http://www.indywebshop.com/bestpractices/2008/08/27/feast-or-famine-the-freelancers-sales-pipeline/ presented by Site Potion Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:47:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.indywebshop.com/bestpractices/2008/08/27/feast-or-famine-the-freelancers-sales-pipeline/#comment-47311 Clay Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:10:34 +0000 http://www.indywebshop.com/bestpractices/?p=343#comment-47311 @Angela: Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I'm interested in the idea of an employer or record. Do you personally take this route (or know anyone who does)? It sounds like it has the potential to make life a lot easier on a freelancer. @Angela: Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I’m interested in the idea of an employer or record. Do you personally take this route (or know anyone who does)? It sounds like it has the potential to make life a lot easier on a freelancer.

]]> http://www.indywebshop.com/bestpractices/2008/08/27/feast-or-famine-the-freelancers-sales-pipeline/#comment-47138 Angela Stringfellow Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:28:38 +0000 http://www.indywebshop.com/bestpractices/?p=343#comment-47138 I think you answered your own question - it's simply about setting a goal for yourself each and every day, or each and every week, regardless of how much work you've got piled up. Feast or famine is a scenario that freelancers, including myself, create for ourselves by doing exactly what you described - when business is good, we neglect our marketing efforts in order to complete our current projects without overstressing ourselves. Once that load of work dries up, then suddenly we have nothing to do BUT get more work, and we're desperate to get it because we've got bills to pay. One solution is to set aside a certain portion of time, whether it's each day or each week, to conduct marketing activities, or to set a goal of inquiring about a set number of new projects each day or each week. Discipline! Another possibility is to manage your time better by outsourcing the activities that are outside of your core business activities, and focus solely on those. As a result, you'll earn more money because you'll be billing more hours of your workday, so you'll be able to afford hiring another freelancer to handle other tasks, such as marketing or administrative duties. You could also use a portable employer of record; most of those agencies handle invoicing and collections, which alone is a huge time-saver. It also makes for a less stressful tax time! Unfortunately there's no EASY solution, but these suggestions might help you create a process that works for your business. I think you answered your own question - it’s simply about setting a goal for yourself each and every day, or each and every week, regardless of how much work you’ve got piled up. Feast or famine is a scenario that freelancers, including myself, create for ourselves by doing exactly what you described - when business is good, we neglect our marketing efforts in order to complete our current projects without overstressing ourselves. Once that load of work dries up, then suddenly we have nothing to do BUT get more work, and we’re desperate to get it because we’ve got bills to pay. One solution is to set aside a certain portion of time, whether it’s each day or each week, to conduct marketing activities, or to set a goal of inquiring about a set number of new projects each day or each week. Discipline! Another possibility is to manage your time better by outsourcing the activities that are outside of your core business activities, and focus solely on those. As a result, you’ll earn more money because you’ll be billing more hours of your workday, so you’ll be able to afford hiring another freelancer to handle other tasks, such as marketing or administrative duties. You could also use a portable employer of record; most of those agencies handle invoicing and collections, which alone is a huge time-saver. It also makes for a less stressful tax time! Unfortunately there’s no EASY solution, but these suggestions might help you create a process that works for your business.

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