Oh my lord, was this a long month or what? We had an extra few days to play with, which turned out feeling like an entire extra month stuffed into October. While the time may have flown by on the calendar, there were a lot of days to contend with.
October is a critical month for me – maybe for you, too. It’s the month where I get to earn December’s money. Figuring any project starting in October and billing somewhere in or just after the month, I can count on checks coming in right around December. Just in time to spend it all on holidays.
Let’s get to my accountability section, shall we?
Queries:
Except for this last week and a half, I hit the queries hard. I followed my own rule of contacting seven clients a week in general. That meant I sent out query letters to a number of new magazines. In a few cases, I simply introduced myself and sent along an idea for consideration, almost as an afterthought. I wanted to show them I was flexible and would work from their ideas, since there wasn’t an indication either way on what they would like to see. Only two magazines returned notes to me. Two out of ten – that’s unacceptable behavior from professionals, but I’m powerless to change it.
Job postings:
For the most part, I steered clear of job boards. The competition’s insane right now, and frankly, job board posters are showing more of the low-ball offer trend than is acceptable. So I responded to zero job postings this month.
Existing clients:
Here’s where I went to town. I contacted a dozen clients, mostly just checking in to see how they’re doing. From that, I received a dozen responses. Great return on time investment! One has resulted in a new ongoing gig. Another is a ramping up for work needing to be done in December, when the rest of the freelance business dries up. Still another is looking to get moving mid-December on a longer project. All answered – not all had anything for me. That’s okay. I talked shop with a few and generally kept in touch.
Two ongoing projects at the moment have me knee-deep in work. For that reason, my last week and a half was a little lame on marketing. I need to fix that. Market while you’re busy, I always say. Time to take the same pill.
Earnings:
The good news – earnings are up about $1,500 over last month. Still not at my target, but I’m just shy of it by $1K. Better. With this extra work beginning to show up, I’m hopeful November will be the month that puts me over the mark.
Bottom line:
Letting go of a lower-paying client because of higher-paying work was a good decision. I quickly replaced that income with ongoing work that in one project outpaced those fees by triple the amount. Avoiding the job postings didn’t hurt me in the slightest. In fact, the more active approach has opened up a few new areas of concentration. Also, the marketing plan is working. Let me rephrase – working the actual marketing plan is working. The plan is as effective as the time put into it.
How was your October?
It was okay, somewhat frustrating. I didn't get everything done that I wanted, I'm juggling numerous deadlines — mostly fiction. I'll have a full assessment up on the GDR site tomorrow.
I had a lot of proposals to do this month, and I won't know the results until spring. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I skimmed over the job boards a few times, but there was nothing I really wanted. I re-discovered a great site that lists legit jobs in the arts, but most of them are full-time on-site, so it's not right for me, but I'm sending the link to friends. And, if I see an organization I love, I'll pitch them a freelance angle.
I'm going to get a royalty check next week for the play, and also my very last check from an annuals publisher for whom I worked for 15 years — can you imagine? I wrote for them for 15 years? It flew by. And I need a break — I think I've said everything I can say for them right now.
November is all about writing, travel, and web re-design.
Sounds like a great month for you, Devon! Yes, frustrating, but that frustration will pay off. Look at the queries you sent out. You're right – spring is going to be good for you.
October wasn't much for work for me, but that was planned. I spent most of the month, revamping things, changing direction, researching etc.
I did get some face to face networking and marketing done, which went over pretty well. I got an upcoming project from that and some possibilities down the road.
And I spent some time working on some of own projects. Oct wasn't productive work wise, but it was productive in the sense of future work. Overall, I'm pretty pleased.
Income-wise, October was a bust. I have about $2,500 in outstanding invoices, roughly half of that amount should be paid up by next week.
Work-wise, this past last week has been slow. But I turned in five articles and four columns. Not great, not horrible.
I sent three queries encompassing about 15-20 separate ideas (all to long-time editors who prefer multiple ideas per query). I only replied to one job posting – it sounded ideal for my skills and experience – but haven't heard back.
I contacted two existing clients just to keep in touch. I also sent a letter of introduction to the new editors of a major publication I wrote for several years ago. One replied, saying they don't use freelancers very often. The other, the assigning editor, hasn't replied at all. I also reached out to about a dozen trusted PR contacts, and already have some good ideas to pitch for April and May.
I'm also about to put on my Elf Hat again to start helping Santa answer his mail. The big catch is, in order to get the postmark from "The North Pole" and ensure the kids get the letter by Christmas, you have to ship the letters to Alaska (I mean to Santa!) by mid-December. So all of Santa's Elves need to have everything ready to go by Thanksgiving, when the letters start rolling in!
Paula, that sounds like the nicest job yet. 🙂
Love the face-to-face stuff, Wendy. People are more inclined to hire a face than an email.
What are your networking events like? How do you meet? Where do you go?
The two events I went to this month were a personal development seminar and a charity event.
The personal development seminar I went to was specifically for marketing since some coaches were going to be there.
The charity event I hadn't planned to do any networking at, but I met some people there who were small business owners and we got to talking, so I got some phone numbers of people to call and I talked to those I met about some possible projects.
I do prefer face to face networking. I can sell myself a whole lot better that way. I just have to remember to bring business cards with me.
Lori, I love the line in your post: "working the actual marketing plan is working." Words to live by.
I agree, Wendy. Face-to-face networking is almost always the best way to do it.
Kimberly, that's the key. ;)) Gotta get off my butt and do it if I expect it to work.
My October was topsy-turvy, to say the least! Halfway through the month I decided to take a full-time job, relegating my freelancing to my "free time." It's amazing how little of my time is actually free!
I hear you, Amie! Free time is something we have to schedule first or we just don't get to it. 🙂