Freelance writing can be a sought-after career for numerous reasons. It allows you to work from anywhere, set your own schedule, and write about things that interest you. If you’ve ever wondered how to begin freelance writing, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll take you step by step through the process of learning, building your portfolio, and finding clients.
1. Explore Different Types of Writing and Discover Your Niche
The first step in starting your freelance writing journey is deciding your style and niche. Freelance writing encompasses many styles and niches. This is why you need to understand what types of writing you can offer and discover what suits you best.
- Experiment With Various Styles
Try out blog posts, website copy, technical writing, or even creative writing. For instance, you could try writing product reviews or writing a fictional short story to explore your options. Ghostwriting is currently a thriving niche in the writing industry. - Focus on Your Interests
For example, if you love technology, consider writing tech articles. Or if health interests you, explore wellness blogs. Doing what you love is going to help you down the line when things get tough, plus actually loving your job is always a plus. - Understand Industry Needs
Research what clients are looking for in your chosen niche. For example, clients in the tech niche often need writers to write comparison or review articles. Another example is, SEO knowledge is often a requirement for web content writers.
2. Learn and Practice Writing
Like any other skill, practice makes perfect. To succeed as a freelance writer you need to constantly learn and practice. And I can guarantee you, that the more you practice, the better you become and the higher your income becomes.
- Start With the Basics
Learn the rules of grammar and punctuation. You might think this is too basic but you have no idea how little grammar mistakes can affect your writing. To succeed, your writing needs to be good and good writing is clear, concise, and easy to read. Tools like Grammarly and Quillbot extensions help you spot mistakes and improve your work. - Develop Engaging Content
Practice creating headlines and introductions that grab readers’ attention. For example, a headline like “5 Ways to Save Time While Working From Home” promises value and intrigues readers. There are numerous guides online on how to write engaging content, such as this one “How to write engaging content.” - Take Writing Courses
To further hone your skills, consider taking an online course. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Alison offer courses in creative and technical writing. These resources can sharpen your skills and boost your confidence.
3. Build a Portfolio
Imagine this, you are looking to hire someone to write content for your site, and two impressive candidates apply, but one has a portfolio that showcases and provides examples of their work and the other doesn’t. Who do you think you will pick? A strong portfolio helps potential clients see you work and also helps you stand out among the competition. But you might not necessarily know how to create a portfolio, so here’s a step-by-step guide to creating one:
- Write Sample Pieces
Think about the type of work you want to do. If you’re interested in fashion writing, draft an article on topics related to that. If your focus is technical writing, create a how-to guide for a task. In this case, you can use the articles you write as practice or write articles for free for friends and acquaintances. - Publish Online
You can use platforms like Medium or LinkedIn to showcase your work for free. Publishing your articles helps you look professional and helps you look proactive as a beginner. - Leverage Portfolio Tools
You can also use sites like Clippings.me or Contently to compile and display your work. These platforms are user-friendly and allow you to share your portfolio easily. And you can easily add a link to your resume or online bio’s. - Create a Personal Website
If you prefer a more professional look you could build a simple website to display your portfolio. An “About Me” section, a portfolio page, and contact information is really all you need.
4. Where to Get Freelance Writing Gigs
Freelance writing opportunities are abundant, and the best choice depends on your goals and really just what you prefer. Here’s a breakdown of your options as a beginner:
- Content Mills
Platforms like Textbroker or iWriter offer steady but low-paying work. This makes sense when you are trying to build your skills and portfolio. This might also be sustainable if your country’s exchange rate works in your favour.- Pro: Easy entry, regular assignments.
- Con: Limited pay, repetitive tasks.
- Freelancing Platforms
Sites like Upwork and Fiverr allow you to pitch for jobs. Success comes from crafting compelling profiles and proposals.- Pro: Access to a global client base.
- Con: High competition and platform fees.
- Writing Agencies
Working with agencies is also a great idea. The agency handles client acquisition and assigns you projects, which provides a consistent workflow.- Pro: Reliable work stream.
- Con: Less flexibility, you have to adhere to the agency’s guidelines.
- Finding Clients Directly
Though more tedious and you have to be ready for rejections, you could reach out to businesses via email or LinkedIn. For example, if a company’s website has an outdated website copy, offer to rewrite it by repositioning your value.- Pro: Higher pay potential.
- Con: Time-consuming to build relationships.
5. Develop Complementary Skills
To thrive as a freelance writer, having additional skills can be very helpful and make you stand out. Hee ae some in-demand complimentary skills you could learn.
- Learn SEO Writing
SEO helps your articles rank on Google. Understanding how to search engine algorithms work and how to optimize content for SEO is very helpful and adds value to you as a writer. Here is a guide on SEO to get you started: What is SEO and why is it important? - Master Editing and Proofreading
Editing and proofreading are already in-demand skills on their own, so can you imagine adding writing to that? Having all three skills helps you deliver polished work that clients will find desirable. - Learn Basic Graphic Design
Including images in your articles to make them engaging is Writing 101. This is why having basic design skills helps and this skill can set you apart from your competitors. Tools like Canva make this skill easy to learn and practice.
6. Action Plan for Beginners
Getting started can feel overwhelming, but a clear action plan simplifies the process, so here is one:
- Explore different types of writing to find your niche.
- Write three to five sample pieces in your chosen areas.
- Publish your work on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn.
- Use portfolio sites to showcase your work or create a personal website.
- Dedicate time to learning complementary skills like SEO and CMS.
Conclusion
Freelance writing offers endless possibilities for those willing to put in the effort. By exploring your niche, practising your craft, and building a solid portfolio, you can transform your passion for writing into a rewarding career. Start today, and remember, while the journey might be challenging, it is also incredibly fulfilling.
