How many self-employed people actually have a business plan?

How many of you self-employed people are out there running their business day to day and just hoping for a check to arrive in the mail? I bet a lot of you. Especially writers. You spend half of your time scouring for a job and the other half waiting to get paid.

When I went into business for myself I just jumped in with two feet and didn't look back. I knew my business, I had some clients that I had worked with, and I just figured either it would work or it wouldn't. Regardless, I would be doing something that I loved. And I am. I just celebrated my first year in business and I'm not a statistic. So far.

I've never really given much thought to a business plan. I mean my business deals with authors and writing and publicity. What do I need a plan for. I either have clients or I don't. But recently I've been working on putting a proper business plan together because I realized that I'm not just self employed. I'm an entrepreneur, and a small business owner all rolled into one and without a plan who knows where I will be in 3 years?

So this week I didn't watch any horror movies ( other than those that I own) and I sat down and starting going through my plans for the new year. It really doesn't take long. It's actually quite simple. And I have one of my clients to thank for helping sort it all out. My client ActionCOACH business coaching works with small and emerging businesses to help them improve their bottom-line profitability. Yeah, yeah, sales jargon. But I'm a salesperson too. I sell my writing and publicity services so I fall into that category. So I'm going to sell you something.
If you are in the Edmonton area on December 7th I encourage you to check out their neat Santa's Mixshop- a mixer combined with some business planning tips. For 30.00 bucks you get to hang out with some people, learn a few things and 100% of the proceeds go to the homeless. Oh, and they'll match that. A pretty good deal I think.
Just because we are writers doesn't mean we don't need a business plan. Have you done yours yet?

ps. you can register here if you like: http://www.actioncoachalberta.com/index.php/6-Steps-to-Super-Profits-Seminar/Santa-s-Mixshop-Holiday-Mixer-and-Workshop-53.html

How to handle unsubscribers from your newsletter/email list

I send out press releases and email campaigns on a regular basis. I find that generally, most people who don't want to receive your emails will hit the old Unsubscribe or Opt Out button without any problems.

But occasionally they might email you directly to ask you to unsubscribe. Now in the case of media, how should you respond to that?



A situation like that happened to me last week. I had an editor who, up until last week had opened almost all of press releases, when he suddenly unsubscribed. So I took the time to find out why. I emailed him and said that I had noticed that he had recently unsubscribed, and would he mind telling me why and how I could fix the situation.

Now some people will just not bother to answer, but if you've been building a relationship with them over time, they usually will. He replied that he was noticing that most of the news wasn't B.C based, that it was based in other provinces, and wasn't a national story, so he wasn't very interested. However, he did say that if it was going to be B.C based, too send it directly to him- not as a mailout, and then very kindly gave me a list of reporters he would like me to send my stories to.

Now not all of your subscribers will be so nice, but it really pays to contact them and find out how your emails and information can be of benefit to them- not you.

In the case of a newsletter, these days there is so much information on the web available, that people just don't want another piece of information dropped in their inbox. So you have to really work on the information that you put into your newsletter to make it stand out from the crowd. Don't write anything that isn't unique to your business or product. Make sure it's information that you can't find anywhere else and then ask the person who unsubscribed if they would like to contribute to the newsletter. Offer them an interactive role, ask them questions- what would they like to see? How often would they like it delivered? How will it benefit them? Of course, these are most likely questions that you asked potential subscribers before you started your newsletter, but it pays to revisit to keep a customer.

So overall, I would say choose which subscribers are the most valuable for you to keep and then do the best you can to connect with them.

How to find time to promote your business and your blog

I am in the middle of a move to B.C at the moment. The entire office is in chaos with boxes and separate piles for recycling, garage sale, donations, clients, and my work. The living room is full of boxes, and every evening has been spent sorting and packing. 

On top of that, I still have a business to run, with all that it entails.

That means administration, delegation, following up, making phone calls, keeping in touch with my clients, and oh yes, updating my blog. And that I have to say is a real pain in the butt.

I have everything linked, so that it all goes to twitter and facebook etc... but it's finding the time to jot a few words down so that people who might visit my site can see that it's active. 

That plays more of a role than I realized.

Recently after sending out a press release I was informed by a television station that my client hadn't updated her website in 3 months, and that didn't make him want to book her. I couldn't believe that blogging had become such an important factor for press bookings. But it has. 

So far I haven't sent out a single press release about my company. I simply haven't had the time. I'm too busy working on the clients I already have to promote my business. 

And to a high degree, that has suited me just fine- I'm thankful for the referrals I've received, and I show up when someone is looking for publicity. 

But I suppose it is time to practice what I preach. I help my clients by making sure that their blogs are updated, I guess I should do that for my business!

So how do you make time for your blog?

1. Set your google alerts to items that you like to write about or discuss. When it comes into your inbox, you can click on it and instantly blog about it. It's great when you can't think of a single thing to say.

2. Make sure your blog is linked to all your other social media sites, so you don't have to spend time uploading to every site

3. Set time aside 3 times a week ( minimum)- say 1/2 an hour to upload a blog, and comment on 1 other blog so that your name keeps showing up everywhere

4. Your blog is your personal site- add some personality!

5. Don't forget to promote your business while you are promoting everyone else. 

6. Don't put your client files in boxes until the very end of your move. Trust me. You will regret it!

It's Summertime- now's the time to send out all your cool pitches to act as fillers for radio, tv, and print! Now wish me luck for this move- it's a doozy!!!

gal-friday is branching out

Well, you heard it here first, or rather second- facebook seems to always be first- gal-friday is branching out to Vancouver. Coquitlam to be exact. After residing in Edmonton for almost 25 years, it's time to move onwards and upwards into the mountains and by the sea. As many of you know my business only started in October of 2009 after the firm I was working for closed it's doors. Since then it's been months of learning curves and craziness starting my own business, but it's all coming together now. I have a great group of freelance writers and designers, and my associate Literary Agent Brian Wood is showing me the ropes as an agent.

We are now at the point where we can offer Agent services and Publicity services all in one. Selling a book is much easier if you have a media platform and if the world knows about you. With gal-friday we are able to deliver both. It's been a great partnership and is getting stronger every day.
We are the only company that is combining that service, and we are also the only people who will give you an honest (very honest) opinion about the sales potential of your book. Most agents don't give those kind of responses. But with us you are guaranteed that if we don't take your book on- you'll know why. Whether you like it or not!!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my little business I am a freelance writer and I continue to write as much as I can on those days when I might get a little spare time. I recently finished a non-fiction nature biography and as we speak it is with an editor at Doubleday, and I am awaiting it's fate. So as a writer, and someone who worked behind the scenes at Chapters/Indigo as well as in front of the camera, our business is an excellent one to consider when thinking about the world of publishing.

As well, I handle several businesses, some of whom I've worked with for years with their marketing and publicity.

So, by the fall I will have relocated to Vancouver and Brian and I will be all set to attack the United States with our publicity and selling talents. We hope you stay along for the ride!

gal-friday publicity welcomes Dawnn Whittaker and Cheeky Chops Consulting!

I would like to welcome Dawnn Whittaker and her Cheeky Chops Consulting business to gal-friday publicity.
I recently met with Dawnn in Vancouver and she is one busy lady! She has a great book in the works, so we are going to be focusing on gaining some publicity for her across the country. Dawnn is a sleep consultant and Parenting Coach who solves baby and toddler sleep problems. Kind of like a baby whisperer if you will!
She has two children and is expecting a third so she really knows what she is talking about!

Dawnn has been featured in the Langley Times, Island Child Magazine and on BTV in Vancouver, and was also featured in Mompreneur here in Alberta.

I look forward to working with her and her great team!

If you would like to know more about Dawnn and her business please visit www.cheekychops.ca !

It's a Dog eat Dog World- do I get a treat now?

So. I had finished the first draft of my book. It had taken forever to write, but it was done. Now what? Well after thinking it over I gave it to my sister to read. She liked it, but I was pretty sure she would because it was about her dogs as well. Why wouldn't she like it? But she gave me points and areas to work on as well. If there is one thing I can count on, it's that my sister won't hold back if she dislikes something. For a family member she's pretty honest.
Now, if i was a lone writer without any publishing connections I would have started that process of trying to find an agent to sell my book, or I would have just started shopping it myself. But fortunately, I chose a career in publicity, and as a result I have dozens of amazing authors as friends, and one in particular who is a literary agent.
Now, my type of book isn't really his style, but because we had worked in the same circles, he agreed to be my agent and try to sell my book.
Success!! I was half way there- how much harder could it be?
So I sent my manuscript to my agent and Lucy and I waited for his reply. And when it came it wasn't exactly what I had expected...

Small Business Owners face less Stress- Really?

So this was in the Toronto Star today:

A recent survey conducted by Desjardins Financial Security reveals that while self-employed Canadians tend to have more debt than the average Canadian employee, this is having limited effect on their stress and work levels during this recession. A survey of small business owners found:

5 per cent of Canadians have more than $50,000 of debt compared with 21 per cent of self-employed Canadians who have more than $50,000 of debt.
54 per cent of self-employed said they didn't have enough disability coverage.
80 per cent said they were not familiar with business insurance.
56 per cent of self-employed Canadians feel their stress level is higher now compared to a year ago.
44 per cent of self-employed Canadians feel it is harder to be competitive now compared to the start of the recession.
72% of self-employed Canadians have not felt the need to work significantly more hours since the start of the recession.

I agree with the debt part. Fortunately I don't have anywhere near that amount- cross your fingers!
I completely agree with the disability coverage, and in fact until last week I had never even considered disability ( One too many trips over the marrow bones and slamming my finger in my door- convinced me). Now I'll be signing up for it!
I am familiar with business insurance, and as soon as I step out of the freelance business I will be looking at that for sure!
So where does the less stress come in? How is there less stress if 56% feel more stress now than a year ago?
I think it's always hard to be competitive when you run your own business!
And I completely disagree with the 72% have not felt the need to put in more hours. HELLO? Did they ask me what I thought? No!
As a small business I am averaging about 12-13 hours a day. That is NOT less hours.
So why do I have my own business? Because I get to do what I love, and duck out for lunch whenever I like!!


 

Less Business- More Blogging!

Image by lunaweb via Flickr

With all the research that I do on publicity and social media, I realized that I was committing a cardinal sin on my blog. I was reprinting articles for the sake of saving time, but not actually giving my thoughts to them. That's the whole point of a blog. So many people find me and my business through my blog that I really should be a little more aware of the social aspect of this site. I have my website to update and talk about articles- and it's fine to reprint them here, but I really shouldn't be afraid to weigh in with my opinion.
I'm not going to lose business because of it.
In fact, if anyone goes to my website, they'll see that both my associate Brian and I are pretty laid back but very blunt people when it comes to criticizing modes of publishing books, agents, and our writing services.
I am a book publicist. It's what I love to do. I am also a business publicist. I love working in the field of media, and hearing the viewpoints of everyone. So from here on it, this blog will now be used for my  thoughts. Without a filter. Like it or lump it!
Cheers!