Skip to content

How To Get Started As A Freelance Writer

How To Get Started As A Freelance Writer
  • Save

Are you tired of working for a boss? The internet has opened a world of possibilities and one of which is working online as a freelance writer.

So you overheard someone talking about writing online and making money from home. And you’re wondering, so how do I get started?

Even if you can’t depend on freelance writing to generate a full-time income, it’s still nice to have extra cash. So in this article, I will go over how to get started as a freelance writer.

The good news is, anyone can become a freelance writer. You don’t need to have any formal training, experience, or degree. You just need to be yourself.

Step #1. Create Your Own Website

Create Your Own Website
  • Save

I realized many beginning freelancers don’t have their own website. Instead, they jump straight into platforms like Fiverr.com to start their business venture.

Now it’s a great place to build your portfolio, but the problem is a limitation when it comes to expanding your service and making more money.

Also, what if your main source of income is coming from Fiverr or other similar platforms? If they go under, you’ll also go under.

If you are interested in creating your own website, I’m offering a free WordPress installation service, so you can have your website up and running no time.

Step #2. Check Out Other Freelance Writers

Check Out Other Freelance Writers
  • Save

Any reputable freelance writer will have a website of their own that showcases their work. Also, they might even have their own set pricing on their website, so you can use it as a reference point.

And that’s why you should have your own website. There you can showcase your work and present your work more professionally.

Note: You can still use services like Fiverr.com just so you can leverage their traffic and establish your portfolio.

If you are new to blogging, you can also look at other freelancers to learn about how they write, what they write about, etc.

Step #3. Familiarize Yourself With Skills And Tools

Familiarize Yourself With Skills And Tools
  • Save

Even though you don’t need much to become a freelance writer, but it’s important you familiarize yourself with skills and tools. It’s like a carpenter without a hammer. Anyone can hit a nail, but you still need the proper skill and tool to hit it accurately.

Here’s a list of kills that you should have as a freelance writer:

  1. Blogging – Blogging is not like writing an essay for college. You’re writing for an online audience that knows nothing about you and they are not required to read from you either. So it’s important that you format your blog posts so they are easy to read with captivating headlines.
  2. Editing Application – Now this is not absolutely necessary, but editing your work with applications like Grammarly will help double check your work for mistakes. Is it perfect? I don’t believe so, but since you want to become a freelance writer, then why not? It’s a lot less money compared to hiring an editor.
  3. Staying Organized – Since you’ll be working with multiple clients and maybe even multiple projects at once. It’s absolutely crucial that you stay organized. Without great organizational skills, you will struggle to keep track of your clients and meeting deadlines. You can use a simple notepad to write down what needs to be done and for whom.
  4. Task Management One of the greatest blessings of freelance is also a curse. Since you’ll be operating your own online business, you won’t have a boss breathing down your neck. Therefore, you should manage your tasks by using programs like Google Sheets.
  5. Image Editor Now most clients will request for images within their content. So it’s important that you offer that as part of your service. There are many great tools out there such as Canva (I personally use this). If you are skilled at photoshop, then you can use that as well!
  6. Overcome The Fear Of Rejection – Let’s face it, not everyone is going to like you. Especially if you are starting your career now. People will turn you down or totally ignore you, but that’s okay! The more people you ask, the more likely you will land on a project.

Step #4. Write Blog Posts For Yourself

write for yourself
  • Save

Now that you have a blog of your own and understand the skills and tools needed to become a freelancer. It’s time to write on your own website. Not only is it a great way to show your potential clients what you are capable of, but also the chance to practice.

If English is not your native language, it’s still possible to earn a living as a freelancer. Like riding a bike, the more you do it, the better you become. And by writing for yourself, you don’t have to worry about getting on your client’s bad side.

You can even present your blog to your potential clients, so they can get a taste of what you’re capable of before spending money on you. After all, how can you write for someone else, if you can’t even write for yourself?

Step #5. Create A Portfolio

Create A Portfolio
  • Save

If you have some clients already, you should start creating a portfolio. It’s like a resume for a job! Even if you haven’t had any clients, your own blog can be used in your portfolio as well.

The point is to show your prospects that you are capable of helping them create amazing content. You can also offer free guest posts to build credibility.

Even though you won’t make any money from your initial guest posts, but you can build backlinks for your blog as well as gain the trust of the person you are writing for.

Maybe they will even offer you a long-term opportunity to write for them! But whatever you write needs to be amazing!

Step #6. Go Ask For Jobs

Go Ask For Jobs
  • Save

You can’t depend on people coming to you. The money will not magically land on your laps, so it’s time to go ask for jobs. You can either reach out to agencies like ProBlogger or reach out to established websites in your niche.

Most agencies will have job boards with new jobs posted daily. I recommend looking around and check out their reviews because the last thing you want is to complete a job and not get paid.

When you find a job that you’re interested in, do show your credibility by displaying your portfolio as well as testimonials. Talk is great, but having proof to back it up will increase your chance of landing a project exponentially.

Step #7. Market Yourself

market yourself and your business
  • Save

Not only are you a freelance writer, but you are a hustler! The goal is to become established, so clients will come looking for you rather than you actively searching for clients.

Since you are new to the business, it’s important that you get on Social Media to market yourself and your services. Again, guest posting is also a great way to get your name out. If you can land a guest post on a popular blog, you are essentially exposing yourself to all of their readers.

As a guest writer, you will receive an author biography which links back to your website, social media profiles, etc. If you don’t have any social media profiles for your freelance website, then you should sign up now.

In Conclusion

Becoming a freelance writer is a great way to start your online business venture. But why work for someone else when you can work for yourself? That’s why I always recommend starting off with having a website of your own. That way if you want to venture off on your own, you can.

And checking out other freelance writers will give you a better understanding of what to do and what to expect. That also leads to understanding and developing the skills needed to be a successful freelance writer.

With a blog, you can practice writing by blogging for yourself. It’s a great way to set up your portfolio especially since you won’t have any clients yet.

Once you feel comfortable, you should start asking for jobs to further develop your portfolio. You’ll get rejected or ignored, but that’s okay! Just focus and remember to always market yourself. Eventually, clients will start reaching out to you and that’s the position you want to be in.

Hopefully, this was helpful! If you have any questions. Please leave a comment down below.

Kind Regards,

home, make money online home, make money online now, make money working from home, niche, niche website, self employed, SEO
  • Save

nv-author-image

Eric Chen

A regular person who envisions his success from helping you become successful. He is not featured in the New York Times, but we all start somewhere, right?Life Motto: Nobody will ever pay you, the way you pay yourself. Be your own boss and control your own income.

Scroll To Top

Sign Up For Wealthy Affiliate And Transform Your Ideas Into Profits!
divi layers

Get Divi by Elegant Themes For Free!!!

Share via
Copy link