As any freelancer will tell you, writing is only part of the job. Freelance writers have no shortage of ideas and talent, but every writer has struggled with finding enough clients to pay their bills. Unless you’re fortunate enough to be a highly-specialized copywriter or marketer, it can be difficult to make a living as a freelance writer unless you prioritize finding new opportunities above all else.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for freelance writers to put themselves out there and drum up some new business! In this article, we’ll go over 30+ leads that should help any freelance writer find more work.
Some are obvious, others are less so but if you’re dedicated to writing full-time and don’t want your career to derail before it even starts, then generating more leads should be one of the most important things on your mind!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Diversify your lead generation approaches. |
| 2. Leverage social media platforms for outreach. |
| 3. Optimize your freelance writer website for conversions. |
| 4. Offer valuable content to attract potential clients. |
| 5. Attend networking events to expand your connections. |
| 6. Collaborate with other freelancers for referrals. |
| 7. Utilize content marketing to showcase your expertise. |
| 8. Experiment with cold emailing strategies. |
| 9. Implement SEO tactics to increase your online presence. |
| 10. Provide excellent client experiences for referrals. |
Prospects With These Job Boards And Websites
Upwork. You’ll need to take the time to create a profile, but once you do you can start applying for jobs that fit your skill set and experience level.
FreelanceWritingGigs. This site is pretty straightforward: check out the listings and apply!
ProBlogger. This site was created by Darren Rowse, a successful blogger who makes six figures per year from his blog alone. While most of the postings are ghostwriting jobs (meaning there’s no byline), the pay is good and it’s great practice if you’re new to freelance writing!
FlexJobs. FlexJobs posts tons of different types of flexible jobs, including freelance writing, so it’s definitely worth checking out!
JournalismJobs. This job board focuses on journalism-related roles and has paid opportunities as well as unpaid internships so if you’re looking for some quick experience before tackling paid gigs head-on, this could be a good option for you!
LinkedIn Jobs. LinkedIn is one of the best professional networking sites out there, so if you haven’t already, sign up now and get started! Once you have an account set up with all your relevant information on it like work experience and education level then go ahead and start connecting with people in your industry or those who might know someone who could refer you to get started in freelance writing quickly without having to put too much effort into finding clients.
yourself when starting out on these websites like Mediabistro which offer more advanced options but require more time commitment upfront than just posting ads on Craigslist every week until something turns up that fits what someone else wants instead of what they need–this way we’re both getting our needs met by negotiating what works best between us while keeping things simple at first so that both parties feel comfortable taking things further down line after initial contact because.”
Generating freelance writing leads can be challenging, but diversifying your income sources is crucial. Explore these 13 ways to make money as a freelance email marketer to expand your opportunities.
Linkedin Is A Great Tool To Find Leads, But It’s Not All About Applying To Jobs
Join groups. LinkedIn allows you to join up to 50 groups. Here’s a great list of groups that are regularly posting jobs for freelancers. If you’re looking for more general freelance writing gigs, check out the Freelance Writing Jobs group.
Participate in discussions in your relevant groups. Posting valuable comments on discussions will make you seem like an expert in your field and make people want to work with you or refer you to others. That said, don’t promote your services directly in the group’s discussion threads; it will probably get flagged as spam by the group administrator and could get you booted out of the group!
Use LinkedIn’s search feature to find companies looking for freelance writers. Navigate to Advanced Search > Job title > Keywords: freelance writer/freelance writing/copywriting, etc. > In specific industry: select your industry (optional), then click Search and start browsing job listings!
You’ll see a lot of jobs posted by recruiters too; these are usually full-time positions but can be worth applying for if you have experience working with companies remotely or would be willing to relocate permanently if need be. Get specific about what kind of work or companies you’re interested in working with so that recruiters have a better idea of how they can help place you somewhere awesome!
Directly contact companies that talk about needing help with content or hiring freelance writers on their websites.
This method is a straightforward way of finding clients; if they’re hiring freelance writers, they probably need content.
Start by searching for the types of websites you want to write for. What topics are you interested in writing about? What types of companies are you interested in getting work from?
When you find articles that talk about needing help with content or hiring freelance writers on their website, check out their “About” section, look at their content and see if your style would be a good fit for them. If so, reach out using the contact form on the website (if applicable). Otherwise, do some research via LinkedIn or Twitter to find out who manages their editorial team and send them an email directly!
Make sure you follow all guidelines presented by these companies before submitting work samples or pitches. Some may require guidelines to be submitted in one format while others prefer something completely different – following their instructions will ensure your pitch stands out above others who don’t take the time read through requirements carefully.
Boosting referrals and sales through effective email marketing is an art every freelancer should master. Discover why freelance email marketing is the secret to more referrals and more sales and enhance your business strategies.
Write And Publish Guest Posts
The goal of guest posting is to build a relationship with the blogger who publishes your piece by providing them value:
You need to write an article that’s so high quality that they can’t help but share it and link back to it.
You need to provide them with something unique, like exclusive insight or data.
You need to do research on their blog and audience first so you know exactly what they want and how you can help them. To find blogs where you could write guest posts, use BuzzSumo’s “View Sharers” feature, which shows you all the people who shared a specific piece of content. Go through each person’s profile in chronological order starting from the top and look for opportunities where they haven’t published any articles yet.
Go To Networking Events
If you’re feeling a bit anxious about networking, I get it. I used to get anxious just thinking about networking events. But I knew it was necessary if I wanted to grow my freelance business so I pushed through and started getting out there.
But the good news is that “working a room” isn’t your only option when it comes to finding new clients or making connections in your industry. You don’t have to be comfortable approaching strangers (or even being at large events) to be able to network effectively. Here are plenty of ideas for how you can meet people who might turn into clients, plus some tips for staying comfortable during the process:
Go to industry networking events and conferences if you feel up for greater exposure
Attend meetups and conferences related to other industries these could open up opportunities for complementary work with other businesses
Go in with a plan you may want more than one goal, such as meeting three potential clients or two potential partners
Bring business cards it’s easier than trying to fumble around with your iPhone while chatting with someone new
Transforming your freelance endeavor into a full-time income stream demands effective strategies. Learn how to make a full-time income freelancing as an email marketer and discover the path to financial stability through your freelancing skills.
Take Advantage Of Your Existing Network
If you’ve managed to pull off a freelancing career, you may have built up a loyal network of friends and contacts. But chances are you’re not making full use of your existing connections. Below are 30+ tips for bringing your network to life and leveraging it for more freelance writing leads.
Use Facebook: If one friend is an entrepreneur, this person’s connections on Facebook may include another entrepreneur who knows someone with the expertise or budget needed to help your company. By reaching out to the second person and asking if he’d be willing to connect your company with his contact, you’ll end up working directly with the first friend’s contact and that start-up business would likely be interested in supporting yours as well.
Ask About Contacts: If an acquaintance has a connection with an expert or reporter who might be able to help your company, ask if he or she could recommend that person. This can’t hurt, since they want their friend or connection in the position too! You never know what opportunities it might lead to in some cases it could even lead to hiring someone right away!
Reach Out To Your Network: Where do you go when you need something? Most people turn to their closest friends and relatives first but what about those people closer at hand but still outside your inner circle? While most friendships grow organically over time (not always), there are ways you can speed up the process. Reaching out using social media and messaging apps allows you to discover new resources from people who share interests with you but aren’t physically close by (like via Twitter).
If these new contacts happen to know other resources, ask them if they’ll introduce you as well (some will actually jump at the chance). When contacting friends and family for business purposes, make sure that any request is clear about why exactly it needs doing; this makes it easier for them to respond in kind and reduce their stress level rather than feeling overloaded by work-related emails on business
Scaling your freelance business to eight figures requires strategic planning and successful marketing tactics. Dive into the insights of how I landed an eight-figure client by email marketing to discover the keys to achieving remarkable growth.
Put Together A Media Kit And Pitch Yourself To Journalists Or Other Media Professionals
If you’re interested in writing for a print publication, a L.E.T (Life/Entertainment/Technology) writer may be your best bet for breaking into a company whose audience is similar to yours.
To show them how great you are, put together a media kit and pitch yourself to the L.E.T editors of those publications with relevant samples or clips attached. When creating a media kit that gets results, remember these key points:
Keep it short and simple: One to two pages max is plenty of space to impress an editor with your knowledge and experience while keeping them interested in finding out more about you. Include only pertinent information such as who you are, what makes you unique, and what topics or subject matter you have the most authority on.
Personalize it: If possible, do some research on the receiving end so that you can use their name in your pitch and include something about their current work that interests you specifically. Editors want to know why they should care about what you’re saying rather than being reminded of all the other pitches they receive on any given day from people who don’t even bother taking the time to learn their name.”
Contemplating whether freelance email marketing aligns with your career goals is crucial for success. Find answers in our guide on freelance email marketing: Is it right for you? and make informed decisions about your freelancing journey.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a freelance writer (or blogger) to take advantage of these 30+ freelance writing leads. Really, anyone can use them if they want to make more contacts for any line of work. After all, we’re using the same skills that a freelance writer relies on, like connecting with others and making them feel more confident in our abilities.
So go ahead and give it a try! This article is written by Jennifer Rose. She’s a professional blogger with 5 years of experience in the field. She loves writing about business and entrepreneurship, which she does at her blog site: www.FreelanceWritingIdeasBlog.com. Here she provides valuable tips for everyone in need of quality content or any other type of advice needed to succeed in their business or interests. Connect with her at Google+!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you enhance your freelance writing business and find new clients:
7 Secret Ways to Introduce Your Freelance Writing Business and Get Hired Short Description: Discover hidden strategies for introducing your freelance writing business and securing more clients.
How to Get Freelance Writing Clients Short Description: Learn effective methods for attracting and retaining freelance writing clients to build a successful career.
90 Tips to Find New Leads Online Fast Short Description: Explore a comprehensive list of tips to quickly discover new leads online, boosting your freelance writing business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Lead?
A lead is someone who might hire you for work. They may or may not know about your writing business or what services you offer. That’s where you come in! It’s your job to make them aware of who you are and show them what you can do for their company. If they decide they like what they see, then congratulations—you’ve successfully landed a client!
What Is A Media Kit?
A media kit is an awesome way to showcase your work and promote yourself as a writer. You can put all sorts of things into it like testimonials from past clients, samples of articles that demonstrate your skills, and even awards that have been given out on behalf of projects with which you were involved.
Media kits are usually given out at networking events or sent via email when someone wants more information about your services but doesn’t want to take the time necessary for meeting in person (or online).
Can I Generate Leads Without A Website?
Yes! There are plenty of ways to get leads without having an online presence at all such as attending networking events with other writers in your area, researching potential clients through LinkedIn, cold calling companies that might benefit from content marketing efforts but don’t currently use any type of service provider (like yourself!)…the list goes on!
What Does It Mean To Be A Freelance Writer?
A freelance writer is someone who writes for pay. They can write for their own blog, or they can write for clients. The work is usually done remotely, which means that you’ll be working from home and using your computer and internet connection to get your work done.
Do I Need Any Specific Training To Be A Freelance Writer?
No! Anyone can be a freelance writer. The only thing you need is the ability to write well, and an interest in writing. You don’t even need to have experience as a writer you just need to be able to write well enough that someone will pay you for it!
How Much Money Can I Make As A Freelance Writer?
That depends on where you live, how much experience you have, what kind of jobs you take on… all kinds of things! But here’s the thing: if you’re willing to hustle and network like crazy, there’s no limit on how much money you could make as a freelance writer.
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.