There is no question that freelance writing is a lucrative industry, offering both flexibility and potential for earning a good living. However, just because it’s lucrative doesn’t mean it’s easy to break into. As reputable as these sites are, they can still be pretty discriminating when it comes to whom they choose to work with. That’s why it’s important to do your research and find out what kinds of clients they are likely to take on, as well as what the typical pay is for these kinds of projects. Here’s how you can find your best-paying freelance writing job:
Determine What You Will Do
Thought leaders are respected for their depth of knowledge and their ability to provide effective guidance. If you can become an expert in your field, you’ll stand out among the competition.
Deciding what type of writing you will specialize in will depend on your strengths and the particular needs of the clients you will be working with. For instance, if you are a good copywriter who is also a creative writer, you might be able to secure some high-profile clients who are in need of a writer to complement their in-house team. Creative briefs are more likely to call for creative writing, while copywriting projects are usually more technical in nature. Your financial success as a freelancer will depend on your specialties and the types of clients you can attract to your side.
Know The Trends
As a freelance writer, you will be required to keep up with the latest news and trends in your field. For example, if you are a fashion writer, you will need to be sure you are aware of what’s trending on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. It’s also a good idea to get training on how to use special software like Hootsuite to manage your social media content. Without having these tools, it can be difficult to keep track of all the news articles, blog posts, and other content you will need to work into your next freelance writing project. Trends in your field will also change over time, and it’s important to stay ahead of the game. The good news is, with a bit of effort and diligence, you can easily find the information you need to know.
Get Inspired
As a freelance writer, it’s important to keep the muse alive when you work. Inspiration can come from anywhere, and it’s good to have multiple sources so you never run out of ideas. Some of the best freelance writing gigs I’ve landed have been inspired by something I’d read or heard about. For instance, the project I just completed was inspired by Michael Scott’s (The Office) famous “I’m sorry I’m not sorry” speech. In the end, the speech prompted NBC to order a full season of The Office, prompting my writing career as well as many others’ in a big way. When you get inspired, write down the ideas immediately so you can turn them into something more polished later. If you want to write about a famous person or historical event, there are numerous websites that will let you research the background of your topic and choose which facts to use and which to leave out. You’ll also need to look into what authors have written about your chosen subject matter, as this will also shape your research and writing output.
Know How To Market Yourself
In the same way you would with any other business, you will need to know how to market yourself as a freelance writer to gain the most traction with any potential client. You’ll also need to create and implement a growth strategy to attain a level of success that will allow you to quit your day job and work solely as a freelancer.
There are several tactics you can use to market yourself as a freelance writer, including conducting webinars, creating free blog posts to showcase your work, and joining professional organizations that will help you connect with other writers.
Get A Website
To succeed as a freelancer, you will need to have your own website. Don’t bother with a free blog option, as you will be able to find hundreds of those. Instead, get a professional looking site that is fully optimized for SEO (search engine optimization). An SEO-optimized website will also make it much easier for potential clients to find you online. If you are brand-new to SEO, don’t worry, there are plenty of tools out there that can help you get started (for free!)
When a potential client comes to your website, they should be able to easily navigate through the site and find what they need without having to search for it. Essentially, your website should act as a hub for all your work. Create a space for clients to read about you and learn more about your services. Include your contact information, a brief bio about you, and a couple of your best pieces of work. Make sure you have a clear calls to action at the end of each piece of content so visitors can easily find the information they need. Use visual elements like bold headlines, sub-heads, and bullet points to grab readers’ attention.
Join A Society
If you are a member of a professional society, you’ll have access to a pool of published work that you can tap into for your next writing project. Many societies have literary agencies that can represent your work, especially if you meet the right criteria. You should contact the agency that handles your membership and see what kinds of projects they are currently working on. This way, you’ll know what kinds of content to produce and how to produce it so that you can get paid for your efforts. Joining a professional society won’t guarantee you’ll get paid for your work, but it certainly won’t hurt your chances.
Aside from literary agencies, many societies have magazine publications that you can contribute to. These are often pitched and accepted on a regular basis, so it’s a steady stream of work you can depend on. Remember: the more you contribute, the more you’ll get back. In my experience, contributing just once or twice a month is enough to maintain your spot on the publication’s priority list. The good news is, many publications will pay you for your work, even if it’s just an editorial. Be sure to keep track of how much you’re earning so you can accurately report your earnings to the IRS (or the equivalent in your country).
Attracting High-Quality Clients
Even though you will be working as a freelance writer, you still need to attract high-quality clients. Just like any other business, the better your reputation the more likely you’ll be able to attract potential clients who are looking for the best deal. To establish yourself as an expert in your field, you need to prove it to others. This means producing high-quality content regularly and consistently. Every piece of content you produce will have the potential to bring you a new set of clients. With quality content, you’ll be able to establish yourself as an expert in your field and attract more attractive (and hopefully, higher-paying) clients.
To determine the quality of your content, you’ll need to look into what other reputable writers in your field are doing. This will help you establish what’s “normal” in content and identify any glaring issues with your own work. If you have a blog, you can also look into what other bloggers are saying about your niche and identify any patterns of praise or criticism. This will help you establish your own blogging voice as well as determine how effective your content is.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, the bottom line is quite simple. To find your best-paying freelance writing job, you need to do the following: