Waiting for an update from a client is one of the most frustrating parts of freelance work. The follow-up email you send in that gap doesn’t need to be long—but it does need to be right. Here’s how to ask without making things awkward.
Template 1: Following up on a pending decision
Subject: Re: [Project name]—any update?
Hi [Name],
Wanted to check in on the proposal I sent over on [date]. I want to make sure I can still hold the timeline we discussed—my schedule books out a few weeks in advance.
Is there an update on your end, or is there anything I can clarify to help move the decision forward?
[Your name]
Template 2: Following up on a deliverable you’re waiting on
Subject: Re: [Project name]—waiting on [specific item]
Hi [Name],
I’m at the point in the project where I need [specific thing—feedback on draft, login credentials, brand assets] to move forward. Once I have that, I can get [next deliverable] to you by [date].
Can you send that over when you get a chance, or let me know if there’s a delay on your end?
[Your name]
The most effective update requests tie your ask to a concrete impact: “I need X by [date] to hit your [deadline].” Framing it around their goal, not your workflow, gets faster responses.
Template 3: Following up on an overdue invoice payment status
Subject: Invoice [number]—checking on payment status
Hi [Name],
Invoice [number] for [project/amount] was due on [date]. I want to make sure it didn’t get missed in the approval process.
Could you confirm the payment status or let me know if there’s anything needed on my end to process it?
[Your name]
Template 4: Generic status check-in
Subject: [Project name]—quick status check
Hi [Name],
Just wanted to check in on [project]. Is everything on track from your end, or is there anything I should know about?
Happy to adjust [timeline, deliverable, approach] if something has changed.
[Your name]
What separates good update requests from bad ones
Bad update emails say “just checking in” or “following up again”—they add no value and signal impatience. Good update emails do one of three things:
- Tie the request to a concrete consequence (timeline impact, deadline at risk)
- Offer something in return (a clarification, an adjustment, a next step)
- Give the other person an easy way to say “I need more time”—which is still an update
Waco also helps you reduce the need for update emails altogether. When you can see that a client has opened your invoice or proposal, you know whether the silence is “haven’t looked at it yet” or “looked at it and still haven’t responded”—which tells you exactly how to follow up.
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