How to Start Out as a Freelance Writer

 

What is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is when you write for other people on a contract basis. This means that you are not an employee of the company or publication that you are writing for. Instead, you are a contractor who is paid by the job.

Why Become a Freelance Writer?

There are many reasons why you might want to become a freelance writer. Here are a few of the most common reasons:

• Flexibility: Freelance writers have a lot of flexibility in their work schedules. You can work from home, set your own hours, and take on as much or as little work as you want.
• Control: As a freelance writer, you have more control over your work than you would as an employee. You can choose the topics that you write about, the clients that you work with, and the way that you work.
• Income: Freelance writers can earn a good income. The amount of money that you make will depend on your experience, skills, and the type of work that you do.

Is your interest peaked? Lets go over the basics of starting out then!

Choose Your Niche

The first step to starting out as a freelance writer is to choose your niche. What kind of writing do you want to do? Do you want to write about technology, business, health, or something else?

Once you've chosen your niche, you can start to research potential clients. There are a number of websites where you can find freelance writing jobs, such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Guru.

Build Your Portfolio

Once you've found some potential clients, you'll need to build your portfolio. This means writing some sample articles or blog posts that you can show to potential clients.

Your portfolio should showcase your writing skills and your ability to write on a variety of topics. It's also a good idea to include some testimonials from past clients.

Set Your Rates

Once you have a portfolio, you'll need to set your rates. How much do you want to charge for your writing services?

There are a number of factors to consider when setting your rates, such as your experience, the type of writing you do, and the length of your articles.

Market Yourself

Once you've set your rates, you need to start marketing yourself to potential clients. There are a number of ways to do this, such as networking with other writers, attending industry events, and submitting your work to online publications.

Getting Started!

Once you've done all of the prep work, it's time to get started! Start pitching your work to potential clients and see what happens.

Freelance writing can be a great way to make money and have more control over your work. If you're a good writer and have a knack for research, you can start a freelance writing business from home.

Additional tips to keep in mind when starting out as a freelance writer:

• Be professional. This means delivering high-quality work on time and within budget.
• Be responsive. Get back to potential clients quickly and answer their questions promptly.
• Be organized. Keep track of your work and deadlines in a calendar or project management software.
• Be persistent. Don't give up if you don't get your first few clients right away. Keep pitching your work and eventually you'll start to land gigs.
• Places such as Linkedin and Vocal are great for building a portfolio of articles and blogs. Vocal pays by reads and only publishes articles with a minimum word count of 600.