If you love airplanes, you’re probably already considering an aviation career. But even if the idea of working on or with airplanes seems pretty great, not everyone wants to become a pilot.
Aviation is a broad industry that offers several different opportunities for people who want to work with aircraft and airlines, but who are interested in doing more than flying them. One of these opportunities is writing about the aviation industry.
Thanks to the internet and media platforms such as blogs, magazines, and social media platforms, writers have never had more places to share their ideas and stories. If you’d like to try your hand at writing about aviation (and make some money while doing it), read on for our guide on how to become a freelance writer in the aviation industry:
| Takeaways |
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| 1. Research the aviation industry: Gain in-depth knowledge about the aviation industry, its terminology, trends, and writing requirements. |
| 2. Build a strong writing portfolio: Compile a portfolio of aviation-related writing samples to showcase your expertise to potential clients. |
| 3. Network with industry professionals: Attend aviation industry events, join online communities, and connect with professionals to expand your network and gain valuable insights. |
| 4. Develop specialized skills: Consider acquiring additional skills such as technical writing, aviation regulations, or specific subfields within aviation to stand out as a freelance writer. |
| 5. Market yourself effectively: Create a professional website, optimize your online presence, and leverage social media platforms to attract aviation-related clients and projects. |
| 6. Seek aviation-related freelance opportunities: Explore aviation-focused job boards, freelance platforms, and industry-specific publications to find freelance writing gigs in the aviation industry. |
| 7. Provide quality and timely work: Deliver high-quality content on time, communicate effectively with clients, and maintain professionalism to build a strong reputation as an aviation freelance writer. |
| 8. Continuously learn and adapt: Stay updated with industry developments, engage in professional development, and adapt your skills to meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry. |
| 9. Foster long-term client relationships: Cultivate relationships with clients, exceed expectations, and provide exceptional customer service to secure recurring projects and referrals. |
| 10. Stay persistent and resilient: Freelancing can be competitive, but perseverance, resilience, and a positive mindset will help you navigate challenges and achieve success in the aviation writing industry. |
Make Sure You Want To Do This And Are Self-Motivated
The first step to becoming a freelance writer in the aviation industry is to make sure that you are self-motivated. If you are not self-motivated, this may not be the right career choice for you. You will have to work long hours, some of which will be over the weekends and holidays.
The aviation industry is known for being extremely busy these days so it would be best if you can handle these types of schedules and still enjoy working at your job.
After making sure that you are self-motivated, it is important to go through your checklist to see if everything else about this career choice fits with what makes sense for your needs as well as lifestyle choices:
- Are there other jobs within this field that would suit my personality better?
- Can I handle working long hours on weekends? Would I rather have a 40-hour week instead?
- How much money do I need each month after taxes? Is there enough risk involved in taking this position where my earnings might fall short of what they could make me feel comfortable with living off my tax return throughout the year?
Building a successful freelance career in the aviation industry requires a solid foundation. Check out our guide on how to become a freelance writer in the tourism industry to learn valuable insights that can be applied to the aviation field as well.
Find A Niche Within The Aviation Industry That You’d Like To Write About And Focus On It
If you’re serious about becoming a freelance writer, it’s important to know the aviation industry and how it works. There are many niches within this field that you can focus on, like:
- Customer service
- Technical writing
- Copywriting
For example, if you want to write about customer service topics, then your niche would be “customer service in aviation” or “customer experience in aviation.”
You could also target marketing-related content as a niche and call yourself a marketing expert in aviation it all depends on what type of work interests you most and what kinds of clients look for those kinds of writers.
If there’s no demand for something specific within your chosen area yet (or perhaps even if there is), then consider broadening your scope but try not to go too broad! For example: “aviation” itself may not be enough; instead focus on something smaller like “commercial airlines.”
Study And Polish Your Skills
The third step in becoming a freelance writer is to study and polish your skills. This means that you need to be able to write well, quickly, and with an eye for detail.
A good aviation writer is someone who can write about any subject matter related to the industry and provide content on a wide range of topics.
Additionally, they need to understand how different types of people think so that they can make sure their writing appeals directly to them.
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Have An Online Presence
There are many different ways to have an online presence. Your website and blog should be the main hub of your content, but it’s also important to have a social media presence as well. You’ll want to have a contact page where people can get in touch with you.
This can be on either your website or a separate page on your site, depending on how much information you’re comfortable sharing (and what kind). Make sure that any contact information is accurate because it’s often used by companies when they’re looking for freelance writers.
Also include some sort of portfolio page where potential clients can see some samples of your work. You might also consider adding a resume section so that prospective employers can see what kind of education and experience you bring to the table (and make note of any awards or accolades).
You may want to include testimonials from previous clients as well they’re an excellent way for prospects to see how happy other people were with the work you did for them.
If possible, provide links so that people who browse through these pages can easily find out more about what types of services/products/etc., these businesses need from freelancers like yourself!
Find Your Target Market
It’s important to know who you’re writing for. This is your target market, and it should be as specific as possible. You want to think about what kind of problems they have and how you can solve them. For example, if your target market is pilots, think about what their biggest problems are:
- How do I keep up with the latest regulations?
- How do I find time in my schedule for training?
- How do I find new clients and make more money?
- What are the best ways to stay fit when traveling so much?
You can also look at other pilot blogs and magazines to see what topics they cover. You might discover that there aren’t enough blogs about food fitness or career advice for pilots out there (yet). That could be an opportunity for you.
Write For Free For A While
It’s hard to get paid to write about an industry you don’t know anything about, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put your skills to good use.
Most magazines and blogs are always looking for writers who can bring fresh insights into their writing, so if you have something interesting or unique to say about the aviation industry, try submitting an article on a topic that interests you (and others) to see if anyone bites. If they do great.
You’ve got some writing experience under your belt and some clips on your portfolio page. If they don’t… well, then maybe it’s time to move on and find another idea that works better with what these publications want, or perhaps look at another career path altogether (we know it’s tough).
Freelance writing offers a diverse range of job prospects, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Dive into our article on the best jobs for freelance writers: pros and cons of each to explore different writing niches within the aviation industry and make an informed choice for your freelance career.
Promote Yourself
This is one of the most important steps because if you don’t promote yourself and get your name out there, no one will know about your services. Here are some things that you should do:
- Join relevant groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, like the International Society of Aviation Writers (ISAW). You can also find other writers here who share your interests and can help build up your contacts.
The ISAW has a group on Facebook where members post job opportunities from time to time. It’s worth joining just so that you can keep up with any new jobs posted by employers or agencies in this industry.
- Ask people if they need any writing done before offering them your services – this way they know what kind of writer to expect when working with you. They might not need anything right now but could come back later when they do!
- Write for a free or low cost until you gain enough experience and knowledge so that clients trust in what they’re paying for when choosing which freelancer/writer to hire based on their credentials alone.
Even though many companies still skip right over these details when searching through postings online; instead of relying entirely upon cost per word rates listed within each listing’s description.”
Build Up Your Portfolio And Get Some Paying Clients
Now that you have a few clips in your portfolio, it’s time to get some paying clients. You can do this by reaching out to the companies directly or applying for jobs through sites like Upwork and Guru. The application process will vary from company to company, so be sure to read the job descriptions closely.
One way that I was able to build my resume up quickly was by reviewing other freelancers’ portfolios for free. If you know someone with a good writing resume and want some feedback on yours, ask them if they would be willing to review it for you.
In exchange for their time, offer them an interview about their experiences as a freelance writer (you could even turn this into an article).
Set Your Prices And Negotiate If Necessary
Now that you’ve got your portfolio, it’s time to talk about money. As I mentioned earlier, this is one of the trickiest parts of being a freelance writer. You want to make sure your rates are fair, but you also want to make sure that your clients feel comfortable hiring you.
Before you set prices:
- Find out what other writers in your industry charge for similar services (this can be done by searching online and finding their websites or social media accounts).
- Think about the market and how much demand there will be for whatever kind of content you create (for example if there isn’t much demand for aviation content then it might not be worth charging $50/hour).
- Consider what level of expertise and experience has been gained since completing an education program or training course on the subject matter being written about.
This will help determine how much more value customers will see in hiring a specialist rather than just another writer who happens to know a little bit about airplanes as well as some other random topics such as cooking tips or fashion advice (just kidding I would never write anything like that!).
Network With Other Writers
Join a group. There are many ways to network with other writers in the aviation industry. For example, you could join a writing group like Critique Circle, which is free. You could also join an association such as the Society for Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), which costs $80 per year but has lots of benefits for its members beyond networking opportunities.
Attend a conference or seminar on freelancing in aviation writing if there is one near where you live and/or do not have expensive travel needs such as special equipment or specialized clothing that would necessitate flying back home every day after work (this may not be necessary if your income level allows it).
This kind of event will allow you to meet other aviation writers and ask them questions about their experiences, both good and bad; they might even offer advice!
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Work With Clients Who Are Respectful Of Your Work And Experience
If you’re a new writer, you need to work with clients who are respectful of your skills and experience. They should acknowledge that you have something valuable to offer them and they should be willing to pay for it.
I understand that most people prefer not to pay much at all for freelance writing services (myself included) so it’s important for me as a writer and editor to ensure that my rates are competitively priced, but also fair and realistic in terms of what the market will bear.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For A Portfolio Review Or Interview Outside Of The Application Process
Don’t be afraid to ask for portfolio reviews. You can ask people you already know, such as friends and family. But the best way to get an honest review is from someone who is outside of your social circle, but in the same industry.
If you want to write about aviation, then find a professional writer who writes about aviation. That’s going to be critical for getting constructive feedback on your writing skills so that you can improve them before applying for jobs as a freelance writer in this field.
The other thing that I think many people don’t realize is how important it is when applying for jobs or contract work online with companies like Upwork or Freelancer (which are sites where employers post job openings and freelancers bid on those jobs).
They do their research ahead of time on what kind of experience employers want to see when they look at applications because otherwise, they may miss out on some great opportunities!
Send Sample
You’ll want to send a sample of your work as well. This is the time to put on your big-girl or boy’s pants and send something you’re proud of. You may be nervous, but remember that this could be the break you’ve been waiting for!
A resume is also important. Remember, you are trying to get people interested in hiring you—so make sure it’s top-notch!
Make sure that whatever samples or materials that you send look professional and reflect well on yourself as an individual.
Embracing mobile devices has become a common practice among freelancers. Learn why many people prefer freelancing using their mobile devices and how it can enhance your productivity by checking out our article on why many people freelance using their mobile devices.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article has helped you understand how to become a freelance writer in the aviation industry. If you have any questions about anything we didn’t cover, feel free to leave them in a comment below. We’ll be sure to respond as soon as possible!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you may find helpful to explore further on the topic of becoming a freelance writer:
How to Become a Freelance Writer: Plus Tips for Success: This comprehensive guide from Entrepreneur provides valuable insights and practical tips for aspiring freelance writers, covering various aspects of starting and succeeding in the freelance writing industry.
How to Become a Freelance Writer: Webflow’s blog offers a detailed article that delves into the process of becoming a freelance writer. It includes advice on developing writing skills, building a portfolio, finding clients, and managing your freelance business.
Freelance Writing Guide: Reliablesoft provides a comprehensive guide to freelance writing, offering tips and strategies to kickstart your career, improve your writing skills, find clients, and maximize your earning potential as a freelance writer.
People Also Ask
How Much Does It Cost To Become A Freelance Writer?
The answer depends on what you want to do, where you live, and how much experience you have. It is possible to become a freelance writer for as little as $100 per month, but if you want to make any kind of decent money then expect to spend at least $500 per month on your business.
What Education Do I Need?
You don’t have to have an educational background in writing or English literature, but it does help if you have some kind of qualification in these areas. If not then don’t worry because there are plenty of resources online which will teach you everything you need to know about writing professionally and earning money from it!
Do I Need Any Special Skills?
Being able to write well is important but other skills are equally as important such as organizing your time effectively and being able to manage multiple projects simultaneously without getting stressed out by all the pressure.
Is It Possible To Become A Freelance Writer In The Aviation Industry?
Yes, it is possible to become a freelance writer in the aviation industry. But before you jump into it, you must know what exactly you are going to do as a freelance writer.
Also, you must have some knowledge about how much money you can make as a freelance writer and what kind of clients you can expect.
How Much Money Will I Make As A Freelance Writer In Aviation Industry?
The amount of money that you can make will depend on many things like your skills, experience, and the type of client that you have chosen.
The average salary for an aviation-related freelance writer is around $20 per hour or $40 per article depending on your location and experience level.
However, if you can write for high-paying clients who pay $75 per hour or more then there is no limit to how much money you can make.
What Is The Best Way To Become A Freelance Writer In The Aviation Industry?
The best way to become a freelance writer in the aviation industry is by learning about the different types of writing that are involved.
There are many different types of writing, and each one has its own set of skills and requirements. If you want to be successful in this field, you need to understand what kind of writing is involved and how it works.
This will help you make better decisions about what kind of work you will do as a freelancer because it will give you a better idea of what clients need from their writers.
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.