Digital Record Keeping for Freelancers
6 min readA messy desktop often leads to a messy mind. Keeping your digital life organized allows you to focus on your craft rather than hunting for lost PDFs.
1. The "Project Folder" Hierarchy
Don't just dump everything in "Downloads". Create a standard folder structure for every new client:
/Assets (Logos, Images)
/Drafts (v1, v2)
/Final (Deliverables)
/Admin (Contracts, Invoices)
2. Naming Conventions
Future-you will hate "Untitled1.pdf". Use a consistent format like `YYYY-MM-DD_ProjectName_Description_v1`. This makes searching for files instantaneous, regardless of what folder they are in.
3. Centralizing Contracts & Invoices
Keep a master folder for all signed contracts and sent invoices. This is crucial for quick reference if a client asks a question about terms or past work.
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