Over the years I have found that time management is one of the most difficult parts of being a freelance writer. No matter if you are just getting started or have a full list of clients, managing your time is essential to long term success.
Below are several time management tips that can help you keep a better schedule:
1. Make a to-do list. Every morning before I get started I check my to-do list to see what is on the agenda, as well as which projects should receive my attention first. Hands down, without this list I would be lost. Even if you think that to-do lists are a waste of time, I urge you to give this a try.
2. Don’t take jobs that you cannot comfortably complete by the deadline. I am just as guilty of this as the next freelance writer. While it can be difficult to turn down a job, it is often times in your best interest. The worst thing you can do is take a gig, get behind, and be forced to tell the client that they are not receiving the work on time.
3. Plan for days off as well as the unforeseen. As some of you may have noticed, the last time I posted on this blog was eight days ago. The reason for this was simple: I was called out of town on two projects – one at the beginning of the week, one at the end. As you can imagine, this prompted me to prioritize the projects on my to-do list while also making the most of any down time. Had I better planned for this time out of the office, I could have better kept up with my blog while also cutting back on a lot of stress.
At the very least, I hope these three time management tips make your career as a freelance writer more organized.
Most clients realize that the writing process can take a long time. This is particularly true if the project is complex and full of details. On the other hand, there will always be clients that expect you to work at the speed of sound. Dealing with a short turnaround time is never the easiest thing to do. That being said, it is far from impossible.
Here are three tips that can make your life easier if a client requests a rush job:
1. Negotiate as much time as possible. Even if you “steal†yourself another day it is better than nothing. You know better than the client how long it will take to complete the project. If you can negotiate extra time you should most definitely do so.
2. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. As I have said in the past, customer service is a big part of becoming a successful freelance writer. Although you want to be accommodating, you are only one person. You never want to take on a project that you have no chance of completing on time. Rather than do this, tell the client upfront that their timeline is unreasonable. You may be surprised to find that they are willing to change things around for you.
3. Get all the details before you agree to anything. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is getting caught up in the timeline, thus forgetting about all the other details of the project. Although deadlines are important, if you don’t complete the task to the exact specs the end result is a lot of wasted time for both parties.
It is never easy to take on a rush job, but this is something you will eventually have to become familiar with. To best deal with this situation, use the three tips above.
Are you the type of freelance writer that enjoys sending cold emails? If you are like most people, you agree that this is easier than making a cold call. Although you may not achieve the same level of success, it is definitely a marketing method that you want to consider.
When sending out a cold email you need to include all the right information. After all, you want to give yourself the best chance of receiving a response. Here are three things you definitely need to include in the body (never include attachments) of your email:
1. Short introduction. Time and time again I receive emails from people that are pages long. While I do not mind reading them, I find myself skimming from time to time. If you want your recipient to read your email in its entirety, use a short, catchy introduction.
2. Experience. This is not the place to write about every one of your accomplishments. That being said, make sure you include some details on your experience. For example, if you are emailing an editor for a sports publication you may want to mention sports related websites/magazines that you have worked for in the past.
3. Your contact information. Believe it or not, after sending a batch of cold emails I almost always receive a few phone calls. Not everybody will want to respond via email, so make sure you include your phone number.
By following these three tips you will be forced to customize every email. By doing so, you are improving your chance of a response.
If you enjoy cold emailing and hope to increase your efficiency and response rate, follow these tips.
