Ever since the global pandemic changed the game on the job market, more and more people have turned to the gig industry. Whether you’re a professional writer by profession or someone who’s looking for ways to make extra income, freelance writing is a viable part-time, or full-time solution.
According to published reports, 54% of freelancers also work in traditional companies and jobs, with 23% of them being students. Freelancing is an easy, pick-up-and-play way of working which allows you to make extra income without the commitments of a full-time job. Let’s take a closer look at how you can become a freelance writer and thrive in the global market regardless of your experience so far.
- Establish your Freelance Writing Presence
There are several ways for you to go about establishing your freelance writing presence online. You can create a professional website, rely on social media pages to promote yourself, or seek out clients via freelancing platforms.
The third option is the easiest and most popular way to begin building your portfolio and practicing your craft as a writer. As a beginner, you can use Trust My Paper as a writing platform that can help you write or edit any content or papers you can’t handle by yourself. Here are a few platforms to choose from:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Freelancer.com
- People Per Hour
- Toptal
Each platform will enable you to approach different clients in various industries, from lifestyle to IT-related niches. This will allow you to find out exactly what you’re good at as a freelance writer and what to focus on.
- Choose your Writing Toolset
It’s not a good idea for you to write your texts in a local text editor and hope for the best. With freelance writing and online copywriting becoming so popular, there have also been a plethora of writing tools available out there. You can use these tools to ensure that your writing is original, legible, and suits your clients’ needs without relying on editors which are intended for offline writing. Some of the best tools to choose from include:
- Evernote
- Grammarly
- Hemingway Editor
- Google Workspace
- Draft
You can also rely on Best Essays Education when you’re short on time or want some editing, proofreading, or writing help from a professional editor. Explore the various niches and types of freelance writing and go for the ones which click with you the most – you won’t regret trying your hand at it.
You can choose one or several tools to use throughout your writing efforts. They’ll make your freelance writer’s life easier while also ensuring that the work you do is always of top quality. You can also get a notebook or a journal to start writing notes and organize your daily schedule by hand to balance between digital and handwriting.
- Discover What You’re Good at Writing
As a freelance writer, you want to specialize in a certain niche as soon as possible. Being a generalist writer may be okay at first, but as a specialist, you’ll be able to charge more for the same amount of work. There are plenty of creative niches to consider picking up as a freelance writer, including:
- Technical writing
- Guest post writing
- B2B content writing
- Email writing
- Product marketing writing
- Social media content writing
Different freelance writing roles will offer different challenges and learning opportunities to you. Keep in mind that you’ll need to constantly expand your skill set to ensure that you’re able to keep up with the client’s demands. However, once you settle into a certain niche, you’ll have a much easier time building your writing portfolio.
- Gather Client References and Testimonials
To attract the attention of more lucrative clients, you’ll need to provide them with some proof of past work. As a freelance writer, you should always be on the lookout for great references and testimonials to collect from clients.
When you’re particularly proud of a copy you wrote, ask your client for a short review and add it to your portfolio. You can use the help of an essay writing platform to slowly gather and then write your portfolio or case studies, which can then be used to attract new clients. Own your work and be proud of what you’ve written – clients will appreciate your professionalism and be more open to hiring you.
- Differentiate your Client Sources
While freelance platforms are a good way for you to start your freelance writing career, you shouldn’t narrow your client acquisition channels down. There are many great ways for you to get noticed or to reach out to clients with your writing services. Some of the ways to do that include:
- Cold emailing companies with your service portfolio
- Creating social media pages on LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.
- Visiting local coworking hubs and freelance spaces
- Starting a professional website to promote your services
By expanding your reach, you’ll have an easier time choosing who you work with and to what extent. You’ll also avoid digging yourself into a proverbial hole and having to rely solely on a single source of clients and income. This is especially important for your professional versatility and continued growth as a writer.
- Keep your Productivity in Check
Freelancing in general is an extremely self-dependent vocation. You’ll need to manage your hours and stay on top of your tasks without anyone telling you what to do. This is both a blessing and a curse since procrastination can creep in when you least expect it. To avoid that, you can use several useful productivity apps to keep tabs on time:
- Todoist
- Clockify
- RescueTime
- Beeminder
- Toggl
While you don’t have to work 9-to-5 hours, you should still get into some kind of schedule over time. This will help you keep working on your projects one day at a time so that no client ever feels neglected. Moreover, you’ll procrastinate less and learn how to self-discipline yourself even without productivity apps over time.
- Start Putting your Income Aside
Depending on where you live and how much you earn as a freelancer, you should think about putting some money into a savings account. You never know when you might run into an emergency and need to buy a new laptop or go for a dentist’s appointment.
Inquire about savings accounts in your local bank and start putting money aside for rainy days. You can also start paying your insurance and pension funds to keep tabs on your long-term financial well-being. Don’t get too excited by the income you make as a freelancer in the first months of your writer’s career. Freelancing is, while very flexible and scalable, also paired with its obligations and difficulties like any other profession.
Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer
Becoming a successful freelance writer is all about persistence and passion for the profession. It will take a few months for you to find your groove and settle into a comfortable rhythm of finding new clients, tending to deadlines, and delivering punchy copy you’ll be proud of.
Bio: Donald Fomby is a professional content creator, academic writer, and social media marketer. He is exceptionally keen on writing essays, papers, and studies in various academic fields through his professional pursuits as a writer. Donald spends his free time jogging, writing notes about his daily life, as well as going outdoors as much as possible.
