To pitch or not to pitch the rest of December?

Also, this is the date my LinkedIn audience things you should stop sending emails

Author

Diana Kelly Levey
November 24, 2024

In partnership with

Hi Freelancer,

I hope you had a great weekend. Feel free to check out the sponsors who help support this content. Authory has cool tools for busy freelancers! (Affiliate link.)

Finally! A portfolio that's auto-updating and backs up your work.

  • Authory saves you hours with a portfolio that's always up-to-date.

  • Protect your work from site shutdowns.

  • Be ready to impress potential clients and employers, anytime.

Should you keep pitching for the rest of the year?

It's a popular question you'll see on message boards, social platforms and in freelance communities.

And if you should keep pitching, when is a good time to stop sending emails? I know in the U.S. a lot of schools are done for the year by 12/20 and other people might be starting their holiday breaks then so it’s a date to be aware of.

I presented this to my LinkedIn followers this week and well, I was surprised by what many said. Check out the post here. 

(And psst! Follow me “+” there if you aren’t already.)

I’m not sure that “never” is the right answer but who knows? Maybe some of these salespeople or small business owners or freelancers know that it’s a quiet time and are capitalizing on those workers who are answering emails having time and attention for them.
Here's my $0.02.

I think your efforts would be best spent following up.



1. Return to all the freelance article pitches you sent earlier this year.

Hit "forward" and check in with that editor or client.

2. If you had any freelance clients this year, go back to them and say hello.

Wish them a happy holiday season. Thank them for their business. Work your warm leads, connections, and relationships.

3. Look back at your favorite, highest-paying clients from the past three years.

Let them know your availability for the next few weeks and Q1. Ask if they'd like pitches.

4. If you're dying to pitch a new client a timely story, do it right now.

Make sure they have a fast news cycle and publish frequently so it could go up this year.

In the 11 holiday seasons that I've been a full-time freelancer I've discovered:

→Some clients have budgets they need to use up by 12/31.

→Some clients need help because they'll be short-staffed.

→Some clients would LOVE to assign you work and need help but they don't have the budget.

→Some clients are simply trying to finish EOY reports and turn on their OOTO in mid-December and spend time with their loved ones. They might ignore you.

Don't take any of it personally.

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day.

What’s the secret to staying ahead of the curve in the world of AI? Information. Luckily, you can join 700,000 early adopters reading The Rundown– the free newsletter that makes you smarter on AI with just a 5-minute read per day.

Don’t assume freelancing is dead.

If it doesn't seem like the freelance work is there for the taking right now, work on your 2025 business plan and your most important asset—you.

If you're ready to send a pitch and could use some guidance, get templates and article pitch examples here:

You could also snag this smaller pitch guide.

Thanks for being a follower and supporter!

Diana

Want to Say Thanks?

Yes, I’ll totally love a “thanks so much, D!” reply here or a few words about what you like about the newsletter.

Sharing this newsletter link to get more friends to sign up truly helps me.

BUT, if you want to show your gratitude with your wallet, I’d down for a monetary ‘thank you’ through the Buy Me a Coffee site. ☕️

Every little bit helps me pay for the service costs I cover to send this newsletter out, maintain my websites at DianaKelly.com and BestFreelanceTips.com and helps me pay freelancers who write for the blog.

Receive this email from a friend?

(Thanks, friend!)

Subscribe to the weekly freelance writing tips email here.

Have a buddy who you think wants to learn how to freelance?

I’d so appreciate it if you’d forward this email to them so I can send them free resources and show them how fun it is to become a freelancer.

How to work with me