You’re finally ready to join the freelance world. You’ve read every blog post, taken every class, followed every step, and now you’re ready to pitch your services to potential clients. Congrats! Now, how do you go about doing that?
You could try calling up those you know and trust, but even then, you’ll likely be pitched to take on a project that you can’t quite pull off. Or, you could head to Craigslist and start swiping left (though that might feel more like matchmaking than actual pitching). Or, you could read our article, “How to Get Your First Client As A Freelancer,” (link below) and learn our 5 step process to quickly and easily secure your first freelance writing client.
Step 1: Find Your Niche)
Do you have a specific interest or expertise that you can bring to bear in the content creation realm? Maybe you’re an experienced journalist who can bring real storytelling value to a corporate communications project. Or, perhaps you’re a great creative who can bring new and exciting ideas to a corporate info-graphics project. There are many niches within the freelance copywriting world, and all require someone with your unique skillset.
Step 2: Create A Proposal
Once you’ve identified a specific niche, you’ll need to create a proposal to present to your potential client. This proposal should include all the necessary information your client needs to make a decision. It should also include pricing and a sample of your previous work. Make sure to follow the proper proposal writing format, as this will make your proposal much more persuasive. We’ve created a free proposal template (CLIENTS), which you can download and use for free. Feel free to browse our proposal sample templates here.
Step 3: Brand Yourself As A Writer
You’re now officially a writer, so it’s time to brand yourself. One of the best ways to do this is by creating a writing portfolio that documents your work. You can do this either digitally or physically. If you have a website or blog, publish regular content that demonstrates your capabilities. And, don’t be afraid to get a little creative–see what you can do with your own words to make the content shine. You can use tools like Portfolia to create a physical portfolio that will be easy to present to a potential client. And, if you’re looking for an easy way to brand yourself, take a look at our professionally designed logos, which we’ve made available for free. Just click the link below to view our library of stock logos.
Step 4: Find Clients
The purpose of a proposal is to present your client with all the necessary information they need to make an informed decision. And, since you’re no longer bound to a particular brand or product, you have the opportunity to write about anything (within reason). This makes finding clients relatively easy. All you need to do is search for blogs, publications, or websites that fit within your niche. Alternatively, you can contact individuals, companies, and organizations that you think might be a fit. When contacting potential clients, be sure to follow up with a proposal (which you can download from our website).
Step 5: Follow Up
After you’ve made a sale, it’s time to follow up. This is where things get a little tricky. It’s extremely important that you follow up after a potential client has agreed to work with you. You can do this by sending a quick email or letter. Even though your client has agreed to go ahead with the project, they might have some additional questions or change their mind about working with you. Make sure to follow up with them as quickly as possible, so they don’t forget about your offer. And, don’t stop following up with them even after they’ve agreed to work with you. This is where your reputation–both good and bad–will be determined. If you want to maintain a good reputation as a copywriter, make sure to follow up with your clients even after the initial project has been completed. This will be seen as a good faith effort and show that you’re a professional who takes responsibility and accountability seriously.
Don’t get too discouraged by the fact that you didn’t immediately land a client. Freelancing is a tough gig, and it can take a lot of time to build up a portfolio of work. But, that’s what makes it so worthwhile. Once you’ve established a good reputation as a writer, it’s easier to find work. And, the more work you get, the more you can charge. So, continue writing and establishing yourself as a go-to person for writing projects, and before you know it, you’ll have a full clientele of companies and organizations willing to hire you.