Writing for a living can be one of the most rewarding activities you can do, but it can also be one of the most difficult. Many people find writing to be a lonely occupation, and while that’s not everyone’s experience, it is true for many freelance writers. The job of writing isn’t always very social and most people don’t have any friends or family members who share their love of reading, so freelancing often feels like the only way many people can make a living from their passion.
Freelance writing jobs are some of the most competitive out there, which is why you need to have some strategies up your sleeve if you want to succeed and not just survive as a professional freelance writer. Fortunately, becoming a successful freelancer comes down to more than just luck and opportunity as well as having the right qualifications for the work available. The following guide will give you all that you need to know about how to become a professional freelance writer without spending thousands of dollars on education or training.
Find out where the demand for freelance writers is highest
First, you’ll want to make sure to find out what the demand for freelance writers is like in the area where you want to freelance from. The best way to find out this information is to join a freelance writing network. These are online places where freelance writers get together and share information about the freelance writing industry.
If you are just starting out, you won’t have a large following yet and you want to make sure to be included in the groups that are relevant to you. Some of the best places to join are on Reddit, Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, and professional forums online. You’ll want to spend time reading and participating in these groups so you learn as much as you can and make connections with other people in your area who share the same love for writing that you do.
Always write professionally
Barely anyone will care what your writing style is like, but any editor who is going to be reading your work will be greatly affected by how professional you are. As a freelance writer, you are expected to take on any type of writing job that comes your way and you need to be able to write in a way that will make your clients happy. That might mean using a different style for an informational piece than you would for an editorial piece.
While it’s important to have an idea of what kind of writing jobs you’re looking at, it’s also important to be flexible enough to adapt to the work that comes your way. This means that you have to have a writing style that works for all types of writing jobs. How do you do that? You have to write professionally. That means following all rules and norms when you are writing.
Don’t just rely on your email list
While you want to make sure to get as much of your work out to the public as possible, you don’t want to rely on that alone to get you a full-time job. However, having an email list is a great way to test the waters and see if you and your writing are worth paying for. Join relevant email marketing groups online and make connections with people who are interested in building their email lists.
Once you’ve done this, you can start sending out emails to your list, but make sure to always follow best practices. Most importantly, remember to stay on topic and not overshoot your subscribers.
Don’t cold email editors and hiring managers
While it’s easy to click the “send” button when a potential freelance writing job comes in, it’s not the best way to go about getting blog ghostwriting jobs. The best thing you can do if you want to get more freelance writing jobs is to network with other freelance writers and editors.
Find other freelancers and editors who share the same love for writing that you do and who are looking for the same thing that you are. Once you’ve done this, make it a point to meet up with these people as often as you can. If it’s someone who you first met on Reddit or another networking site, make sure to follow up with them on whatever platform they used to find each other.
Network, network, network!
The best way to get more freelance writing jobs is to find more freelance writers who are looking for the same thing that you are. Once you’ve done this, the next best thing you can do is to network with other freelance writers and editors.
Networking is one of the best ways to learn new things and meet new people, so don’t pass up the opportunity to attend freelance writer conferences and trade shows. You can also make it a point to go meet up with other freelance writers and editors whenever you have a chance.
Be clear on what you offer and why it’s worth paying for
The best way to determine if your freelance writing is worth paying for is to take a look at what other freelancers are charging for similar ghost writing services. Find freelance writers and editors in your local area who are charging the same amount that you are and try to find out what they offer. Once you’ve done this, make sure to examine what you offer and why you believe it’s worth paying for.
Bottom line
Freelancing can be a rewarding way to make a living, but it can also be one of the most difficult ways to do so. You have to find clients, write well, and be extremely efficient if you want to succeed as a freelance writer. Start networking with other writers and editors who share your love for writing and don’t be afraid to meet up with people in person to make connections. Follow these steps, and you will find success as a freelance writer.