The *One* business habit every freelancer should do...

I only started it this year.

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Diana Kelly Levey
October 30, 2024

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I wish I did this earlier in my career but I’m applying the ‘better late than never’ mantra to my business this year.

I am making it a habit to ask clients for feedback and testimonials.

I know, I know, you’re probably already cringing and thinking “I could never do that!”

But I challenge you to try it.

I struggle with this a bit, too.

In fact, I added it to my calendar as a pop-up reminder on Wednesdays for the past few months but I probably only did it about three times.

If a client has given you repeat work and you consider them an ongoing client, consider asking for something you can use on your website or on LinkedIn.

Yes, my favorite social platform—LinkedIn for freelancers—has a tool that makes it easy for you to ask for a recommendation.

I’d suggest that if you go that route you email the client first to give them a heads up and request that they are okay with this first.

This lets them know to be on the lookout for that recommendation request.

I sent this email to a B2B health SaaS client a few weeks ago:

Would you be open to writing a review or feedback copy about working with me that I can use on my site?

It’s one of my 2024 goals to get more referral business and ask clients whom I enjoy working with for recommendations.

If you’d be up for it, I can send questions or you’re welcome to check out some on my site for inspiration: https://dianakelly.com/clients/

He didn’t need prompting or suggestions on what to write but if he did, I would have asked him to possibly include a mention of how I handled the difficult subject matter, how I meet or beat my deadlines, our working relationship, and my writing skills.

(Feel free to steal this for your emails to clients.)

Here’s what he came back with:

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Diana Kelly Levey is a writer's writer. She brings a curiosity to projects that help turn briefs alive with more than just words, with ideas. Our relationship isn't simply transactionally writer/editor as Levey goes beyond assignment with a determination to turn a piece in better than expected, even when you expect more from her. --Rocky Rakovic, Dandy

It gave me all the feels for the rest of the day. I thanked him and added it to my site.

I also will post it on my LinkedIn page. Feel free to browse other recommendations I received there for ideas on what to ask clients to share about you.

Remember to thank the client and ask if they’d like a recommendation on LinkedIn from you or if there’s anything else you can do to support them in their careers.

Will you try it this week?

Let me know how it goes!

Diana

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