Ah, timing is everything. I asked Anne Wayman to do another Twitter tweetup yesterday only to find out seconds before that I’d chosen the very time our President was tweeting. Nuts. I don’t know why I thought he was tweeting at 11:30. That time was stuck in my head. Oh well. Thanks to those of you who came out to tweet – we had a nice conversation! If you missed us, we’ll be doing it again on July 21st or somewhere thereabouts. Look for our tweets (#writingsquared).
Disjointed day yesterday. I had a minor medical “thing” to deal with that interrupted the morning. I’ve been having troubles getting any appointment when I call, so when they said “Be here at 11” I dropped everything. Unfortunately, that meant I was late for my interview with Wade Finnegan, whose interview with me will be on his blog shortly. Sorry again, Wade. Normally, I’m ridiculously punctual.
I had to check in with a client on a project. Sometimes the variations in meaning are slight (especially in email) and it’s easy to misunderstand. I was waiting for word back on my price quote and project parameters. I was hoping they weren’t waiting for me to hand them back clean copy. Rather important to know what they mean by “Looking forward to hearing back from you!” when they send me a file.
On the Twitter chat yesterday, we talked a bit about finding time in your day to market. One writer said he’s more of the binge-and-break variety. Aren’t we all? Then there are appointments, phone calls, Facebook, actual work…
Time management sucks if you aren’t able to, well, manage your time. But to survive in freelancing, you should be able to find a few minutes in your day to market. Every day. I can’t say that enough. Here are some ways to fit marketing into your already busy day:
Make an appointment to market. That’s right. Block time off on your calendar (make it a recurring event if you’re using Outlook). When is your best time – mornings before you get going? Just before/after lunch? Late afternoon? Midnight? Schedule it. Set up electronic reminders to keep you on track.
Cut out one Facebook game. Or Twitter check or email check… whatever your addiction is. Your Farmville crops will wilt (and maybe die), but look at how much time you devote to tending fake crops. I dropped Farm Town two years ago when I realized I was fretting about going on vacation and my virtual corn dying. That’s just nuts.
Email friends on your break times. It’s SO easy to get sucked into lengthy email conversations. I do all the time. But if you haven’t marketed today, you should just hang back and respond after you’ve sent out a few queries.
Leave yourself a sticky note. Every day, right before you turn off that monitor, write out a sticky note (real or virtual) and leave it on the monitor so it’s the first thing you see the next morning. You can even do one better – jot down suggestions on whom you can contact. You’re not exactly creating space to market, but you’re creating a mindset to market, which in turn will demand space from your day.
Make marketing fun. If you insist on keeping your Twitter habit, use it to get some contact in with potential clients. Let them know what you’re working on, and occasionally put word out that you’re available for work. If you don’t tweet, use forums on LinkedIn or other sites to reach new clients.
What’s your marketing schedule look like? How do you make time for marketing every day? Do you? If not, how often do you market?
11 responses to “Time Management for the Unorganized”
I should market every day, but I don't. It takes a completely different mind-set, and I have trouble switching out of it once I'm in it, so I usually have a set period of time each week put aside. But, when I'm on deadline, I focus on what's on deadline, not the marketing — which is not a good choice.
I'm best at cutting out all the time-wasters like Facebook. I can get sucked into reading posts for an hour, so when I turn it off, I find I get a LOT of work done. I've never played the games on there because I just find them silly, but I do play Words with Friends, so that can be a time waster too. It's best if I limit myself significantly on those things if I'm under the gun.
Also, I find that I'll do simple tasks to procrastinate doing important but more complicated tasks. Yesterday was a perfect example. I have a blog post I need to edit for a friend, but I also have two papers due for class tomorrow. I wanted to edit the blog post because it's shorter and easier, but it's unpaid and not on deadline (and therefore less important!) than getting my papers turned in on time. I had to consciously tell myself: Do not edit the blog right now. Do your paper. And guess what … I did! 🙂
Devon, you're right. It does take a different mindset.
For me, once I finish a project or take a break, I can switch gears then. I welcome it. But it's really easy to let marketing suck up a ton of time, so I have to limit myself or I get no paid work done. 🙂
Ashley, do NOT mention another game to me! I'm awful. I get pulled into them too easily.
See, I have the same thing. I have a blog post to write that's ultimately much more fun than what I'm doing. Oh well. Fun comes later. It's like a little reward. 🙂
Today's title speaks directly to me. But more for my disorganized office (okay – house) than for time management.
I seldom do any marketing (or anything but write) on a deadline-driven "writing day," but on ordinary work days I usually deal with marketing-related things in the morning. Occasionally in the afternoon, too. Even on the writing days I'll make notes of ideas I want to pitch, but that's about it.
Coincidence or not? The time of day I tend to focus on marketing is about the same time I try to check Lori's blog.
My biggest time waster is probably trying to fit everyday household chores into my workday. I threw in some laundry this morning (and need to start another soon), I need to do dishes, and it's been so dry I need to go water my window boxes, potted plants and mini-garden. Oh, but remember, I'm taking today and tomorrow off. Well semi-off. I've got one set of edits to do and would like to do some marketing.
Words with Friends is a free scrabble app for your phone. I only play a word every other day or two, so it doesn't take up too much time. My ID is hedgiemomma if you wanna play 😉
And yes, I already know I am a terrible person for mentioning it.
Lori, thanks so much for the interview yesterday. I learn so much from you and no worries about the time thing.
I'm too passive with my marketing. I've been feeling like who am I to say hire me. As I stated before I don't like to toot my own horn. Lori reminded me if I don't, then who will? So, I will set time aside each day to put myself out there. I will even try some cold calls next week. I'm not just a writer, I'm a business and I need to treat it as such.
Oh, I feel your game pain. I don't play any FB or computer games. But I'm a crossword gal, and I just this weekend willed myself to sit down and conquer Sudoku. I was able to break the code on easy puzzles.
Then yesterday, I tried some medium puzzles. I'm cornfuddled again–but friggin addicted!
Anyway, onto marketing. I'm also a binge marketer, and I know I should be more even paced. I mostly do it when I have lulls, and because it works, I have little incentive to change that pattern.
But I know I should be more diligent. No question about it. And with you constantly reminding me, someday, I will. How about I start with a web page?!
Well Paula, we can't have you neglecting Lori's blog! LOL Shoot! Forgot my own laundry. Back in a minute….
Ashley, I'm glad it's a phone app. I don't have a smart phone – just an idiotic one. On purpose. For this very reason. 🙂
Wade, toot away! And to your question "who am I to say hire me?" You're Wade Finnegan, professional freelance writer, and you're more than ready to exceed expectations!
Gabriella, definitely start with a Web page. 🙂 And I have electronic Sudoku and crossword puzzles on my e-reader thingie I was gifted for my b-day. Since I won't read books on the damned thing, I'll play games instead. LOL
Yes- you should definitely avoid smart phones! I just got an iPhone and there's a Farmville app. Totally enabling. 🙂
I'm pretty good at turning off the games, though, if I have something pressing. Since I tend to obsess and lose interest with everything, I've learned to just go with the flow. Sometimes I'll work my tush off on my sites for a few weeks, then I'll do nothing but play FB games for a few weeks, then I'll just knit and crochet for a few weeks, then I'll curl up and read for a few weeks, and so on. Since I still have a day job, it works for me. I can accomplish more on whatever I'm doing when I'm into it than trying to force myself into a schedule. Not that it would work well if I had clients. 🙂
I've done a little more marketing on the phone, and it has made me realise that there is a whole world out there outside that I need to contact.
I wish I could be more consistent with marketing.
Wordvixen, I think I will avoid them. 🙂 I have enough electronic distractions in my life. I can't see how adding one more will enhance my life. Rather, I think it would invade on it significantly.
I like how you let your life flow in and out of interests. Sounds much less stressful than trying to get it all done yesterday. 🙂
Kagem, try scheduling your marketing. Open Outlook or whatever calendar program you use, pop it in as an appointment, and make a commitment to be there for that "meeting" with yourself. 🙂