Top 6 Uses For Excel In A Freelance Writing Business

Freelance writing can be a very profitable business

, or it can suck your time and money down a hole that you'll never get it back from. The difference is your ability to stay disciplined and organized about your efforts -- and Microsoft Excel is the tool for getting that done.

Marketing

Whether you're going to focus on freelance websites like Odesk and Elance, respond directly to ads on Craigslist, or spend money on a website and some pay-per-click advertising, there are few greater traps in the freelance market than online marketing. Diligently record your expenditures in both time and money, and what methods provided you with the most profitable clients.

Client Tracking

The most embarrassing things that can happen to a businessman is forgetting a client. Keep a log in Excel of every client you contact, even if it doesn't lead to an immediate job (you'll learn why in a moment). If it does, set up an Email alert that will let you know a week before that client's deadline is approaching so that you can be sure to get the jobs done.

Article Structuring

With a simple template, Excel can become a tool that makes every piece you write a little easier. Craft a few drop-down menus that answer questions about the piece (like what it's for, if it needs to be keyword-oriented, etc.), and Excel can easily print out a checklist that will give you the steps you need to take to get each article perfect every time.

Time Tracking

The Pareto Principle states that 20% of your time generates 80% of your profits. Use Excel to track when you work, how much work you get done, and any special circumstances behind your worktime. In a month or two, you'll have a great idea of when you do you best work -- and thus when you should set aside time to write.

Invoicing

Excel's templates come with some very professional invoices that you can send to your clients as a hard-copy record of your transaction. It's the kind of detail that separates you from the plethora of other freelance writers out there and encourages a client to do more business with you in the future.

Client Recontacting

Set up an Email alert in your client database -- to remind you 30 and then 90 days after you finish a job. Reconnect with your client, ask if there is more work to be done -- your best customers are those who have already paid for your work once.

Freelance writing comes with a lot of details that need tracking, and if you're the kind of writer that I am, you'll find it's not that fun to keep track of them. Fortunately, I've learned the art of Excel, and it's helped me immensely.

by: Jen Morrison

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