Nothing like jumping into a busy week of client work after a short vacation to get the blood pumping.

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The ONLY 3 Activities Consultants Should Focus On (consultingsuccess.com)

Michael Zipursky writes about how client work, sales, and marketing should be the main activities you work on every day. I think you’d still end up having to spend time on other things but they should be limited (e.g. email, admin, training).

The Simple 5-Day Sales Follow-up Sequence That Closes Deals (kurtelster.com)

As a freelancer you should: Follow. Up. More. If there’s one thing that can improve your business, it’s follow ups. Kurt Elster lays out his simple five day follow up sequence he uses with clients. I’m going to copy these for my own follow ups.

Stop hating writing emails to prospects and start asking the right questions (curtismchale.ca) SPONSOR

Email is hard and few of us like to do it. Stop reinventing the wheel and use a proven email system to start asking clients the right questions so you stop wasting your time. Effective Client Email also includes a guide to winning work with cold emails as a FREE BONUS.

Value-Price, or Value-Anchor? (doubleyourfreelancing.com)

Brennan Dunn has a great article that compares value-based pricing with value-anchored pricing. After hearing his advice awhile ago I’ve switched to value-based anchoring and it’s been working great.

Make people remember you with a unique elevator pitch (freelancersunion.org)

Having a short and memorable way to describe what you do is valuable in many situations. I’ve used Michael Port’s version from Book Yourself Solid. This article describes another one which focuses on how the work you do is unique and important.

Client-Centered Web Development (curtismchale.ca)

In this article Curtis McHale gives examples of why it’s important to stay in communication with your client. It might take you an extra five minutes to screenshot or demo what you’re working on but every client will appreciate the effort.

The freelancer course is here (sethgodin.typepad.com)

Seth Godin has released a paid freelancer course on Udmy. It’s on sale for April if you use his MOVEUP coupon code. I’ve bought it. I love Seth’s work.

Quick Links

A freelancers guide to vacation (freelancersunion.org)

You should break these 5 freelancer rules (freelancersunion.org)

The Myth of Writer’s Block (And How to Combat a Creative Slump) (bidsketch.com)

Thanks, I’ll see you next week

Eric Davis (@edavis10)