In this post, we are going to talk about how to become a freelance writer.
While you’re surfing the internet, you may rewrite other articles and you may even compile a running list of the top ten commercials.
This is all well and good, but if you want to make a living from writing, you need to learn how to become a freelance writer.
In Britain alone, 790,000 freelancers work in the professional and technical services sector. Writing is a field where 18% of online freelance jobs go-to writers.
Even if you’ve never considered yourself a freelance writer before, the internet has broken down many old barriers such as geography and education.
Therefore, you can write to a client on the other side of the world while you are based in the UK. Or you may decide to become a freelancer later in life, after a career break, or even after studying something completely different.
Looking for a good freelancing platform to get started? Then you must know about FreeUp. Here’s our in-depth review about FreeUp that has all the insights you need. Head over to the article and know if FreeUp is worth your time or not.
Content Outline
Here Are Some Tips On How To Begin Your Dream Writing Career:
Let’s dive into the topic.
1. Identify The Topic You Would Like To Write About
Knowing what type of writing you want to do is the first step to becoming a freelancer. You can become a freelancer in several ways:
- Copywriter/web content writer
- Article/features writer
- Blogger
- News writer/journalist
If you have specific expertise, perhaps related to your degree program, a field of work you are familiar with, or an interest or hobby, it can be helpful to define your voice.
As a result, you will be able to narrow down your career choices and possibly secure a higher salary. This is not a requirement, however.
2. Set a Goal
It’s important to know what you want to accomplish as a freelance writer. Specificity is the key to visualizing, achieving and realizing your dream.
Be realistic, however. Set quarterly goals for publications you would like to write for, and make a list of publications you’d like to write for.
3. Get Writing
Starting over is the right thing to do. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect, and the more you write, the more confident you will sound.
Update your blog frequently if you have one. Whenever possible, Jayson DeMers recommends you publish a new blog post once or twice a week, or more often if your industry, your competitors, or your goals require it.”
Keeping a schedule will prevent you from finding excuses not to write.
Making a concerted effort to write one month’s worth of posts in one weekend will make this easier to manage and will decrease the likelihood that you’ll quit.
Danielle Corcione writes about how she manages writing goals, pitches, and jobs with Trello in The Write Life.
In addition to HubSpot’s advice on content marketing, you can create your editorial calendar with a simple Excel spreadsheet.
4. Set Up A Website
Having a web presence does not need to be all-singing and all-dancing; however, having one is essential to marketing yourself effectively as a professional.
In addition to your blog, you should develop a contact page, an about page, a testimonials page, and a testimonials page.
If you decide to invest in a personalized domain and email address, you will appear to clients much more professionally than if you simply use WordPress or Wix for free.
Be sure that all of your pages and content include links to your social media profiles.
Understanding SEO is a great way to get found online, but it is also beneficial to your freelance writing career, especially if you are interested in copywriting.
5. Keep A Swipe File
Excellent command of grammar and a natural ability to write persuasively is crucial to becoming a successful freelancer. Keep a swipe file if you are still uncertain of how to approach a job.
Swipe files are defined by Enchanting Marketing as a collection of writing samples. Among these examples, there are headlines, blog posts, sales emails, and landing pages.
Professional content creators use swipe files to enhance their writing skills.
Observe any content that evokes a reaction from you (whether good or bad) and keep a record of it for future reference.
In case you are still uncertain how to utilize a swipe file, Copyblogger provides some excellent tips on how to do so.
6. Take A Course
A writing course can assist you in complementing your existing writing abilities and possibly even becoming accredited (in the case of journalism) in the area in which you intend to become a freelance writer.
whether it is a journalism course at your local college or university or an online introduction to blogging.
We have blogged before about the benefits of taking a copywriting course to give you direction, insight, and experience. of studying this field.
As a result, you’ll get into the habit of writing regularly, learn how to find clients, and get a diploma to show off on your CV.
The Copywriting 101 course from Copyblogger and the short but sweet writing course from Copywrite Matters are both free resources online to help you master the art of writing.
7. Get Some Experience
It is through experience that you will be able to build a successful freelance writing career.
You may find a copywriting course useful in giving you an overview of the different types of copy you can write, but you will not know the effectiveness of your words until you present them to a paying client (and their target audience).
Experiential learning can take many forms. In the first place, your blog will demonstrate that you are proficient at blogging in general, but here are some other ways to gain real, tangible writing experience:
- Register with job boards
- Scan employment websites and social media for project work and open positions
- Become a member of a content marketing agency
Contribute articles and write guest posts for established publications (newspapers/magazines, websites, and other industry blogs)
The first step is to contact local or niche-interest community groups and businesses to see if they would be interested in receiving regular blog posts, editorials, newsletters, magazines, or if their web content needs to be revised.
8. Learn How To Pitch
You should ensure that your pitch is as professional, succinct, and engaging as possible. You should always check the website of each publication for its guidelines on pitching.
Here are some tips for pitching for long-form journalism and copywriting from The Write Life.
You should pay attention to the style of content they produce and ensure your pitch is consistent with this. Generally speaking, your pitch should contain the following information:
- A compelling headline
- Your article should include a question you seek to answer (and a sense of what you expect to discover)
- Why it is important to know this
- Sources of prospective funding
9. Be Open To Communication
No matter how you contact potential clients, whether it is through social media, online forums, in person at local business networking events, or inbound inquiries, make yourself available.
If you are a freelancer, you will have to demonstrate to your prospective client that you will make their job easier.
Skype, the telephone, email, the contact form on your website, and professional networking services, such as LinkedIn, may be included.
10. Create A Portfolio
Despite not having published work, it is important to have an attractive and professional-looking portfolio as well as links from your social media accounts and website. A portfolio serves as your online shopfront.
You should write samples of different types of content to showcase your skills while you are waiting for clients.
If you have new content published, be sure to include it as soon as possible in your portfolio (if you have produced content for a client, you may need to obtain their approval).
Our post on how to create a successful copywriting portfolio contains more information on this topic.
11. Don’t Neglect The Practical Aspects
A freelance career is a career in which you are self-employed. You will have to consider the following matters:
- Keep records of your incomings and outgoings with HMRC and register for self-assessment.
- If the worst happens, you should take out insurance.
When building your brand, be prepared to budget. Make sure you keep a record of your income.
Freelancing may require you to juggle it with regular paid work for a while, but stay focused on your goal and your motivation will carry you through.
FAQ on How to Become a Freelance Writer
🔥Is it easy to become a freelance writer?
To become a freelance writer, you have to have excellent ideas, be good at clearly explaining them, and spend a lot of time and energy finding publications that will publish them. This is not an easy process.
✨Is freelance writing hard?
Making a living just by writing can be tough, especially when you are just starting. The reality of freelance writing is that when you are starting in your career, it is relatively difficult to earn a living without some other jobs on the side.
🔥How much do beginner freelance writers make?
In the survey, one-third of first-year writers earn $20 or less for short blog posts, but they can earn up to $300. Two-thirds of first-year respondents said they earned $100 or more per short post, while four percent earned $300 or more per short post.
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Conclusion: How to Become a Freelance Writer in 2024?
You do not need to be self-reliant to become a freelance writer. There are no benefits, including sick or vacation days.
Other benefits, however, are far more valuable. It is possible to select your working hours, and you may select your area of expertise.
There is no need for you to commute to work since most writers require access to a computer and an internet connection. Additionally, you may select the number of hours you would like to work.
When you apply for work through an organization’s website, ensure that you include a cover letter that explains why you are a good candidate for the position.
Include specific skills and experience that are relevant to the position. Top-rated freelance platforms also offer certified badges and job offers to top-rated specialists, so maintaining happy clients is in your best interests.
