Make your own spreadsheet. This is a pretty easy and effective way to keep track of private client (PC) projects. If you’re like me, most times I juggle 4-5 projects a week, and it can get pretty confusing. I started using my own Excel spreadsheet to keep a log of all of my private clients, project details, the rate/fee I quoted (or price-per-hour), deadline/date due, length of time it took to complete, date sent to client and when payment was made. You can also use a spreadsheet template; just Google “spreadsheet template” and go through until you find one that fits your needs. (I found it was easier to just make my own!) 2. Use a day-planner. Purchase an inexpensive planner with daily, weekly and monthly pages so you can keep track of projects and deadlines. I like this system of tracking my client projects a little more than using a spreadsheet, since I am one of those people who LOVE making lists and use a planner for EVERYTHING!

3. Use Google’s calendar. Google’s calendar is a great way for tracking projects, deadlines, project length, and so on. You have to have a gmail account to use the calendar, which I highly recommend as I think gmail is much better for Spam and storage space than Yahoo! mail. Plus, you can also share your calendars with others working on the project, clients and family members (if they also have a gmail account). The Google calendar has great features, and you can even upload a favorite photo or image for the calendar background.

4. Opt for an online task manager. There are many good options on the Internet, including: www.wunderlist.com (my fave), www.todoist.com and www.hitask.com. Do a Google or Bing search for “online task manager” to find the one that works for you. This is a great option to use, but have a back-up plan for when unforeseen things like power outages happen and you don’t have access to your online tasks.