in Business, Freelancing

Episode 20 – Staying Organized as a Freelancer

I try so hard to stay organized on a daily basis. Keeping all my ducks in a row is what allows me to juggle way more projects than the typical freelancer. Despite all my efforts to keep my inbox clean, schedule calls ahead of time, run everything through my project management app, and other organizational methods; it seems like it can go to shit in a heart beat.

For me, this is usually the result of a client who refuses to use Basecamp once the project has been started. What happens next is like a monsoon in my inbox. Emails containing comments, feedback, files, copy, and other related materials come pouring in at an alarming rate. While some freelancers are used to organizing this way, I am not and it tends to throw off my whole system. Slowly my ducks are beginning to get out of line.

How Do You Stay Organized?

I’d like to hear your comments on how you keep your freelance work organized in a day to day manner. Any sort of tips and advice you can share would be great. Those of you that provide some of the best details I will contact directly for a follow up. Assuming there is enough participation on this post, expect a follow up in the next week or two with some more in depth information from your peers!

About Danny Outlaw

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  • http://www.starsunflowerstudio.com Sü Smith

    Over the weekend I found a strong need for the use of triple monitors. I find that having an email application which allows the use of folders keeps me organized by project name. It has to be web based for me though, as I work from multiple computers.

    I would also love to hear what methods and applications people use to keep organized.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/DannyOutlaw DannyOutlaw

      Its funny you say that. I actually did the exact opposite recently. Went from dual monitors back to just my iMac monitor.

      I was feeling overwhelmed with two monitors and having so much going on.

  • http://www.jessicaweible.com JW Illustrations

    I just wanna say, that I just found your blog and I love it! The outlaw design is so refreshing from some of the standard blog designs I've seen. bravo!

    So, I've freelanced for about 5 years now. I'm an organizational MESS. My client folders are messy and so is my inbox :( The only thing I keep organized at all is my recipts and my client log…for this I use Excel. Just because its straightforward enough for me to input whatever kind of data I feel is important.

    I use only one computer, and I can't imagine trying to spread myself between two or three! eek!

    My only method for keeping up with clients at the moment is a constant notepad infront of me to jot down a list..if I get a new client..I add them to the list..

    I'm seriously interested if anyone has a "Organization Method" LOL

  • http://twitter.com/ajevacom Issa

    Seriously, I find it amazing that you still have the time to post wonderful tips on your blog, given your freelance gigs. Well, I schedule my time the traditional way – by writing it on a real scheduler/organizer ( nothing electronic ). Writing down stuff have worked wonders for me, reinforcing this habit of time-keeping. Although there are useful apps out there, I'd say it doesn't give me that 'reinforcement' I get in writing things down the old-fashioned way.