Yearly round this time, I begin occupied with two issues without delay: slowing down for the vacations and ensuring my freelance writing enterprise doesn’t disintegrate whereas I do.
The reality is, earlier than I totally step into vacation mode, I all the time take a while to tie up unfastened ends in my enterprise.
It’s what lets me truly chill out as an alternative of worrying about January.
Should you’re a contract author, that is the window to wash issues up, line up work, and set your self up for a smoother begin to the brand new 12 months.
On this publish, I’m strolling you thru the precise steps I take to wrap up my 12 months as a contract author, so you’ll be able to benefit from the holidays and begin the brand new 12 months with momentum as an alternative of stress.
5 Issues Freelance Writers Ought to Do on the Finish of The Yr
Everybody’s finish of 12 months appears a little bit totally different.
However there are just a few easy issues that make a giant distinction for nearly each freelance author.
These are the 5 duties I ensure that to deal with earlier than December 31 so I can begin the brand new 12 months organized, centered, and able to work.
1. Full Excellent Initiatives
There’s nothing I like greater than beginning the brand new 12 months with out outdated shopper work hanging over my head.
I’ve discovered that wrapping up tasks earlier than the vacations offers me actual psychological area to relaxation, not simply the phantasm of time without work.
When my to-do record is evident, I truly benefit from the break as an alternative of occupied with unfinished deadlines.
Should you can, goal to finish as many excellent tasks as potential earlier than the season totally kicks in.
That doesn’t all the time imply speeding, it simply means planning your workload with intention.
And if you already know a mission will prolong into January, don’t depart it open-ended.
I all the time attain out to verify timelines, deadlines, and what’s anticipated when work begins up once more.
A easy check-in now retains every thing calm {and professional} later, and it helps you begin the brand new 12 months feeling organized as an alternative of already behind.
2. Accumulate on Excellent Funds
I’m a giant believer in placing techniques in place so I truly receives a commission on time.
And that is necessary as a result of your level of contact could also be working with a number of freelance writers so it’s actually as much as you to make sure you receives a commission on time.
For me, that appears like having clear cost phrases in my contract, doing a fast weekly cash check-in, utilizing dependable accounting software program, and automating bill reminders so I don’t need to chase individuals down manually.
I additionally make it simple for shoppers to pay by providing a number of cost choices.
Even with good techniques, late invoices nonetheless occur.
That’s simply a part of freelancing.
As you wrap up the 12 months, take a couple of minutes to evaluation any excellent invoices.
If a due date is developing and also you haven’t heard something, ship a well mannered reminder.
Most shoppers perceive wanting to shut out your books earlier than the 12 months ends, and a easy nudge is often all it takes to receives a commission.
3. Ship Freelance Writing Shoppers Up to date Tax Data
Freelancing has a whole lot of perks, however taxes won’t ever be one in all them.
Prefer it or not, a part of wrapping up your 12 months is ensuring your tax info is clear and present with each shopper.
Should you’re within the U.S., this implies sending your shoppers an up to date W-9 so that they have your right EIN on file.
Should you’ve already despatched your ultimate bill, it’s additionally good to ship a yearly cost abstract displaying precisely how a lot they paid you.
Doing this now can prevent from chasing lacking 1099s or fixing errors later.
Should you don’t have an EIN but, that is the time to get one.
An EIN allows you to preserve your social safety quantity off shopper paperwork, which is a giant win for privateness.
It’s free to use, takes just a few minutes, and you are able to do it instantly on the IRS web site.
4. Ship Vacation Playing cards to Freelance Shoppers
Do you have to ship vacation playing cards to your shoppers? No.
But it surely’s a small gesture that goes a great distance in displaying appreciation.
Lengthy-term, high-quality freelance shoppers aren’t all the time simple to search out or preserve.
A easy vacation card is a straightforward, low-cost technique to remind shoppers that you just worth the connection, not simply the work they ship you.
And once I say low-cost, I actually imply it.
You may seize reasonably priced playing cards on the greenback retailer or organize them on-line by way of locations like Zazzle or Primary Invite.
If mailing playing cards isn’t your factor, digital choices like SendOutCards or Paperless Submit work simply as effectively.
For shoppers I’ve labored with for a very long time, I like so as to add a small additional contact.
A espresso reward card is all the time a secure guess.
It’s easy, helpful, and virtually all the time appreciated—particularly this time of 12 months.
5. Begin Planning for the Yr Forward
Earlier than you totally unplug for the vacations, take a while to verify your freelance writing enterprise is prepared for the brand new 12 months.
Just a few small steps now could make a giant distinction in how easily January begins.
There are just a few core duties that have a tendency to assist virtually everybody begin the 12 months with extra focus and fewer scrambling.
Right here’s what I like to recommend dealing with earlier than you sign off for the vacations.
Define Your Targets for the Yr
In case your purpose is to extend your earnings or be taught a brand new talent, you’ll get there sooner with a transparent plan in place.
I’m a giant believer in writing targets down and monitoring them in a means that truly retains you accountable.
Make certain to select up my free enterprise planner that will help you keep accountable!
Consider Your Freelance Charges
Are you charging sufficient to your freelance writing companies?
In case your expertise have improved, your outcomes are stronger, or your tasks are taking extra time than they used to, that’s often your cue to revisit your charges.
For instance, if a weblog publish that after took you two hours now takes 4 since you’re including technique, search engine optimisation, or revisions, your pricing ought to replicate that.
Should you’ve gained a brand new area of interest, software program talent, or certification, that added worth ought to be constructed into your charge.
And in case your calendar is all the time full however your earnings isn’t rising, that’s one other signal your charges may have to maneuver up.
Replace Your Web site & Portfolio
In case your author web site reveals pricing, double-check that it matches what you truly cost proper now.
Replace any outdated charges so a possible shopper isn’t taking a look at outdated numbers that now not apply to your online business.
That is additionally an excellent time to refresh your portfolio together with your most up-to-date work.
Take away older samples that now not signify your talent stage, and add 2–3 sturdy, present items that replicate the kind of tasks you need extra of within the new 12 months.
For instance, in order for you extra SaaS shoppers, swap in latest SaaS case research or weblog posts and archive unrelated work.
Preserve Observe of Your Pitches
If you wish to land extra freelance writing jobs within the new 12 months, begin by constructing a strong pitch record earlier than the vacations are over.
This offers you a transparent place to begin when work ramps again up, and removes the guesswork from pitching.
Create one easy spreadsheet with the corporate title, web site, contact individual, e-mail or LinkedIn profile, and some notes on how your companies match their wants.
When January hits, you received’t be scrambling to search out leads, you’ll already know precisely who to pitch and why.
Right here’s to One other Profitable Yr as a Freelance Author
There ya go!
These are the 5 steps I take advantage of to wrap up my freelance 12 months in a means that truly makes the vacations really feel restful.
When these items are in place, I’m not worrying about unfastened ends, unpaid invoices, or a messy January ready for me on the opposite aspect of the break.
Share with me within the feedback your plan to wrap up the 12 months! I’d love to listen to them.