In partnership with

A free newsletter with the marketing ideas you need

The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it.

That’s what this newsletter delivers.

The Marketing Millennials is a look inside what’s working right now for other marketers. No theory. No fluff. Just real insights and ideas you can actually use—from marketers who’ve been there, done that, and are sharing the playbook.

Every newsletter is written by Daniel Murray, a marketer obsessed with what goes into great marketing. Expect fresh takes, hot topics, and the kind of stuff you’ll want to steal for your next campaign.

Because marketing shouldn’t feel like guesswork. And you shouldn’t have to dig for the good stuff.

Sign Up Free

#ad

I used to be great about meeting other freelancers in person, hopping on catch-up calls, and going to local events. Then the pandemic hit right as I had a baby. Toss in a second baby and childcare logistics, and “quick chats” with freelancers or PR folks felt impossible. Paying a sitter to attend an event meant I only went if the ROI was a given.

Now my kids are in public school, and I finally have breathing room again. (Whew!)

This year I made an effort to reconnect with people in person and online, and it paid off. A little financially, but mostly for my sanity. Talking to others who get what it means fto run a freelance business 2025 has been grounding.

Here’s what I did and how you can use these ideas, too.

1. Joined a Virtual Freelance Group

The Association of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) freelancer cohort meets monthly to talk about the industry, support each other, and compare notes across niches. It’s been steady encouragement.

Try this:
Search for a virtual meetup in your niche and commit to one monthly or quarterly call.

2. Judged the Azbees

These are the ASBPE’s awards for business publications. Reading entries and connecting with other judges exposed me to new ideas and writers I never would have found. It’s also good for exposure and industry clout.

Try this:
Volunteer to judge awards or review award applications. It builds credibility and expands your network.

3. Showed Up for Webinars

The good ones remind you that you’re not alone and often lead to real conversations afterward, especially when they show the attendees’ names.

Try this:
Attend one webinar a month and ask a question during the event in the chat. DM the host with a thank you and start a conversation.

4. Went to In-Person Events

A Long Island women in small business meetup led me to reconnect with a former Redbook editor. MWBE and Qwoted events introduced me to business owners, freelancers, and new PR contacts.

Try this:
Pick one local event per quarter. Look for small business groups, Chamber of Commerce events, meetups for professionals in your niche, or coworking panels.

5. Scheduled Coffee Talks

Catching up with editors and freelance friends sparked new ideas, opportunities, and made me feel like my temporary business struggles weren’t personal.

Try this:
Reach out to three people you want to reconnect with and book short coffee chats for early 2026.

Freelancers get painted as introverts who never leave their laptops, but getting out of your bubble leads to ideas, collaborations, and people who get your world. The emotional payoff alone is worth it.

If you want more community-building ideas, Minolta Walker shared great ones on my blog.

Thank you for being here and reading!

Diana

Add These Newsletters to Your Inbox

Thriving Freelance: Gigs and Growth: If you love getting more freelance jobs in your inbox, you’ll appreciate the work Meet Harlow’s team does to deliver these to your email each week.

Creator spotlight: Thoughtful interviews with professionals you probably already know and follow, written by Francis Zierer and team

Big Desk Energy: A newsletter from Beehiiv’s founder, Tyler Denk, which includes startup stories and relevant industry news

What I’m Reading📚 / Listening To🎧 / Writing💻 / Watching 📺

What I posted on LinkedIn: The importance of executives showing up consistently on LinkedIn (not just updating the company’s page) to build credibility, trust, and a following.

(BTW, thought leadership ghostwriting for executives is a new service I’m offering to business owners, leaders, and professionals who want to build up a presence on LinkedIn. Get in touch if this is something you’re interested in.)

What I’m listening to: This podcast from entrepreneur/coach Chelsi Jo on end-of-year systems and getting set up for next year has me motivated to improve my processes to optimize productivity

What I published on the blog: How to get into freelance writing

What I’m watching: I’m watching way too many romantic Hallmark Holiday Movies

How 15 Small Brands Achieved Remarkable Marketing Results

Stop believing you need a big budget to make an impact. Our latest collection highlights 15 small brands that transformed limited resources into significant market disruption through innovative thinking.

• Case studies revealing ingenious approaches to common marketing challenges

• Practical tactics that delivered 900%+ ROI with minimal investment

• Strategic frameworks for amplifying your brand without amplifying your budget

These actionable insights can be implemented immediately, regardless of your team or budget size. See how small brands are making big waves in today's market.

Get the case studies for free here.

#ad

Freelance / Content / Media / Editor/ Writing Jobs I Found

This roundup includes freelance writing jobs, media jobs, FT jobs, creative jobs, and content writing jobs for creatives. Good luck!

(This is a sampling from a variety of websites. Check out the jobs that would be a good fit for you with this list of 50 Job Websites for Freelancers)

• Freelance copywriter for website designs, Halstead Media Group, up

• Free to $28/hour

• Digital content fellow for Major League Baseball, about $30/hour

• Submit your life essay and be reimbursed up to $2,000

• Freelance copywriter for The Boutique COO, up to $45/hour, remote

• Freelance video editor for Glamnetic, ongoing work for the next few months

Let’s Work Together!

• Ready to get personalized feedback on your freelance business? I’m now booking December 1:1 coaching sessions; it’s a 40-minute call + an edit of a 600-word piece of your choice. If you don’t see a time that works, just hit reply or email me to find a slot that works. [Recent coaching client Mary said:  Diana's own first-person experience as both a former magazine staffer and hiring editor, as well as her experience as a freelance content creator, has so much to offer freelancers at any stage of their career.]

• Enroll in my limited-time Black Friday Cyber Monday online course deal for Get Paid to Write. Sign up on Teachable by 12/6 and you’ll get a FREE edit from me!

• Book a sponsored slot advertising in my newsletter in NOVEMBER or DECEMBER (Join brands like Morning Brew, Shortform, Fiverr, HUBSPOT, Get Response, Freshbooks, Found, Authory, and more)

• Hire my freelance writing company, DKL Content Services Inc., to help with SEO content writing, ghost writing, thought leadership, newsletter writing, and copywriting services. I’m a NY State and NYC MWBE-certified business.

• This post may contain some affiliate links.