Hey everyone! Today, I’m sharing a post from a good friend of mine who recently quit her job to become a full-time freelance writer. Just like Michelle, she’s diving into the world of freelance writing, which is both thrilling and nerve-wracking. A significant portion of her income now comes from freelance writing.
As someone new to this field but already seeing progress, she has some practical tips for launching a freelance writing career. It took her some time to reach this point, but she firmly believes that if she can do it, so can you. Here are three steps to get started.
1. Build a Portfolio
The key to landing freelance jobs and succeeding is to show that you’re a decent writer and can collaborate well with others. The quickest way to demonstrate this is by guest posting. Guest posting helps you get your name out there, build a reputation, and show you can adapt your writing style to different blogs.
Try to guest post on blogs or websites in the niche you want to write for. You can then create an online portfolio or list your portfolio on your current blog if you have one. This way, you’ll have something to show potential clients.
2. Start With What You Know
When starting out, she applied to jobs in almost every niche, which was a waste of time. Clients prefer specialists over generalists. She realized this and began applying for jobs related to insurance, her area of expertise. Through her blog, she also found jobs related to personal finance, which she enjoys writing about. Now, her clients are about 60% personal finance and 40% insurance-related.
Even if writing about what you know isn’t the most fun, it’s the best way to find jobs when you’re just starting.
3. Find Jobs
Once your portfolio is ready and you’ve chosen your niche, it’s time to start looking for jobs. There are two effective ways to do this: emailing blog owners to introduce yourself and offer your services, and applying to job boards. She uses a personalized email template for both methods.
Remember, you’ll hear “no” more often than “yes,” and that’s okay. That’s just how freelance writing works.
Stick With It
You won’t become a freelance writing success overnight. It takes time to build a client base, just like it did for those successful writers you see online. Freelance writing is a great side hustle that can eventually turn into a full-time job.
If you’re ready to start your freelance writing career, there’s no better time than now. What’s holding you back?
Alexa Mason is a blogger, personal finance freelance writer, and aspiring internet entrepreneur. She shares her journey as a single mother trying to make it big at Single Moms Income.