Okay, today I want to talk about something that no freelancer likes to think about -- losing a freelance writing client. Honestly, I hate even typing those words!

But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that if you freelance long enough, you will eventually lose a client.

Maybe they decided to go in a different direction with their content strategy. Maybe their budget was suddenly cut in half and they can no longer afford you.

Whatever the reason, the result is the same -- you just lost a chunk of your monthly income and need to figure out a way to make it back.

I understand the pain of suddenly losing a client. Several months ago, I lost a long-term client who consistently paid me about $2,000 a month. It’s unnerving to suddenly lose that much money!

And if you aren’t careful, it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of worry and fear. But I managed to bounce back and more than replace the income I’d lost, and you can do the same.

6 Steps to Take After Losing a Freelance Writing Client

Here are six steps you can take to regain your confidence and bounce back after losing a major freelance writing client:

1. Take a day to feel bummed

Losing a client is hard, and it’s normal to feel disappointed or overwhelmed. Give yourself some time to process your feelings before trying to jump right into action mode.

Go for a walk, listen to a really motivating podcast, or read a good book. If you can take the day off altogether then go for it, assuming it doesn’t jeopardize any of your current writing deadlines.

Just make sure you process your feelings in a constructive way. Don’t indulge in self-pity or waste time complaining in Facebook groups. This is only going to make you feel worse.

2. Choose not to take it personally

Your client may not give you a reason for why they decided to stop working with you. And when that happens, it’s easy to fall into a tailspin of insecurity and worry that you did something wrong.

But it most likely had absolutely nothing to do with you. So worrying that the client fired you because they secretly hated your writing won’t do any good.

Remember, you found this client to begin with, so you can go out and find another one. Refuse to let a temporary setback drain you of your self-confidence.

3. Reach out to your current and previous clients

Whenever I feel like I need work immediately, I always reach out to current and previous clients. That’s because it’s always going to be easier to get new work from someone who’s previously hired you.

Go through your contact list and email every single client you’ve ever worked with. Be friendly, say hello, and ask them if there’s anything you can help them with. Here’s a sample email I might send to a client:

Hi [Client Name],
Hope you’re doing well! I wanted to check in and see if you need any blog posts for [Publication/Business Name]. I still have some availability this month, so let me know if there’s anything I can help with!

Everytime I do this, at least one person responds and offers me new work.

4. Ask for referrals

In addition to asking your current and previous clients for work, you should ask them for referrals. I know this is uncomfortable because it feels like you’re inconveniencing them somehow.

But the truth is, people like being asked for referrals because it makes them feel useful and well-connected. Because when you ask someone for a referral, you’re implying that they’re smart, well-connected, and have the resources to help you.

If I were asking for a referral, I would say something like this:

Glad to hear everything is going well! If you hear of anyone who’s looking for a freelance writer, I’d appreciate your referral!

It’s a straightforward, no pressure request, and you’ll be surprised how many people take you up on it.

5. Update your online presence

Since you just lost a major client, you’re probably going to have a little extra time on your hands. So why not use that time to update your online presence?

Your portfolio is one of the most important assets you have, so it’s important to keep it up-to-date. Go through and make sure your very best and more relevant work is front and center.

It’s also a good idea to periodically update your LinkedIn profile. For instance, I recently reviewed my profile, and realized that I needed to update the experience section.

I went through and added several freelance writing clients as well as some samples for each of them. That way, if a potential client finds me on LinkedIn I’ll make a good first impression.

6. Go all-in on sending proposals

And finally, you’re going to have to start actively looking for new clients, which means it’s time to start sending those proposals!

Hopefully, you’ve been doing this consistently all along. But I know it’s easy to get off-track with this when you’re busy with client work.

So how many proposals should you send per day? Honestly, it depends on how badly you need new work!

If you’re worried that money is going to be tight then you should send as many as possible.

I recommend using a combination of Upwork, freelance writing job boards, and cold emailing. Check out this blog post if you want some ideas to get you started.

Final Thoughts

Losing a client stinks but it’s not the end of the world. Take a day to feel bummed and process your feelings, but don’t waste time wallowing in self-pity. If you’re proactive and put in the work, then you can replace that income in no time.

For more tips on how to find great clients, be sure to download the Freelance Writer’s Starter Guide. This insanely valuable, free guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to build a profitable freelance writing business.

SIGN UP NOW