The Freelancer’s Guide to Writing Emails That Get You Hired
Some time ago, I write an articles on freelancing, and one thing I mentioned was that writing cold emails alone won’t get you clients.
Let me introduce a new term: Entitled Freelancer — someone who lacks core skills and believes that clients will come to them just because they send out emails. It’s not enough.
Clients Need Freelancers — But You Need More Than Just an Email
Understand this: clients get hundreds of emails from freelancers every day. Of those emails, only about 10% catch the client’s attention, and only a fraction of those result in actual work. You might think your competition is huge because you see the outer circle — the hundreds of freelancers sending emails. But your real competition is the smaller, inner circle — the few freelancers who are considered for work. These are the freelancers who stand out by mastering three key elements:
- Core skill
- Communication
- Professionalism
Your communication and professionalism get you into the second circle — the one where the client opens your email. But it’s your skill that forms a long-term relationship with the client, ensuring they recommend you for more opportunities.
I don’t want you to just learn how to write an email that gets opened. I want you to think bigger — about how to shape your personality and approach so that whatever you say, whatever email you write, people will take you seriously.
The Subject Line is Key
The first step is to think from the client’s point of view. If they get 100 emails a day, they won’t read them all. Instead, they’ll scan the subject lines and open the ones that stand out. A subject line like “Looking for a job”, “Urgent”, or “Do you have any work for me?” won’t catch their attention. It’s too boring.
Here’s an example of a better subject line: “deep, the colors in your videos look good, but they can be better.” If you send me that, I’ll likely open it because it directly relates to something I care about.
Another example: “I’m crazy about Instagram carousels and I made one for you!” Now, you’ve sent something without me asking. How can I ignore that?
The Bigger Picture
Once the client opens your email, you’ve entered the second circle. But it won’t matter how good your email is if you lack the skill the client needs. You may get a job once or twice, but you won’t build a long-term freelancing career without the right skills. This is where 90% of freelancers get stuck — they write great emails but don’t deliver on the work.
I’ve received emails with subject lines like “I can double your watch time with better video editing.” We open these emails, but often the work they showcase doesn’t back up their bold claims. This is why I said in the video: You won’t get clients just by writing cold emails — unless you have the skills they require.
Personalization Matters
Clients read hundreds of emails a day, most of which are boring. But if you write something out of the ordinary — something that shows you’ve followed their work closely and understand their business — they’ll notice.
For example, instead of saying “Hi, sir. I came across your channel a few months ago and liked your videos,” try something more specific, like:
“Hi deep, I discovered your channel back in 2019 when I needed help with my father’s PF withdrawal. My favorite video of yours was the podcast on ‘Making Money in College.’ Your journey inspires me. I’m on a similar path, editing videos for clients while pursuing my B.Com.”
This is personalized, and it shows the client you’ve done your research. You’ve demonstrated that you’re not just another generic freelancer.
Addressing the Client’s Needs
When writing to a client, don’t just tell them what services you offer — address their pain points. Maybe you’ve noticed something in their work that could be improved. For example:
“deep, I noticed your videos have great colors, but they could be even better. Here’s an edited sample I made for you — take a look!”
This approach shows that you’ve thought about how you can add value, and that you’re proactive about it.
Call to Action
Every email should end with a clear call to action. Don’t make the client work hard to figure out what you want. Be specific. For example:
“Could we set up a quick 10-minute call next week to discuss how I can help your business?”
Make it easy for the client to say yes.
Some Email Etiquette
Here are a few simple but essential email etiquette tips:
Professional Email Address: Keep it simple — your name is best. Avoid anything unprofessional.
Signature: Create a signature that includes your contact information and links to your portfolio or social media.
Reply All: If the client loops in team members, use the “Reply All” feature to keep everyone in the loop.
Hyperlinks: Don’t paste long URLs — use hyperlinks instead to keep your email clean.
Check Attachments: Make sure to attach all necessary files before hitting send.
Follow Up
If you don’t hear back after a few days, send a polite follow-up email. You could say something like:
“Hi [Your Client’s Name], just following up on my previous email. I know you’re busy, but I’d love the opportunity to discuss how I can help with your project.”
The most important thing to remember is this: skills trump everything. Even if your email is perfect, if your skills don’t meet the client’s expectations, you won’t get hired. But if you combine your skills with personalized, professional communication, you’ll find freelancing can become a sustainable career.
