I wanted to share a few of the activities I’m doing this week to wrap things up for my freelance writing business in 2019. Maybe these will be good reminders, or maybe they’ll be inspiration for a few new things to try out.
So, let’s dive in.
1. Check in with your freelance writing clients.
Reach out to the clients/contacts you haven’t spoken to/worked with in the past 3-6 months. Send a short email and ask what they’re up to, if they have any holiday plans, and if there’s anything you can help them with in 2020. It’s a really natural time to pop into these folks’ inboxes with a friendly hello and “don’t forget about me!” message.
2. Send some handwritten cards.
Maybe it’s the Midwesterner in me, but I believe in the power of a handwritten note, even if it’s just a quick thank you. I’m taking time this week to send out personalized thank yous to the clients I’ve worked with most in the past year, sources who’ve offered great insights for my pieces, and referrers who send me gigs. (Note: These are not holiday cards. I don’t make assumptions about what people celebrate, and instead opt for a thank you over holiday greetings.) I also like to send treatos to my internet friends’ dogs. Is that weird? Hope not.
3. Make a list of what was accomplished.
I always do a Year in Review post (you can read 2018’s here), but the first step of drafting those is to sit down and make a list of all the things I accomplished within my business that make me proud. Without a boss to give a performance review, this is my chance to evaluate personal progress and helps me give myself credit for the hard work I put in. It’s easy to let these things slide by, so this deliberate activity is a form of gratitude and self-congratulations that I’m not always great at allowing myself.
4. Make plans for the year ahead.
I love plans. In fact, you could call me Leslie Knope, as I am also a yellow-haired female who loves jammin’ on her planner.
This is the time of year when I set a few goals I’d like to accomplish in the next three months (note: I’m not really into yearly goals--that’s too long of a window for me.) During the rest of the year I tend to go with the flow, but this is the one time I try to sit down and think strategically about what I want to accomplish right at the beginning of a new year.
A relevant listen:
5. Evaluate your current freelance writing rates.
Ask yourself: Have you expanded your skills or subject matter expertise over the past year? Won awards? Taken courses/upped your training for the services you offer? Have you produced impressive results for your freelance writing clients that prove you're pretty great at what you do? If so, it might be time to raise your rates with new clients--and the end the of year is a perfect time for this. As you think it over, also consider how you'll communicate the increased value you deliver that warrants those higher fees.
6. Do nice stuff.
This year especially, I’ve felt like there’s a real need for extra kindness, so I’ve been trying to step up my game in this department. Whether it’s helping a friend with social media advice, making cookies for the library’s holiday party and dressing up as Princess Elsa for the kids, leaving snacks/drinks out for the delivery people, or just giving compliments more freely, these little things go a long way (I hope.)
7. Take a break.
I’ve decided to close all of my email inboxes December 21-January 1 so I can take a real breather from my freelance writing business. It seems like lately things have been extra busy (which, don’t get me wrong, is great; last December was a complete dud), but I know this period is going to be extra quiet anyway, so I’m putting up the old OOO message and just enjoying time with family.
I’m also really looking forward to some non-work things: Going to see the new Little Women movie, taking a trip to St. Louis for my husband’s birthday, lots of baking, and eating all the good food.
I hope your end-of-year (and whatever you celebrate!) is wonderful. I think you’re pretty great. Keep up the good work, and as always, happy writing.
This article originally appeared in my newsletter, A Cup of Copy. Sign up and get these free tips sent right to your inbox every other Wednesday.