Why do pro athletes watch videos of past plays? So they can review what worked and what didn’t in the past.
It’s the same in your professional writing career. Now, we may not have videos of ourselves writing… and if so, they’re probably not very exciting… but we can review the past year and identify accomplishments, missteps, and opportunities.
No matter where you are in your freelance writing business… just starting… or experienced… self-reflection is a great way to learn.
It starts with an end-of-the-year review.
Year-End Review
What objectives did you set out to achieve this year? Focus on three. Maybe you wanted to:
- Complete a program
- Get your first client
- Set up your business website
Where did you succeed? Where did you come close? What do you need to make progress?
Identifying specific goals and where you are with them could be just the motivation you need to achieve them.
Matthew Fenton is a marketing strategist and author of the bi-monthly newsletter Winning Solo. In a recent issue, he wrote about the importance of diagnosing your objectives.
He says, “Diagnosis is the most overlooked aspect of strategy.”
By this, he means going deeper into why you achieved or didn’t achieve your objective.
This is valuable feedback.
We’ve all had the experience of overloading ourselves with “to-dos.” Sometimes we make the list and promptly forget about it. Sometimes we find it later and recommit.
The problem often stems from not breaking the goals down into smaller pieces so they’re less overwhelming.
For example, setting up your freelance website is a multistep process. You can have a checklist and directions on how to complete each step, or you can wing it and make it more difficult than it needs to be.
As you review missed objectives, Matthew Fenton recommends asking yourself if the objective was unreasonable or if your approach was unreasonable. It’s an important distinction.
For example, if your objective was to replace your six-figure income with a freelance writing business in six months, but you’ve never written for clients before, that’s a difficult objective.
However, if your objective was to land your first client in six months, that’s different. With the right actions, that’s a more achievable goal.
It’s not “bad” either way, but it is helpful to understand what you need to do to achieve your objective. Remember, scientists try hundreds of experiments before they find a breakthrough.
As you review your year, ask yourself what went well? What did you try that didn’t work? Was it the objective, or was it your approach?
Did you set an objective and then decide you wanted to change it? That’s okay. It’s your show. You get to make your rules.
Map Out Your 2024 (or Any New Year) Plan
Ringing in the New Year always brings with it a feeling of freshness. And if you haven’t already done your year-end review, take 30 minutes and do it now.
Next up is assessing what marketing tactics you’ve tried. First, assess what’s worked. Did posting on social media bring you a ton of clients? Or none? Did reaching out to friends and family land you a client?
Once you’ve landed a client or two, it’s a great idea to note how they came to you so you can lean into those sources.
If you’re just starting your freelance journey and you don’t have any marketing tactics, don’t worry. This is your chance to plan yours. Here are some sample marketing approaches for filling your client schedule.
- Post on social media that you’ve launched a freelance writing business. Better yet if you can be specific about what you do and who you do it for.
A specific ask like, “From software sales to writer, I spent [amount of time] selling software for [companies], and now I write actionable blog content for similar companies. If this is relevant for you, please share it with your network.” This will almost always garner better results than, “Hey, anyone need a freelance writer?”
The first one lets people immediately connect you with a potential need while the second is quickly forgotten.
- Reach out to past colleagues/clients and let them know you’re offering freelance writing. Again, if you can link your past experience to what you’re doing now, that makes it easier to remember.
- Update your LinkedIn profile.
- Write a LinkedIn recommendation for a former client or co-worker.
- Gather your writing samples. If you have some in different niches, then organize them accordingly. For example, I keep a Google Doc with pet-related samples and another one with B2B tech samples. I also have a portfolio on my website with specific pages for specific industries. When you can send the most relevant material to your potential client, it’s easier for them to say “Yes.”
- Join industry groups and be active. Engage on their social media channels. Join their meet-and-greet Zoom calls.
- Make relevant comments on prospective client’s social media posts.
- Draft a sample script to introduce yourself to potential clients.
- Build a big list of prospective clients (500+).
- Reach out to those potential clients with your script.
- Go to a physical networking event — from the Chamber of Commerce to a local American Marketing Association meeting, winter and spring are prime times for events. They’re excellent opportunities to meet potential clients, practice introducing yourself as a freelance writer, and make new connections.
As you plan your 2024 objectives, tie them to marketing tasks. That way, you can have a path to achieving your objectives. Then, implement them every week. You may be surprised by how much you achieve by taking time for self-reflection!
