What’s on the iPod: In These Shoes? by Bette Midler
Nice weekend. I can now say my birthday is officially over. For some reason, I had four days instead of one. Husband and I shopped for my gift (clothes, yes!) on Saturday, so the celebration wound up that day.
Yesterday was much too hot and humid to work outside, so I took to the basement and sanded my deck chairs. I’m working with a much-too-old and much-too-loud sander, and progress was halted several times when the sandpaper slipped off. But I finished in under two hours and was covered in dust from earphones to sandals. Now to finish them and order the seat fabric.
We saw a great movie (and a not-so-great one). Moonrise Kingdom is charming and quirky and fun. Brave is a weak story with nice animation. See the first. See the second on television.
Months like these are when I really love monthly assessments. Despite feeling a bit light on cash for much of the month, the invoices going out more than alleviated the feeling of poverty. It was a good month. Next month is poised to be even better. Fingers crossed….
Queries:
I sent two. Scored to assignments. Good percentage! Magazines are great for summer income.
LOIs:
Sent some –couldn’t tell you how many as I forgot to track them on my Sticky Note (too busy). But I would guess around seven. Nothing from any of them yet.
Existing clients:
I cleaned house with existing clients. Five regular clients kept me hopping all month.
New clients:
Did I mention I was busy? I did work for three new clients, too. These are the same ones I met at the conference, so that’s become a great way to find new work. Definitely will be doing that again next year! One client had a conversation with me last week and I’m in for a ton of work from them. Just talking with them and I’m loving their style. This is a good fit.
Referrals:
I had two referrals. One was someone wanting press release distribution (I don’t do that), and the other was a resume client whom I did work with (and am still in revisions with).
Earnings:
I hate bragging, but dammit, I rocked it earnings-wise this month. I surpassed my new monthly goal, making me think I might want to increase that goal another thousand or two. I do know that months like this net me more than I ever netted at a 9-to-5.
Bottom line:
The conference approach worked. No doubt in my mind. Despite not being able to solicit business, I was still able to introduce myself and gain new clients without pushing. Proof that showing up and calmly talking about your background is a much better way to sell. Let them decide they need you desperately, I say!
I plowed through a ton of work, but kept my eye on accuracy and clarity, which makes me feel like I’ve accomplished more than just earning a damn fine amount of cash. All of June’s projects but one are finished, and I have another already for July. I’ll be marketing this week, but really hitting it hard after the holiday.
How was your June? What worked? What didn’t? How will you amend your marketing plan for July?
This was certainly one of the busiest. I have a few invoices out for June work.
Queries Heard a not at this time response, but am glad to make this particular prospect at least aware of me. Glass half full. 🙂
Clients I had 4 existing clients keeping me busy with white paper, case studies, articles, blog posts.
For the 2nd time, a client who left one employer for a new one retained me for an ongoing ghostwriting gig. So, I keep that project and retain her old employer, too. Love spawning. 🙂 I'm hopeful to get more projects from her new employer that is a brokerage firm that has 1,500 employees vs her previous 100.
Referrals I had two referrals, as well. One was not my thing. Another is a we'll keep you in mind
Income Was slightly above target this month. All-in-all, I'm a happy camper. 🙂
If all my clients paid on time, I would have been on target. More chaos on the teaching front, but I'm moving away from teaching so much into other writing jobs without as much income fluctuation when students can't fulfill commitments.
Did a video PSA for a pro-bono client that reminded me how much I enjoy these things, and will now add that to my services.
A lot of fiction projects on deadline, which means longer hours for the coming months, since they are not quick turn-around payment jobs, but are vital to the long-term plan.
I need to do a new brochure and a mailing.
Work wise I've been busy. Earnings wise it's been rough. Like Devon, I wish some clients paid a bit faster.
Queries – sent five and nabbed four assignments. One of the five was to a magazine that only takes snail mail queries and I sent that on Friday. Wouldn't 5 for 5 be great?
Job Listings – replied to two and heard back from one. Sadly, they expected me to send them an outline for an e-book within 24 hours, but never said what the payment for writing the e-book would be. Red flags were flying that day. Buh-bye.
LOIs – sent two, one of which led to an immediate reply. No work yet, but like Cathy said, at least they know who I am now.
Existing clients – they kept me busy. Turned in three articles and four columns, and I picked up five new assignments (three from queries, two were editor ideas). Six articles are due this week. A client I hadn't worked for in a couple months turned up last week and I did one quick project for him, more are waiting once I have time.
New clients – none to speak off.
Referrals – two people referred friends who needed resumes. Done and done.
Earnings – only about half of my modest monthly goal was received, but about 3-times that goal was invoiced….but when will it arrive?
Bottom line – clients need to pay faster if I'm supposed to keep repairing or replacing everything that keeps breaking around here. (Three weeks after having my 2-year old refrigerator was repaired, now the freezer isn't freezing – it's thawing despite being on the coldest setting. ARGH!)
Glad you had such a fun birthday, Lori. I'm planning to see Moonrise Kingdom (with hubby). Glad to hear you liked it.
My June was meh. A lot of that is on me though – I'm trying to pack for our move and work. I've been marketing hard to line up work for after the move since I anticipate taking a week off to just dig in and get everything moved and necessities unpacked. I just received some new business cards and post cards I'd ordered for a big mail out I've planned. Wednesday I heard from a company I'd contacted last year and they say they're ready to move forward on a project. Of course nothing's certain until I get the signed agreement and down payment in hand, so we'll see.
Paula – I'm sorry to hear about your refrigerator. I swear, when it rains it pours. I hope everything improves quickly for you.
Thanks, Kimberly. (Didn't you just move?) Just scheduled the repair guy for tomorrow, but if anything opens up they'll send him today. A loaf of bread "frozen" at the coldest setting of a freezer shouldn't be soft, right? LOL
I was just at the bank making a small deposit and when the teller asked how I was, I said it was a loaded question. I gave him the short version and the woman at the next teller said, "Whatever you do, don't buy a Lottery ticket," but the teller said maybe that would turn my luck around. And you guessed it – his monitor started acting up. I left saying, "I didn't touch it!"
I'm just glad these are only things that are breaking. But when they all break at once you have to prioritize: 1) fridge/freezer, 2) AC….the other things have to wait.
@ Paula: LOL – it feels like it! I moved my family back to my hometown to help out my mom last August. We've been living in a cozy (i.e. cramped) house. Next week we move for (hopefully…) the last time.
Good luck with the new move, Kimberly! I hope you all get settled in quickly.
Cathy, sounds like a good month! Love it when they leave and take you with them — especially if the old bunch keeps you, too!
Devon, a new area of concentration and a new direction for you — sounds like a good move. 🙂 I don't count paid invoices in my totals; I count invoices sent as I've earned it at that point. Collection is another matter!
Paula, I'm rooting for a 5-for-5 result (and hoping the fridge hangs in there).
Kim, it seems like you're moving every few months. Do you never get to rest (rhetorical question–of course you don't)? Moving would result in a "meh" month. Hope your move is uneventful and easier this time.
Hi Lori.
I'm in the same boat as most of us here. I had a very solid June, but damnitall that people aren't getting back to me so I can invoice and another is stalling on payment.
I think I count invoices like you do. If I finish the work during that month, regardless of when I invoice, it's counted as income during that month. With most clients, I invoice immediately or very soon thereafter.
Well, right now, I have one assignment I turned in May 31, and the woman still hasn't approved the project. She's always slow, but this is crazy. Just emailed her again today to say, HELLO (in an ever-polite way)!
Same with another project I turned in June 3. No feedback yet, though the article is much like the one I turned in about three weeks before, and they loved it and had no changes. I'm starting to get irritated.
On top of that, I've got an outstanding invoice from April. The place sent me copies of the published mag, but no check yet. Really?!
So the upshot is that work is humming along nicely, but I can't fathom why these situations are occurring. I've yet to get stiffed in my seven years of business, and they're all solid, financially health clients. So I don't feel like that's about to start. But wow.
P.S. At this moment, July looks slower. However, a number of people are saying, "How busy are you?" So I'm guessing July will turn out OK.
P.S.S. Paula, same boat in terms of expenses. Right now, a tooth that I just had a replacement crown put on in December is suddenly irritating me. My dentist is closed Mondays, but when I finally get in, I fear it'll be another $500-$750 tooth repair. Damn!
Gabriella, I track mine per invoice only because I date invoices and can keep it all straight in my own head. However you want to do it works, I say!
The one you said HELLO to, try this: Send her a note saying you've not heard from her in a while, and that you assume that means all is well. Here's the invoice, thankyouforyourbusinessverymuch…
Gets them moving in most cases. Currently, I have a client who's busy and hasn't gotten back to me with edits. He's about to get the notice that late fees are automatically attached at a certain point, so let's get moving…