How To Create A Freelance Writing Career From Scratch

You’re ready to ditch your job and write for a living, but you’re not sure what getting started as a freelance writer looks like. You have so many questions about how to get your first client, what kind of writing you can do, and what it’s really like to work in this field.

In this post, we’ll answer all those burning questions, plus give you some practical tips for breaking into the freelance writing career you’ve always dreamed of!

How to Make Money Freelance Writing (For Beginners)

Takeaways
1. Start by honing your writing skills and expanding your knowledge in various topics.
2. Build a portfolio of your writing samples to showcase your abilities to potential clients.
3. Research and identify your target market and niche to specialize in and tailor your services accordingly.
4. Utilize online platforms and job boards to find freelance writing opportunities and build your client base.
5. Develop effective communication and negotiation skills to establish mutually beneficial working relationships with clients.
6. Continuously improve your craft through ongoing learning, feedback, and staying updated on industry trends.
7. Market yourself and your services through professional branding, networking, and leveraging social media platforms.
8. Set realistic goals, manage your time effectively, and maintain a disciplined work routine to ensure productivity and success.
9. Provide excellent customer service, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality work to foster client satisfaction and generate referrals.
10. Embrace the entrepreneurial mindset and constantly seek opportunities for professional growth and self-improvement.

Table of Contents

Step 0: Identify Your Passion For Writing

Now that you’re ready to take the plunge, it’s time to think about what kind of writing you want to do. Do you want to pursue fiction? Nonfiction? Copywriting? Journalism? Blogging or vlogging or live streaming…the list goes on and on.

Before anyone can pay you for your writing, they have to know who they are going with their money! You need a niche a special area in which your knowledge and expertise will shine through.

It doesn’t matter how much passion there is for that particular topic as long as it’s something people are willing (and able)to read about for free online articles or pay for an ebook book.

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Step 1: Get A Cheap Website

A website is a must for any freelancer, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Get a domain name and hosting plan from GoDaddy or HostGator (other companies like BlueHost and Namecheap are also good). A domain name is your business’ name on the web, for example, YourBusinessName.com.

Choose a website builder that works with your theme, e.g., Squarespace or Wix (both of which offer free plans).

Make sure you have a logo! The logo should include your business name as well as some visual element that ties back to your niche (e.g. if you’re writing about fashion, use an image of a model wearing designer clothes.

If you write about travel destinations around the world, incorporate some sort of globe into the design).

Step 2: Learn SEO And Social Media Marketing

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is a fancy way of saying that you need to ensure your website is optimized for Google.

This means including keywords in your content so it appears in search results, as well as building backlinks (links from other websites pointing back to yours). These two things are crucial when trying to get found by new clients.

Though there are many ways to learn how to do this yourself, I recommend taking a course on Udemy or Skillshare. Or if you prefer hands-on learning environments over online courses, check out General Assembly’s Web Design Immersive program where they teach all these skills during the 8-week long course it’s one of my favorites!

Social media marketing isn’t just about posting on Facebook and Twitter; it involves using platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, or LinkedIn too!

It also means creating high-quality images with text overlays that help drive people toward your site. This can be done through free programs like Canva or paid programs like Pablo by Buffer. For more information about social media marketing check out this guide from Social Media Examiner

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Step 3: Start Growing Your Own Business

In the beginning, you’ll likely be doing everything yourself. You’ll be the one writing all the articles, managing all your social media, and handling your marketing. When you’re starting, this is perfectly fine you need to put in all that hard work before you can begin to delegate.

Eventually, though, there will come a point when it makes sense to hire other people to help out with various projects around your business. For example:

If you’re running a website or blog, maybe it’s time for a new theme? Hire someone who knows what they’re doing.

If you’re writing content for clients but not hitting deadlines or producing good quality pieces consistently enough yet (or even at all), hire someone else who knows what they’re doing and focus on improving your skills instead of trying to manage them as well as everything else about your business!

Step 4: Develop A Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of your writing samples, which can include:

Published Articles Or Blog Posts

If you have some published pieces, they can be especially helpful as they demonstrate your writing style and ability.

However, even if you don’t have any published work yet, it’s still a good idea to include samples from previous projects so that potential clients can get an idea of what kind of quality work they’ll be getting from you.

Unpublished Blog Posts Or Articles

For example, if there’s one article that has been edited but not yet published (or one completed book chapter), include it as part of your portfolio. Just make sure whatever sample content you choose is relevant to what kind of freelance writing opportunities you’re hoping for.

For example, if someone says he wants an article about how best practices affect employee engagement in the workplace environment then don’t send him something about how best practices are related to wildlife conservation efforts unless he specifically asks for something like that!

Step 5: Optimize Freelance Platforms For Success

The next step to success is optimizing freelance platforms for success.

Use the right keywords in your profile. Make sure you include relevant terms like “freelance writer” and “content marketing” in your profile, as well as in any portfolio pieces such as blog posts or social media mentions.

Repeat this process across all platforms. Once you have optimized your LinkedIn page, go ahead and work on optimizing Twitter, Facebook, etc., while also creating a new blog post with more keyword-rich content each month this time including those same keywords in the title of each piece!

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Step 6: Make Sure You Don’t Miss Any Opportunities

Make sure you don’t miss any opportunities.

Network like crazy! Networking is one of the most important things to do when starting as a freelance writer, and it’s also one of the least talked about.

As a young freelancer, you may not have much experience or credibility yet (ahem), but that doesn’t mean you can’t network with other writers and professionals who can help you get more work.

Don’t be afraid to reach out through social media, email, or other means of communication to people in your field if they seem like they might be interested in collaborating with you on something.

Keep an updated resume at all times and make sure it includes a link back to your website so clients can find more information about what you offer.

Keep an eye on job boards for potential gigs – even if they don’t pay very well at first (which most won’t) this is still great practice for doing research & making connections with people from other companies/agencies within your niche area

Step 7: Stop Taking Shit From Bad Clients

By this point, you should have a strong idea of what kind of work you want to be doing. You know where your skill level lies and what kind of clients are looking for writers like you. And as a result, you’ve probably gotten more selective about the kinds of clients that approach you and those that don’t.

If someone approaches me with an offer that doesn’t sound right or isn’t exactly up my alley, I politely decline their request because they haven’t done their homework on me yet and why would I want them wasting my time?

It takes only one bad experience with a client who doesn’t respect or pay well enough for word to spread fast in the industry. So if somebody is not offering something worth my time now (or ever), then it’s best just not even go down that road at all.

Step 8: Expand Your Online Presence With Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is another way to grow your profile and establish yourself as an authority. When you guest blog, you’re writing for someone else’s site, but you’re still doing the writing and promoting yourself in the process.

This can be great if they have a significant following or if they’re well-known in their niche.

If you’re going to guest blog:

Make sure it aligns with your goals
Do research on the site and their audience
Pick a topic that complements what they already do (do not try to force something “new” onto them; no one likes that)
Make sure it fits within the parameters of what they want
Ask before sending over your article
Follow up after submitting to make sure everything went okay
Follow up again later the more consistent contact you have with other writers/editors/bloggers will help build trust

Step 9: Create Your Path As A Writer

Being a writer is the most important thing you need to do. As a freelance writer, it’s your job to carve out your path and define yourself as an artist. You don’t have to follow anyone else’s rules or expectations of what a writer should be the key here is that you are writing for yourself first and foremost.

Write about what you love: If there’s something in this world that truly drives you wild with excitement, then write about it! Dig into the deepest depths of your soul and pull out those thoughts and feelings so that they can live on paper (or screen) forever.

Write about what you know: While writers need to explore new topics, there are many avenues for learning in one’s life before writing about them professionally becomes necessary. Choose topics based on personal experience or research before putting pen(cil)to paper!

Step 10: Consider Conferences

Conferences can be an excellent way to:

Learn new things. Conferences are a great opportunity to learn new skills from experts in their field, often for free or at a discounted price. They’re also great opportunities to expand your network with other aspiring freelancers, who may become clients down the road.

Network with potential clients and others in your field. Many conferences offer networking opportunities that help you connect with potential clients, as well as other freelancers in your industry who might refer business back and forth between each other (and thus help you get more work).

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Step 11: Create High-Perceived-Value Services

If you’re going to be charging a decent amount for your services, your clients must know what they’re getting for their money. This means that you need to create high-perceived-value services.

High Perceived Value: When clients feel like they are receiving a lot of value from what you are offering them (in other words, the service is worth more than they paid).

Low Perceived Value: The opposite of this is when clients feel like they aren’t getting as much value as they thought or paid for.

Creating high perceived value services can be tricky when you’re just starting because you don’t have much experience with the field yet and might not have any testimonials or reviews on your website yet either.

So instead of trying to figure out what would make a good high perceived value service right away, I recommend choosing something simple at first like written articles or blog posts with links back to your site at the bottom.

If people seem happy with these types of services then gradually add more complex things into your portfolios such as email marketing campaigns or videos explaining concepts from within the industry that people might find useful.”

Step 12: Become A Full-On Content Marketing Specialist

When you’re starting with content marketing, it’s easy to feel like you have no idea what to write about. But once you start doing research and exploring the market, it becomes clear that there are plenty of things for you to write about.

And the more research you do, the clearer it will become that there are even more ways for you to be successful as a freelancer.

One great way to get started is by reading blogs and other resources from people who have already been in your shoes people who have written about their experiences as freelancers or created helpful tips for others looking into freelance writing careers themselves.

These resources can help provide inspiration and insight into how best practices work in this industry, which means they’ll give you an idea of where your own business should go next!

Step 13. Experiment With Other Ways To Make Money All From Your Laptop!

Now that you’ve finished your first book, it’s time to start thinking about other ways to make money.

As a freelance writer, you’ll have plenty of options. You can write for other people’s blogs or websites (although this will be more difficult if you don’t have any experience).

You can start your blog and sell products based on the content on it. Or, if you’re confident in your skills, you could try promoting other people’s products through affiliate links just make sure they’re ethical!

Section. 14. Value Your Time And Only Charge For The Value You Provide

As a freelance writer, you’re likely to be asked to do some pretty weird stuff. If you’re not 100% sure that a client will value your work and pay accordingly, don’t agree to write for them. If they want something badly enough, they’ll find someone else who’s willing to do it at the rate they want.

It’s tempting to say yes when clients offer low-paying gigs, but remember: the more you “give away” on the cheap, the harder it becomes for people in future cases (and for yourself) to evaluate how much time and effort is appropriate for projects like these.

So if someone asks you to write 300 words about why pets are better than children (for example), say no; then tell them that if they want this topic covered badly enough, they should cough up more money or find another writer who thinks their topic is worth covering!

Section. 15. Learn To “Just Say No” Too Terrible Clients And Low-Paying Projects

When you’re starting, it’s easy to take on projects that aren’t the best fit or pay too low. But as you grow, it’s important to learn how to say no.

You want to avoid taking on work that doesn’t represent your best self or doesn’t feel like a good fit for what you want from your freelance writing career. This is especially true in the beginning when every client is valuable and every dollar helps!

However, as time goes by, this becomes less of an issue as your business grows and improves. You’ll have more opportunities than ever before and with so many more options available, there are far worse things than turning down some lackluster assignments!

Section 16. Go All In On One Niche Area, And Become An Expert In That Niche Area

Focus on one niche area and become an expert in it.

Create a blog or website about that niche area. This can be in the form of a blog, podcast, YouTube channel, or another type of online content you create and publish regularly.

Create an email list of your readers so they can sign up to receive notifications when new content is published.

Create a product or service to sell to your readers, such as an e-course or online course teaching them how to do something specific within their niche area (like making money as a freelance writer).

Develop a community of like-minded people who also have an interest in the same niche area – this helps you build trust with potential customers by showing them that other people value what you have to say too!

Make sure that everything you write is high quality; don’t publish anything until it has been edited properly (by someone else).

Takeaway This Is What It Takes To Be A Successful Freelance Writer

This is what it takes to be a successful freelance writer:

You must identify your passion for writing.

You need to get a cheap website and learn SEO, social media marketing, and other basic business skills.

You need to start growing your own business, even without clients yet. Start with yourself – do some writing work every day of the week (whether you’re paid or not).

Make yourself known in the blogging community by commenting on blogs and offering your advice when people ask for it on Twitter, Facebook groups, etc. Be active online and offline!

The more people know about you and connect with you in different ways, the better chance they will have at hiring you when they need help with their projects.

Finally, build up an impressive portfolio so people can see what types of writing jobs suit them best!

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Conclusion

Well, that’s it! It’s time to start your freelance writing career. Remember, the most important thing is to be yourself and let your uniqueness shine through in your writing. If you’re not sure how to do this, don’t worry, because there are plenty of resources on our blog that can help you.

We hope you enjoyed learning about some ways writers can turn their passion into a career. To continue getting great tips on how to get started as a writer, check out the related posts below:

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is a career in which you write articles and blog posts for clients. You are not an employee of the client, but rather an independent contractor who is paid for your work.

This is called “freelance” because you have no permanent or full-time job, but rather work on projects as they arise. You may be self-employed or work for a company that provides these services, like [company name].

How Do I Get Started With Freelance Writing?

You can start by looking at our website to find jobs you’re interested in. You can also check out other websites like Upwork and Fiverr to find opportunities.

We encourage you to go through our training program so that you’re ready to find clients on your own once you’ve mastered the basics of writing for clients!

What Kind Of Freelance Writing Jobs Are There?

There are a lot of different types of freelance writing jobs, and you can find them almost anywhere if you know where to look! Some people write blog posts, others write copy for businesses, some write fiction novels, and others write academic papers or essays.

How Much Money Can I Make As A Freelance Writer?

The amount you make as a freelance writer depends on how much experience you have and how much work you’re able to get done in any given week/month/year.

It’s also important to remember that it takes time to build up your skills as a writer and build up connections with clients so don’t expect to make a lot right away! You need to put in the work first before anything else will happen to you.

What Is The Best Way For Me To Start My Own Freelance Writing Business?

The best way for anyone to start their freelance writing career from scratch is by putting together their portfolio of work they’ve already done (if they haven’t already), then reaching out to potential clients directly through email correspondence or social media platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn – whichever works best for them personally!

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.