🌀 You're Spiraling | Internetly Vol. 71

Hi there,

Greetings from Brooklyn!

It’s my last week in NYC before I leave for a month-long trip to Brazil. 🇧🇷 I’m planning on taking 10 days off for Carnaval, something I’m both ecstatic and uneasy about. It’s my longest time-off, well, ever.

I’m particularly excited to not be in the “social media realm” for that slot of time. I’ve been reading Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism, and it’s turned my perspective on Twitter upside down.

For the past 2.5 years, I’ve shown up on Twitter almost every day. It’s been a huge driver of growth for my business, but it’s not without its caveats. For example, every couple days, I’ll get caught in what I call “the spiral.” If you’re a creator who runs their business online, you might relate.

When you find yourself in “the spiral,” it starts off as one of those days where you feel blah.

Your business seems as fragile as a hollowed out Jenga puzzle and you're having those "What am I doing with my life" doubts. So, you hop on Twitter to quell your anxiety. A few of those bright-blue notifications, just a little bit of attention, would show you’re still relevant and everything is smooth sailing.

No bells.

The feeling of dread tightens. Really, nothing? You hit refresh. Surely, just something. Nope.

The spiral commences. You spend the rest of your day refreshing Twitter, then Instagram, LinkedIn, and emails, app-hopping in desperation, looking for algorithmic reassurance. Social media is now medicine for the poison it’s created.

Digital minimalism is philosophy that reminds us we don’t have to let technology control us this way. We have the power to reclaim both our time and our sanity. For me, the first step is to step away for 10 days.

What will it be for you?

🥒 Content Diet

🎙Derek Sivers: How to Live as a Creator on Creative Elements - The founder of CD Baby (which sold for $22 million), author, and speaker, Derek has got a lot to say on how to find happiness, the importance of saying “no,” and why life isn’t a problem to be solved.

📝 The Builder’s High by Rands in Repose - You’re letting other people’s “moments” (their IG stories, LinkedIn posts, etc) put you in consumer-mode. This default stifles your wellbeing and attention span (you’re probably skimming through this newsletter). Rands’ reminds you were born to create, and to not waste this gift.

🕊The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Twitter by Me - If you’d like to use Twitter in a way where it *benefits* your freelance writing business, I got you. Twitter can help you land dream clients, build a brand, and help you hit six figures freelancing. Since you’re an Internetly subscriber, you have the code “Internetly” for 40% off. :)

And now, nine ways to recenter yourself when life gets a little crazy:

✍🏼 Freelancing Journey

This Week: Where Can I Find Freelancing Clients?

So, you’re looking at the upcoming months and realizing your schedule looks sparse. This means it’s time to hit up old clients and hunt for new clients. 🔍

But finding freelance writing clients can be tricky. There isn’t a “go-to” job board, and the freelancing marketplaces are…dire, to say the least.

Because I’m not going to let you write 1,000 words for $15, here’s a small list of lesser-known job boards. It’s only five resources, but these places have more jobs than people who could apply!

• Kat Boogard’s Newsletter 

• Peak Freelance’s Newsletter

• Sonia Weiser’s Opportunities of the Week Newsletter

• Superpath Content Marketing Slack Community

• Kaitlyn Arford’s Newsletter

But we can elevate this search even further by finding ✨ high-quality ✨ companies to cold pitch.

Say you specialize in cryptocurrency, Web 3.0, and AI. To find new clients, begin by going to TechCrunch and seeing if any crypto companies got recent funding.

A recently closed round = lots of money for the company to spend. And look — this AI company raised $8.5M just this January! They would probably be eager to hear from a freelancer.

Next, ring up popular cryptocurrency newsletters. For example, Milk Road is a goldmine for potential clients, from their sponsors to the companies they mention.

Another unlikely client? The newsletter itself! 

If you wanted to cold-pitch Milk Road, you could write their entire next newsletter to showcase your enthusiasm and expertise, and then post your work on Twitter and tag its founder, Shaan Puri. 

In the best-case scenario, this lands you a call with Shaan. In the worst case-scenario, you have another piece of writing to add to your portfolio.

Happy Hunting!

If someone sent you this newsletter (and you found it valuable) you can sign up here.

As always, let me know if there's anything I can help you with.

Stay Creative,

Alice 💌