Are most of your freelance writing clients located in the same time zone as you? This is a question that you may never think about, but one that is very important. Personally, I have clients in my time zone as well as many on the other side of the world. This is not a big deal from a work standpoint, but as far as communication is concerned it can pose some problems.
For example, if you live on the east coast of the United States you are going to be several hours ahead of a client on the west coast. For this reason, you will not be able to get in touch with them early in the morning, your time. Is this a huge deal? Not really. But you should keep it in mind if you need to call a client, or if you are expecting a return email.
Most new clients that I pick up ask what time zone I am in. This helps them to plan for conference calls and much more. If your clients do not ask or you are not sure of where they are located, there is nothing wrong with inquiring. This is good information to have from day one.
Are you a freelance writer who wants to work more? Are you finding it difficult to get all of your work done due to a lack of time? This is quite common among part-time freelance writers who are trying to work a full-time job as well. That being said, many full-timers also run into this issue. When it comes down to it, the more time that you can find for work the more money you are going to make.
Here are three ways to steal some extra time here and there:
1. Draw up a schedule and then stick to it. For instance, if you know that you have time to work in the evening, you need to schedule this time and then get moving. In other words, you know when you have time for your freelance writing career. It is during this time that you need to be as efficient as possible. Because once it is gone, you may have to wait until the next day to have another chance.
2. Can you get up earlier or stay up later? If you are struggling to find enough time to work on freelance writing projects, you should look into rising earlier or staying up later. Yes, this means that you are going to get less sleep but in the long run it will allow you to build a successful freelance writing career. And that is what you want, right?
3. Is becoming a full-time freelance writer possible? Obviously, this is the best way to find more time for writing. It can be very difficult to work a full-time job while freelancing on the side. By moving into the capacity of full-time freelance writer you will find that there is plenty of time for everything that you want to do.
These three tips should allow you to find more time for freelance writing work. And with more time you can complete more projects which should lead to an increased income.
As a freelance writer, I have learned a lot over the years. That being said, one of the most important lessons to date is that time management is very important. If you are not efficient with the time that is available, you will find it difficult to excel. Fortunately, this is something that you will become better at as your freelance writing career moves forward. In my early days, I struggled with this much like many others. But today, I do a nice job of managing my time no matter what projects I have on my plate or what other tasks are on my to-do list.
Here are three time management tips that will serve you well as a freelance writer:
1. As I have said in the past, having a to-do list will allow you to more efficiently manage your time. In the past, I made the mistake of trying to handle my workload without a to-do list. Soon enough, I was forgetting about deadlines and running into other related issues. But as soon as I put a to-do list in action I found it easy to stay on track.
2. Make the most of every minute. No matter if you are a full-time or part-time freelance writer, you want to make sure that you are using every minute of your work time to complete essential tasks. There are many distractions that are sure to be calling your name. After all, it is easy to browse the internet or check your email accounts. But if you make a habit of wasting a few minutes here and there, you will find out soon enough that you are not making any progress.
3. Keep distractions out. I have found that managing my time is much easier when I am concentrating 100 percent on the task at hand. This goes along with tip number two to a certain extent. When working, make sure that you turn off the television and keep other distractions as far away as possible. In the long run, you will find that this makes you a much more efficient writer.
Time management skills will help you succeed as a freelance writer. If you are struggling with this, try to implement the three tips above. As you become better at managing your time, you will find that your productivity is on the rise. And when this happens, you should expect to see an increase in income as well.Â
