Your First 3 Writing Clients: A Step-By-Step Breakdown

“Is Someone Actually Going to Pay ME to Write for Them?”

Those were my exact thoughts when I first started freelancing five years ago.

Sure, I’d written here and there, both personally and professionally. But it was never my main job or my sole source of income. The idea that a business owner would even consider me as a candidate felt pretty unbelievable.

Obviously, I had some major imposter syndrome.

And maybe you do too.

But once I landed that first client, my freelancing career really did start to snowball, and it’s continued to grow ever since.

And I won’t lie to you and say the beginning was easy. It felt a little crazy and messy at times.

But honestly, I’ve learned the best things usually start that way anyway.

Thankfully, I found some great resources along the way that helped me figure things out faster and made the whole process feel a lot less overwhelming.

So, if you’re ready to land those first three clients and you want real, helpful resources to get you there, keep reading.

Client #1: Start Where You Already Are

Chances are, you already know someone who needs writing services.

It could be a friend, or a business owner you know. Maybe even someone from church or your kid’s school.

But if you’re like me, cold-pitching anyone can make your stomach feel like it’s going to bottom out.

Here’s where your mindset needs to shift.

You’re NOT cold-pitching.

You’re NOT asking for favors.

You’re NOT looking for handouts.

You ARE solving a problem that a lot of people and business owners already have.

When talking with people or posting on social media, frame your offer as simple help. Think captions, emails, or blogs. Nothing complicated.

Then make it easy for people to actually reach you. A text, an email, something simple and direct.

You don’t need to overthink this part. You really don’t.

And if you’d rather not guess what to say, the Pajama Writer has a fail-proof script that takes a lot of that second-guessing out of it.

Client #2: Turn One Yes Into Momentum

That first client? Dang, that feels good.

Because getting that first “yes” is the hardest part. But once you get it, it’s an instant confidence booster. And if you’re like me, it gives you a sense of credibility right away.

It makes going after that second client feel a whole lot easier.

So, let’s talk about how you actually use that first client to your advantage.

You can:

• Use the work you produce for them as sample pieces for your portfolio 

• Ask for a testimonial after you’ve delivered professional, consistent work 

• Ask if they know anyone else who might need the services you provide 

Those three things alone can take you a lot further than you think.

Now that you have a few sample pieces and a testimonial, you can start looking outside your immediate circle. Social media is a great place to start. You’ll quickly notice who’s posting consistently and who’s not.

You can also check freelancing job boards if that feels like a better fit for you.

The difference now is you’re not starting from scratch. You actually have something to show.

Lucky for you, Pajama Writer has a quick way to find and land that second client without spinning your wheels.

Client #3: Start Acting Like a Real Business

At this point, things are starting to get a bit more serious.

This isn’t just something you’re trying anymore.

This is your job.

Now is when you really want to start structuring your day, your week, and even your month around the services you’re providing.

To make things easier on yourself, start with a few basics:

• Create a simple rate package 

• Have a clear list of services you provide 

• Set up a way to track your time and invoices 

• Introduce some boundaries to protect your time 

Having these systems in place sets you up for success, saves you time (and honestly a lot of frustration), and gives you a clear path as you start taking on more clients.

You don’t need anything fancy here. Just something that works.

And if you need help figuring out what that actually looks like, Pajama Writer already has those systems laid out for you.

What Actually Matters (and What Doesn’t)

If you’re like me, it’s really easy to get caught up in the small details.

I can spend way too much time trying to create the “perfect” logo, when updating my portfolio would have been a much better use of my time.

So, let’s just clear this up so you don’t get stuck there.

What doesn’t matter:

• Perfect website 

• Big portfolio 

• Branding/logo 

What does matter:

• Consistency 

• Reliability 

• Taking action 

• Following up 

That’s the stuff that actually moves things forward.

Don’t let overthinking take over. You’ve already got more than enough to get started.

Show up. Be consistent. And keep going.

Your Next Step

You’re closer than you think.

Client #1 starts with people you already know.

Client #2 comes from building on that first yes.

Client #3 is where you start treating this like something real.

That’s it. That’s the path.

It’s not complicated, but it does require you to take action.

And this is where a lot of people get stuck. They keep reading, researching, and waiting until they feel completely ready.

But this doesn’t really work like that.

You don’t need more information. You just need to start.

If you’re ready to move from just thinking about it to actually getting paid, this is your sign to start.

Inside Pajama Writer, Dez has created the exact scripts, systems, and step-by-step help that makes this whole process a lot simpler and a lot faster.

No fluff. No overcomplicating it. Just what you actually need to get your first few clients.

Because at the end of the day, you don’t need a perfect plan.

You just need your first yes.