When I started freelancing, I had no idea how to find clients or what to charge them. I felt scared of sending pitches that would make me look like an amateur. So, for my first year or two as a freelance writer, I took whatever work came my way. This meant working for cheap, arguing with difficult clients and saying “yes” to work that didn’t pay well.
As a result, I didn’t grow my business at all during this time (and it wasn’t because I was learning the ropes). But then something changed: As I started getting more comfortable as a writer and learning how to negotiate fair rates, things started to shift.
My income increased by nearly 50% in just one month! Later on that year, I made five figures in just one month and the most exciting part is that this wasn’t based on luck or accident! It was based on hard-earned experience (and some trial and error) that helped me get paid exactly what my writing is worth.
Today, after 15+ years of freelancing under my belt, making six figures per year is not unusual for me but it wasn’t always like this! If you’re struggling to get out of the beginning stage of your freelance writing career and get paid real money from real clients who value your work…if you dream of scaling your business without stress or worry…
Then let me walk you through the steps that helped me go from zero experience with freelance writing all the way up to six figures per year in income within just three years (with no prior experience). Here’s what we’ll cover today:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Pursuing high-paying freelance opportunities can lead to significant financial rewards and career growth. |
| 2. Sharing personal experiences and successes in freelancing can inspire and motivate others in their own freelance journeys. |
| 3. Building a strong portfolio and showcasing your best work can attract higher-paying clients and lucrative writing projects. |
| 4. Negotiating fair rates and valuing your expertise as a freelance writer can lead to more substantial paychecks for your efforts. |
| 5. Embracing challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone can open doors to unexpected opportunities and professional achievements. |
How To Scale Your Freelance Writing
Hiring writers to work for you is an important part of growing your freelancing business. You can hire writers to work on your projects or to help you with your business and marketing.
If you’re trying to scale up, it’s crucial that you hire other writers to help out with the workload so that you don’t get overwhelmed and stressed out.
Setting up systems, processes and procedures will help streamline everything so that it flows smoothly and nothing falls through the cracks. This will make things much easier when working with multiple people who are all doing different jobs at the same time (especially if they’re not located in the same place).
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How To Find Clients Who Value Your Work
So how do you find clients who value your time, expertise, experience and ideas?
You look for clients who are interested in working with a writer who has all of those things.
So what does that mean?
Well, it means finding a client who wants to pay for your writing skills and not just your time. The truth is that some clients will only want to pay for copywriting services based on the word count or the number of articles produced per week. And that’s okay!
But if you’re looking for something different if you want to work with someone who sees value in your writing skills then there are certain things they’ll be looking out for when they hire freelance writers like yourself.
How To Know Exactly How Much To Charge
So, how do you make sure that you’re not undercharging for your work? First, understand the value of what you’re selling.
If you want to get serious about freelance writing, then it’s a good idea to have a few reliable sources of income ideally one primary source and a few smaller ones. But if your only income comes from one project or client (or worse yet, only “occasional” projects), then it can be hard to gauge exactly how much money is coming in at any given time.
And while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing it’s great knowing that someone believes in your talent enough to consistently pay for it it also means that if something goes wrong with that one client or project (and trust me: things always go wrong).
Then there might be nothing else going on at all until another gig comes along…which could take months or even years before happening again! So what happens when everything goes south?
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How To Land High-Paying Gigs
Know what you’re worth. You should have a clear sense of what clients are willing to pay for your services and how much you can afford to charge. Don’t undersell yourself, but also don’t go charging into the marketplace thinking that you’re worth more than the market will bear.
Know what your competitors are charging (and offering). If someone is offering a service similar to yours at a significantly lower rate, then it’s probably not worth taking on that client unless there’s something else they need that’s unique enough to warrant a higher price point or if they’re willing to pay more because they believe in the quality of your work or support services. On the other hand, if every other freelancer offering similar services charges more than you do and has been doing so consistently over time, then maybe it’s time for an adjustment in either direction?
How To Meet Editors And Other Key Industry Players
Now that you’ve got a solid base of knowledge, it’s time to put it to use. To land your next big freelance writing paycheck, you’ll need to get yourself out there. The best way to do this is by attending industry events and networking with editors and other writers.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a city where there are multiple large conferences for freelancers, sign up for them all!
Not only will you get a chance to meet editors from publications like The New York Times and TIME Magazine face-to-face (and maybe even secure some assignments), but these conferences also give you access to panels with successful freelancers who can teach you valuable tips about how they got their start in the industry.
If there aren’t any major freelance writer events in your area, don’t worry you can still find ways of getting connected online! One way is by joining social media groups related to the types of writing jobs that interest you most for example:
The Number One Rule Of Starting A Business (This Is The Key To Growing A Successful Freelance Writing Business)
So, if you want to make money as a freelance writer, find something that people are willing to pay for. If you can do this, it’s not hard to make money as a freelancer.
But what is your niche? What problem are you solving and how are you going to make money doing it?
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What You Can Learn From My Biggest Failure As A Freelancer (This Is What I’m Doing Now That I Wasn’t Doing Then)
I was too focused on the wrong things. I was too focused on how much money I could make and not enough focused on clients that would give me experience and help me grow as a writer. That’s why I started by looking for the highest-paying jobs first, rather than finding work that would challenge me and teach me new skills.
I wasn’t thinking about what would be best for my career long-term, which meant that when it came time to pitch my next big project, I didn’t have any credentials to back up my claims!
As a result of this lack of experience under my belt (see what I did there? It was probably unintentional), I ended up landing gigs with clients who weren’t the best fit for my skill set or clientele preferences; instead, they were chosen because they paid well.
This meant that when it came time for them to rehire someone new or bring in someone from another company like theirs…they wouldn’t consider hiring me anymore because they already knew what kind of quality results they’d get out of me based on our previous collaboration together: nothing but mediocre writing work at best!
What Not To Do When Pitches Aren’t Working Out (I Made This Mistake, But You Don’t Have To)
We all have our ups and downs in the freelance writing business. No matter how many clients you have, there will always be that one or two who are difficult to work with, never pay on time, or just don’t appreciate your work.
No one is perfect and it’s inevitable that at some point someone will leave you feeling discouraged. Don’t give up! When things get tough, I say: “Keep going! You can do it!” It helps me push through when things seem bleakest.
Why You Should Start With Print Publications Even If You Want Online-Only Work
Print magazines are a great place to start if you’re serious about making money as a writer, no matter how much you enjoy writing online.
Print publications allow you to build a brand and reputation for yourself. Once your face is out there, people will start to recognize it and trust it, which means that when they see your name on something (online or off), they’ll be more likely to click through and check out what else you’ve got going on.
This can lead to bigger things down the line, especially if your work manages to stand out from the crowd and make an impact.
It’s not just about getting paid print publications have other benefits as well: You may get invited onto panels at conferences or hired by companies for speaking engagements; maybe even book deals!
It all starts with building up this reputation first though and print magazines are one way of doing so by creating an audience who knows exactly what type of content they should expect from someone like yourself before clicking over to their website where they’ll find more information (or links) related specifically towards their interests.”
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How To Write High-Quality Blog Posts Fast
One of the most important things you can do to ensure that your content is highly readable, engaging, and memorable is to write in a way that’s easy to understand. It’s also helpful if your readers don’t have to stop and re-read sentences because they’re trying to puzzle out what you meant by them. In other words, make sure that your writing style is clear and concise.
To make your writing as clear as possible:
- Stick with simple sentence structures (e.g., “The cat meowed.”).
- Avoid using complicated words when simpler ones will do (e.g., “manifesto” instead of “statement”).
- Use active voice instead of passive voice whenever possible (“I bought carrots today” vs “Carrots were bought by me today”).
Why Writing For Trade Magazines Does Not Have To Be Boring (This Is Where The Most Engaged Audiences Are)
Many writers start their careers by writing for trade magazines. Some people think that this is a dead-end career, but it can be a great way to get started and build up your portfolio. Trade magazines are paid more than other outlets because they have loyal readers, who are often in the business of buying the products in question.
Even though they may not pay as much as some other types of publications, they’re still better than no money at all!
Trade magazine editors are also less likely to get flooded with submissions from writers trying to break into the field (especially relative to online publishing), so there’s less competition for you if you submit your work here.
Plus, most trade magazine editors will pay on time because their subscribers expect them to so don’t worry about waiting months for payment!
Should You Offer Discounts? What About Bonuses?
Some people think that offering a discount is the best way to get clients, but I’ve found that it doesn’t always work out like that.
When you are starting as a freelance writer, you might feel under pressure to offer discounts because of your lack of experience and knowledge about what clients want. But if your writing isn’t good enough yet, then no one will want to pay full price for it!
So instead of spending money on discounts and trying to attract new business with them (which may not even work), why not invest some time into improving the quality of your work?
If you do this properly and put in real effort, the results will speak for themselves and then when someone asks how much your services cost, they won’t be able to argue with the fact that they can afford them!
Do You Need A Website? What Should It Include? Here Are My Tips Based On 15+ Years Of Experience
A website is a must-have for any freelancer. If you’re not sure how to set up a site, I recommend using WordPress. It’s easy to use and comes with a ton of customizable templates.
A key feature of your site will be your portfolio an archive of all the work you’ve done in the past and links to published articles or blog posts where clients can find more examples of your writing style.
Your portfolio should also include links to social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn so potential clients can check out what else you have going on besides writing.
There are tons of free themes available online if you want something simple, but I also recommend GetTheme because they have great customer service!
Follow These Steps
Here are some tips for maximizing your freelance writing paychecks.
Be Professional
Don’t use the exclamation point or an unnecessary smiley face in your email to the editor. Address them by name, and spell them correctly. This will get you in their good graces right away.
Be Polite
Use “please” and “thank you.” Remember that editors aren’t your friends; they’re professionals who have been doing this for years, so show them some respect!
Be Persistent
Once you’ve made initial contact with an editor through email, follow up with a phone call (if possible) just to make sure they received your message and are familiar with what it is that you do as a freelance writer and then keep them updated on any new projects coming down the pipeline!
You may even want to send over a link for their perusal so they can see samples of previous pieces written by yours truly (that way there’s no confusion).
Be Flexible
If someone asks me to write something specific but then decides later on that he changed his mind about certain details or asks me instead if I could instead write something else entirely different based off of what was originally requested…”Yes.”
So long as both parties work together towards common goals without compromising quality standards or integrity during this process–then all should be well 🙂 Do you see how easy it is?
That’s because sometimes people change their minds quickly–just like our weather patterns here in Alberta get hot one minute followed by cold temperatures another day after two weeks’ worth of sunshine…
But don’t worry because we tend not to accept these changes unless there’s a good reason behind wanting something done differently such as personal time constraints etcetera (such as deadlines).
So if someone requests a change mid-project then we’ll let them know ahead beforehand before committing ourselves fully to making sure everything goes smoothly between us working collaboratively together towards achieving great outcomes between each other collaboratively working
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Conclusion
I’ve been writing for a long time, so I know that the moment when you get your first big freelance writing paycheck is one you’ll never forget. It’s validating in a way that nothing else can be; knowing that someone values your work enough to pay you for it is a great feeling!
In my time as a writer, I’ve had many great moments like this, but above all of them stands the day I received my first check from Upwork after two years of working there.
As much as I love making money doing what I love, there are some things about this job that are harder than others: the constant pressure to keep up with deadlines and the stress of multiple clients canceling at once, just to name two.
Even though these kinds of issues have always been present throughout my career, they affected me when I was starting because it felt like no matter how hard I tried or what sacrifices made to write more efficiently without sacrificing quality, something would always make things difficult for me financially
Further Reading
Overcoming Fear: How Freelancing Changed My Perspective: Discover a personal finance story of how one freelancer conquered their fears and gained a fresh perspective on freelancing.
Soulful Musings on Creative Freelancing: Immerse yourself in inspiring musings that delve into the world of creative freelancing and its deeper significance.
How Much Money Do Freelance Writers Make?: Uncover the realities of freelance writing income and gain insights into the potential earnings of freelance writers.
FAQs
How do I overcome the fear of freelancing?
Overcoming the fear of freelancing involves recognizing and challenging limiting beliefs, seeking support from fellow freelancers, and starting with small, manageable projects.
What can I learn from soulful musings on creative freelancing?
Soulful musings on creative freelancing can offer a deeper understanding of how freelancers infuse their passion and purpose into their work, leading to more fulfilling and meaningful projects.
How much money can freelance writers expect to earn?
The income of freelance writers can vary based on factors such as experience, niche, and client base. However, researching industry rates and continuously improving writing skills can contribute to higher earning potential.
How do freelancers manage their finances effectively?
Freelancers can manage their finances by setting up a budget, creating an emergency fund, setting aside taxes, and exploring retirement options like individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
How can I balance freelancing with a stable income?
Balancing freelancing with a stable income can be achieved by gradually transitioning into freelancing, diversifying income streams, and maintaining a financial safety net during the initial stages of freelancing.
How Do I Get Started In Freelance Writing?
You can start with a simple Google search of “freelance writing jobs” or “how to become a freelance writer.” Once you have an idea of what your rates should be, it’s a good idea to start applying for jobs on sites like Upwork or Problogger.
If you don’t get any responses to your first few applications, don’t worry! It takes time for clients to get back in touch with prospective writers and even then, many don’t end up hiring anyone at all. Just keep applying and eventually someone will respond!
Do You Have Any Tips For Getting Started As A Writer?
First of all, make sure that you have some experience writing professionally before trying to start freelancing full-time.
This can be anything from writing personal letters or emails (which are often better proofreading practice than fiction) to writing blog posts for friends’ websites (if allowed). It also helps if you’ve had some professional experience working in an office environment where deadlines need to be met and coworkers depend
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.