2 months in and I’m still reservedly thinking this freelance copywriter thing can work. This month hasn’t been as wonderful as I would have liked, but things are still heading in the right direction.
This has been a bad news – good news month. So I may as well start with the bad news.
Projects haven’t been going as smoothly as I would have hoped. I wanted to have my first two projects done by now. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. Some of that is on me. Life can get in the way of doing what we want. Some of it is just the reality of timing and clients getting back to me with responses.
I am always respectful of the fact that I am only one factor in my clients’ businesses. And until I’m the thing on their desk that is “on fire” I will be pushed to the back of the line. So when I have to, I ignite the flame. Believe it or not, everyone wins that way. I get the responses I need and they get their marketing done without having to do it all themselves.
The difficult part of not completing these projects is not getting paid. Fortunately, I had some money set aside to cover myself during this time. Unfortunately, I’m steadily burning through that money. Having been a freelancer in the past, I am well aware of this ebb and flow. As another freelancer friend of mine said, “Sometimes you eat chicken and sometimes you eat feathers.”
Now onto the good news.
There is definitely work on the horizon. I signed one new contract this month and have completed the first draft. This particular client could become a regular, which makes me happy because I really like his niche and how he works. It’s fun to be the “voice” for people who have interesting ideas.
There are several other contracts either promised as soon as “things come through” or in the works. I also have potential clients contacting me about projects they’ll need further out, or on a “Hey, can you fit this in?” basis. This bodes well for the future, but I’ll be happier when everything is in writing. It’s just the way I am.
As I mentioned in my last 6 in 6 report, I won a free subscription to Bryan Harris’s Get 10,000 Subscribers course. So I’ve been building my own email list. My main focus for this new list is potential clients. It’s a monthly round up of blog posts, updates and copywriting tips. I figure it never hurts to stay on people’s radar.
If you’re interested in hiring me as your freelance copywriter, or if you want to keep me top of mind to recommend me on to others, please feel free to join the list here.
Of course, I always encourage people to join the weekly blog post notification list too.
And finally, a bit of “even better” news.
When I was laid off in January, I applied for unemployment benefits. (As one does.) Up until now I think I’ve collected all of $300 on a particularly slow week. Because I’ve been working for myself, the state says I’m making money and don’t qualify to collect my unemployment.
Here in Minnesota, the state unemployment insurance program has something called the CLIMB program. CLIMB stands for Converting Layoffs Into Minnesota Businesses. Basically, it allows people who are starting their own businesses to collect unemployment while working on their own companies.
As of this past Tuesday, I am officially enrolled in the program. This means I’ll get my full unemployment benefits every week, without being penalized for working on my own business. Quite the opposite. I’m required to work at least 32 hours a week on my own business. No problem!
I’ll still have to report my work activities every week, but that’s not a big deal. Having this extra income ensures I can pay my bills during the lean times and build my reserves back up when things are going well.
I’m going to write a post about this program next week, just because I think it’s so cool. Other states have similar programs, so if you’re in a similar situation maybe you can take advantage of it too.
Overall, I feel like I’m still on track to make my goal of making $6,000 a month in 6 months as a freelance copywriter. Not declaring official success yet, but I still have 4 months to go.
Questions? Comments? Encouragement? Please leave them below.