Nowadays, there is new written content created at an astounding rate. Writing is an essential skill that is often sought out by employers. Whether you are working towards a college degree or a full-time position, freelance opportunities are a great way to learn and make some money from it.
Freelance writers are self-employed creatives that are not committed to long-term employment. They may often write for multiple clients at once. When you become a writer, you find a great way to learn while getting compensated for your work.
Still, there are many benefits of growing a freelance writing business. Improving and maintaining your skill is a must. With these tips, you can start your freelance writing business in 4 steps:
- Practice and build your portfolio
Every great writer has to start somewhere. Even if it does not lead to compensation right away, take the time to practice various types of writing. In this process, it’s useful to receive regular feedback on your work. You will understand your strengths, weaknesses, and areas of interest.
There are a lot of outlets that would publish your work if you ask. If you are a student, you may have a campus newspaper or publication. When the work gets published, you start to build a portfolio to highlight your best work so far. A good portfolio should display your versatility, attention to detail and creativity.
Also, look into online courses you can take. There are a number of courses related to specialized writing from creative to technical. Projects in your courses serve as excellent material for a portfolio.
- Decide on a few niches
As you start to produce more content, you’ll find topics you really enjoy writing about while doing a great job. The key to great writing is inspiration.
To make the most out of your freelance writing business, it’s important to write quality content where your skills shine.
Some examples of niche areas could be technical writing, creative writing, SEO writing, press release writing and more. Potential clients like to see versatility, but also specialization.
The more your niche aligns with their requests, the more likely you’ll land the gig.
To become a writer, you don’t have to be a Jack of all Trades. Review your work and get feedback. Use your portfolio to find work that you enjoy writing about.
Deciding on a niche for your freelance writing business is an excellent strategy to put your best work forward.
- Join freelancing platforms
The internet really has everything does it? There are so many great choices for where you choose to begin your freelance writing business. Platforms such as UpWork, Fiverr and PeoplePerHour connect clients with freelancers they need for specific tasks or roles.
These websites not only connect you with clients, but they help you get paid in a safe, secure way. However, it can be difficult at first to land your first couple gigs. There is a lot to be made in freelance writing if you put in the work to improve your profile, skills, and niches.
A strong, informative profile is essential for success on freelancing platforms. Write an illuminating bio, upload your resume, and submit samples for your work. It’s a great idea to link your portfolio on your profile.
Complete the profiles to the fullest extent. The more specific and in-depth you are about the work you do, the better jobs you will find.
Put yourself out there, don’t be afraid to take chances, and clients will start to notice.
- Bid on projects
With your professional, confident profile up for clients to see, it’s time to start landing your first gigs. The process of bidding for projects varies between platforms. That being said, many of the platforms involve interviews so clients can find the right freelancers.
On UpWork, you submit proposals to clients looking for writers. Writers apply for freelance gigs with a required cover letter. Some clients may ask additional questions or request samples on their proposals.
Projects on Fiverr may require a skills assessment before doing work so clients know what they’re paying for. But, the compensation is similar across platforms. You can complete work for a set price, an hourly wage or by milestone. On Fiverr, you can also create a ‘gig’, where you offer a set amount of work for a set fee. For example, $20 for a 500 word blog article with 2 keywords. Interested buyers can then purchase a gig, share their requirements, then get the finished product within a few days,
When bidding on projects, be sure to appeal to the interests of the clients. What niche are they in? What type of writer do they need? The job descriptions could be anything like “Looking for a technical writer with SEO experience.”
Decide what projects your skills are suited for and apply away!
Growing your business
As a freelance writer, you may start to accumulate an impressive portfolio, client base, and income. Growing a freelance business takes time. However, you can become an even more successful freelance writer in a few ways.
Like before, ask for feedback from clients you have worked for. Freelance platforms have features for clients to submit feedback and “reviews” of freelancers. Good work leads to good feedback, which greatly boosts the credibility of your work.
Clients you already worked with know what you’re capable of. They may continue to seek out your work, and develop longer-term relationships with their clients. Combine this with great feedback, and you’ll be a sought-after writer in no time.
Sometimes, a great track record as a freelance writer leads to some great full-time opportunities. Even if you can take this route, you can always return to the game if you find it suits you more.
Lastly, increasing revenue is a major opportunity for freelancers. You will most likely have to keep your hourly rate or set price lower at first. Over time, your proven work record and feedback from clients grants you an opportunity. Your high-quality, polished work deserves a raise and clients will pay good prices for the best-of-the-best.
With these great tips to start your freelance writing business, your portfolio, pockets and writing skills will be stronger than ever.
