What I’m reading: Night Crawler by Diane Parkin (Yay, Diane!)
What’s on the iPod: Where You Are by Rascal Flatts
Wonderful weekend full of activity. After spending Friday’s lunchtime digging out the mailbox, I finished up an article and roughed in another. Friday night was spent with our monk, whose company is always welcome. He’s family. He blends into the flow of the house and he brings good vibes. What’s not to like?
Saturday I cooked like mad because Saturday night was yet another Burns Supper. This one was at a friend’s house. We’ve done two this year. Last year we fit in three. We’re slipping a bit. But any excuse to “kilt up” is a good one. I wore my “girl kilt” made by the local shop, USA Kilts. It’s pleated, tartan, and is styled like a man’s kilt. But that’s where it ends. I was able to get it made to above the knee, and I absolutely love it.
Sunday was spent with the meditation group. We meditated our way into blissfulness and ate like vegetarian pigs afterward. The true definition of bliss. Then I spent the afternoon fending off a migraine, which meant I missed my friend’s birthday celebration. I plan to make it up to her.
Today I’ll be finishing one more article because it’s the end of the month. I want those invoices out and the checks back sooner rather than later.
Because it’s the end of the month, it’s time to assess how things went. It started slower than I expected. My one regular client had an upswing in work orders, so I was busy out of the gate. For a while, not much more came in. But I was happy to see some of my earlier marketing paying off. Here’s the snapshot:
Queries:
In total, I sent five. Two resulted in immediate projects – one of them included these two articles. The other is a new-to-me client and I’m eager to work with them. One of the queries that received no response was from a referral. I suspected the client was looking for very specific experience. I had it, but was bound by nondisclosure agreements and couldn’t provide samples. I would have enjoyed that project very much.
Another query came at the client’s request. I hadn’t heard from this one in a while, so I was surprised to hear from them. The project seemed interesting, but had some pretty tight deadlines and requirements that made it pretty hard to meet those deadlines. I tested the deadline and gave my price. One or the other of those criteria killed the deal, for I’ve not heard back and the deadline is today. Sorry not to work with that client again.
Job postings:
I looked some, but as usual, the pay rates were way too low and many of the postings had ridiculously long or rigid requirements. I passed. And I didn’t waste more than 10 minutes all month on these.
Referrals:
So far, neither one of the referrals I received a month ago have come to fruition. I received bad news on one – their company is going through acquisition, so the work may not be there any longer. Too bad, but I’ll keep in touch should their needs change.
Existing clients:
One client is keeping the project funneled to me every day. Another client has me doing minimal work monthly, but I still have my foot in the door. However, the referral from that client had me working like crazy this month. I completed close to ten projects, which kept me busy and happy.
New clients:
I scored one just last week, and another potentially huge opportunity came in late Friday. The former is a magazine and as I said above, I’m looking forward to working with them. Their audience extends into an area I’ve written all around, but for publications outside their industry. The latter would involve working with a phenomenal writer and friend who highly recommends the company she’s referring me to. And the work could be ongoing. Amen.
Earnings:
I hit last month’s goal. It’s about time, but let me point out that I’ve increased my monthly target starting this month, so I’m off the new target by 16 percent. Close, but not enough.
Bottom line:
I saw a lot of the marketing I conducted hit the mark. That’s the difference between targeting your clients and stabbing in the dark. I knew whose business needs matched what I could deliver, and I asked for the work. I wanted to pull in a few of those referrals, but it wasn’t meant to be. Also, I have contracts in negotiation now that could boost the income dramatically. More on that when I’m able.
The potential new client could boost the income beyond what I’m targeting for February. Amen again. I’ll still market because what’s here today could disappear tomorrow. A day without marketing is like a day without work because hey, it is.
How was your January? Any surprises?
12 responses to “Monthly Assessment: January 2011”
Marketing, of course, fell by the wayside. I sent out far too few queries — only 5 — but 4 hit the mark for future work, but that doesn't help me right now.
I got a lot done on my list, some had to be rearranged as other opportunities came up.
My Wrap-Up for January is on the Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions site — I had a great, intense writing weekend:
http://goalsdreamsresolutions.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/january-wrap-up-2/
Good seeing you back there, Devon. I've always enjoyed reading your progress. 🙂
My first month as copy director for my main client went very well. I enjoyed working with subcontract writers more than I expected to, and I cranked out more words myself consistently than I have ever done. I'm really enjoying the collaborative aspects of the job, which is a rare treat. I'm glad I have this steady gig, because two of my long-time customers who typically give me a lot of work in January didn't have it this year. One of the companies is essentially out of business, and the other one has been laying off people and slimming down. I haven't contacted anyone else on my list because my main client is pretty much keeping me busy full time. It's a calculated risk, but one that suits me for now.
Hi Lori.
How about we pretend you didn't ask this question, huh?
OK, here goes. Earnings-wise, January was pay-my-bills OK, but not good. However, I already have a full plate for February.
I also didn't respond to any ads because the jobs pay too little. As for new business, if we can agree on pay today, I'll begin a book project with a new client this week. That was a referral from a publishing friend. Yay!
I've been connecting with existing clients, and they're reliably giving me new work. So I feel good about that.
Long story short: January was weak. February is looking better.
I'd say my January sounds like Gabriella's, only without the possible book project.
Last year I played along with a full break down, this year I'll do quick reviews:
Very busy month. I completed four articles (including one big rush job), two columns one blog post, and several quick little projects – all for existing clients.
Sent a handful of queries, one editor e-mailed to let me know how close my pitch was to what they needed and attached their new editorial calendar to help me generate new ideas. The biggest surprise? The story I pitched was directly tied to the issue's theme, but the ones they chose had no obvious connection.
I have some marketing plans in place for the articles I wrote for that micromanager.
Actual income was about $400 short of the mark, but as Gabrielle said, it paid the bills. (The mail isn't here today, so that negative could turn into a positive if the check for last week's rush job arrives today.)
Eileen, that sounds like a great gig. Love that you're loving it so much!
No pretending, Gabriella. 🙂 Okay is good because you were smart – you now have February planned out. Sometimes the lull is needed in order to realign the ducks. 🙂
I know you weren't going to play along, Paula, but I'm very glad you did. 🙂 Amen that you're so close to this month's goal! Next month will be better.
Let's make that "surpassed" this month's goal. I just brought in the mail and there was the check for last week's rush job that officially put me a teeny bit over my minimum monthly goal.
Mind if I gloat a bit before I go submit another invoice?
Paula – I LOVE when that happens! To give myself the same thrill even when the check doesn't come in, I have a column in a spreadsheet labeled "production." That way, even if I'm not paid $X within the calendar month, I can look at it and know I produced that much.
Thanks for the shout out! :o) I hope you're enjoying her but also hope you feel able to tell me if and why you don't.
I'm with Eileen, Paula. I don't count checks arriving as my total – I count work billed. I can't imagine what my totals would look like if I waited for those checks!
So far, Diane, I'm enjoying it immensely! Love the premise and the flow.
If I counted what I'd billed, I'd be depressed wondering where all that money was!
I do keep track of how much I have invoiced out, too.
Just finished January invoicing and I hit my target range for the third straight month. Before we go celebrating though, I was hoping to up my range for 2011 like you, Lori. In that case, I'm a little bit below where I'd like to be.
None of my spur-of-the moment marketing paid off in January (although I suppose it still could) and I wasted a lot of time on a project that didn't pan out thanks to major contract issues. However, previous clients I haven't heard from in months (in one case years) have sought me out, keeping me quite busy. I also landed a new local client for February … still not sure how they found me. Finally, I secured one new client in January, the story behind which I believe is a good takeaway for your readers.
I have a statcounter on my blog and on an irregular basis, I check out the keyword searches that are leading to me. I saw one particular phrase a few years ago that is in one of my writing niches so I wrote a blog post about it. This new clients Googled that phrase, found the post and contacted me. Sound like a familiar strategy? That's because I stole it from Demand Studios (shhh, don't tell them ;o)) Why anyone would write articles for $15 a pop for someone else when they could set up their own site or blog for free and write targeted articles of their own that could lead to business over and over again is beyond me.
Not to stir the DS pot again, but I just may have to blog about this situation. Heck, I've pretty much just written that post to you. ;o)