Author / caitlyncallahan14

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Posts by caitlyncallahan14

I’ve wanted to be a writer for my whole life. In kindergarten, I wrote my first short story about a horse and her five babies, one of which got lost and had to find her way back. I started journaling in second grade. I started writing poetry in third. I took my first journalism class during my freshman year of high school. I worked for a local newspaper covering high school sports during my junior and senior year. I graduated college in 2014 with my Bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations, and 2015 with my Master’s degree in media management. I had spent the last five years studying journalism, communications, traditional and digital media. I’d held several internships, spent a year working for a local magazine, held reporter and editor positions for my college newspaper, and even spent time studying abroad in Italy, where I wrote for a local online newspaper. When I graduated, I began working for a mid-sized business as a member communications coordinator. Some of my job duties included developing a blog and wrote weekly articles, developed and executed a social media plan, coordinated the company Ambassador program with monthly newsletters and other forms of traditional communication, managed content and updates for web-based communications, reported weekly data analyses. A year and a half later, I moved to a different company as a marketing manager where I was in charge of the business line’s social media marketing, email marketing strategy, and publication content and advertising. Needless to say, I’ve spent almost my entire life immersed in the communication world. There’s nothing I want to do more than provide information to and help others through the power of the written word. After only three years at a desk job, I’ve found that it’s difficult to do what you love when what you do is determined by a greater need for meeting numbers, hitting profits, and reporting upwards. That’s why I’m taking my career, and my future, into my own hands. Working for myself, in my own home, on my own time. All the while providing support in the form of articles, copy writing, and development of social, content and email marketing strategies, and more for people and small business that need assistance.
by caitlyncallahan14

and so it begins

 Week 1

On September 19, 2018, I’d had enough.

A culmination of little things, both professionally and personally, pushed me over the line.

And I had an epiphany.

For years, I’ve been talking about freelancing and contracting – being my own boss, working on my own time. How much I love to help non-profits and small businesses with their content and social strategies to help them increase awareness and drive traffic. I’d done some volunteering in the past but never fully committed. And I never bothered to make the time.

I’m officially ready to take the plunge – I’ve committed to myself to set the goals, take the time, and dedicate what it takes to full-time freelance. I’m no longer satisfied with the 9-5 desk job just because it provides security and a steady paycheck. But how do I get to where I want to be?

I’m about to bring you on my journey.

First, I brainstormed a list of side-hustle possibilities. I came up with:

  • Paper editing service – charge $1 per page, 3-day turnaround time, add $10 for a rush job. I’d post on college and university Facebook pages and help those budding college students.
  • Etsy designer – use InDesign and my design experience to develop invitations, cards, posters, flyers, logos, etc. for people and small businesses. Priced hourly.
  • Digital content producer/freelancer – content (blogs), social, email programs. Charge hourly and/or per piece.
  • Transcribing audio.

Obviously, I landed on digital content producer/freelancer.

Next, I thought through what my claims to fame would be.

  • Content is king. Know when and how to use it to leverage your business online.
  • Drive engagement. Use social, email and content to increase traffic and sales.
  • Know your goals. How to build a sustainable marketing strategy.
  • Be social. Understand the impacts of social media and how to make the most of it.
  • Research. Be the expert on your current customers, potential audience, supporters, critics and competition.

I wrote out questions I would ask my potential clients, built an outline for developing a social and content strategy, and thought through how I would measure success.

Then, I wrote down my ultimate goal and vowed to read it every single day.

“In one year, I will be able to quit my current job and rely solely on my side hustles and freelance contracting business. I will be working from home on my own schedule. I will be my own boss. I will be doing what I love.”

That night, I went home and applied to two online side hustles – Rev, a transcription service, and Upwork, a freelancing service. I was accepted to both.

After spending a few hours building my profile on Upwork, taking the training courses, and poking around, I felt a sense of motivation coursing through me. This time was different than all the others. I was really doing this! The next day, I submitted my first proposal for work. Followed by another, then another. Now it’s time to play the waiting game to see if I get a bite.

In the meantime, I started researching. Tips for freelancers, how to get started with a freelance business, how to use freelance services. I made myself a to-do list to complete by the end of the month that included starting to build my website/blog, creating a goals and success list, developing a contract and proposal template, developing a personal rate sheet, and gathering work samples for my online portfolio.

Goals:

  • 3-6 months
    • Launch website/blog platform
    • Publish weekly blog posts
    • Accept first freelance contract and complete first milestones
  • 6 months-1 year
    • Freelance outside of Upwork by June 2019
    • Freelance/contract only (and have ability to quit current desk job) by end of 2019
    • Increase hourly charge
  • 1-3 years
    • Register as an LLC
    • Increase profit margins by 10% year over year

Speaking of profit margins, I worked out what my dollars in and out were going to have to look like. This included how much I pay monthly in bills and other things, how much health insurance would cost, and adding 17% for independent contractor taxes. Using the average number of work days per year (261) and average hours worked per day (8), I calculated different hourly rates and how many typical work days I would save. For example, at $40 an hour, I’d have to work 1,608 hours, saving me 480 hours, or 60 typical work days. 60 days!

Less than 24 hours after I submitted my first proposal, I got a message. Someone was interested. They wanted me to write articles for their website. I couldn’t believe it. Yes, the extra cash flow is going to be nice. But it was officially my first step into this whirlwind of a new career I’m building.

Follow me each week to stay updated on my progress, and learn what it takes to go from a typical run-of-the-mill job to building an I’m-my-own-boss-and-make-my-own-hours career. I’m by no means a professional freelancer yet, and I’ll make mistakes as I go, but you can’t learn and grow without mistakes!