Freelancing writing is an excellent way of making some extra money irrespective of whether you intend to do it as a full-time or part-time gig. However, despite freelancing not being a new opportunity, it is nowadays becoming more popular than ever before. This is especially the case after the recent outbreak of COVID-19, which has resulted in the loss of jobs for millions of people across the globe.
So, are you still considering trying out the freelance writing business instead of the other side hustles out there? If so, you are in luck, as in this article is a detailed guide on the steps to follow to start your freelance writing career. By following these steps discussed below, you will be able to get your first client and gradually build your freelance writing business.
When starting your freelance writing business, it is crucial to create a plan highlighting your expectations, visions, and goals. Some of the questions you need to ask yourself when setting a plan include;
In this detailed plan, you should also highlight the weakness and strengths of being a freelancer. With this in mind, you will be able to get a better picture of what to expect and the best structure to follow.
Since you are new to freelance writing, it is essential to set aside some time to think about which niche is a great fit. For you to decide which niche to choose, you need to consider;
There are numerous writing niches to choose from that you decide to specialize as a freelancer. These include parenting, travel, business, marketing, fashion, travel, finance, as well as health and fitness. Therefore, you should proceed and note down this preferred niches and then focus on improving your skills as each day passes. Choosing an ideal is vital because it ensures you have an easier time coming up with informative and engaging content to win the attention of your readers.
It is vital to set up a blog as this can assist you in getting clients. You can then make use of the writing samples in your blog to apply for other writing gigs from clients. Moreover, a blog becomes useful even after you have established yourself as a freelance writer, as potential clients can use it to get in touch.
You can also set up a blog when on a budget thanks to sites such as Wix and WordPress, which are free. Likewise, you can create a blog by paying less than $100 by merely buying a web hosting and domain name, with this having a more appealing and professional design.
One of the first things you need to do when starting your freelance writing business is gathering your writing samples to showcase your writing skills. Your client would then refer to these samples to see the quality of your work. Therefore, you should publish a few articles on your blog to increase the chances of landing a potential client.
Having writing samples determines whether you get hired or not. Because of this, it is vital to put samples of your best-written works if you are determined to get a new client.
As a new freelance writer, you do not have lots of time to get new clients who would then send work. Due to this, it is vital to make the most out of your current clients not only to increase your financial status but also to establish a broad portfolio. A limited number of correlating portfolios, as well as the number of clients, represents how potential clients will view you going forward in the future.
Therefore, at the start, the clients you decide to work with are vital but should, at the same time, not overthink everything, thereby hampering your progress.
As you start your freelance writing business, it is essential to take into consideration the price to charge for services rendered. However, this rate needs to be fluid, meaning how much you charge does not have to stick at a specific price point. You should instead examine your circumstances to determine whether to charge higher or lower. For instance, when doing large writing orders, it is recommended that you offer a discount for your services.
When calculating the charge for each project, you should consider the time taken to research and write content.
It is essential to for a professional network with many blog owners, blog editors, freelance writers in your niche as well as other experts. By doing this, you get to exchange ideas on how to better advance your freelance writing business and might also learn of other opportunities.
Whereas growing a network takes some time, it will eventually pay off in the long-run if you remain dedicated. Nevertheless, it is best to emphasize the quality of links made rather than the quantity.
After successfully rendering your services to your first client, the next step is to know how to receive payment. This is not as straightforward as it appears, especially when you still are not used to the freelancing space. Nowadays, most freelancers prefer online payments instead of paper checks, with the most popular options being easy-to-use systems such as PayPal.
If you later decide to stick to this freelance writing business venture, then the next logical step will be to use a software that creates an invoice to assist in tracking your payments. There are numerous invoice generator tools, so it is up to you to decide which best fits your needs.
Venturing into the freelance writing business at first can appear quite frightening, especially if you are used to full-employment status. However, after reading through this detailed guide, you now know of the steps to follow to guarantee success as a freelance writer. Consequently, you will get to enjoy the flexibility enjoyed by professionals in the freelance writing business.
