finding freelance work | Words on the Page

The Staple Work

Posted on March 9, 2012 by lwidmer

What a difference a day makes. We live in a world where medicines made to cure us make us feel worse. Once one of the antibiotics I’d been taking wore off, I felt infinitely better. Not 100 percent because now I have to wait out the medicine’s effects on the body, but better. If the…

Quick-start Guide to Finding Clients

Posted on March 7, 2012 by lwidmer

It’s now three days since I first called the doctor. No return call Monday, and the second I went off to the pharmacy (ironically) yesterday she called. I’m taking meds I know will make me feel deathly sick again, but until she changes things up, I’ve no choice. I’m taking anti-nausea meds, but who knows…

Friends in New Places

Posted on October 5, 2011 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…

Simultaneous Submissions

Posted on August 18, 2011 by lwidmer

It’s been a good week of work. I spent yesterday morning out of the office (shuttle service for a routine test – his this time, not mine). Despite that, I was able to get back to the desk around eleven and get a small project done. I spent the afternoon doing something few of us…

Holiday Shopping

Posted on August 16, 2011 by lwidmer

Running early this morning – I try to schedule doctor’s appointments for as early as I can get them. Today, it’s for 7:30. Amen. I can be back and working by 9:00. Yesterday was great. I handed in the second of the three articles due this month, and the check arrived already for the one…

Working With PR

Posted on July 14, 2011 by lwidmer

Busy day again, amen. I finished a large project (just a section – more on the way), and got some smaller stuff accomplished. I worked on a personal project, then it was off to the pool to relax. Finally. I feel like I’ve been running through my week. It’s going to get worse before it…

It’s Not Really That Bad

Posted on May 26, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday (and loving it) by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: Sad Song by The Cars Yesterday went well. Lots done before noon, which meant I was able to take off in the car (roof down) and enjoy the only sun we’ve seen in weeks. Two hours of the glorious outdoors later,…

Many Points of Contact

Posted on May 25, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: King of Diamonds by Motopony Wow, just head off to lunch thinking you have tons of time….the emails must have come in instantly after I left the house. Five urgent requests, all of them a priority. I sorted through quickly and got to the…

The Follow Through

Posted on May 19, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck I’m slowly getting back into my routine post-Vancouver and post-Mom. Yesterday was a good work day. I managed a number of interviews, some articles, and a few blog posts. Today, a little more of the same. Plus I have a few more business cards from the conference…

Devon Ellington

May 19, 2011

I hate the phone. I'm more likely, as a customer, to not do business with someone who interrupts me with a phone call than do business with them, and I do 99.9% of my business via email or post. As far as I'm concerned, the phone is for emergency and friends and family. If I could get away without having a phone, I would. I usually put in a clause in my contracts stating that they can leave a message on the phone and I'll check messages 2X a day, but I am not phone accessible, and they'll get a faster rsponse with an email. 90% of the day, my phone is OFF so I can WORK. A phone ringing at the wrong time throws off my entire day. That's how much I hate phones.

I do postcards quarterly. It's a "hey, how are you, do you need anything" type of thing, and that nets a solid, positive response. Initial direct mail gets 1-3% positive response (normal rate). The postcards get a 25% positive response.

For clients I've pitched via email, where I only have the email address, I follow up about 4-5 months after the initial "sorry, we don't need you right now" to see if anything's changed. If we build a solid compatibility, even if they don't need me right away, I check in every few months. Some companies vanish, or go in a different direction, and it's not worth it.

Damaria Senne

May 19, 2011

Devon, you're the phone-phobe after my heart:-)

I hate the phone too. I startles me when it rings and then I lose my train of thought. And if it's a client calling, I'd rather he/she sent me her request by email so
a)I can see it when I check my mail, which I do periodically while I write
b)I have the request/feedback in writing.

On follow through Lori, I like to send an email/whatever information was requested soon after a meeting. And if a current client responds to me with "not right now" regarding their current needs, then I ask, when is it a good time to contact you again. Usually, client will give me a hint of a project months away or something, and I contact her then.

Ashley

May 19, 2011

You must be reading my mind, Lori. I had been meaning to get in touch with a contact for a few weeks and had been putting it off. So I just sent an email to follow up. Thanks for the push! 🙂

I'm with Devon too. I hate hate hate the phone. I don't tell my clients it's off limits, but I do screen my calls and return them when it's more convenient for me. I try to do most things through email. It's less distracting for me. But I do find that a nice phone conversation does grease the wheels on a project sometimes!

I've been meaning to impliment the postcard routine for a while now, and since Devon's having such success with it, I might go ahead and do it. It's a perfect way to stay in front of people without being intrusive. Love it.

Lori

May 19, 2011

Ladies, even though I put it on the list, it's my least favorite way to contact people. I HATE the phone. Hate it. Mind you, I'm fine with talking on it, but I just don't do well with a ringing phone.

But it works. It works for people who know the best times to call and know the person they're calling – at least in email first. I've had jobs that have appeared after months of emails and only after that one call.

Paula

May 19, 2011

I'm Pavlovian about a ringing phone. You know when it only rings once and the caller hangs up? No matter where in the house I was when the phone rang, I'm already halfway to the phone by then.

As someone who works from home, I welcome the occasional call if only to hear a live human voice. Of course, other times I just know it's the nosy neighbor calling. (One time, when I told her I was incredibly busy and couldn't chat, she said she'd only call if it was important. Half an hour later she called to tell me the For Sale sign was down on a neighbor's house. That's important? It was a windy day – the sign had blown over.)

I tend to avoid calling unless someone asks me to, since I deal with editors who tend to be pretty stressed out already. They're working against the clock and don't need interruptions.

There is one editor I've been meaning to check in with again. I try to e-mail her a couple times a year. Anything more often would feel stalker-y to me.

Lori

May 19, 2011

I used to be, Paula. It took one incessant caller (four calls in one hour? Seriously?) to halt that.

I don't think following up more than twice a year is stalking. 🙂 I think it's smart business. Every two months shouldn't annoy anyone. If it were every month, that's a bit close.

Irreverent Freelancer

May 19, 2011

What's been working for me is slowly adding every client I've ever worked with to my LinkedIn account. When work slows down (which it hasn't in a while), it's easy to reach out to several clients all at once.

Lori

May 20, 2011

Great idea, Kathy! Super tool if we use it.

Tag: finding freelance work