JANUARY 24, 2023

View in Browser

Welcome to The Tilt, a twice-weekly newsletter for content entrepreneurs.

​

Go From Overdue to Paid in Full

Just because you include payment terms in your contract, don’t expect every partner to comply with them. A 2022 study found 87% of businesses say they usually are paid after the invoice due date.

When clients fail to pay based on your contract terms, your only legal recourse is to head to court. But before you do that, you can take steps to (hopefully) avoid that more time-intensive and costly route.

Talk accounting in the beginning: To help your point of contact, ask to send your invoices directly to the accounts payable department (and copy your point of contact so they’re aware). In some companies, it’s helpful to include a purchase order number on your invoices. (Purchase orders indicate the brand has already committed to the expense, eliminating a step or two in the payment approval process.)

Follow up politely but quickly: When the payment due date passes, send a short email a couple of days later to your primary contact. Make sure to attach the unpaid invoice so they can easily review/forward it on if they haven’t.

Resend the invoice: If you don’t hear back on the follow-up email within a reasonable time, resend the invoice. Users of invoicing software, such as Quickbooks, can schedule the resend automatically. Otherwise, add the task to your calendar so you don’t forget to send it.

Add more payment vehicles: Some creators don’t like payments sent through systems where you must pay processing fees. But those expenses are minimal compared to chasing overdue invoices. Even if you don’t offer credit cards, wire transfers, and other fee-related payment options in the beginning, make sure they’re available to offer so your partners can expedite overdue payments.

Pick up the phone: Yes, I know, you don’t want to have to speak to someone about why they haven’t paid you. But you’re a business owner, and this is part of the business. If your email requests have been dismissed, call the accounting department.

If they have the invoice, ask how that payment can be expedited. If they don’t have it, go back to your point of contact.

Be ready to talk about alternatives: If the partner doesn’t have the money now, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get paid in full right away. Get creative in identifying solutions that work for you. Consider offering a payment plan. Does the partner sell something you would want and give them partial credit toward the invoice? (Identify the value of that credit. You don’t need to use the retail or rack rate equivalent.)

Stop work: If the work with this partner is ongoing, a point will come where you’ll need to inform them you can’t continue unless payment is made.

Sue for payment: The final step is to evaluate the situation and decide if it’s worth the expense of time and money to enforce your contract’s payment terms in court.

– Ann Gynn

​Get suggested text prompts for the tips above in the full story.​
​

​

The Tilt is partnering with Rogue Mogul to bring you the chance to win a FREE all-access ticket to Creator Economy Expo in May (along with one-night hotel stay in Cleveland)!

​Be sure to enter today. Winner will be drawn January 25, 2023, at midnight EST.

​

​

Entrepreneur: Amy Lang

Biz: Birds & Bees & Kids

Tilt: Helping parents talk about sex

Primary Channels: Online courses, podcast, newsletter​

Other Channels: Facebook (10K), Instagram (4K), YouTube (862)

Time to First Dollar: To test her content, she offered free programs at first. Within three to six months, she charged a small fee.

Rev Streams: Birds & Bees Solutions Center, live and online parenting classes, professional training, one-on-one consultations, and her online bookstore.

Our Favorite Actionable Advice:

• Learn, then create: As a sex educator, Amy thought the conversations with her son would be easy. She was wrong, so she did the research for her family and used what she learned to start a content business.
• Build a list: From her first days, Amy focused on building her newsletter list. Because of that, she didn’t need to market beyond that list and word of mouth when she went full time with Birds & Bees.
• Evolve as needed: After blogging for over 10 years, Amy was tired of writing, so she turned her blog URL into a home for her podcast links. Remember, what you start creating doesn’t have to be what you create forever.

– Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

​Amy Lang’s Birds & Bees & Kids story told in detail.

Know a content creator who’s going full tilt? DM us. Or email tilt@thetilt.com.

​

​

• We are three weeks into 2023. How is your social media strategy going? Do you need help scheduling and implementing your plan? Look no further than Social Pilot. Let them pilot your social media strategy so you can focus on building your business. Get a free 14-day trial by signing up now.*
• Joe discusses the content channel plan and how it all comes together. (Content Inc. podcast)
• Joe and Robert cover multiple AI lawsuits, as well as Microsoft's $10B bet on OpenAI. (This Old Marketing podcast)
• Looking to grow your creative business in 2023? Passionfroot lets you handle sponsorships, collaboration requests, bookings and payments – in one single place. Get access now!**
• Do you know what founders say are the three biggest reasons startups fail? (CNBC)

*The Tilt receives a small commission if readers (at no additional cost) make a purchase using this link.

** Sponsored content

​

​

Please Help Spread The Tilt Message!

Refer a fellow content creator to The Tilt and earn exclusive swag!

Your unique link: https://www.thetilt.com?rh_ref=1c5f8ff0

Track your referrals here.

Or share via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or email.

*Please note the rewards program is only available to US readers at this time. The Tilt reserves the right to reject referrals at their discretion.

​

​

Your team for this issue: Joe Pulizzi, Pam Pulizzi, Ann Gynn, Laura Kozak, Marc Maxhimer, and Dave Anthony, with an assist from Saran Lindenfeld Hall.