In our line of work we get to meet a lot of different people. Some are amazingly kind, while others can be extremely demanding. One thing we’ve noticed about all of them is that no matter what, they all have just one question: How can I earn more money?
Even when times are good, life as a freelance writer can be quite difficult to financially sustain. There are just so many bills to pay and so little revenue coming in. It’s hard to find that perfect balance between enough to pay your bills and still have some left over for fun.
For those who write for money, there are numerous ways to earn more. From getting more clients to increasing your prices, the options for freelance writers are endless.
However, before you begin pursuing this strategy, it’s important to understand what you’re getting yourself into. While it’s great to have a desk and be able to walk to work every day, being a freelance writer is not for the faint of heart. Your income is heavily dependent on how many clients you can attract and retain. If you’re looking for financial security, freelance writing is probably not for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a way to supplement your income, or want to try something new, then freelance writing might be exactly what you’re looking for.
The Different Kinds Of Writing You Can Do
So, how can you make money as a writer? There are a variety of options available to you, depending on what kind of writing you do and your experience. In order to succeed as a freelance writer, it’s essential that you specialize in one thing, and do it well. This strategy will help you build up your portfolio of work, gain valuable experience, and allow you to scale your income accordingly. While you can definitely make money writing everything from blog posts to catalogs for big companies, focusing on one type of writing, or one niche within that area will provide you with the best opportunity to succeed as a freelance writer.
When it comes down to choosing a specialization, you have three options:
- Marketing/ Advertising – This kind of writing usually involves pitching products to potential customers and crafting compelling advertising campaigns for various companies. If you have a knack for marketing and advertising, this is an ideal area to focus on. You can become an expert in crafting pitches for high-end products, gain valuable experience, and potentially even build a portfolio of work for future reference.
- Content Strategy – This branch of writing involves taking a keen interest in the content strategy of an organization, and ensuring that all the information you provide is both accurate and up to date. For example, if you’re a journalist, you’ll be creating copy for online articles and magazines. Your work will mainly consist of fact checking, interviewing key players, and creating compelling content that draws in potential customers and boosts engagement.
- Product Strategy – Similar to content strategy, product strategy involves taking an interest in the products and platforms of an organization or brand. However, instead of focusing on the content, you’ll be taking a more hands-on approach, by analyzing the market, competitive analysis, and formulating a strategy for the product itself. Your work will mainly consist of gathering and analyzing data, and creating proposals for new products or feature enhancements.
As a freelance writer, you’ll be pitching products to potential customers and crafting compelling advertising campaigns for various companies. Your work will mainly consist of fact checking, interviewing key players, and creating compelling content that draws in potential customers and boosts engagement.
How To Get More Clients As A Freelance Writer
So you’ve decided to pursue a career in freelance writing, or maybe even have already started down this road. Congrats! Now, how can you make more money? There are numerous ways to achieve this goal, from increasing your prices, to getting more clients, to making your own products and marketing them. However, if you want to be able to financially sustain yourself as a freelance writer, specializing in one type of writing and building up your portfolio is a must.
When you first started out, it took you a while to build up your portfolio of work. If you’re finding it difficult to get enough assignments to keep your desk warm, it’s time to dust off those old blogging skills and get sharpening your marketing and sales skills. Of course, if you don’t have a direct sales approach, don’t be afraid to get creative and try out new methods to generate leads and gain assignments.
Specialize In One Thing
So you’ve decided to become a freelance writer, and are now faced with the daunting task of choosing a specialization. Like most things in life, this decision is not as simple as it seems. In order to succeed as a freelance writer, it’s essential that you specialize in one thing, and do it well. This strategy will help you build up your portfolio of work, gain valuable experience, and allow you to scale your income accordingly. Even when times are good, life as a freelance writer can be quite difficult to financially sustain. Your income is heavily dependent on how many clients you can attract and retain. If you’re looking for financial security, freelance writing is probably not for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a way to supplement your income, or want to try something new, then freelance writing might be exactly what you’re looking for.