What happens between the first message and the yes: replies, follow-ups and keeping track.
See how Delivvo handles itLeads and follow-up
A retainer turns a finished project into monthly revenue. This playbook covers why keeping clients beats finding new ones, the three retainer shapes that hold up, the conversion window right after delivery, and what a retainer agreement must say.
8 min read
Leads and follow-up
Retainer, project and hybrid pricing each fix one problem and create another. This post compares them with recent agency data, shows where retainers and projects leak margin, and explains how a hybrid setup works for studios, agencies and consultants.
9 min read
Leads and follow-up
You may have seen a claim that AI agents now do 40% of Upwork tasks. No source we could find backs that number. This post sets out what Upwork and academic research actually report, and what to change in your offer.
8 min read
Leads and follow-up
The EU Platform Work Directive must be in national law by December 2, 2026. This post explains who it covers, what it forces platforms to disclose, where the employment presumption applies, and how to protect your income if you freelance through marketplaces.
8 min read
Leads and follow-up
Retainers rarely end over price or quality. They end because the client stops seeing the value, scope drifts, the buyer leaves, communication tapers off, or the work runs out. This post covers each pattern and the fix, plus a week-one checklist for a retainer you already have.
9 min read
Leads and follow-up
A Notion, Trello and Slack stack looks nearly free on a price list. This post totals the published subscription fees, then adds the time cost using real research on app switching and admin hours, with a calculator you can fill in with your own rate.
8 min read
Leads and follow-up
The two-person stage is where revenue can nearly double while hours fall, or where hours grow faster than income. This post covers why the second seat often fails, the four decisions that matter, how to set roles, and what to check about employment status.
8 min read
Leads and follow-up
The portfolio gets the design effort, but the pages a client uses to sign, pay and download are where they spend the relationship. This post covers the surfaces a client sees, what research says about design and trust, why a generic look can read as a risk, and a short branding checklist.
8 min read
Leads and follow-up
A new client forms an opinion of you in the first 30 days, long before the final deliverable. This checklist covers the welcome email, contract, deposit, intake questions, kickoff agenda, check-in and first-month review, step by step.
9 min read
Leads and follow-up
A proposal is the first piece of work a client sees from you, not a bid. This post gives a seven-section template, explains what each section must say, shows how to price in options, and sets out when to follow up. It also puts realistic close rates beside the folklore.
9 min read
Leads and follow-up
Scope creep rarely starts with a client taking advantage. It starts with a small extra request that gets a polite yes. This post covers why it happens, the three contract lines that prevent it, and five scripts to use when it shows up anyway.
8 min read
Leads and follow-up
Upwork changed its freelancer fee in May 2025, Fiverr still takes 20%, and Toptal rejects most applicants. This comparison runs take-home on a $3,000 project, says who each platform suits, and shows when direct billing beats all three.
8 min read
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Guides for service businesses, from the first inquiry to the final payment. Written by the team behind Delivvo.
