How to become a freelance writer-2024
Have you decided to give freelance writing an attempt? It's an excellent opportunity since you can work as much as you want, wherever you want, whenever you want, as a freelance writer, provided you have the necessary clientele and expertise. And one of the key benefits of freelancing is that you don't need a degree or to have attended college to do it.
But it's harder said than done to find freelance writing employment without experience. Don't worry if you've reached the challenging point where you've chosen to pursue a career as a freelance writer but are unsure of how to locate clients or how much to charge them. Every writer experienced the same thing at some point.
We've included everything you need to know in this manual to launch a lucrative freelance writing career, from creating your portfolio to finding your first clients and improving your writing skills.
What exactly is freelance writing?
It's crucial to be explicit about what you're seeking for while looking for entry-level freelance writing positions. In brief, freelance writing refers to the labor done by an independent contractor, or freelancer, who makes a living by penning texts such as blogs, white papers, essays, and other types of content for one or more clients. Freelancers frequently operate from coworking facilities, coffee shops, or home offices.
While certain jobs may pay hourly, freelance writers are often compensated for the total quantity of work they complete for a client. Setting a charge per word or for a particular amount of weekly articles is one way to do this.
For writing on a wide range of topics, clients hire independent authors. Some independent contractors keep to particular specialized subjects or industries in which they have extensive experience, frequently so that they can charge more for their services.
But a substantial number of prosperous freelancers are generalists who rapidly pick up and write on unknown subjects in accordance with the demands of their clients.
Although many freelancers look for and engage clients individually, it might take some time for newcomers to secure freelance writing assignments, and the time spent looking for new sources of work is unpaid.
How much can freelance writers make?
According to information published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors in the USA earned a median rate of $63,200 per year in 2019, getting paid $30.40 per hour on average. However, that stat covers both freelancers and salaried writers, who are typically more experienced and better compensated. PayScale.com estimates that freelance writers earn an average of $23.90 per hour, which is probably a more accurate figure.
Making an income as a freelance writer without experience can be quite difficult at first. However, if you secure your first round of freelance writing assignments and compile a portfolio, things will undoubtedly pick up. You'll be able to more effectively target your writing to a target audience and charge higher fees when you comprehend and can clearly communicate the worth of your work to clients.
If you charge by the word like the majority of freelancers do, your pay will primarily depend on how quickly you write and the rate you agreed to.
Even while certain content simply takes longer to write than other sorts, your writing speed will undoubtedly improve over time. It can take you an hour to create and edit 200 words for a simple blog if you are a beginning writer. However, after a few months, you could be able to write 500 or 600 words per hour.
On the other hand, your rate per word varies depending on the type of writing you do and the clients you work with. For instance, opinion pieces for large news websites tend to be sophisticated and are valued more per word than reviews and blogs, which are frequently simple to write.
Additionally, the typical income for freelance writing fluctuates greatly over time. Visit this web page to learn how much writers are now making. This is a free tool where independent contractors post anonymous earnings reports from various clients.
What do you need to be a freelance writer?
One of the reasons that the freelance industry is booming—roughly four million people in the USA turned to freelance work between 2014 and 2019—is that you don’t need any particular experience or training to become a freelance writer.
As long as you have a good command of whatever language you’re writing in, are ready to learn about new topics, and are motivated to reach out to clients, all you need is a laptop and an internet connection.
However, if you’re looking for entry-level freelancing writing jobs, one other thing you need is resilience. Out of all the story and article pitches you make, the chances are that you’ll hear back from a relatively small percentage of clients.
This is certain to improve as you get better at tailoring your writing proposals and portfolio to potential clients but first, it’s important not to get disheartened by rejections.
10 Ways to break into freelance writing without experience
Do you want to start writing? The following 10 steps have been put together to assist you in obtaining your first paid articles. Even if you've never written more than a few hundred words before, if you follow these guidelines, you're guaranteed to discover fascinating freelance employment.
1. Write samples
I always suggest compiling a portfolio of writing samples whenever someone asks how to begin a freelance writing career. You can fill this out with any writing you have on hand, such academic essays, but it's better to compose a few samples that are formatted similarly to the pieces you plan to pitch, especially if you've never written professionally before.
The very fact that you send a potential client a portfolio could convince them, even if they only give it a quick glance. Having a variety of samples shows prospective clients right once that you can complete any project you propose.
2. Find a writing agency to support you
The smartest move I ever made as a freelance writer was to begin working with an agency; by doing so, I was able to avoid many of the growing pains that new authors generally experience while beginning their careers.
Finding employment is one of the most challenging aspects of a freelance writing career. Client outreach is mainly taken care of for you by an agency like this one; the only interactions you need to participate in are those that pertain to the material you have been requested to generate. You don't need to squander time pitching tales or putting in bids for jobs.
The other great thing about working through a writing agency is that you’ll collaborate with experienced editors who can help you level up your writing skills over time. Even if you’re confident in your ability to turn out a good essay, professional writing requires you to adapt to an entirely new writing style, so collaborating with someone who's been in the business for a while is an invaluable opportunity.
3. Launch a blog
Starting a blog is an easy method to publish your writing online. This is an excellent chance to develop your understanding of and viewpoints on a subject that you'd like to write about professionally. Additionally, if your work attracts a sizable audience, you might think about monetizing it with advertisements.
Don't let the idea of having to create a website by yourself scare you. These days, anyone can develop a professional-looking website or WordPress blog on a very limited budget thanks to incredibly cheap web hosting and simple website building tools. You can also get started right away by posting articles to your LinkedIn page.
4. Write for friends and family
As with anything, writing experience is valuable and practice makes perfect. Start producing material for those around you as it is one of the simplest ways to develop your written communication abilities. Write about something more personal, such as what you've been up to, your thoughts on current events, or a more specialized subject. Try to contact any business owners you know and offer to create content for them at a discounted rate.
Starting with a small and familiar audience will help you to feel more comfortable when drafting your pieces, and it’s a great way to get feedback on your work.
5. Network with other freelance writers
It's not about what you know, they say, but rather who you know. Up to 85% of jobs, according to some estimates, are filled through networking. In the freelance writing business, networking is just as crucial as in any other.
A more seasoned writer will be able to direct you to helpful resources they've used in the past, provide feedback on your portfolio, and may even be able to pass clients off to you if they've got too much on their plate. Reaching out to any contact who works as a freelance writer is a great way to find new opportunities.
If you don't personally know any freelance writers, you might be able to meet them online through social media. A quick Facebook search will turn up thousands of groups for job boards that are frequently updated. Don't feel like making direct contact? Then, invite some content marketers to join your network and observe the kind of material they are producing.
6. Get your start with a content network
The spread of content networks has been one of the largest internet media revolutions in recent years. In a nutshell, these are enormous web-based networks that demand copious amounts of material on a wide range of topics. Three of the most well-known content networks, also referred to as "content mills," are Demand Studios, Very Well, and Writing Bunny.
A staggering amount of original words and articles are needed for content networks and content mills to function, and they frequently generate income through advertisements or affiliate links. As a result, they are among the most reliable sources of work for independent contractors and a fantastic spot to start your search for clients in need of new writers.
7. Revise and refresh your grammar
In the bulk of text-based exchanges you have on the internet every day, clarity and precision aren't requirements, but as a freelance writer, you'll need to write with them. Therefore, one of the first things you should do if you're trying to figure out how to start a freelance writing career is to brush up on your grammar and make sure you don't make any noticeable mistakes in your portfolio or when pitching to clients.
8. Learn about SEO
In 2020, one of the most marketable attributes you can have as a freelance writer is a working knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is, in essence, the art of getting any articles you write to the number one spot on Google search pages.
9. Cold pitch larger sites
Even when they aren't advertising any freelance writing gigs, you can advance your freelance writing career by approaching companies you've never worked with before and giving them ideas for stories.
Cold pitching is the term for this. What do you stand to lose if you're rejected by a media outlet or business you've never worked with before, even if it can seem more scary than using a freelance marketplace like Upwork?
Cold pitching successfully takes a good understanding of a company’s content requirements; do your research first, and this could lead to lucrative and exciting opportunities.
10. Find a stable place to work
Distractions affect everyone differently, but writing demands focus without a doubt. Finding the kind of setting and tools that increase your productivity is another essential element of successful freelance writing.
This could be as simple as noise-canceling headphones or as grandiose as an expensive coworking location membership. With a good office chair and a quiet environment, you’ll likely be far more productive than on the couch.
Final thoughts
Not everyone can live the freelance lifestyle, but by reading this article and learning more about the field, you'll be able to decide fast if it's the correct job for you. Remember to take the easy procedures we outlined above when pitching your first articles for the best results.
I'll leave you with one final word of advice. Keep an eye out for possibilities to write on subjects that you are genuinely interested in and passionate about when you begin your freelance writing career. This is the single best approach to transform your freelance writing career from a tedious job into a fulfilling endeavor.
You Might Like to Read these Articles:
Comments
Post a Comment