Freelance Corner: Extra Work We Do

I missed a blog post. I know, I know. I didn't follow my own rules and I didn't plan ahead and then life got in the way, so I missed a blog post. It happened, there's nothing I can do about it now. But it made me realise that as freelancers, this is yet another thing we're responsible for. So, inspired by things that you may or may not know about freelancing and self-employment, here are the things we do that aren't "billable" but take up massive chunks of our time.

Filtering Requests

Dealing with requests is a time-sapper. On a weekly basis, we're the receivers of emails from people asking for a quote for our services. These emails can range from: "I need a website written, how much does it cost?" to "We're looking for someone to do X with the goal of Y. Here's a brief. Are you interested?" 

While you may assume that the second type of email is the more 'legitimate' request, you'd be surprised that often these emails aren't as certain as you might think. Sometimes, the more in-depth the email, the less likely you are to see it come to life. The reason for this is because these requests are often tender requests where the organisation has been told that they have to ask multiple suppliers for quotes to carry out the work. This is especially true if the organisation is semi-state or government-funded, or if there is any sort of grant involved. 

Unfortunately, we often end up spending time replying to these requests. I often ask for more information before I give any quote or further details. This allows me to give a more accurate quote, while also serving as a way to filter out requests that are for the sake of getting requests. But, there's no guarantees either way, so the time adds up.

Keeping account of all finances 

Most companies have a finance department. This department is the unsung hero of the corporate world; they pay suppliers, they pay staff, they pay the bills, they confirm each and every expense. Most freelancers who don't hire a VA (which is a conversation for another day), are responsible for keeping track of all incoming and outgoing funds. 

I know there are apps that do a lot of this, however, even with these apps, we still have to photograph and upload receipts, etc. I use an accountant to file my tax return every year, but he is the maths-person and can only work with what I give him. This means that it's on me to keep track of all bills paid (yes, heating and electricity counts), all software paid for and every invoice that gets paid by clients is input into a spreadsheet. 

I also have the joy of paying my own salary! This is sarcasm by the way. Don't get me wrong, I like paying myself a set salary regardless of how many invoices came in that month. But there is something a bit underwhelming about transferring my own salary to myself… I don't know why, it just is. 

Marketing and networking

I always associate 'networking' as a dirty word. I hate walking into a room and getting my hustle on. I think because I hate the idea of hustle culture (yet another rant for another day), but networking makes me cringe. However, without networking, we don't build up contacts and connections, which means we don't get referrals or requests. So, we need to dedicate time and effort to networking and marketing. 

I love certain parts of this. I love writing my newsletters, I love writing my blog posts and I love chatting about things on Twitter. If you follow me, you'll know I talk a lot on Twitter. While this is something I would do anyway, it's another thing we have to do while also doing client work. While we don't see a direct return on investment, well, unless someone says: "I found you on Twitter", it's still very important to do it.

But, as you can see by the missed blog post on my website, sometimes, client work takes priority. I always kick myself when I miss a post but when you're a freelancer, your job consists of so many more things than just 'doing your job', I realise that missing a post or two is okay. 

In conclusion: we've a lot going on

Running a successful freelance business, or even starting a freelance business takes a lot of time, a lot of energy, and it's a constant battle between what you need to do for your business development and what you need to do to pay the bills. If we miss your email, miss a blog post, or miss a newsletter, it's because we're juggling everything. Which leads me to…

If you're looking for some support with copywriting your website or you want a brand voice developed or refreshed, please shoot me an email.