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You know what's *really* hard to get right when you enter freelancing? Planning + managing your projects.
You don't learn it in school & you've no clue you even need that skill until you're completely on your own and have a million commitments hanging over your head.
Thread!
You don't learn it in school & you've no clue you even need that skill until you're completely on your own and have a million commitments hanging over your head.
Thread!
Tip 1: Know exactly what a project is and what it includes.
For me, it's a blog post of a certain word count range, w/ specific steps. I know what I need to do and in which order for the client to get what they need.
My biggest mistake early on was pricing/scoping from scratch!
For me, it's a blog post of a certain word count range, w/ specific steps. I know what I need to do and in which order for the client to get what they need.
My biggest mistake early on was pricing/scoping from scratch!
Tip 2: Know the minimum # of projects you need to book per month in order to make a living you want.
Think about your business expenses, living expenses, etc. and the cashflow you need for them.
This will also show you if you need to raise your rates or streamline your process!
Think about your business expenses, living expenses, etc. and the cashflow you need for them.
This will also show you if you need to raise your rates or streamline your process!
Tip 3: What is your Absolute Project Maximum?
If you worked 5 days a week/20 days a month, how many projects can you *realistically* complete that month?
If you take a break (a few days, a week, 2 weeks), what's your maximum then?
Define it and NEVER. BOOK. OVER. THAT. NUMBER.
If you worked 5 days a week/20 days a month, how many projects can you *realistically* complete that month?
If you take a break (a few days, a week, 2 weeks), what's your maximum then?
Define it and NEVER. BOOK. OVER. THAT. NUMBER.
Tip 4: Keep in mind the maximum number of hours you can work in a day.
From Cal Newport's book Deep Work, we can typically do around four hours a day of our best work in a state of distraction-free focus.
That's around 20hrs/week. Keep this in mind re: tip 3 as well!
From Cal Newport's book Deep Work, we can typically do around four hours a day of our best work in a state of distraction-free focus.
That's around 20hrs/week. Keep this in mind re: tip 3 as well!
Tip 5: Understand how well you can deal with context switching.
In my experience, too many projects with too many clients at the same time is draining.
I'd rather take four clients in a month with two blog posts per client than eight clients with one blog post per client!
In my experience, too many projects with too many clients at the same time is draining.
I'd rather take four clients in a month with two blog posts per client than eight clients with one blog post per client!
Tip 6: Be ruthless with waiting time for new clients.
With the above tips, you'll get an idea of your real capacity per month. Respect what this means & if you're truly fully booked, start booking your next projects in the following month.
You can note this on your site, e.g.:
With the above tips, you'll get an idea of your real capacity per month. Respect what this means & if you're truly fully booked, start booking your next projects in the following month.
You can note this on your site, e.g.:
Final tip: This takes time, so be kind yourself! It took me 1-2 yrs into freelancing to learn+get comfortable w/ this process.
If you need help implementing this, I've built a project planner that makes this easy in just 1-2 mins a day. Check it out here: https://marijanakay.com/planner
If you need help implementing this, I've built a project planner that makes this easy in just 1-2 mins a day. Check it out here: https://marijanakay.com/planner
