A Portfolio

Once you decide to freelance, the first thing is to set up a portfolio. You can set up a digital one on the many online platforms available like WordPress and others. Most digital platforms have platforms custom-tailored for different careers. Choose one that showcases your copywriter talent.

Besides a portfolio, other must-haves to get started is a laptop (computer), stationery, business cards, printer, and supplies for the home office.

Action Plan

Like any other business, you are now running a business, and you need an action plan. Your plan should include these essential items:

1. Goals: put a priority on jobs that you want and state the ones you will not take.
2. Clients: generate a list of potential clients and take note of their strengths, weaknesses, and needs. Keep in touch with them.
3. Communication: When it comes to answering calls and replying emails, be prompt. This discipline helps that you will be able to respond to calls and emails from jobs later on.
4. Revenue: Have a separate detailed budget. The action plan should remind you of your earning targets to be profitable. It helps to figure how much time off you need.

Rates

From the start, it is crucial to set rates. It would be best if you decided whether to charge hourly, by project, or including both rates. Take enough time to come up with standards and evaluate what works as a fee. Clients want consistency, and they will not work with rules that keep changing.

Another thing to note when coming up with the rates is doing market research. You need to understand the market, and this is as important as knowing your expenses.

As you are beginning, you may not negotiate your rates and will settle with the clients’ pay rates, but this does not mean you shouldn’t set your prices.

Writing Samples

Write samples to show your talent. These samples are an excellent way to showcase your work to potential clients. For those with limited or without experience, speculative advertising can create samples.

Develop a Contract

Develop a contract before accepting any work. Do not start working on a project until a signed contract is in your hands. It is good practice to consult a lawyer on how to develop a deal. The contract is your first line of defense, if ever a client doesn’t want to pay.

Networking and creating a buzz

As a freelancer, you market yourself. Find networking events where you can find some people who could be looking for your skills. Go out of your comfort zone to create buzz. Create work that will get people to notice you.

Get in touch with players in the industry.

Please do not feel afraid to reach out to people who have already made it in the industry.

Finding Clients

Do not grow weary of trying out new methods to find clients. Get in touch with different clients. Once you understand the need of the clients, you decide the approach better.

Refine Your Online Portfolio

Consistently update your portfolio with your best work. Freelance work is rewarding, but you need to be patient and do your due diligence to make it work.

Getting freelance jobs isn’t that easy. A similar challenge also applies to experienced writers. It is more challenging to get well paying freelance writing jobs. Let’s consider a few of the best online platforms for good freelance writing jobs.

1. FlexJobs

FlexJobs allows you to search for specific jobs. You do that by creating a profile that matches the kinds of jobs you are up for. It includes categories, your work schedule, level of experience, etc.

The subscription for FlexJob is $14.95 monthly and $49.95 for an annual subscription. You can also get 50% off when you use the code “JOBS.”

2. SolidGigs

Solidgigs help users get a variety of job opportunities. They help compile freelance writing job opportunities and send them to subscribers weekly. It gives subscribers easy access to jobs and helps save time used for job search.

You can subscribe to SolidGigs with $19 monthly. You can also get a month free trial for only $2. SolidGigs also gives you access to free tutorials and the opportunity to meet successful people in the field.

3. Weekly Email from Sonia Weiser

Sonia Weiser is a known name among freelance writers. She sends job opportunities to her community at $3 monthly. She also offers professional counsel on freelance writing with other helpful resources.

4. Freelance Writers Den

For $25 monthly, Carol Tice offers you a whole lot, including training on making money from freelance writing. You also have access to different forums where you can learn and improve your skill. Jobs and listings are also posted twice every week on the Junk-Free Job Board. Every serious-minded freelance writer should consider this platform.

5. ProBlogger Job Board

Freelance writers can get job listings from ProBlogger created by Darren. You can be sure about getting paging clients from his blog. Problogger had gained a high profile, which gives you an idea about the kind of job you can stumble upon in the blog.

6. MediaBistro

MediaBistro offers a wide range of courses and tools that would enhance your career. The job board section presents job opportunities that cut across different industries.

7. Morning Coffee Newsletter

It is a weekly newsletter that gives information about job opportunities for freelance writers and editors. Freelancewriting.com sends this newsletter with jobs pulled for different sites.

8. Behance Creative Jobs

It is an online platform for professionals to show their work and connect with organizations. It also has a job board where you can source for opportunities.

9. Who Pays Writers?

It is a site that offers well-paying opportunities for writers. With these sites, you can also know how much some publications pay.

10. LinkedIn

With your LinkedIn account, you can build your network and get job opportunities. You can also sign up for job alerts in your field.

Other online platforms where you can get a good offer include Upwork, Freelance Writing Jobs(FWJ), Where to pitch, The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs, etc.

Working as a freelance writer is one of the few means of earning cash and becoming a boss. Although, you need to be sure that you are a skilled writer and that you are ready to start earning through writing. If your answer is yes, then there are few things you need to know to become a freelance writer.

What to know as a new freelance writer

There are certain things you need to know as a new freelancer. We have highlighted a few below.

1. Consider your freelance writing as a job:

Don’t see this any less than a job. Schedule a time to resume to work and a time to close. Although freelance writing can be flexible, you need to be serious about it.

2. Do away with distractions:

Don’t allow anything to distract you from what you have set out to achieve in a workday. Ensuring that you make your aim is totally up to you.

3. Set a goal for each workday:

Decide on what needs to be achieved each day. Make a list of topics to write on and set deadlines for when to finish.

4. Always be organized:

Create a space where you work in your home. Be sure the area is neat and organized. Also arrange the things you need for your work like your computer, printer, writing materials, and other necessary equipment.

The pros of being a freelance writer

There are advantages to becoming a freelance writer. Some of them are:

1. No need for excessive equipment:

You will not need a lot of stuff for your freelance writing. Only your computer and access to the Internet is required.

2. Job flexibility:

You can work from anywhere at any given time. It can be on your bed or even in the car park. You don’t have to secure an office before you start writing. The working hours are also flexible as long as you meet up with the deadline.

3. You get to be your boss:

With freelance writing, you won’t have to work under anybody. You get to choose your convenient place and time to work.

The Cons of being a freelance writer

The choice to become a freelance writer is not for everyone. Here are some reasons why you might not enjoy freelance writing;

1. You can get bored while working alone:

It can be a significant problem as there are no working partners as you will find in an office. You should make out time for socializing with friends to solve this problem.

2. There will be no professional support:

It can also get you frustrated while working. There is nobody to supervise your work. The best way to get help is to connect with other freelance writers online.

3. Starting up may prove difficult:

If you are not committed enough, you may find things more difficult than expected. Writing, getting clients, and referrals, networking requires a lot of time and energy.

Conclusion

As you are starting a career as a freelance writer, all you need is dedication and hard work. Put in a lot of effort, write as much as you can, get clients, and connect with other freelance writers that can help you grow.

Up your writing game
Freelance writing job as the name suggests is all about writing and that is why before you consider getting this job you have to work on your writing skills. You will realize that most companies drive content through traffic and hence as a freelancer you will be required to write regularly. What if you do not have the skills? You may as well end up writing content that does not make sense at all. The advantage of writing content every month and on a regular basis is that you get to earn more as the workload increases. You should however not start imagining that once you get a job you will start earning lots of cash immediately. It takes time and patience. All in all good writing skills is one of the things that is most sought after in freelance writing jobs.

Gain computer programming skills
A freelancer who is a friend of mine used to spend lots of cash hiring computer programmers for this job. After going back and learning this skill, he realized that he could save more and when applying for jobs, he could get multiple responses because he had this skill. Do you also want to be hired quickly, well then you should know that computer programming freelancers are among the most paid writers especially when they get hired by high paying clients such as android and IOS. I know it may be a little tough since it involves a lot of stuff but in the long run, it will be worth it all.

Create a good profile
If you want to get that job easily, advertise yourself in a manner that will make most people want to work with you. A good profile describes your skills and experience. Try and write your profile in a manner that can be easily understood by anyone who is going through it. A long profile that has very long sentences and paragraphs can also be boring that is why you should make it brief.

Be a hard worker
This a field that does not require you to lazy around at all. There are many things that tend to distract most people and social media is the commonest of them all. If you want to be more productive then you should probably consider ditching this and you will be able to get the freelance job of your dreams. If you do the contrary then I can guarantee you that you will not last in this field. It will not be long before clients lose trust in you.

Do not give up
At times you may be sending emails to different companies and you do not get any responses. Well, one of the things that you should have as a freelancer as mentioned earlier is patience. You may give up early when your chance to be employed is almost near. Tell yourself each day that you are a good writer and have the necessary skills and once you get a new job, do not chicken out, be calm and tackle whatever is given to you with expertise.