Having a conversation with a new graduate recently, I mentioned losing two of my big clients to the R word (I won’t say it! I won’t admit to it!). He asked what I was going to do. I spelled it out for him – “Market, send out proposals, contact the temp agency….” Of course he…
Tag: finding freelance work
Close the Door, Open Another
Last week I heard from another one of my regular clients and yes, the news wasn’t great. I’d sent out the “can I help with anything?” email, and heard what I’d expected – the budget went south and there aren’t the funds for freelancers there once was. I feel bad – two great clients in…
Random Wastes of Time
Don’t you hate when you spend time crafting a killer query sure to attract attention only to find out the employer failed to fill you in on the most critical details? Like last week, I spent some quality writing time answering an ad that passed my BS Litmus Test (or BLT). The test parameters: 1….
Just Ask
One of the top tenets of the sales world is “ask for the job.” So I took this idea to the social networking world last week. There’s something to this asking stuff. Within hours of my Twitter post about being available to “rock your insurance articles” I was approached by a new client to write…
The Ultimate Hangover
Never fails that after a really cool party, you end up with either a headache or a hangover, right? Yesterday was no exception. Still high on the fumes of a Friday full of surprises, I got a rude awakening. One of my regular clients – an association magazine – has lost its freelance budget. No…
Is Time Off a Deal Breaker?
Good news on the work front – a call came in yesterday from what turned out to be a potential client. Honestly, the client identified his company, but having at least 12 calls a day from telemarketers, it wasn’t until I hung up I realized he was calling about work. He’d asked if I had…
Even Cheerleaders Need Prozac
I didn’t want to admit it, and I tried keeping my chin up and my cheerleader game face on, but it’s no use. Work, right now, is mighty tough to come by. Maybe it’s not fair to compare one year over another, but last year at this time I couldn’t keep up with the projects….
Reconnecting
Thank you, Kathy, for asking how to contact existing clients and get their attention without getting deleted. You gave me something to blog about – I’m sporting an energy shortage and I don’t want to spend time thinking up another topic. 😉 When I’m working with a client on a current project, I always end…
The New Job Dance
Yesterday I mentioned how we sometimes head to job boards to find immediate work, only to end up with something offering less-than-acceptable terms. I’m going to say it right here – and you’re free to disagree – but I think using job boards or job postings to find regular, high-paying work is doing you a…
Avoiding Desperation Marketing
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been in a place where there’s no cash coming in, none on the horizon, and you’re looking desperately for something – anything – that pays now or sooner. Ooo, that many? Fact is we’ve all been there – some of us more than others. And what’s the first thing…