Words on the Page

Worthy Advice: Demand More

Posted on by lwidmer

Looking to make the most of LinkedIn? Join Anne and me and special guest Susan Johnston, author of LinkedIn and Lovin’ It for a one-hour Webinar on how to propel your profile and get more gigs. Register here and you have a chance to win a copy of Susan’s book. Good day yesterday. I finished…

More Competition or Better Odds?

Posted on by lwidmer

There’s plenty that ticks me off when it comes to retailer behavior these days. Customer service is nonexistent (in my area, anyway), companies make excuses, choose to ignore customers or worse, blame them for not doing something correctly. Instead of fixing an issue and retaining customer loyalty, they operate on the “gee, that’s just too…

The Client’s Client’s Client

Posted on by lwidmer

Ooo, this is a good one: Join Anne Wayman and me, along with our special guest, The Urban Muse Susan Johnston, for LinkedIn Secrets and Success, a one-hour Webinar revealing how you can capitalize on LinkedIn’s untapped potential! For information and registration, click here. Yesterday was slightly more productive than Monday. I managed to get…

Return of the Demand(ing) Jobs

Posted on by lwidmer

I have no idea why, but I spent the first part of yesterday absolutely exhausted. It was as though I woke up five minutes after going to sleep. Luckily by noon I was able to function better. Didn’t get much done beyond coordinating Anne’s and my next Webinar, but maybe it was smart to avoid…

Loose Ends, Weekends

Posted on by lwidmer

It was quite the weekend. Baseball (ugh), then football (yay!), and in the middle of it a disjointed plan to escape for a few days that turned out less than successful. Saturday we drove north to the Poconos with a list of B&Bs and an overnight bag. We located the state park, visited the park…

Keeping Track

Posted on by lwidmer

What we’re talking about on the Five Buck Forum: Where to send the query Another slow day yesterday. I’m thankful for them at the moment because I’m able to catch up on my bookkeeping, desk cleaning, personal writing, and marketing planning. I had one interview yesterday, then I unraveled a few online accounts that locked…

Bookending

Posted on by lwidmer

How was yesterday for you? I spent it learning how to move this blog, plus trying to get my domain out of the hands of the GoDaddy people. I had plenty of time to do so – a current project is sitting idle until I can get some interviews lined up. Anne and I were…

Friends in New Places

Posted on by lwidmer

I felt like I was slogging through mud yesterday. Way too many things getting in the way and not enough work. I did get one more assignment from a regular client, but nothing concrete on the three others who were asking about upcoming projects. Soon. Patience. If I say that often enough, I may convince…

Giving Them Reason

Posted on by lwidmer

Yesterday was a bit of a fractured day. I had a doctor visit in the morning, then an interview in the afternoon with a bit of research scattered about. I managed to get out a few proposals to potential clients, and then off to get groceries. The proposals were something I was pondering all weekend….

Monthly Assessment: September 2011

Posted on by lwidmer

Happy birthday to my youngest bairn! Today she is 23 and a lovely young woman she is. Both she and her brother make their mom proud. I’m glad last week is over. Every bit of technology I touched went wonky. I’m hoping the weekend “reset” my abilities. If it were only that easy. Hard to…

Cathy Miller

It's times like this that I love that you do this little accountability exercise, Lori. 🙂

September was my best month yet in terms of receipts and the 3rd quarter blew all others away, despite August being absolutely dismal. There was a lot going on in August, just not much coming in (mostly due to a large project with a client dragging their feet).

But, what it shows is hang in there because sooner or later it pays off. Isn't that a metaphor for freelancing? 🙂

Gabriella F.

Hi Lori.

Glad you rebounded!

I, too, had a great month. That's my second month in a row with 50 percent more earnings than my average for the first half of the year.

I got almost all of it through existing clients, but it's helped to have that new client who first contacted me, then went radio silent, and then got back in touch. They're pleased with my work, and that's gratifying.

Also have a telephone call on Wednesday to talk to a potential new client about providing regular copy for their redesigned online magazine. However, I'm guessing that my medical "issues" may spook them and they'll prefer to have someone who can absolutely promise that there will be no complications in meeting their deadlines.

I've already informed them of my surgery and post-surgical treatment, and they still want to talk. So maybe I'll be wrong. We'll see.

We'll also see how my earnings are affected by surgery and chemo in the coming months. Hope that's not another kick in the head!

Lori

Cathy, that's our motto! LOL

Isn't it great to have something that nice to report? 🙂 I will say this – keeping up this monthly assessment has caused me to track more closely what I'm doing. I can see much more easily what's working and what isn't. Plus it's a visual reminder of how much I actually did versus how much I think I did. 🙂

Wade Finnegan

Good for you Lori, that sounds like an excellent month. I like where things are going. I sold a piece last month and queried the same publication and got another yes. Maybe, this will turn into a beautiful relationship. I'm taking it slow for now as teaching is taking up much of my time, but I feel I'm headed in the right direction.

Paula

You're right Lori – the monthly assessments help me see what is and isn't working, and adjust my approach as needed.

After roughly four weeks of virtually no paying assignments (mid-August to mid-September I had one, count it one, quick, piddly $250 editing assignment) work finally began picking up in late September – naturally I got that pesky cold which is still trying to hang on in the form of congestion, hoarseness and a cough. I'm working through the cold, so it is no excuse for my dismal assessment:

Queries: Sent seven well-targeted queries and followed up on one query and one LOI. Following up on the LOI netted me an immediate offer of an assignment.

Job Postings: Responded to two legit postings in my areas of expertise, too soon to know if either will pan out.

Existing clients: The weekly paper I write my column for finally got current, so I sent in a column. (they've now paid for that, so I'll knock another out for them today). Picked up two quick assignments for Favorite Editor. One has already been turned in (she said it was the first article anyone turned in for the new issue), and I'll have the other one done by tomorrow. (Another reason she's my favorite editor? After excerpting a new book about the founder of The Weather Channel, she sent me the book.)

I also followed up on the chronic late-payer, instituting my new plan of throwing their own words back at them (they said in writing that they pay 30 days after invoices are accepted). I told them that's a long time t o wait, but is acceptable if and only if they actually pay at that time. I told them a "standard 10% late fee" will be added if payment is not made by October 1. They claim to have mailed my payment on Friday. We'll see.

New Clients: I recently added two new magazines to my roster. Both via LOIs. The first editor loved the running list of ideas I sent her for the piece due in November so I know I'm heading inthe right direction; the other new client is the editor who responded immediately after I followed up on the LOI I'd sent her. I hope these are the first of many assignments for each of these magazines.

Earnings: Blech. About 1/3 of my modest monthly goal. Unacceptable.

Bottom line: If the new clients can become regular clients, and if late-payer can be trained to pay me on time (even by their standards), I might be able to set the thermostat higher than 62 this winter!

Gabriella F.

Has the spam folder eaten my post again?!

Lori

I saved you from spam, Gabriella! You'll be happy to hear that I'm in the process of moving the whole thing to WordPress. 🙂

Prayers and hugs, doll. If you need someone to jump in and give you a hand on the projects, just shout. I'm right here. You might even pitch it to them that you do have backup. There are plenty of us here who would help.

Wade, you're getting closer to that leap, aren't you? Good for you!

Paula, you have everything in line – now reel 'em in, sister!

Paula

A note to Gabriella – Lori's right about having a back-up plan in place. When my sister (a freelance graphic designer) was in your situation, she had a trusted graphic design friend lined up and assured her clients that all of her sub's work would be approved by her before it was submitted. I think the only thing she had him help out with were a couple minor projects. She never missed a deadline or had to turn down any projects.

With a substitute writer waiting in the wings to pitch in if necessary, hopefully you won't miss out on any assignments while you focus on the important thing: getting healthy.

Good luck with your surgery, treatment and recovery!

Gabriella F.

Thanks, Lori and Paula!