MINOR But ANNOYING Freelance Writing Issue. Any Suggestions?

8 replies
I was looking through my Skype list recently, and I noticed an issue that t I had previously failed to pick up on.

Specifically, too many contacts!

I only use skype for my writing jobs, and I've been using it ever since I started.

It's a great source of leads because a lot of the time I'll just sign in and get some work thrown my way, but also, the sheer number of people on my list (about 200 total with 60 or so online at any time) just makes it hard to keep track and follow up with people when I get a new lead.

The obvious answer is to shed old contacts that I haven't spoken with in a while, but the thing is, sometimes people will get back to me after a year and throw work my way... So I don't want to take anybody off my list!

Anybody have any suggestions for handling this?
#annoying #freelance #issue #minor #suggestions #writing
  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Skype is the Devil's Dick. The most evil time-stealer next to Facebook.

    I keep mine on invisible at all times and treat it like a clandestine meeting in a Star Wars bazaar - get in, meet, get out.

    You can turn notifications off so it doesn't ding, squelp, plop, pling or doodle-doodle-doo you.

    Brian
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    • Profile picture of the author The Copy Warriors
      Originally Posted by BrianMcLeod View Post

      Skype is the Devil's Dick. The most evil time-stealer next to Facebook.

      I keep mine on invisible at all times and treat it like a clandestine meeting in a Star Wars bazaar - get in, meet, get out.

      You can turn notifications off so it doesn't ding, squelp, plop, pling or doodle-doodle-doo you.

      Brian
      I can see how it could become a problem, but I don't keep any of my personal contacts on Skype; for casual chat I just use facebook. My entire Skype list is made up of past and present clients.
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    • Profile picture of the author ReferralCandy
      Originally Posted by BrianMcLeod View Post

      Skype is the Devil's Dick. The most evil time-stealer next to Facebook.

      I keep mine on invisible at all times and treat it like a clandestine meeting in a Star Wars bazaar - get in, meet, get out.

      You can turn notifications off so it doesn't ding, squelp, plop, pling or doodle-doodle-doo you.

      Brian
      I am laughing like crazy. Thanks for this. But yeah, don't bother with the 80% of your contacts that give you 20% of your business. Instead, focus on the best 20%, and get more business from those people.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by The Copy Warriors View Post

    I was looking through my Skype list recently, and I noticed an issue that t I had previously failed to pick up on.

    Specifically, too many contacts!

    I only use skype for my writing jobs, and I've been using it ever since I started.

    It's a great source of leads because a lot of the time I'll just sign in and get some work thrown my way, but also, the sheer number of people on my list (about 200 total with 60 or so online at any time) just makes it hard to keep track and follow up with people when I get a new lead.

    The obvious answer is to shed old contacts that I haven't spoken with in a while, but the thing is, sometimes people will get back to me after a year and throw work my way... So I don't want to take anybody off my list!

    Anybody have any suggestions for handling this?
    Keep a Word document or spreadsheet on your computer with these columns:

    Date of Contact
    Contact
    Nature of Contact
    Follow-up Task
    Follow-up Due Date
    Work Product Ordered
    Work Product Due Date
    Work Product Price
    Work Product Completed (Yes or No)

    Instead of doing your workload management from your Skype screen, do it from the Word document or spreadsheet.

    Alex

    PS - Please don't include the word "but" in your response to me (if you reply) like you did w/Brian. It sounds unappreciative. Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author rihannsu
      Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

      Keep a Word document or spreadsheet on your computer with these columns:

      Date of Contact
      Contact
      Nature of Contact
      Follow-up Task
      Follow-up Due Date
      Work Product Ordered
      Work Product Due Date
      Work Product Price
      Work Product Completed (Yes or No)
      I totally agree. As my list of clients grew, I would have gone crazy if I didn't use a spreadsheet.

      It also made it much easier to figure out my annual taxes.
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      YES, I have an Amazon Author Page.
      I also have an Author Profile on Goodreads.

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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
    Don't save contacts who don't take action. Sure, they might contact you later, which is fantastic. But in the name of keeping your contacts slim and trim, delete people once the energy falls flat. You know when that is.

    Release and let go... and sometimes they come back.

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author JakeDaly
      Sounds like one of those rich white people problems.
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