Comments on: Monthly Assessment: May 2011

By: WordVixen

WordVixen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:29:34 +0000

Sure thing! I love it, because I'm one of those people that's hyper-focused for a week or two, and then lose interest entirely for months. IM is perfect for people like me, though it does seem to work better for people who are focused all the time. 🙂

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:50:07 +0000

Dang girl! I have to talk to you offline about this! Sounds like a great gig!

By: WordVixen

WordVixen — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:15:36 +0000

*lol* I'm into internet marketing now. Started out just wanting to be a novelist, fell in with a lot of freelancers, started to pursue that but had panic attacks at the thought of trying to satisfy a perfect stranger with my work, fell in with a lot of internet marketers, realized that the keyword articles that I was going to be writing for other people would be much better served on my own sites, and... eventually, ended up in the IM camp. I'm not full time yet, but it's growing! Google's Panda update has been very favorable to my actually-useful posts rather than people who are backlinking fiends.

I do occasionally freelance for friends (other IMers), but the bulk of my non-day-job income is IM now- which is why my blog's tagline is "Tales of an ex-freelance wannabe...". :-)

Funny- just yesterday I came across an old post where you'd given me a suggestion for an ebook to write. I'm thinking about it again. It fits right into my plans for one of my niche sites, which, if I can get the traffic up there, I'd have a great platform to market it from!

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:38:21 +0000

Kagem, I don't blame you for being nervous. Two regular clients seems like enough, but if one or both disappear....

Go get 'em with the marketing! You're smart to plan well in advance.

By: Kagem

Kagem — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:33:42 +0000

May was full of work from 2 repeat clients – I am grateful for repeat business but I am concerned. What if they go on a hunger strike? Eek. This is why June is going to be a month of aggressive marketing for me. You never know what's around the corner!

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:03:10 +0000

He'd be grieving if he'd said that to me, but for a different reason (I'm somewhat violent with those who act like dolts).

Gabriella, :)).

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:48:50 +0000

Deal!

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:41:34 +0000

Yeppers, he sure did use them as an excuse. He told me that in light of all he was going through, paying my invoice was the last thing on his mind. I'm sure it was … but not because he was grieving.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:38:35 +0000

Kathy, he actually used his father's dying and sister's suicide as an excuse? That's pathetic! I would believe him with a ton of skepticism except for the fact that he'd started a new business venture in that same time. Now it's just disgusting behavior by an amateur. You're smart to write him off.

Paula, I'm still wondering how you're going to juggle all those interviews and the repairman. :)

WordVixen, that's pretty darn good! You'll have to tell us how you manage to earn money without clients - I'm impressed and confused at the same time. LOL

Gabriella, exactly! Let's both get our behinds in gear! I'll watch your back, you watch mine, okay? :)

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:13:35 +0000

Hello, Lori!

Thanks for giving us your May dirt. Mine's just as mediocre, or if I do a little accounting magic, it moves up to acceptable.

If I use my standard method of accounting--I count income in the month I send the invoice--my May was abysmal. I had a 10-day vacay in there, but it's still pitiful.

If I use a little accounting slight of hand--taking an article I invoiced for in April and counting it in May since that's when I finalized the article after the editor's picky, picky queries--then my May is acceptable, and my April remains good, too.

But really, what does it matter? I know I have to step up my game.

I didn't contact any new clients, and I have to get cracking on that. I did reconnect with existing clients, and they're providing me with steady income.

I had a phone conference with one potential client, and we left it like they were going to hire me but just needed to check with their budget people. I haven't heard word one since.

However, I'm not giving up on that client, since I first emailed her in December, and she didn't respond at all. Then she contacted me in April and said she's ready to give me the work. So perhaps she just needs email etiquette training, and I'll hear from her when she's ready. Fingers crossed.

Bottom line: I knew May would be weak because of my vacation. But really, woman, get your behind in gear!