they post big news

People want to help, but they forget. Remind them you exist. Support them in their journey. They’ll probably try to find a way to support you back.

Day 5 Homework

Complete these five tasks today:

1. Write your three-part network message. Use the script above. Fill in your specific service, client type, and outcome.
2. Make a list of 15 to 20 people you can send it to. Think old co-workers, family, friends, past clients, and active LinkedIn connections.
3. Send 10 personalized messages today. Handcraft each one. Reference something personal when possible.
4. Reply to any warm leads right away. Speed matters when someone shows interest.
5. Post one portfolio piece to social. Share it on LinkedIn or Instagram with a short caption. Say something like: “Hey, just wrapped up this sample project. I’m really excited to be kicking off this journey. Let me know if you know anyone who’s trying to solve this problem.”

Remember, people buy solutions to problems. They’re not buying your portfolio piece. They’re buying the outcome it represents.  On day six, we’ll dig into cold leads. You’ll learn how to use job boards like a pro. You’ll also get a copy-paste template that actually gets replies on sites like Upwork.

Day 6 — Use Job Boards Strategically (Upwork, Contra, Fiverr)

Today you’ll learn how to use job boards without wasting time. You don’t need to live on Upwork. You just need to know how to use it the smart way. This means landing work without selling your soul or your entire calendar.

Job boards work if you know how to use them strategically, not desperately.

What Most Freelancers Get Wrong

Here’s what everyone gets wrong about job boards. Most freelancers either spend hours scrolling through Upwork and never reply to anything because they think they’re unqualified. Or they only see trash jobs on the feed. Or they apply to everything and burn out after 15 ghosted proposals. They pay money for connections and get nothing. Just radio silence. The truth is simple. Job boards work if you know how to use them strategically, not desperately.

Reframe Job Boards as Databases

Think of Upwork, Contra, and Fiverr as databases. You can use them to see what kind of work people are actually hiring for. You can spy on pricing expectations. You can steal real-world language for your offer page, case studies, and messaging. These platforms show you what clients are searching for right now. Use that information to your advantage.

Search Smart: Filter by Problem, Not Skill

Here’s a pro tip when searching on these platforms. Don’t just search by skill. Don’t filter by “graphic designer” and call it a day. Search by problem instead. Search for terms like “launch strategy” or “customer onboarding” or “content repurposing.” This helps you understand the language your ideal clients use to find your solution. That’s also where you’ll find clients who know what they want. Those are the people most likely to pay real money for real help.

How to Apply Without Wasting Time

Once you find a good match, it’s time to apply. Nobody wants to read a six-paragraph proposal. Usually, shorter proposals win. Put yourself in the client’s shoes. Better yet, post a job on Upwork yourself to understand what the client experiences. They likely have 20 to 70 applications to review. Imagine opening application number 28 and it’s six paragraphs long. Are you even going to bother? Or will you just move on to the next one? Clients are looking for confidence, clarity, and a reason to book a call. That’s it.

Use the Cold Pitch Template

In this case, it’s okay to copy and paste. Here’s a simple framework:

“Hi [client name]. Just read your listing. This sounds like something I’d be great for. I’ve helped similar [business or industry] solve [similar problem] by [quick summary of what you do]. I have a few ideas just from reading the post. Would you be open to a quick call or a Loom walkthrough?”

That’s three sentences. In a short and confident way, you’ve demonstrated that you have a history of solving their problem. You’ve also pushed the conversation forward. You’re saying “let’s get on the phone so I can show you what working with me is like.”

There’s not much you can do with text in a message. You want to get them on a phone call. Or at the very least, send over a Loom video.

Record a One-Minute Loom

If possible, record a one-minute Loom for each proposal. Say “here’s what I do” and walk them through your thinking. This shows personality. It helps you stand out. Most freelancers don’t do this, so you’ll immediately look different. Clients want to see what you’re like as a strategic partner. A quick video gives them that insight in a way text never can.

Quantity vs. Quality: Apply Intentionally

If you apply to five to ten jobs intentionally, you will get replies. You don’t need 50 jobs. You don’t need to shotgun blast Upwork. You just need two or three people to say “yeah, I think this person gets it. Let’s give them a shot.” Once you land one job, you’re no longer untested. You now have a real-world example of solving a problem. You have a testimonial. You have workflow. You have momentum. On any platform, it’s the people with real-world examples that tend to win. It’s the people with high review counts or good testimonials that usually win. Optimize for that from the start.

Day 6 Homework

Complete these four tasks today:

1. Pick one or two platforms to dominate. Rather than trying to master them all, pick Upwork and Contra. Go all in on those two. Understand how they work, what clients are looking for, and what the platform rewards.
2. Search your niche on those platforms. Use the problem-based search method we discussed. Look for language clients use. Look for pricing expectations. Look for job posts that match your offer.
3. Apply to at least three jobs using the proposal template. Use the short, confident framework. Push the conversation toward a call or Loom walkthrough.
4. Record a one-minute Loom for each proposal if possible. Say “here’s what I do, here’s how I can help, let’s talk.” Show your personality. Stand out from the crowd.

On day seven, we’ll wrap up the sprint. You’ll learn how to launch your freelance presence on social media and start building long-term visibility.

Day 7 — Launch Your Freelance Presence on Social

Today you’ll make your freelance business real in the eyes of the internet. Many new freelancers keep their work secret. They wait until they have more clients or more projects to tell the world what they’re doing. But today is the day you put it out there.

You’ll tell the world what you’re offering. You’ll explain who you’re helping. You’ll show people how to work with you. You’re not begging. You’re just making it easy for people to understand what you do and how to hire you.

Social media isn’t about being loud. It’s about being understood.

Why Being Understood Matters

Most people won’t remember your job title. But they will remember your specialty. Instead of posting that you’re available for freelance work, post about how you’ve helped a specific type of client solve a specific problem.

For example, talk about how you’ve helped e-commerce brands clarify their visual identity through strategy and design. Share insights from that industry. Explain how you would solve a common problem if a client came to you with it. Social media is about building awareness and trust. It’s not about being loud or posting every day. It’s about showing up in the rooms that matter and being valuable when you do.

The Three-Part Launch Post Formula

Use this simple formula to write your first launch post. It works great on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Part one: What you’re offering. Say something like “After five years as a [role], I’m officially offering [service]. Here’s the problem I’m solving and here’s how I’m solving it.” Remember, clients pay for solutions. Focus on the problem and the outcome.

Part two: Who it’s for. Explain who this service is designed for. Be specific. Say something like “It’s designed for [specific type of client] who are trying to solve [problem] or hit [goal].”

Part three: What to do next. Tell people how to take action. Say something like “If you’re that person or you know that person, shoot me a DM. I’m happy to strategize and talk tactics on this stuff with you.”

Pair your post with something visual. Use a piece from your portfolio or a case study. You could even just use a picture of yourself. On LinkedIn, pairing text with a photo takes up more screen space. On Instagram, people expect visuals. Make something that’s visually attractive and easy to look at.

Choose the Right Platform

People often ask which platforms they should be active on. The answer is different for every offer. The best platform is the one where your ideal client is most active. For most freelancers, that’s LinkedIn. If your clients are on Instagram, go there. If they’re on Reddit, learn how Reddit works and show up there. If they’re on Facebook, get active in the right Facebook groups for your niche.

The goal isn’t to post every day at first. The goal is to start building awareness and trust in the rooms that matter. Get good at being valuable. Then you can post more often. There is a direct link between how much you put on social media and how much you get back from that effort. But first, master the art of being valuable where your ideal clients are.

Your Content Rhythm

Try this simple rhythm to stay consistent without burning out.

One launch post today. Make it solution-focused and problem-forward. Use the three-part formula above.

One project breakdown or mini case study next week. Don’t just post a portfolio piece. Create something of value from that portfolio piece. Make something people will save and share.

One reminder post every two to three weeks. Keep it simple. Say “This is what I do and who I help.” Remind people you exist and what problem you solve.

Daily engagement in comment sections. This is where the magic really happens when you first get started. The party’s not on your page. The party’s not on your posts. You have to go to where the party is. That’s the top influencers in your niche. Find out who your ideal clients are following and engaging with. Go there and engage in those comment sections. Be valuable a few times a day. Set aside three or four 15-minute blocks each day to engage on your chosen platform.

Think in Content Buckets

Start thinking about what type of content will actually be valuable to your target client. Ask yourself these questions:

• What problems do my clients have?
• What wins can I showcase that would be valuable to them?
• What beliefs or hot takes can I share that would start a conversation in the industry?

Measure everything against value. If it’s not valuable to your ideal client, don’t post it.

Day 7 Homework

Complete these four tasks today:

1. Write and post your launch announcement. Use the three-part formula. Post it on the social platform that’s most active in your niche.
2. DM your network a link to that post. This is another way to activate your network. You’ve already sent emails to some of them. A DM on the platform is less intrusive. Feel free to go broad here. Link them all to that post. Encourage them to engage with it and tag people they think might be interested.
3. Choose one to two platforms to stay active on going forward. Plant your flag in LinkedIn and Facebook, or LinkedIn and Reddit. Decide that these are the places you’re going to show up every day. Engage in comments and post new content at least once a week.
4. Start thinking in terms of content buckets. Write down three to five types of content that would be valuable to your target client. Use these as ideas for future posts.

You’ve now completed the seven-day freelance sprint. You have a clear offer. You have a delivery process. You have a portfolio. You’ve activated your network. You’ve learned how to use job boards. And you’ve launched your freelance presence on social media. We’ll wrap up with next steps and the mindset you need to scale your freelance business.

Conclusion — Next Steps & Mindset to Scale

You’ve just completed the seven-day freelance sprint. You chose a lane. You packaged an offer. You built a portfolio. You documented a delivery process. You activated your network. You applied to targeted job posts. And you launched your social presence. Now you’re in motion. If you’ve been stuck for weeks or months thinking “I just don’t know where to start,” well, now you do. You have a clear road map. You have practical tools. You have a system that works.

What Makes a Freelancer Successful

What makes a freelancer successful isn’t talent. It’s follow through.

There are more talented people than you doing worse than you. There are less talented people than you doing better. Why? Because they took messy action. They showed up every week. They built real relationships. They solved real problems. And they refused to wait until they felt ready. Freelancing isn’t about perfection. It’s about action. You don’t need to wait until everything feels perfect. You just need to take the first few steps.

What’s Possible in 30 to 90 Days

Here’s what’s possible if you stick with this system. In 30 to 90 days, you can land one to two solid clients. You can start earning real revenue. You can refine your offer and make it better. You can build reputation and start getting referrals. You’ll start seeing what it’s like to be in control of your time. From there, you stack projects. You build systems. You scale. You quit your 9-to-5 if that’s your goal. You become the go-to name in your niche. It all starts with one week just like this.

Use This Week as a Blueprint

Treat this guide like a repeatable system. Bookmark it. Re-watch the original video on Jamie Brindle’s YouTube channel. Use it like a blueprint. You don’t need a fancy course. You need a client. You need a system. And you need a few weeks of bravery to prove to yourself that you can do this. Measure your results. See what’s working. Iterate your offer. Adjust your outreach. Keep testing and improving. This is how you build momentum.

Take Action Today

You’ve already started. You’re here. Now it’s time to take the first action. Complete your day one homework. Choose your freelance lane. Write down your offer. Build your first portfolio piece. Reach out to your network. Apply to a job post. Launch your social presence. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Take one small step today. That’s how you build a real freelance business.

Final Encouragement

If this guide helped you, share it with someone who’s stuck in the “thinking about it” phase. Send it to a friend who could be doing better. Help them take action too. And remember, freelancing is about solving problems that people care about. Focus on the outcome. Focus on the value you deliver. Keep showing up. Keep taking action.You’ve got this. Now go build your freelance business.