Business Talk: Streamlining My Schedule

I think I can speak for most working artists when I say that the “business” side of freelancing is…well, we don’t like it. I love being creative in all aspects…painting, drawing, crafting, etc….but at the end of the day, freelancing is a business. Your business. You are a business owner, and when you are a business owner, you take on many, if not all hats. That’s something I never even considered when I first decided to pursue freelancing. I just thought people would just ask me to draw stuff for them, I would do it, and they would pay me for it(well, I wasn’t that naive, but you get the idea!). I’ve very quickly learned, however, that there is so much more to it than just that. So in an effort to become more organized and getting better at simultaneously stirring several pots at once, I’ve made out a specific schedule for myself. Again, this is something that works for me personally and may not work for everyone. But the purpose of this blog is to share my creative journey, which can help others. So here we go!

Daily:

• Sketch, sketch, sketch.  Not only is this a way to get all of my ideas out, but it’s “exercise,” so to speak. You know how when you go to the gym on a regular basis and work out, then stop going for awhile, and then when you go back, running on that treadmill takes more effort than you remember? Sketching is the gym for your creativity. It’s something that should be constantly worked out and kept limber and strong. (Note to self: get back into the gym on the regular ).  Sketching also doesn’t have to be picture perfect, which is something I’m conditioning myself into remembering. Sketching is a chance to be free with your ideas, not scrutinize every little line. That’s why lately I’ve been sketching in pen. That way, I can’t go back and correct every little “mistake” I make.
• Check/update all social networking websites. Like I said in my previous post, the world is ruled by the internet, and it would be stupid for an artist not to utilize all of the tools it offers. One of the biggest marketing tools out there are social networking sites, like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc. It’s a great way to put yourself out there and connect with other artists. And at this point, I think I’m on all of them. So I’ve gotten into the habit of checking, updating, and basically being a constant presence on all of them.
• Searching For Work. This mostly entails bid work.  I belong on several portfolio websites where companies post jobs and projects. So I spend a significant amount of time bidding on stuff that suit my skills. I’ve learned that this part of the job definitely tests your ability to handle rejection. For every ten projects you bid on, you hear back from maybe four, and possibly land one or two jobs, if you’re lucky. So what’s the key? Bid on as many as you possibly can. The more you bid on, the higher the chances of landing a job. I also check for jobs on places like craigslist. Persistence and patience is key.
• Check Email/Inboxes/Messages. This is simple and pretty self explanatory, but important. If you put yourself out there with all of your info, people are going to hit you back, and you need to get back to them promptly. Checking email isn’t a problem because I have a Blackberry(a TREMENDOUS business tool, if you can afford it, get one), but I’ve been prone to forgetting about the inboxes on all of the other sites I’m on. So I’m making it a point to check ALL of the boxes.
• Check my store. As you know, I have an Etsy store. It’s really new and I’m still learning the ins and outs of it, but I’m working on bringing in a substantial income from it. My store policy is to ship next business day from the day of purchase, so I have to keep on top of the purchases, as well as making sure new inventory is constantly rotating through it. Great customer service is key to loyal customers.

Weekly:

• Marketing/Advertising Work: The basic dance of getting freelance work? Create something, show it to the world, repeat. It’s that simple. No one is going to know who you are if you don’t put yourself out there. So I make sure I market myself and my work on a weekly basis. Being a constant presence on all of the social networking sites is a form of marketing, but there are other things too: updating all of my porfolio sites, advertising on craigslist,  etc.  Again, this is one of the parts of the jobs where you have to have thick skin. Not every effort is going to mean a job, and not getting an immediate response to all of your marketing doesn’t mean you suck. It takes constant effort, and that constant effort does pay off.
• Update mailing list with new contacts. A traditional mailing list seems out of date, but it’s something that is still utilized. So every day I research publishing companies, advertising agencies, magazine companies, etc. to add to my mailing list to send out at the end of each month.
• Plan out specific projects for the week. Growing up, I created when the feeling hit me(which was most of the time, haha!).  And whatever was in my head, I put it on a blank surface. Sometimes many ideas would hit me at once and I’d have several projects going on, and one or more would always go dormant because I’d either forget my original intent, or forget about it all together. In the freelance business, you have to stay fresh and keep pumping out new work. So I thought it was ideal to plan out exactly what I need to work on each week. I’ve found that I get more done that way, and ideas don’t slip through the cracks.
• Finish three projects per week.  Planning out what I’m going to work on makes this a lot easier. It helps me build up my portfolio and make sure all of my deadlines are met.
• Plan out weekly blogs and blog at least once a week. Blogging is a powerful marketing tool, but when you start one, you really don’t realize how time consuming it can be. So you walk away and forget about it. I want to be able to share my journey and keep all of my readers interested, and what’s interesting about a blog that has been dormant for months? So planning out what I want to write about once a week was important to add to my schedule. I also want to get into the habit of including an image in each of my entries. I am a visual person after all *smile*

Monthly:

• Update my website. Keeping my work in constant rotation helps keep people coming to my site. Eventually I want to make it the hub of all of my operations, and making sure the work on there stays fresh and up to date.
• Send out my brochure to everyone on my mailing list. An old fashioned but still effective way of marketing. I’m working on a brochure that basically out lines my skills, shows off my work, and introducing myself as an artist. Each month I’ll be mailing out a bunch to the different companies on my list. Same old mantra: Persistence and patience!
• Follow up and continue contact with previous clients. I make sure that the people I have worked with don’t forget about me, and I don’t forget about them. Whether it’s a “Thinking of You”  email or a thank you card or something, a little “Hi! I’m still here if you need me!” note goes a long way.
• Administrative overhaul. General office work is something I’m doing on a consistent basis anyway, but once a month I like to make sure everything is up to date and on point. This can include making sure all client files are up to date, keeping track of paid and nonpaid invoices, prioritizing pending projects, etc. It’s a mundane but incredibly necessary task to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

So that’s a pretty generalized version of my self-imposed schedule, and frankly I’m exhausted looking at it. Keep in mind that I also work a day  job 35 hours a week, and I also have to factor in time to make sure my home life and social life are running smoothly.  It’s quite a juggling act, and it will only get more difficult as more work and more responsibility comes in. But what keeps me going is my love for what I do, and the determination to be doing it on a full time basis. That’s worth all of the sacrifice and all of the stress, and I can’t wait until I reach my goal.

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