4 Tips for New Freelancers

by Melanie

As a freelancer, it’s more important than ever to streamline your workflow and make your time count, especially when you are just getting started. Time is money after all.

In the beginning, I was so slow and everything seemed to take forever. As I got more clients, I started to feel so disorganized at keeping everything in order. There were so many little details I needed to remember.

I’ve (luckily) become more organized and smarter about the way I do business, so that I can spend time creating and not on the ever-pervasive follow-up (which is still necessary as a freelancer). Here are 4 tips for new freelancers to help streamline your work, stay organized, and work efficiently.

1. Set up a Google Alert for your name and your blog

Although I check my Google Analytics as well as my referrers in WordPress, I can’t keep track of everything. In order to stay on top of what is being posted about me or my blog, I created a Google Alert for my full name and my blog name. This is helpful, so you can keep track of what is being posted. Even if you don’t have a blog, this is useful for anyone to monitor their identity on the internet.

To get started, go to the Google Alerts page. Then enter the terms you want to be notified about. Then enter your email address and start getting alerts when those terms show up on a page.

2. Use a spreadsheet to keep track of clients, forms of payment, due dates, etc.

All clients are different and expect something different from you. To stay organized, I created a spreadsheet to keep track of my clients, how much they paid, due dates, how they prefer to pay, how they would like me to send an invoice, etc.

Instead of trying to remember how each client prefers something, I’ve just kept track of it in my spreadsheet. Some people are flexible with deadlines, while others have firm dates. Some people prefer to use PayPal, while others write checks. I need to keep track of these details, so I can follow-up and get paid and so that I have all the important details in front of me when I need them.

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3. Ask important questions upfront

Goodness, how many emails went back and forth when I just started freelancing? I’d have a million questions and think of them at different times, resulting in a million different emails.

That’s annoying. Your clients are busy and so are you, so don’t waste anyone’s time. Ask important questions upfront. Here are questions I ask when taking on a new writing gig.

– How many articles are you looking for per month? What are the deadlines?

– Do you prefer to receive articles in a Word doc, Google Doc, or via WordPress?

– How many words are you looking for?

– Do you want me to pitch topics to you or just write what I want? Or do you have ideas in mind?

– What is your budget and how do you pay? PayPal or Check?

– How and when would you like me to send an invoice?

These are my standard questions, but there are other questions you should consider as well. Where will your writing end up? Who are you writing to — i.e. who is the audience? Do you need to source an image? Will you get a link to your site or just credit? These are also important things to consider when starting out.

4. Create a separate tax savings account & save 30%

This year was the first time in my life I owed money to Uncle Sam. Fun times. Right after that, I vowed to save 10% of my freelance income. Well, I hate to say it, but I was naive. I need to be saving about 30% to cover my butt from any crazy tax bills. I also need to start looking into paying taxes quarterly. Save yourself the trouble and just save more for taxes. If you don’t need it all, you can use it elsewhere later. It’s a good practice to get into.

These four tips have helped me streamline my work as a freelancer and get to the point when taking on a new client. It also puts my mind at ease, because I am empowered with information so I can do my job well.

I hope some of these tips are helpful for you, too! Feel free to use or modify as you see fit!

Melanie
Latest posts by Melanie (see all)

35 comments

Tre August 19, 2014 - 4:12 am

Thanks for the great tips! Love that you save 30% for taxes. It makes tax time much less stressful.

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Melanie August 19, 2014 - 8:42 am

Ugh, I learned my lesson!

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Brandy@bustedbudget August 19, 2014 - 4:33 am

Thanks for the tips, Melanie! I’m bookmarking this for when I feel ready to break into this market. You’re doing great!

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Melanie August 19, 2014 - 8:42 am

Thanks, Brandy! I’m still learning, too 😉

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debt debs August 19, 2014 - 4:45 am

Good stuff, Mel. This will help many, I’m sure!

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Melanie August 19, 2014 - 8:41 am

Thanks, I hope so!

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Kirsten August 19, 2014 - 4:56 am

Thanks! I’m going to use that spreadsheet because I was already thinking about how hard it would be to keep track of everything!

Love the questions! Do you normally ask in your pitch what their budget is? Or do you tell them how much you’d like?

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Melanie August 19, 2014 - 8:41 am

It has helped me a lot! Hope it can help you, too. I don’t ask those questions until someone says yes to a pitch or confirms interest. I have done it both ways — asking what is your budget as well as telling them this is what I want.

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Lauren August 19, 2014 - 6:47 am

Great tips! I finally set up my Google Alerts, thanks to your post 🙂

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Melanie August 19, 2014 - 8:36 am

Woo hoo! It’s so nifty. 😉

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Kassandra @ More Than Just Money August 19, 2014 - 6:53 am

Great advice Melanie, especially about tip number 3!

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Melanie August 19, 2014 - 8:36 am

Awesome, thanks! I want to clarify that I don’t ask those questions until someone has said yes to an initial pitch or they have confirmed interest.

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Even Steven August 19, 2014 - 7:53 am

The blog looks great since you redesigned it, love it! Did you do it yourself or ?

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Melanie August 19, 2014 - 8:33 am

Thanks! I used: http://graphiccookies.com/ — only $100!

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Mrs. Frugalwoods August 19, 2014 - 10:13 am

Oh good tips! I really need to set up google alerts. I discovered people were pinterest-ing photos from my blog, which is awesome, but I didn’t realize it!

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Melanie August 20, 2014 - 12:53 am

Make sure you set up Google Analytics, too!

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E.M. August 19, 2014 - 10:20 am

Awesome tips – especially about the alerts and questions to ask. It’s a good idea to get a feel for a potential client, otherwise it might not be the best fit. It’s easy to want to say yes to everything when you’re starting out, but it can really bite you in the butt!

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Melanie August 20, 2014 - 12:54 am

I’ve learned that the hard way for sure 🙁

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Anne @ Money Propeller August 19, 2014 - 10:44 am

Saving for the tax man is always a struggle! A friend of mine moves her % immediately upon receiving payment over to a separate account, so she can never pretend that it’s hers, or forget and end up in a sticky spot as a result.
I’ve never had any luck with google alerts actually sending me anything… perhaps I should give it another try. I wish trackpacks were more reliable!

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Melanie August 20, 2014 - 12:56 am

That’s awesome about your friend. Yeah, I don’t want to be caught in a bind. My trackbacks aren’t reliable either, so I’m trying any and all methods!

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Shannon @ Financially Blonde August 19, 2014 - 10:51 am

This is really helpful Melanie!!! People should have a Google alert on their name just in general because you want to keep up to date on what might be happening. It’s funny because my work life got busy to the point where I had to do something like this and figure out how I was going to keep myself organized. You cannot grow a business if you haven’t set yourself up a scaleable model that doesn’t stress you out.

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Melanie August 20, 2014 - 12:57 am

Exactly! Organization is key on the front end to prevent burnout and confusion later on.

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Mario August 19, 2014 - 12:15 pm

I’ve a couple close friends who are newly full-time freelancers. These sound important to pass along.

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Melanie August 20, 2014 - 12:58 am

Please do! Share away. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Mario!

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Layla August 19, 2014 - 12:33 pm

Google alert seems worth a look. Thanks for the info. I keep meaning to set aside a set amount monthly for tax. It’s my mission this month to get my first tax return completed.

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Melanie August 20, 2014 - 12:59 am

Get organized and save your sanity, lol!

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Melissa August 19, 2014 - 6:40 pm

This was great advice! I particularly like the Google Alerts tip – although I’m not a freelancer, it’s good advice for copyright infringement issues too!

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Melanie August 20, 2014 - 1:01 am

You’re absolutely right! Didn’t think of that.

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Tonya@Budget and the Beach August 20, 2014 - 7:14 am

Ah yes taxes are a joy aren’t they. That reminds me to call my accountant because I didn’t make a fraction of what I did in Q1 this quarter so I won’t be able to pay as much. You wear a lot of hats as a freelancers, the ones you mentioned are just a fraction! 🙂

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megan August 20, 2014 - 11:42 am

Great advise! I love the list of questions to ask a head of time. And I will definitely be looking into google alerts. Thanks

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Mackenzie August 22, 2014 - 7:27 pm

These are great tips, Melanie! I want to eventually dip my toe in the freelancing pool, so these tips you listed I shall take to heart 🙂

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Melanie August 23, 2014 - 11:31 am

You are a great writer, Mackenzie! I can totally see you rockin’ it.

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John August 24, 2014 - 6:51 am

We all know that being a freelancer means you may not have any creative control of your job or projects. You’re working at the mercy of clients,so that always write and sign a contract with your clients before completing any work.

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Kayla @ Shoeaholicnomore August 25, 2014 - 2:37 pm

Great tips Melanie. I just set up a Google Alert and #3 is a good one too. I also think of things at different times and now I will try to be better about asking all these things up front and at the same time.

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Melanie August 26, 2014 - 2:05 pm

I think emailing a few times is ok — I was just trying to avoid 20 emails, ya know? LOL

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