I’m still at it and still solvent. Both of these things are very exciting to me. It means although I’m not progressing as fast as I’d like, I’m successful and I’m making this freelance copywriter thing work.
I’ve finished 2 major contracts and 1 minor contract. I have at least 1 upcoming project and I have several proposals out that just need to be finalized. I’ve also been contacted by 2 more possible clients, so I feel like work will be coming in. I’ll be a lot happier when everything is in writing and I’m working on whatever’s next.
I’ve discovered a few things about myself in the past 3 months:
- I’m more inclined to work on a client’s project than my own projects, like marketing. This is good, because clients pay me to get their work done. However, it does mean my own business is growing more slowly than I’d like.
- I’ll put off writing my own blog posts to do other things. This is bad because it means I’m not keeping up a “regular conversation” with all of you. I need to get better at this.
- I really love what I do as a freelance copywriter! I enjoy going from one subject to another. I love learning about new things. New writing techniques, new marketing ideas, new subjects, new products, I find all of it fascinating.
- I love focusing on my work. I am the sort of person who will get going on a project and look up 5 hours later to say “Oh, I should eat something.” I try to be careful of this, but I love being “in the zone” so I stay there whenever possible.
Even though I’ve been a freelancer before, I regularly gain a new appreciation for all of the stuff that goes into running a business.
In the last couple of months, I’ve investigated time tracking software, bookkeeping software, memberships to various organizations, as well as several educational programs. I’ve sat through webinars on new products to help my freelance copywriter business. I’ve even purchased or tried a few of those products. I’ve rejected a lot more.
I think one of the hardest things about being a business owner is the day-to-day “running the business” stuff. I think many of us go into our own businesses with grandiose ideas of what it will be like to “be in charge of our own fate.” It’s all very exciting, until you remember someone has to take care of invoices and pay the taxes.
So as a fellow business owner, I would encourage you to remember the day-to-day stuff, as well as the fun stuff. For me, the fun stuff is writing my clients’ projects. But I also enjoy doing my own marketing, when I make time for it.
The day-to-day stuff is remembering to turn on my work timer so I’m keeping track of my hours. Or remembering to make out the invoice so I can get paid. It’s figuring out how many hours it will really take me to complete a client project, not just how many I think it will take.
If you can’t do the day-to-day stuff very well, maybe it’s time to delegate some of that to someone else. I don’t think I’m at that point yet, but I expect I will be soon.
So, here’s to our growing businesses. May they continue to thrive. And may we be able to get all the work done, including the day-to-day stuff.
I’m off to do the day-to-day stuff. Like pay my taxes.
Where are you with your business? How do you handle the day-to-day parts of running your business? Tell me about it in the comments.