Tag / Freelancing

by caitlyncallahan14

finding and welcoming new clients

Over the past couple of months, my clients have kept me on my toes with quite a bit of end-of-summer work coming my way. I’ve spent dozens of hours between June and now cranking out content on a variety of topics including personal finance, healthcare, Medicare, job search and career information, travel and more.

While I’ve been busier than ever, it’s been the most exciting and fun time of my freelancing career so far. Plus, not only have I been writing, but I’ve been forced to perfect an even better organization and time management system for myself.

That said, the time has come once again to expand my business. I’m ready to bring more work to Callahan Communication.

If you or someone you know owns a business or works for a company who is in need of content production, freelancers, or contractors for marketing purposes, my Contact Me form is a great place to start! Or, they can send me a private message on Facebook or Instagram @callahancommunication.

I’ve also been working diligently on putting together a services & pricing guide and client welcome packet for prospective and new clients to help ensure we have the best working relationship possible and they get all deliverables they’re expecting.

Read on to learn what you’ll get if you contact me and if you hire me!

what I include in my services & pricing guide

When you contact me to learn more about how we can best work together and what I can bring to your business, I will email or review in person a services & pricing guide. This guide is meant to be a high-level overview of my business and what I offer so that you can make the most informed and best decision for your brand.

my story

I love what I do, and I’ve been doing it for a long time. Here, learn more about me as I introduce myself and my business, including what I value, why I do what I do, and what I hope to do for you. It’s essential that prospective clients know they are working with a person, so I’ll also give you a peek at who I am and what I’m all about.

service packages overview

If you have a general idea of the types of services you’ll need, great! I’ll send you package overviews specific to your needs. If you aren’t sure yet, that’s ok too! You’ll receive summaries of my most encompassing service packages and we can narrow down your options from there.

deliverables

I want to make sure it’s clear what you’ll receive, gain and achieve after working together, so here I’ll outline specific deliverables to each service package. However, I recognize flexibility is key, so once hired, we can work together to clearly outline deliverables tailored to your needs.

portfolio

I want you to feel confident that I’ll bring exceptional work to the table, so here you’ll find information about past clients, as well as links to previous work so you can see for yourself.

client testimonials

And, you don’t have to take just my word for it. Read some testimonials from previous happy and satisfied clients.

processes

When you hire a freelancer or agency, you need to know what to expect. Here, find a general outline of my processes so you know what to expect and when, and to better understand if we’re a good fit to work together.

FAQs

This list of frequently asked questions from clients, and my answers, can help ensure a positive, successful working relationship.

call to action

Ready to learn more? This section outlines all of the ways you can contact me to take the next steps, including scheduling a free consultation, contract and SOW process, and more.

what I include in a client welcome packet

Once you’ve let me know you’re interested in working together, I want to make sure you feel confident and comfortable with your choice. You’ll receive either in the mail, through email, or in person, a client welcome packet guiding your through the most important pieces of working together.

welcome message

You made the right choice by hiring me for your content or digital marketing needs. I’ve spent almost my entire life immersed in the world of content and communication, and want to help business owners be successful through the power of the written word.

services overview

This page summarizes the services/package you’ve hired me for, so it’s clear what is (and isn’t) included. Our formal contract and statement of work will be built off of this information so we are always on the same page and expectations are clear.

communication

I take pride in being available for my clients. I’ll hare with you the best ways to contact me, and how and when I’ll plan to communicate with you.

processes

Here, I’ll be very clear about my process so you’ll know what to expect, including what I need from you, what I’ll deliver, deadlines, and more. This includes the contract, SOW, deliverables, editing processes and more.

I’ll also take time to briefly explain my process for investigating and understanding your brand and business, how I create content that works for you, and what the editing and finalization process entails so you can rest assured you’re receiving exceptional work every time.

guidelines

I want to make sure we both are maximizing our time working together, so I’ll share some guidelines and best practices that may be helpful.

tools & resources

If applicable, I’ll share tools you need to be familiar with, plus links to information, ebooks or other educational or informational tools that may be helpful during our time working together.

FAQs

This list of frequently asked questions from clients, and my answers, can help ensure a positive, successful working relationship.

next steps

I’ll clearly state for you what next steps are, either from you or myself, as well as timelines. I want to make sure you feel confident in moving forward together.

If you’re a freelancer and looking to grow your business, feel free to use my services & pricing guide and client welcome packet outlined here for inspiration for your own brand!

by caitlyncallahan14

one year ago

One year ago today, I was sitting at home, scared, anxious, depressed, and unemployed.

At the beginning of April 2020 I, along with hundreds at my organization and thousands across America, was furloughed.

A year ago, I was probably sitting on my patio on a lawn chair (because I hadn’t bought patio furniture yet), wondering how I was going to pay my bills, still in shock about the furlough situation and unsure about the state of the world. They had told us it could be three months before we got called back. I had just bought a house – how were we going to make ends meet?

I spent the first month crying and worrying, busying myself with unpacking and getting the new house together, and obsessively searching for freelance contracts to help tide us over in the meantime.

I accepted a couple of small contracts in April, and then landed a large contract that made me cry tears of joy. Things started looking up.

By the time May came around, I was getting used to being home. I started to embrace the time I’d been given (for the first time ever) to just enjoy life. I spent hours reading and writing, sitting on my patio and bird watching, and giving myself time to breathe.

By June, I’d thrown myself into the freelance-at-home lifestyle. I’d gotten a true taste of the life I’ve always dreamed about, creating my own schedule each day on my own time, completing work for clients, writing… I had a lifestyle I designed. I could so easily picture how my life would be if I was a full-time freelancer because I’d been living it for two months. I wasn’t balancing a full-time job or other responsibilities (since everything was shut down and we couldn’t leave the house). I was just doing my thing. It was magical.

Honestly, it was hard to go back.

Obviously I was so thankful to return to work, and knew and appreciated how lucky I was considering the thousands that didn’t get to. But I’d had a real taste of my dreams becoming a reality. And I wanted more.

It’s crazy to think about what life was like last year at this time. Businesses shut down, exponential unemployment, the inability to see friends and family, people sick and dying.

But for me, it was also a blessing in disguise. And it gave me the inspiration and motivation to keep building my business. To work hard, crack down, build my book, and write like there was no tomorrow. Because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and now that I had that taste, I wanted it more than ever.

Last week I wrote about balancing building a business and life, and asked if it was possible to keep living and also build a successful business. I still don’t know the answer. But today, as I sit on my patio, watching the birds, reminiscing on and writing about the past year, I’ve found a newly renewed motivation to keep going.

And I encourage everyone else reading this, whether you’re in the same place as me or you’re miles down the road, to keep going. This year has been hard, but I hope you’ve had time to find yourself, find a new love or passion, grow personally or professionally, read, learn, and do something you enjoy.

Keep doing it. Keep going. Build your lifestyle. Find your passion. And once that happens, don’t let it go.

by caitlyncallahan14

8-10 hours/day

I went to the eye doctor last week (for the first time in years) to talk about getting contacts because my vision is so bad. As we were going over my history and concerns, she asked me what I do for a living and how many hours a day I spend on the computer.

I told her 8-10 hours, average.

She laughed at first.

And then when she realized I was serious, she expressed concern about how bad that was for my eyes.

I told her that between my full time job and my business, it’s the truth. And yet, these last few weeks I’ve found that even that much time isn’t enough.

You may have noticed it’s been about a month since I posted a blog post. I also haven’t been regularly updating my social media, or posting industry articles. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been slacking. My full time job has been so busy lately and it’s been exhausting. I’ve been working longer hours, and had no time during the day for a break (so many meetings!). On top of that, I’ve been very busy with my existing clients, and working on onboarding two more.

Therefore, I’m spending 8-10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week staring at my computer.

But, I’m still falling behind writing and publishing for my own business. Which without that new content, I’m not continuing to grow and establish. And while I know the importance of prioritizing my own business, I’m not. And sadly, it’s an active choice I’m making.

Because after 8 hours of meetings and 2-3 hours of writing for clients, I’m tired. And I want to watch an episode of my favorite show, or read some of my book, and then go to sleep. I know I should be writing a blog post, or scheduling out social media posts. And I can’t say I don’t have the time (because that would be a lie), but spending that time working means I’m sacrificing time doing other things I enjoy, or time with family or friends.

I’ve been doing this freelancing gig for about three years now and I’ve written before about finding the balance. Now more than ever it’s challenging to find that balance as I’m busier than ever with work and clients.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s the best feeling to have. I love what I’m doing with my clients and the work I’m publishing. I’m so proud of my success so far and how far I’ve come.

But to keep going, I need to continue to prioritize my business. I just honestly don’t know how.

So here’s a question to my fellow freelancers – how did you do it? How did you build a successful business, while also having and enjoying your life? Not missing those moments in life is so important to me, but I feel like too often I read about successful people having sacrificed everything to get to where they are, including family, friends, sleep and their own health.

I don’t want to be like that. I want to change the narrative. I want to prove to every kid out there dreaming of this life, having their own business and being successful writers, that you can have it all.

I’ll be sure to let you all know if I figure it out.

Until then, I’ll keep spending my 8-10 hours.

by caitlyncallahan14

marketing = being considerate

A couple weeks ago I cruised through a book I got for Christmas – Your Music and People: Creative and Considerate Fame by Derek Sivers.

While he’s a musician writing about how to become successful as a musician, I was inspired by much of what he wrote and felt it was applicable to both myself and my side-hustle. One of the chapters I was first struck by is titled “‘Marketing’ Just Means Being Considerate.” He wrote:

Don’t confuse the word “marketing” with advertising, announcing, spamming or giving away branded crap.

Really, “marketing” just means being considerate.

Marketing means making it easy for people to notice you, relate to you, remember you, and tell their friends about you.

Marketing means listening for what people need, and creating something surprisingly tailored for them.

Marketing means getting to know people, making a deeper connection, and keeping in touch.

All of these are just considerate – looking at things from the other person’s point of view, and doing what’s best for them.

A lot of [musicians] say, “I hate marketing!” So, yah, if you thought marketing meant turning off your creativity, spending lots of money, and being annoying, then it’s a good thing you don’t like that. Nobody likes that.

Just find creative ways to be considerate. That’s the best marketing.

WOW.

I’ve been in the marketing industry for about a decade, and this perfectly sums up what my teams and I try to do every day, but in a way I’ve never thought of before. Because as marketers, we often make things more complicated than they need to be. Having the perfect creative, perfect copy, perfect landing page and calls to action, perfect audience, perfect platforms with perfect geofencing… the list goes on and on.

There is definitely a difference between ‘marketing’ and ‘advertising.’ But boiling ‘marketing’ down into those three “marketing means…” statements above hits the nail on the head.

How often, as with many aspects of life, do we make things more complicated than they need to be? Probably several times per day. Let’s take a moment to take a step back. What really matters? Why are we doing what we are doing? Who are we trying to help? What story are we trying to tell? Can it all boil down simply to being considerate? To being creative?

When applying this to your side-hustle or freelance career, think about what your ‘marketing’ and brand means. Are you making it easy for people to notice and relate to you? Will they remember you? Tell others about you? Are you listening to what people need? Getting to know them? Making connections? Doing what’s best for your clients? Until you answer yes to all of those questions, keep working. Keep striving to answer yes. Because once you do, I think you’ll find a whole new meaning to what you do.

I’m not there yet. But this year, you bet I’ll be working hard to make it.

by caitlyncallahan14

tips for interviewing your clients

If one of your goals for 2021 is to build your book of business, hopefully you’ve already started taking steps toward accomplishing that goal. Soon, you’ll have clients accepting your bids and proposals to begin working together.

When a client reaches out to you to start a working relationship, it’s important to remember the relationship should be mutually beneficial – you get a client and a paycheck, and they get the services they need and are hiring you for.

That being said, when talking with a client and determining whether or not that relationship is the right fit, you are just as much interviewing them as they are you.

When I first started Upwork, I quickly learned I was not in charge of my own freelancer destiny… the client was. I had to apply to the job, compete with sometimes dozens of other freelancers, be interviewed by the client and even occasionally do a “test” project. Sometimes I got the contract, sometimes I didn’t. And while I’m not under the delusion that clients will come flocking to me and let me do my best work as I wanted, I had a lot less control than I had originally dreamed of.

And, letting my clients run completely run the show has led me into situations where I had to end the contract because the relationship wasn’t right (see my post on when it’s not a good fit).

What I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) is that in order to have a lasting relationship, I must be an active participant in the beginning. I can’t just sit back and just be grateful to have the contract (though I am incredibly grateful). I have to respect and stand up for myself and my business.

Much like a traditional job interview, it’s important to do the appropriate research and ask the right questions before deciding whether to move forward working together or not.

First, research the company/person.

  • Check out their website and social media presence. Try to understand their current brand presence and engagement with audiences.
  • Read any reviews on social or Google.
  • Check Glassdoor to read what previous employees have to say about them.
  • If you’re on a platform like Upwork, read the reviews from past freelancers they worked with.

Ask questions. Some questions I ask include (but are not limited to):

  • What is your website/the website my work will be showcased on? Do you have any brand guidelines or information about your company/product/service/brand you can share? (I like to ask for as much information up front so I can really dive into and understand the client.)
  • What are your expectations as far as work load, deadlines, and rate?
  • What are the expectations for this job? (For example, will I be provided with a topic/outline and have to simply write the post, or would you like me to pitch ideas to write? Will I have to find images, post to the website, etc.?)
  • How long would you anticipate the contract or our relationship lasting?
  • Would you be ok with me listing you as a client in my portfolio, and/or linking to any of my work you publish?

Try to understand the client and company as well as the job you’ll be contracting for. The more you can get a feel for the client and expectations up front, the more likely you are to have a positive working relationship moving forward.

If you don’t have a formal “interview” process, send questions in an email or ask to chat with them before finalizing the contract. This is so important.

Next, be clear (respectfully) what your expectations are as the freelancer.

  • If you aren’t comfortable with something they are asking you to do, or you prefer to work a different way, share that information. (Again, respectfully.)
  • If their proposed rate is too low, negotiate.
  • Outline communication expectations (via phone, email, Slack/Trello/another platform, etc., how often, will you be required to have “meetings,” etc.)
  • Share your preferred way to invoice and discuss expectations for payment.
  • Do you offer revisions? How many rounds are built into the rate? What if more revisions are necessary?

Finally, be personable.

Whether you’re working with this client on one assignment, or the contract is long-term for the next several months or even years, it’s important to establish a great rapport with the client. This helps ensure a positive working environment and relationship for both of you throughout the contract, and increases the likelihood they will 1) come back to you in the future if they need work, or 2) recommend you to others.

Connect with them on some personal level. You don’t have to share each other’s life stories or be too detailed or intimate, but don’t forget you are both people, and connecting on a deeper level will help make the contract go smoother.

Do you have any tips for interviewing your clients? What helps you establish a great working relationship right off the bat?