Episode 41: Freelance Writing Business Tips That Actually Work with Mandy Ellis

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Are you tired of feast-and-famine freelance cycles and clients who treat you like an order taker?

In this episode of The Talk Freelance To Me® Podcast, host Ashley Cisneros Mejia sits down with powerhouse freelance coach and writer Mandy Ellis for a truth-packed conversation about what it really takes to grow a sustainable freelance writing business. 

We didn’t sugarcoat anything.

We covered what most creative freelancers wrestle with behind the scenes: boundary-setting, bad-fit clients, burnout, pricing confusion, feast-or-famine cycles, the pressure to be “always on,” and the shame that creeps in when you’re secretly ready to burn it all down and start fresh. Mandy gets it. And she brings real strategies and mindset shifts that can help you find your footing again.

What stood out most? Her take on tracking your numbers and time … not as a chore, but as a form of creative power. If you’ve ever felt like freelancing is one long guessing game, Mandy offers data-backed reminders that we can regain control.

She also walks us through the muscles you need to build – think pitching, marketing, client communication – and why they matter more than pure talent in the long run. You’ll hear why now is the time to plant seeds for high-quality client work this fall and winter, and how to stop treating your business like a hobby.

THIS is the episode to help you reset and move forward with clarity. Don’t miss it. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why LinkedIn panic spirals don’t reflect the full freelance economy
• The “marketing Tamagotchi” method to keep your pipeline full
• How to use data to find high-quality, high-paying freelance clients
• The difference between “cake” and “icing” niches—and why you need both
• What red light clients sound like—and how to stop attracting them
• Why storytelling will always outlast AI content
• The spreadsheet system Mandy swears by for long-term freelance success
• The mindset shift from employee to empowered business owner
• How to build authentic relationships that lead to dream bylines

Time Stamps

01:17 – Meet Mandy Ellis + Her Freelance Origin Story

03:06 – Getting laid off, getting scrappy: Mandy’s pivot to freelance

05:37 – The myth of “no work” on LinkedIn vs. the silent 6-figure writers

07:01 – Spray-and-pray pitching: what’s wrong and what works instead

08:17 – Why your data spreadsheet is your best business coach

09:17 – Red light vs. green light clients: different languages, different planets

19:54 – The “cake and icing” niche strategy explained

24:37 – Why storytelling is your freelance superpower in the AI era

26:19 – How Mandy landed dream clients like Costco and Conde Nast Traveler

29:24– The long game of authentic networking and pitching

36:49 – Setting boundaries with broken pony clients

45:41 – Being respected vs. being bossed around: how to tell the difference

48:26 – Why freelancers must own 50% of the project—not 100%

49:32 – Mandy’s marketing spreadsheets and color-coded tracking system

55:12 – Measuring what matters and ditching the panic

59:00 – Details on Mandy’s Masterclass + Freelance Writer Wealth Lab

About Mandy Ellis

Mandy Ellis is an award-winning, six-figure freelance writer and coach who, over the last 12 years, has called Fortune 500 companies, scrappy start-ups, and national newsstand magazines her clients. She’s helped thousands of writers quickly build high-earning businesses they adore over the last decade. Connect with Mandy on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Visit her website to learn about her free, live masterclass for freelancers on Sept. 16, 17, and 23rd: https://www.mandyellis.com/masterclass

Noteworthy Quote From This Episode

“If writers could stop worrying about imposter syndrome long enough to look around, they’d see how badly they’re needed.”

Mandy Ellis

Listen Now

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Watch This Interview on YouTube! Subscribe here!

Find Your Best Business Niche!

We’ve released our “Niches Get Riches” Brainstorming Worksheet – and it’s absolutely free! This worksheet will help you identify the most profitable niches for your freelance writing business. Simply download and go through the prompts to explore potential niches that will quickly set you apart in the marketplace! Grab your copy here: https://pages.talkfreelancetome.com/

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Read The Transcript

This transcript has been lightly edited using AI for clarity and length.

Welcome to the Talk Freelance To Me Podcast

Welcome & Episode Preview

[00:00:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Hi there, it’s Ashley. Quick note—this episode contains adult language. Just a heads-up in case you’ve got little ears nearby. Now, let’s get into it.

[00:00:12] Mandy Ellis:
If writers could stop worrying so much about the self-doubt and the imposter syndrome and “Am I good enough?”
If you could stop worrying about that, you would see how much you’re needed.

Meet Mandy Ellis – Freelance Veteran & Coach

[00:00:21] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Welcome to Talk Freelance to Me, the podcast for women freelance writers, 1099 independent contractors, and solopreneurs. I’m your host, Ashley Cisneros Mejia.

[00:00:46] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
For more than 20 years, I’ve worked as a journalist and freelance writer.
Today, as a mom of three, I’m passionate about helping other women tap into the freedom that freelance offers.

On Talk Freelance to Me, we focus on the business side of freelancing.
If you want to monetize your talents, make money on your own terms, and create a flexible work life that fits your real life—this show is for you.

[00:01:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
If you’ve been feeling discouraged lately—maybe it’s the economy, maybe it’s all the AI noise, or those constant “this industry is dead” hot takes—today’s episode is going to feel like a deep breath.

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Mandy Ellis, an award-winning, six-figure freelance writer and coach who’s worked with Fortune 500s, national magazines, and scrappy startups for nearly 15 years.

[00:01:33] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
She’s the creator of Freelance Writer Wealth Lab and the Breakthrough Community, and she’s helped thousands of writers build high-earning freelance writing businesses they actually enjoy.

I loved talking shop with someone who’s not just giving advice—Mandy’s in the trenches.
She’s a working freelance writer who still rolls up her sleeves to do the work.

[00:01:56] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
She brings sharp strategy, lived experience, and a no-fluff approach to everything she teaches.
If you’re looking for fresh ideas about how to land better freelance clients, grow your business sustainably, and avoid burnout—this one’s for you.

Getting to Know Mandy

[00:02:20] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I am so excited to introduce you to someone I truly admire. I love her content, her voice, and her messaging—the wonderful Mandy Ellis. Welcome to the show!

[00:02:32] Mandy Ellis:
I’m so excited to be here. I can’t wait to talk more about freelance writing.

[00:02:37] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Before we dive in, I just want to say—I’ve been following your YouTube videos and insights for a while now. You’ve done so much: digital products, community-building, events.

It’s honestly inspiring to see what you’ve created in your freelance career.
But let’s rewind a bit. How did you get started in this wild world of freelancing?

Mandy’s Freelance Origin Story

[00:03:04] Mandy Ellis:
My story probably sounds familiar to other freelancers out there. I’m a millennial, and it took me 10 months to land my first full-time job.
I submitted hundreds of applications during the Great Recession.

[00:03:14] Mandy Ellis:
I finally got hired, and then a year later, they told me, “Hey, we’re going to lay you off.”
I was like—oh shit. I had just started!

They said they’d cut my hours first and then lay me off by the end of the month.

[00:03:33] Mandy Ellis:
I had always dreamed of being a freelance writer. I had a degree in creative writing, and I thought—okay, this is my shot.
So I got on the platforms. That’s a whole story in itself.

By the end of the month, they came back and said, “Just kidding, we’re keeping you.”
And I was like, thanks for the emotional rollercoaster—but I’m going to do this freelance thing anyway.

[00:04:00] Mandy Ellis:
That fire under me got me going. Around 15 to 18 months later, I left full-time work for good. That was back in June 2014.

[00:04:12] Mandy Ellis:
A lot of freelance writers start the same way. You want to write, and then something forces your hand—a layoff, a publication closes, something changes.

[00:04:30] Mandy Ellis:
I jumped on freelance platforms, worked for pennies, got my identity stolen, and made all the rookie mistakes.
I once accepted $25 for a 1,500-word article. Someone asked me to work for $15 an hour when I was charging $30—and I said yes.

[00:04:39] Mandy Ellis:
But after eating all the fruit from the dumb-dumb tree, I built a freelance writing business I actually love.

[00:04:51] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
What a story, Mandy. That resonates with me on so many levels.

We’ve been through it, right? Us millennials—somewhere between Gen Z and Gen X—we’ve had a wild ride.

[00:05:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
But maybe that struggle early in our careers gave us resilience.
We’ve seen this movie before. The economy shifts, tech evolves, and industries panic.

And we’re still here.

What Freelancers Get Wrong About the Industry

[00:05:21] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Before we hit record, we were talking about how there’s a lot of panic online about the future of freelancing.

You work with a lot of creative freelancers—especially those earning six figures or aiming to.
What do you think freelance writers get wrong when it comes to the industry or finding good clients?

[00:05:37] Mandy Ellis:
Yeah, so just like we were saying earlier—when you hop on LinkedIn, you’ll see people panicking about not having work.

And there are a few things at play here.

[00:05:42] Mandy Ellis:
We’ve seen this before. It happens every few years.

There are always two narratives happening at once:
One is, “There are no clients or projects—everything is burning down.”
The other is, “Everyone else seems booked out, and I’m the only one struggling. What am I doing wrong?”

The Reality Behind Freelance Writer Visibility

[00:06:01] Mandy Ellis:
Everything’s terrible.
That’s the path so many of us go down when we get on LinkedIn and see everyone panicking.

But here’s what I want you to consider: the most successful freelance writers don’t have time to hang out on LinkedIn all day. Sure, some do post—but the six-figure earners? They’re busy doing the work.

[00:06:20] Mandy Ellis:
They’ve got deadlines. They’re working with clients. They’re focused on revenue-generating tasks.
That’s important to remember.

There’s a huge silent community of freelance writers doing incredibly well—working with great clients—and they’re not showing up loudly on LinkedIn. They’re just not taking up space in that way.

[00:06:39] Mandy Ellis:
When I used to panic about my business, I’d look at what others were doing and think, “How are they making money?”
Then I’d realize—my perception was skewed by panic and by looking at what I saw online.

[00:06:53] Mandy Ellis:
Meanwhile, so many of these writers were telling me, “I’m working. I don’t have time for social media right now.”
That was a huge mindset shift.

Why Spray-and-Pray Doesn’t Work

[00:07:00] Mandy Ellis:
Another thing I see often: writers blasting out letters of introduction or cold pitches without much strategy.
They’re not stopping to ask, “Who is this for?”

[00:07:13] Mandy Ellis:
They’re skipping what I call the “pre-filtering” process—looking at the right business clients or magazines based on data.
It’s about filtering and selecting high-quality prospects before sending those pitches, so you get better outcomes.

Feed the Marketing Beast Consistently

[00:07:28] Mandy Ellis:
The feast-and-famine cycle? It often comes down to neglecting your marketing.
I call it feeding the marketing Tamagotchi—that thing needs attention all the time.

[00:07:45] Mandy Ellis:
That was one of my biggest mistakes for years.
I wasn’t consistently sending out 50 to 75 personalized LOIs a month or reviewing which clients were the best fit.

[00:08:00] Mandy Ellis:
And when you stop, you ride the feast-and-famine rollercoaster.
It becomes this unnecessary cycle of chaos.

[00:08:07] Mandy Ellis:
Instead, look at the data:
Who are your best clients?
What are their revenue ranges, industries, and typical projects?

[00:08:25] Mandy Ellis:
What titles do you usually pitch?
What’s your response rate?

[00:08:41] Mandy Ellis:
That data is gold. And yet so many freelancers ignore it because they’re scrambling for work instead of stepping back and analyzing.

[00:08:59] Mandy Ellis:
Yes, it’s a little Type A to keep a spreadsheet, but it helps.
You’ll start to see patterns: who answers, what they said on calls, what’s resonating.

Speaking the Language of Your Best Clients

[00:09:00] Mandy Ellis:
You mentioned red-flag clients—I call them “red light clients.”
And here’s the thing: green light clients speak a completely different language.

[00:09:26] Mandy Ellis:
If a red light client were in the same room as a green light client, they couldn’t even have a conversation.
That’s how different they are.

[00:09:46] Mandy Ellis:
And yet, so many freelance writers are afraid to speak clearly and confidently in their website copy or LinkedIn profile.
They’re insecure, writing in a way that pleads: “Please take me seriously.”

[00:10:00] Mandy Ellis:
What you should be doing is speaking directly to your ideal client in their language.
This is what I call the Tuning Fork Technique—you need to resonate on the same level.

[00:10:06] Mandy Ellis:
When you do that, red light clients won’t even approach you.
It’s an automatic filter—and that’s a good thing.

[00:10:28] Mandy Ellis:
If you’re constantly getting ghosted, attracting low-paying or chaotic clients, you’re probably using the wrong language in your copy.
Your calls and client data hold the clues you need to fix that.

Freelance Writers Must Lead with Intention

[00:10:44] Mandy Ellis:
You’ve got to feed the beast.
That Tamagotchi isn’t going to take care of itself.

[00:10:48] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Gold. Drop the mic. So good, Mandy. I’m glad I took notes!

[00:11:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Seriously, everyone should paste that on their laptop or monitor.
That was packed with gems.

[00:11:04] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
What really hit home for me is the intention behind everything you’re talking about.
It’s about taking ownership of your freelance writing business—not being passive.

[00:11:23] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
We can’t just say yes to any client with a pulse and a dollar.
That leads to burnout, resentment, and bad fits.

[00:11:45] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
This is about stepping into our role as business owners.
Looking at our data. Messaging ourselves and our offers with confidence.

[00:12:18] Mandy Ellis:
I love that you said “transformation.”
That’s the whole point.

[00:12:20] Mandy Ellis:
If more freelance writers understood the unique transformation their skills bring to clients, magic would happen.
I don’t want a bunch of mini versions of other writers—I want you to be more like yourself.

[00:12:46] Mandy Ellis:
When you embrace your unique skill set, everything clicks.
You attract better clients, you charge more, and you actually enjoy your work.

[00:13:00] Mandy Ellis:
Get this: the average content marketing project generates $1 million in revenue.
How much of that are you being paid?

[00:13:03] Mandy Ellis:
It’s not 1%.
Which means your work has transformational value—whether you realize it or not.

[00:13:20] Mandy Ellis:
Ask yourself:
What expertise do I bring?
What transformation do I help clients achieve?
That’s what your positioning should be built around.

[00:13:30] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Yes—that changes everything.

[00:13:30] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
When we lead with value and transformation, it levels the playing field.
We’re no longer begging for work. We’re showing up as partners.

[00:13:49] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
That’s such a different vibe from what I see in other spaces—especially on LinkedIn.
Sometimes it feels like everyone’s freaking out or comparing themselves to others and just spiraling.

[00:14:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
For every person shouting “the sky is falling,” there’s another saying, “I just had my best year yet.”
And that contrast makes some writers feel like something’s wrong with them.

[00:14:09] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I’ve had people in my own network say, “What am I doing wrong? Why is it working for others and not me?”
But we’re looking in the wrong place. Instead of watching our peers, we need to tune into our own businesses and look for clues there.

[00:14:40] Mandy Ellis:
There’s also guilt that comes with doing well.
I see it all the time.

[00:14:43] Mandy Ellis:
Some of my most successful freelance writers are hitting six figures, replacing their full-time income, and they’re not posting about it.
Why? Because they feel guilty.

[00:14:58] Mandy Ellis:
They think: “If I’m doing well, does that take away from someone else?”
That’s where the abundance mindset has to come in.

Abundance Is Like Sunlight—There’s Enough for Everyone

[00:15:00] Mandy Ellis:
Here’s how I explain it: abundance is like sunlight.
You and I can’t go outside and grab more sunlight than anyone else. It just is. It’s available.

[00:15:16] Mandy Ellis:
That example changed how I think about success.
We don’t need to feel guilty for thriving—especially when others are struggling.

[00:15:33] Mandy Ellis:
Some of my best years happened during the “worst” times for the economy.
And in so-called “boom years,” I’ve had some of my slowest months.

[00:15:52] Mandy Ellis:
During COVID, I had freelance friends who were so booked they were outsourcing work left and right.
Meanwhile, my own work got completely shut off for about three or four months.

[00:16:00] Mandy Ellis:
But then it picked right back up.
This work is cyclical. You don’t need dozens of clients—just a few solid ones. Three to five is often enough.

[00:16:07] Mandy Ellis:
And we don’t have to feel guilty for doing well.
Yes, help others when you can—pass along referrals, offer guidance—but understand that this is a ride.

[00:16:24] Mandy Ellis:
We’ve been through these ups and downs before.
Freelance writing always has cycles—booms and busts. And part of the job is solving that ever-changing puzzle.

Ride the Wave, Don’t Fight It

[00:16:42] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I love that you called it a ride.
Living in Florida, I always tell my husband, “I’ve got to ride this wave while it’s here.”

[00:16:56] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
That might sound like a scarcity mindset, but it’s really about understanding the rhythm.
Waves come and go—and yours might look different than someone else’s.

[00:17:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
There are no rules.
Freelancing doesn’t stay in a neat little box with guardrails. It’s messy. It’s unpredictable.

[00:17:13] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
You can’t expect it to stay perfectly structured.
And that’s part of the beauty—and the chaos—of it.

[00:17:14] Mandy Ellis:
Exactly. The ebb and flow is just part of the game.
As you grow, you evolve. You target different projects. You test new things.

[00:17:34] Mandy Ellis:
No one writes blog posts for 20 years straight and nothing else.
People shift. They grow. That’s natural.

[00:17:51] Mandy Ellis:
And when you change your business, you need to figure out:
What’s the next move? What’s the next puzzle piece?

[00:17:54] Mandy Ellis:
That’s not failure—it’s evolution.
The ebb and flow means you’re learning and adjusting.

Picking a Niche: Follow the Breadcrumbs

[00:18:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
So good.
You mentioned that your best years didn’t always match up with the industry trends—and that ties into what I’ve heard you say about niches, too.

[00:18:13] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
There are no hard rules.
I know you’ve done work in tech—like property tech and hospitality tech—and also SaaS.

[00:18:13] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
How did you land in those niches?
And what advice do you have for newer freelancers figuring out where to plant their flag?

[00:18:25] Mandy Ellis:
I started with what I knew: food and travel.
That’s where I felt comfortable, so that’s where I started pitching.

[00:18:36] Mandy Ellis:
Then one of my editors said, “Hey, do you want to write about real estate?”
I said sure, and I ended up loving it.

[00:18:53] Mandy Ellis:
That led me to discover something called property tech—or proptech.
It was just starting to emerge, and I realized there were companies I could pitch.

[00:19:00] Mandy Ellis:
Hospitality tech came from my restaurant work.
Restaurants don’t have big budgets, but the tech companies selling to them? They do.

[00:19:13] Mandy Ellis:
I realized I was writing the same content—just switching audiences.
The work I did for magazines could be repurposed for B2B clients, at double or triple the rate.

[00:19:34] Mandy Ellis:
Back in 2018, I burned out hard.
I worked every day from April to September—with only two days off.

[00:19:45] Mandy Ellis:
Eventually I hit a wall.
I took a week off and then ended up sleeping 13 hours a night for three weeks. That led to a three-month break.

[00:19:55] Mandy Ellis:
I was working 10 to 15 hours a day, seven days a week.
It was unsustainable—and it forced me to reassess how I was working.

Niching with Purpose: Mandy’s Cake & Icing Strategy

[00:19:54] Mandy Ellis:
So that led me to what I teach my students, which is cake and icing. It’s a cake and icing niche strategy.

[00:20:00] Mandy Ellis:
I think about it like this: there are cake niches—these are industries with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of clients. A lot of freelancers don’t even think about them.

[00:20:11] Mandy Ellis:
For example, veterinary SaaS, vet tech. Then there are the biggies—like IoT. But even travel and food can be cake niches.

These cake niches usually have companies making anywhere between $20 million to $80 million in revenue or funding. You’re typically looking at Series B or C startups and mid-size businesses that are growing and scaling.

[00:20:31] Mandy Ellis:
Then you have icing companies. These are smaller—maybe $10 to $20 million in revenue, sometimes less. They might not have the same volume, but they still let you do fulfilling work.

[00:20:50] Mandy Ellis:
Icing examples? Gardening. Adventure travel. Sustainable farming. These niches might not be huge cash cows, but they’re where your heart might be.

[00:21:00] Mandy Ellis:
When I was working with magazines and certain niches, I realized: this isn’t sustainable. So I started to understand how revenue ranges affect how many companies exist to even pitch.

[00:21:06] Mandy Ellis:
Balancing cake and icing niches gave me a mix—things that pay well and things that feed my writer soul.

[00:21:25] Mandy Ellis:
Yes, some topics are more creative or fun, and they may not be as high-paying as writing about gardening, for example. But I still enjoy them and earn more.

[00:21:44] Mandy Ellis:
Burnout forced me to rethink my niche approach. I now believe niches don’t have to last forever. They’re just a place to start—something to give you direction.

For Freelancers: Generalist vs. Niches

[00:21:44] Mandy Ellis:
When you’re starting out in freelance writing, you’re often asking: What am I doing? If you’re a generalist, you need to ask: Who are you targeting?

[00:22:00] Mandy Ellis:
It’s tough to answer that without a niche. But if you pick a few and just get started, you learn the process:
– What does the ideal client look like?
– What’s their revenue?
– Who do I reach out to?
– What’s their title?
– What niche are they in?

[00:22:04] Mandy Ellis:
You collect that data and evolve from there. Once you know the process, it’s easier to apply it to other niches.

[00:22:26] Mandy Ellis:
Let’s say you find your best response rate and clients in SaaS. You’re also making $5K a year writing about gardening. That’s a good balance: maybe $60K from SaaS, prop tech, and hospitality tech—and $5K from your icing niche.

[00:22:44] Mandy Ellis:
A lot of creative freelancers think tech is too technical. But most of the time, you’re writing for regular people. Unless it’s DevOps or something super advanced, you’re explaining how to use tools—not writing code.

[00:23:00] Mandy Ellis:
Hospitality tech, for example, might mean writing about how a restaurant owner or front desk clerk can use a POS system like Square.

[00:23:03] Mandy Ellis:
Or you might be explaining how a smart hotel works—something you could write for a magazine, honestly.

[00:23:24] Mandy Ellis:
So tech writing isn’t as techie as people think. It still relies on storytelling and clear explanations.

Writers Need Work That Feeds the Soul

[00:23:24] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I love this concept—cake and icing. Sounds delicious, and more importantly, sustainable. You get to write content that feeds your writer’s soul.

[00:23:51] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
That soul-feeding content is often missing from conversations we see on LinkedIn or other freelance communities.

[00:24:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Yes, revenue and profit are essential—we can’t ignore that. But many of us studied journalism, English, or literature. We’re in this because we love storytelling.

[00:24:09] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Freelance writing isn’t just about the money. We’re curious. We love communicating, making connections, and translating information in creative ways.

[00:24:29] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
That “icing” work—the storytelling—it matters. And it’s often under-discussed.

The Power of Storytelling in a Post-AI World

[00:24:36] Mandy Ellis:
Exactly. It’s about the storytelling. And with AI pumping out content like crazy, that storytelling skill is more important than ever.

[00:24:49] Mandy Ellis:
That’s where we shine as creative freelancers. AI can’t tell a story with heart. It can’t say, “I burned out, made mistakes, and found a better way.”

[00:25:10] Mandy Ellis:
It can’t make that human connection. We can. There’s been a huge push toward storytelling in the last year or two, and I think AI has actually amplified the need for it.

[00:25:26] Mandy Ellis:
So, tell more stories. Find the people who value that and work with them.

[00:25:31] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Yes! No kid ever says, “Mommy, read me a white paper.” It’s “Read me a story.”

[00:25:51] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
We’ve got to remember that’s where we stand out. We can differentiate ourselves by being excellent storytellers.

How Mandy Landed Big Clients

[00:26:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Your client list is amazing—Costco, Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes. These are household names. How did you build credibility and get these opportunities?

[00:26:19] Mandy Ellis:
Some of it is persistence. Costco was early in my freelance journey and honestly, one of the easiest and most fun gigs I’ve had.

[00:26:30] Mandy Ellis:
They paid a dollar a word for Costco Connection magazine—maybe they still do. I sent them a hybrid LOI (letter of introduction) and pitch with a few headline ideas.

[00:26:48] Mandy Ellis:
They replied with a magical guide on what they’re looking for. I followed it and landed the assignment.

[00:27:00] Mandy Ellis:
They also do white papers and other business writing, but I loved the magazine work. That was a straightforward pitch—no fancy connection needed.

Connections That Lead to Freelance Opportunities

[00:28:00] Mandy Ellis:
And then Forbes was an editor. I had an editor that I worked with, and I really liked working with her. She ended up moving to Forbes and was like, “Hey, do you wanna write this stuff?” And I was like, “Sure!”

So for me, it’s a big mix between having already been pitching, already sending stuff out, and having my work in other magazines.

[00:28:17] Mandy Ellis:
I also made connections by just doing good work. That writer who recommended me to Condé Nast Traveler had read my stuff. And that Forbes editor? She knew I delivered.

[00:28:31] Mandy Ellis:
So really working on your pitching skills matters when you’re dealing with magazines.

Persistence, Rejection, and the Reality of Pitching

[00:28:37] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Love it. So you actually did the work.

[00:28:42] Mandy Ellis:
Yeah. I put a lot of tears into it, too.

I pitched AFAR forever. I sent them so many ideas and follow-ups before I finally figured it out.

[00:28:51] Mandy Ellis:
It took a long time. I don’t remember exactly how long, but it was definitely a process. I’ve written maybe three to five articles for them—not a ton—but getting in was a big emotional process. I cried about it. But I kept going.

[00:29:06] Mandy Ellis:
Pitching is a muscle.

Honing Your Freelance Writing Pitch

[00:29:10] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Mm.

[00:29:10] Mandy Ellis:
I wasn’t good at pitching in the beginning. I had a hard time coming up with ideas. I’d pitch something and hear, “That’s a book.” I didn’t know how to narrow it down.

[00:29:28] Mandy Ellis:
But I kept practicing and reaching out to other writers I admired. Like Pat Sharp, the longtime restaurant reviewer for Texas Monthly. I reached out to her on LinkedIn and said, “I love your work.” I read everything she wrote.

Building Relationships the Right Way

[00:29:47] Mandy Ellis:
I didn’t expect Pat Sharp to do anything for me. Same with the other writer. I just genuinely admired their work. I wanted to talk to them, learn about their process.

[00:30:00] Mandy Ellis:
That kind of genuine interest can lead to future opportunities, like what happened with Condé Nast. But even if it doesn’t, you learn so much by simply asking, “How did you do that?” or “How do you approach word choice?”

[00:30:17] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
That’s so cool. I want to point out something here—your interest in people was sincere.

[00:30:37] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
You mentioned knowing that writer for seven years. And with the Forbes editor, you had a track record. You got her good stuff, on time, and made her job easier. So she brought you along.

[00:31:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Some people want a quick fix, a shortcut. But that’s not how this works—not for me, and clearly not for you either. You did the work, built the muscle, and connected with people authentically.

[00:31:01] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
You know how psychologists say the most beautiful sound to someone is their name? I think the freelance writer version of that is:
“I read your article.”
“I listened to your podcast.”
“I watched your video.”

[00:31:39] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
As creative freelancers, putting your work out there is vulnerable. It takes guts. So when someone genuinely connects with what you’ve made? That means everything.

[00:31:56] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Also—can we talk about LinkedIn for a second? I’m sure you get those cold pitches too.

[00:31:57] Mandy Ellis:
I do.

[00:31:59] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
It’s like, who told you this is how to start a relationship?

The Long Game of Freelance Relationships

[00:32:10] Mandy Ellis:
Right? That writer who eventually recommended me—I’d followed her work for years before we ever met. It wasn’t automatic.

[00:32:16] Mandy Ellis:
We built a real relationship. She read my work. There was trust. This is the long game.

[00:32:31] Mandy Ellis:
I wasn’t expecting anything from her. I just thought her work was cool. I wanted to learn from her. That kind of curiosity fuels your writing career.

[00:32:50] Mandy Ellis:
Especially on LinkedIn. When you’re reaching out, it should come from genuine interest. Like, “I saw what you did—can we talk about it?”

Be Straightforward With Clients—and Writers

[00:33:05] Mandy Ellis:
You see all these people saying: “Build a relationship for two weeks, then ask about work.” I don’t do that.

[00:33:21] Mandy Ellis:
If you want freelance writing work, just ask for it. Go in transparent:
“Hi, do you need help? I’d love to support your team.”
Simple. Direct. Honest.

[00:33:45] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Yes!

[00:33:45] Mandy Ellis:
It’s so much easier to build a relationship from a place of honesty. And when it comes to other writers? Read their work first.

[00:34:00] Mandy Ellis:
We start as readers. That’s how we got into this. So read, be curious, ask thoughtful questions.

[00:34:07] Mandy Ellis:
Don’t just cold pitch other creatives with “Tell me stuff.” Be human. Be interested. And that panic energy that so many freelancers get stuck in? It keeps you from remembering what made you love this in the first place.

[00:34:24] Mandy Ellis:
Get back to that. Read. Learn. Ask. Then pitch or build relationships. Just do it with intention.

Kill the Formula and Be a Real Human

[00:34:37] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
So many people want this formulaic, plug-and-play solution:
“Pretend to be their friend for two weeks, then go for the kill.”

[00:34:41] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
But we’re humans. We can feel that energy.

[00:34:59] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
The common thread in everything you’re saying is:
Be a writer again.
Tell the story.
Be real.

[00:35:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Have fun.

[00:35:01] Mandy Ellis:
Yeah. It’s weird. Once you’ve been freelancing a while, you start getting all these pitches—and you’re like, “Why is this here?” It’s just… hot garbage.

[00:35:23] Mandy Ellis:
But early in your freelance writing career? You’re surrounded by silence. That doesn’t mean you can’t connect with people. It just means you have to be intentional.

[00:35:29] Mandy Ellis:
I always tell my students—use your personality. Go talk to people. Ask questions. Be curious. Read their work. Find examples that inspire you, and trace them back—what clients published them? What companies are doing this kind of work?

[00:35:40] Mandy Ellis:
We lose so much of ourselves trying to follow a “magic formula.”
Templates have their place. They’re great starting points.

[00:35:58] Mandy Ellis:
But you still have to be you.
Freelance writing isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a puzzle.
Sure, there are building blocks—but your personality is what makes it work.

[00:36:00] Mandy Ellis:
You can’t just show up to a discovery call and robotically read from a script. No one does that. That would be nuts.

Red Light Clients vs. Diamond Clients

[00:36:18] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I love it. Earlier, you mentioned red light clients versus green light clients—and honestly, there’s so much gold in that. You’ve been doing this long enough to see both sides.

[00:36:34] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
You’ve kissed the frogs and found the diamonds. Can you break that down a little more? What separates an aligned freelance client from one who’s just not worth it?

[00:36:49] Mandy Ellis:
Yeah. First of all, they live on different planets.

[00:36:55] Mandy Ellis:
Red light clients and green light clients speak different languages. If you’re attracting mostly red lights, that’s a signal. It means your website copy, LinkedIn presence, or discovery calls are misaligned.

[00:37:08] Mandy Ellis:
You have to dig for diamond clients. They don’t just fall into your inbox. You have to feed the marketing Tamagotchi.

[00:37:15] Mandy Ellis:
Track your data. Pay attention.
If a client turns out to be a green light—go look at what they said in their inquiry. Take those phrases and sprinkle them into your LinkedIn and website copy.

[00:37:34] Mandy Ellis:
Attract the right freelance clients by writing to them. Repel the rest.

[00:37:55] Mandy Ellis:
Here’s how you spot a diamond client:
They get on a call and clearly say,
“We’re creating this content for X audience with Y goal. We’re tracking it with these metrics.”

[00:38:00] Mandy Ellis:
They want a long-term freelance relationship. They value what you bring.

[00:38:16] Mandy Ellis:
They’re not confused about what they need. They’re not saying, “Someone told me to start a blog.”
It’s 2025—we’re way past that.

[00:38:26] Mandy Ellis:
They set clear expectations.
They tell you, “Here’s our preferred communication style.”
Maybe they use Slack. Maybe it’s email. Either way, it matches your workflow.

[00:38:34] Mandy Ellis:
They explain the project.
They share budgets.
They have a content strategy or ideas in the pipeline.
They talk to you like a collaborator—not a vending machine.

[00:39:00] Mandy Ellis:
Red light clients, on the other hand? They treat you like an employee.
They say things like, “Convince me to hire you.”
No thanks. That’s not how creative freelancers work.

[00:39:14] Mandy Ellis:
Diamond clients come to the call saying:
“I looked at your clips. I read your work. I think you might be the right fit.”
They’ve done their homework.

[00:39:30] Mandy Ellis:
Red light clients? It’s a job interview in disguise.
They want to test you. Grill you. Play power games.

Dysfunction Will Follow You Into the Project

[00:39:51] Mandy Ellis:
Another thing:
Red light clients talk at you. They expect you to somehow turn rambling into copy—with no direction and no buy-in.

[00:40:00] Mandy Ellis:
It’s always a red flag when a client says, “I’ll know it when I see it.” That means they don’t actually know what they want.

[00:40:13] Mandy Ellis:
Whatever dysfunction shows up on the call? It’ll follow you into the freelance project.
That confusion? That chaos? It’s not going away after the deposit clears.

What Great Clients Actually Say

[00:40:26] Mandy Ellis:
Compare that to a green light client who says:
“We have $5,000 and want two white papers. Can you do it?”

[00:40:32] Mandy Ellis:
Or:
“We’d love to build a long-term freelance relationship. We do a case study each quarter. Here’s what success looks like to us.”

[00:40:44] Mandy Ellis:
Green light clients can tell you:
– What they want
– What their goals are
– How they measure success

[00:40:52] Mandy Ellis:
Red light clients?
They’re scattered. They throw everything on your plate and expect you to figure it out.

[00:41:00] Mandy Ellis:
They say things like:
“It would only take me one hour—so it should take you 30 minutes.”

[00:41:05] Mandy Ellis:
And the kicker?
The moment you hear a client say something that triggers you, that’s your cue. That’s a preview of the relationship ahead.

When You’re Not in the Same League

[00:41:07] Mandy Ellis:
They’re telling me the things I need to know in order to price the project or understand the budget. We’re in the same league. We’re both playing in the NFL—not one of us in the peewees and the other in the pros. We get each other.

[00:41:22] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Golden. I think you must’ve been spying on all the clients I used to work with when I first started—because, yep.

[00:41:31] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
All of those! Getting someone who knows what they want and has it together is such a relief. Sure, it’s fine if they have a few questions and need your input. But there’s a huge difference between a client with a plan and one who’s lost.

[00:41:51] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I used to attract people who came to me way too late. There was always some kind of deeper issue going on in the business—maybe operations, customer service, or even the core product or service. But they thought a little “inbound marketing” would fix it.

[00:42:12] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Back in 2010, they’d say, “We just need to do social media,” or “What’s our competitor doing? Let’s copy that.” Like slapping a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. And I’d be thinking, you are setting me up to fail.

[00:42:31] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
We could do all the blogs and downloads in the world, but if the foundation of the company is broken, marketing won’t fix it. Customers see through that. If the experience doesn’t match the message, it’s not going to work.

[00:42:50] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I’ve learned—after spending way too much time at the dumb dumb tree—not every business problem is mine to solve.

[00:43:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Back then, I’d say, “Let me help you get clarity. Let’s talk again tomorrow.” Now? If we’re not speaking the same language, we’re probably not meant to work together—at least not right now.

Don’t Ride the Broken Pony

[00:43:28] Mandy Ellis:
You don’t want to be riding that broken pony.

[00:43:30] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
That pony.

[00:43:30] Mandy Ellis:
That pony’s not going anywhere. It’s like the one at the fair going in circles. You’re like, “Didn’t we just do this?”

[00:43:38] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I must’ve been putting out the wrong bait—I’ve attracted so many broken ponies. Maybe it’s being too nice, smiling too much, laughing too much… but something in my brand was attracting those people. And the burnout from that was real.

[00:44:01] Mandy Ellis:
I did that too. I was overly eager to help. Total people pleaser.

[00:44:12] Mandy Ellis:
But here’s the truth: Good marketing can’t save a bad product. If you can’t talk to your audience, you have nothing. You have to speak their language. Be part of the conversation. Otherwise? It’s over.

[00:44:37] Mandy Ellis:
And no matter how much you want to help or people-please your way through, it’s not worth it. I’ve been paid really well—like $5K a month—but the money wasn’t worth the stress. Ulcers and headaches? Nope.

[00:44:53] Mandy Ellis:
At first, you think, “If they just give me money, I can fix it.” But then you realize: This isn’t sustainable. Even if they pay you well, it’s not worth sacrificing your peace.

Red Light Clients Teach You What You Don’t Want

[00:45:15] Mandy Ellis:
There’s something about those “red light” clients. They push you to your breaking point. That’s when you realize: I cannot do this anymore.

[00:45:23] Mandy Ellis:
You reach a point where you know you need different clients—green light clients. Diamond clients. But sometimes, you have to break it all the way down before you get there.

[00:45:37] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
So true. You said something earlier that stuck with me—being appreciated and taken seriously. That matters so much.

[00:46:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I don’t know if it’s how some people view freelance writing or freelancers in general, but it can feel like they think we’re all in the peewee division—just taking orders and delivering drafts.

[00:46:29] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I’ve been in client situations where they treat me like an employee or dismiss my expertise. I’d make a suggestion, and they’d say, “Well, my teenager says it should be this instead.” And I’d think—then let your kid do it.

[00:46:54] Mandy Ellis:
You’re like, I’ve been working in this industry longer than that kid’s been alive. Nope.

It’s a Partnership, Not a Power Dynamic

[00:47:01] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
We need to have a punch list for evaluating clients. It took me a while to learn this dynamic: Freelancing is a mutual relationship.

[00:47:13] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
As W2 employees, we’re used to a power imbalance—trying to impress the boss, hoping for a 3% raise. But with freelance clients, it should be a level playing field.

[00:47:34] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Yes, clients hire us. But we’re not just order takers. We’re consultants. And if they ignore our input and things go wrong, we shouldn’t be the ones blamed for the outcome.

[00:48:05] Mandy Ellis:
That was a big lesson for me too—understanding that you and your clients are equals.

[00:48:19] Mandy Ellis:
If you need to negotiate, ask for more money, or extend a deadline, that’s valid. You’re 50/50 in the partnership. And honestly, you shouldn’t be carrying more than 70% of the project load.

[00:48:41] Mandy Ellis:
When we take on too much responsibility, it becomes an employee-style relationship. And if the project fails—even if they ignored all your recommendations—it’s suddenly your fault. That makes no sense.

Using Spreadsheets to Track Freelance Pitching Success

[00:48:59] Ashley Cisneros Mejia: You know?

[00:48:59] Ashley Cisneros Mejia: Right. Yeah. So good, so good. I wanted to talk to you—you mentioned earlier about spreadsheets. And yeah, sometimes those might feel like they’re from 1998, but that’s okay. 1998 was a good year for spreadsheets!

[00:49:10] Mandy Ellis: Yeah, yeah. I need the spreadsheet.

[00:49:12] Ashley Cisneros Mejia: Yes. Can you talk to me about pitching, about feeding that marketing Tamagotchi?

What are the systems you use—and the ones you advise your freelance writing students and creative freelancers to use? How do you look at the data, and what does it tell you? What needs to be tweaked to make those pipelines better?

LOI and Magazine Pitch Tracking, Broken Down

[00:49:32] Mandy Ellis: I have two separate spreadsheets. One’s for magazines and one’s for LOIs, because they’re different beasts.

You should be tracking your revenue ranges for clients—basically everything:

• The contact name
  
• Email address
  
• Where you reached out
  
• Their job title
  
• Company revenue or funding
  
• Industry niche
  
• Project types you find on their site or socials
  
• Any follow-ups
  

[00:50:00] Mandy Ellis: Then you go through that spreadsheet and ask: Who’s responding?

I use color coding:

• Yellow or orange for those who responded
  
• Green for those who became clients
  

This lets you calculate your typical monthly response rate, which can range from 10% to 30%. Right now, I’m hearing 8% is more typical, but you want to live in that 10%–30% zone.

Turning Freelance Data Into Client Insights

[00:50:32] Mandy Ellis: I look at the green responses—my actual clients—and break down their characteristics.

For example, I found my best clients are Series B or C startups with $20–50 million in funding. I wouldn’t have known that without tracking the data.

So when your LOI response rate drops, you can ask:

• Is my niche off?
  
• Do I need to change revenue brackets?
  
• Am I targeting the wrong types of companies?
  

And with the spreadsheet, all of that becomes crystal clear.

[00:51:11] Mandy Ellis: I use Boomerang to follow up. You can also use Gmail’s native snooze feature, but Boomerang is great because it puts messages back in your inbox only if no one replies.

It’s a set-it-and-forget-it system that keeps your pitching pipeline warm.

Magazine Pitches: Track and Repurpose

[00:51:30] Mandy Ellis: For magazine pitches, I track:

• When I sent the pitch
  
• The publication
  
• The pitch idea
  
• The editor’s name and title
  
• Their email
  
• 5–10 other publications that could be a fit for the same pitch
  

That way, when I do a monthly check-in, I can quickly resend ideas that weren’t accepted to new outlets—without starting from scratch.

[00:52:06] Mandy Ellis: I can see which pitches were accepted, which are in limbo, and which I need to follow up on. Boomerang helps here too.

The point is to have everything in one place so you can act quickly.

Focus on What You Can Control

[00:52:24] Mandy Ellis: Here’s the thing—your LOI response rate is more important than where clients are in the conversion funnel.

Why? Because you can control:

• What you send
  
• Who you send it to
  
• How many you send
  

That’s where your focus should be. Not the stuff you can’t influence.

[00:52:49] Mandy Ellis: When you see what’s working—whether that’s niche, company size, or pitch style—you double down on that.

[00:53:12] Mandy Ellis: These days, when I write a pitch, I already know 3–5 other magazines it could fit.

I leave notes to my future self in the spreadsheet, so when I follow up, I’m not reinventing the wheel. It saves so much time and mental load.

Why Spreadsheets Matter for Freelance Writers

[00:53:28] Mandy Ellis: You need a big-picture view of your business. Word docs don’t cut it—you can’t see trends horizontally. Spreadsheets let you track color-coded progress at a glance.

[00:53:48] Ashley Cisneros Mejia: Man, this is so good. So, so good. Mandy, I love this.

[00:53:55] Mandy Ellis: I’m trying to help people be as specific as possible.

[00:54:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia: Yes. We need more of that. We don’t need theory—we need application. Real-life strategy. The stuff you’re saying about listening to your own business data instead of the noise? That’s a much better use of our time.

People say freelance writing is dead. Freelancing is over. But… based on what?

Redirect Your Focus to What You Can Control

[00:54:29] Ashley Cisneros Mejia: If we’re constantly listening to everyone else’s opinions, we’re distracted.

What if we redirected that energy to tracking our own process? Writing notes to ourselves, using Boomerang, paying attention to our patterns?

[00:55:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia: I’m all for crying it out or punching a pillow—but after that, we need to bust out our spreadsheet and take action.

[00:55:12] Mandy Ellis: I didn’t always use spreadsheets, but I’ve learned the hard way.

I’ve had students with 20 or 30 years of writing experience who never marketed because they had a steady stream of referrals. But eventually, that pipeline dries up.

[00:55:28] Mandy Ellis: They’d say, “I’ve had referrals for 20 years and now it’s just gone.” It happens.

Without that spreadsheet? You’re starting from zero. Even if you’ve been working the whole time.

[00:55:53] Mandy Ellis: That’s why I tell every freelance writer: document your client data, your outreach, your pitches. It gives you leverage when the referral pipeline inevitably slows down.

Because it will.

The Unsexy Stuff That Builds a Sustainable Freelance Business

[00:56:39] Mandy Ellis:
And that data—you can’t get it back. You have to do it now.
Is it annoying sometimes? Yes.
Do I not want to do it? Also yes.
Is it a pain in the butt to color code and do all the math? Totally.
But without it, you’re not gonna build this ongoing ecosystem—a great business that actually allows you to take dream vacations, work with dream clients, and not run yourself into the ground.

[00:57:05] Mandy Ellis:
You need that stuff. It’s the geeky stuff people skip—but it’s really important.

You Make What You Measure

[00:57:11] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Oh my gosh, I remember taking a financial accounting class, and the professor would say, “You make what you measure.”

[00:57:24] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
There’s a remix of that—“What gets measured gets paid attention to.” I’m probably messing it up, but it’s so true.
What you’re saying, Mandy, about doing the work, logging it, paying attention—it applies to everything.

[00:57:48] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Whether you’re budgeting your personal finances or trying to get healthier, it’s the same principle.
Tracking your movement, your food, your water—I know you’re big on drinking water and electrolytes. It all matters.

[00:57:58] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Wherever your focus goes, energy flows.

[00:58:00] Mandy Ellis:
Yes—thank you. That’s exactly it.

[00:58:02] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
We have to be out of everyone else’s business and into our own.
What’s actually working for us?

Pitching and Marketing Are Muscles

[00:58:11] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
I appreciated what you said about pitching being a muscle.
Marketing is, too.
We nerd out on writing with other writers—but we can’t rest on our laurels.

[00:58:30] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
The world is changing. You mentioned all the shifts we’ve weathered as an industry, and it’s going to keep changing.
If we want to still be here, we have to stay active and keep doing the work.

Writers Are Needed More Than Ever

[00:58:46] Mandy Ellis:
If writers could stop worrying so much about self-doubt and imposter syndrome—if they could stop asking, “Am I good enough?”—they’d see how needed they are.

[00:59:00] Mandy Ellis:
Just look around at all the bad writing out there.
You’re needed.
And if you come from a journalism or creative background like we do, that skillset applies in so many places.

[00:59:12] Mandy Ellis:
People say, “I want to do something creative,” but you can take that creativity and apply it to other types of clients and actually get paid.

[00:59:30] Mandy Ellis:
Instead of staying stuck in, “I only do X,” start seeing the opportunities.
One stat I wrote down recently: 95% of hiring managers say they’re going to hire more freelance writers in the next two to five years.

[00:59:54] Mandy Ellis:
And another study showed that top businesses view freelance writers as a strategic edge.
We help them innovate and generate better ideas—and we even boost morale.

[01:00:14] Mandy Ellis:
When they bring in a freelancer, the whole team gets more energized.
We offer more than typing skills.
We bring ideas, marketing energy, and a mindset that lifts the whole project.

Masterclass & Freelance Writer Wealth Lab

[01:00:41] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Mandy, I’ve loved this conversation so much.
Can you tell us where we can learn more about your upcoming masterclass and course?

[01:01:01] Mandy Ellis:
Sure! I’m teaching a live masterclass in September on three dates:

• September 16
  
• September 17
  
• September 23
  

You can sign up at: mandyellis.com/masterclass

[01:01:17] Mandy Ellis:
And that leads into my course, Freelance Writer Wealth Lab—a 12-week group coaching and course experience.

We’ll have twice-weekly live Q&As, seven in-depth modules, and I walk you through everything we talked about today—like how to find diamond clients, what to do when, and how to build real systems.

[01:01:55] Mandy Ellis:
My students have landed dream clients, hit five-figure months, and reclaimed their time.
You can check it out at: mandyellis.com/wealthlab

Timing Is Everything: September to January Is Prime Time

[01:02:26] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
What a powerful way to approach the rest of the year and into 2026.
This timing is so good for planning and leveling up.

[01:02:44] Mandy Ellis:
Yes! And here’s something I want to emphasize:
In my data, September through January/February is my absolute favorite marketing and client-getting time of year.

[01:03:00] Mandy Ellis:
That’s when people are wrapping budgets and planning for Q1.
It’s the perfect time to pitch, send LOIs, and lock in new work.

[01:03:15] Mandy Ellis:
Even if your July and August were slow, don’t panic. September through March is beast mode time.

[01:03:36] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
All the info will be in the show notes. Whether you’re new to freelancing or 20 years in and just now learning how to market—Mandy’s offers are for you.

[01:04:00] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Mandy, thank you for being so generous with your wisdom, energy, and support for the freelance writing community.

[01:04:08] Mandy Ellis:
Thank you, Ashley! I love talking about freelance writing. It’s my geeky passion, and I’m so glad we got to do this together.

[01:04:16] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
Not everyone understands this flavor of entrepreneurship—so I really appreciate you.

[01:04:24] Mandy Ellis:
Thank you so much.

[01:04:27] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
That’s a wrap for today’s episode!
Please subscribe, give me a 5-star review on Apple, and check out the show notes to grab my free Niches Get Riches freelance writing worksheet.

[01:04:45] Ashley Cisneros Mejia:
And don’t forget:
We all get this one precious life.
Don’t box yourself into something you were never meant to fit in.
You have every right to profit from your creative gifts.

Buy me a coffee