Posts by Wall

Wall

Nov 16, 2013

Writing Careers / freelance writers connecting with customers? [14]

[Moved from]: The best way of managing clients (using email account only)?

What is the most efficient way of managing clients? I only use my email account (gmail) and it does a pretty good job. When email conversations are grouped, I don't have to look up old messages. Yesterday I was thinking about it and I couldn't find a better way of improving speed or efficiency.

Unless I'm missing something?

Wall

Nov 15, 2013

Writing Careers / Freelance writing - return on investment (ROI) and paid advertising [19]

When I worked for the government, I was up at 5:30 or 6:00 AM Mon-Fri and usually at my desk by 6:50 or 7:00.

I appreciate your support and your public service.

emails have to be responded to constantly

Perhaps I should open a new thread about the best way of managing clients, but in general the hardest part is to have to go online every day because clients expect you to answer as soon as possible. Some clients assume you work in all time zones. Still, you're right - we cannot complain. If we have a job, we should be happy. For someone 20K (after taxes) is not a lot of money, but it works for me. For example, I don't even have to own a car (another extra expense I don't have to deal with when working from home).

Wall

Nov 15, 2013

Writing Careers / Freelance writing - return on investment (ROI) and paid advertising [19]

The only thing I'd be afraid to do now is ever take off a few months from working because then I'd have to start building up a client base all over again.

That's an excellent point. My wife keeps telling me: 'You work whenever you like and I have to get up in the morning at 7 and work in the office for 8 hrs.'

But I reply to her saying: 'At least you have a 3 week vacation time waiting for you every year' and I have to work 7 days a week, every week. I have to reply to emails even if I'm on vacation. If I don't, I would lose my existing clients.

Wall

Nov 15, 2013

Writing Careers / Freelance writing - return on investment (ROI) and paid advertising [19]

I'd find a new line of work.

20K (after taxes) is not bad in my book. I'd have to work 14-16hrs a day to make 30K, but I'm not so young anymore ;).

"free advertising" (spam)

In a long term it's a waste of effort. And I'm tired of seeing `Access denied` page ;).

Wall

Nov 14, 2013

Writing Careers / Freelance writing - return on investment (ROI) and paid advertising [19]

I have not spent 'anything' on marketing my name and/or services but I do have a satisfactory customer base.

But how did you start? You had to 'market' yourself somehow at the beginning?

Wall

Nov 14, 2013

Writing Careers / Freelance writing - return on investment (ROI) and paid advertising [19]

Assuming I make 20K (USD) a year as an individual freelance writer, how much should I spend on paid advertising? 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%? Last year I spent about 5% (1K) and made 4K more than in the year I didn't advertise.

ROI = [(Payback - Investment)/Investment)]*100

So my return on investment was (4K-1K) / 1K=300%? Is my calculation correct? How much more should I spend not to overpay? Would spending 20% bring much more return?

I don't have a website and use my business name / email only. I do a small email marketing campaign with an agency working with students and buy other ads directly from websites. I don't use Google ads (too expensive for small players).