To achieve success as a freelance writer, or any other career for that matter, you need to set goals. I believe strongly that the proper income goals can go a long way in helping you better your freelance writing career. But of course, you need to know that setting goals based around your income is a delicate matter. In other words, this is not something you should do without thinking long and hard while also considering what is reasonable.
Every so often a member of my freelance writing course will send me updates on their income goals. Not only do they tell me how much they are earning, but they also lend information on their goals and what they are doing to reach them. While some are on target and have not set their sights too high, others are off base and setup for failure.
When it comes to setting freelance writing income goals you need to remember one thing: be reasonable. Yes, you want to reach for the stars so you can earn a solid income and live a good life. But you don’t want to set unrealistic goals that you have no chance of achieving. If you do this you will be setting yourself up for failure, and in turn not giving yourself the chance to become a successful freelance writer.
Your income goals should be based on two factors: 1. what you need to survive. 2. What you think you can achieve at this point in your career. Your income goals can and will change over time. When I started as a freelance writer my first goal was to earn $2k per month. This was not a huge amount of money, but it was enough to pay my bills and to get me on the right path. By my third month I passed this goal, and now have my eyes set on a higher bar. There is nothing wrong with setting small, reasonable, and attainable goals to start. Soon enough you can begin to climb the income ladder as you make more contacts, and realize what it takes to succeed on a higher level.
While it is important to set income goals, you don’t want them to be impossible to reach in a reasonable amount of time.
From time to time you are going to get hooked up with a client that is not sure of what they want. They know they need a freelance writer but are unsure of how to get started, where to go, and what the finished product will look like. This is where you need to step in and become more than just an average freelance writer. You need to show the client you are not only willing to help, but that you can show them every step to take.
Generally speaking, you will know if a client needs help. How so, you may ask? Most of them will tell you upfront. For instance, I began working with a new client last week. Upon starting our relationship he told me that this was his first time hiring a freelance writer, and he really didn’t know how the process worked or what to expect. This opened the door for me to show the client the way. Things have progressed nicely to this point, despite the fact that our relationship is only one week old. I like to believe that I have shown the client how easy it can be to work with a freelance writer.
Of course, there are going to be clients who think they know what they are doing but find out differently as they move forward. In this case you want to make sure the client knows you are available, but at the same time you don’t want to be pushy. Remember, there is a fine line between offering your help and coming across as a “know it all.†You may want to offer your expertise, but don’t push so much that you are seen as being a nuisance.
Some of my clients always ask for my help. Others know exactly what they want, and only ask for assistance from time to time. You are sure to deal with a variety of clients, so make sure you are ready for every situation that comes up. And if you are asked for help you should see this as your big opportunity to prove that you are more than a freelance writer.Â
The best type of freelance writing client is one that sends you work time after time. This is more or less a long term client that enjoys working with you so they always keep you busy. Of course, as you have probably found out, not every client fits this mold. Some will send you work here and there, and others only want to hire you for one job.
If you want to make more money and feel better about your career you should never be afraid to ask clients for more work. Believe it or not, this is one of the best ways to increase business and overall success.
Here are three times when you should ask a client for more work:
1. The best time to do this is once you complete a project. For instance, the email you write to turn in a project can be the same one you use to ask for more work. If the client likes what they see it is safe to say that more work will be coming your way if it is available. In fact, if your work is really good you may land another project even if the client wasn’t planning on moving forward just yet.
2. Have you been out of touch with a client for a few weeks or longer? Don’t let clients forget about you. Instead, send a quick email stating that you enjoy working with them and you would love to take on another project if available. Staying in touch with clients is important if you are going to form a long term, mutually beneficial relationship.
3. Do you have clients that send you regular work? Can you handle more than what they give you? If so, you may want to ask if there is anything else you can do. Believe it or not, many companies hire several freelance writers. If you show that you are capable and willing to work hard you may be able to pick up another project in addition to your regular work.
It is important to ask clients for more work from time to time. Remember, the easiest projects to land are from clients you have worked with in the past. Once you have your foot in the door you want to keep things this way.
