5 Things to Do to Finish 2017 Strong
Summer can be slow for freelancers – either because they purposely take more time off or because client work slows down. Sometimes, it’s a little of both.
But regardless of whether you think fall begins after Labor Day or the official day of September 21st, it is definitely no longer summer. And the last quarter of the year begins next week. For the past three years, the last three months of the year have been very high earning. And I’ve heard from other writers that they often see this pattern as well.
Are you currently in position to take advantage of this busy time of the year? Do you want some of the many lucrative gigs that will be assigned this week to have your name on the contract? If so, then you need to get yourself in position to take advantage of the opportunities. None of my ideas are earth shattering. And all of these are tips I’ve mentioned before on this blog. But I think this is a good time of the year to regroup and finish the year strong.
Here are five things that every writer should do in the next week:
- Take stock of 2017. Yes, the year it isn’t over, but I think now is a great time to figure out the four metrics I think every writer should know. By taking the time to know where you are and what is working, you can then figure out where to go next. If you are close to meeting an income goal for the year, figure out how much you need to earn each week remaining in 2017 to get there. I find that having weekly goals really helps me. I also recommend looking at the clients that you have worked with in 2017 and to find commonalities. Be sure to also note how you landed the client. This will help you as you gear up for the rest of 2017 to know how to target new clients.
- Update your marketing. I am always amazed at how out of date writer’s websites are. Every client is going to check out your website before hiring you. And odds are if your site is out of date, you have lost clients who didn’t find what they were looking for. I offer free coaching to writers and more times than I can count a writer will tell me that they specialize in technology, but when I go to their LinkedIn or website there are very few tech clips and the website barely mentions technology. They tell me that their website needs to be updated. Being out of date means you don’t have current clips, but not representing your current niches is leaving money on the table. Spend some time updating your social media profiles, LinkedIn account and website. No excuses. And even if your website is basic or not that pretty, it’s fine. Make a plan to overhaul in, but for right now just make sure that it is accurately reflecting your experience and expertise.
- Contact all previous clients to let them know you are taking on new clients. Need new work? This is absolutely the best place to start. Check out this post for ideas. Go back through your client list a few years and send out emails. If an editor moved to a new company, contact them at the new gig. People who have worked with you before are most likely to hire you. I usually use the wording “I just finished a big project and have some availability and thought I would reach out since I enjoyed working with you.”
- Follow up on all leads from the past two years. Many clients likely have work right now as they are trying to spend their budgets for 2017. Follow up with all of the people you have contacted in the last two years, especially those who responded and said that they didn’t have work now. Get back on their radar and back in their inboxes. I know I am a broken record on this topic but if you are not following up, you are leaving money on the table.
- Make a daily or weekly marketing plan for the rest of the year. Almost every writer who emails me about turning around their business or upping their income does it through a concerted marketing plan like this one. So make a commitment to do X marketing activities or more each week. And then make it happen. If have a good amount of work and just want to keep your pipeline full, then I recommend making a habit of doing 5 marketing activities each week. But if you are looking to increase your income, then personally I think you should aim for 25 to 50 marketing activities a week. Yes, that sounds a lot. But that’s what it takes.
How has 2017 been so far? What marketing technique has been most successful? What are your goals for the next three months?
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So very true, all of it, and just the kick in the pants needed to prod me into action for the home stretch! Thanks Jennifer!
I’m glad! What are your goals for the fall?
I picked up a new client via LinkedIn. Great client…they provided the sources, the quotes, contact info. All I had to do was write the piece and the edits were easy. It’s too bad they only publish 6 times a year. But I’ve worked with them twice already. So that’s a third of their publications. I need more writing clients like this.
I’ve had one of the strangest years financially in my 25-year career as a freelancer. Most of my medical clients haven’t gotten a lot of grant funding, so I’m mostly doing small projects and more consumer writing. I like that, but I need the bigger-paying jobs! So, as you suggest and as I do two or three times a year, I’m following up with existing clients, new contacts, etc. Here’s hoping it works as fall usually is busy. Living paycheck to paycheck when clients are slow to pay is stressful! Thanks for the encouragement and advice, Jen. Your blog is one I always read.
Aww, you made my day. Thank you. I’m so glad its helpful.
Following up is a great idea. Keep us posted how it works.
I was just thinking the other day that 2017 was nearly finished and that I needed to take stock of my goals, so your post came at the perfect time Jennifer.
Coming into summer in Australia can mean a mad rush to the end of the year and then a quiet January, so my plan is to keep up the marketing and following up in a view of ensuring I make enough money in these last three months to make my target for the year and with a little extra to make a good start for next year.
Yeah, January is slow in the US as well. I wrote a post last year about how to prepare for January – look it up. But finishing strong is the best defense, in my opinion, because so much of the January slowdown is really out of our control.
Thank you – just read it! Fantastic read.
I, too, always look forward to new posts, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing your genuine vehemence for relationship marketing. I am probably your biggest beneficiary of all that good advice. As you know!
Great post – I’ll be sharing with others, as always.
Awww! What a great compliment. Thank you.
LOL – relationship marketing. I guess you are right. I always look at more as in picking clients that I could become good friends with and then actually becoming friends as we work together. And then, helping as many other writers as I can along my way to pay back all the many people who have helped me on the way.