How to kickstart your freelance writing career

Do you know that now you can pursue a freelance writing career on your own terms, choosing whatever specific niche you like? Freelance writer who has always dreamed of making a profession doing what they love are finally getting recognition. So if you like so many other people who like to write, this is the right time to convert this passion into a business as a full-time freelance writer.

Anyone can learn easily how to become a freelance writer and get paid. There are many reasons to become a freelance writer. You don’t need a specific bachelor’s degree or any expensive certificate. If you have only access to a keyboard and an internet connection, you can start working as a freelance writer from anywhere in this world. Time has changed now, and the job is not just limited to working in an office while dressed in a suit. Freelancers in the United States have contributed $1.2 trillion to its economy so far during the epidemic, according to freelancing data only for this year. The value of the gig economy is estimated to be $374 billion in 2021, with a forecast of $455 billion in 2023.

According to research, freelance writers can easily earn over $70,000 per year. And if you’ve made loyal clients, you could be able to make even more money!

But keep in mind, there is no shortcut for success, and winning a job as a freelance writer takes time, consistent effort, and an investment in yourself to get started. However, I can guarantee you that this career will provide you with the real flexibility and independence you have always desired for!

So let’s find out how you can become a freelance writer.

What is meant by freelance writing?

Freelance writing involves all writing-related tasks. A freelancer works for different companies rather than working full-time for one specific company. Freelance writing, like freelance graphic design or consulting, is a vast area that covers a wide range of businesses and services. Different companies engage freelance writers to write content, from brochures and restaurant menus to website content and press releases. However it is considered a hobby or kind of passion for some people. For others, it’s a way to earn their full-time income. 

Do you want to be a freelance writer?

First of all, you need to carefully find out the real reason why you want to work as a freelance writer. It might be tough to make your ambition a reality if you don’t have any real reason to push you through the hard times. You will find lots of advantages of working as a freelancer. For example, you will have the option to start from scratch with your freelance business. You may decide how much you want to work, when you want to work, where you want to work, and how much you want to charge for your services. 

At the start of a freelance writing career, you will have to work for long hours with other jobs as you start to establish your new business. The closer you get to the point where you can afford to quit your job, the longer those hours may get. To keep going, you’ll need to remember why you’re doing this.

This business is not for you!

Before we start learning how to become a freelance writer, let me tell you that there is no shortcut plan that you can follow or become successful. Indeed, it is a career that will need lots of time, work, and effort, particularly in the beginning. It will be very tough to make your freelance business career a real success with different challenges that life can throw your way.

Freelancing isn’t for people who aren’t self-motivated. The biggest problem that you can face as a freelancer is a doubt whether you will get the job. Especially when you are actively seeking it or spending your days in sending emails and creating proposals. In the start, the freelancing business does not make consistent income. If you feel that not having a constant income is annoying, consider other options, such as finding a paid job to have some stability.

The second factor that stops potential freelance writers from getting success is their doubts. It doesn’t matter how much technical expertise you have; if you’re afraid from applying and getting clients, you should consider alternative options.

How much can you make as a freelance content writer?

Income as a freelance writer vary greatly depending on clients, the type of jobs you do, and the skill you provide. According to Indeed Salaries, a freelance writer gets an average income of $23.19 per hour. However, this varies based on the writing you do and how effective you are at handling the business side of having a freelance writing firm.

You may earn anything from a few dollars per hour to hundreds of dollars per hour, and you can charge anywhere from $0.01 to more than $1 per word.

Tips: You need to consider how much time it will take you to study the topic before accepting a writing project. If you’re wondering how much to charge for the task, a book called Writer’s Market is updated every year and can provide you with real help regarding setting an offer for your freelance job.

How to get started?

This blog is specifically written to assist those who enjoy learning how to get started as freelance writers. While I learned how to make a living in this industry the hard way, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you follow the steps in this post before getting started your freelance writer journey.

Following are important steps:

Step 1: Find your Niche

The first step is to figure out what you want to write about. For example, do you wish to be a freelance journalist? Do you want to start a business blog? Are you interested in working as a ghostwriter? Do you wish to work as a copywriter in the advertising industry etc.? You must be willing to write like an expert every day if you want to make a career as a freelance writer. You must find your expert area; otherwise, you will struggle to keep your job. Take the time to choose one or more areas to focus on as a freelance writer. These may be areas where you have prior experience, skill, or simply personal interest. Specialization always wins when it comes to your career.

Here’s why:

• The more specialized you are, the more knowledge you get.
• By having more knowledge, you become an expert.
• As a result of expertise you will be able to earn good income.

Discovering your niche is similar to finding your purpose and that you don’t pick like a pair of shoes, but rather gradually become closer to what you like better. Finding your chosen area of expertise will take some effort or time, but your job will become simpler once you do. The proper niche is typically found in your interests, knowledge, and experience.

Tip: Freelance writers always use this strategy at the start of their careers. You need to focus on one or two areas and increase your cost as your knowledge and talents grow in the industry.

Popular niches include:

• Health and fitness
• Personal development
• Technology
• Leadership and career
• hobbies
• family relationship
• B2B
• Career
• Travel

Be familiar with SEO writing

Writing unique content is key to getting success, and it should also contain the right grammar, punctuation, tone, and style, as well as clear information that is well researched and creative. Another important factor in your written articles is search engine optimization (SEO). You can spend more time developing in-depth expertise and building a brand for yourself with contacts once you’ve figured out your niche.

Step 2: Build your own blog

Blogging is the second step that you need to take for becoming a freelance writer. You can start your blog with samples that are relevant to your expertise. This is a fantastic opportunity to refine your knowledge and thoughts on a topic you’d like to write about professionally in the future. Furthermore, if you already have a large following, you can also monetize your blog. Bloggers make money by selling ad space on their websites.

Don’t feel stressed by the idea of creating a website because you do not know about it. Anyone can now establish a professional-looking website or Word Press blog on a small budget thanks to incredibly low-cost web hosting and simple-to-use website building products. You might also publish articles on your LinkedIn page.

Step 3: Start pitching your work

The most difficult aspect of freelancing is also the most important step in this journey: you must create a portfolio for yourself and start searching for a job at different freelancing websites. Always keep on improving your learning skills. Make your cover letter and keep it concise. Include links to one or two blogs or videos portfolio to let them get a feel for your writing style. If you didn’t succeed, work hard, revise your proposal if required, and try again with a different source. 

Step 4: Creating Your Profile on different Freelance Sites

You’ll need to create a unique profile and submit proposals for the jobs you find on different freelancing platforms to find employment. You will have to fill in lots of information in order to create your profile. It’s important to do this process correctly. Here are a few tips that will assist you in creating the best freelancing profile:

Showcase your strengths

You need to add all of your skills and all projects you’ve previously worked in your freelance profile . You should add testimonials in the opening paragraph if you have some. Clients will be more likely to consider you seriously if you demonstrate your broad experience. When a job is over, request a testimonial from your client. You will have lots of work if you can earn a lot of five-star reviews. The hardest part of starting a freelance writing career is always the first few weeks.

Add information about your hobbies

It’s very important to be friendly even if you’re working remotely. Don’t be afraid to mention your other hobbies as well as your job talents – whether you’re a gold medalist or a brilliant debater; don’t be scared to show your fun side.

Create a verified profile 

Most of your clients cannot meet you, making it impossible for them to check your qualifications. Take the time to complete the verification process or aptitude tests on the freelance sites you’re on if they’re available . A checkmark will appear next to your name. The results are then shown on your profile, and if you’re lucky, you can find yourself among the top 1% of freelancers.

Make a strenuous effort to keep your profile concise and to the point, keeping all suggestions in mind. When customers have selected their options, they don’t want to read a 2,000-word profile every time. Always add the most important features, and select the most important samples in your portfolio.

Freelance Sites where you can create your profile and get work

Here are a few to try out. 

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Freelancer
• Flexjobs
• iWriter
• BloggingPro
• The Writer Finder
• Writer Access
• Writers Work
• Medium
• Toptal

Step 5: Start developing an online network

It’s very important to start making strong relationships as a freelance writer ( because you never know who will bring you your next writing assignment!). Consider the following suggestions for improving your networking skills with that in mind. Today’s job boards are social media platforms.

These platforms are both practical and engaging. They can help you find the right groups, jobs, and possible clients. You need to keep yourself updated about all of the important progress in your field. However you also need to keep few things in mind while using these platforms. Firstly using your professional social media accounts incorrectly might harm your reputation. Therefore, it’s better to keep your personal and work accounts separate. Your potential clients don’t need to know what you had for breakfast or, most importantly, your political beliefs.

The most useful social media sites for freelancers are:

Step 6: Join a forum related to your niche

• Facebook
• Linkedin
• Youtube
• Twitter

You can easily find them on social networking sites or through Google; either way, you should join them. Social media members make small groups to share their experiences, ideas (some even arrange workshops), and career prospects, all of which might help you make a good start.

Step 7: Develop a system

Because you’ll be marketing your business alone and handling several clients simultaneously, different organization and tools will be helpful to ensure that you have consistent work that is completed on time. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Create a system for requesting recommendations. Most jobs for most successful freelancers come from recommendations. Decide how much you’ll charge for writing services. While some jobs have a fixed charge, you may be able to negotiate your fee for hourly jobs.
• Set up your invoicing and accounts systems as early as possible. It makes it easy to complete the job.
• Always meet the deadline. Always communicate with your customer if something comes up that may affect the job, and work to find a solution 
• Keep track of your earnings to ensure you’re on track to reach your financial objectives. Make a budget. Keep track of how much money you make as a freelance writer. Keep track of how much money you make at each service. If you’re not making enough money, try to acquire more pay the next month.

Step 8: To be a successful freelance writer: Work like a pro.

As a freelancer, you must be well prepared to work on different jobs at the same time while you are on the market trying to offer your abilities. You are not just a content writer or freelancer but also the CEO of your own business. You’ll need to keep track of all of your projects, invoicing information, client information, pitches delivered, and content schedules for both your blog and your client’s blog.

Create a distraction-free writing environment. The freedom that comes with being a freelancer is one of the most appealing aspects. In general, you’ll be able to work from anywhere! Setting up a room in your house as a special workplace is a fantastic idea. Choose a peaceful location where other members of your home will not disturb you.

Final Two Tips: 

1. Take action; don’t be afraid to make mistakes

“The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”

 ― Theodore Roosevelt

Never try to find the quickest and cheapest way to begin your freelance writing career. Stop stressing about not being good enough or knowing enough. Take action instead. Taking action is quite useful. Yes, you will make mistakes, and finding your way will take some time.

Simply starting work, in any form, is the first step toward discovering how freelance writing works. You’ve taken another step further in your understanding of the freelancing industry. You’ve started the crucial process that will allow you to learn about the freelance writing industry. And it is through this knowledge; you will be able to develop a successful business.

2. Be confident

It isn’t easy to put oneself out there and find writing jobs. You’ll be turned down, rejected, or have a customer walk all over you. You must have the confidence to overcome your fear of failure to be a successful freelance writer. I understand if you are facing failure now and feeling distressed. That’s OK. However, you will have to take action. This will involve applying for positions for which you are not qualified. It might mean delivering quality work. The key is that you should keep moving forward.

Conclusion

Working as a freelance writer is the best career or job with great potentials. The best part is that you don’t need a lot of training or expensive equipment to get started. Anyone with a knack for writing and access to a computer may start picking up freelance writing gigs and convert it into a profitable profession. You’ll be able to start your successful freelance writing career if you follow the advice in this blog. If you are looking for a capable yet affordable freelance ebook or blog ghostwriter, check out my services at Fiverr, guru, and freelance. Com