Comments on: Simplifying

By: Kagem

Kagem — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:01:45 +0000

What communication method do people use to follow up, the phone or email?

I feel like the phone is better but email is less stressful.

Great post - I was thinking about how I need to follow up today for my recruitment website.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:53:49 +0000

I'd love to try your tracking system, Anne. I may be overwhelming myself with mine.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:25:12 +0000

Please assure Jake he's not the only random sort of freelancer… but I will say that tracking works. Of course, I've got a whole different client base than you do Lori, so my followup is usually pretty simple… is the stuff for myself… my blogs etc. that can get random… then I track.

I do it on computer because I can't read my own handwriting…

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:58:24 +0000

Oh, don't be sad, Jake! I think randomness has a place in freelancing. I'm exhibiting my Germanic tendencies. I'll be back tomorrow with a more Irish fly-by-night attitude. 🙂

By: Jake P

Jake P — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:34:10 +0000

Posts and comments like these confirm my suspicion that I am The World's Most Random Freelancer®. I can be extraordinarily organized when I need to be...but somehow that doesn't happen very often.

*slinks off, guiltily.*

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:30:16 +0000

Paula, if it works, it's perfect. I still use a paper filing system to keep track of my earnings. I print out invoices and stuff them into manila folders. Whatever YOU like is best, in my opinion.

Ashley, spreadsheets make me crazy, too. I have to remember to open them. Since I'm not in Excel every day....

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:30:21 +0000

Here I go again with my low-tech system....

I have two simple, hand-scrawled "logs" (no one can say I'm not doing my part to keep handwriting alive!). One tracks my key daily activities - what queries or LOIS I send, to whom, etc...; work submitted; invoices sent; edits completed; requests for guidelines and ed cals and so forth. The other tracks income and business expenses that comes in handy at tax time.

I also have a simple phone log for tracking long distance work calls and expenses. I have one controlling client that wants to know how many times I tried to reach a source and what days the calls were placed. I go one better. I can tell the time I called and approximately how long the call lasted and if I left a message

Like I said, these are all simple, handwritten records that help me track my work activities. When I send an LOI, I scrawl a note on the week-at-a-glance calendar sitting on my desk. Last week I mailed an LOI to a trade magazine that sounded like a perfect fit for me, and I made a note to e-mail the editor Wednesday to make sure she got it. I didn't need to. She e-mailed me first thing Monday. Sounds promising!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:52:59 +0000

I don't forget to follow up, but sometimes I put it off way too long when I'm busy with other things. I like Devon's method of a log for pitches and contacts to help organize things. I actually started doing that a while back, but I don't think my spreadsheet was easy enough to use, so I got frustrated with it and quit. Well, now I know what needs to go on my to-do list 🙂

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:19:42 +0000

I used to do that, Devon. Somehow I let that go by the wayside when I pitched less and worked with regular clients more. But it's a smart idea.

Joseph, I don't think I'd stay awake long enough to finish it! LOL

By: Joseph Hayes

Joseph Hayes — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:15:23 +0000

Mmm, a nap. How about a blog on napping, Lori? I could certainly use one.