What’s on the iPod: Call Ya Momma by Justin Townes Earle
It was a lovely weekend. Our final Burns Supper was Friday night, so we dressed up and headed out into the single-digit temps to once again toast a barely intelligible poet who wrote poems about mice and lice in Scots dialect. Go figure. But the Scots love any excuse for a party, and who am I to argue?
I wished my eldest happy birthday on Sunday. Every year, I wish I could be there in person. Every year, there’s some snow event happening that gets in the way. So I wish him well from a distance and wonder why I didn’t plan it so that his birth landed in the summer months…
My January ended on an oh-my-gawd note — there are projects rolling in to the point where I’m tempted to halt further marketing. Tempted only. Even in the middle of a blizzard, we all know the snow stops eventually (today is also Lori Thinks She’s Punny Day). So far, the projects on my desk are totaling a little more than $1K over my February earnings goal.
So before I get ahead of myself, let’s look at January’s results:
Queries:
I sent four. Two hit the mark. The other two will get a nudge this week.
LOIs:
I sent 28 out, and one of the recipients is interested. I’ll circle back this week.
Social media:
One tweet netted a conversation with a potential client this week. Not bad odds at all.
Job postings:
I remember applying to one thing, but it wasn’t noteworthy enough to remember exactly what it was. I’ve looked, but I’ve not spent much energy going where thousands of other writers are going.
Referral:
One came from a writer friend on Thursday. No word yet if it’s a match.
Existing clients:
Just as the old sales adage goes, you get 80 percent of your business from 20 percent of your customers. Two clients this month resulted in most of my income. Those two projects came within $1,200 of my earnings goal.
New clients:
No new client work this month, but I’m hopeful the conversation this week will turn into a working relationship.
Poetry:
Early in the month I learned I’ll be published in another literary magazine. That makes two published poems, which I hope is a trend.
Earnings:
I did have just two client projects this past month, but as I said earlier, they came close to my earnings goal. I would have surpassed it, but one project was delayed until this week and another one was done internally.
Bottom line:
The focus on concentrated marketing is paying off. I’ve decided to mix things up and concentrate on a few different avenues at the same time. Also, I’m putting more effort into a more personalized letter of introduction. It’s too early to tell if it’s making a difference, but already I’m seeing more responses, even if they aren’t buying.
The LOI marketing will continue, and this month is when I start contacting people who will be attending the trade show in April. Time to get some face-to-face meetings scheduled. Also, I’m introducing myself to more editors in the trade world.
How did you do in January? How are things this year compared to last January?
Have you been doing anything different with your marketing approach?
You've inspired me to keep track like this for 2015 Lori.
Queries: Three – one consumer cat mag came back straight away to say that they write everything in-house, the other two were only in the last few days and waiting to hear whether it's yeay or nay.
LOIs: This is where I'm rubbish, I always intend to set a target for LOIs every week, but don't. Sent three, no responses.
Referral: One from a writer friend, due to start the project this week.
Existing clients: The bulk of my Jan work. The new editor of a pet trade magazine has emailed to say she looks forward to working with me this year, but nothing concrete yet. Five separate articles commissioned for a consumer cat magazine over the coming months, two written already, three to be completed this month. Two new projects for a major pharmaceutical client, and some little bits and bobs from others.
New clients: Three new clients, one was an individual with a personal project so possibly won't have any repeat work, but it was fun! One ghostwriting the business blog of a company's CEO, and one new pet trade magazine commission. That's my favorite, because it's the first time they're using a freelance writer – they usually do everything in-house. No pressure then!
Much of my January was a hangover (pardon the pun) 😉 from 2014. I finished (mostly) an ebook & guide for one long-time client and did final edits on a survey report for another.
I fell a bit short of earnings but would surpass it if a deposit check I expect any day had arrived.
I landed 5 solid projects from an existing clients that go until June. I have an ongoing blog gig with another for the year.
I heard from a former colleague in January who is interested in hiring me. Will follow up next week if I don't hear.
I got behind in planning due to the year-end project so I will be finalizing plans this week.
What's different is having more contracted projects in place this early in the year.
Sounds like you had a great month, Emily! I like that you're mixing it up between pet magazines and pharmaceuticals — proof you can wear many hats in this job!
Cathy, that's fantastic! Lots of project until June sounds like you can rest assured summer months won't be lean on cash. Good contrast between this year and last year — amen!
I had a fairly slow start to the new year, but things are picking up.
Queries: Sent six. One was assigned the same day and is already in print. Still waiting to hear about the others.
Social Media: Joined Instagram. Added several LinkedIn and Twitter followers, and joined a couple of LinkedIn discussions.
Job Listings: Replied to four that sounded like good fits. No word. Replied to two Ebyline postings (for the same client) that sounded as if they were written for me. Unfortuately, I also realized it's the same client that I had to turn down last month when they wanted four short pieces, all requiring celebrity interviews, to be turned in January 2. I assumed January 2 was the date they wanted applications by, and contacted him to apologize for the confusion and explain hwo that is the worst time of year to try to schedule a celebrity interview (unless you're a major market and the celeb has something big to promote). He never replied to that, so I'm not too hopeful he'll reply to me this time.
Referrals: A near one. A family member knew of a place seeking a contract writer and forwarded them my resume, but they already had someone in mind. They liked my resume and will hang on to it just in case things don't work out with the other writer, or in case additional projects come in.
Existing Clients: Wrote four columns; one article completed for Favorite Editor and a second in the works; one serenditious article for another longtime editor; the aforementioned piece that was assigned immediately after I pitched it; one article done for the education market I write for and another one in progress; and last week I got word to expect another one of those massive listings to come in soon.
New: I have a potential new client. Spoke with him Friday and it sounds really promising. If it turns out as well as it sounds like it could, this could be a regular gig at a really sweet rate.
Earnings: Pathetic if based on the actual amount of money that came in during January. But less tan $400 shy of my new modest monthly goal for 2015.
Bottom line: I need to do my best to ensue the potential client becomes a regular client, and keep marketing.
Yikes. I think I set a new record for the number of typos in a single post in my last reply.
Paula, sounds like January started well for you! I count my invoiced amounts, not actual checks in hand at the end of the month. If I did, I'd be broke all the time, what with late payments, delayed payment schedules, etc.