How to Become a Freelance Writer
posted:3 years agobyMarry JoJoin Career Development
In this pandemic situation, many of us have to stay at home and limit our luxuries. But still, necessities require money. Fratres is standing by your side in this distress. Today, I will tell you how to become a freelance writer. You won't have to leave your home to handle this job as your whole work-life will be remote.
How to Become a Freelance Writer?
Here are some steps you need to follow to kickstart your freelance writing career.
1.Enrich Writing Skills
If you can write well and have a good stamina to deal with clients of different industries, then congratulations, it's not that hard to become a freelance writer. In case your writing skills aren't exceptional but average kind, you better work on this skill. Tons of online classes are there, enroll yourself and learn basic and advanced writing styles. The course won't take more than a month.
Even when you are a good writer, it’s suggested to take some beginner writing classes to get a complete grasp of writing structure and styles.
2.Know your Passion/Interest
A good writer can write about any topic. The best one picks one niche and then becomes its specialist. It's more like doing MBBS and becoming a general physician. Remember, only a specialist or surgeon can earn more.
So, my point is instead of writing about every single topic. Try to find out more about your passion and interest.
You may love to do home decor, so write all about home decor aspects. This way, you will become an expert writer of the home interior niche. If you don't like a thing and it doesn't feel interesting, then your imagination won't play a good role.
The first step of becoming a freelance writer is exploring your passion and interest and writing all about it.
Some profitable niches are:
- Travel
- Fashion
- Home Decor
- Pet
- Art
- Crafting/knitting/sewing
- Health and Fitness
- Cooking and Nutrition
3.Start Your Personal Blog
Once you know what specific niche you can cover with passion, the next thing is to start your personal blog.
Is it costly? Not. Wordpress.com and Google Blogspot are two excellent platforms. They cost you zero penny and bring tons of business for you in the long run.
Writing is one thing, while publishing is another thing. You must know how to post a blog in the best manner. So, here I suggest you check other personal blogs and magazines to get an idea of how a blog works.
You must be fully committed to your personal blog. At least create one post in a day. Get content ideas from Google keyword planner, ubersuggest, quora, and other websites.
Make Strong Profile
You know about your niche and have a personal blog. The very next step is to make unique profiles. I am talking about making writing profiles on:
Yes, you need to work on both social media and writing portals. Fiverr and Upwork are two common freelancing platforms. You don't need a general introduction. You have to create an enticing introduction.
In these profiles, you will add a link to your personal blog. Why? This blog will serve the purpose of your writing portfolio. Anyone who explores your profile will get a clear picture of your writing talent from this link.
4.Pitch Yourself
Don't rely only on freelancing platforms. The reality is that these platforms are saturated with tons of writers. Therefore beating this fierce competition as a beginner might be a challenge. Try your luck there but don't get stuck there.
Tons of other writing portals are available. Try your luck everywhere.
In my personal experience, you can earn more by establishing a professional network. I'm talking about getting connected with freelancers and bloggers on Facebook.
Join some Facebook writing groups. These groups bridge the gap between clients and writers. Every day tons of clients publish ads where they describe what kind of writers they are looking for. Here are some amazing networking tips for job seekers.
So, what you need to do is to read their ads carefully and then pitch yourself.
Ready an answer for the common question: Why should we hire you?
Sell yourself in this pitch, and it's how you will land on a freelance writing job in no time.
Follow the same approach on LinkedIn. Get connected with headhunters and recruiters of top magazines, showcase your portfolio, and get hired instantly.
5. Write Amazing Samples
If your pitch remains successful, clients will ask you to write a sample so they can evaluate your writing skills. So, make sure you write an impressive model and check it in Grammarly and other writing tools. Always proofread your sample twice. A little mistake can ruin the whole situation.
You should complete your research before start writing the sample. If you have some questions regarding the topic, please clear them beforehand. Try to get an idea about the tone of writing the client requires. Once you have all the requirements and research, it won’t be hard to craft the best sample.
Know: How to Hire the best copywriter for your business
Keep in mind that one good sample can generate tons of business for you in the long run. One happy client can refer you to two others, so please take all your time and share a sample that is worth reading and posting on the client's website.
5. Collect Testimonials
Once you complete a writing project, don't let your client go unless he gives you a review on Facebook, your personal blog, or a writing platform. This testimonial is a must because it will tell your future clients how good you are at your job.
Ask them to write about timeliness, work quality, and research. The more reviews you have, the higher chance of getting attention from other clients.
Conclusion
I have shared five easy steps to become a freelance writer. The fact is that it’s not that difficult if you know how to write well. Writing career requires practice and patience alongside fascinating writing skills. You need to invest in writing courses as this investment helps you grow in your career.