Freelance Writer

A Freelance Writer

A freelance writer is someone who provides writing services for businesses. A freelance writer can work from a remote location which makes it a good work from home gig. A freelancer has the freedom of choosing their own schedule and what type of projects they wish to work on. The most common types of freelancers include content creators, copywriters, journalists, graphic designers. As a freelance writer, you can develop your career in one or numerous of these categories. Here are a few:

• Content writing 
• Ghostwriting
• Copywriting
• SEO writing
• Email marketing writing
• Social media copy writing
• Academic writing
• Screenwriting
• Creative writing
• Resume writing
• Case study writing
• Book and eBook writing
• Script writing
• Speech writing
• Press releases writing

As a professional freelance writer you’ll be working as a contractor as opposed to a full-time staff writer at a company. You can offer your writing services to different clients and often work across a variety of specialties, writing about any topic you wish. As a freelance writer you also have the freedom to write for different types of clients at the same time.So there are many benefits to this online type of gig. However, let’s look at the essentials to become a freelance writer:

• Acquire and Develop Writing Skills
• Pick A Niche
• Build Your Portfolio
• Promote Yourself
• Find Writing Jobs

Acquire and Develop Writing Skills

The first step in becoming a successful freelance writer is to improve your writing skills. Before you start offering your services, you need to prepare yourself by learning the skills to provide some quality work. You can grow your knowledge and skills by taking online courses, watching YouTube videos, or even reading blogs on how to start your writing journey. Follow some expert writers on social media or YouTube. You can practice writing content by providing your free service to friends and family. You can also provide your free service to causes such as environmental issues, or animal protection. This will benefit your portfolio later on.

When writing content it’s best to keep it clear, straight to the point, and relatable. Your audience wants information that will help them solve an issue or give them valuable new insights in as short of a timeframe as possible.

If you chose to level up by taking a course, there’s a broad range of online courses that cover everything from writing techniques to business management. Depending on how comfortable you are writing, you might find them to be a profitable investment as they can equip you with essential skills that will save you a lot of time and energy. This will free up your time so you can get more done in less time. Essentially, meaning that you make more money in the same timeframe.

Once you’ve acquired the necessary skills and techniques start practicing your writing. You need to build a style and build your confidence as a writer. The better your writing skills are, the more you can impress your clients and get new ones.

Pick Your Niche

When you start freelance writing, I would advice you to start of with a niche you know. Pick a subject that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about. The more you know about the niche, the easier the research process will be. Also, the less time it will take to write. Make a list of the skills you have and the topics you’re comfortable writing about, and narrow it down to the top three. Then start with the top topic. You can always cross niches later. I’ll get into how you can branch into other niches later. But for now, start with one. Here are a few niches you can consider:

• Fashion writing
• Tech writing 
• Real estate writing 
• Marketing writing
• Travel writing 
• Romance writing
• Medical writing
• Food and hospitality writing

Choosing a niche will help you decide which clients to send pitches to and what projects you take on. It will also make writing projects easier over time as you build your expertise within the chosen topic. Just remember to pick an area in which you have either knowledge or passion. Ideally both.

Create Your Portfolio
A portfolio which showcases samples of your writing is a critical part of developing a successful freelance writing business. The best way to do this is by creating a website that serves as your online portfolio. You want to stand out and attract the right clients. Hence, you need to showcase quality samples of your work. If you don’t have samples of your work yet, you need to create some sample pieces right away. Include samples that are relevant to clients in your chosen industry. The sample should let the clients know that you are qualified to write on the topic. Spend time on your portfolio. A professional website adds credibility and authority to your writing business and boosts your online presence as a writer. Since, it’s entirely your own, it gives you the power to shape your brand image as you please. Your website is also a great way to put your contact information on the web so potential clients can easily get in touch with you.

Price Yourself

A standard freelance writer in the U.S. earns about $25 per hour, or $40,000 per year. However, this can vary greatly from writer to writer. Remember, that there is a correlation between how much you charge and your level of experience. Other aspects you need to consider when setting your rate is the length of your content and your writing speed.

Some advanced freelance writers charge up to $1.00 per word. However, I would recommend you to start rating yourself low to attract your first clients. You can start charging $0.10 to 0.15 per word, or around $100 - $200 for an 1,000 word article. If you negotiate an hourly rate, I suggest going for a fair hourly rate between $20 - $30 per hour. Depending on your experience and expertise. As I mentioned, you should keep your rates low in the beginning to attract clients and build a portfolio. You can always increase your rates later as you gain experience.

Consider these three options to charge your clients when determining how much to charge as a freelance writer:

• By the hour
• By the word
• By the page
  

Pick Your Clients

Do not skip this part. Choosing the right clients is crucial to your success as a writing freelancer. Remember, accepting too many offers will affect the quality, hence your portfolio and business. Be selective. Only accept assignments and offer your work to clients whose issues you can solve. Aim for clients that you connect with. People who will be grateful for your work. Clients that offer a fair payment for your service and provide your regular work. Consider these basic guidelines:

• Review job descriptions carefully
• Research the client’s reputation online
• Pick clients who set realistic expectations that you can meet

Communicate With Your Clients

Once you’ve secured a gig, it’s time to show your magic. However, don’t just zone in and forget about the client. Update your client continually during your writing process. Let the client know what's going on. If you’re going on a holiday or for any other reason won't be working for a days or few weeks, let them know ahead. Build a good relation and trust with your clients. This will ensure a long relationship. It’s the small things that make a good impression on the clients. Your proactiveness and transparency will be appreciated and will put you ahead of other freelancers. It’s this type of communication that can help you form a connection with your clients so they’ll book work with you in the future and recommend you to other clients. Clear and consistent communication is the best thing you can do for your reputation and business.

Networking With Writers

Be sure to network with other writers on social media. Many freelancers find that the most effective social media platforms for networking are Twitter and LinkedIn. Facebook groups for freelancers are also helpful places to connect with other writers. These communities can help you learn tips and strategies for growing your business, and find job leads. So, in addition to posting your articles on your own website, you’ll want to promote yourself by spreading your content across the web. Going on guest blogs and publishing articles requires a bit more effort, but it’s definitely worth the experience and publicity. This will not only benefit your professional but also your personal development. By networking with other writers, you will stay up-to-date on the latest trends and news in your niche. You can share and pick up information on how to be successful as a freelance writer. Remember, that the best person to ask for advice is someone who has walked the road you want to walk.

Be Active Online

Be persistent. Post often. This will ensure that people will start recognizing your name. As a bonus, continual writing will improve your SEO and give you more credibility, so your brand shows up when companies search for freelance writers. Keep in mind, that having name recognition and being known in your industry is one of the top ways to book gigs as a freelance writer. That’s why you need to be and stay active online. Continually update your website portfolio with testimonials, write blogs on your site, guest post on other publications, and remain active and engaged on social media.

Always Be Growing

As a freelance writer, you need to continuously increase your experience. Increased experience will make you even more wanted as a freelance writer and will allow you to charge a higher fee for your time. Don’t wait for gigs. Create opportunities for you to stay evolving. Familiarize yourself with Search Engine Optimisation for content writing. This will help your rank better on Google and attract more clients. Also, listing knowledge of SEO in your CV and online portfolio will help you stand out to potential clients. Don’t feel the need to become a technical SEO expert. Just watch a few YouTube tutorials and free online courses.

While writing, consult with freelance writing groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. This will help you improve your writing skills even further. This is a great way to network with like-minded professionals. If you really want to go all in, you can make an effort to attend in-person freelance conferences and workshops. Share your feedback with other writers in online writing communities. While writing, consult with freelance writing groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Just like any other gig, there will be ups and downs throughout your career. You’ll have to deal with rejection and criticism. However, if you stick with it, eventually, you may become a six-figure freelancer. If you keep pitching to new clients and nurturing relationships with existing ones, you will be unstoppable. Follow the advice given by writers with more experience than you. Follow their profiles. Create a portfolio optimized to your niche to be the writer the clients dream about. Finally, as you gain more and more experience, be sure to update your online portfolio to reflect your increased skills.