If you can write a coherent sentence, string a few sentences together to form a paragraph and if you can come up with a few of those paragraphs to complete an article, blog or other cohesive piece, you might have what it takes to become a freelance writer. Right now there are marketing companies, solo online marketers, business people and many other entities looking for writers who they can pay for their skills and time. Some would ask why these people don’t write for themselves instead of paying someone else to do it for them. The answer is that some people hate to write, some simply can’t and the others don’t have time. The latter are usually too busy managing their businesses, which is exactly where you come in. If you can be consistent and reliable and you have what it takes to please the clients you’re about to take on, becoming a freelance writer just might be in the cards.
What To Write
Making money as a freelance writer is all about pleasing your clients. You might become a regular freelance writer that writes SEO articles or a copywriter that writes ad copy for PPC marketing. Or you might become a ghost writer where you don’t take credit for the writing and you essentially write as someone else. That’s the beauty of becoming a freelance writer; you can do whatever you like and for how often you like, but you have to start somewhere.
Preparing To Become A Freelance Writer
Most clients are going to want to know that you can write effectively for an online audience, and for that reason it might help to have a degree in marketing, English or journalism. If you don’t have a degree, that’s not necessarily a deal breaker, but it’ll make it a tad harder to break into the market. Potential clients are also going to want to see samples of your work. If you don’t have any samples, create a blog and start crafting some. Show clients that you can write and that you have a marketing-centric edge that can help them succeed with all of their business endeavors.
There are people out there looking for entry-level writers, and these positions usually get paid much less than other freelance writing professionals, but you can always work your way up. With enough dedication, you can move up to earning a higher rate per piece, per hour or however else you wish to charge until you’re earning what you want.
Finding Clients
The best way to get started freelancing is to answer ads from marketing companies, professionals and anyone else who may be looking for writers. You can also email marketing companies who are always on the looking for reliable freelance writers. Other than that, you may want to create a website and go the PPC marketing route. Create your own ads letting clients know that you are interested in making money online and that you have the skills and work ethic to back up your promises.
Your First Client
Hooray! You just landed your first client and you’re completely lost on what to do. Don’t worry, all freelance writing professionals have been there at some point in time. Just have faith that, unlike previous generations who may have thought about becoming a freelance writer, you have the Internet that will allow you to look up instructions on any projects you don’t know how to complete. Most clients will let you know exactly what they want, anyway, so you’re unlikely to be thrown to the wolves, so to speak, when you’re first starting out.
Once you have your first client, keep that client happy by delivering highly-polished pieces that are exactly to that client’s specifications. Then, reach out and expand on your current portfolio. Look for new clients, keep finishing projects and you’ll find yourself making money before you know it.
Just keep in mind that becoming a freelance writer is more than just finding clients and writing. You are a business owner now, so you will have to handle things like invoicing, record keeping, taxes and all the rest that goes into running a successful freelance writing career.
Whether you find yourself writing web page copy, email marketing missives, sales letters or ad copy, just know that there are plenty of clients out there who are dying to let a professional take the writing off their hands. Will you be that professional? Put a portfolio together, start marketing your new business and you may soon find out.
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