Just like most freelance writers I have clients that pay on time as well as those that wait for weeks on end before they finally get around to it. While it would be nice for every client to pay when they receive an invoice, this is not the way the industry works and probably never will be. As a freelance writer it can be difficult to deal with slow paying clients. This is particularly true if you are relying on the money to pay bills, buy new equipment, etc.
It is very important that you have a system for following up with slow paying clients. If you don’t you may find yourself waiting many months for a payment. Even worse, if you don’t follow-up some clients will forget to pay you altogether. Do you really want to miss out on getting paid for the work that you put so much time into?
I don’t like to follow-up with clients right away. In other words, I want to give them a chance to show that they will pay on time without being asked. That being said, after a week or two I usually send a quick email inquiring about the invoice. Does this always work? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Most clients that don’t pay on time usually fall behind because they got busy and simply forgot. But this is not always the case. There are also those that are totally aware of what they owe but don’t care to pay on time.Â
While you don’t want to become the annoying freelance writer who bugs clients day after day, you do deserve to receive payment in a timely manner. There are times when following up with a slowing paying client is very important. Don’t give up until you get paid. You provided a service and deserve to receive the agreed upon payment.
I get asked a lot of questions by freelance writers and those who want to join the industry. Some of the most common are based around income. More specifically, how much money one can earn and what a reasonable income goal looks like. It is hard for me to tell others what is reasonable when it comes to how much money they should earn as a freelance writer. The reason for this is that every writer is their own person and dealing with unique circumstances. For example, a part-time freelance writer may not be able to set their sights quite as high as a full-timer.
My best answer is this: your freelance writing income goal should be based on a number you are comfortable achieving and one that will give you enough money to meet your personal needs. In other words, you first need to be realistic when setting this goal. As a new freelance writer you may dream of making $10k+ per month. But realistically you probably are not going to reach this plateau until you are more established. At the same time you need to think about how much money you need to get by. What do your expenses total each month? After you know this number it becomes clear as to what your income goal should be.
Also keep in mind that your freelance writing income goal will change over time. Early in my career I just wanted to make a few bucks to prove to myself that it was possible. From there my goal switched to earning as much as I did at my last 9 – 5 job. Presently, my income related goals are higher than I ever thought they would be.
I hope this information gives you a better idea of how to set a reasonable freelance writing income goal. Don’t let others influence your goals. This should be based on your comfort level and what you need to get by.Â
Every freelance writer, no matter their experience, is always on the prowl for new jobs. There are thousands upon thousands of freelance writing jobs out there. The only problem is that many writers are confused about how to find them. Do you fit this mold?
Confusion and finding freelance writing jobs is very common. The good thing is that you can kick confusion to the curb soon enough. It just takes a little bit of knowledge and some time to settle in.
What is confusing you? This is the question you need to answer above all else. You may be confused about where to find freelance writing jobs; this is fair enough. In this case you should take the time to study your marketing plan in further depth. Your plan should not only tell you what types of freelance writing jobs to chase, but where to look for them.
Others find it simple to apply for freelance writing jobs that they find online. But what they don’t understand is how to drum up business when there is no advertised opening. This comes down to cold calling, cold emailing, and working your network. Let me be honest. This is something that you will probably struggle with early in your freelance writing career. I did, and most people I coach do as well. Fortunately, this does not mean that you will always be behind. Practice makes perfect, and soon enough you will see what goes into finding freelance writing jobs in this manner.
You never want to be overly confused as a freelance writer. Don’t make finding new jobs rocket science. Instead, follow your marketing plan and take the time to learn about the many ways to win jobs that are not advertised. The more involved you get with the freelance writing industry the less confused you will become.Â
