The freelance writing industry has grown tremendously in the last few years. This is something I have experienced first-hand when switching from working for Norway’s biggest newspapers to doing freelance writing here at Influencive, where I get to speak to many talented entrepreneurs, CEOs, and change agents.
I don’t believe what people are saying about videos taking over the internet; writing has, for thousands of years, played such an important role in all communication – from keeping count of how much grain they had in ancient Egypt, to writing copy for large businesses in 2021.
Freelance writing is becoming one of the most popular jobs for people who are looking for flexible hours, location independence, and work-life balance. In this post, I will share some of my best tips for getting started with freelancing, finding clients, and writing effective blog posts.
How to Get Started with Freelancing as a Content Creator
Freelancing can be a daunting task for beginners, but it is by no means impossible. To get started, you will need to find your niche, build your portfolio, and start networking. There are many ways to get started with freelancing as a content creator.
The first thing you should do when starting out is to figure out what niche or industry you would like to work in. This will allow you to focus your efforts on gaining experience in that area. The next step is building up your portfolio so that clients know what they are getting when they hire you. You can do this by writing blogs or articles for free on platforms like Medium or Forbes and then following up with the editor about hiring you for paid assignments once they see what quality of work you produce.
Once you have built up a solid base of great writing that you can refer to, you’re ready to start making finding ways to make money on what you do.
How to Find Clients and Make Money as a Freelance Writer
Freelance writers are in high demand these days. This is because they can write for any industry, any company, and about any topic. And with high demand comes high income opportunities. On the internet, you have a vast pool of alternatives to find clients and work remotely.
If you have taken the step mentioned in the previous heading – to find your niche or subject that you want to specialize in – it will be easier to find clients that will pay for your services. You can then research how much you should charge per hour or per project by talking to other freelancers or asking around your network what the going rates are like.
Once you know how much money you want to make, take time to make a portfolio website where you post examples of your work and showcase your skillsets (this is even better than just sending people documents of your work that you have stored on your computer). Freelancer websites like Upwork also help freelance writers find clients by providing opportunities for them to bid
Before you start seeking jobs that provide money for your writing, you should know that some freelancers make more money than others. It is important to take into account the type of work you are doing—some clients pay better than others—and how much time you are spending on each job.
Advice on Writing an Effective Blog Post
One of the most useful skills I’ve found as a freelance writer, is to write effective blog posts. When you start out – perhaps with an ideal of what’s a really great blog post – it can be tricky and frustrating to see that your writing is really not up to par with your ideal. We tend to want to write the best content possible, but we get stuck. It can be hard to know how to write these posts, especially if you are not a blogger.
However, don’t despair. From my twenty years as a journalist, and many years as a freelance writer, I have discovered some strategies that you may find useful for writing a good blog post for your client:
- Keep in mind what your client wants, what their target audience is, and what overall goal they have
- Write in the present tense to make the post more “real”
- Use concrete examples instead of vague ideas
There is so much more that I would like to tell you about this topic, but if you know how to get started, find clients, and write a good blog post, you’ll have a strong foundation for succeeding as a freelance writer.
Published November 10th, 2021