How’s 2014 treating you so far?
I know that for a lot of people, January isn’t the biggest month for work or productivity. This time of the year has earned the nickname “January doldrums” because it’s usually a period when sales slow down and people are generally inactive.
If you’re experiencing your own January doldrums in your freelance writing endeavors, here are a few activities that will not only make you feel more empowered, but spur you into action:
1. Put your goals down on paper
– I mean that literally. Take out a piece of paper then write down the things you want to achieve this year.
Make your goals specific. For instance, instead of saying that you will make more money writing, put down some exact amounts. This practice forces you to be more concrete with what you wish to accomplish and it oils the cogs in your brain to move and come up with solutions.
Research has shown that in addition to making you feel more confident and energetic, writing down your goals can actually increase your chances of reaching them.
Want to take things a step further? Take a good look at the goals in front of you and write down how you can achieve them. Create a plan than would guide you towards your aspirations. In doing so, you may find that your goals aren’t just doable, but you’re closer to achieving them than you think.
2. Conduct a SWOT analysis on yourself
For the uninitiated, SWOT stands for: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Conducting a SWOT analysis will enable you to identify the things you have going for you (so you can invest in them) and the threats or problems both within and around you (so you can either avoid or fix them).
3. Connect with other writers
I give this advice a lot (in fact you’ve probably gotten it from me already) but it’s only because I’ve found that surrounding yourself with like-minded people has a TON of benefits including:
– Being able to connect with individuals who know exactly what you’re going through
– Having an outlet for any rants or questions you might have
– Getting access to networking or even job opportunities
As far as which communities to join, I’d like to suggest the following:
– Be a Freelance Blogger Community
– The Freelance Writer’s Den (The Den is currently closed to new members, but you can get on the waiting list by signing up with your email. Also note that a Den membership costs a monthly fee.)
4. Make your business official
Serious about building a freelance writing business? Show the world (and yourself) by taking some official steps towards setting it up. For instance, you can apply for a DBA or LLC, create your website, or hand out some business cards.
I did all three when I first established my company and they really helped me solidify my business and my commitment.
In case you need suggestions on how to get the ball rolling with these steps, below are the services that I used in my business:
LegalZoom for my DBA
BlueHost for my website
VistaPrint for my business cards.
5. Publicly commit to your goals
I’m a big fan of public accountability. I think shouting your goals from the rooftops pushes you to hustle. When you want to achieve something, give people your word that you’re going to do it. The fear of appearing like a flake or letting others down should be enough to motivate you to take action.
In fact, I’m such a fan of publicly committing to goals that I’m going to do it right now: I’m currently writing another ebook entitled How to Land a Client in 10 Days, and it offers an account of how I was able to find half a dozen new clients in just a week and a half. I’ll be launching it in March of this year, around the same time when my blog goes live, so keep an eye out.
Download this free ebook and discover the steps you need to take to land new clients in a week and a half. Enter your email address and you'll get:
- Step-by-step instructions on how to find prospects and get them to hire you
- Detailed advice and action steps to boost your client-hunting efficiency
- Insights from other freelance writers on the best ways to land clients
