đ˛ X unmarks the spot

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Discussed in todayâs edition: Threads, X, and Meta. Plus how to get your first 5 clients, and why you need a focus playlist.
Read time: 3 minutes and 34 seconds

Making the Rounds

TLDR: After exploding onto the scene with 100 million users in 5 days, Threads has now lost over 50% of its daily active users.
Why it matters: The stick rate for X (formerly known as Twitter) is nowhere near 50%. So this isnât as bad as it sounds. Not to mention Threads launched without key features like direct messaging, a follows tab, and desktop functionality. Donât write it off yet.
TLDR: X has changed the way ads display by removing the âPromotedâ label, making it harder to tell the difference between actual tweets and sponsored posts.
Why it matters: With ad revenues down as much as 50%, the company is doing everything it can to juice performance for advertisers still on the platform.
TLDR: Metaâs new AudioCraft AI tool lets you create music and sound effects from text prompts.
Why it matters: Buckle up, buttercup, because generative AI is quickly moving past text outputs into increasingly complex video and audio outputs. Soon youâll be able to produce a cinematic-level video complete with characters, dialogue, environments, and sound effects all from a text prompt. The potential to create compelling new marketing assets will be virtually limitless.
Working With Clients
New to Freelancing and Need Clients? Watch This

Going from zero to one is the hardest part of freelancing.
Itâs a classic Catch-22.
You need clients to get experience. But you need experience to get clients.
So if youâre new to the game and looking to land your first few clientsâŚ
Check out Alex Hormoziâs latest YouTube video on how to get your first 5 customers:
Sponsored by BiziNumbers
Why most freelancers struggle to hit 6-figures
Treat freelancing like a hobby and itâll pay like you one.
But if you want it to pay you a six-figure salary, then itâs time to start treating it like a real business.
And that starts with getting clear on your money goals, like:
Increase ownerâs draw
Improving profitability
Building cash reserves
Or growing a more sustainable business
Not sure where to start?
Thatâs where the accounting experts at BiziNumbers come in.
They help freelancers get to know their numbers so they can master their money.
And for a limited time, theyâre offering subscribers of The Freelance Gig (thatâs you!) a FREE personalized blueprint to optimize your freelance finances based on your money goals.
All you have to do is fill out a 30-second survey and the team at BiziNumbers will send over your customized BiziFormula within 48 hours.
POLL: What's your #1 way to find clients? |
Working For Yourself
Unlock Peak Productivity With a Focus Playlist

One of the most effective ways to increase your focus is to listen to music.
Ideally with headphones or earbuds.
This helps drown out distractions and direct your attention to the task at hand.
So if youâre looking to unlock peak productivityâŚ
Create your own focus playlist with these 3 tips:
1) Choose music youâre familiar with
2) Avoid lyrics if possible
3) Match the tempo to your mood
Now, choosing music youâre familiar with might include music with lyrics.
Thatâs totally okay.
On the flipside, you may want to experiment with non-lyrical music even though itâs new to you.
Thatâs okay too.
Experiment with both to find out what works for you.
Our favorite types of music for getting work done include atmospheric/movie soundtracks, chillwave, and lo-fi.
In fact, we recently created an official Gig playlist for peak productivity.
If you wanna check it out on YouTube, click here:
Tool of the Week
Beehiiv: The Newsletter Platform Built For Growth
Weâve entered the golden age of email newsletters.
And if youâre looking to start your own, we strongly recommend Beehiiv.
At this point, itâs basically an entire newsletter business-in-a-box.
With Beehiiv, you can replace:
WordPress (or any other content management system)
Website hosting (like Siteground or HostGator)
Email service provider (like Active Campaign or ConvertKit)
Recommendation widget (like SparkLoop)
Thatâs why theyâre trusted by many of the fastest-growing newsletters in the world, including Exec Sum, Miss Excel, Milk Road, and lots more.
As a freelancer, having an email newsletter is a great way to establish authority and set yourself apart from the competition.
So if youâre ready to start building an audience you actually ownâŚ
Bonus Points
âď¸ Journaling: Ask yourself these 5 questions each month (Twitter)
đŁď¸ PR: How to get featured as an expert in mainstream media (Instagram)
đ¤ Clients: 7 simple steps to find a new gig, job, or client (LinkedIn)
đ Growth: Barbie Marketing - On A Budget (YouTube)
đ° Business: Feeling lost? 5 steps to find your niche (TikTok)
What'd you think of today's edition? |