What’s on the iPod: Smoke and Mirrors by Gotye
Slowly, I’m checking things off my list. See, I’m about to head out of town for eight days, and I want to have everything sorted before I go. Some projects must be done by then, so today is completing that process as we’re about to head into a long weekend.
The good news is a stalled project is starting up again, and no set timeline, so I can disappear next week without it affecting them. And I got a call from someone I’d met at the conference this year. And I was hired for work. I was smart and scheduled it after I return so that I’m not racing to get something else out the door before I get on that plane.
What a month. I was off the first week, busy for three days last week, and the work seemed at times overwhelming. But I survived.
In a month that is usually as quiet as a graveyard, I surpassed my earnings target by the 10th. Wild. Absolutely wild month.
I thought I’d sit back and actually relax a little. However, relaxing just wasn’t in the cards. Here’s how things went:
Queries:
I had no time to send one. I’m happy that the work is coming in without my having to work at it, but I’m worried. Things are great now – what about next month? New goal: send out at least five queries a month.
LOIs:
I feel like I’ve let all my marketing slide. Didn’t even follow up on LOIs I’d sent a few months ago. Next new goal: follow up. Today.
Existing clients:
Here is where the bulk of my work came from this month. Thanks to four clients, I blew past my earnings goal. Like last month, four clients kept me hopping. A client with a large project has stalled, but I suspect he’ll be back at the start of September. Also, I just scored an article gig this week, so I have a few things going in September.
New clients:
I worked with a new client this month – one that hired me a month ago, but just got around to the project, which is now in finished draft form. It goes out to them today.
Referrals:
I hesitate to call it a referral, but a client did get in touch at the beginning of the month regarding a project. He’d found me via my website. Nothing has come of it, and I suspect it’s because my Skype skills aren’t up to snuff, nor was our conversation via Skype even intelligible. I want to follow up with him today.
Earnings:
Like last month, this month was stellar. I just guaranteed a good Christmas for my kids, and a damn good chance my taxes will be up to snuff in April (always thinking ahead). I surpassed the earnings goal by 30 percent. That makes me happy.
The Bottom Line:
That conference paid off big time, and continues to. Even though one or two of the contacts there have turned into one-time gigs, I’m still working steadily and earning. I’m thinking about adding another conference in November to boost earnings even more.
But I don’t like that I’m not marketing as much. It’s time to dust off the spreadsheet and get back to marketing again like I’m starving – because hey, tomorrow I could be.
How was your month? Are you seeing more work this year than last? What’s working? What isn’t?
While busy and earnings on target, the last couple of months have been frustrating. The retainer has turned into a juggling nightmare and it now looks like I won't have any income coming in from that source for Oct through December. It looks like $4,000 in expected earnings is not going to happen. So, I am looking to replace that income.
And another client is involved in a major IT roll-out so it looks like projects there are drying up. I have the 3-Day Walk in November + vacation so I have 2 weeks off.
I have an email campaign I just launched so we'll see where that goes.
On a positive note, it gives me plenty of time for my neglected projects. ☺
Finally a monthly assessment I'm not terribly upset about. It could always be better, but it's not bad.
Queries – sent two batches of queries to two of my favorite editors, and a single query as well.
LOIs – sent two. One replied that they don't currently pay. At all. Buh-bye. (The one danger of seeking your own targets is not knowing their payment policies.)
Existing clients – kept me busy. Turned in two articles, one capsule and one column. Did two light editing projects. Picked up two article assignments.
New clients – none, unless you count one-shot resume referrals (see below).
Referrals – did two resumes, and am waiting for the go-ahead on another.
Earnings: So far I've taken in slightly less than my modest monthly goal, but I currently have MORE than that goal invoiced out, and the projects I'm working on now equal about half my monthly goal.
Bottom line: If I keep up the pace I should recover from the damage those endless repair bills have done to my bank account this summer. I've even managed to stash a little money in savings this month – despite property taxes part 2 being due next week.
Lori: I'm so impressed that met your income goal by day 10 of the month. Do you count according to work completed or money collected? (As freelancers know, that can be two very different things.)
Also, how's your daughter doing? Better, I hope?
Sounds like you had a very good month, Lori. I'll be crunching my August numbers today, but from what I can see August was on target for me. I have one client who has been very slow about paying, and I'm hoping I won't have to chase down money.
So far I've made more this year than previous years. This is partly the result of reaching out to a new market last fall.
Paula, I hear you on those property taxes being due!
Cathy, there's always a bright spot. Sorry things are drying up a bit. It's frustrating when you finally feel on track to have that happen. Illustrates just how tenuous our careers can be at times.
Paula, nice month! Yes, repairs do more damage to our savings goals than anything.
Susan, good seeing you! I count invoice totals. My goal is to bill a certain amount every month, and I measure what invoices go out. You should see me the last few days of the month trying to figure out what I can finish now and what goes into next month's totals!
My daughter is doing much, much better. Thank you for asking. She's seeing a terrific therapist and she's found a good medication schedule and is working to get to the root of the anxiety.
Kim, great to hear you're reaping the benefits of that new market! How do you measure results – paid invoices or sent ones?
Lori, I'm going on paid invoices. I've spent time this year researching and seeking out markets willing and able to pay for freelance services. This is something i neglected to do starting out. It's made a big difference for me.
The reason I count paid invoices is because I can't pay my own bills until the payments arrive.
I track how much I have invoiced, too, but to me it's a chicken/eggs kind of thing.
Super plan, Kim. Can't go wrong seeking out those who value you.
Good point, Paula. Whatever your system, as long as it works for you, right?