What's on your daily freelance checklist?
Being a freelance writer isn’t always about being a free spirit. Some structure can be required, especially if you have clients to answer to and want to live off your writing. A daily checklist is a good way to keep your business running well. Some days that checklist can help you prioritise and decide what to do with a busy day and other days a quick look can give you peace of mind as you take a well-earned a day off. Here are some of my checklist items:
Regular Projects
I have quite a few ongoing gigs. Some require a bit of work most days and some work in a way that allows me to work in batches. On a daily basis I need to look at my to-do list to determine where I’m at with these. Checkmarks and asterisks help me manage everything.
One Off Projects
Projects come in on a regular basis that are one-offs. Some clients have extra projects and I have a nice trickle of new clients that approach me through my business site. I keep a running list of my to-do items and checking this list daily to see where I’m at helps me not have too many late nighters or moments of panic when I realise I’ve forgotten a project. A daily look at my list keeps me on track to meet deadlines and earning goals.
Billing
We all want to get paid to write. Right? I like to keep close track of billing. Does anyone owe me money? Do I owe anyone money? I use a colour coding system on my project spreadsheet that helps me see what’s what with my invoicing. I check it regularly so I know what’s coming, what’s due, and what might be overdue and require a follow up to keep my family fed and keep the power and (the blessed) internet on.
Marketing & Networking
Marketing on a regular basis keeps the work flowing in and helps me not have to go banging on doors too often. I don’t market every day but I keep marketing on my to-do list so that I can keep that steady trickle of inquiries coming in. If I see queries start slowing down then I know to move marketing up on the priority list.
Marketing and networking can go hand in hand. Visiting some blogs and social media sites for a few minutes on a regular basis helps me network almost effortlessly. This keeps my name in the minds of customers and peers and can shine a light on me to potential customers, too. I looked on Twitter this morning and saw I hadn’t updated since last week so I’ll make sure I do some microblogging this week. I’ll probably tie it into some of my passive income efforts and marketing for my business blog as well.
Passive Income
I have about a dozen or so blogs. Some are updated regularly and some haven’t been updated in months. In a perfect world, I’d update each of them each week and check that off my list. I’m not doing that right now as work is keeping me busy but I do keep the topic of passive income on my checklist. What are my earnings at? What do my blog traffic stats look like? Can I use that statistical information to help me earn more? Paying attention to these things helps me keep money trickling in from some of my passive revenue sources, such as: Clickbank, Amazon, Google Adsense, Kontera, etc.
Some writers add extra items to their list, such as time for creative writing projects, time for print publication queries, and other things that are important to them. A list can change, depending on my priorities. It can help me prioritise, check things off as they’re done, and help me feel in control and accomplished at the end of the day. The best way for me to get my bearings when feeling overwhelmed is to clean my desk and look at my list. What’s on your freelance business checklist?
(photo: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/iprole)
Article by Dana Prince
Dana Prince is a writer, web marketing consultant, and prolific blogger. She’s so prolific that she’s actively seeking a 12-step program for blogoholics. (Really, she's only pretending to seek such a program. Mostly, she just likes to talk about her addiction.)
Dana has written 43 awesome articles for us at Get Paid to Write Online
Twitter: @danaprince | Facebook
{ 11 comments }
Dana,
These are some great ideas for keeping on top of our work on a daily basis. Thanks for sharing them! It’s always helpful to see the way another writer organizes her workday and keeps track of her tasks. These instructional glimpses into a fellow writer’s M.O. make it easier to evaluate our own methods and see where we might be able to handle things more effectively.
Thanks again for sharing your checklist and your wise insights!
Jeanne
Twitter: danaprince
April 29, 2010 at 09:34
Thanks Jeanne
I agree. I’ve gotten great ideas for improving my organizational techniques, etc. from other writers.
Twitter: GeorgeAngus
April 29, 2010 at 10:47
Hi Dana,
Although I have recently fallen out of the habit, I’ve used a daily “to do” list for years. The yellow pad becomes sort of my scratch pad of the day – I keep notes and jot phone numbers. The next day, I transpose any items that I didn’t complete to the new day. I keep all of these sheets and they have been invaluable at times in terms of finding a phone number or recalling the details of a quote or somesuch.
George
.-= George Angus´s last blog ..The Gizmodo Case: Are Bloggers Journalists? =-.
Twitter: danaprince
April 29, 2010 at 10:57
Me too, George. I can’t count how many times I’ve gone back through old lists.
Cheers,
Dana
.-= Dana´s last blog ..Get More SEO Mileage with Social Bookmarking =-.
Twitter: tammikibler
April 29, 2010 at 16:19
Hi Dana,
Thanks for sharing. I agree with Jeanne that it helps to learn the nitty gritty of how others manage their business. Sometimes a creative life appears completely free form when in fact one must find a way to impose an underlying structure to succeed.
I am trying to use an editorial calendar and a to do list to keep me on track.
Tammi
.-= Tammi Kibler´s last blog ..Writing Life: Change Creates Job Security for Writers =-.
Twitter: danaprince
April 29, 2010 at 16:55
Thanks, Tammi. Exactly
.-= Dana´s last blog ..Get More SEO Mileage with Social Bookmarking =-.
Twitter: DanielleMcGaw
May 3, 2010 at 12:35
I’m a huge list maker, too, Dana. They are all over my house but the most important ones are in gmail. I can access gmail anywhere so that is the one I focus on the most.
That doesn’t mean you won’t find bits and pieces of that same list in my purse, in the kitchen, beside the bed…
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Being an Outsourced Writer =-.
I have to admit that I make a list for everything. I make a daily list at night for the next day of what needs to be done. I also have a planner book which I go by for week to week activities. This includes both work items and personal items. I then have a list of monthly goals or projects that need to get done. Then, I have a yearly goal list as well. I’m full of list, but I notice that it not only keeps me organized but helps me to stay motivated as well.
.-= Tiffany ´s last blog ..How I Choose Amazon Products to Promote on a Niche Website =-.
Since I started writing recently for my blog, list making is even more critical to keep me sane. I also have to do scheduling to make sure that I have articles lined up to go out each day (this is still wishful thinking since it takes me 3-4 hrs to write and rewrite).
I use Google Calendar to schedule so that my staff can access the notes. I live on Evernote and use Toodledo for my to do list. All these are available as free services. I upgraded to the full premium but the regular service is still very useful.
.-= Kim @ Money and Risk´s last blog ..Financial Security Takes More Than Being Frugal =-.
Twitter: DebraLStang
August 7, 2010 at 21:48
This is a great list. I’m pretty good about keeping track of deadlines and getting projects in on time.
What I’m bad at is the business end of things like billing, marketing, and following up with sites/people who owe me money. That’s why my favorite clients are the ones like Demand Studios that pay automatically.
I’ve just decided to make it a priority to build my business and take a more proactive approach to marketing by setting aside time for at least three marketing activities every evening. We’ll see how it goes!
Debra Stang wants you to read The Keyword Concubine and Marketing
Twitter: DebraLStang
August 22, 2010 at 12:07
Great ideas for keeping on top of projects. I’m going to incorporate these into some of my daily rituals.
Debra Stang wants you to read Social Worker – Writer – Touching Lives
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