{"id":13317,"date":"2019-09-16T06:56:56","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T04:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/?p=13317"},"modified":"2019-09-21T10:55:02","modified_gmt":"2019-09-21T08:55:02","slug":"practical-tips-launch-writing-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/practical-tips-launch-writing-career\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Practical Tips to Launch Your Freelance Writing Career from Scratch"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re reading this, I take it exploring the alluring world of freelance writing has been on your mind. It’s easy to see why many are drawn to the flexibility, potential monetary reward and creative diversity such a role offers.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, venturing into this new territory can be nerve-wracking. You\u2019re probably unsure of where to begin and battling doubts about your ability to pull it off. After all, the general conception is that people hire freelancers because they want to work with experts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But don’t worry, if you\u2019re willing to put the work in, you too can achieve expert status. Here are some tips to help get you started.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take the plunge and begin brainstorming niches<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Brainstorm-Niche-Begin\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The best advice is to start creating. There\u2019s no time like the present and if you wait until you\u2019ve got everything figured out, chances are you\u2019ll never begin. Remember, the bulk of your skills are gained by doing, not by reading about doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s often advised to identify a specialty early on and work at perfecting it over time. However, with so many options out there this task is much easier said than done. The trick is to not allow the pressure to immobilize you. You are in no way obligated to pick and stick with just one niche.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diversification is your friend and some initial soul-searching is needed to figure out which type of freelance writing most appeals to you. Consider your passions alongside how much money you want to earn, how much time you have to dedicate and the types of clients you\u2019d like to target.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you have your top alternatives identified, throw yourself into producing sample content. This will be a great aid in figuring out where your strengths as a writer lie. As an added benefit, your portfolio will also start blossoming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To get you launched on your journey, here\u2019s a list of the<\/span> 10 most profitable freelance writing niches of 2019<\/span><\/a>. Happy shopping around!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Sharpen your skills through personal development<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Sharpen-Skills-Personal-Development\"<\/p>\n

Once you\u2018ve settled on your preferred writing form or forms, the next step is to dive deeper into content creation. The fact that you\u2019re exploring this vocation implies a fondness for words and expressing ideas. But factors like proper grammar, punctuation and formatting will inevitably come into play.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good idea to identify any weak spots or deficiencies and work on correcting them.<\/span> Grammarly<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> Hemingway<\/span><\/a> are two great writing assistant apps that can be called upon for added support with spelling, editing and flow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And even if you\u2019re already a grammar guru and punctuation perfectionist, by default of being a freelance writing newbie, it\u2019s expected that you\u2019ll need an introduction to tried and true blogging formulas as well as content generation guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s an excess of resources out there to better inform you. Additionally, several successful writers have created courses sharing the ins and outs of their trade. Continuously seeking out opportunities to sharpen your skills through self-development is what it\u2019s all about.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

These are some additional <\/span>recommended resources<\/span><\/a> you can check out for inspiration, along with this<\/span> list of handy writing tools<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Figure out where to find freelance writing opportunities<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Finding-Freelance-Writing-Opportunities\"<\/p>\n

The next step of your freelance writing journey will entail figuring out exactly how to find work. The good news is that there are countless writing opportunities online. It may seem daunting, but the best advice is to be persistent in your approach. There are entire blogs dedicated to helping newbies find their first writing gigs.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, this<\/span> post by Location Rebel<\/span><\/a> does a phenomenal job at outlining and listing where to seek out writing opportunities online. The list includes job boards like<\/span> UpWork<\/span><\/a>, paid sites like<\/span> Freelance Writer\u2019s Den<\/span><\/a> and agencies like<\/span> Contently<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also recommended that you perform regular sweeps of social media platforms while searching for phrases like \u201cwe\u2019re hiring,\u201d \u201cwork with us,\u201d or \u201cwriting job.\u201d In addition, joining writing job groups on Facebook and LinkedIn can be beneficial and result in gaining insider access to posted leads.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pursuing opportunities to guest post on your favourite blogs, or on sites like<\/span> Listverse<\/span><\/a>, is another recommended tactic for gaining experience. So enter stalker mode, find blogs and websites that you connect with, and submit your proposal pieces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having your writing published for all to read is guaranteed to provide an excellent boost to both your morale and budding writing career. <\/span>Here\u2019s a beneficial bonus <\/span>list of how to find and retain clients<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn the art of developing compelling proposals<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Developing-Compelling-Proposals\"<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve identified some opportunities you\u2019d like to apply for, your next goal is to develop <\/span>a killer proposal<\/span><\/a> that can outshine even the most experienced competitors. You\u2019ll need to first evaluate all the available information and come up with a pitch that outlines how your writing services meet the client\u2019s needs and deliver the greatest value.<\/span><\/p>\n

A prompt and sweeping entrance is a must. For example, if the opportunity is related to blog posting, an effective outreach strategy would be to pitch a subject line like, “My 6 Steps to Driving Traffic for [Company Name].”<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve piqued interest, tailoring and selling your strengths comes next. If the opportunity presents itself, try to offer any insights spelling out exactly how your specific services would provide the best solution. As much as possible, you should show proof of previous results or links to similar completed works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Always remember, persistence pays. Try to keep in touch and send a follow-up message if appropriate<\/span>. When dealing with competitive job boards like UpWork, you may apply to several posts before being invited to interview. Don\u2019t grow disheartened by the silence or rejection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, use this time to keep honing your pitches and improving your written voice. The right opportunities are just around the corner, and when they come piling in, you\u2019ll want to have a functional routine in place to ensure that you meet your deadlines and deliver outstanding work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Establish a routine and work to improve productivity<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Establish-Work-Routine-Productivity\"<\/p>\n

Depending on your personality, this could be one of the hardest parts of freelance writing. Not having to step foot in a physical office doesn\u2019t translate into an exemption from entering formal work mode. In fact, you\u2019ll need to be even more disciplined now that you set your own hours. Some performance efficiency tips include:<\/span><\/p>\n