If you have a genuine love for words and possess an ability to string them together
in ways people want to read, then you can consider becoming a freelance
writer. While the role can be quite fulfilling, it can also be a bit
demanding, so make sure you prepare yourself to handle the responsibilities
that come with the office.
Decide What You Want To Focus On
Before you start freelancing, it’s important to decide on what you will
focus on. Being a jack of all trades can sometimes prove to be a
master of none, so make sure you hone in on your specialty. Consider
writing for businesses or blogs on how to become a successful
freelancer. There are many online resources that can help you
with this decision making process, so don’t hesitate to look into
these resources to get a clearer picture of what you should be
pursing.
Get A Writing/Spelling/Research Paper Cut Out
While it’s not necessary to have previous experience as a
freelancer to get the job, it certainly helps. One of the first
things prospective clients will do is scan the resume to determine if
you’re suited for the job. To make sure they give you the best
shot at getting the work, craft a resume that is grammatically
correct and contains the most relevant skills needed for the
position. If you’re not sure where to begin, hire a
professional resume writer to get the job done correctly the first
time around.
Set Your Fee
Another important aspect of being a freelance writer is
establishing your price. Just because you’re freelance doesn’t
mean you’re lacking in job security, but it can certainly
hinder your earning potential. To avoid any misunderstandings,
make sure you discuss your price with the prospective client
before starting the work. Setting a fair price is essential,
especially since you’re not under any obligation to write
for free. As long as you negotiate with your clients professionally,
there is no reason why you should be afraid to set a price that is
fair.
Create A Business Name
Since you’re not bound to any one client, you have the
flexibility to take on more work than you can handle. However,
if you decide to take on more jobs than you can handle, make sure you
create a business name. Having a unique brand will not only help you
stand out among other freelancers, but it can also open up more
doors for you. A good brand will create a brand loyalty among your
potential clients that will serve as a source of bookings for
the rest of your career. So, when you do decide to take on
more work than you can handle, create a brand that is
easy to remember and that clearly identifies your business.
Find A Way To Promote Your Business.
Nowadays, everything is accessible online, so it’s
easy for potential customers to find you. But, to have the
best chance of being found, you’ll need to actively promote your
business online. One of the best ways to do this is through
article marketing. Write high quality articles for reputable
publications in your niche. Make sure you promote your
write-for-us page on your site with an easily accessible
call-to-action (CTA) that will encourage potential
customers to click through and visit your page. If you want to
stand out from the rest of the freelancers, create an
individualized pitch to present to the editor of the
publication. The pitch should be short and to the point;
keep the reader engaged.
Establish Your Own Working Standards.
An ethical writer always puts the needs of the
customer first, which is why you’ll always have enough work to
fill your schedule. However, as a freelance writer, you’re
responsible for establishing your own working standards. Make
sure you’re keeping up with the latest trends and technology
to ensure you’re offering your clients the best possible
experience. To start, make sure you examine the quality of your
work and establish a set of standards based on that. Once you’ve
done that, you can move forward confidently knowing you’re doing
the right thing.
Understand The Math
Like any other business, establishing yourself as a
freelancer means you’ll be subject to certain math. In this case,
the math is quite simple: more work = more income. When you start
out, it can be a bit overwhelming knowing how much work you’ll
have to do to ensure you’re making enough to cover your
expenses. Just like any other business, having more work than you can
handle can be quite taxing. To make sure you’re not overextending
yourself, establish a sales quota and set a deadline for
when you’ll reach it. If you exceed the quota, you’ll have to
reduce your rate.
Build A Resilient Work Schedule.
Working as a freelancer means you’re
essentially self-employed, so you’ll be responsible for setting your
own schedule. To ensure you’re not over-commitment yourself, make
sure you’re taking time off when you need it. When you’re
establishing your business, you don’t want to be scrambling to
find work, so make sure you build a resilient work schedule that can
handle delays from clients and absorb any changes that might come
along. To start, try to establish a work schedule as close to
regular business hours as possible, so you can handle emergencies
with your regular employer’s backing. In some cases,
establishing a formal schedule with hours can be more
beneficial than having no set schedule at all. For
instance, you might want to consider having some writing
assignments that you can pull random nights and
weekends from. This way, you can ensure you have time to
write when you need it and don’t have to worry about
missing deadlines because you were too busy.
How To Get Paid
Once you’ve finished the work, submitted it, and it’s been accepted,
the next step is to get paid. As a freelance writer, you’re
responsible for pitching different payment models to your
clients. Most businesses will pay you per piece, whereas
others will pay you per project. If you’re looking for
per-piece payment, make sure you negotiate a higher rate
before starting work. Establishing a relationship with
potential clients is crucial if you want to become a
successful freelancer. To start, try to find freelancers in your
niche who have worked for major companies and
can offer you introductions to clients. Having a connection
within the industry can prove to be invaluable when it comes
time to get paid.
The Final Step
To wrap things up, let’s discuss the final step you need to take
to establish yourself as a freelance writer. After you’ve
finally gotten everything in place and are starting to see some
results from your hard work, take some time off to celebrate. You’ve
worked really hard to get where you are, and now that you’re officially
self-employed, it’s time to reap the benefits.