17 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Began Freelance Real Estate Writing

I began my freelance writing career when I was in my early 30s. I’d been working as a real estate agent for many years and realized that, while I enjoyed property sales, I preferred to write about them instead of doing them. So, after some research and soul-searching, this is what happened:

I WISH someone had told me this before I started my business

Takeaways
1. Building a Foundation: Starting a freelance real estate writing business requires a strong foundation for success.
2. Tips from Experience: Learn from the experiences of successful real estate writers to navigate the industry more effectively.
3. Effective Blogging: Understand the art of creating engaging real estate blogs that capture the audience’s attention.
4. Navigating Challenges: Freelance writing comes with challenges; preparation and strategies can help you overcome them.
5. Sustaining Income: Discover ways to ensure a consistent income stream while working as a freelance writer.
6. Client Relationships: Building positive relationships with clients is crucial for repeat business and referrals.
7. SEO and Content: Learn how to optimize your content for search engines to increase its visibility online.
8. Market Insights: Gain insights into the real estate market and trends to produce relevant and valuable content.
9. Time Management: Efficient time management is essential for juggling multiple projects and meeting deadlines.
10. Networking: Connect with other real estate professionals and writers to expand your opportunities and knowledge.
11. Negotiating Rates: Develop effective negotiation skills to secure fair compensation for your freelance work.
12. Balancing Quality and Quantity: Striking a balance between quality and quantity ensures consistent performance.
13. Feedback and Growth: Embrace feedback as a tool for improvement and personal growth in your writing career.
14. Diversification: Explore various writing niches within real estate to broaden your expertise and income potential.
15. Self-Care: Prioritize self-care to prevent burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
16. Managing Finances: Understand the financial aspects of freelancing, including taxes and budgeting.
17. Future Growth: Plan for your long-term growth as a freelance real estate writer by setting goals and adapting to changes.

Table of Contents

Work On Your Sales “Pitch”

It’s time to work on your sales “pitch.” A sales pitch is a short, concise way of explaining what you do at the beginning of an event or meeting. It helps people understand why they should hire you for a project, and it also gives them something easy to remember as they walk away from the conversation.

A good sales pitch should contain three elements: who you are, what you do, and how it benefits them (what they get).

For example: “Hi! My name is Jane Smith, and I’m a freelance real estate writer based out of Washington DC. I specialize in writing content for real estate websites that drives leads and increases sales.”

This short introduction lets people know what services you offer right away so they can decide whether or not they’re interested in working with you; it also tells them where to go next if they want more information about hiring someone like yourself!

Building a successful freelance real estate writing business requires a solid foundation. Learn how to lay the groundwork for your venture by reading The Best Way to Start a Freelance Real Estate Writing Business.

I’m A Big Fan Of Bidsketch For Proposals

The first thing you should do is find a tool to help you create proposals. I’m a big fan of Bidsketch, which works across all platforms and can be used for all sorts of projects (not just real estate writing).

The second thing you should do is get familiar with your client’s project brief. This will give you an idea of what information needs to be included in your proposal. For example, if the brief asks for 5 pages instead of 8, then there’s no point in having more than 5 pages in your proposal.

And finally, don’t forget about personas! Personas help writers write better copy because they take into account who their audience is and how they behave online and this knowledge can inform every aspect of a writer’s work from writing style down to word choice right up until the final product goes live.

Find A Target Market

Find a target market.

Your target market is the people who will read your articles, not the people you want to write for. It’s important to start with the latter and then narrow down your search to include only those most likely to buy or be interested in what you have to offer.

Track your success.

It’s easy to get caught up in writing as much as possible, but it’s better if you take some time each day (or week) and look back on what has worked well and where there are gaps within the content you’ve created so far that could use improvement or expansion upon before moving on from them entirely into new topics of interest.

Related subjects which may ultimately lead further down paths of similar interest towards potential customers looking for specific services like yours!

Want to excel as a real estate writer? Discover the strategies and habits that set apart successful professionals in the field. Explore the insights shared in 15 Things Successful Real Estate Writers Do.

Then Get Their E-Mail Addresses And Build Relationships

If you’re building your audience, then get their e-mail addresses and build relationships.

The more you connect with people, the more they will keep coming back for more content. You need to have an active social media presence as well as a website/blog where you can engage with readers directly. But don’t just focus on getting their names and e-mails; try to get real estate agents involved in the discussion too!

It’s never too early or late to start building these relationships you can even do it on Twitter by simply asking for feedback about topics that interest them (for example: “What do YOU want me to write about next?”).

Don’t Spend Energy On Social Media Sites You Don’t Really Like

When I was starting, I spent a lot of time on social media sites that didn’t pay me anything. After all, when you do something for free, there is no money involved right? Wrong! Spending energy on things that don’t pay is still costing you money.

This means that if you spend an hour writing a post and it doesn’t make any money, then you have lost an hour of your life because you were working for free.

The point here is not about not doing work for free (I encourage this in some cases), but simply spending energy where it counts: in places where people will hire or pay YOU for YOUR expertise/knowledge/service.

You Can Do This, But Don’t Do It Until You’re Ready

I wish someone had told me that becoming a freelance real estate writer is not something to be taken lightly. You need to be passionate about the subject matter, have a good work ethic and a strong grasp of grammar and spelling, be able to meet deadlines, and handle rejection.

I also wish someone told me not to wait until I was ready before starting on this journey! It took me a while before I felt comfortable enough with my writing skills to get started with freelancing full time, but it would have been much easier if I’d just jumped in right away instead of waiting around for everything else in my life to fall into place first (which never happened).

Crafting compelling blogs about real estate requires more than just writing skills. Dive into The Complete Guide to Writing Blogs About Real Estate to master the art of engaging real estate content.

Every Writer’s Nightmare! (That’s Why I Use Dropbox)

I remember the first time I experienced a serious security breach. It was a nightmare my cloud storage account was hacked, and all of my files were deleted.

If you’re using a cloud storage service like Dropbox, make sure that you have the right security settings in place. If you don’t know what those are, contact their customer service team and ask them to tell you which ones to use!

If your files were stolen or deleted by mistake, don’t panic. The worst thing that could happen is that someone steals your ideas without paying for them and if they take those ideas far enough in life? Well, then they’ll be rich while we’re still writing this article!

Get An Accountant To Help You Set Up Quickbooks For Tax Time

Accountants aren’t expensive. When I first started freelancing, I was worried that hiring an accountant would be too costly. But now I know better. Hiring an accountant probably saved me money because it helped me to keep track of my taxes and expenses properly.

You can do it yourself (sort of). You don’t need a team of accountants to help you set up QuickBooks or file the taxes you can do it yourself!

But there’s no shame in asking for help from someone who knows what they’re doing and remember: if your work involves other people’s money (as any form of real estate does), then the responsibility falls on you to know what you’re doing with those funds as well.

C’mon You Knew The Answer To This One! Of Course, It’s Getting Clients!

You already know that you’ll get clients by doing good work. I’m sure it’s not news to you that you can find clients by building relationships, being a good writer and person, being a good listener and communicator, and being a problem solver.

And yet…I’ve seen so many freelance writers get stuck because they don’t have enough clients or they’re unhappy with the quality of their work.

Here’s the thing: There are many ways to build your client base and increase your skills as a writer which means there are also many different ways to improve your business situation!

This Is The Only Real Way To Grow..So Make Sure You Do It

Focus on your strengths. As a real estate writer, you are not an expert in every single aspect of the industry. You may have spent years learning about building codes, but it’s unlikely that you have the knowledge to write about them with ease and confidence. Instead of trying to tackle all aspects of real estate writing, focus on what comes naturally to you.

Don’t try to be all things to all people. There will always be those people who won’t approve of your work or want something done differently than how they would do it themselves and that’s okay! Freelancers must remember this fact as they begin their careers: not everyone will love their style or appreciate what they offer (and some people will flat out hate it).

Don’t get bogged down in details or perfectionism early on. As much as I wish I could say otherwise, there is no such thing as “perfection” when it comes to writing; there’s only getting better over time by learning from past mistakes and continually tweaking techniques based on feedback from clients and peers alike.

Curious about the ins and outs of real estate writing? Get answers to the most commonly asked questions in The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Writing and gain clarity on various aspects of the profession.

You Can Make Great Money Writing About Real Estate In Your Spare Time

You can make great money writing about real estate in your spare time.

The most common question I get from people who are thinking of freelance writing is, “How much do you make?”

No one answer fits everyone because there are so many different variables when it comes to how much you earn as a writer, but if you’re interested in earning extra income by writing about real estate, here are some things I wish someone told me before I began:

Writing about real estate requires a comprehensive understanding of the field and its intricacies. Our complete guide to writing blogs about real estate provides you with essential insights, tips, and strategies to create compelling content that resonates with your audience and drives engagement.

Conclusion

I hope that this post has helped you feel a little more confident about getting started as a freelance real estate writer. It’s not easy, but if you work hard, stay committed to your goal, and keep pushing yourself to improve your skills (and find new ones), then anything is possible!

FAQs

How do I decide if freelance writing is the right career choice for me?

Freelance writing can be a rewarding career path if you enjoy writing, have good time management skills, and are comfortable with the unpredictability of income. It’s important to assess your strengths and preferences before diving in.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance writers?

Freelance writers often encounter challenges such as inconsistent income, managing multiple clients, dealing with writer’s block, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Developing strategies to address these challenges is essential for success.

How can I find freelance writing opportunities?

There are various ways to find freelance writing gigs. You can explore job boards, create an online portfolio, network with other writers, and reach out to potential clients directly. Building a strong online presence can also attract opportunities.

What should I consider when setting my freelance writing rates?

Setting rates requires consideration of factors like your skill level, the complexity of the project, market rates, and your desired income. Research industry standards and evaluate your expertise to determine rates that reflect your value.

How can I improve my freelance writing skills over time?

Continuous improvement is key in freelance writing. Engage in regular practice, read extensively, seek feedback from clients or peers, and invest in skill-enhancing resources such as writing courses or workshops. This will help you refine your craft and stay competitive.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.