I don't think following up more than twice a year is stalking. 🙂 I think it's smart business. Every two months shouldn't annoy anyone. If it were every month, that's a bit close.

As someone who works from home, I welcome the occasional call if only to hear a live human voice. Of course, other times I just know it's the nosy neighbor calling. (One time, when I told her I was incredibly busy and couldn't chat, she said she'd only call if it was important. Half an hour later she called to tell me the For Sale sign was down on a neighbor's house. That's important? It was a windy day – the sign had blown over.)

I tend to avoid calling unless someone asks me to, since I deal with editors who tend to be pretty stressed out already. They're working against the clock and don't need interruptions.

There is one editor I've been meaning to check in with again. I try to e-mail her a couple times a year. Anything more often would feel stalker-y to me.

But it works. It works for people who know the best times to call and know the person they're calling – at least in email first. I've had jobs that have appeared after months of emails and only after that one call.

I'm with Devon too. I hate hate hate the phone. I don't tell my clients it's off limits, but I do screen my calls and return them when it's more convenient for me. I try to do most things through email. It's less distracting for me. But I do find that a nice phone conversation does grease the wheels on a project sometimes!

I've been meaning to impliment the postcard routine for a while now, and since Devon's having such success with it, I might go ahead and do it. It's a perfect way to stay in front of people without being intrusive. Love it.

I hate the phone too. I startles me when it rings and then I lose my train of thought. And if it's a client calling, I'd rather he/she sent me her request by email so
a)I can see it when I check my mail, which I do periodically while I write
b)I have the request/feedback in writing.

On follow through Lori, I like to send an email/whatever information was requested soon after a meeting. And if a current client responds to me with "not right now" regarding their current needs, then I ask, when is it a good time to contact you again. Usually, client will give me a hint of a project months away or something, and I contact her then.

I do postcards quarterly. It's a "hey, how are you, do you need anything" type of thing, and that nets a solid, positive response. Initial direct mail gets 1-3% positive response (normal rate). The postcards get a 25% positive response.

For clients I've pitched via email, where I only have the email address, I follow up about 4-5 months after the initial "sorry, we don't need you right now" to see if anything's changed. If we build a solid compatibility, even if they don't need me right away, I check in every few months. Some companies vanish, or go in a different direction, and it's not worth it.